Bastian:Do the right thing, brother.
Damian:I’m trying.
Bastian:Not hard enough. Get your ass home. Now.
After Bastian finished work on Friday, he walked into his bedroom dressed in a black suit, his dark hair slicked back. He normally let his wavy hair fall all over the place, the chaos to his disorder.
I dropped the book in my hand on the bed, letting my eyes wander up and down the length of his delicious body. “Why are you so dressed up?”
“We’re leaving the house,” he said as he entered the room. “Get ready.”
“What should I wear?”
Bastian closed the distance between us with a mischievous smile in place. “Before you ask, it’s a surprise. Wear something short and tight.”
His two favorite words.
I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. “Are you taking me to dinner, Bastian Salvatore?”
“Maybe.” He slid his arm behind my back, his fingers digging into my hip. “Get dressed before I change my mind.”
Excited about leaving the house, I squealed as I ran out of his room and down the hall. I entered my room and rushed into the walk-in closet with Bastian on my tail. The bergamot in his cologne was burned into my nostrils after several nights of sleeping in his bed.
I let my clothes drop to the floor. He stood in the entryway, hanging onto the doorframe with a crazed look in his eyes. His charm and good looks often made it easier to see past the devil behind the mask.
It was all a game with him, smoke and mirrors. At some point, he would show his true colors and the facade would crumble. I was waiting for that moment. Everyone in my life had disappointed me, so it was only a matter of time before he revealed himself.
Scanning the never-ending racks of dresses, I plucked a black one from the hanger and slipped it over my head. As Bastian requested, it was tight as fuck, clinging to my body like plastic wrap, and stopped midway up my thighs.
He licked his lips and whistled. “Damn, girl. I can’t wait to rip that dress off you.”
“Good luck getting it off.” I pushed it the rest of the way down my thighs. “I can barely move in this thing.”
Bastian dipped his head down and licked my cheek. “I want to taste every inch of you, Cherry.”
“Have you spoken to Damian?” I leaned back to rest my head on his shoulder.
He hooked his arm around me. “Just a few text messages. He’s home from New York, but I haven’t seen him around the house.”
“You were okay with Damian holding me down and spanking me.”
“That was different.” He tucked one of my curls behind my ear, his face expressionless. “It was in a controlled environment with my supervision. I knew he wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Is he really that bad?”
“He almost killed you.” His nostrils flared. “I’m not talking to him, so he can fully understand the consequences of his actions. It’s the only way he learns.”
“Is this something you have to do with him regularly?”
His hand dropped from my chin and to his side. “Often enough. Damian has lost control too many times. I can’t take any chances with you.”
“How are you able to control him? Does he answer to Luca and Marcello the way he does you?”
He shook his head. “Damian doesn’t need much in life, but he needs me. Without me, he’s off balance.”
“Will he lose control if you’re not around to stop him?”
He shrugged. “It’s possible. At least I know where you are and that he can’t hurt you.”