Totally Alluring

by Wanitta Praks

I knew I was indispensable because of my coffee skills, but to make love to his coffee machine? Now that had me confused.

  I was still pinned under Giovanni when I asked him this question, “Boss, what am I to you now?”

  I listened carefully to what he had to say, because from now on, my life—no, my future—would depend on that one single answer.

  Giovanni didn’t speak. He was too busy curling his fingers around my brown locks.

  “Boss.” I caught his finger and stilled his movement. “Please tell me. I’m dying to know.”

  “Listen carefully, Jay.” He bent forward and huffed in my ear, making my pupils dilate. “You are one lucky girl to have captured the heart of this dangerous mafia boss.”

  “What do you mean by that?” I mouthed as he pulled back to look into my eyes.

  “Do I need to spell it out? You’re smart enough to figure it out for yourself.”

  “Please tell me I’m dreaming.”

  “For fuck’s sake. I’ve told you a million times already that you didn’t dream it.” He sounded pissed. “We fucked. I licked your pussy. We had sex three times. One of which included me taking you in the bathtub. What more do I have to tell you. You didn’t dream last night? It was all real. See.”

  He was mad. I knew that. But he didn’t need to fling the blanket off my body, revealing my naked self for his eyes to feast on.

  “I kissed you here, here and here,” he said, pointing to my nape, my left breast and on my belly. I turned a flaming shade of red.

  “Ahh… boss, please.” I screeched, grabbing the blanket before it slid off the bed entirely.

  But Giovanni caught me and pinned me to the bed again. He pressed his body on my breasts until they were flat against his chest.

  “Boss, please, give me back the blanket. I’m not comfortable in this position.”

  Giovanni smirked. “Get used to this position, because that’s where you’ll be spending a lot of your time.” I was naked and warm, also feeling a little aroused with him on top of me. Giovanni chuckled, noticing my flushed face. “Wanna fuck again?”

  “Boss, please don’t use that word. It hurts my ears.” I turned away from him, refusing to look in those obsidian irises.

  Giovanni spun my face around with a small jolt of his thumb on my chin. “You’d better get used to hearing that word, because from now on, Jay, you are deemed my lover. So be prepared to meet your fate.”

  I could only stare at him in disbelief.

  “So, what’s your response, Jay?” he asked when I didn’t return his reply.

  I was still silent, mind playing up countless scenarios of my life as his lover. I didn’t know how to answer him. That question of me being his maid still plagued my mind.

  “What about my position as your maid and coffee machine?” I asked. “I’m all confused.”

  “There’s nothing to be confused about,” he growled out, expression a bit annoyed. “You’re now my lover. But you’ll still need to make me coffee.”

  “So, I don’t need to make your bed?”

  “No. You’ll be sleeping in it. With me.”

  “So, I don’t need to wash your bathtub?”

  “No. You’ll be bathing with me. Together.”

  “So, I don’t need to wash, iron, and fold your shirts anymore.”

  “No. You’ll be wearing my shirts, after we fuck.”

  Oh God. I was not ready to commit myself to this kind of relationship. Especially with this dangerous man who used the F-word in every single sentence.

  I gently pushed him back and got up slowly, plastering the blanket to my naked body. Looking at Giovanni once, I smiled and offered my sentiment.

  “Thank you for the offer, boss. Even though it may sound tempting, I have to decline. I’m more than happy to continue to be your maid. Plus, a normal girl like me, I’m ill-suited to become your lover. You can find someone else. Maybe your Jennifer. Washing your shirts, cleaning your bathtub, and making your bed, now I can do all that. Making love every day of the week… I don’t have the strength for that. Now, because I have a long day ahead, plus school in about two hours, I’d better—

  Oh shit!

  There was no winning with this man. Disliking my decision, he pinned me to the bed again.

  “Too late now, Jay. As I said, it’s rare for any women to capture my heart, but now that you’ve captured mine, I can’t let you go.”

  “Is that a threat, boss?” I snapped back.

  “You can take it as a threat, or take it as a change in contract.”

