C11 Creep!

Even though he was being ridiculous, it somehow managed to touch something deep inside me.

"So do as I say. Go and change, Sandra. Something that's modest."

That snapped me out of the haze he created. "Modest? Do you think it's not a modest dress? I see no problem in it. I can wear whatever I want. And don't forget you were the one who brought it for me. So I'm not changing it."

It was another thing that I cut half of it to irritate him.

The buzzing of his phone took his attention. With him still so close to me, he saw the person's name on display. He hissed some Italian words under his breath. More like curses.

Glancing up at me, he pinned me with his deadliest glare. "Go and change, Sandra. I won't ask twice."

My instincts told me to step back from him, but I held my ground. Odd, but I somehow believed that he wouldn't hurt me. If he did, I had my fists too.

"No."

A muscle of his jaw clenched. His phone buzzed again.

Letting out another curse, he pressed his forehead against mine, surprising me.

"You will be the death of me someday, cuore mio."

Then with powerful strides, he walked into my bedroom and came out, the cape was in his hands.

Before I could open my mouth, he put it on me.

"I don't want to hear another word. It's cold outside, you will need it." When his eyes on my legs again, he let out a displeased grunt. "You've already done enough. So shut up and let's go. We're getting late."

Grabbing my hand, he then guided me outside locking the door behind us.

"Hey! I need to feed my cat!"

"He will be taken care of," he replied, continuing walking towards his… limo?

We were going to ride a freaking limousine? Where the hell were we going?

And damn, he was right. My bones were shaking under the chilly night.

"What do you mean he will be taken care of? Who will do that?"

And as my answer, a tall middle-aged man with black uniform stood straight beside the limousine.

While the chauffeur opened the door for us, Duncan nodded at that uniformed man. "Take care of that cat, Ron."

"Sì, boss!" That man was fast to reply, his gaze set on the ground.

And then I noticed there were two more cars parked behind the limousine. Men with similar black clothes occupied them.

"Get in," Duncan said. And I did. Only to get rid of the cold.

Once he was inside, the limousine started to move. And I took an impressed glance around the interior. Everything was lavish.

Of course, it was a freaking limousine. And it belonged to Duncan De Sylvano.

At the burning sensation on my legs, my attention turned to the Italian billionaire beside me. Those dark smoldering icy blue eyes were set on my thighs.

My throat suddenly went dry.

Even when I noticed, he didn't remove his gaze.

Shameless man!

But shouldn't I be pleased? To get him to help me with my fear and get my V card so that I didn't die a virgin, I needed to get close to him. Seduce this sinfully gorgeous Italian hunk.

But instead, my heart raced at the realization that we were all alone in that limousine. The lights were dimmed and his eyes were undressing me openly. Not to forget he sat not too far away from me.

Suddenly my skin felt too sensitive, as if aware of his presence. My breathing came out ragged.

Why was I being so nervous all of a sudden?

I hated it. The way this man affected me. No one had this effect on me. Cassandra Brooks didn't get nervous around anyone.

Then again, this was why I decided to get him. I just needed to stop stalling time and get what I wanted so that I could get away from this overwhelming man.

Now his dark gaze was on my chest.

I cleared my throat. "Where are we goi…"

Letting out a grunt, he reached out to me and then with one tug, he placed me on his lap. A gasp left my lips.

Once I was secured in his arms, he inhaled my hair before placing his rough hand on my thigh.

"Now, ask me whatever you want, cuore mio." Tone husky. Leaning in, he nuzzled my neck. Rough stubble rubbing against my sensitive skin made me tremble.

A shaky breath left my lips. "I…"

Pulling me flush against him, he squeezed my thigh before running his hand down my leg.

A deep groan. "So soft... cazzo!"

Biting my lip, I stopped myself from making any sound that threatened to escape. My eyes closed on their own as his lips pressed against my neck. Every inch of my body was on flames.

His scent, his voice, his touch...

Too much!

Why did it feel so overwhelming? It felt like… it would consume me whole and I would get lost into it. Into him.

"S-stop!" Making a feeble attempt to push at his chest, I tried to move away from his lap. But of course, he only brought me back into his arms. "What are you doing, Mr. Sylvano? Y-you can't touch me like that!"

What a hypocrite I was! It was me who wanted him in my bed.

Pulling away slightly from my neck, he raised a brow. "Like what?"

I slapped his hand away as it squeezed my thigh again. "Like this! Who gave you the right to behave this way? I'm not your girlfriend or something that you can pull me on your lap! This is inappropriate!"

A tiny smirk tugged at his lips. His thumb brushed across my jaw in a soft brush. "You and I both know there is nothing inappropriate about it. We both know what we want, so why ignore it, cuore mio? And I already told you, you're mine. So I don't need to get permission from anyone to have what's mine."

My heart skipped.

"I- I'm not yours."

His face inched closer. Our breath mingled. His intense eyes held me captive.

"You are, Cassandra Brooks. You belong to me. Learn to accept it."

The seriousness of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

This man was confusing. He just wanted to have fun, didn't he? Otherwise why would he want me all of a sudden after months of ignoring my existence?

Why did I feel like there was more?

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." Clearing my throat, I glanced away and tried to move from his lap. But he didn't let me. "Hey! Let go of me!"

"No," saying, he brushed his nose over my cheek. And heat soon rushed up my neck.

"Leave!"

Ignored.

Letting out a huff, I stopped fighting. "At least tell me where you are taking me."

"To a party the president held for his close acquaintances for his victory in the election."

My jaw hung in the air?

"What? The president!"

He was taking me to the freakin' president's party? And he didn't bother to inform me about it beforehand?

"And you're telling me that now?" Baffled, I stared at him. "Why are you even taking me there? I don't know that old man personally!"

Amusement danced across those beautiful eyes. "Old man?"

