8. Camellia
8
Camellia
“Camellia!” My sister’s voice is warped with worry as she cries out my name. Not even Santino can keep his grip on me when she throws herself at me in a hug that makes breathing impossible. “I thought they killed you. They wouldn’t let me see you, wouldn’t tell me where you were.”
My heart thunders in my chest, proving my state of life.
Eliza shouldn’t be here. Out of everyone, she’s the one I didn’t want to come here the most.
She’s worth more to this family than I am. Worth more to the man who has easily broken down my walls. Who has stolen my heart.
Despite knowing that, she still came here. Even if she thought I was dead and meant stepping into her own doom, she still came.
My eyes feel wet, and the jealousy I felt in the pit of my stomach about her taking Santino’s attention leaves me feeling terrible. I should know better.
“Rocco–”
“Fuck him.” She growls the words and squeezes me tighter. Her words grow muffled against my hair. “Don’t even think about him.”
When she releases me from her grip, she steps back to make sure I’m not missing a single hair on my head. As her eyes lower, her relieved smile morphs into a scowl at discovering the mark on my neck. She looks at Santino without even a hint of fear. Funny enough, her rage matches his.
“You motherfucker . What did you do to my baby sister?” She doesn’t even ask to confirm it was him, she balls up her hands and swings.
A gasp flies past my lips when she hits him.
There’s a flash of anger that passes his expression when her fist makes contact with his jaw. He’s quick to grab her wrists, stopping her attempt at punching him again. Despite the swell of his chest and the scowl on his face, he does nothing more than hold her in place.
“Little bird, tell your sister to fucking relax before I lose my patience and snap her wrist.” He gives me the warning through grit teeth, growling when she kicks him.
She technically is the reason our moment in the bedroom was interrupted. My body still aches to finish what we started. He literally popped my cherry, and that was as far as we got. He’s been in a foul mood since.
“You did not give her a pet name.” She curses at him when he doesn’t release his grip. “What in the hell did you do to her?”
Funny enough, I don’t mind the name. He’s never used it to mock me or my situation, not with malice. If anything, it’s a reminder of what I’d have to go back to if I ever left this place. My home is nothing but a cage. Locked away in my room without permission to leave unless my sister begs my brother to allow me to eat meals at the table with them. The only time I get fresh air is when I’m enjoying the view from my window.
Sure, I don’t want to imagine Santino rescuing me from that life, but he’s not hurting me by keeping me to himself.
I step toward them, reaching out. “Eliza, I’m fine, really. This–” I graze my throat and feel the heat grow on my cheeks. “–is nothing to fret about.”
I mean it. I’m not going to tell her that I like it or anything, but it’s really not as big of a deal as she’s making it. She’s had plenty of secret boyfriends before, she has to have somewhat of an idea of what could be happening.
Or, is the thought of Santino showing attraction toward me that much of a ludicrous idea?
Santino, not on the same page as I am, smiles at her. “That’s the only mark you can see. Just imagine what is beneath those clothes. I’ve made sure she’s marked appropriately.”
He can not ask me to calm her down and then rile her up again. Is he looking for an excuse to fight?
He releases her wrists and shoves Eliza backwards, right into the chest of the guy with the scar across his lip. Urzo . The same man who walked in on us. Hands free, he drifts toward me and wastes no time returning his touch. “If you think you came to take her back, then I’m happy to tell you that it will not happen.”
Goosebumps rise against my skin as he pulls me against his chest. There’s promise behind his words, his eyes glaring with a reassuring look of deadly intent lurking beneath.
“She’s mine.” Announcing it loud enough for Eliza to hear, even a few of the grunts in the room do a double take. He’s not shy when it comes to making the claim, either.
My cheeks warm, and I fight the urge to cover my face. My poor heart is jumping in happiness, but dread fills my stomach. I can’t allow myself to get too comfortable. Not when my sister is trying to send an elbow in Urzo’s stomach to free herself. He’s as much of a wall as Santino is.
“Send her back the way she came.” He gives the order against my hair. “I want her gone.”
Urzo grunts, already tugging her toward the front entrance. He huffs when she stomps the heel of her shoe into his boot.
“I can’t. ” Eliza looks at me, her eyes doubling in size. “Rocco will kill me if he finds out I came here and left empty-handed.”
She means that literally. I can hear it in the waiver of her voice. As much as I didn’t want her to come, I want to watch her leave even less.
Turning to look at Santino, I can see his jaw already flexing, like he can read my mind.
