Page 55 of Enzo DeLuca

She shook her head. “As I said, I’ve got my own secrets.”

How many secrets could a former firefighter turned travel blogger have?

“Your lifestyle isn’t the problem.”

“What’s the problem?” he asked. Whatever it was, he’d take care of it.

“For one, you asked me to kneel last night.”

Why was she so caught up on that?

“And,” she continued. “I know all you’ll ever see me as is a kept woman.”

“What do you mean, a kept woman?”

“Someone you fuck when you have time. Other than that, you’ll probably keep me in some small townhouse, away from the view of others, until you’re ready to fuck me again.”

“Why the hell would I do that?” He wanted her with him, by his side.

“Because... because I’m a black woman.”

“What?” he asked, frowning.

“You may be attracted to me. But I know you’d never date a black woman.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because...”

“Because what?” he asked, ready for her to explain herself.

“Because of appearances. I overheard one of your guards talking, and he basically said you’d be okay keeping me as a toy, but that was all you’d think of me as because I’m black.”

Anger filled him. “When did you hear this, and who said it?”

“Yesterday, during lunch.”

Understanding dawned on him. “Is that why you tried to burn down my kitchen?”

After a brief hesitation, she nodded.

“Eve, you’re beautiful. Your skin color is beautiful. Fuck anyone who thinks differently.”

“I feel the same way. But...”

“I don’t care about color.”

“I bet you’ve never dated a black woman.”

“I haven’t. But I haven’t dated much, period. I’ve fucked. I’ve taken dates to events. But I’ve never truly done the whole dating just because you like being with that person type of thing. But Eve, I like being around you.”

“You’ve only known me a couple of days.”

“It only took my grandfather a second to realize he wanted to be with my grandmother. My father also fell in love with my mother at first sight. The men in my family go after what they want. We don’t waste time, and we don’t give a fuck about social norms. And Eve, I want you. I want you to stay with me, willingly. Will you do that?”

Eve swallowed. She still appeared nervous and on the verge of saying no.

“Think about it,” Enzo told her, fearing her response wouldn’t be what he wanted.

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