A Deal in Darkness (Dark and Devilish #2)

9

WOUNDED PRIDE

ADRIANA

I lie on my bed, staring at the few things of mine that have survived the cull. Enzo threw all my clothes away, promising to replace my gym kit. He also threw away almost all of my jewelry except for a few antique pieces I'm rather attached to. I think he wanted to get rid of them, but my quivering lip persuaded him I cared enough about those art déco earrings for him to relent.

All that's left are a few photos and some books. My laptop's gone. My phone's gone too. My whole damn world has been taken from me.

And it's sitting in black bags on its way to a rubbish dump.

I want to burst into tears and the only thing stopping me is the certainty that he'll enjoy it. Enzo would see it as a victory and I won't give him it.

It's petulant and maybe even stupid, but if this is all I have left then I refuse to let him take it from me.

“Baby.”

His voice echoes through the house and reverberates through my soul.

I dread it.

Dread him.

Except I don't.

There's a thrill to my fear, and it isn't even fear. It's more nervousness than anything else at this point. I'm unsure what he wants and the thought it might be more sex excites part of me .

Enzo is insatiable. It's been three days and I'm sore. It's clear my body will have to get used to this level of abuse because he has no intention of stopping.

I've come more times in the past few days than I have all year, but he makes me want more. He's like a fucking drug I can't get enough of and I'm enjoying the high too much for this to be stoppable. It's fucking dangerous. He's a fucking demon and I'm damn sure he wants me to crave him so he can use it to his advantage.

He's fucking me into submission and I'm falling for it.

“Baby.”

There's a hint of irritation to his tone and his steps sound on the staircase. I'm playing with fire and in a few seconds I'll discover if I've made another mistake.

My ass still smarts from the spanking he delivered and—terrifyingly—I know he was holding back. It was a taste of what punishment is like, designed to linger in my memory as a warning that any more inappropriate behavior will lead to a more severe one.

The door opens without a knock and Enzo walks in. He's still immaculately dressed in his fitted jeans and V-neck tee. His jet-black hair falls perfectly and his deep brown eyes fix on mine, holding me in place with the sheer intensity of his stare.

“I expect you to come when I call, Adriana. You won't make this mistake again.”

I nod and wait.

Enzo crosses his arms and I know this sign. He's annoyed and waiting for me to do something, usually something that involves correcting a mistake.

“I'll try harder?”

My voice is laced with the uncertainty of not knowing what he wants. His lips curl into a smirk and he shakes his head, amused by my mistake.

“A simple 'yes or no, Sir' will suffice, baby girl. Or Daddy.” He steps closer and towers over me. “I prefer Daddy.”

I nod, and he cups my face with his hand.

“Good girl. I wanted to check how you were doing?” Enzo's eyes narrow for a second and it's another warning signal I'm learning to read. “Today was hard for you and we have a guest coming over for dinner.”

I nod again and he sits down next to me.

“Well?”

I sigh and look around my room again, reminded how little of anything I have left.

“I don't know what you want, Enzo.”

He arches an eyebrow.

“I don't want to make this worse.”

Enzo slides an arm around my back and pulls me into him. “I cannot make things more tolerable if you do not tell me what has upset you.”

It's hardly a resounding declaration of concern, but something in his tone of voice is different. Something softer. Something less unreasonable. Something almost empathetic.

“I hated you throwing my things away. I hate you for it. For taking my things and throwing them out like they're meaningless.”

He nods and stays silent, and the pressure to finish my thought is more than I can endure.

“Like I'm meaningless.”

“I see.” He squeezes me tight. “Adriana, you can have anything you want, within reason. Anything. As many clothes and jewels and ornaments as your little heart desires. But I won't let you have things that are beneath you. You deserve better. And you are not meaningless.”

He plays with my hair, and it isn't unpleasant.

“As it happens, I have a couple of gifts for you. To wear tonight.”

I should have known his visit wasn't out of concern. Enzo has an agenda, and it isn't to check on my emotional wellbeing. He wants something and his ask is clear: wear whatever it is he's bought tonight or suffer the consequences of disobedience.

“We need to talk about tonight, baby. We have a guest and while I don't expect full formal protocol, some things cannot be skipped. I'll let the bowing and grovelling go, but I do expect good manners and you to dress properly.”

I pull away and he lets me go, watching me as I curl up on the little armchair under the window.

“Byron is a demon. He's bound to me and can't disobey me, but he isn't entirely safe for you to be around. He knows I've only just started teaching you, but it would be best if he were to leave with the impression you were obedient. Completely obedient. He'll forgive almost all your mistakes without the need for a severe beating that way.”

I close my eyes as the horror of tonight begins to become clear.

“If I ask you to do something, you do it, baby. Only speak if you're spoken to and don't disobey me.”

