Page 15 of The Don's Proposal

I imagine myself back at home, having this rough fantasy tearing through me just to wake up to my empty space of a room. Back to a silent life of being invisible to those I once called family.

For just a minute, I’ll enjoy this. Enjoy all the attention he’s giving me.

When the minute is up, I’m pulling back. My breathing is uneven, and my lips feel swollen.

Santino’s eyes are bright, just like his grin. He’s so pleased with himself. Pleased with getting his way while taking another piece of myself to feed his greedy self.

“I’m ready to go to bed.” I want to sleep this night away and move past it all. Even if I have to face the music in the morning, I’d rather not let myself slip up again because he wants something else. There’s only so much I have to give before I lose myself entirely.

“You’re sure? I don’t mind the view. The temperature feels perfect.” Looking like he wouldn’t mind staying out here for hours, he frowns when I start to wiggle. “Want me to carry you?”

“I can walk, thank you.” Stumbling to my feet, I don’t give him another chance to pick me up. I’ve been off my feet too many times around him.

Surprisingly, he keeps his hands to himself. Going as far as stuffing them into his pockets, he lets me lead. Even though I don’t know where I’m going, he keeps his eyes on me at all times.

The little hairs on the back of my neck are prickling. I fight the urge to tremble beneath his watch.

Once we’re back inside, he tells me which directions to move. When we come to an eventual stop, I’m sure this door isn’t the same one he took me to the first time. He proves my suspicions correct when he pushes open the door and places his hand on my back to guide me inside.

“I can’t trust even my own blood to keep you contained. For now, you’ll stay in here.” Shutting the door, he audibly locks it and leaves me standing at the entrance of the room as he moves deeper into the room.

This is his bedroom. The alarms are ringing loud in my head. There must be some kind of delay since they weren’t ringing like this when I was lost in the kisses he was planting on my lips only minutes ago.

“I can’t stay here.” Sputtering on the words, I watch him undo his belt. My heart shoots up into my throat, and I want to turn away, but my body doesn’t move.

Like a freaking magnet, I watch the leather snap against his wrist as he pulls it loose from his slacks. Only a few inches below, I can see the curve of his arousal pressing against his fly.

While I’m swallowing thickly, my eyes burn as I forget to blink.

Rolling the belt around his knuckles, his mouth twitches in what I can only guess is amusement. “Keep staring at me like that, and I’m going to want to put on a show for you. Might as well take a seat on the bed. It’s far more comfortable.” He looks at me and sets down the belt against a dresser. He moves to hook his finger beneath the knot of his tie.

My knees feel too wobbly to carry me over to his bed. “I’m not staring.”

It’s a lie, and we both know it.

Santino doesn’t deserve to be as attractive as he is. Aren’t monsters supposed to be scary-looking? With sharp teeth and glowing eyes? I suppose being fatally attractive is a thing. He fits the bill well enough.

“What is going on in that head of yours?” His fingers move down the row of buttons running down his vest, unhooking each jewel. Once he’s shrugged that piece off, he moves his fingers to his shirt. Slowly unbuttoning them each to reveal more tanned, flawless skin, I forget how to breathe.

My cheeks feel even more hot when I realize I’m trailing every single movement of his. “That’s none of your concern.”

That, and I don’t think I like the answer enough to tell him.

Realizing that he is fully intending to change in front of me, I find the strength to turn away.

If I wait long enough for him to get naked, could I attempt to run again? What is the chance he’d come after me wearing nothing but his birthday suit? He’s crazy enough to do it, I’m sure. No point in seeing what’ll happen to me if I go against him twice in one night.

However, this room upgrade feels less like a punishment, and more like a reward.

Santino has strange methods, I’ll give him that. He really knows how to keep someone up on their toes.

Heading over to the bed, I keep my eyes pinned to the midnight blue silk sheets covering the mattress. The fabric feels cool to the touch as I glide against it. Grabbing the blanket, I throw it over my head to block out any tempting whispers begging me to look his way.

There are plenty of things I haven’t done before, including looking at a man without clothes on or seeing his cock. Santino can’t steal all of my firsts. Some of these things, I plan on keeping for myself in a tight grip against my chest.

I listen to him move around the room. More clothes hit the ground before there’s the drag of a drawer opening. More shuffling. He’s creating so many noise, it’s near impossible to focus on anything else. Clenching my eyes shut, I scooch a little more forward toward the edge of the bed. It’s a decent-sized mattress, much bigger than my twin-sized one. Plenty of room for two adults.

Soon, the bed dips with the shift of additional weight. There’s a little movement as Santino gets comfortable.

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