Surrender To Me

DANTE

She looked so pathetic I had to save her. At least that’s the excuse, I told myself. It’s not at all because of the jealousy I was feeling the entire night. The impulse to punch all the leery men who were glaring at her while she was dancing. Nor was it the jealousy I felt when I saw her talking to him. I made my way to them without thinking. And when I got closer, it wasn’t the rage I felt at hearing what he was saying to her. No. Not that. But the shock on his face right now is enough satisfaction for me to continue. “I was looking for you,” I say to her. She too, is frozen. I lean in whisper, “Shocked that I came to your rescue? Now let’s leave them, while they’re still stunned.” For good measure, I kiss her ear, making it seem like I was whispering little sweet nothings and lead her back to the gazebo.

I look back at the other couple. What she saw in him I have no idea. He is handsome, yes, but in the most generic way possible. There’s nothing about him that stands out. He looks like a thumb. A very dull thumb.

“Thank you,” she says. “You remembered he was exboyfriend?”

“I know a lot about you. Why did you break up?”

“I caught him fucking that woman he was with. How much do you know about me?”

“A lot. But not enough, it would seem.”

Her eyes narrow. “Is that why you no longer think I’m your spy? Because you finally know that I was only dating a person from Saccone holdings.”

“That’s part of it.” It was the whole, but she didn’t need to know that I had initially received bad information. That would need to be rectified. As we enter the gazebo, I say, “Now I know you’re only just a thief.” She glares at me, but like a guilty person, she has no response. Of course she doesn’t. “Why did you do it? Save me, I mean. When you act like you didn’t want to.”

Because I felt compelled to and I don’t understand it. “Because you’re here as my woman and no one disrespects my woman.”

“So, you did it for your ego?”

“Yes.” She looks disappointed and she wouldn’t be if she knew the true nature of my feelings. She would probably be happy knowing she had, no matter how small, a grip on me. Hell, the orgasm she gave me, not just this afternoon, but this evening as well, is driving me crazy and over possessive. So much so that even Sandro noticed it in a matter of seconds. He was more than happy to rib into me every time I glanced at her as she danced. When she left for the restroom, I was half in the mind to follow her. And when she took what seemed to me longer than necessary, I got up, telling myself, it’s because she might have ran away even though the GPS tag on my phone said otherwise. When I saw her speaking to her ex, I marched over there so fast I must have roughly bumped into a few people. The truth of the matter is, I’m slightly rocked off my axis and I can’t let her have that knowledge or she’ll only use it against me.

I turn my attention to Sandro, who glances up when he sees us coming in. “Sandro. It’s been a pleasure.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“You know I like to leave a party early.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Your loss,” he says as he gets up. “But thanks for coming, anyway.” He takes Corina’s hand and raises it to his lips, “It’s been nice knowing you Corina. I wish you could have stayed, but I think I know why Dante wants to keep you to himself.” Again, I fight the impulse to swipe his hand away from hers and punch his smug little face. Add another scar next to the collection. What’s with my irrational reaction? It can’t just be the amazing sex I had with Corina that’s making me act like a jealous monster.

“That was fun,” she says as the car pulls out of the gates and back to the city.

“Meeting your ex was fun?” I want to slap myself for blurting it loud. It shows that I’m still thinking about who fucked her before me. That I care. Luckily, she seems not to notice. “I mean the party. And Sandro. He’s fun.”

“Don’t even think about it?”

“What?”

Now I have shown myself. She seems surprised at first until it dawns on her. “You mean fucking him!” She bursts out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

She continues to laugh. She catches her breath after a few more gasps and says, “The competition alone. I would have a hard time getting noticed at all among those girls.”

“No way. You’re hotter than all of them combined.” She stops laughing and stares at me, startled. Even in the low street light, I can tell I have said something I shouldn’t.

“I very much doubt that. Not that I’m fishing for compliments, but I know this city and where I stack up on the totem pole of hotness. Hot enough to enter the club, but not enough to get a free drink, as they say, but thanks for the self-esteem boost Deepak Chopra.”

