The sting of the blade cutting through my flesh is inconsequential. Lio isn’t as easy to disarm as Hollis, but it’s still easier than it should be, telling me he’s lost in his head. We’ll have to work on that. No matter his mental state, being so easily disarmed is a concern.
“Easy, it’s just me, Mostrotto.”
He jerks out of my grip and I let him go, wary about what he’s going to do next. His emerald eyes shine with so many emotions, I wonder if he realizes how much they give away.
He tries to adopt a fully functioning image, but falls far from the mark. “What can I do for you? Is the meet set?”
“Yes, it is. I went over the logistics with Marcus and Keegan, and I hate to admit that Marcus is right about meeting on a Boss level. Roman has bowed out of any such meeting, though.”
“That’s fine. I won’t make him go through that.”
“But you’ll put yourself through it?”
He scowls. “I can handle myself. I need everyone to stop fucking pitying me. How can I be a Boss if no one lets me?”
I take a step closer, forcing him into the wall behind him. “It’s not pity, Little Monster, it's concern. We’re allowed to care about you. A good Boss instills loyalty in those under him, he earns their respect, their love. Real love, not the twisted version Allesandro made you think was love.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I tilt my head, curious about the way his eyes shift from anger to pain and back again. Seems I’ve hit a mark.Good.“Don’t I?”
Reaching out, I grab him by the throat. He swallows and his breathing hitches, even if he doesn’t lose the fire in his eyes. That is what I admire about Emilio, why I so desperately want to see him on his knees for me. The fire, the danger, the willingness and need to submit…it’s all dressed up in one pretty package, just for me and my Tesoro.
“Let me go.” He tries to escape my hold, but I put more pressure on his throat, restricting his airflow, as I lean into him more, trapping him.
Lio’s eyes widen and his cheeks flush. It’s a mix of anger and indignation, and desire, if the hard cock pressing against me is any indication.
“I don’t think I will. You willingly walked into the lions’ den, Mostrotto, now you’re stuck until we decide to let you go.” Leaning down, I brush my lips across his. “I hate to tell you this; you may be a viper, but you will always lose when up against us… Unless we don’t want you to, of course.”
He stills, his chest heaving as he blinks up at me. “Is that it then?” he asks in a thin voice, using up his precious oxygen. “Am I just a toy for you to play with and discard at your will?”
Squeezing my hand around his throat, I enjoy his last gasp for breath as I close off his air completely.
“No. You are so much more than a simple toy, Emilio. If we wanted that, we never would have touched you. After all, we have a toy already. You…are a beautiful Little Puppy that stole my Tesoro’s heart.”
I release some of the pressure on his throat, but don’t give him a chance to breathe as I kiss him, hard and deep. He gives back as much as he gets…until he doesn’t. His submission has my cock thickening, and so many wonderfully delicious things play through my head. But…not yet. He’s not ready for anything more, no matter what signals his tight and hot body might give off.
Keeping hold of his neck, I pull away, watching as he catches his breath, enjoying the way he looks pink-faced and red-lipped.
“You’re gorgeous,” I tell him. “A beautiful Puppy with more bite than bark, but that’s what I like about you. You’re unafraid to get things done. You could use some more training in patience, but we’ll work on it. You’re a contradiction, Mostrotto, did you know that? So strong and fearless, yet fragile as well.
“Hollis likes that about you. He enjoys taking you to your knees, putting you in your place, and letting you have the freedom that comes with trusting him to catch you when you fall.”
Emilio lets out a shaky breath, his entire body trembling. I grin because it seems my words are doing their job.
“Hollis takes care of those he loves. He will be the one to be there when you need someone to lean on, a shoulder to cry on, and someone who will cuddle you to your heart’s content.”
“And you?” His voice is so small, so vulnerable. His eyes are shiny with tears, like glistening moss in the early evening.
“I want to take you apart like I did Benjamin. I want to strip you down to your core, and show you how to rebuild yourself. Your foundation is good already. You’re my Little Monster, the only one who has ever been able to take me so easily and come out unscathed.” I lean in once more to brush my mouth over his, whispering, “You and I aren’t so different, Emilio. Only I didn’t have what you do; I had to learn how to turn myself into what I am today. You have the best and biggest support system monsters like us could ever ask for; use it.
“Let me help turn you into something better than yourself. Allesandro may have woken the dark and twisted parts of you, but he neglected them as well. His ways are…so one-dimensional. But you have me now. Mi prenderò cura di te. Ti mostrerò cose che hai solo sognato. You never have to doubt yourself, Emilio. Not with me, not with Hollis, and certainly not with Roman.”
Tears streak down his cheeks and I don’t hesitate to lick them up, enjoying the salty taste of him. The next time he cries…it’s going to be because I took him apart in only the most pleasurable of ways.
“You really mean it, don’t you?”
“I’m not one to say things I don’t mean, Mostrotto. I also don’t like to repeat myself, but I will make an exception, just this once. Hollis and I want everything from you, Emilio. We want to shower you with everything you desire, but on our terms. All it’ll take is a little trust.”
