Page 102 of A Deal in Darkness
ADRIANA
Enzo watches me as I read, sucking air through his teeth when he isn't drinking his whisky. He's been staring all evening, unable to take his eyes off me. I've been fed and allowed to do as I please, except his eyes haven't left me alone.
I'm debating taking on a third book, but it's hard to focus on the novel in front of me. It's good but it's a little niche and I'm not sure if the market will take it. This decision feels more pressured than my last two, mostly because of the expectation now I've signed Anna.
I've acquired a reputation, and now I've got to live up to it.
I should focus on the manuscript, but my eyes keep flicking up to meet Enzo's. They're darker these days, their ebony turning to onyx as rims of starlight and gold shimmer around his irises. They're captivating, and they're not the only thing that demands my attention.
The collar plays on my mind. It isn't comfortable yet and I still haven't come to terms with it. I've accepted it's staying on, I just haven't accepted it.
I keep playing with it and Enzo growls every single time he catches me touching it. I want to know its shape and structure, understand the lines and curves of its gold and the sparkle of its gems as the collar sits against my skin—and I can't when he stops me from exploring it.
My fingers run over it loops and swirls, playing with it as I read my book. Magic unleashes itself on the pages and a warmth spreads up my arm, growing increasingly uncomfortable.
“LEAVE. IT. ALONE.”
Enzo shouts at me for the first time I recall. He's shouted around me but never at me and he's intimidated me in other ways, but he's never raised his voice.
I put my book down and glare at the man who's hanging on by a thread. His knuckles are white as they cling to his crystal glass that looks to be on the verge of shattering. Enzo's breathing has turned erratic and his eyes are beacons of black, their sclera replaced with ink as dark as oblivion.
“I'm getting used to it.” I realize my mistake and my tone changes. Quickly. “Daddy.”
Enzo doesn't soften. “My collar ties you to me. Leave it alone, Adriana. Before I lose control.”
Usually, I'd go quiet and let him cool. The silence would fill the space and take the heat out of this situation, and it would avoid the confrontation. But that hasn't worked well for me or us and I won't make the same mistake again.
I don't understand and there's only one way for me to figure this out.
“What do you mean?”
Enzo tilts his head and for a moment seems unsure. “Ah, you’re finally asking instead of pretending you know something you don't. The collar binds you to me, Adriana. It connects us and our emotions. Yours are not always easy to interpret, but I sense them. When you play with the collar, it arouses my senses. It's damn distracting and I'm half inclined to walk over there and fuck or spank you senseless.”
I blush as my mouth makes a perfect circle, and a silent oh escapes my lips.
“So be a good girl for me and leave it alone.”
“Does it do anything else?”
Enzo smiles and walks over, calmer. “I can channel my magic into it so it provides protection, as well as a warning to anyone stupid enough to think about taking you from me. If you were a creature born of darkness, it would bind our powers and let me use yours.”
He lifts my chin and kisses me.
“I am pleased you’re asking questions, sweet girl. It is progress.” He kisses me again, stopping me from pointing out it would also be progress if he learned I need more explanations. “Did you have questions?”
I do.
I'm just not sure if I dare to ask them
Or face their consequences.
Enzo waits and I fidget nervously, trying to figure out how to say what I want without offending him. My mind goes blank as my heart races and his stare intensifies, and in the end, I just blurt out the first thing that I can think of.
“Can I see your horny things?”
Enzo blinks and tips his head back, laughing riotously as my awkward question hangs in the air. He's relaxed and his smile is so damn beautiful it's dazzling.
“Horns will do just fine, Adi.” His knuckles drag down my cheek. “You may not like this, baby. Are you sure you want this?”
