CHAPTER XXIII

J esus fucking Christ.

Seeing my little angel wearing those sexy tiny shorts that exposed her smooth golden legs and made me want to suck on her hard nipples. It also brought on a major hard-on that I had to finish off on my own when I got home, but the jealousy and rage was a feeling I had never experienced before.

The rage when she opened the door in her fuck-me pj’s had my mind spiraling out of control, wanting to rip every asshole’s eyes out just for looking at her.I couldn’t get enough of her sweet floral scent and how my lips felt on her smooth skin...fuck. I was already hard again thinking about her.

What the hell was happening to me?I didn’t do feelings.

Something about her drew me in like a moth to a flame. Maybe it was the fact that she had never been touched before and the excitement of my hands being the ones to tarnish that innocence by fucking it out of her.

I wanted to beg her to let me have her, and I didn’t fucking beg, ever . But this girl had me on my knees.

I needed to see her once more.

To touch her.

To smell her.

To kiss her.

Fuck. And those lips. She had such fuckable lips.

When I made it back home, the memory of what happened earlier that day replayed in my mind, fueling my rage. And Winter—Fuck, she’d gotten me all twisted up.

I stormed back into the house, anger surging through me like an inferno. Luca was the first person I saw. He nodded in acknowledgment, and I returned the gesture.

I then marched over to the bar in the dining room, my fists clenched at my sides. I grabbed a glass and, without a second thought, hurled it against the wall. The glass shattered, a satisfying explosion of shards and splinters that echoed the rage and yearning in my soul.

“Damn. What did Mr. Tequila ever do to you?” Luca quipped, leaning back in his chair, a smirk teasing at the corners of his mouth.

“She’s always in my head,” I spat out through gritted teeth. “No matter how many times I try to scratch her out, she claws her way back in.”

“What is going on between the two of you, Nico?” Lo asked, his tone serious.

“I don’t fucking know!” The words burst out of me.

All I knew was that she had me torn up inside, making me feel like a lovesick puppy, ready to chase after her, ready to humiliate myself for just a sliver of her attention.

“You better figure it out—and fast—because you can’t afford distractions, especially right now,” Matteo warned.

“I know that,” I ground out. “You mind your fucking business, and I’ll handle my shit.”

“I like her,” Lo interjected.

“What?” I barked, incredulous. He shrugged, an infuriating look of nonchalance plastered on his face.

“She’s sweet,” he said.

Sweet . I scoffed internally. Her sweetness would be rotten by the time I was done with her.

* * *

Winter had been living in my head rent-free for far too long, and honestly, it was about time I kicked her pretty little ass out. The guys were right; she was a damn distraction, and I needed to focus on this Puppet Master bullshit. But no matter how often I tried to convince myself to, I couldn’t stay away from her.

I knew she was working tonight, so I walked down the hall from my office and headed straight to Mya’s, where Winter was holed up. I turned the corner and caught Enzo standing guard outside Mya’s office.

“Boss,” he said, keeping it casual.

“Take ten, E,” I replied, and he quickly saluted me before strolling off. Without knocking, I pushed the door open and took her in. Winter appeared deep in thought, her forehead creased in concentration as she fervently tapped away on the laptop. Her fingers moved across the keys like they were on fire. She had a pen tucked into her hair, and for the first time, she had on a pair of glasses. She looked like an innocent, forbidden librarian.

It was sexy as hell.

“Break time,” I announced, and she practically jumped out of her skin. I couldn’t help but grin.

Damn, she was cute as hell.

“Uh, hi, Nico. Um, what are you doing here?” she stammered, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.

“It’s my club.” I smirked, sauntering further into the room. I settled on the edge of the desk, watching as her eyes darted to my forearms. My shirt sleeves were rolled up to my elbows, showing off my tattoos. Winter blinked, quickly looking back up at my face, her cheeks tinged with color.

“You alright, angel?” I chuckled, enjoying the way I flustered her. She turned away, a little flushed.

“So, what’s up?” she asked, pretending to shuffle through the papers on her desk, but her fingers fumbled, betraying that she wasn’t actually calm.