“I’m not lying. And I don’t hand out compliments easily.” The statement stuns her this time. I definitely shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true. I don’t know how many times I’ve stared at her at work for what are probably endless hours. Everything pales and only Corina remains in focus. There’s a natural beauty about her that’s both understated and unforced. A face with an elegance that can’t be feigned and a body that promises nothing but sin and sex. A promise fulfilled; I must add. I was half in the mind to rip her sexy dress and fuck her while Rob and Bruno pretended not to notice. My body, as if acting on its own accord, leans in and I draw her to me. She’s compliant. My lips touch hers and my body exalts as if I hadn’t kissed her twice already today. The champagne on her breath only makes the kiss more potent. I draw her further in, one hand going up the slit of her dress to feel her soft thighs in my hands. I recall the last time, only hours ago, when I was holding more. My cock gets harder thinking about sinking into her again. She’s just as responsive as every other time we kiss. Her hands are all over me at once, although there’s a hesitancy I sense about her. I finish the kiss, but I don’t let go of her. I want to ask her what the issue is when she glances at the two people in the front seats.

Ugh. Of course. She must think exhibitionism is my kink. Little does she know I was lying to her earlier. I just saw a flicker of light flashing on the other end and thought it would be fun to freak her out thinking we’re being watched. In the end, the fantasy turned into a really hot act. And what was I doing trying to fuck her in an occupied car? This isn’t me. I immediately detach myself from her.

“What’s wrong?” she sounds surprised.

“Nothing.” I fish out my phone and check my messages. Anything to get my mind off her. Maybe Gio is right. Indulging in one’s obsession is never a good idea. Especially one so important. I must do something about this. A message pops up. It’s from one of my long-time friends, Leah. She’s in town and she’s asking to meet. Leah’s nice enough, a little too vapid, but okay to be around. Also, she’s not a thief slash asset slash employee. She’s baggage free. And maybe the best person to help me purge Corina out of my system. When we arrive at the Palazzo, I tell Rob to stay with Corina.

“You’re not coming?” She asks.

“No.”

“More business stuff?”

“Stuff that doesn’t concern you? Yes.”

“God damn it. I was just asking to ask. No need for the animosity. Anyway, thanks for the evening.” I didn’t expect that, and it thaws my barrier. I feel bad for leaving her and going to another woman until I check myself. Holy fuck, what am I turning into? She is not in a relationship with me. Our relationship is transactional at best. I shouldn’t feel guilty.

“It was just an outing. I felt like you needed one.”

“Thanks anyway.” She gets out of the car and I watch as she and Rob enter the building while Bruno switches over to the driver’s seat. I might as well get to Leah now, before I jump out and follow her. I must purge her out of me one way or another.

Leah’s apartment is on the other side of town and with all the traffic, it takes longer than I expect reaching it. She’s in the middle of drawing plans for a new show when I arrive. Leah has directed several popular shows and from the looks of the sketches she’s drawing up, this too will be just as successful. I refuse the dinner plans she offers and instead we talk over a bottle of wine. Throughout the conversation, I keep getting reminded of something Corina said. I see her face in Leah and can’t, for the life of me, stop comparing the two, which is ridiculous because they’re both different women. Leah is cute and fun, Corina is… well, Corina. Infuriating, independent, headstrong, rough. Things I shouldn’t want in a woman and yet, here I was thinking about her. Even Leah picks up on it. She doesn’t throw me out, but she gives me a big enough sign that I’m not present and would rather be with someone who is. I leave her and go back to my hotel, frustrated.

Corina’s asleep when I return. Sleeping peacefully, while I’m in torment. I go to my bed and knock out as soon as I lay my head down. Of course I dream of her. When I wake up the next morning, I come up with a resolution. Stay away from Corina as much as possible and only be with her when necessary. The next time I we fuck again, because we were still going to, I won’t be as obsessed.