"None of it matters. It's over." She'd been defeated, finally accepting the changes coming were beyond her control.
"
No!
"
Danni looked at him as if he were crazy, believing she'd made her decision. "Yes. It's all over. The label, the land, you…hell, the house was lost years ago. Me, I just wasn't in the loop." Her silence and continued dismissal of him wasn't helping his temper or frustration.
"Danielle?" His hands fisted at his sides, his disappointment had hit a new height. She realized he wasn't going to leave her alone.
"Look, I'm not complaining. I had a great childhood and education. I've traveled and worked in fabulous places. So, the free ride is up. I'm thankful it lasted this long. But it's gone. I've graduated, now I have to find my own way in the real world."
"And us? This insipid arrangement over statues? Did you think any number of nights would repay their value? You knew change was ahead, so you rationalized our affair with your stupid arrangement to console your conscience."
"How dare you? We're not having an affair!"
"No, the benefits would be better!" Both voices had raised, the tension between them was airborne. Some of the horses were starting to unsettle in their stalls.
"Get out, Nico. I'll be out of your way in a few more weeks. I'll stay out of your way until then. And after that, you won't ever have to think about buying my land behind my back." Under her breath, she mumbled, "Except each time you set foot on the acreage."
He caught her words and let them go. "You are the most obstinate woman I've ever known." His voice went higher and she retorted with an even higher voice.
"Then you don't get around much! Like I said, I won't be your problem for long."
"Danni, don't say that." It made him ache inside when she did.
"It's the truth, face it. You say my wanting the netsukes was a way to overcome my conscience. How do you sleep at night, my dark drago? You bought my future and never once gave me an inkling of what was to come."
"I couldn't," he defended dully.
"Fuck you, Drago. You could have if you wanted to. You chose not to." This time it was Danni staring him down, seeing he was uncomfortable. "Does the truth hurt?"
She was right, but he wasn't ready to admit it to her or himself. If only she'd accepted his proposal. Her resistance was too strong and had lasted too long. Nico felt a complete loss of control. He stopped trying to be rational and went with emotions. With one swift move, he had her up on his shoulder and was striding toward the back of the barn. She struggled against him. It only made the situation worse.
He saw the last stable box was empty, moved inside, dropped onto a bale of hay, pulled Danni over his lap, and landed several slaps across her denim-clad butt. She struggled harder, and he spanked her again. It was only after she'd lowered her hand to his thigh to pinch him in an attempt to get away that she brushed his erection and finally went still.
"Is this what it takes to get you hard, Drago?"
"Until today, no, but you've crossed the line, bella." He spanked her several more times before literally tossing her beside him onto the bedding of soft, clean hay. Her hand automatically reached to rub her cheeks, but anger was still in her eyes.
"Feel better, Drago?"
With a twist, he pushed her over the hay bale and pulled her jeans below her knees. He was entering her from behind, his hands still spanking, only lighter now, without rage.
Niccolo knew he'd lost his mind. To take her over his knee was a fantasy he'd never thought to investigate. He'd said the words in vain several times, usually when she had him frustrated. Only now, it wasn't about control, it was about sex—raw animal lust. The barn around them, the horses in their stalls, the familiar smells.
She was wet, beyond anything he'd experienced with her. It was like she was melting from the inside out, his cock slipping in and out with ease. He was on a hairpin trigger and knew he couldn't last. He held her down at the base of her neck with his left hand. With his right, he reached under her, grabbed her hand, and together, they started stroking his cock on each outward pull and her clit, pushing them both over the edge into an abyss so deep he was truly afraid when he came back to his senses.
Danni didn't move, rather waited until he pulled from inside her. When he stepped back to right himself inside his jeans, she struggled to pull up her own pants. Her face was red with anger and embarrassment. He'd bet she'd never been spanked, even as a child. Yet, under his hand, it had turned into something she couldn't explain, probably didn't even want to try.
"I never want to discuss this, do you understand me?"
"Oh, I understand, Danni. You're ashamed and embarrassed, but mostly because you were more aroused than ever before. Is that what it takes to make you wet? Because, bella, you were dripping when I pushed inside you and you pushed back just as hard, wanting that fuck just as much as I did." He waited for her to deny his words, but she didn't, fumbling to force her hair back into its long gone braid. He'd pulled the elastic off sometime during their mating.
* * * *
Danni hoped he would leave her alone, since she hadn't returned his calls. Nico was the last person she could deal with tonight. She was mad at the world and Nico didn't deserve all her rage, a large portion, but not all. She bit back the curse words she was mumbling when he'd come in.
If only she'd known sooner…Yet, she understood that even if she had, technically Felice and Robert would have still retained control of the label and the land. All that would have accomplished was longer fights, which would have been worse over a longer period.
With Nico, he made it business. He didn't love her. He saw her as an asset to his business. The personal perks would be a fringe benefit. Anger and lovemaking didn't go together. Danni realized she was hot and horny, wanting the physical release he'd taught her. She was missing the tangible side of him and hated them both or it. She also knew taunting him when he was in this kind of a mood was unwise, but she hadn't stopped. Her verbal campaign against his manhood and use of it was over the top, even in their situation. Look where it got her.
When she finally turned, it was with a strange feeling in her gut. For the first time in her life, she felt truly free. Adult, female, horny, curious. She wanted more, one last time with Nico, just for herself, a last memory to carry with her. He was tousled, sweating, and looking slightly stunned, too sexy to resist.
