Page 14 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

The shadow on Cesare’s chin seemed to darken as he lifted his head. “I’m very serious.”

Or, it was.

I didn’t know what to do. Should I listen? Should I argue? Could I run? That option was the more favorable one, if it wasn’t for the man standing behind Gio’s dad.

When I looked up at that stone cold stare, I was tempted to gulp back a swallow. His large frame tested the limits of the suit he was wearing, and he was standing so still, one might mistake him for a breathing statue. But he was also ready for me to try something. I could sense that in the way he was watching me.

The massive size of Cesare’s Cherrywood desk put a decent amount of space between him and anyone coming into the room. It was placed between two windows on the far wall, and away from any other furniture, aside from the large leather chair I was seated in.

I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a strategic choice. There was no way anyone was getting over the smooth top of that desk before that guy snapped their neck.

That didn’t exactly bode well for me. The only strategic thing I’d ever done was frame Veda for eating Maw Maw’s cookies. And that was completely by accident.

I suddenly felt out of my league. Not that I had a league, and if I did, it would be the one that everyone forgot was there. But this was so much more than picking a fight with an asshole bully. Well-dressed men shouldn’t be this scary. Even Gio’s brother, who was casually perched on a bookshelf behind me, was giving off a ‘fuck around and find out’ aura.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to question them.

“What if I refuse?” One should always know what their limits were, after all.

Cesare settled into the plush leather back of his chair and cocked a brow. “Try it and find out.”

That didn’t sound promising, either. This was bullshit. How was I supposed to know what threads I could pull on if no one told me where the damn threads were?

It was time to try another tactic.

“Listen, I get that you want me to prove myself, and I totally want to do that…”Not really. “But other than a couple of kisses, I have virtually no experience when it comes to stuff like this…”

“I’m aware.”

My eyes narrowed. First, he knew I was a virgin, and now he was aware of this? Did Cesare have some secret file on all my sexual exploits?

Deciding to let that go for now, I said, “Okay… well, then you would know forcing me to do this wouldn’t be pleasurable for your son.” Nor me. Though I don’t think he gave a shit how I felt.

“Do you have a tongue?”

What kind of question was that? “Obviously…”

“Do you have the ability to suck?”

“Yeah,” I saw where this was going. “But…”

“Then why are you still yapping at me?”

That was just rude.

“I’d hardly call this yapping, and secondly, I don’t want to do it.” When all else failed, go for honesty. “And I don’t think Gio wants me to, either.”

He looked about as thrilled as I was. Then again maybe he was thrilled? I couldn’t really tell. Gio always had that angry line etched in his forehead. I did find it interesting that he hadn’t objected to his father’s demand. Wonder why that was? Oh, right. Because Gio Mancini was a giant asshole. A giant asshole that now apparently owned my ass for better or worse. What the hell did I agree to?

“You have thirty seconds.”

My eyes snapped back over to Cesare. “You want me to do it here? In front of you?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

Okay, that was weird. What kind of incestuous bullcrap was this family into? Did they often watch each other get off? Was that a normal thing that guys did, because girls sure as hell didn’t do that stuff. Veda walked in on me having a shower last week and I threw a bottle of shampoo at her.

“Right now?” I clarified.

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