  “Whichever way, I’m stuck.”

  “I like you in this position. Stuck between me and the bed.”

  Giovanni leaned in slowly. I knew I was about to get poisoned by that kiss again. So, before he could poison me, I screamed out, “What about your Jennifer? You said you’re searching for your Jennifer. I’m not her. Find her and make her your lover. Leave me to be your maid.”

  “Jay. Jay. Jay. I’ll repeat it again. You are my Jennifer.” He clicked his tongue and pulled back, tugging me along with him too, nestling me on his lap again, and patting my head onto his shoulder.

  “But I don’t remember,” I meekly replied. “I really don’t.”

  “Then I’ll make you remember. I’ll make love to you, again and again, until your memories come back. I’ll make you fall for me, become intoxicated by me, until you can’t ever let me go, and want to stay with me forever. So, what do you say? Come be my lover?” He whispered these seductive words in my ear, making my body heat up once more.

  My chocolate cake. My dream man. How could I refuse? Even if at the end of my journey as his maid, or lover, he found out I wasn’t his Jennifer, even if he got sick of me, and pushed me away, or even when the time came for all my debt to be paid in full, I’d happily pack my bags and leave his side. But before that time came, I could enjoy this one small moment of love. I wanted to experience it, taste it, become intoxicated by it.

  I pushed him gently onto the bed, my wild hair falling into a brown curtain around us.

  “Boss. I’ll answer you now.”

  His eyes lit up, waiting desperately to hear my answer.

  I inched forward, my lips hovering just above his lips. I didn’t kiss him. I wanted him to know what it was like to feel the anticipation so bad that he could risk anything to be with me. This way, I’d know what he said about wanting me to be his lover was real.

  “I’ll be your lover. If tomorrow comes and you decide you’ve had enough of me, then I’ll go. As long as you agree to remove the three-million-dollar debt off my Pa’s name. This is my only condition.”

  “You are one fucking smart rabbit, Jay.” He gritted his teeth.

  “Will you, or will you not comply with this clause?” I barked back.

  Giovanni clamped my face between his palms and pulled me close until my lips landed an inch from his. My heart pumped three miles a minutes just with him being this close.

  Minutes ticked by, and still he didn’t answer. All he did was gaze at me, deep into my green eyes.

  Would I be worth that three million? That was what he must be thinking. Even I couldn’t believe what I’d proposed.

  Giovanni squeezed my cheeks. Then ever so slowly, he cupped my chin and brushed my cheek softly. In a subtle, soft voice, he gave me his answer.

  “You’ve captured this mafia boss’s heart, Jay. I don’t think I could ask another girl to be my lover. You fit everything I could ever want. And for that, I’ll comply. If I toss you out, your old man will become debt free. In return, you’re to stay by my side until I’m tired of you. But if you run away from me without my consent, I’ll scour this earth for you. And your old man will not only pay back the three million he owes, but he will also give me his life.”

  I gulped down my fear. “You don’t mean death—”

  He clamped my lips. “I’ve given you my answer, Jay. Now it’s your turn. Do you comply with this proposal?”

  I’d made my decision. I knew
the answer to my own heart. I was in love with this dangerous man, so there was no way Pa would sacrifice his life for me.

  “Jay,” Giovanni prompted.

  I looked into his eyes, seeing the man who was going to be my boss and lover. My future flashed before my eyes. Would I still make his coffee? Would I still be his maid? I didn’t know the answers to these questions. But one thing I knew was that I was prepared to become totally intoxicated by this mafia boss, Giovanni Dente.

  “This is my answer, boss.” With this said, I sank my lips onto his, sealing my fate as his lover.

  Chapter 15

  New Contract

  1) Make me coffee

  2) Cook my food

  3) Run my bath

  I flicked my eyes from the love contract document, back to Giovanni, who was relaxing against his chair like he was the king of the castle. Well, this was his castle, and he was the king. He could do whatever he wanted. But this...

  What the hell is this?

  “Boss, is this a maid contract or what?” I sent him the evil eye. “Everything is the same as my old contract.”