“Just thought you could use a break, you know? You’ve been working way too hard.”

“Maybe,” she replied, a small smile breaking through as she finally met my gaze.

“I guess a little distraction wouldn’t hurt.”

“Good. I’m here to provide just that,” I said, leaning closer. “When did you start wearing glasses?” I asked her, leaning forward and gently grasping both sides of her frames, feeling the warmth radiating off her skin.

With deliberate slowness, I glided the glasses off her face, my fingers brushing against her cheek as I hung them over my shirt, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. She licked her lips, and the sight sent a rush of heat through me. My heartbeat quickened as my gaze followed the movement. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to lean back just a little, creating space between us. If I didn’t, I might lose my shit and end up throwing her onto this damn desk, fucking away the frustration that had been building between us.

“I only wear them when I’m reading,” she replied, her voice soft.

“Well,” I said, “I suppose I’ll have to find a way to keep you reading then.” My tone was light, but the lust beneath it was unmistakable.

We stared at one another, the tension thickening in the air. I could see Winter’s discomfort as she fidgeted in her chair. She cleared her throat, broke our gaze, and reached for the folder on the desk. With a slight tremor in her hand, she passed it to me.

“Here are the new applications for the clients that signed up to become members. They’ve already paid—“ I raised my hand, cutting her off. “I’m not here to talk about work. I trust Mya and you.”

Winter placed the envelope back on the desk, her posture shifting slightly. “Thank you,” she replied, a genuine smile flickering across her lips. “So, what are you here to talk about?”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. “I’m going to take you out. Tomorrow night, I’ll pick you up at seven pm. I’ll have my designer drop off a dress for you, and she’ll handle the makeup, your hair, and whatever else you may need.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You say it like I’m actually going to agree to go with you.”

A grin broke through my serious demeanor. “That’s because I’m not asking you.” Winter crossed her arms, leaning back slightly, her expression shifting into one of defiant challenge. There was my little feisty angel.

“Oh, really?” she scoffed, disbelief lacing her tone.

Just then, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out to see a text from Matteo demanding my presence in the office. I glanced back up at Winter. “Yes, really. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” I tucked my phone back into my pocket, standing up from the desk to make my exit. But before I could reach the door, her voice halted me.

“Has anyone ever said no to you?” I turned back to face her.

“No.”

“Well, let me be the first,” she taunted.

“I’m not asking you, Winter.” I took a deliberate step toward her, my movements calculated and purposeful. When I reached her, I leaned in until I was inches away from her beautiful face. “Oh, you really will be coming with me, one way or another,” I whispered, my voice steady and firm. “Even if that means I have to drag your unconscious body to the car.”

Her eyes, displaying a kaleidoscope of emotions, widened just a fraction before they turned to angry slits, but I grinned and moved closer. I let my breath graze her skin, my lips almost brushing against hers. “I intend to make you feel things you’ve never imagined.”

I paused and watched her swallow hard. “I’m going to make your virgin pussy cum on my tongue and then drink every last drop like it’s my own special drink made just for me. And you’re going to love every second of it.”

My words were meant to ignite a fire within her as she did with me. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, letting her scent surround me like a fog. It was like a sweet and tempting burst of fresh roses that gave my inner beast a taste of what would come. With my eyes still closed, I softly exhaled against her neck, my breath caressing her sensitive skin.

I opened my eyes and noticed her body’s immediate response to my touch, and the beast inside me roared with pride. I traced the tip of my tongue along her jawline. “By the end of the night, you’re going to beg me to fuck you.” I pulled back, my smirk a silent challenge, daring her to deny me.

Her breath quickened, and goosebumps formed on her skin. I lifted my hand to my shirt, removed the glasses hanging over my chest, and carefully placed them back onto her face. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I murmured, rising to my full height.

With a final lingering glance, I shot her a subtle wink and exited the room, feeling the intensity of her gaze on my back. She was fucking mine, and I would be sure she understood the depth of my possession and willingly surrendered her soul to me. I wanted her to feel it, to realize that there was no escaping me.