Page 40 of Blood and Beauty (Owned by The Don)

“You’re not supposed to be here. Get out now.”

He gets up and walks closer to me, stopping a foot away. I take in his powerful presence and inwardly curse at myself for letting him get to me. He’s in all black again, his shoes and pants blending in with the night. He’s wearing a black button-down shirt that's tucked into his pants, the top buttons undone like always, showing the chain of his medallion nestled against his tan skin.

Why does he affect me like this?I swear I get drunk off his presence, no liquor is ever required where he’s concerned and I fucking hate that.

“I don’t think so, Esmeralda. See, you and I have a problem now.” I roll my eyes at him and his jaw clenches.

“What’s new?” His eyes narrow at my response.

“What’s new is that you’ve done exactly what I’ve asked you not to, though I am not surprised. You couldn’t follow directions if you had a gun to your head.”

His snide remark should get to me, but I don’t let it. My anger is too strong.

“Is this about me going out and celebrating mybirthday?You release me to my life again and I’m still supposed to play hostage for you?” I throw my hands up in the air, exasperated by all that is him, but then something clicks.

“The man that was just following me, was he-”

“My guard? Yes. Although, I’d say he’s your guard now, since you can’t do a single thing that you’re told.”

I want to punch the snide look right off his beautiful face.

“I don’t need a fucking guard for Christ’s sake, Dante! I’m a grown woman who can do what she damn well pleases.” He takes a step forward, and his height makes him tower over me.

“Cuida tu lenguaje.”Watch your mouth.

I roll my eyes again and try to step back, but I whimper in pain. My heel is cut and burning from those stupid shoes. He looks down at the source of my pain and frowns, his black brows knit together like caterpillars.

“What happened to your feet?” Now he’s concerned about me?

“Not that it’s any of your business, but the shoes I wore tonight were old and way past their expiration date.” He looks up at my face and meets my gaze. I want to slap myself for wishing that I could see his eyes better in the dark.

“You have more than enough money in your bank account, why wouldn’t you purchase new shoes?” This sets me off, like a wild woman on a rampage.

“Because I don’t need your fucking money! I especially don’t need it when you decided to fuck me and then send me off without a word or notice. You made me feel like a whore!”

I’m shouting at him and he’s clenching his fists, his anger rising to the surface, but I don’t care. I want him to hurt. I want to hurt him for hurting me, which makes me even angrier because I allowed myself to be hurt by him in the first place.

“I told you to watch your fucking mouth!” he shouts.

“Stop treating me like a child!”

“Then stop acting like one!” He roars at me before marching up closer, his face an inch away from mine. I can smell his alluring scent better like this, he smells like whiskey and wood right now.

“What do you want from me, Dante? You want me to be a good girl who stays home and does what she's told? You want me to keep living in a shell of a life after everything that’s happened recently? I have news for youEl Oscuro,it’s not going to fucking happen!”

He snaps and grabs my face, his rough hands on each of my cheeks. I hate that I feel more content when his skin is on mine, even if it’s out of anger.

“Get your hands off of me.” My voice is low and scratchy, making my request sound obsolete.

“Why? You liked it last night. Did that boy from the club make you forget my touch already?” He says the word boy like it’s acid on his tongue, and it makes me want to smile in some sort of sick victory. I shouldn’t like that I’ve made him jealous, but I do. I like it a lot.

“I can let whoever I want touch me. It’s my choice to make and it’s my body.”

His jaw ticks before he bends his head down to run his nose along my throat. I hold back a gasp of pleasure, refusing him to let him see the effect that he has on me.

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Esmeralda. I think we both know that I own your body more than you do yourself. I think we both know that nobody's touch will ever compare to mine.” He licks the base of my throat and my knees shake.

Damn him. Damn him for everything he makes me feel.

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