Page 37 of Inside the Sun

We stare at each other for a brief moment. Sure, he beats me in every other way, but that doesn’t mean he’s drained the last bit of fire out of me. I can’t say anything that insults him directly, but maybe I can piss him off in a roundabout way.

"A mafia boss fits the whole image of having a big, fat cock he uses to fuck everyone senseless. It’s kind of a trope, you know? Romance novels love that shit. That’s what the readers want."

Anzo glances at the floor, right around where my knees are. Looks like he’s either thinking about how to respond or doesn’t feel like giving me one.

So I press on, smirking, spiteful.

"But hey, you’re a beta. And betas usually swing both ways, right? So I can totally picture you taking dick. Nothing wrong with that, hell, I’m a bottom. Best position there is. You just lie back, do nothing, and still feel fucking amazing. What’s not to like? Someone else does all the work."

I want to laugh, but I hold it in. Pushing him just for the hell of it might not be the smartest move, for sure.

Anzo doesn’t react much. He just asks, calm as ever:

"You’ve never topped?"

I grimace a little.

"A few times. Wasn’t my idea. One of my exes really pushed for it. Not my thing, though. I’m a pillow princess."

He keeps staring. I’m starting to get a little impatient.

"So? You gonna tell me what you actually want from me now? If you’re expecting me to fuck you, you better get me some pills, ‘cause I’m not gonna get hard otherwise."

Anzo straightens up.

"What I want from you is… complicated, pet. I’m not that easy to satisfy. You’ll have to put in some effort."

"Define ‘effort’."

"First of all, your behavior. You need to learn respect. And I know that won’t be easy for you, because life’s spoiled you."

"You don’t know shit about me."

"On the contrary. I know enough. Even who you lost your virginity to."

I freeze. He could’ve dug that deep? Of course he could’ve.

"Poor Dogger. If he saw you now, on your knees with a collar around your neck, I don’t think he’d have gotten into that bar fight."

"How do you… know… how do you know about him—"

I’m stammering. Feels like a steel vice is crushing my chest.

"I don’t like showing up to a date unprepared, kitten," he says, almost smiling.

"What else do you know about him?"

"Just that he runs a bar with his new boyfriend in a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with us. His boyfriend’s an omega. They’re expecting their first kid."

I shut my eyes. I don’t want to hear this. It could be lies. Anzo trying to fuck with my head. Trying to break me.

I can’t let him break me.

And yet… I do. I press my hands to my face. A sob escapes my chest.

"Now strip, Sun."

The sob catches in my throat. I pull my hands away and look at him. He’s completely serious.

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