Page 4 of Mobster's Home

She shakes her head with flushed cheeks. “You can’t just barge into my life like a tornado, Derex.”

It’s the only way, I know how to do things. “If you don’t come with me, I’ll walk out and you’ll never see me again. Either you let me claim a right to you or you shut that door in my face, there’s no in between.” When she doesn’t respond, I drop the box and head for the door.

“Derex!” she cries and I stop, filling with satisfaction because I knew she’d be willing to go with someone like me if it means leaving this place behind. “I’ll c...come with you.”

I give a curt nod, pushing down the satisfactory bawl in my chest. “You made the right choice.”

“Of course you would say that,” she breathes, picking up her box. “Will you carry it for me? It’s heavy.” Naturally, I take it from her and she looks up at me with excitement and hesitance in her eyes. “This is unbelievable. Who would’ve thought our meeting would end up with the two of us becoming roommates.”

The corners of my mouth twitch. “You got it all wrong, Luna. I’m not taking you as my roommate, I’m taking you as my woman.”

“W...woman,” she gulps as if she’s way too inexperienced to be someone’s woman, “just like that, huh?” Her eyes turn glassy. “You did say you were a romantic.”

This has nothing to do with romance but all about territory and possession. No made man would leave a woman he cares about, unprotected like this. She needs to be under his black wings, that’s where she’s the safest and I’ll be very careful, and only let her know the truth about my lifestyle once she’s ready.

When she doesn’t reply how she feels about becoming mine, I feel a flash of worry. She’s looking at me as if trying to assess me and I lower my head, trying to make myself look smaller and she winces. “Don’t do that,” she pleads. “Don’t try to make yourself less intimidating.”

“Thought it would make you feel more comfortable,” I rasp and she shakes her head.

“I like your height,” she whispers, “the size of your shoulders. Never seen a man as enormous as you.”

“You’ve been looking at other men, then?” I say as my throat strains and she smiles softly.

“You know what I mean.” Her smile widens. “I wouldn’t mind being your girl, Derex. There’s something superior about you that draws me to you and I have a feeling I won’t regret this.”

“And if you do, what will you do then?” I rasp and she shrugs lightly. “You think I’ll let you go?” When she nods in all sincerity, I whisper, “Think again.”

Her eyes flare but then she shivers and that spring maiden flush on her face tells me everything I need to know.

3.

Luna

Squealing, I laugh when Derex picks me up and carries me over the threshold. “We’re not even married,” I say and his eyes shimmer, the aggression that was in them earlier in the day dissipating and he’s magnificent like this “But I guess we can pretend.”

“Does that mean you’ll let me put you to bed and make love to you until we both can’t breathe?” he purrs against my neck and I breathe,

“Maybe.”

His eyes flash as if he just took that maybe as a yes and I have to tug at him to put me down. He does so reluctantly, not giving me much space and he was like that on our way here as well, stayed close the whole time as if he’s replaced my shadow with his own and whenever we crossed a street he’d hold my hand tightly, worried I’d change my mind and run back home.

I wouldn’t do that and his own home is amazing, albeit a bit dark and somewhat...morose with stained glass windows and crimson accents. It’s up on a hill, surrounded by tall trees and I let out a surprised sound when I see there’s a bright red pool outside. Red from the tiles of course but this is so different from my own place and I feel a flash of relief that I won’t have to worry about the leak in the ceiling or the crappy heating anymore. There’s nothing crappy about Derex’s lair and I’m stunned to find it so luxurious.

“I had no idea bounty hunters made this much money,” I blurt and for a second he seems uncomfortable and I want to face palm myself. That was such an inappropriate thing to say and I throw him an excusatory glance. ”Sorry.”

“No,” he rasps between his teeth. “Never apologize.” He nods at my box. “We should put away that thing.” Something calculating flashes in his eyes. “My bedroom would be a good place.”

I gulp, following him upstairs and I can’t get over his size. If he rolls over on me in the middle of the night while we’re in bed, he’ll probably flatten me. I let out a nervous snort and flush, my thoughts wandering to what it would be like sleeping with him...when we come to a stop in his room, and his black and red bed looks like it belonged to a vampire in the past.

“What do you think?” he whispers in a summoning voice. “Think you’ll be comfortable?”

“Aha...,” I gasp, becoming painfully aware of just how close he is.

“That fairy hair would look good against my sheets,” Derex raps and I notice he’s staring at me again, “that delicate face of yours screaming into my pillows.”

Shivering, I lick my lips and he slides a hand down my arm. “Derex...,” I pant, feeling helpless as if I’m a damsel from some histrionic movie in his presence but he’s so freaking extreme that I don’t blame myself.

“Luna...,” he begins, his voice low and persuasive now and almost hypnotic, “I prefer sleeping alone but I’m afraid I can’t let you sleep anywhere in this house unless it’s in my bed. There’s a guestroom down the hall but if you tell me you prefer staying in there, I’ll grab a bat from my closet and wreck every piece of furniture in that room.”

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