Chapter 8 – Enzo
ENZO
The fact that Althea recognizes my name, the way she studies me so intensely, sends a thrill of excitement through me. She knows who I am, and yet she doesn’t back away. Instead, she leans in as though she’s caught in a trance.
Another shiver racks her body, but she’s quick to douse it, straightening up and pulling herself back.
“What happened, Miss Drakos? Did the devil swallow her tongue?” My eyes meet hers. She recognizes the challenge for what it is.
“On the contrary, Sir .” My eyes narrow at the use of the title. “I was simply debating whether or not you could give me what I’m looking for.”
Challenge fucking accepted, sweetheart.
I close the distance she’s put between us.
“You seemed to enjoy watching what I could do a couple of weeks ago in the voyeur room,” I say, smugly smirking as her chin drops open. I gently push it closed with my finger.
I seem to have caught her off balance, but something flashes in her eyes, and I know she’s about to strike.
She leans in, pushing up on her tiptoes to reach my ear. I bend down closer to hear her whisper. “Oh, I enjoyed the show, but I’m looking for something a little more … aggressive.”
My body heats. My cock presses against its confines, and my hands itch to show her exactly how aggressive I can be.
“I’m not sure you can handle what I like.
” She continues to bait me. “Perhaps you should find your sub from the other night.” Althea dismissively taps her hand on my chest twice.
Her words though, they are meant to taunt, to carry a hint of jealousy, and the sick bastard I am, I like it.
“She seemed to enjoy what you do for her.” Althea smiles cheekily. Taunting me will be her undoing.
My eyes narrow. A low rumble vibrates in my chest. Wanting to put an end to any thoughts she has of this thing between us being casual , I tell her the truth.
“Let’s get something clear between us. Haley is an exhibitionist whose Dom happens to be a voyeur.
I played a part in their little game, yes, but Haley is not my anything.
” My face inches closer to hers, our noses almost touching.
Her breath smells of whiskey with a touch of peppermint.
“I can assure you, Miss Drakos, my tastes are far darker than anything Haley has ever experienced. Her Dom knew I could be trusted not to take her too far past her limits when it came to doling out her punishments. But that wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg for what I’m going to do to you. ”
She licks her lips. My eyes follow the movement.
“I like to be tied down while my partner whips me with every instrument his imagination will allow as he marks my skin with his brands and leaves me a spent, satiated, well-fucked mess. I don’t want soft or subtle spankings.
That won’t do it for me.” Althea’s eyes hold mine captive.
“Pain turns me on, Enzo. Makes me come like a fucking freight train. Can you deliver on that, or should I continue to look elsewhere this evening?”
My hand grips her throat, forcing her back just far enough for our eyes to meet.
Althea’s hand wraps around my wrist, her nails digging into my skin in warning, but I don’t let go.
I’m not holding her tight enough to hurt her by any means.
But I can see the way my possessiveness is turning her on, not causing her fear.
The smug bastard that I am, I give a small turn of my lips and issue a stern warning.
“Find another man to satisfy your desires, and you’ll sign his death warrant.” My voice is quiet but dangerous. Althea recognizes the truth in my words, swallowing hard beneath my grip. “I don’t share. And I won’t hesitate to destroy anyone who seeks to take what I deem as mine.”
“Careful, lover,” Althea teases. “You’re starting to sound a little more possessive than sexy.” She smiles. Pushing me. I know what she’s doing. She’s challenging me to see if I’ll actually follow through on all these threats to satisfy her every desire.
“No man will ever own me. I’m simply here looking for a good time and a really hard fuck .
” She overemphasizes the last three words, biting that damn lip, watching me as my body ignites with heat and desire.
“Let’s see if you can handle that, and then we’ll talk about your possessive tendencies, hmm? ”
She has no fucking idea the lengths my possessive tendencies go.
My grip on her throat loosens, then I spin her around, my hands gripping her shoulders tightly enough to leave marks. The sharp pinch of pain as my fingers dig into her skin will heighten her arousal, while the marks will serve as a reminder that she’s mine.
“Move,” I demand. Then, leaning in close, I tell her through gritted teeth, “And remember, you asked for this .”
“Where are you taking me?” she asks, but I ignore her. “Are you taking me to your private lair?” I smile at the breathiness in her voice. When I run my finger up the side of her neck, keeping my hold on her, I can feel her pulse throbbing.
“Somewhere I can corrupt you in private.” I growl in her ear and revel in the way she shivers beneath my grip. I release her, grabbing her by the wrist and turn toward to elevator, pulling her with me.
When we’re inside the elevator and the doors have closed behind us, I’m on her.
My hand grips her throat once again, shoving her against the mirrored wall as I take her mouth with mine in a plundering kiss.
Althea’s hands find my shoulders seeking purchase.
My other hand grips her thigh firmly, lifting it up as I rock my obviously hard cock against her center, letting her feel what she does to me.
I can feel the heat coming off her pussy and groan.
She moans into my mouth. And it’s all the fuel I need.
There is nothing gentle or coaxing about the way I’m kissing her.
My hand moves down slowly, gripping her left breast, tugging and squeezing her taut nipple through the thin fabric.
Althea moans. The scent of jasmine and citrus assaults my senses, and I’m two seconds from flipping her skirt up and taking her right here.
The ding of the elevator forces us to stop.
My eyes meet hers for a split second, then she’s tossed over my shoulder while I carry her out and down the hall.
I march with a quick stride, my determination obvious as I swat away the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling.
Unfortunately, my room is all the way down the hall, and everyone and their fucking brother wants to stop and say hello or show off their costume.
Completely ignoring the woman hanging over my shoulder.
