Page 17 of Disciplined: His Forbidden Crush

“Like what?” Rafael asked, his tone dismissive even as his curiosity was piqued.

“Have some fun? Buy some nice clothes. See a band,” Summer replied with a slight smile. “Coco, my friend, she’s free to live her life however she wants. No rules, no obligations. We go to bars, dance...just enjoy life, y’know?”

For a brief moment, Rafael allowed himself to wonder about such a life, one without the weight of the cartel on his shoulders, where pleasure and freedom could be pursued openly. But the thought vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by fierce determination to maintain his position.

“Those things are a luxury we can’t afford,” he said coldly, crushing any lingering desire for escape. “Our world is a harsh one, but it’s the only one we’ve got.”

Summer sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly in defeat. “Maybe,” he murmured, his eyes clouded with something that might have been regret or longing.

Rafael turned away, even as the image of Summer dancing in a crowded bar—free and alive—lingered in the back of his mind. The thought was tempting, dangerously so, but they both knew better than to entertain such fantasies. They were bound to a world where the only thing that mattered was strength and respect. And for now, at least, there was no escaping it.

***

The days dragged on, each more tedious and humiliating than the last. Summer felt the walls closing in on him. Even the simple act of going to the bathroom had become an ordeal under Rafael’s watchful gaze. He’d been allowed a small measure of privacy to shit, but showering was another matter entirely.

It was, perhaps, his own fault.

Rafael’s orders were simple—clean up the mess in the living room. He’d even untied Summer’s hands for it. But Summer rebelled at being treated like a servant in his own home.

“Like hell I will,” he spat.

Rafael’s answering smirk only made him angrier. With a dramatic flourish, he swept everything off the coffee table—books, magazines, a cup with dregs of coffee in the bottom. They clattered to the floor in a satisfying crash, the cup splitting into two halves at his feet.

“There, it’s clean now,” Summer said, hands on his hips. “Happy?”

Before he could blink, Rafael caught hold of him, strong fingers digging into his arm hard enough to bruise. “You think you’re cute, don’t you, Veranito?”

The pet name, once an affectionate term, dripped with disdain. Summer swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. He refused to show fear, jutting out his chin stubbornly.

“It’s Summer, I told you. Let go of me, you big ape.”

Rafael’s laughter was humorless. “That smart mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble.” He tightened his grip until Summer couldn’t hold back a whimper. “Maybe I need to wash it out with soap.”

Panic fluttered in Summer’s chest. He was fairly sure Rafael wasn’t making an idle threat. Desperate, he tried a different tack, allowing his lips to curve in a sultry pout.

“Is that what you want, Rafael? To get me all...wet?”

For a long, heated moment, they stared at one another. the air crackled with tension. Then Rafael released him with a disgusted snort. “Get in the shower. And leave the door open.”

“What?” Summer had protested.

“You’ve lost the right to shower in privacy. So get in the shower before I put you in it.”

Rafael looked serious, more serious than he had so far. Summer knew he’d pushed them both to a place where Rafael would not back down.

So Summer gave in.

The shower was torture, the water was almost scalding. Rafael crowded Summer in, shirtless in the steam that surrounded them in a dense fog. He’d tied Summer’s wrists again and attached them to the shower fixture where it met the wall. It wasn’t exactly secure, but that wasn’t the point of it. The point, as always, was humiliation.

Or maybe just to keep Summer’s hands out of the way.

“How am I supposed to wash like this?” Summer demanded.

In answer, Rafael pumped some liquid soap into his palm. Summer caught a glimpse of Rafael’s densely tattooed forearm as Rafael reached around to spread his sudsy fingers over Summer’s abdomen. “Just hold still.”

Summer burned with humiliation, but that wasn’t all.

Rafael’s strong hands moved over Summer’s body, lathering him with soap, his touch firm and possessive. Summer tried not to move, but his body quivered, muscles spasming under Rafael’s touch.

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