Totally Intoxicated

by Wanitta Praks

  “Does it matter?”

  “It damned fucking right matters.” He blew his fuse, tossing me beneath him. The air was knocked out of my lungs when he collapsed on top of me, pinning my arms and trapping me beneath him. “I ain’t fucking letting another man touch my girl. So, tell me, Jay, is it a girl or a boyfriend?”

  I was his girl. I was his woman. I was his lover. Those words pierced deep into my soul, and I resonated with them.

  “And what happens if I said my friend is a boy?” I smiled alluringly at him, testing the water.

  Was I sadistic? Had Giovanni influenced me so much these past few months that I had somehow become like him. But I wanted to see him blow his fuse. What happened if he found out I hung out with Crispin? How would he react? I wanted to know.

  Giovanni pinched my chin for emphasis again, an action I didn’t expect. “I’ll hunt him down and—”

  “Boss, please, no more threatening remarks. It’s starting to sound lame after the first hundredth time.” I cut him off and swatted his arm away. I sat up straight, pushing him off me, and got out of bed.

  This was the reaction I received after taunting him? How boring. I thought he’d explode or do something crazy, like a mafioso does, but this...

  The more I knew Giovanni, the more I came to realize all the words he spouted out were empty threats.

  “Jay. Come back here!” he demanded. “We haven’t finished our conversation.”

  I turned back to him and gave him the silent treatment. It was to show him I wasn’t scared of his threat. It was to show him he couldn’t boss me around. Yes, I was his lover, but that didn’t mean I was his slave.

  Giovanni had always respected my freedom. Even after we’d signed a renewal contract to say I was now his lover, he’d still allowed me the freedom to roam around the city without a care in the world. And nothing would change that. I hoped.

  “Don’t tell me just because I became your lover I can’t hang out with my friend,” I told him finally. Keeping him a little on the edge was good. That way, I could always negotiate my way out of things.

  Giovanni blinked at my sudden verbal attack. Now this, he did not expect. In return, he offered me his pissed-off face to view. “So, you are hiding things from me,” he accused, pointing his finger at me.

  I blew hot air and scratched my head.

  It really perplexed me how he didn’t know about personal boundaries. Had he never been in a relationship before? The me here, who had never been in a relationship before, still knew about personal boundaries and freedom. What happened to him, though? I thought he had plenty of experience up this alley.

  “Boss, when you’re in a relationship, you must allow your lover to have freedom,” I inserted, finally finding my undies and jeans under a messy pile. I squeezed into them and clipped on my bra before putting on my top. Giovanni just lazed around in his birthday suit, relaxing in bed, watching me dress. “No restriction to hanging out with friends. That’s what you call an equal relationship. Spend time with other people, and when we spend time together, the spark will sizzle.”

  “Why don’t you give some examples since you’re a love guru, Jay.” He sat up straight, giving me all his attention. Either he enjoyed watching me dress, or he really was interested in what I had to say; I couldn’t guess. Still, I walked to his side and sat on the bed, right beside his naked body.

  “Well, if we see each other all the time, we’ll get sick of each other’s face, right?

  “Wrong.” He smirked, pinched my chin, and gave me a light kiss. Whispering huskily next to my ear, he said,

  “I never get sick of seeing your face, Jennifer.”

  My throat constricted, and my heart pounded again. Giovanni really was tempting me all day, every day here. I kept my cool and tried not to be affected by his intoxicating statement.

  “Wrong, Boss,” I countered back. “You’ll definitely get sick of seeing my face every day. We need to spend time with other people, too, so that we get a chance to miss each other. And of course, when we see each other again, we’ll care for each other even more. You know the saying, give me time alone so I can have a chance to miss you.”

  “Who made up that stupid phrase?” he barked out. Yes, he was annoyed by my explanation, but I needed to explain to him the importance of a relationship boundary.

  “Me. I made that up. And it’s not stupid. I think it just reinforces the foundation of the love you have with your partner.”

  “And what should we do when we see each other again, after the, you know, fucking spending-time-away-from-each-other thing?”