“ One Parada is just enough.” He takes in a slow breath. “Two is too many. Especially when one is more dangerous than the other. I won’t have her trying to kill my men while I’m distracted.” He looks down at me, meets my gaze, and curses beneath his breath. “No.”
“She’s my sister, Santino. The only one who has treated me like a person. I don’t want to lose her.” Biting my lip, I can see the argument happening behind those stormy dark eyes. “Please.”
Sighing through his nose, he frowns at Urzo. “Put her somewhere. Find a room with a lock on the outside without windows. Make sure she isn’t a threat. I’ll deal with her later.”
Eliza doesn’t get the chance to argue, not when she’s getting dragged toward the grand set of stairs.
“Don’t make me regret this.” Muttering the words, he looks at the handful of his men lingering about, watching with confusion and curiosity. “Return to your posts. The show is over.”
My stomach clenches as I crave a conversation with Eliza. Happy to have her close, I know this place is a danger to her. Surprised that he wanted to kick her out instead of keeping her for questioning, the weight of my curiosity doubles against my tongue. Before I can ask, Santino is leading me toward the hall I snuck down last night.
“Where are we going?” I picture him taking me to his office to begin his work day, or whatever he does in there. Instead, we stop far too shy of that door.
Delicious smells radiate through the swinging kitchen doors, even more when Santino pushes them open and leads me inside. When I sigh in content, a chuckle rumbles from him.
“You haven’t eaten much.” He turns and looks at the three women working together to prepare meals for many. They’re mixing bowls, throwing in ingredients I don’t recognize. He clears his throat and immediately captures their attention. “Take a break. I want privacy.”
My stomach flips at his words. Every time we’re caught alone, bad things happen. But we’re only here for food. What is the worst he can do? Try to feed me?
As the three women scurry past us with passing goodbyes and nods of respect, silence fills the room. Enough to hear a pin drop.
“What are you hungry for?” Palm pressed against my middle back, he leads me closer to the pans of delicious-smelling food. At this rate, I’m happy to take whatever I can get my hands on the quickest. “If none of this is appetizing, I’ll make you something else. I’m not known as being a master in the kitchen, but I do have some secrets that aren’t known.”
This man is offering to cook for me. “Really? How do I know you aren’t trying to look for a way to poison me?”
I’m starting to think this isn’t really a game between us. He’s not just trying to swoon me over by speaking the right words. He called me his, and I’ve been walking on air since.
Santino really wants me. He wants me .
I’m struggling to comprehend it all. He picks up on it with ease as his arms move to trap me against the nearest counter once he leads me right to it.
“I don’t think you and I are on the same page here.” He presses his front against my back and grinds forward, trapping me between his body and the counter. “When I say I don’t plan on letting you leave here, that includes leaving in the grace of death.”
My toes curl when he taps my foot with his, urging my legs to split.
In such a rush to see my sister, I had yanked up these pants and barely managed to tie them in a knot. I hadn’t bothered to look for a replacement for my underwear since he ruined my only pair.
“Santino, people get food here.” Face blazing, I can see the familiar look in his eyes. Even more when he kisses the sore spot on my throat.
“They interrupted us. They can fucking starve for all I care.” He’s still sore about that.
I guess a tiny part of me is a little upset too. My body is still wet, still aching. Now that the shock of Eliza’s arrival is starting to simmer, I only have this man to focus on.
“I’ll say it as many times as you need me to. You’re mine, understand? I’m keeping you here because I want you. I’d be a fool for trying to think otherwise.” His hands glide to my hips, and he squeezes them roughly.
“You don’t even know me.” What if he starts thinking the same things as my brother? “I don’t want to be locked away again.”
The truth comes out in a hoarse whisper as I stare down at the marble design printed across the counter.
His chest vibrates, and I bet he’s frowning. “I won’t tuck you away in some room. I’ll let you roam wherever you want on the estate.” He reaches around me and teases the sloppy knot with his fingers. “If that isn’t enough, I’ll let you leave.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Really?”
“I will be at your side. If not me, I’ll send four men to keep you safe.” Nuzzling my throat, he growls softly. “I’ve seen this pussy, Camellia. If I let you be alone, every man within five feet of you is going to want to have a taste. You understand? I don’t want to kill innocent civilians because they can’t keep their fucking eyes to themselves.”
A shiver rolls down my spine and moves into a liquid pool of heat in the pit of my stomach.
“That’s the best I can do, the most I’m willing to negotiate on this matter.” He tugs one of the strings and it gives way too easily.
