Chapter Twenty-Five
Candace
I’m momentarily disorientated by the bright sunlight that spills through the window.
I usually have the curtains drawn on the side of my room that brings in the most sunlight in the mornings.The other side I leave open so I can look at the stars at night.
It’s when I roll over onto my other side that I remember with the force of a speeding train that I’m not in my room.
The beautiful man sitting over by the window ledge smoking a cigar is evidence of that.
Now I’m disorientated by him.His presence and that beautiful yet darkness in him that stirs my soul to life.
He’s just sitting there watching me, and I wonder how long he watched me sleep.
Pulling in a breath he narrows his eyes and leans forward, the cigar dangling between his thumb and forefinger.I’ve never met anyone who could fascinate me and scare me all at the same time.But when I say scare I don’t mean the general fear a person would feel if they were terrified or frightened of a person or a thing.Dominic D’Agostino scares me because he’s unpredictable and I can never tell what he’s going to do next.
Like now. We’re just looking at each other and the silence is just getting thicker.He’s planning for me and I could kick myself because I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy whatever it is he’s conjuring.
Across from him is my contract from the auction.When I see that I straighten right up because it looks like we’re about to get started and I’m about to get a taste of all those terms and conditions I agreed to.
He smiles when I glare at him showing my fury that he’s seriously contemplating this arrangement, he then straightens up too.
“Woman, you know you have some balls right?” he states.
“Yes,” I answer and he chuckles.“I don’t want to do this Dominic.There must be some way around it.”
“Of course there is. I just don’t care for it.”
“So you want that piece of paper to dictate everything about our relationship?”
“Candace Ricci you talk to me like we just met.Like I’m Monsieur Jacques Belmont.That les encompetent idiot.”
Oh my God. What in the hell have I really gotten myself into?
“What the hell point are you trying to make?”
“The point I’m trying to make is this.I’m Dominic D’Agostino. I am Italia.I’m not a pompous asshole strutting around with a silver spoon up my ass.I won you fair and square and I’m keeping you.I’m a raw assed gangster at the end of the day.Don’t think you can reason with me and not for fucking fifteen million dollars.”
He takes a draw on his cigar and I grit my teeth, biting back the urge to tell him to go fuck himself.Instead of lashing back I decide to opt for the only thing I can right now.
Questions. Anything that will help me figure out what this man has up his sleeves.
“What are you going to do to me?”
“My dear Principessa, it’s more the case of what you are going to do for me.”
“What am I going to do?”
Dominic takes one last draw of smoke and blows it out in rings that cover him in a sexy haze.The corners of his lips slide into an arresting smile that sends the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy.When he sets the cigar down on the silver ashtray by the window and returns his gaze to me, my insides knot.All the tension I’ve felt in this one week is undoubtedly going to give me a nervous breakdown.
“You’re going to give me a chance.That’s what you’re going to do,” he answers tapping the contract.“Says here that nothing is off-limits and you agree to do what I want.Everything I want. I’m including that to the list of things I have for you.I want a fair chance.”
“If that’s what you want then let me go.”
Dominic stands and my breath hitches.“I don't think so. According to this, I'm the buyer and your body belongs to me.That means I make the rules here, and I’m not letting you go.If you want to fight me, go ahead.You won't win."He gives me that mocking stare I can't stand and I fume, balling my fists.
He moves closer and I gasp when he catches my ankle and yanks me so my legs dangle off the bed.