Page 25 of Anastasia

“What?” I asked. Her gaze strayed over to look out the window, where the moon was brightening up the room, even with the dark sky trying so hard to keep the light away.

“Knowing that I have power…even if it’s just the power I have over myself. That’s powerful,” she said, bewildered.

I thought about her words, allowing a smile to come to my face. She’s right, controlling our body, emotions, actions is very powerful.

“You know what makes me happy?” I questioned. Her eyebrows rose as if she were asking me ‘what?’ without saying the actual words. “When you shut up and go to sleep.”

She let out a loud gasp before throwing her pillow at me, laughter spilling from her lips.

I smiled at myself in the mirror again, only this time, it was genuine. It was one of my favorite memories, and it played out in my mind like it was actually happening. If I had known what Alexandria’s outcome was going to be, I would have said something different. I would have crawled into bed with her and held her close to me. There was so much I wish I could change, but I knew that I would never get that time back.

When I looked in the mirror one last time, the smile was gone. There wasn’t even a frown. Only a lone tear could do its best to explain everything my heart was screaming.

After letting out a deep breath, I grabbed the pink tank top with white lace dancing around the seams. After the top, I slid on a pair of shorts over my panties. My breasts were practically bulging from my top and I could make out the buds of my nipples. I was annoyed, but I loved that it was the most comfortable thing I had ever worn.

After I finished freshening up, I exited the room, making sure to shut the door behind me.

Mr. Romano was sitting on the bed. He looked hungry for something, and I had a feeling I knew exactly what he was craving.

“Mr. Romano!” I greeted, startled.

He glanced over at me before his eyes darkened as they skimmed down my body. I noticed the way he made a circular motion with his finger, beckoning me to twirl for him. Rolling my eyes, I turned around before returning back to my previous stance.

He was wearing a smirk that only grew more taunting as he walked up to me. It was challenging not to grow weak under his intense gaze.

“Do you work today?” he asked.

No words would form, so I settled with a shake of my head. What I didn’t tell him was that Valerio had given me two weeks off. He didn’t want me anywhere near the club while being in such a vulnerable state. I was also positive that Janice told him about my drinking episode.

“Fun,” he drawled out.

His arm circled around my waist as he pulled me flush against him. His body was rock hard and every bit of it was full of muscles. My eyes went up to meet him, only to see lust in the deep pools of his eyes.

“How long do you want to stay?” he asked, his face leaning down into the crook of my neck, where he already began to leave open-mouthed kisses.

My eyes shut as I bit down on my lip.

How long did I want to say?

I remembered all my clothes were locked away in my car. Not only that, but I’d moved out of my mother’s apartment and was currently homeless. My plans were to ask Janice or Liliana for a place to stay for a while, but after last night, my shots at that were probably gone.

“However long you want me to,” I responded seductively.

“Something is off about you,” he said slowly. He was looking at me like I was a puzzle he needed to solve. The desire I had pooling between my legs slowly vanished as I wondered if he could see the sorrow brewing within me.

“What?” I asked stupidly.

He shook his head just before unwrapping his arms from around me. I thought he was about to exit the room, but he managed to take me by surprise when he settled on the bed.

My legs were rooted to the ground while I observed him taking off his suit jacket. I wasn’t sure if it happened slowly, or if it was just my mind playing tricks on me. His eyes never left mine as he placed his suit jacket on top of the nightstand. Leisurely, he brought his hands over to one of the cuffs of his shirt. He unbuttoned it before rolling each long sleeve just above his elbow.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” he dared.

“What makes you think something is off about me?” I asked.

He chuckled darkly. I focused very closely on his hand as he easily pulled a gun from his pants before setting it right on top of his suit jacket.

I should’ve been more frightened that he had a gun the entire time, but at that point, I didn’t care if he was going to shoot me or not. With the way my luck was, I wouldn’t even be surprised.

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