His hold on my ankle tightens as he reaches to the floor with his other hand. “Put these on.” He tosses my shorts towards me. I snatch them from the air.
“I need my foot to do that.” I pull on my leg.
He looks down at his hand wrapped around my ankle, then squeezes a little tighter. “You do not sleep with my staff. As a matter of fact, you do not sleep with anyone.” He lets me go.
I pull away and scoot to the edge of the bed, throwing my legs over to pull up my shorts. I hop down and shimmy them up my legs. I can feel Cesar’s eyes on me the whole time.
Once my bits aren’t on display anymore, I say, “I can sleep with whomever I like.” I don’t know why I feel the need to poke him, but I do. I also don’t know why I’m angry at him. Oh, yeah. I remember: he gets to leave whenever he wants. Gets to sleep with whomever he wants. While I’ve been trapped here for years, my life in stasis. There is no future in sight for me besides being stuck in this life. He controls my every move.
He moves, catching me off guard with his speed. My back hits the bed as he comes down over me. My nipples harden as he pins me to the mattress. He looms over me. The look on his face is deadly. I don’t feel scared this time, though. I clench my thighs together as the throb returns between them, begging for his mouth there again.
“Do you want me to kill my own staff, little mouse?”
I suck in a breath. The nickname he’s given me doesn’t go unnoticed, but I need to focus. I can’t let my guard down any more than I already have.
“Are you saying you’ll kill whomever I sleep with?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Don’t give me so much power, Cesar.”
“Valentina.” His voice holds a warning to it.
Again, no fear comes. Why? What has changed? It can’t be the kisses or the fact that he had his mouth between my legs. Those things mean nothing to men. They hadn't to my father, at least.
“How come you can go get your needs filled but I can’t?” I throw back at him. I can’t stop the jealousy I have from bleeding into my words. It started with the necklace the other day, and it’s only getting worse. The thought of him with another woman makes my stomach hurt.
“Follow the rules, Valentina, or there will be consequences.” His voice is stern as he avoids my question.
“Answer me, Cesar.” I drag out his name as he had mine earlier, then push on his chest, but he doesn't move. He stares down at me, looking like he wants to say something but he’s debating it.
“Meow.”
I let out a gasp at the sound of a cat. “What’s that?”
Cesar pulls back to look over the side of the bed. I steal the opportunity to slip out from under him quickly. I gasp when I see a little black ball of fur. With a strangled squeal, I drop to my knees and pick up the kitten. Its little green eyes stare at me as I bring it to my chest to cuddle it.
“Careful, she can be mean.”
“It’s a baby.” She purrs loudly in my arms. “Don’t you listen to him. You're not mean.” I kiss her little fluffy head as I get back on my feet. “Let’s take you to my room.”
“Who said the kitten was yours?” Caesar asks, stopping me in my tracks.
“If it’s not mine, then whose kitten is it?” I glare at his handsome face, then snap a pic of her and send it to Jewels.
“It’s mine, clearly.”
“Oh, look who can suddenly answer a question.” I stomp my foot, wishing I could take it back the second I do it. Knowing that it makes me look a bit immature and like a spoiled child. “You don’t have time for a kitten. You’re busy doing other things,” I snip, turning to leave with my kitten. “Feel free to wake me up like that whenever you’d like in the future,” I add before heading out of the bedroom. I peek over my shoulder as I go down the long hallway, disappointment hitting me when I see Cesar doesn't follow me.
I’m already thinking of more ways I can push Cesar. If he isn’t going to let me go, then he’ll have to learn to deal with my newfound attitude. I wonder how far I can push him before I get him to snap. I smile down at my kitten. My stolen little fluffy ball of joy. She isn’t the last thing I intend to take from Cesar. I’ll steal his sanity next.
9
Cesar
My little mouse torments me as I sleep, the taste of her on my lips, the feel of her in my hands. I wake and find myself thrusting against the mattress, my cock hard as I imagine it claiming Valentina’s tight, wet cunt.
I force myself onto my knees, my heart racing and sweat breaking out across my bare chest. Out of control, that’s what I am. I haven’t felt this way since I was a younger man, one hungry to take lives and amass an empire.
But when I found her in my bed, I snapped. Gone. Done. I couldn’t refuse myself the pleasure of her body. And as I took, I gave. When she came with my name on her lips, it took every ounce of strength I possessed not to claim her.
Staying strong is what keeps her safe, and I must continue to do so until her birthday next week. She must be a virgin when she comes of age, so I must keep my hands to myself while also keeping a close eye on her. I’m doing this for her, I remind myself. I’m keeping tabs so she can live a life of her own choosing with a fortune at her fingertips.
I sink back on the bed, my heart calming as I return to my calm, methodical way of thinking.
The sun is already rising, and my lawyer is always on time. Today is the day Valentina will learn of her father, his fortune, and her place in the world.
I climb out of bed and take a quick shower, then dress and head downstairs to breakfast. My thoughts are entirely focused on my little mouse, just as much as they always are. I can’t fall for her temptation again.
I must be strong, and I must tell her that her future depends on us maintaining our distance from each other. Instead of going to my dining room for breakfast, I turn toward the Cruz’s wing of the house. If she’s keeping to her schedule, she’ll be in her makeshift gym.
I push through the doors and stop.
She’s here. And she’s wearing nothing more than a sports bra and some bottoms that it would be generous to call panties. In a handstand, she spreads her legs, doing the splits in mid-air as she stares at me in the mirror that spans one wall of the former dance studio.
Her little smirk goes right to my cock.
“Come to have another meal?” she asks with a sassiness that sets my blood on fire.
I stride to her, my eyes fixed on her thighs and that perfect spot nestled between them. Her small gym shorts hug her tightly, giving a glimpse of every bit of her.
“Why do you test me, little mouse?” I run my hands down her thighs and cup her pussy, the heat from it warming my palm.
She shudders and rolls onto her back, then gets to her knees and gives me a view of her on all fours, her back arched. Then she looks at me over her shoulder as her knees spread and she’s again wide open, her hot cunt warming the mat.
My control is hanging by a thread.
I came here for a reason. What was it? I can’t seem to remember because all I can think about is devouring her, then fucking her against the mirrored wall.
“Cesar, was there something you needed?” She puts emphasis on the last word and moves her hips when she says it. Her ponytail sways as she watches me in the mirror.