Page 5 of The Don's Proposal

“Well, are you going to introduce yourself? You know who I am. I’d say it’s only fair.”

When this beauty doesn’t answer, I lift a brow. I can always part her lips with my thumb and see if she still has a tongue intact. While discovering her secrets with my tongue is the preferred option, I can’t risk losing myself to her lure.

She opens her mouth, and I’m happy to discover she does have the ability to speak. Her tongue swipes at her bottom lip, all wet and pink. “Everyone knows who you are.” A shiver rolls through her body when my chest rumbles with dissatisfaction. “I’m no one. A nobody looking for clout. That’s all.”

Though a little shaky, she doesn’t stutter. Her voice comes out like a sing-song tune. A little high-pitched, but that may be the nerves.

Closing my eyes for just a moment, I continue to pick and prod at my memory. My frown grows as the search comes up empty.

“Your name, little bird.Now.” Impatience seeps into my chest, and my brows furrow. “Or–” I click my tongue, “–do I need to search you for your identity?”

Her dress has no pockets, not that I can see. There’s only one place I can think of her hiding anything, and when my eyes meet her chest, she lets out this new sound. A breathless whimper.

As if my cock needed any more of an excuse to become harder than granite.

“I’m sorry.” Whispering her apology, I’m suddenly questioning if two wordsareenough to forgive such a crime.

Like something as little as a name can deserve to be locked away in a safe, I ache to know it even more as she clings to it with tight fists. Does she want me to fall to my knees and beg? Fuck, she could lie through her teeth, and I wouldn’t know the difference. I just needsomething.

Leaning in, her head naturally tilts as my lips brush the outer shell of her ear.

I should ask her who she works for. Someone must have hired her to help. Whatever poor bastard is paying this lousy burglar must really know how to pick them.

Before I can ask anything, her hands are on my vest. Like she’s caught onto her traitorous body, she pushes against my chest. It’s like trying to get a brick wall to move. I don’t budge.

Her frustration seeps in too quickly, her blood turning hot in a familiar fashion. Now this is something I finally recognize, more within myself.

“Parada.” She speaks the last name like it’s an insult. As she fucking should.

A hiss leaves my lips as I yank back away from her. The warmth I greedily sucked in moments ago quickly evaporates, leaving my front cool to the touch.

“Parada.” There is no mistaking that name. Rocco Parada has been a pain in my ass for months. From taking out many of my transportation vehicles, to buying out some of my biggest suppliers.

What in the hell did he hope this little stunt would pull him? Did he think I’d be foolish enough to leave valuable information on my business, on mylivelihood, in my top desk drawer?

Or maybe he sent this woman to lure the information straight from the source? A sheep in wolf’s clothing. Purposely drawing me away from my men, playing the part of this poor, defenseless being who doesn’t know any better.

Anger floods over my vision, and I curl and uncurl my fingers. I’ve never been known to have patience. A pretty little thing isn’t going to change that.

I do not like being tricked or fooled. No, not one fucking bit.

Erasing the space between us once more, I flatten her palms against the desk, mine keeping them in place. “Who are you? Do not test my temper by making me repeat myself more than I already have.”

She squeaks, her shoulders hunching. “C-Camellia.” Her stutter extinguishes her earlier anger. She may have hot blood, but she’s more of an impostor now that the haze has lifted.

I’m seeing clearly now.

“Did you enjoy yourself,Camellia?” Her name feels nice against my tongue, and it pisses me off even more. “Did you enjoy making a mockery of me?”

Did she enjoy making me want something I can’t have? Like teasing an addict with a little baggie before destroying it right before their eyes.

Her mouth pinches shut, and she shakes her head. She doesn’t apologize again, a smart decision.

“Were you hired? Was the pay worth it?” So many questions fill my head, enough to make my headache worse. “Worth the cost of your life?”

“I’m not being paid.” Something about that wide look tells me she’s telling the truth. However, it’s such a ridiculous thought that I can’t help the coarse laugh that leaves my lips. “My brother made me–”

“Yourbrother?” As if this can’t possibly get any worse, this beauty really knows how to inflict damage. Even when she’s not trying to, she stabs this metaphoric knife deeper into my chest and twists it.

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