The Italian Don's Captive Bride

Cassandra Petrova: - “Hey, bartender, straight tequila shots, please, and keep them coming.” I ordered the bartender as I sat at the bar and looked around at the crowded club. I had a bad day today and knew only a club could make it feel better. As I was having a good time getting drunk and almost forgetting my problems, I heard a deep voice from behind me. “Hey beautiful, can I buy you the drink?” a masculine voice said. I rolled my eyes and turned around to snap at whoever dared interrupt my night, but I suddenly went still to find the most sexy, hot, and handsome man standing, dressed in a tailored designer suit. His jawline looked sharp, and his blue eyes pierced right through me and tickled perfectly tousled dark hair. His presence gave me confidence, and his energy was strongly emotive and very tempting, shaking my whole body. In that brief span of time the words were wiped from my mouth. I quickly refocused my attention because I didn't want to be distracted by this man in the nice suit, whom I sense is dangerous but probably very glamorous. As I turned my back to the bar to throw down my new shot, I felt the intense burn of tequila hit my system and nodded, "I appreciate your offer to buy me a drink, but I'm capable of buying my own." His voice vibrated within my body, causing a deep laugh to emanate from him. “I don’t doubt that. I offer both excellent conversation and good company in drinking with me.” I fought the urge to look again at his appearance and took a deep breath. I simply asked him bluntly, "What if I am not looking for any kind of company with anyone?" “Too bad, your opinion will eventually change.” I hated his self-assuredness because it drove me crazy, but at the same time, it attracted me as well. During this brief time, he maneuvered himself onto the barstool beside me and signaled to the bartender. “A tequila for me as well. And another for the lady.” Looking toward him, I raised my eyebrow. “Persistent, aren’t you?” Lifting his glass, he answered, "I always manage to achieve what I want." His statement, however, created a burning feeling in the pit of my stomach. I should have resisted when he moved closer, but I joined my glass with his. “I hate to tell you, but tonight, you won’t succeed in getting what you desire.” The man smirked arrogantly, putting the cufflinks onto his sleeves. “My name is Eliseo Leone. And you are?” “I don’t dare trust you enough to tell you my real name so that Fiona will do it for the night,” I finished with a grin. “Who knows if you are a serial killer or even worse?” The blue light in his eyes grew brighter as his smirk became more pronounced. “Fiona, huh? Beautiful name. However, this doesn’t fit your nature. Too floral and soft. I think you are feisty, like to get in trouble, and are tough, with a bit of danger about you. Tell me please what your real name is, Fiona?” I shrugged, sipping my tequila. “From the look on you, you usually get an immediate answer when you ask a question. Don’t you?” His danger-scented musk filled my perception of reality, and he moved slightly closer. “You’re not wrong. Whether it is hard or easy, I enjoy challenges.” He challenged me in many ways, and by reading his facial expression, I could tell he had a weakness for challenges, as I do. Challenge is something I’ve always enjoyed. "What if I do not qualify as the challenge you want to spend time on?" As I spoke to him, I playfully drew circles around my glass. He chuckled, low and rich. “Oh, I highly doubt that. You entered the club tonight with an aura of danger that attracted me because I love facing troublesome situations.” My pulse quickened. I needed to stop this conversation, as it had led me to get caught up in whatever manipulative game he intended. I decided to abandon my protective behavior tonight because I wanted to forget what my father had put me through. With my empty glass, I reflected, "Do you think you can face trouble when it strikes?" A dangerous and exciting shadow appeared in his eyes. "Lady," he tells me, "I don't merely address trouble." His face moved nearer until his hot breath touched my skin. “I own it.” The changing atmosphere between us became noticeable as I swallowed the air. This man was dangerous, which is why he attracted me more. Danger always attracted me. At least, that’s what my father always says, that I always attract danger like a magnet. I shrugged and maintained my posture as I asked. “Ok, here is the deal. I will tell you my name if you answer my one question,” “And, what might the question be?” he asked, gulping down his shot. “Will those bodyguards with you be joining us too since they keep on glancing over here if I am going to murder you?” I asked, pointing in the direction where his bodyguards were standing, hidden in the shadows. They were not too hidden if I saw them, but again, I was trained to do that since I was a child. “Huh, what bodyguards are you talking about? “he asked, acting dumb. In response, I arched a brow and spoke. “Stop acting dumb, Eliseo. I know you aren’t one, and we women aren’t either. I am not stupid to notice things around me. In case you don’t know. I analyze my surroundings very well and very much always.” The smirk on Eliseo’s face briefly stopped right before my eyes—probably because I paid close attention to his expressions. But I did. Through his expression, I could tell all I needed to know. The man is taken aback. After positioning himself casually he stirred his tequila glass before drinking it slowly. The man examined me with greater interest while he spoke these words. “I must say I am impressed, Cara Mia. Very few people would pay attention to fine details like those, which makes me feel like you are more than what you show. You are more than just a trouble. Aren’t you?” I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t know what you are talking about, and to answer your question, when people focus on flashy lights and luxurious drinks, they fail to register surveillance around them. Let’s say they easily get distracted by the glamour.” He suppressed another smile by twitching his lips. “And you? You seem immune to distractions, Fiona. Am I right?” With deliberate attention, I turned my head to observe him. “Depends on the distraction.” Eliseo chuckled and carefully put his glass down on the table. “I see. How do you believe the security detail at my side serves its purpose?” I took a moment to gather my response and kept my legs crossed. “The training techniques at their disposal demonstrate that your guards serve to protect you specifically. The real question is, what or whom do you need protection from?” His eyes turned darker because the spark of amusement in his eyes faded away. He said with an intriguing twist in his voice while drumming his fingers on the bar surface. “Your hypothesis might be inverse from reality. They might be safeguarding additional people from whatever threat I represent.” “And, why would that be? You don’t seem like a threatening kind of guy to me. Dangerous, yes. But not threatening.” “You amuse me, Cara Mia. I like you. Only you will say such a thing about me because you don’t know me; those who do will tremble with fear. I am not the playing by the rules kind of a guy.” “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not one either. I live to break the rules.” A distinct and unclear expression passed through Eliseo's eyes, causing his gaze to turn dark like mine—with desire. A strong sense within me warned me that this new direction had dangerous risks. I found no reason to concern myself then and looked at him, biting my lower lip, with need in my eyes. I just wanted this delicious Adonis all over me. “Don’t look at me like that, Diavoletta mia.” He murmurs, and when he speaks those last two words in his rich Italian accent, the little bit of control I was holding back vanishes, too. “Like what?” I asked, my voice low and husky. “Like you want me to r****h you on my bed for the whole night,” his voice matched mine, but with lust and undeniable need evident in it. “That’s because I do. What are you going to do about it?” I challenged, breathing heavily, yet leaned back on the barstool and picked up the lemon, and sucked on it seductively, my eyes locked into his. “That’s it. We are getting out of here. Right now!” his voice was urgent, as he threw cash on the bar, and dragged me out of the club in a hurry, and I went along knowing what was about to happen. The music and club light faded when we stepped out of the club, where a sleek black limo awaited us. He helped me in and slid beside me. Instead of letting me sit beside him, he picked me up and made me sit on his lap. “Tell me you want this because once I begin, I won’t stop, Cara Mia,” he murmurs, caressing my cheek and bringing his lips close to mine. In answer to his question, I eliminated the leftover distance between our lips and kissed him.