"Your cum is dripping down my thighs," she said, moving closer, her hands reaching to his shirt, pulling it open, indifferent to the buttons flying in all directions. She latched onto his nipple as her fingers worked his belt, then his jeans, and pushed them down. He reached under her shirt, and she stopped to pull it over her head. She was braless, and her breasts fell to his waiting palms. Her mouth went back to his chest, his neck, and his chin. All the while, he kneaded her full breasts, wanting better access but not getting it, fumbling with the zipper on her jeans, tugging them down her thighs.
Danni slipped her hand down to find him erect and pulled him to the same bale of hay he'd taken her over. Without a word, she dropped forward over it, Nico following, his cock entering her from behind a second time. She was wet from her own release, now mixed with his. He pulled out, and she let out a distressed cry until she felt his mouth on her. He slipped his thumb inside her and continued to
lave at her, moving higher, using his moistened thumb to move higher, wetting her, using the tip of his finger to enter her. She gasped but didn't move away, and he repeated his motions, easing her into the act, feeling her relax under him, accepting and pushing back for more. There was no conscious thought. He pushed his hard cock deep inside her, thrusting harder than he normally would have. Danni simply said "More." His fingers threaded through her hair, drawing her up to him.
"What do you want, Danni? What do you need?"
"More," was all she managed to utter as she concentrated on the feel of his cock steadily slipping within her, knowing she wanted more but not daring to take it. The words came before she could stop them. "Is that the best you can do, Drago? All you have to offer…" He pulled back, seemingly stunned by her words.
* * * *
The criticism moved from his brain to his cock. Nico entered her again, several quick strokes in her pussy, then he pulled out, pushing higher, entering her in small increments. It took all his concentration to go slowly at first. It took only a few strokes before she shifted under him, accepted this new experience and sucked his fingers into her mouth. Between the sight of her reddened cheeks from his hand, her sucking his fingers, and him fucking her ass, he knew it wouldn't last. With a moment of clarity, he took in the sight, knowing he'd never forget it, and used his free hand to slip first one, then a second finger into her empty vagina. She cried out and came, wetting his fingers while he released deep inside her. She crumbled to the hay under her as he carefully pulled first his fingers, then his deflating cock from her body.
Nico lifted her easily, turning her around, dropping his mouth over hers, taking her in a kiss that said more than words could. When he was satisfied she was calmed, he simply righted his clothing as best he could and strode away, leaving her in the stall, topless with her jeans now around her ankles. He knew her ass burned and her cheeks were sore to the touch. His come leaked down her legs, giving him a strange thrill.
* * * *
Without consideration, Danni pushed two of her own fingers deep inside her vagina, moving over her own hand until she came again. Only then, knowing she had absolutely lost her mind, did she finally pull on her clothing. Getting away from Cirillo and Severino land was no longer an option, but a necessity.
To allow him to take her that way, to initiate the second round, was beyond her realm of thinking. She truly wasn't the woman she'd thought she was. Danni made it to her room without being noticed. She hesitated a long time before showering, watching in the full-length mirror as she turned from side to side, seeing her buttocks red with his palm print and going all warm and soft inside. This new side of herself let her hand slip lower a second time, spreading her oozing lips to slip her middle finger inside. Closing her eyes, she gave herself the gift of self-gratification a second time. Danni came, but not with the intensity she'd felt with Nico.
Weeks had gone by, four to be exact. He'd not seen nor heard from Danielle. His messages went unanswered. Nico stopped at three messages, the end of week two. Now he was moving through his life on automatic pilot, the business dulling his mind. Nights he spent vacillating between driving over to bring her back or just letting the inevitable come. If she was determined to leave, then so be it. He'd have no choice but to continue on without her.
Pruning was nearing, and he spent most days in the yard, on all the acreage. He didn't allow himself to associate the land with Danni. His trips to Cirillo, soon to be renamed Severino's, tasting room and cellars weren't the same. It was there his cell phone interrupted.
"Nico, can you meet me at your house? How soon?"
He didn't stop to think about what she'd put him through in the past weeks, the tone of her voice propelled him. He didn't offer that he was at Cirillo just then.
"I'm on my way, where are you?"
"Ten minutes out," she said, disconnecting the call.
* * * *
Danni smiled, thankful for his quick response. She didn't want to think about what would happen if he'd answered otherwise.
Danni hustled through Casa Maria's kitchen door, a large leather purse bulging on her shoulder. He was at the counter, the aroma of fresh coffee brewing filling the space. She paused to look at him. The past few weeks had been the hardest of her life, not contacting him. Yet today, when she needed help, she'd dialed him without a second thought. He was windblown and gorgeous, and he was the man she loved.
"Thanks for meeting me." Releasing a deep breath, she moved to hug him, not caring, just taking what she needed. He responded automatically, holding her until she pulled back to look at him, brushing the soft brown hair from his forehead. "I need a favor, no questions asked, for now."
"Is it illegal?" he asked with a raised brow, taking in the sight of her. His holding her tight made her want to believe they'd find a future together.
"Technically no, but not for publication."
"Go on."
She knew he was watching her, knew he'd see the strain she'd been under. She was thankful he hadn't verbalized his assessment.
"Coffee smells good," she managed to say, pulling free from his grasp. "Do you have any room in your safe?" She moved around the kitchen with ease, pulling down mugs and taking the milk from the refrigerator. "Just until the audit. I promise I'll turn it all over then. I just don't want Robert and my mother to get their hands on it, at least until the auditors can trace it."
Nico was watching her intently and stood at alert. "Danni, what have you done?"
She hefted her leather bag onto the kitchen table, put mugs of hot coffee down, and, sitting opposite him, looked directly at him. She waited until he settled in his seat and took his first sip of coffee while she stirred the milk into hers.