I turn my head and stare out the window, watching the boats sailing down the Thames. The tides govern their movements, but they have more freedom than I do. More freedom than I'll ever have now I agreed to this deal.

“Baby?”

My response is deliberately slow as I crane my head back to Enzo.

“I need your words. I need to know you understand my instructions.”

“Fine.”

His jaw ticks and his hands whiten as they grip the bedding. My bedding. My bedding that belongs to him.

“Adriana, I know this is hard for you, but behaving like a brat is not the way to go about making your feelings clear. I won't tolerate it and it'll be dangerous if you act like this in public. I've been generous until now. Don't make me regret it.”

There's no point fighting him.

Not when I can't win.

I cross my arms and huff, fidgeting as I come to terms with the bitter fact that I'm going to have to comply.

“This world doesn't work in the way you think it does, baby. I'm going to keep you safe, but you have to work with me on this. For your own good.”

My temper snaps. “How is any of this for my own good? In what way is fucking me repeatedly, whether I like it or not, for my own good?”

Enzo draws a slow, deep breath and has the composure of a quiet, angry man.

“First, you entered this arrangement freely. It's a shame you regret the consequences, but they are yours to bear, and I assure you that you will adjust. Second, you're too damn special for me to leave you alone and others would have been far less kind than me. My protection is valuable. Remember that before you piss me off.”

“Better the devil, you know?”

Enzo's eyes widen and I clamp my hands over my mouth, too late to stop it from running off with itself. He doesn't like chat back, especially not when he's already riled.

“That is one way to put it.” He tosses his head. “I'd prefer it if you appreciated everything I've done for you and showed me some fucking gratitude, but perhaps that is too much to ask.”

He's wounded.

His pride is damaged.

He's actually been hurt by an almost insignificant, offhand comment.

It's fascinating. It's more than interesting. It's a weakness that I might use to my advantage.

And it's worth ignoring my discomfort and giving him a little reassurance.

“I appreciate the softness. When you're softer.”

Enzo nods, and a faint smile threatens his lips.

“I'm unsure of everything else. It's going to take time.”

He tilts his head and stares like I'm a puzzle he's trying to solve. He blinks rapidly, and I wonder what he's thinking. What he's planning. How that will affect me.

“Time is not something we are short of, Adriana.”

His fingers curl and summon me over.

I walk over, and he places his hands over my hips.

“You are precious, baby. I don't want you to feel worthless.” His irises darken and the flecks of gold shimmer, dancing like they're made of starlight. “I choose you, Adriana. I could claim anyone—in this or any world—but I want you. And I waited for you. I gave you a chance to be free.”

His fingers lift my top and Enzo strokes my stomach before bringing his mouth to the curve below my belly button.

“You didn't want it, baby. You gave yourself to me so easily. Too easily. I want you and I have you and I will keep you, even if another tries to take you from me.”

Enzo kisses my stomach, biting and sucking as his mouth trails over my abdomen. I moan and glance down, surprised to find my fingers weaving through his hair. Encouraging him. Holding him. Caressing him.

His logic is twisted and his reasoning warped, but maybe this is love when you're a demon. He might be trying to solve the puzzle I seem to be, but I'm left trying to solve one of my own.

One that captivates me, if I'm brave enough to be honest with myself.

“Best behavior tonight, Adriana. For me.”

“Okay,” I mumble.

“Okay, Sir. Or okay, Daddy. Tonight as well. Use my title properly, baby. You know I prefer the latter.”

Enzo nips at my skin and I shriek.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Better,” he replies, licking the pain away.

Enzo stands and I crane my head back to hold his gaze. The asshole smirks, aware the height difference between us puts me at a disadvantage.

“Kiss me.”

I move my head a little closer and he has the audacity to stay still, making me do most of the work. I'm forced to go on tiptoes and I plant a quick kiss on his lips, hurriedly withdrawing.

“More.”

I kiss him again, and this time he slides a hand around my neck, holding me in place. His lips part mine and he forces his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss as he takes what he wants. He's rough, dominant, and earthy. A tangy mix of spice and heat, of cinnamon and chocolate.

“Better, baby.”

He turns and walks away, pulling the door behind him.

“Remember what we are tonight, Adriana. Why you must behave.”

I nod.

“Take whatever time you need this afternoon, but I expect you to be downstairs by eight. Hair and makeup done and wearing the gifts I've given you. I'll leave them in your closet.”

The door slams and I stare at the white gloss panel, adrift in the middle of my room. Enzo hasn't put me at ease and I'm not looking forward to tonight.

A storm is coming and I'm not sure I'll be able to weather it. I'm not even sure how bad it is and I turn back to the window, praying I'm wrong about how bad tonight will be.