  “No, it’s different,” he casually said, reclining in his throne-like chair, fingers tracing his lips, like he’d all the time in the world, unlike me, who had a gazillion things to do before heading off to the library. Exams were coming soon and I had to pass my midyear papers.

  Giovanni was watching me with keen interest. Probably waiting for me to go into a fit. Well, I’d show it to him. I went into a hissy fit.

  “Tell me the meaning of this? Right this instant,” I demanded. “How is it any different from my previous contract.” My eyes scanned through the document again and all I saw was the same shit he’d printed out in my maid contract. “Everything is the same. There’s no difference.”

  I thought by agreeing to be his lover, I could reduce my workload on the house work, and yes, maybe get to sleep with him on one or two occasions. This way, I could sate my unbridled lust for him, as well as have some time to study. In my previous role as maid, I was running around like a headless chook, picking his shit off the floor, or run his bath. But now, I guessed there was no difference. Had I been deceived last night?

  Last night, I was not myself. I’d slept with him. I had agreed to his proposal. And now when the sun came up, reality dawned on me when he slapped that piece of paper on my forehead first thing this morning.

  What lover? There was no sweet morning talk like those romance novels I read. He was a brute with no common courtesy for the female gender.

  “Read and sign it. Then you will be bound to me forever.”

  Bound forever? This wasn’t the proposal I’d heard last night. This was a prison term. I didn’t want to be bound to anyone unless I loved them. And Giovanni...

  I licked my lips, heart thumping dramatically when I saw him in slacks fit for the catwalk runway.

  When the bleep did he have the time to dress himself so fashionably when it was still dark outside? Did he have a meeting to go to this morning? Then why had he asked me to read this stupid contract, and demand that I sign my life away, right this moment?

  “There’s no point in signing it. It’s practically the same as the other contract.” I waved the document aside and was about to walk out the door when Giovanni’s next statement stopped me in my tracks.

  “It’s not the same, Jay. Read clause 22. Carefully.” He gently flicked his finger in my direction.

  What is he, a conductor now?

  Yes. He’s conducting my life. I was just his little stringed instrument he manipulated.

  I muttered something evil under my breath, sent him a death glare, and picked up the document, eyes quickly skimming through the contents again, until I reached clause 22. There, in bold writing, was the statement.

  22) Must be available to satisfy Giovanni Dente, the mafia boss of New York City, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

  What the bleep! What the bleep bleep!

  My eyes bulged out as soon as I finished that sentence. My mouth vomited out swear words that could burn his ancestor’s ears.

  “Boss, what the hell is this?” I marched to him, slapping the document right in front of his face. “Am I reading it right? Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?”

  “Yes, Jay. Your eyesight is truly excellent. I hope your smart brain is able to interpret the meaning of that statement too, without me having to explain it?”

  I was utterly astonished, to the point of flipping everything and just walking out. To hell with this mafia boss! To start off by complimenting me on my smart brain.

  I was many things to him. His coffee machine, his maid, sometimes his chair, just a mundane piece of furniture in his huge mansion, but I was certainly not a fool. What he was referring to had nothing to do with serving him coffee twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This satisfaction came only through matters of the flesh.

  Giovanni loved being sarcastic. He enjoyed seeing me all miserable and wound up. And I was wound up. More wound up than a cork screw.

  Screw him! Screw this mafia boss! I’d had enough. I’d been deceived.

  “I’m not signing it,” I shouted. “I’m going back to being your maid. At least I don’t have to tire myself out by letting you bite me all night long. Last night was horrible. You bit me in so many places. And it’s still painful.”

  Giovanni smirked. That devil mafia boss actually smirked at me. What the devil was he thinking? Gosh, I was mad, I saw red.

  “Stop smirking,” I demanded. “You are not even that alluring.”

  Giovanni bounced off his chair, advancing toward me at a seductive pace, I was so mesmerized by him, I didn’t realize he had me trapped against the door. Well, crap! Now I had nowhere to run. I was stuck.

