“Come for me,” he growled, his voice low and rough, vibrating against me in a way that made my knees go weak. His hand gripped me possessively, pulling me closer, leaving no space to think, no space to breathe.
I screamed his name as my orgasm crashed over me, hot and intense, shaking through every inch of my body.
I felt him smirk against my lips, the ghost of a dangerous smile brushing over my skin as he leaned forward, claiming me with deep, thorough kisses that left me gasping and trembling. His hands roamed with deliberate possessiveness, pressing me closer, as if marking me as his. I melted into him completely, every thought wiped away by the heat of him, lost in the dark, consuming fire between us.
His hands still pressed possessively against me, and the dark gleam in his eyes promised that this was only the beginning. I trembled, both terrified and craving what would come next.
Chapter 17
Felix
She shouldn’t matter anymore. Tessa should’ve been another name I forgot, another face I blurred into the crowd. But she clung to me, relentless, and the worst part was I didn’t want her gone.
When she screamed my name, coming hard around my fingers, every part of me burned to unzip my pants and claim her right there against the hallway wall. I still don’t know how I managed to hold back.
The problem was, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could. I wanted her with a hunger that bordered on violent. I wanted to brand myself into her, to fuck her so deep she’d never be able to forget who she belonged to. I wanted her marked, ruined for anyone else. Mine. Always mine.
So, against my better judgment, I was taking her out of the house for the night. She’d been very good—too good, in fact—keeping everything spotless, obedient in ways that made me want to test how far I could push her.
“Here,” I said, passing her a skimpy dress I had picked out for her.
Her wardrobe was lacking, to say the least. Not surprising, given where she came from. Her life had been a relentless cycle of work and caring for her alcoholic father. Every thread of her existence spoke of duty and restraint, and it made me want to protect her and never let anyone else have her.
“What’s this for?” she asked, tilting her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
“We’re going out,” I said, leaving no room for argument.
“Out? But…” she faltered, confusion clouding her face. The only time I had let her leave before was for groceries. And I was always there, always within arms reach.
“You’ve been cooped up long enough,” I murmured, letting the edge in my voice linger just long enough to make her shiver.
Tessa nodded silently, eyes flicking away, and slipped into the bedroom. The faint sounds of zippers, soft rustling of fabric, and the quiet click of a brush against her hair filled the space. Awhile later, she reemerged wearing the dress I’d bought her—a skimpy thing that left little to the imagination, yet somehow suited her perfectly. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and though she hadn’t used much makeup, the subtle sweep of it only highlighted her natural beauty.
She looked at me hesitantly, as if searching for permission, and I felt that familiar rush of need and possession. Every careful line of her body, every nervous glance, belonged to me, and I couldn’t stop the tight pull in my chest that reminded me just how much I wanted her.
I caught her chin between my thumbs. “Remember what happens if you try to run,” I said, though my words carried less bite than they should have this time.
She bit her lower lip and nodded. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
By the time we were in the car, the city lights glinting off the sleek black paint, she was fidgeting slightly in the passenger seat, clearly unused to the luxury. I didn’t comment, just watched her, letting the hum of the engine and the soft thrum of bass fill the space between us. Every glance she shot my way, every nervous adjustment of her dress, tightened the pull in my chest—I wanted her, all of her, and the world outside the tinted windows didn’t exist.
The club itself was innocuous from the outside, a sleek black building with a modest neon sign that simply readEclipse. Only the faintest hint of bass and muffled laughter escaped through the tinted windows, enough to suggest something lively inside, but nothing to betray what really waited beyond the velvet rope.
Through a side entrance marked only by a discreet symbol, we stepped into a narrow hallway lined with dark wood panels and soft golden sconces. The air smelled faintly of cigars and expensive whiskey, a mix that promised danger and indulgence. A discreet doorman gave me a nod, letting us pass into a hidden elevator that didn’t appear on the club’s main floor plan.
When the doors opened, we were in a dimly lit lounge, velvet drapes concealing private gambling rooms and intimate tables where high-stakes games took place. The hum of whispered bets, the clinking of chips, and the faint scent of perfume and leather filled the space. This wasn’t a place for the casual player. It was for the powerful, the daring, and the dangerous. The club belonged to the Don I worked for, and I helped manage it, keeping a close eye on the players and the flow of the game. Tonight, she was stepping into it with me, and every glance around the room reminded me just how much control I had here, and over her.
“What is this place?” she asked, subconsciously grabbing my arm, her fingers tightening just slightly as if seeking both support and permission.
I let my gaze sweep over the lounge, letting her take in the dim lights, the velvet drapes, and the high-stakes tables. “A place where rules are bent, and debts are paid. Or, made.” I said, my voice low, carrying both warning and promise.
“I suppose this is where my father made his,” she muttered, eyes scanning the room. “How did he even get into a place this nice?”
“Idiots like Stefano and Gianni letting them slip through the cracks,” I responded. “He must’ve been a good enough actor—they didn’t bother with the proper background check.”
I let my gaze drop back to Tessa, slow and deliberate, taking in the way her dress clung to her, the subtle flush creeping up her neck. She tried to focus on the room, but I could see her pulse quicken under my stare. She was mine tonight, and every instinct in me wanted to remind her of that.
