“But it gotsomeof the important stuff, Eva!” her mom snaps. “Sometimes it hurts to think.” Her face grows pained, creases between her eyebrows growing deeper. “I can’t remember what I was doing and then it just hurts when I try to remember.”
This house is filled with so much pain and anguish and all I can think of doing is hugging her, so I do. I reach down and wrap my arms around Eva’s mom and hug her. It’s awkward, the position not right, not to mention that I don’t even know this woman. She pats my arm gently and starts to hum.
“I need something nice to wear for Michael tonight,” she says. “He’s going to take me out dancing.”
I bite my lip so I don’t cry, and then I stand up. “I’ll help you pick out something really pretty.” I finish brushing her hair and put the hairbrush down and she yawns. “Why don’t you take a nap and I’ll hang something up, ready for when you wake up,” I say.
She nods and Eva scoots off the bed, allowing her mom to climb in. We pull the covers over her and she settles into sleep almost immediately. Eva and I pick up the clothes from the floor, carefully deciding what’s clean and what’s not, before dropping it in the hamper or hanging it in the large walk-in wardrobe. It takes us twenty minutes or so, and Eva’s mom sleeps through it all. Every time I look up Eva is watching me, her piercing blue eyes examining my every move.
When we’re done, I take her hand and smile at her. “We should probably get dressed, right?”
“Do you like pancakes?” Eva asks and I nod. She smiles wider. “I love pancakes with syrup and strawberries and cream, and…”
“We can go make some if you like,” I offer.
If it’s possible, Eva’s smile grows even bigger, and I can’t help but smile back. She’s adorable in every way, and I find myself lost in my feelings for her. Already knowing that I’d do everything in my power to keep her safe.
I turn, squealing in fright when I see Dominic standing in the doorway watching us both. His expression is serious, a small furrow between his brows like he’s trying to work something out. Like he’s trying to work me out.
Eva smiles and runs to him, throwing her arms around him, and he smiles the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen on a man.
I make myself busy by picking out a beautiful dress for when their mother wakes up—though I suspect she won’t remember the conversation when she wakes.
We all head out the door and I close it quietly behind me. He kisses her cheek and puts her down.
“Go and play for a little while, Eva. I need to talk to Natalia alone,” he says.
Eva hugs me and runs back down the hallway. I turn to Dominic, noticing that he’s watching me intently again.
“Let me walk you to your room, Natalia.” He starts to walk and I sheepishly follow him.
I wonder, the entire time we walk, if he’s going to yell at me. For last night with his brothers, for today with his mother, for speaking to his little sister. Or maybe for walking out of the restaurant last night. My heart is beating so heavily in my chest that I’m surprised he can’t hear it. I don’t know what the protocol is here, but I need him to know that I’ll learn. That I’ll do what’s needed of me. I’m startled by my own thoughts. My own eager subservience to this man.
When we reach my room, he turns the handle and opens the door, pushing it open so I can enter first. Only, as I enter and go to pass him he wraps one hand around my throat and the other around my waist. I should scream or kick and fight him, but I don’t. All I can do is lean back into him, submissive to his touch. My body automatically responds to him—his scent, his touch, his low growl down my ear.
“You smell so good, Natalia,” he says, his breathy words caressing my throat, “I wonder what you’ll taste like.” His tongue darts out and slides up my throat towards my earlobe
I gasp at his words, automatically pushing myself back on him. I feel him hardening against my backside and I grind against him, wanting him, needing him. There’s an itch I can’t scratch, and I know he’ll be able to reach it for me.
“Please,” I beg as his grip on me tightens.
“Please what, Natalia? Say it and I’m yours.” He kisses along my throat, sucking my earlobe into his mouth.
I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Seeing his mom like that, meeting his sweet sister, only made me want him more. It humanized the monster, and despite the fear I have of him, there’s also a dark thrill of him wanting me so much.
“Say it,” he growls, his cock pressed between my ass cheeks, eager and waiting.
My head is rolled back against his shoulder and I open my eyes, seeing his intense blue ones boring into me. Just waiting for the words to spill from my lips so that he can fuck me.
“No,” I whimper. “Not yet.”
He releases me immediately and I take a step away from him with a gasp.
“Well then, it seems we’re at an impasse because I won’t touch you until you beg me,” he says, his words caressing my throat, “but don’t think that I don’t want you. That I don’t think about you at night. That I don’t imagine what it will feel like to fill that tight pussy of yours.”
When I turn to look at him, I see a smile upon his face and I know I’ve pleased him. I don’t know why it’s so important, but Iwantto please him. Knowing I have makes me smile.
He takes a step forward, his hard body next to mine, and he peers down into my face. His hand reaches down, his fingers gripping the point of my chin gently and he tips my face up to his. “I’m going to fuck that smile off your beautiful face one day, Natalia. You won’t walk straight for a week.”