Anyone can walk in on us, I’m sure. One person was already far too much to my liking. Yet, I don’t tell him to keep his hands to himself like I should.
“Part your legs for me, sweetness. I bet you’re still soaked, aren’t you?” His foot taps mine once more and I do as I’m told. “Such a good girl.”
I’m starting to think this man is becoming my weakness. A little praise should not be what makes my knees wobble and my limbs turn into noodles. Would my body betray me like this if it were another man muttering such things into my ear?
I shiver as my pants hit my ankles and gasp when he wastes no time in discovering that I am still very much wet.
“If anyone comes through that door, I’ll slit their throats, I swear to God.” Groaning the threat, he presses his fingers through my slickness. “I didn’t hurt you before, did I? Does this feel alright? You handled the hard part and didn’t even get the reward. It’s such a shame, isn’t it?”
Reaching forward, I clutch the edge of the counter. A moan escapes my lips as he spreads my juices toward my clit. At this rate, little circles are going to be what makes me meet my downfall.
“Y–Yes.” Knowing he’ll tease and torture me until I answer his question, a whine slips past my lips as he pulls away. I didn’t want him to leave altogether.
Turning to look behind me, I watch him shove his waistband down and free his cook. Looking so hard like he can burst at even a single brush, his brows knit together when he catches my stare.
“You enjoy seeing me like this? My balls are so fucking tight because I keep getting stopped before I can come.” He squeezes himself at his base and groans deeply. “Show me where you want my load, Camellia. Part those lips and let me see.”
I can feel my thighs getting wet off of nothing but his words. I don’t know how he does it, but everything that comes out of those lips makes me feel like I’m not in control of my body.
Reaching behind me, my fingers glide down my slit. Radiating heat, we both groan in unison as I push my lips apart. I’ve never been so tingly before from my touch. Maybe it’s because I have an audience now that everything feels so intense.
“Fucking hell.” He chokes on another groan. “Fuck four men. I’m going to have to get an entire party of them, aren’t I? At least ten men should be enough to keep anyone with a cock away. None of them will dare touch you, not when you belong to me.”
I shiver at his words and bite my lip when he erases the distance between us. Brushing my fingers with his cock, he doesn’t waste another second before pushing himself inside with one deep thrust.
Unlike the first time, there isn’t a rough stretch or a pinch of pain. Instead, we both moan together as he pushes against spots I’ve never had touched before.
“I’m going to come so deep, you’re going to feel me for days.” He sucks another spot against my throat, probably leaving another spot. I’m going to be decorated in them at this rate.
He continues to thrust, and I can’t stop the noises from coming out. Between my moans and the sound of our bodies meeting, I don’t think anyone would mistakenly step inside.
Unable to help myself, I look behind me to see Santino, with his flushed cheeks and furrowed brow. What was such a pristine man yesterday now looks so disheveled. His hair is clinging to his forehead, and his muscles are taut.
“Touch yourself for me. Rub that clit so we can come together. I want you squeezing me tight.” His frown is gone, and the light is back behind his gaze. He’s happy .
I’m pretty sure only this man can make my heart bend at his will. Molten hot butterflies swarm my stomach, and thrash against my ribs as I move my hand to the front of my body. My clit is already so sensitive as it is, and even a simple graze is enough to make my hips jerk forward.
Santino easily uses his grip on my hips to put me back in place. He has to do it more than once as I lose myself with every circular motion of my fingertips.
Feeling the knot in my stomach growing tighter and tighter, I know I won’t last much longer. He doesn’t slow down, welcoming the fluttering of my walls.
“That’s it, Camellia. Squeeze around me, suffocated me. Drain me fucking dry for every drop I have to give.” His grunts match his thrusts, but they grow less even. More wild, more frantic.
My back arches as he crashes against a sweet spot and pushes me over the edge. I try to contain my cry, but nothing can stop the way my chest seizes up.
He curses behind me before hardly lasting more than a couple more thrusts. Keeping his word, he buries himself deep before a burning heat washes over me. I feel each pulse, each spurt of his release.
“All of this is just for you.” He hums his approval as he pulls out and slides right back in. “I’m going to give you my last name. Going to fill your belly too while I’m at it.”
Even after he grows still, my head is spinning from his words. Santino has this all figured out, and I’m still dizzy from the night before.
I knew people knew him for his craziness, but this takes the cake. I don’t think he can do anything else to top this.
Even if it’s wrong, or crazy or what, I can’t help but never want this to end.
I might be as gone as he is.