Page 9 of Draco

“I’ve seen you before,” she cried out while adjusting her glasses. “You were in my house! You and that beast dog!”

“I won’t chase you around this room, woman.”

Her head jerked back. “You’re going to have to. I won’t let you do anything to me.”

“Never without your permission, Nugget.”

The nickname rolled off my tongue, and it appeared to relax her limbs.

“Where am I?” she asked in a whispery breath.

“Home.”

She sucked her teeth. “No.”

“I don’t like being told no.” I inched toward her.

“I don’t enjoy being snatched up and hunted like an animal.”

“Get over it! You’re not going anywhere,” I declared, pinning her into a corner.

My hands journeyed from her neck to right under her breasts before I picked her up and placed her on the bed. I wanted to slam her ass down after the way she kicked me, but I didn’t want to damage a woman I would have to look at forever.

“Whoare you?Whatare you?” she questioned me as she scooted toward the headboard.

“That depends on who you ask. I know what I can call you since you stole my wallet.”

Her brows rose in a slow arch. “What? No, no, no! I found it. I was going to take it to the police station.”

“The police? Do I look like somebody that deals with the police?”

She repositioned her glasses before pulling her knees up to her chest.

“I don’t know. One second, I see a dark skinned man with a sharp jawline. The next, I see... fangs? Oh my God! Please, let me go. I won’t tell anyone you kidnapped me.”

I moved in her direction, stepping further into the gleam of the reading lamp. There was fear in her brown eyes, yet the longer I stared, a flash of our future together flickered across my mind.

“What’s your name?” I asked, ignoring her request to leave.

“Francesca. Frankie works too. I’m only twenty-four. I can’t die?—”

“Frankie, I’m Draco,” I interjected. “I’m a few years older than you. And I hate to break it to you, but I couldn’t let you go if I wanted to.”

For three days,I acted like a brat and gave Draco a hard time. Granted, I had the right to act a fool, but after a while, I became tired of hearing my voice. The circumstances of my predicament were unbelievable, yet I had to admit the beast took care of me. He went to my house and packed my necessities. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were at my door every four hours. If I disliked a certain food, a different meal appeared in no time. I would imagine this was how a caged princess lived. She may sleep on the thickest sheets and have riches at her fingertips, yet she felt trapped in her own body.

From the night he plucked me out of the woods, I observed how Draco operated and concluded he was a creature of habit. He went running at 5:00 AM every day, and he treated breakfast like a necessity. I usually watched him from the window when he stretched, and I felt like a weirdo when I became captivated by the man who kidnapped me.

Planted in front of the bedroom door, I adjusted my glasses and rocked back and forth on the heels of my bare feet. The sound of wood under my toes reminded me I wasn’t in my home. Draco’s clothes swallowing my frame was another newsflash. I hadn’t decided if I believed the brief explanation Draco gave me on why he took me, but I wouldn’t figure it out in his guest room.

After muttering a silent prayer, I opened the door and traveled down the right side of the staircase. Though the house reminded me of a small castle, the black and nude decor and up-to-date amenities gave it a modern feel. At first, I thought Draco’s brothers lived with him, but by day two, I realized they lived in the other homes on the property.

For a second, I lingered in a hallway, admiring a photo of Draco and a group of men. They were all dressed in red and black and surrounded by motorcycles and vintage cars.

The Sons of Eshu.I ran my finger over the gold-plated inscription at the bottom of the frame. I had heard of the group before, and I thought they were a pack of daredevils. Videos of them drag racing and riding bikes on the freeway always came down my timeline, making me cringe.

Although the house seemed empty, I remained cautious as I wandered to the kitchen. The thought of running out the front door crossed my mind, yet flashbacks of the way the brothers ran me down made me rethink that idea.

As I marveled at the smart refrigerator, the sound of a bouncing ball guided my attention to the backyard. From the patio door, I watched the nicest brother of the trio play a solo game of tennis. He wasn’t as muscular as Draco or as tall as Zo, but the chubby man was handsome with beautiful dimples.

---