My cock is hard as steel, and the woman of my obsession for the last two weeks is in my arms, wet and ready.
I can smell her arousal. My mouth is watering with the need to taste her.
I don’t waste time with small talk and have made it to my door ready to make my escape and devour my prize, only to be stopped by Nazario and Mauro.
I’d happily ignore them, but since Nazario is the new Don and issues my orders, it would be disrespectful not to at least acknowledge his presence.
“Enzo,” Nazario greets with a knowing smile.
“Naz,” I reply.
His vampire costume is less than original, but it’s somehow fitting for him.
He has the ability to charm anyone into feeling safe and important—someone he sees as valuable—all the while he drains them of their possessions and power.
His charm is his weapon on the surface, but I know how cutthroat he truly is.
Behind the suits and smiles is a ruthless businessman and a cold-hearted killer.
His loyalty and commitment to tradition are unmatched by anyone but maybe my own when it comes to his family and what the Venatti name means.
“What are you up to this fine evening?” he asks smugly, craning his neck to see whose head is hanging down my backside.
He might be my boss, but in this moment he’s just my asshole cousin.
“About nine inches if I had to give a guess,” Mauro says, not so subtly pointing out my hard-on. Althea giggles, making her ass jiggle under my hold and capturing Mauro’s attention. My grunt of disapproval has him quickly snapping his eyes back to meet mine.
Mauro chose to wear his traditional black suit jacket, opened with a Superman shirt underneath and a pair of light blue jeans.
He’s the jokester in the family, and I can attest to the fact that he is anything but a hero.
He uses his sense of humor and easy-going persona to give the illusion of weakness and immaturity.
Anyone who believes that to be true would be very wrong to underestimate him.
Mauro is a cunning hunter and a highly skilled marksman.
Narrowing my gaze at both assholes, I ask. “Do you have business for me or are you just here to say hello and be annoying?”
“Now, that’s no way to speak to your boss,” Mauro says, smiling. The little shit is trying to goad me. Although I won’t beat him now, he should keep watch over his shoulder for a while, because I will be beating his ass and s oon .
“I’ll be stepping out with Santo in a few hours. I’ll let you know when everything is done,” Naz replies.
I nod. “I’ll be here all night. Anything else?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go with them?
” Mauro teases. “I can stay here and keep your friend company.” I don’t respond with words, but they get the hint when I raise a brow daring either of them to push me.
Nazario slaps the back of his hand onto his brother’s chest, a warning to shut the fuck up.
“All right. We’ll leave you to your … is that a devil on your shoulder?” Naz asks, smiling widely as he inspects Althea’s costume further. “That’s … fitting. ”
Mauro makes his way to my side, where I catch him out of the corner of my eye. His hand reaches out, and I growl in response. I feel Althea’s head raise up and hear her softly say, “Hey, Mauro.” I tighten my grip on her thighs. The only name I want to hear rolling off her sweet tongue is mine.
“Why, Miss Drakos, is that you? You’ve got a little something on your face,” he tells her.
I feel Althea lift and move around, but my hold is too tight for her to get down.
“Looks like some of Enzo’s face paint may have rubbed off right there?
” he says it like a question as he reaches out with his hand, I assume to wipe her face.
Again, the bastard knows he’s pushing me.
I can’t see what Althea is doing, but I feel her lift up again and shift her torso slightly.
Mauro moves back into my eyeline and shucks his chin in Naz’s direction. “Not just any devil, eh, Enzo? This one came with a bird. One she likes to show off, I see.” Nazario’s brow lifts in question.
“Drakos? As in Caspien Drakos’s daughter?” Naz finally asks.
“We can keep that little piece of information between the three of us, can’t we, boys?” Althea says, lifting herself up, pushing against me to get herself down. Her attempt is futile.
Naz narrows his eyes at me. I know what he’s thinking.
Althea Drakos has a reputation for being cunning and ruthless, much like her father.
I usually like my women submissive and obedient, but the fire in Althea makes me want something else.
Something … darker. The subtle shake of my head has both men shutting up, though Nazario still seems skeptical about something.
“I better not catch any shit for this, Zo,” Naz warns.
“You won’t. I’ve got it under control.”
“You know the rules. Whatever mess you make, you better have it cleaned up,” Nazario says, smiling. I feel more than hear Althea’s gasp.
I’m sure she knows who I am and what I’m capable of, but I’m not going to kill her.
I pat her ass trying to reassure her, though I don’t know why I care.
I have far more creative plans for my little devil.
Tonight’s not about spilling blood. Although I’m certain we will make quite a sticky mess before the night’s through.
My imagination runs away from me for a minute, picturing all the things I want to do to her tight little body, making me smile.
“No need for cleanup.” I answer, and then after careful consideration, decide to retract my statement. “I’m taking her to my room for the night. General housekeeping will suffice.” For a moment, Naz appears intrigued while Mauro’s eyes are full of amusement.
“All right, then. We’ll leave you to it. Have fun, you two. Good to see you again, Althea,” Mauro says as they both walk past us heading for the elevator.
I open the door to my room and once inside, I slide Althea down the front of my body to stand.
As she slides down, my hands glide over her skin, and I get distracted by something metal under her devilish dress.
My hand snakes under the fabric and finds a leather strap.
I grip it, pulling her to me. Needing to know what the hell she’s wearing under this costume, I pull the red satin ribbon at the base of her neck holding the dress up, then release the leather and stand back watching as the dress falls to the floor.
Althea doesn’t flinch. She stands in nothing but a scrap of leather before me with her head held high and a knowing smirk.
Jesus, she’s fucking gorgeous.
Little Devil indeed.