  “Well, we could be intimate.” I wiggled my eyebrows in suggestion.

  “Like fucking each other?” he confirmed, using his foul language.

  “No.” I interjected. “Like going for walks on the beach, feeding each other grapes, eating ice cream in the park, watching the stars together. Those kinds of romantic things.”

  “How lame.” He lost interest. “Who does shit-stuff like that, anyway?” He scoffed, folding his arms in annoyance, and that mouth...

  Was Giovanni pouting? Heaven almighty, Giovanni was pouting.

  Each day that passed, Giovanni was showing me the side of him that he rarely showed other people. Outside, he was the mafia boss, fearsome, strong, an alpha male, but inside that pounding heart, he was a kid seeking attention, searching for love. And I was slowly becoming intoxicated by him, bit by bit.

  “Just because we kissed and made up moments ago, it doesn’t mean I’m not mad at you. You said you’d be home by five p.m., and then you turn up at six p.m. What the hell am I supposed to do? My lover disappeared, and I’m supposed to sit still and do nothing.”

  I saw rainbows and sunshine, right there in the room. I grinned from ear to ear. Taking him by surprise, I pinched his cheeks. “Ohhh, Boss. You’re so cute. Why do you have to say cute things like that?” I teased.

  “Stop it, Jay.” He waved me off like I was a fly orbiting his alluring physique. “Cute is not in my vocabulary.”

  “But you are cute. Like a little wee black panther.” I was that annoying fly, following him around the room until he admitted that I was right.

  I couldn’t help myself. He was so adorable like this. All angry, all sweet, all—

  Swift as a panther, his arm snaked around my middle, pulling me forward until my breasts were squashed flat against his chest. Glaring down at me with deep, dark lust, he growled, “Cut it out, Jay. Or I’ll take you for another round and fuck you like there’s no tomorrow.”

  This one sentence was not an empty threat. The pressure on my back indicated the truth behind those words. His fingers were already playing havoc on my nerves. I gulped back my burning desire and backed off. “Okay. I’ll stop now.”

  After a minute of taming my heart to normal, I edged back to his side because he was a magnet that kept attracting me. “So... you keep asking because you were worried?”

  Giovanni presented me with another version of his pissed-off face. “I said I was pissed and worried.”

  I melted at his words. I had to explain my situation. I didn’t want him to misunderstand the reason why I was late coming home.

  “I’m sorry, Boss. My phone died on me. Or more like died at the bottom of the water glass,” I muttered. “So I couldn’t get in contact with you.”

  Giovanni slumped back in bed, as if exhaustion had hit him. Or was it relief? I wasn’t so sure. He looked more relaxed than half an hour ago.

  He roughly ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his jaw in agitation before pulling me on the bed and onto his chest. “You’ve no idea how fucking scared I was when you didn’t come home by five. I thought something had happened to you.” He wound his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.

  “What could happen to me?” I shrugged, twisting around to face him. “I’m just a nobody.”

  “Not now, you’re not. You’re my lover. And I have enemies. If they know you’re out alone at night, thin
gs might happen.”

  And if I’m no longer your lover, I’m a nobody? I was tempted to ask him that, but I couldn’t. Instead, I said, “You worried too much. See, I’m fine. Nothing is broken. I’m still in one piece.”

  I spread my arms out for his inspection. He nestled his face in the middle of my breasts and found comfort.

  “You make me worry.” He grew slack against me. “So worried, I was almost sick.”

  Damn this mafia boss. All his words were sweeter than any licorice of this world. And I was intoxicated by them.

  Of course, I could always get a second serving. And when he pulled back, I cupped his face and inched my lips forward, dipping them for one more go.

  After our satisfying kiss, I pulled back and grinned at him. “Guess what, Boss?”

  I was face-to-face with him. At this vantage point, his midnight-black eyes gazed right back at me, and my heart thumped in a synchronized pattern of love. This was love. I was totally intoxicated by Giovanni. If my heart were to break because he found out I wasn’t the real Jennifer, I would cross that bridge when I got there, but for now, I wanted to enjoy this surreal feeling. I was his, and he was mine.

