I hate that she thinks I could ever harm her, but it’s the façade I’ve had to keep in place so that she would abide by my rules. For her own good, I’ve distanced myself, but now I realize it hasn’t worked. Because when I look into her deep brown eyes, I want to say yes to every request that drops from her plump lips. More than that, I want to tell her how I feel about her. But I can’t. Not now. Not when we have business.
“Your requests are noted.” I lean back.
She deflates a little, her gaze dropping to her plate again.
Fuck. I can’t let her dreams die just like that. “Valentina.” I love saying her name.
She looks up.
“I will have a proper gym put in place for you here and a trainer from the university to come and instruct you as you’d like.”
When her eyes light up, my entire body seems to relax, as if some part of me deep inside is purring at her happiness. She pops her last piece of bacon into her mouth and tries not to smile as she chews.
“The kitten I’ll think about.” I wave a hand. “Now. Your birthday is coming up. You’ll be twenty-one. Things are going to change.”
“What? How?” She stops eating.
“I’m having a lawyer draw up everything that we’ll need so I can explain it all to you with ease and clarity, but I wanted to let you know that change is coming.” I stand and push my chair up.
“What’s going to change?” She swallows hard.
Everything. Every single thing. And she’s not ready. Neither am I. But she is the heir to the Cruz family fortune and business.
I walk to her and tilt her chin up. She inhales quickly, surprise in her gaze, but she doesn’t pull away. No matter how frightened she might be, she seems to enjoy my touch. I let the wolf come out to play for only a moment as I slide my fingers down her throat and run them around the collar of her shirt, teasing her warm skin and finally getting a feel of the paradise that is my sweet Valentina.
Leaning down, I brush my lips against hers. Because I’m hungry. Because only she can satisfy the craving that has ruled my life for the past few years. I take her mouth again, my tongue sweeping against hers as she gasps and grabs the lapels of my coat. I angle her chin, giving myself a deeper taste of my love, my only one, my perfect Valentina. Because I’m a man whose control dangles by a thread. And now I’ve been too close to her, too near my innocent lamb, and the wolf inside me hungers greatly. But I must keep it in check for her. I must. With one more caress of my tongue, I force myself to break the kiss and back away.
“We will discuss it soon. Prepare yourself.” I turn and make myself leave the kitchen, but I’m so tempted to return to her and ravage her right there on the table, bent over her breakfast, my thrusts pushing the table across the floor--I have to leave.
I have to escape the prison I created for myself. Because if I don’t, I will claim her as mine and end any chance she has at inheriting her fortune.
6
Valentina
My heart pounds as I jump up from my chair and race straight for my room. My whole body is on fire. Every part of me feels alive. This is different from the thrill I get from taking my little treasures.
I lock my bedroom door as I enter my room, then go straight for my closet. I already know what I want. It’s the only thing I’ve been able to think about since Cesar’s mouth left mine. I’ve always referred to him as Mr. Saldana but I think after having his tongue in my mouth, Cesar is more than appropriate.
I dig to the back, pulling out the shirt that I took last week. It was the first time I’d nicked something that wasn't of value. I don’t know why I took it. I think I was getting annoyed that he hadn’t noticed everything else I’d been taking.
I switched it up to see if he’d finally realize things were missing, which is crazy because I tell myself that I take things because I need to. That I may need them to fund my escape one day. It gives me a sense of comfort, knowing that I have something to trade in order to make money. I don’t steal to get his attention. Well, I didn’t when this first started. Lately, though, things have changed a bit.
I bring the shirt to my nose and breathe him in. A small whimper leaves my lips. There must be something wrong with me. Yet, that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop. This time was so different than all the others.
I’ve always thought Cesar was sexy. No one can deny that. There isn’t much when it comes to men around here. Using him in my fantasies was really my only option. Again, I think I might be lying to myself. Because Cesar is more handsome than any man I’ve ever seen in person or on the screen or even on the internet. Broad shoulders, devilish eyes, a confidence in every one of his strong movements--he’s been an obsession of mine for as long as I can remember.
But it doesn't matter. He’s kept me at a distance, and maybe that’s a good thing. He’s dangerous, powerful, and seductive in a way that I can’t put into words. All the same, I won’t be able to do anything until I fill this ache inside of me. One that has been there for a while. Him pressing his lips to mine hasn’t helped dull the ache. His tongue delved into my mouth as though he were claiming me. A wild heat breaks out inside of me.
When my panties hit the floor, I see a small wet spot inside of them. That’s never happened before either. My clit throbs as I throw myself onto my bed. It’s never been like this. I only do this late at night when it’s dark and no one can hear me say Cesar’s name.
I bring his shirt to my nose as my hand slips down my stomach. I part my thighs and bring two fingers straight down to my clit. I jerk as soon as they touch. It’s so sensitive that it almost feels like I’ve come already. I push hard on my clit. My hips move to get the friction they need. They want to lift off the bed, but there’s nothing inside me to thrust onto. My body wants more, wants him, but this is all I can have. This is all I can give it for now.
I move my fingers fast as my mind flashes back to the kisses Cesar gave me. I close my eyes, picturing him lifting me from the chair as his other hand sends the dishes flying off the table before laying me across it. His mouth nips and kisses at the rest of my body all the way down until he’s between my thighs.
“Oh God.” I close my eyes as I think about how wide my legs would have to spread to fit his broad shoulders there as his tongue played with my clit. Taking what he wanted as he told me he’d kept me prisoner in his home because I was the most valuable thing in the world to him. That he was stealing me like I stole all my treasures because I was his treasure. The thought makes me come.
“Cesar.” I cry out his name as my back arches off the bed, and the orgasm takes me. I roll over and bury my face in my pillow. My body hums with pleasure. This orgasm is so different from the others I’ve given myself. My body aches for more. I groan into the pillow because I know it wants him and only him.
I roll back over and look up at the canopy over my bed. What has he done to me? I’m supposed to hate him. Sitting up, I crawl to the side of the bed and shove his shirt under my pillow to hide it. It’s quickly become one of my most valuable treasures. How would I explain that one to my mom if she found it?
Now what am I going to do all day? Cesar's words play over and over again in my head. I’d almost forgotten everything he’d said after that kiss. How easily he distracted me. I bite my lip and wonder if he’d left so quickly from the table because he had the same problem as me.