Animal. I certainly felt more like a beast than a man. My base desires for Sofia were savage, primal.
“I’m on my way.” Adrián ended the call. “Stay with her,” he ordered me.
I kept stroking her trembling body. “What am I supposed to do with her?” I asked absently. I had plenty of ideas, but ingrained loyalty to my boss pulled the question from my lips.
“Keep her,” he replied, his footsteps retreating as he rushed off to rescue Valentina. “She’s yours now.”
Mine.
“Mateo,” Sofia whimpered. “What’s happening?”
I realized I’d fisted both hands in her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. I eased my hold, massaging her scalp in little circular motions. Her long lashes fluttered, her eyes sliding out of focus as her fear faded, and the tension eased from her neck and shoulders.
Seeing her bound and trembling was my most fevered fantasy come to life. But having her relax into my hands was something I’d never dared to imagine. My dark thoughts about possessing her had always been strictly sexual in nature.
Now, she melted under my touch. Even though I knew she was sleepy from the drugs, it felt like trust.
Something strange and warm pulsed in my chest, completely foreign and immediately addicting. Sofia was far more precious than I’d ever realized. I craved more of this softness from her, a deeper surrender.
For years, I’d held myself back in the interest of preserving the innocence I found so appealing about her. I’d seen very few pure, sweet things during the course of my brutal life. Usually, I took what I wanted on greedy impulse if it was within my grasp; a toxic trait I’d internalized growing up in poverty.
Sparing Sofia had been the one selfless thing I’d ever done. She’d been within my reach—I’d even caught her regarding me with interest in the past—but I’d resisted corrupting her.
Now that I felt her softening and sighing under my touch, a new possibility opened before me. Maybe I could have everything I wanted: Sofia’s sweet nature preserved and caged just for me. I could make her mine, ensure she submitted to even my most depraved demands. And she would do it all eagerly, serving me out of utter devotion.
This would require more finesse than forced seduction, but I found the outcome far more appealing. I could slowly condition Sofia to welcome my touch, to associate my hands on her body with pleasure and security.
By the time I was finished with her, she would beg to be mine.
My ruthless hands—so accustomed to bloody brutality—stroked her with tenderness that would have shocked me if I weren’t so entranced by her.
“Don’t be afraid,” I murmured. “Go back to sleep. I won’t let anything bad happen to you, florecita.”
Sofia was as soft as a flower’s petals, and as delicate. I could feel her fragile bone structure and the slender lines of her body beneath my gentle exploration. I was aware that she was musically inclined in her studies, and while she appeared physically fit, she obviously didn’t occupy her time toning her muscles.
With my massive frame, I could easily overpower her without breaking a sweat. My sexual tastes had always been rough and demanding, but I’d have to handle this little flower with care if I didn’t want to damage her. I could crush her with the slightest flex of my fingers, but I would be gentle for her.
Sofia was my hostage now, and although it was within my power to use her however I wanted, I still had enough humanity in me that the idea of rape disgusted me. Her father didn’t know that, but his ignorance of my true nature worked in our favor.
Caesar Hernández knew me only as Adrián’s brutal enforcer. He’d seen other men suffer and die at my hands, and I hadn’t batted an eye as I carried out my violent tasks. Maiming and killing didn’t bother me in the slightest, as long as the men I was dispatching deserved it. And in our criminal world, all of them did. Anyone who provoked Adrián was fair game. He might be my boss, but I loved him like a brother.
No one was permitted to hurt the people I loved. If they tried, they’d signed their own death warrant as far as I was concerned.
I had no other ambitions in life, no desire to gain power or influence; I was more than happy to take a supporting role and protect Adrián. I’d do anything asked of me.
Including holding Sofia hostage. That wouldn’t be a hardship.
I hadn’t stopped caressing and petting her, allowing myself to indulge in the heady pleasure of her softness beneath my hands while I had her bound and helpless.
Her lovely eyes closed, and she let out a long sigh as she slipped back into unconsciousness. Her fear had roused her for a time, but now that she felt safe, she succumbed to the drugs I’d administered.