Page 10 of Straight, No Chaser
He jerks out of his chair and jets over to his precious baby, swiping it off the floor and tapping on the screen. Mumbling his complaints that it better not be fucking broken.
Normally, I keep my cool. Never showing anyone that they get to me. That I could ever feel anything from what they said or did. Always confident. Authoritative. Dominant. I don't have to act like the boss because I am the boss. Absolute and complete certainty in who I am and what I'm capable of. That's what keeps me alive.
But Ty knows me too well and isn't scared. So I have to get physical with him to get his attention. "Do not fuck with her."
"I'm not fucking withher,you stupid idiot. I'm fucking withyou. That girl isn't my type."
Now I'm really pissed. Which is so fucking dumb. That's how pussy fucks with your mind. Furious because I think he likes her and then enraged because he doesn't. "She's too good for your sorry ass."
Finally he looks up, only to roll his eyes. "Dude, you can totally tell she's a virgin and will probably only let you touch her with the lights off, under the covers, in her fucking grandma nightgown. She's insanely hot with those huge tits and that good girl vibe she's got going on, but no fucking thanks. Not worth the effort with all the other easy pussy around."
Jesus Christ, he really is our fucking father incarnate. "Real fucking classy, Ty."
He doesn't respond to my chastising. Just starts eating again. At least I have one good brother. Without even bothering to argue anymore, I head to my office. Grateful to hear Molly's laughter tinkling out of Eli's room down the hall. I don't know if I could've ever fixed the damage Ty would have caused if she overheard our conversation.
Stupid fucking asshole. I'm all wound up now. Antsy thinking about her innocence. God fucking damn my dick's going to fucking explode if that's true. To be the first man. The only man. Fuck, I need to know.
Or, if I'm honest with myself, maybe the agitation stems from my impending conversation with her. I shake my head, shoving out the rare budding of regret. This is what I want and Eli needs. I don't care if she doesn't like it. I'm making her mine, and she'll learn to love me.
"Luciano? Can I talk to you for a second?"
My cock jumps from her silky voice floating from the doorway. I don't look up right away. Punishing her with the same indifference I give to the dumb asses my guys drag in front of me desperate and terrified. Begging me to relieve the fear of death squeezing their lungs and hearts.
Not that I want her to suffer quite that much. But I do want her to squirm a bit. Just to see the pinkness dot her cheeks like cherries.
Finally, I glance at her.
She swipes at a tear dropping off her jaw with a trembling hand. Fuck me. I've made her cry. I quit fucking around and fly out of my chair, hauling ass past my desk. I stride to her, stopping only a few inches from her shuddering body. Fighting to hold herself back from full on crying.
I can't fucking help myself and caress her wet skin before I suck the tip of my thumb into my mouth, tasting the salty bitterness from my asshole plan to hurt her. "What's wrong, angel?"
She draws in a shaky breath, her eyes following my tongue on my finger. Yeah, baby girl, that will be you soon.
"M-my family. My Dad called..." Her small voice falls even softer. "...we're having financial problems. Even though I'm on scholarship, it's not enough. They can't afford for me to go to school anymore."
My head bobs in a sympathetic manner. Playing priest to her confession. When I'm really the fucking devil. Ready to ruin her pure soul. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"I have to quit." A sob bubbles in her voice, and her arms wrap around herself, gutting me with her attempts at self-comfort. "I have to go back home and get a job. I'm leaving."
"The fuck you are."
Her body jerks from my adamancy. I'm fucking serious. Fear like I've never known before wraps around my throat despite already knowing what she was going to say. Hearing those two words flames my possessiveness of her. Rare panic rolling through me from what I've done. The damage I may not be able to repair if I can't convince her. There's no way I can let her go. "I'll pay for your school."
"Wh-what?" Huge blue eyes still shiny from the pain I've caused meet mine before she shakes her head. "N-no. I mean thank you. Really. But I can't."
"Why the fuck not?"
"Because."
"Because why?" I feel like I'm fucking arguing with Eli. Now I'm getting pissed. At her and myself. All of my normal finesse gone. My negotiating skills evaporating from the one person I can't control. Can't figure the fuck out. "I have money. You need money. Problem solved."
I step back from her, my usual smug smile back in place, and stride to my laptop. Confirm her tuition rate. Transfer the funds. Move her shit in here. Done.
"I pay my own way."
A sharpness that I've never heard from her before fills her voice. What the fuck? She's pissed at me? But damn that's fucking sexy to see her all fired up. Her body taut and her delicate fingers curled in a ball with her defiant determination. Offended by my offer. Or more likely my presumptuous arrogance.
"I was raised to be independent. My dad always said the only debt we could ever owe is gratitude. We don't take hand-outs."
