CHAPTER V

I was lost in the depths of her almond-shaped eyes, framed by long, fluttering lashes. She was a tiny little thing. My fingers cradled her face softly, and the fluttering in my chest was back, but now it was in overdrive, like that damn pink bunny on crack. I’d never experienced this feeling before. Every part of my body suddenly came alive after being dead for years. The beast inside me, as if it had been starved for decades, craved her pure innocence.

There was something mesmerizing about how her lips moved when she spoke, and her wide and curious eyes, as if she was searching deep into my soul without permission. But there was also a hint of defiance in her that made my dick hard.

I ignored the sensation and let my fingertips glide through her hair, inching teasingly toward her ponytail. With a gentle tug, I pulled the band from her hair, setting it free. I wrapped the band around my wrist, giving her a cheeky grin. “Mine,” I added. Her breath caught, and a slight flinch danced across her beautiful features.

I twisted my fingers in her chestnut brown hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves. She possessed a breathtaking and innocent beauty, like an angel. She was fucking beautiful and sweet. I wanted to lay her on my bed, naked and bare for me to take in. I’d lick every inch of her and leave bite marks on her soft olive skin so she knew who she belonged to. I’d slam my cock deep inside her pussy while she cried out my name and begged me to stop. I’d bet she tasted sweet as candy. If she was any other girl, I’d whip out my dick and fuck her right here, but I wouldn’t treat her like a whore, and I didn’t want the other fuckers in the room to have a sneak peek of what was mine.

The moment she walked into the room, I had difficulty maintaining control. I held back from running up to her, and throwing her over my shoulder and out of this club.

When our eyes met across the room, I saw something simmering beneath the surface—a hint of darkness seeking an outlet. And I wanted to be the one to expose her secrets and bathe in her sins.

“Nico, let the poor girl go,” my right-hand man Matteo said with a chuckle.

I ignored him, only paying attention to the innocent girl perched on my lap.

“Seriously, Nico. She looks like a fucking child.” Davina’s annoying voice pulled me out of whatever fucking voodoo Winter had cast on me.

I clenched my jaw as the anger boiled up from my core, threatening to explode in a violent rage. Davina was like a nagging gnat flying around my head. No matter how many times I swatted her away, she kept coming back.

“Miguel!” My voice boomed across the room, and everyone around us froze.

“Yes, boss?”

“Take the trash out,” I demanded while still looking at Winter. She flinched at my words and started to move away from my lap, but I squeezed her hips, keeping her still. My grip on Winter’s waist was my only anchor; her presence was the only thing stopping me from ripping Davina’s tongue out and shoving it down her throat.

Winter thought I was talking about her? Fucking innocent and naive.

Miguel knew exactly who I was referring to; he moved to stand in front of Davina and said, “Let’s go.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw her head whip in my direction. “Are you fucking serious, Nico?” she said angrily.

I turned to face her. “Does it look I’m fucking around?” There was a hint of fear in her eyes, but it quickly vanished. “If you know what’s good for you, Davina, I suggest you get the fuck gone.” I tipped my head toward the stairs.

Davina stood up and tugged her skirt back into place. “What the fuck ever. Let me know when you want a real woman to ride your dick.”

I focused on Winter while Davina was escorted out.

Winter swallowed, and I wrapped a hand around the side of her neck, placing my thumb against her pulse point. It beat erratically. “You nervous, dolcezza ?”

“No,” she said quietly.

I smirked and pulled her face close to mine. I closed my eyes when her floral perfume invaded my nostrils. “Fuck me, you smell so sweet. I bet you taste as sweet as you smell. Should we find out?”

She didn’t say anything, but her eyes widened; all I could see was lust.

“Hmm?” I rubbed my nose against her jaw and traced my lips along it up to her ear.

I sucked her earlobe, and her breath hitched, making me smile. “Would you let me taste you, Angel?”

My fingers drifted beneath her skirt, the darkness concealing our intimate moment. As my fingers encountered the delicate fabric of her panties, a low, primal sound escaped my throat like a hungry beast. I gently glided my finger along her intimate folds, feeling the dampness beneath her panties.

Pulling her closer, I wrapped an arm around her waist, claiming her. Mine.

My finger slipped inside her wet pussy, her body arching into me. I hovered my mouth over hers, silencing her; she obeyed. The urge to dominate her consumed me. But I gritted my teeth, restraining the demon beating against my chest, begging to be released.

“God damn, angel,” I snarled against her mouth. “You ever been touched like this before?” Jealously clouded my judgement and a possessive rage took over at the thought of someone else touching her this way. I pinched her sensitive clit, daring her to lie to me. “You better fucking tell me the truth.”

“No,” she whisper, but it came out ragged.

I softly kissed the side of her mouth. “And it sure as hell better stay that way,” I bit out, my fingers withdrawing, leaving a trail of her wetness behind. I held her gaze as I lifted my glistening fingers to my nose, inhaling her scent. “Smells fucking sweet,” I affirmed, bringing my fingers to my mouth, tasting her.

“Mm. And you taste just as sweet.” I leaned back and slid my hands down to her tiny waist. Her chest rose and fell with her erratic breathing.

“Nico, we have to go,” Luca reminded me, urgency etched in his tone.

“Enzo, be sure to keep Winter in my section only. Her friends can come join her,” I instructed. Winter kept her gaze on me as I adjusted my hard dick. Her sharp intake of breath sent a jolt through me. “And keep Preston and every other motherfucker away from her.”

When Preston approached Winter earlier, my jaw clenched so tightly that I almost cracked a tooth. Jealousy flared up like a raging fire. I turned to Enzo, and he nodded. “Yes, boss.”

Winter, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “Can you please stop talking about me like I’m not here, Nico,” she stated.

Fuck. I loved the way my name sounded rolling off her tongue.

“I can make my own choices,” she continued.

Her words only fueled my desire to possess her. “No,” I replied sharper than I intended, my grip tightening on her waist. “I’m the boss, and what I say goes, including anything I say to you.” My voice dripped with authority.

She straightened her back, meeting my gaze head-on. “I won’t be controlled by anyone . Not even you,” she whispered.

“You dare defy me, Angel?” When she didn’t respond, I grabbed her chin, making her wince. “Let me make it crystal clear. I am the one calling the shots.” I gritted my teeth. “And if you dare to defy me again, there will be consequences. Do you understand?”

She winced again at the force of my grip.

Her lips turned downward into a frown. “You can’t just bully me,” she said flatly. My grip tightened even more, and my voice dropped to a dangerous whisper as I leaned in closer to her face. My men closed in, probably worried that I might be ready to snap her neck.

No one ever disrespected me in front of my men. “Oh, but I can. And believe me, you don’t want to test me on this. You have no idea who I am and what I’m capable of when pushed to my limits.”

Her body trembled against mine, the fear noticeable as she swallowed hard. Winter nodded slowly, the reality of my warning seeming to set in. I’d like to keep her separate from that side of my life, but her fiery spirit turned me the fuck on. With a curt nod, I gently tapped her legs. I asked her to get off my lap, as much as I didn’t want her to because I loved the way she felt against my body.

She slid off and stood to my side.

I adjusted my hard on and watch as her eyes moved to my dick. I smirked when her cheeks flushed and she quickly averted her gaze.

“Let’s go,” I commanded my men.

Before I walked away, I leaned down to her ear and said, “Sleep tight, my angel. Pray and hope the devil stays far from your dreams tonight.”

With a smile on my face, I realized that she was stronger than I ever would have guessed from first looking at her, a force to be reckoned with, a woman who refuses to be controlled by anyone but herself.

“You are so fucked,” Luca said with a snicker.