  “But you found me alluring last night, right, Jay?” He hypnotized me with his touch, gently grazing my temple, gently running feathery touches along my jawline, all the way to my lips. One touch, and electric nerves shot up my spine.

  Stupid nerves. Stop reacting to him. Control yourself.

  What the devil was with him, anyway? Gosh, he pissed me off big time. And why must he remind me of last night. My face blushed pink from the memory.

  Last night, I’d begged him for another round, because I had enjoyed it immensely. Who knew I was so easily seduced. Who knew I had this demonic lust hidden within me? And Giovanni was the devil who’d unleashed it. Now my lust roamed free, not wanting to be subdued.

  “Tell me, Jay. Tell me you enjoyed being fucked by me. Tell me you like my co—”

  “Say no more, boss. I’ve heard enough,” I cut him off mid-sentence, before he could say something embarrassing. “Stop using that ‘F’ word. It grates on my ears. And don’t expect me to sign the contract. I’m off to make the guys their coffee. Find yourself another lover. I’m done.”

  “Not so fast.” He caught my wrist and swung me around, my head went into a 180-degree spin. Once I got my bearings, Giovanni was already on top of me. And how the heck did I end up on the floor?

  “I bet you won’t last a week without me, Jay. Once you had a taste of me, you can’t go back.” A wicked smile played on his lips. Stupid lips. Stupid Giovanni.

  Of course, I couldn’t go back. I was stupidly and thoroughly addicted to those lips, extremely and purely intoxicated with his taste. What more must I suffer under the hands of this mafia boss?

  “Wow, boss. You really think highly of yourself,” I snapped, challenging him with my own death glare.

  Giovanni, thinking I was complimenting him, started listing all his positive features. “I’m rich. I’m handsome. Not many guys my age can boast of becoming the mafia boss.”

  I couldn’t believe him. His ego really had no limits. And why was he smirking like he was pleased with himself for being the leader of the mafia gang? He was a criminal, after all. And criminals should be loathed and feared.

  And what was I doing, getting myself involved with this criminal mafia boss in the first
place? Blame it all on my Pa, who’d used me as collateral to get out of his $3 million debt. In exchange, I was to be this mafia boss’ maid. Now, he wanted me as his lover. But not before I could negotiate to be in a better position.

  “Give me a better deal, then I’ll sign the contract.”

  “What do you want in the contract?” He started playing with my hair, winding his fingers around the brown locks.

  It was damned distracting. I was surprised I was able to formulate a sentence. “Give me freedom.”

  Slam! Both of his fists hit the floor on either side of my head. “Tough shit! Your old man owes me $3 million. Freedom is the last thing on the negotiation table.”

  What... what did he say? My mind was not registering his words. All my focus was on him, as the distance between us closed.

  My eyes flickered from his cupid lips, to his straight nose, and finally to eyes like a canvas of those dark summer nights, where the stars were like sparkling jewels in the sky.

  Up this close, his scent invaded my nasal cavity. I was sucked in by his intoxicating scent. My heart was thumping at a hundred miles per minute in response to this.

  I was nervous. I shouldn’t be, though, since Giovanni casually invaded my personal space on most occasions. But this was not one of those occasions. Giovanni had intention. And his intention was me.

  “Then... then I won’t sign it.” My mind was somehow able to kick back into gear and articulate those words.

  “Then you die,” he announced, not aware of the affect he had on me.

  Yes, I was already dying from his pheromones. His scent was driving me crazy.

  “No. I choose to go back to being your maid. And that’s my final decision.”

  “That’s no longer an option, Jay.”

  “I choose that option.”

  We were in a death match, each of us staring at each other until the other decided to give up. Giving up was not in my nature, even though I couldn’t struggle much longer.

  “Tsk!” Giovanni diverted his eyes first, got up, and ruffled his hair, finally releasing me from his pheromone trance. Thank god. One more minute and I’d have lost my mind completely.

  Giovanni sat at an angle, displaying his longs leg for my view. Those legs were super sexy. I remembered what those legs did to me last night.