Page 42 of The Don

I swallow again, but slightly nod. He snakes his other hand to my lower back and pulls me closer to him. His desire presses into me, and he lowers his head and seals his mouth over mine. The kiss is nothing like I was expecting. He sweeps his tongue across my lower lip which coaxes a moan from me. Ruben’s warm hand continues to cup my face while his other hand pushes my sleep t-shirt up so he can stroke my lower back.

The kiss escalates, becoming heated too quickly. My body stiffens and Ruben instantly pulls away with both his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.” I take off out of his room; Storm jumps to his feet and follows me. The moment I get into my room, I close the door and sink down to the floor. “What have I done?” I cradle my head in my hands and burst into tears.

I’ve lead him on, silently promised him my body without delivering. He’s going to be so angry and I haven’t seen Ruben angry with me yet. He’s going to lose his temper. He’ll wrap his hand around my hair and drag me back to his room where he’ll demand I blow him while his men watch. Then he’ll let them have me because I’m a prick tease and I’ve been flirting with his men.

I think I’m going to be sick.

I can’t go through that again.

What am I going to do?

Maybe if I lock the door he won’t break it to hunt me down. I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I put myself in that situation, again.

Storm tries to nuzzle into me to lick my face. I lower my hands and look at Storm. “What am I going to do?” I ask him. As my stomach churns and vomit bubbles up to my throat, I do the only thing I can.

I stand and open the door. With my shoulders slumped, I head down to Ruben’s room. I’ve learned that it’s best to get this over with before they become angry. Because once they’re angry, they can be so evil and cruel.

Ruben is pacing back and forth in front of his bed while he’s on the phone, giving orders. He turns and sees me standing at the door. “I’ll call you back.” He hangs up and throws the phone on the bed. “What is it?” He advances toward me and I prepare myself for the wrath of Ruben.

“I’m sorry I lead you on.” I sink to my knees and open my mouth.

“What are you doing?”

I look up at him, and with ice coursing through my veins, I say, “I have to blow you.”

“What? Why?”

“Would you prefer I give it to Dante?” A small part of my soul dies with those words. But I know what to expect. “Or another one of your men?” my voice cracks as I try to hold onto my tears.

Ruben bends, lifts me from under the shoulders, and slams me into his body. His arms protectively enclose around me. “You don’t owe me a goddamned thing, Amorina.” He laces his hand into the back of my head and guides me to rest against his chest. “If anyone puts their hands on you, I’ll fucking gut them and watch as they rot,” he says in a cool and controlled tone, though I can hear the echo of his heartbeat inside his chest. It’s pounding fast and strong. Ruben kisses the top of my head and inhales a deep breath. He releases me and steps back. My body shivers from the absence of his warmth. “Come.” He pulls back the covers of the bed, and my eyes widen with fear.

“What are you doing?” Is this the part where he forces me to do things I don’t want to do?

“It’s late and we both need a few hours’ sleep.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m not going to do anything to you.” Ruben holds his hand out to me, and hesitantly, I step forward and take it.

Ruben has only ever shown me kindness, perhaps he’s not like him. Maybe all my past painful memories are isolated to what he and his men used to do to me.

“Are you sure?” I look at his side. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

A small smile tugs at his lips. He steps into me and kisses my temple. “You won’t hurt me.” He lies on the bed and opens his arms. I slide in next to him and rest my head on his outstretched arm. Ruben sweeps some of the loose hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “It’s time to sleep now.”

My body is already relaxing beside Ruben’s. His warmth is like a beacon of comfort to me. “You have to tell me if I hurt you.” I drape my arm over his taut stomach and my eyes flutter shut.

He kisses me again, and I feel my body being dragged into a peaceful sleep. I’m not sure if I’m dreaming or if Ruben says, “I’ll never take anything from you that you don’t want to give.”

My heart wants him to have said it, so I pretend he spoke the words and curl further into his warmth.

Chapter nine

Ruben

When my eyes open, I find Eliza’s small sleeping body nearly on top of me. Her leg is over my thighs, her arm is around my waist, and her face is pressed into my neck.

I turn my head and bury my nose into the top of her head. I take a long breath and am rewarded with the faint aroma of coconut from her shampoo or conditioner.

Eliza is asleep on me, but I too have my arms wrapped around her. She feels perfect in my embrace, and I’m dreading the fact I have to move.

I kiss the top of her head before slowly moving her off me. She turns to her side, facing away from me and brings her legs up into a fetal position to return to sleep. Her raven hair is swept off her neck, and her hands are tucked under her cheek.