Page 8 of Aching for His Discretion

I need to leave.

“Tesoro. Please, what are you doing on the ground?” I asked her, trying to remain nonchalant as she stared up at me with those beautiful doe eyes. Her innocence should not turn me on as much as it does, but fuck, she was absolutely killing me.

“I wanted to ask if you could help me study. Grayson usually does it, but he’s sleeping on you now,” she muttered, and I internally rolled my eyes.

Of course, the fucking cat helps her with everything. I don’t even know how he does it, and I’m already growing more jealousof him by the second. However, I had to thank him for remaining still on my lap as I was growing a bit…excitedif you will.

God, I need to leave this apartment now.

“Here are my flashcards if you want to,” she continued, and it was then that I noticed I hadn’t given her a real answer.

I grabbed the cards from her hand and looked at the words that resembled a different language entirely.

“‘A 35-year-old man presents with pain and swelling in his right arm after scraping it on a tree branch 2 days ago. His temperature is 101°F. On examination, there’s significant swelling and a tender, red lesion at the injury site. The physician notes that the area is particularly sensitive to touch. What is most likely the primary mechanism of the development of edema in this patient?’”I asked her and read her answer choices to her afterward.

She thought about it for a moment. “Separation of endothelial junctions,” she said hopefully, and I felt a surge of pride that she got the answer.

“Good girl. Next question,” I said, fully invested in testing her knowledge, excited to hear her say the correct answer. My eyes went back to the card, but I discreetly caught her little body squirming as her face went red, like it usually did when I verbally praised her.

Our little session went on for a lot more questions, and she was confident in her knowledge of each one, seemingly eager to please me… until we reached one which she didn’t know entirely.

“...Is it the sebaceous gland?” she asked, and I shook my head. She thought for a little while longer before giving me a look of defeat.

“No, Tesoro… think again. You know the answer,” I said almost angrily, and she thought even harder.

“…The eccrine gland,” she whispered, and I internally smiled as I placed her last flashcard on the coffee table.

“Perfect, baby,” I responded, and she squealed softly as she stood up and wrapped her arms around my neck. I briefly took in her scent as I wrapped my arms around her…Fuck, she smelled so good.

“Thank you, thank you!” she said happily before stopping for a moment and pulling away. “Sorry... I just got a bit excited,” she whispered, and I shook my head.

“No need to apologize, Tesoro.”

Looking down at my phone, I noticed I had received another text. I gazed at the message for a moment as she collected her flashcards, and I stood up, slowly moving the fur monster onto the couch.

“I have to go,” I muttered, and she looked over at me as she stood up.

“Already?” she asked softly, and I groaned internally, her eyes begging me to stay. Little did she know, I was digging myself a grave, given the fact that I shouldn’t even be here in the first place. She was too naive, too innocent to realize my thoughts about her and her sexy little body were anything but.

“I’m sorry, Tesoro. It’s important business that I need to take care of.”

She nodded in understanding and walked me to the door of her apartment.

“...Will we be able to spend more time together soon?” she asked me innocently, and I gave her a small smile as I had a somewhat evil one in my mind.

What a cute little question.

“Of course, Tesoro. I’ll text you whenever you want me to and help you study whenever I have time,” I said, reassuring her, and she smiled beautifully as she gave me another hug. I ran my fingers down her hair as I tilted my head, intrigued at the way a small shiver ran down her spine at my touch.

It was strange almost… I’d never met someone so trusting, so eager to please, so desperate for validation. It made her vulnerable and easy to manipulate as she clung to every word I said, every bit of praise I offered, without a second thought. If I were a good person, I would pull away, remind her we were strangers, and let her know I wasel Diavolo—the most dangerous man she would possibly ever meet in her life.

But for some reason, I didn’t. Instead, I found myself leaning closer, almost eager to see just how far I couldpush, how much I couldtakefrom her.

My sweet Tesoro has no idea what she’s getting herself into, and for now, that wasexactlyhow I wanted it to stay.

Teegan

“Teegan, you have to come!” one of my classmates practically begged me, and I looked over at her as I sighed. It had been a few days since I’d seen Levi, and although I texted him every day, I didn’t want to bother him.

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