Chapter 3

Dating sucks. Anthony never showed, but I’ll be damned if I let my black dress go to waste. In preparation, I got ready, did my hair and makeup, and even shaved, just in case. I have not had sex in six months and three days. I will not turn it down if a one-night stand presents itself tonight. Well, as long as it’s not a troll offering. I’m not that desperate.

I miss going out with Giada, but a club isn’t enjoyable when pregnant. Besides, I doubt Papa Bear would allow it. Most women would say Domenic De Luca is a red flag, and I suppose he is a little crazy about his wife. He’s not trying to control her, he just wants her to be safe. After she was kidnapped for a year, I got it. That year was terrible. None of us wants to go through that again. If he can prevent it, nothing like that will ever happen again.

After pulling up to the Valet, I park, grab my purse, and step out of the vehicle, “Be good to Norma Jean,” I say to the attendant, who stares at me in confusion.

“My car is Norma Jean.”

Did I name my Mazda Miata after Marilyn Monroe? Of course, I did. How could I not? She was quoted once as saying she was insecure her entire life. I can’t imagine a woman like her having a single insecurity, but she did. I think that part of her has always called to me. It made her seem incredibly human and somehow made me feel like I had something in common with the most beautiful woman to have ever existed.

I hand him my keys, and he chuckles uncomfortably. “I promise to be careful with her, ma’am.”

“Gross. Don’t call women ma’am. It makes us feel old.”

I giggle when the young man blushes, too cute, and I walk away when I spot Talia standing at the entrance waiting for me. After the door attendant scans our ID, we grab a table before they’re all taken. The server brings our first and second round of drinks—a shot of tequila for both of us and a margarita.

“What are the rules tonight, Nat?”

I laugh because I always have rules about if I get drunk. Don’t let me do something I’ll regret because I haven’t wanted just to have sex. I’ve aimed far too high, thinking my soulmate is looking for me somewhere. He’s not. Reality has sunk in.

“No rules. I’m getting laid tonight.”

She holds up her shot glass, and I do the same. We clink our glasses together as Talia says, “Cheers to finding someone to make the kitty purr.”

After we down our shots, Talia declares we need to dance. My surgeon was right; I never danced again professionally. This is as close as it gets. I rise from my chair, join Talia on the dance floor, and let the music seep into my soul as I’ve done a million times before. I sway my hips to the music as my friend does the same. The song started with a drum beat I’ve never heard, but I know it well as it continues. I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift. We continue to dance and sing along loudly when Talia moves closer to me and shouts in my ear, “A hot man is staring at you!”

I turn around slowly to a penetrating gaze I know well.

Dante De Luca. Dangerous, delicious, and hot as sin. Talia whispers in my ear, “Jesus, Nat. He’s hot. If you don’t fuck him, I will.”

He holds his hand up and motions for me to walk over to him, so I do. I’d like to blame it on the alcohol, but after one shot and half a margarita, I really can’t. My heart pounds as I approach him. I’m trapped in his stare, like some physical force pulls me to him. Leaning down, he speaks directly into my ear, which quickly travels to my core. “That’s my girl.”

He takes my hand and pulls me out of the club area down a hallway; I glance around and realize we’re outside the bathrooms.

Pushing me up against the wall, his eyes drop to my lips. “Are you ready?”

“For what?”

Dante grabs my arms and pins my hands against the wall above my head. “Let me make you feel good.”

I open my mouth to say no, but I don”t fight him when he presses his lips to mine. Instead, I slide my tongue against his as he swallows my moans.

* * *

Dante

Tastingher hasn’t squashed my obsession with her. If anything, it makes me more hungry for everything her body offers. Dropping one of my hands, I slide my fingers down her side until I reach her mostly bare thigh. I’m glad she chose this tiny dress tonight, but I don’t like that other men have seen her like this. I kick her feet further apart and reach under her black dress, press my fingers over her panties, pinch her clit, and she moans into my mouth. Pulling back from our kiss, I stare at her expression, wide eyes staring at me with confusion as I circle her clit with my thumb. I can read her like a dirty little book. She wants to run but can’t because she likes my touch. Natalia wants more and I’m prepared to give her everything.

“I can make you come so hard, but not here. Come with me.”

She gasps for breath like I’ve been cutting off her air. I have not.

“Just once, Dante. I told you I’m not dating you.”

I nod in agreement because I know something she doesn’t. Tonight, she’ll be ruined. If she found it hard to find men before, this will only worsen it. Even if I let any man who wants to touch her in the future live, they’d never measure up. I keep that information to myself because I’m not prepared to kidnap her yet.

“Go tell your friend you”re leaving.”

I watch her closely while she goes to Talia and hugs her. I don’t miss how her friend”s gaze sweeps down the length of my body. She’s pretty, but she’s not Natalia. I approach her and take her hand. “Let”s go.”

“My car,” she exclaims out in a near panic.

“I’ll take care of it. Every need you have will be handled when you”re with me.”

I escort her to my waiting vehicle; I open the back door and let her slide in before I join her and instruct my driver to go to the house.

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and fidgets with her fingers on her lap. Natalia is a bundle of anxiety. This isn’t news to me. I watch her enough to know she’s riddled with insecurity. She hides it quickly with a perfect smile for most people, but I don’t miss much. I didn’t need Benji to tell me she was a little lost and damaged. Like the predator I am, I saw the desperation in her a mile away. The one thing Natalia wants more than anything is to be accepted for the person she is, flaws and all. Isn’t that the case for all of us? She can’t see beyond the mafia connection. We are dangerous men, so she’s vowed to steer clear of my brother and me. If this little plan that Drake concocted doesn’t work, we will make it happen, forcefully.

I lean and scrape my teeth down her neck, “Relax, Sunshine. I’m going to take care of you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

She instantly relaxes with a moan when I trail my tongue down her skin. I will not fuck her here in the backseat with my driver right in front of us, but I do plan to keep her warmed up to prevent her from unraveling and begging to go home, which I have no plans of allowing.

As predicted, she has second thoughts, “This is a bad idea. I’m sorry. I can’t.”

I take her face, “You can and you will, Sunshine. You’re going to be my good girl for tonight, and do exactly as you’re told.”

My cock is already stiff, but when she whimpers, I nearly lose control of myself. This is what I want. What I fucking need. Her. Every touch. Every sound. Every orgasm. Sliding my hands into her dark hair, I tilt her head back and gaze into her brown eyes. That’s what first drew me to her. If you’re paying attention, you can spot every emotion running through Natalia with a glance into her eyes. I get the feeling that most people ignore her. For the life of me, I can’t understand why.