  “What?” I watched his pissed-off face fade as a look of lust took over.

  “I have a gift for you,” I whispered next to his ear.

  An arch of his left brow indicated he was interested in what I had to say. “What gift?”

  I unlaced my fingers from around his neck and retreated out the door. “Get dressed and I’ll meet you in the office. You’ll be in for a big surprise.”

  I waited a good five minutes before heading off to his office with that delicious gift in my hand. And there was Giovanni, immaculately dressed in black clothing, sitting in his office chair like a little boy waiting for his present. My words really held power.

  He was a dark angel. No, a black angel. No, a black devil, out to seduce my maiden’s heart.

  I approached him and presented him with the gift. His eyebrow arched with interest. He opened the lid, took a brief glance, closed it again, and handed the box back to me. He only said two words.

  “Feed me.”

  My mouth flew open. I was not expecting those words to come from Giovanni. Giving the gift to him was one thing, but feeding him was another matter entirely. I became embarrassed all of a sudden. “What?”

  “I said, feed me,” he demanded again.

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re my lover. And that’s what lovers do. Isn’t that what you told me a minute ago? So, feed me.”

  He was watching, waiting for me to do as he commanded. I couldn’t deny it. I was the one who suggested this to him. I’d dug my own grave, so I must go through with it.

  I tore off a piece of the heart croissant and fed him.

  Eyes fully focused on him, I couldn’t tear my gaze away until my finger was fully embedded in his mouth.

  Soft warm texture swirled around my finger. It was his tongue. My whole body warmed up again, and I was throbbing inside. I knew what was coming next, and I was prepared for it.

  What a whirlwind day it had been. I had expected him to yell at me from the start, not eat me like this. But I was his lover, and that was what lovers do, as per his contract. I cherished every moment of it.

  Chapter 9

  A Gift of Love in Return

  I was in a dilemma. Right now, I didn’t know whether I should switch back to my role as maid to the mafia. My hand was itching to clean that vase. It stood at least three feet tall and I bet weighed more than ten pounds. And there was dust collecting on it.

  If I didn’t clean it, who would? Was Giovanni going to rope some poor woman into becoming his maid like I was? For a filthy rich guy like him, where were all his staff? I didn’t see anyone today.

  Just as I was about to start on my task, Finnie called me to Giovanni’s office. The dark lord had summoned his lover, and I must obey.

  But I was not one to neglect my task. I made my way into his lair, balancing the heavy vase with my skinny arms. I didn’t stop until I found a good, stable bench to rest the vase on. And Giovanni’s desk was that stable bench.

  “Yes, Boss. You need me?” I peered over the side of the large vase to address him.

  Today Giovanni was chic, dressed to the nines with gray slacks and a blazer. His hair was slicked back, a contrast to his normal messy hair style. Yesterday, he was a bad boy. Today, he was the perfect gentleman.

  He was perfection in all forms and detrimental to my mental health. I was almost distracted from my task, if not for the cloth in my hand. I clicked my tongue and got to work.

  I took my job seriously. And my job was to polish this vase until I could see my reflection on it. I prided myself on all the work I’d done. It’s that one single trait I was not afraid to show off.

  “I want to discuss your college break. You’ve finished your exams, right?” He shot his questions straight at me.

  “One more exam, Boss. Just in a few days, then I’ll be done.” I kept working, scrubbing that dirtied vase until half of it was already gleamingly clean. “I seriously hope I pass, though. If not, I’m worried I might have to repeat the paper.”

  The worry must have shown on my face because Giovanni comforted me somewhat. “Jay, I’m sure a smart girl like you, who runs her mouth nonstop, would pass with ease.”

  He leaned back and linked his arms behind his head, a look of relaxed composure radiating from his body.

  At least one of us was relaxed. When it came to exams, I failed big-time. That’s why I couldn’t have any distractions. Especially with this person in front of me. Always tempting me. Always making me want him.

  I shifted my focus to said person and eyed him with questioning doubt. I asked suspiciously, “Is that meant to be a compliment?”