"Answer me!" I glared.

His hand roamed over the curve of my hips and waist as he answered, "I'm taking you there as my date."

"Date?" I gaped. "Who the hell told you I would agree to go with you there as your date? Did you bother to ask me about it?"

He watched me as if I said the most nonsense thing in the world. "First of all, watch your language when you talk to me, Sandra. And as for your question, no. I knew you wouldn't agree. So I didn't ask. You like wild parties, not boring events like this one. So why don't you think of it as your first punishment, hmm?"

First punishment?

My lips pursed as I glared at him. And he only tucked a strand behind my ear. His eyes watched my features with an emotion in there I couldn't recognize.

Then something clicked in my head.

How did he know that I liked wild parties?

"How do you know I'm into wild parties?"

Something flashed across his features. But it was gone soon. "I know a lot about you, cuore mio. You have no idea about it."

Huh?

I blinked.

What did he mean by that?

"Enough of asking questions. Let me have my Sandra in my arms now."

Before I could open my mouth, he pulled me in his chest with my face at the crook of his neck. Those strong arms were wrapped around me as he nuzzled my hair. A deep groan reverberated through his chest.

He was… hugging me?

He murmured something into my hair that I couldn't understand except the last two words.

'....so long.'

I tried to move but he didn't let me. He kept me firm in his arms as he played with my hair.

I hated to admit, but as much as irritating and confusing it was, it felt...good. Warm.

I thought he would try to seduce me like the pervert he was. But he wasn't doing it anymore. Because he was too busy hugging me and playing with my hair.

Creep!

My eyes fell on the silver chain around his strong neck. The locket of it rested on his chest.

A cross?

Suddenly, with a jerk the limousine took a sharp turn. And then it ran smoothly again.

But the thing that caught my attention was the way Duncan tensed against me. His grip tightened around my frame.

I frowned.

With his hold still tight on me, he pressed the intercom. And the chauffeur responded immediately.

The harsh words he said in Italian to the poor man went over my head.

"Stai attento!" And with that, he spared the chauffeur. A muscle of his jaw ticked.

Why was he so mad at that tiny issue?

"Is everything alright?"

His gaze snapped on me and they softened a bit. Pressing his forehead against mine, he let out a breath. "You're in my arms. So nothing can go wrong now."

***

As soon as the limousine stopped at our destination, the chauffeur opened the door for us. Duncan was first to get out before giving me his hand.

And I took it without any sound because the last words he said to me in the limo were still echoing in my head. They were making my knees weak.

I shivered as the cold wind kissed my skin.

Sudden flashes of cameras and dozens of questions thrown from the paparazzi that gathered around us took me off guard. Reporters were trying their best to reach us, or I should say Duncan, while the bodyguards pushed them back.

"Mr. De Sylvano, are the rumors true that you have a hand behind the crime boss' death?" One question was fired from the crowd.

My eyes widened at that person's audacity while not even an inch moved of Duncan's face. What surprised me was he shrugged off his jacket and put it over my shoulders before pulling me in his chest, keeping me hidden from the cameras.

"Told you it would be cold outside," he murmured, rubbing my arms over the jacket. An adorable frown set between his dark brows. "Should have brought a warm dress for you instead."

"Mr. De Sylvano, who is that lady with you?"

With my teeth chattering from the cold, I couldn't say anything but to stare at him. As if he wasn't even aware that there was paparazzi asking questions to him. Because he was too bothered that I was cold.

"Let's go inside. You will get sick." With that, he guided me inside the huge building that looked more like a palace.

As soon as we stepped inside, some men in expensive suits approached us. I recognized one of them. The foreign minister.

"Mr. De Sylvano! We were just wondering when you will arrive. And here you are!" Engulfing Duncan in a hug which that rude man didn't reciprocate, the minister then pulled away. The smile on his face said he didn't mind Duncan's lack of warmth at all. Maybe he was used to it. "Welcome to the party! Thank you for joining us tonight!"

Duncan just gave a curt nod. That beautiful face was stoic, nothing like a few moments ago when he was with me.

"Is the president here yet? We can't stay for long."

The minister's smile slipped for a second before he displayed his teeth again. "Uh, he will be here in five minutes. Don't worry, he wouldn't make you wait for long. After all, this victory wouldn't be possible without you."

He helped the president to win in the election?

God! Exactly how powerful this man was?

Then the minister's gaze fell on me. "And may I know who this beautiful young lady is here?"

Pulling me against his side, Duncan looked down at me. "My woman."

I sucked in my breath.

He didn't just say that before those politicians, did he?

"No!" Clearing my throat, I smiled at the minister. "Uh, I'm just a friend of his. His date for the night. Don't take him seriously."

The hand on my waist tightened but I ignored it.

"Mr. De Sylvano doesn't joke." And that threatened to steal my professional smile away. "Anyways, nice to meet you, Miss…?

"Cassandra Brooks." I shook his hand. "And it's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Lockwood."

"Nah! We are lucky to meet Mr. De Sylvano's woman. No one has seen him with a lady in years. You must be special."

Something fluttered in my stomach. My cheeks heated up.

It was true. He wasn't seen with any woman for years.

But that didn't mean he couldn't keep a personal life away from people's eyesight, right? There must be someone. It wasn't possible for a man like him to stay celibate for that long.

The burning gaze on my face made me look up at him. Those intense icy blue eyes watching me closely tugged a string in my heart.

Breathless, I looked away.

"Come on, Mr. De Sylvano, Miss. Brooks. Our guests would love to meet you," said the minister.

Just as we were about to move, a voice from behind stopped us.

"Is it the great Duncan De Sylvano I'm seeing here?"

Turning around, we faced a woman in a hot pink gown standing behind us, with her dark lips tugged up into a sultry smile.