Page 9 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

The words just came out. It was some kind of fucked up automatic response that only annoyed me further. Though I did enjoy the way Nova’s body stiffened. All scared and timid, like a mouse trying to hide from a cat.

Focus Gio.

I needed to stop staring at that damn romper. Where did she get that thing, anyway? The tan color was faded, and it looked thin as fuck. I could almost see her nipples if I tipped my head in the right way. It was the cheapest piece of clothing I’d seen. It couldn’t have cost more than fifteen dollars, yet she somehow pulled it off.

Since when did I enjoy the thrift store reject look? Maybe I just needed to get laid. I should’ve let Carissa jerk me off last night. Or… I could dress Nova up in what I wanted. Like a doll. Bet she’d love that.

“You don’t… I mean… You won’t…” My dick jumped at the fear cracking through Nova’s quiet tone as she demurely peeked up at me, “Will you?”

“Yes, I’ll fuck you.” My answer was immediate. There was no hesitation or voice in the back of my head denying my desires.

And that was a problem.

I knew what I had to do. My father made it perfectly clear what my duty in this arrangement would be. Four years, that’s how long I had to wed and impregnate Novalee. Otherwise she’d be taken out, along with her brother.

I was fine with that outcome. More than fine. I got a few years to torment Kato by using his baby sister, after which I could wipe my hands of them.

The fucked up desire to claim Nova, however, was not okay with that outcome.

She was unorganized, stubborn, a Ford, and a complete mess. Yet, I couldn’t stop watching her. I sat outside her house last night for five fucking hours. Know what she was doing? Fucking sleeping.

She snored louder than Romeo, and she drooled. That didn’t stop me from jerking off, right there, outside her window. That’s how I found out Atlee had cameras on the exterior as well. Fucker texted me when I was getting back in my Rover.

There was a goal here that I didn’t want to lose sight of. That was why I sent Atlee to return her damn phone. So that I could clear my head. And now, all I could think as Nova lifted her foot to step into the house, was that Atlee had seen her in that motherfucking romper!

She paused just inside the door and twisted her neck to look up at me. “What now?”

I’ll rip Atlee’s eyes out of his head and burn that fucking romper.

What other whore outfits did she have in her closet? Between the shirt she wore the other night and this fucking thing that barely covered her ass, I was ready to do a purge of her clothes. Not that I cared who looked at her. So what if some guy stared at her ass or the way the swell of her breasts flushed just a touch when she inhaled.

“Gio…”

“What?” I snapped.

She snapped right back at me, “Are we just going to stand here? Cause I thought there’d be a little more torture involved.”

“Don’t get smart with me,” I stepped forward, backing her into a wall. “You think you can come here, dressed like that, and tell me what to do?”

Who the fuck did she think she was?

Confusion knit Nova’s brows as she glanced down at the fabric covering her chest, then back up at me. “Do you think I’m wearing something else?”

“Oh, I can see what you’re wearing.” So could every other man.

My palm slammed down on the wall beside her head. “Did you enjoy giving Atlee a show?”

“What?” Nova tipped her head as the crease in her brow deepened, “Are you on something, and if so, can I have some?”

“No I’m not—” The realization of how I was acting slapped me right in the face.

Was there anything wrong with Nova’s outfit? No. Sure it was a touch short and I could practically see her goddamn nipples… but it was a basic everyday romper. Nothing more and nothing less. Just basic.

Letting out a breath, I slammed the door and headed for the stairs, “Follow me.”

When I reached the first step, I noticed that Nova wasn’t behind me. She was still standing by the door shuffling on her feet.

She wasn’t off to a very good start. The second Nova entered this house, her fate was sealed. She belonged to me, and I didn’t deal well with shit like this.

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