  “It’s a compliment. You know I don’t dish out compliments like Starbucks coffee.”

  “Then I should say thank you, I suppose. At least I’m somewhat relieved. But why do you ask?” I went back to my polishing.

  Sheesh! This vase was dirty. I put more effort into it.

  “After your exam, Jay, I want to take you out. As a present.”

  I dropped the polishing cloth and turned my full attention to him. My eyes lit up like light bulbs. What he’d said sparked my interest.

  Giovanni planned to take me out? I was in luck. The only other time I’d been out was when he’d tricked me into shopping for clothing for his lover, when in the end, it ended up being me.

  That time was so hilarious, I giggled out loud just thinking about it. But I stopped myself before he thought I’d turned stupid. Curiosity got a hold on me, and I asked him where we were going.

  “Really, Boss. You’re taking me out. Where to, Boss?”

  I didn’t remember going out much when I was young. So the thought of going out excited me big-time. It would be super amazing if he’d take me somewhere like Disneyland. I loved theme parks. Who would have guessed I was still a kid at age nineteen?

  “Singapore,” he replied nonchalantly.

  “Singapore? Singapore!” I hyperventilated in excitement. “Like the country Singapore? The Singapore that’s all the way across the other side of the world?”

  “Yes, that Singapore,” he confirmed, and I literally wanted to jump up and down like a little kid who’s been given candy.

  Oh, dear Ma up in heaven, I’m going to Singapore. Giovanni is taking me to Singapore.

  “Boss, I can’t believe you’re taking me to Singapore. Since I was born, I’ve never been outside the States. If I wasn’t dirty, I would jump up on your lap and kiss you like crazy.” I expressed my excitement.

  Giovanni shot up, leaned on his arms, and cooed softly into my ear. “What’s stopping you?”

  I stilled and fluttered my eyes in his direction. He was seducing me with those obsidian eyes, and it was turning my world upside down.

  My heartbeat shot up to the roof, and because I was literally pumped with adrenaline, I spaz
zed out the first sentence that came to mind. “My hands are dirty; I don’t want to dirty your new suit.”

  And I was still excited, smiling at him like a dork. I imagined myself hanging out in the cool places in Singapore, like Marina Sand Bay or on Orchard Road, where the rich and wealthy hang out. Because I had an active imagination, my hands became active, too. They somehow stopped polishing the vase and started polishing the desk instead. Vigorously.

  Giovanni made a face like he’d sucked on a sour lemon, exhaled, probably in irritation, and crashed down in his chair. The chair squeaked under his weight, and I squeaked, too, as soon as I saw his change of mood—I was very attuned to him these days—my manner changed instantly.

  “Boss, what’s wrong? Gone sick all of a sudden? Want me to grab you some acetaminophen? Or a shot of morphine to stop the pain?”

  “Shut up, Jay. And stop polishing my desk,” he barked out, annoyance scratching his face.

  “Sorry, Boss. It’s hard for me to stop.” I tried complying with his wish, but my hands wouldn’t stop with the swirling motion. That’s what three months’ worth of maid duty did to me. My hands were on autopilot whenever they grabbed a cloth. “I mean, I’m so used to being your maid, and now I have an obligation to be your lover, too. And it’s hard sometimes, you know, to differentiate between the two roles.”

  “Why is it so hard to stop polishing? Just drop that rag and come here.” He gestured for me to come to him.

  My legs obeyed him like the rest of my body did. I put the rag down and nimbly walked to his side.

  “Sit.” He issued his order.

  “Where? There’s only one chair.” And he was sitting on it.

  He pointed to the space on his lap.

  I burst out laughing. “I was only joking before, you know. Don’t take it seriously.”

  Giovanni wasn’t laughing. “I’m not fucking joking. Now sit.”

  My eyes immediately skittered across the room, making sure the guys weren’t in the vicinity.

  Who knew if they were hiding behind a closed door somewhere? I couldn’t trust those guys when it came to the boss and me being all cozy. They were even worse than a bunch of girls gossiping on Friday night.