Page 18 of Aching for His Discretion

I stuttered over my next few words as I spoke in complete shock.

“C-come again?” I said, flustered, and he tilted his head.

“I said you looked a bit pale, Tesoro… are you feeling okay?” he said, tilting his head as he walked over to his desk. I shook my head quickly as I followed suit.

“N-no, not that, the thing b-before; you said—” I began, and he shushed me softly as he turned and placed his hands on my face and caressed my cheeks with his thumbs.

I felt like melting once again in his arms as he gazed down at me with his beautiful eyes.

Don’t fall for it, Teegan. This is practically Psych 101. This is psychological manipulation at its best: using mind games to control a relationship or to undermine, confuse, and bring down the targeted person.

Oh, but I can’t help it… he’s so pretty, and I miss his company—

No—bad Teegan. You can’t even follow the rules you learn and preach!

“Tesoro...” he muttered, and I focused on him once again.

“Hmmm?” I hummed, and he looked down at my lips before gazing back into my eyes.One kiss wouldn’t hurt…

Even after he just tried to manipulate you?

“You’re thinking too much… let’s get you home. I know the party from before wasn’t your scene, and even if this club wasn’t the right one, I doubt the after-party at the club down the street would be any better,” he muttered.

I nodded slowly as I bit my lip. “There’s a place by my apartment that sells cookies and ice cream this late at night. Can we go there, please?” I asked him, and he nodded while pulling his hands away from my face. I went to pout, but he placed his hand in mine, causing a small smile to come to my face.

“Whatever you want, Tesoro,” he replied and grabbed his keys before walking us to the door of the office.

Upon opening it, Micah fell forward as he was using the door as support, and Nico had already turned down the hall as if he wasn’t listening. Leaning his head up, Micah smiled as he slowly stood up.

“I promise I wasn’t eavesdropping...” he muttered harmlessly.

Mr. Amante ignored him as he walked hand in hand with me toward the exit. I turned and gave Micah a small wave goodbyeas we walked, only to hear the voice of Elliot stopping us in our tracks. Elliot’s focus, however, was entirely on Mr. Amante.

“You know she’s going to be a distraction. Little girls like her shouldn’t be near places like this or near people like us,”he said in Italian before taking a sip of his drink as he stood with his other hand in his jacket pocket.

Gosh, they all looked so intimidating.

Levi narrowed his eyes at Elliot and tilted his head to the side. I felt him squeeze my hand a bit tighter, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.“Then I guess she’s my fucking problem to deal with and not yours.”

Then Elliot, for the first time since I’d met him, smirked. His eyes met mine for a moment, and he chuckled to himself as he shook his head, switching back to English. “Whatever you say,capo.”

He took another sip of his drink and walked away. Levi ignored him as he walked us outside to the parking lot, and he opened the door to his car for me.

I took a seat, thanking him softly, and he closed the door and entered on the driver’s side. Not long after, we were soon on the way to my neighborhood, but it was eerily silent.

I looked over to see him clenching the steering wheel in anger, and I bit my lip as I looked down at my lap. I felt partially responsible for his anger. If it wasn’t for me being there, Elliot would have never been angry, and neither would Mr. Amante…

“I... I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble tonight, Mr. Amante. Y-you can just take me home if you want,” I said through the silence in the car, but he remained quiet. Feeling slightly defeated, I looked out of the window as I leaned my head back on the headrest. We continued to sit in silence as I watched the buildings pass by.

Eventually, the car came to a stop, and when he put it in park, I was confused but excited to see my favorite ice cream shop before my eyes.

“Tesoro...” he muttered, and I turned only for him to catch my jaw in his hands as he held my face still. “Don’t think anything tonight was your fault. Just because Elliot may have rubbed me the wrong way doesn’t mean my anger or irritation has anything to do with you… understood?”

My face flushed as I noticed how close we were in proximity.Just a few more inches, and we’d be practically kissing.

“I understand,” I whispered, and he paused for a moment as he looked down at my lips and then back to my eyes after a split second.

I gasped as he placed a kiss on my lip, pulling my face closer to him. I let myself submit to his lips as I craved his taste. It was almost addicting. His smell, his touch, everything was overwhelming me, and I loved every second of it.

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