His eyes light up. Maybe I am screwed up in the head. He continues to rub the cream on my raw ass. “I had a bad day today. I lost six captains. I needed an outlet. This is my outlet, Roselyn.”
“I’m sorry you had a crappy day. It’s fine. We’ll work through it.”
He nods. The air between us is different. Then he sits me on his lap, grabs my neck and kisses me, softly and gently.
“You want to watch The Haunting of Bly Manor?” I ask him. I don’t want to talk anymore about what happened. He’s toxic and so am I.
“Yeah.” He pats between his legs. I crawl to him, sliding between his legs. He kisses my forehead and I melt like butter.
“For your reward, I’ll take you to the movies.”
Roselyn
I NEED A BOTTLE OF whiskey and a lot of patience to deal with Devious. The last two weeks he’s been getting on my last nerve, making me wait on him hand and foot.
We didn’t speak about what happened between us the night he spanked me, instead we move through the days as if nothing happened. Some nights, he’ll wake up screaming at the top of his lungs and it shakes me to the core. I’ll ask him what he is dreaming about and he’ll tell me to stay out of his business. So, I leave him alone for now, because it can be my way to manipulate him. Maybe I’m way over my head if I think I can manipulate Devious. He’s smart.
A few of his underbosses walk into the manor at odd hours of the night. I’ve seen Papa here a few times and he doesn’t bother saying anything to me and I don’t either. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me. I wait by Devious’s study, sitting on the floor, waiting for him to finish with his meeting. I want to go outside and breathe fresh air. When the doorknob turns, I jump up, dusting off my dark jeans. Two soldiers walk out, and I hurry into the office, Devious rests his arms on the edge of the desk.
His dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. My eyes trail to his veins in his arms and my mouth waters.
“Can I stand in the backyard?”
“I’m coming with you.” He stands up and we head outside. Once we’re outside, I inhale the crisp air as I close my eyes, then I open them, glancing at Devious. He’s props in the metal chair, watching me.
“I’m bored out of my mind. Can I have a laptop?” I ask, my tone is uneven.
“No.”
“What do you expect me to do all day?” I fold my arm across my chest, wrinkling up my white shirt.
“Watch television or read a book,” he responds.
“I don’t want to.”
“Then you’re SOL.”
“What’s SOL?” I cock my eyebrow.
“Shit out of luck,” he says, shrugging.
“Did you grow up here in the states or Italy?”
He gives me a once overlook then his eyes linger on my breast. “My great-grandfather was the first one to arrive here in America and started the Italian mafia.”
I don’t have a response, so I pick at the dead skin around my finger. “You never ask me anything about me? Don’t you want to get to know me?”
“I already know everything I need to know about you,” he says.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“You’re sneaky, reckless, underhanded, spoiled entitled brat, but your heart is the size of the ocean and you are nurturing. When I fuck you, you let go and become your real self. Not, this nice girl who’s ready to betray every chance she gets. You’re a pain in my ass and sometimes I wish I had snapped your neck.”
“Gee, thanks for the compliment,” I say, playfully punching him in the arm. Devious is observant but doesn’t let on. The minute you think he’s not paying attention, he is, and he doesn’t let you know what he knows, so it will make him a step ahead of you. I need to watch what I say in front of him or else I’ll be digging my own grave.
“Your life would have been a lot easier if you didn’t betray me.”
My mind drifted to the night we went to the beach and kissed me and told me he wanted me. So, I have to ask what has been on my mind for a while. “What did you mean by you wanted me?”
He rubs the back of his neck as sweat blankets his forehead. “You know what I meant, Roselyn. Don’t play dumb,” he pauses. “I want you as a man wants a wife. I want to be excited to come home and see you. I want you to have my children and carry on my legacy. Does that answer your question?”
“Is it the reason why you haven’t killed me?”
He nods. “You have a trait which makes you sexy.”
I cock my eyebrow. “Which is?”
“Bravery. No one is brave enough to try to kill me to protect themselves. It made you stupid for trying to kill me, but it also makes me think you’re brave. Since our kids will be brought up in the mafia, then they need to be brave and fearless. You’re not scared of me. Despite what I put you through.”
“It’s a lie. I was afraid of you the night of our wedding.”
“Yet, you still went through your plan. Brave.”
I never thought of myself as brave. I thought of me wanting to be free.
I need to change the subject, so I ask, “What happened to your parents? Why don’t you talk about them?” I sit cross legged on the grass, admiring the garden with different colorful flowers. The air is wet, but smells sweet.
“I hate small talk.”
“If we want to make this marriage work, we might as well get to know each other.”
He tilts his head to the side and the wind blows his perfect hair.
