Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 412: Chapter 8 She Chooses Me

Daniel’s POV

I couldn’t have cared less about appearing like some street enforcer when the little one started protesting my protective instincts—I simply lifted her over my shoulder and started walking toward my penthouse. There was no way I’d leave her vulnerable in that Thorne building, and I certainly wouldn’t miss this chance to have her in my sanctuary. I was killing two birds with one stone, and she wasn’t going to dampen my satisfaction.

As we approached the secured entrance to my high-rise, I could feel Lila growing increasingly tense against me. Was she planning to refuse me? I hadn’t prepared myself for that scenario.

Once inside my fortified apartment, I gave Lila the grand tour. In the master bedroom, I placed her belongings in the walk-in closet, showing her the space I’d already cleared for her. Only then did she break her prolonged silence.

"There are three bedrooms in this place," Lila observed, pointing out the obvious while I stared at her in confusion.

"What’s your point?" I asked, genuinely puzzled. I watched her exhale deeply and return to the bedroom, wringing her hands nervously. I followed and settled on the king-sized bed, waiting for her to elaborate.

"I don’t need to sleep in your room. I don’t want to be a burden." Could she possibly think she was just some temporary houseguest, meant to occupy the spare room? Or was this her way of pushing me away?

It was unthinkable that this little one would reject me. My mind raced through countless arguments to convince her that staying together would benefit us both, but I couldn’t organize them into coherent thoughts. I clung to the hope that she simply assumed she’d be treated like a regular visitor.

"Are you serious, Lila? Do I need to spell out that I want to share my bed with you? Are you telling me you haven’t thought about it?" That was all I could manage to articulate; I refused to entertain the possibility that she didn’t want me.

I watched as she gazed at me with those mesmerizing caramel eyes, taking a deep breath as if gathering courage for some dangerous mission. Suddenly, she shocked me by jumping onto my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck, looking directly into my eyes with a determination that filled me with hope. I circled her delicate waist with my arms and smiled, convinced she would be mine.

But she had another revelation waiting.

"Listen, big guy, I’m completely inexperienced—I’ve never been with anyone, and before you, I’d never even kissed anyone, so yes, I know nothing about any of this, but I want to kiss you again," she confessed in one breathless rush, and my brain completely shut down—shocked by her admission of virginity yet thrilled to know she wanted to kiss me again—I simply froze. "I knew it!"

Lila began struggling to escape my grip, but I snapped back to reality and held her securely. She fought to get off my lap, tears forming in her eyes, unable to meet my gaze, but I wouldn’t let her go. I turned, laying her back on the bed and positioning myself above her, trapping her legs between mine and securing her wrists above her head—careful not to hurt her but ensuring she stayed still to hear what I needed to say. I had dozens of questions but needed to proceed carefully.

Damn! She was untouched, and I’d said all those crude things to her that night at the club. But now, with her beneath me in my arms, all my previous beliefs about lacking patience for inexperienced women, not wanting to teach, and preferring partners who knew the game—all of it evaporated. I only knew I wanted this little one, young and innocent, who had captured my heart the moment I saw her in that Thorne office. No point denying it anymore; I’d been struck by something I’d never believed in before.

"Was I the first to claim these beautiful lips, little one?" I asked, trying to soften my voice and control my excitement. She nodded confirmation, but tears were streaming down her face, which I couldn’t stand. I gently brushed away her tears. "Don’t cry, little one."

"I know you don’t want anything to do with me now because I’m inexperienced, so just let me go. I’ll call Zo to pick me up." She spoke with her eyes closed, seemingly overwhelmed with embarrassment. Did she truly believe I would reject her? Hadn’t this little one realized I was completely obsessed with her?

"And give up these sweet lips again? But I want them so desperately!" I spoke softly, running my thumb across her lower lip. "You—you do?" She opened her eyes to look at me.

Oh, how much I wanted to! Without wasting time on words, I cradled her face as if it were made of precious crystal, pressing my lips to hers. I kissed her gently, tenderly, but craving more, I ran my tongue along her lips and nibbled them softly. She sighed with contentment, and my tongue slipped into her mouth, eager and demanding. I savored her sweet lips and coaxed her tongue to dance with mine. I claimed her as mine, making it clear those beautiful lips belonged only to me and that I wanted her desperately.

I moved one hand to her waist and pulled her against me, careful not to let my weight crush her small frame. Lila timidly ran her delicate hands across my chest, up to my shoulders, and wrapped them around my neck. Every place she touched, even through my shirt, tingled and burned with desire. She began to relax, allowing herself—allowing me—to kiss her, touch her, feel her.

Kissing her was incredible! Her mouth awakened thousands of sensations, all deliciously igniting my body and desire. I couldn’t control myself anymore; I ached for her, aroused, with a painful hardness, needing more contact. My body pressed against hers on the bed, and I was consumed with want, not wanting to stop kissing her, wanting to strip away our clothes and satisfy the urgent need to be inside her. But I couldn’t forget she was innocent; I couldn’t be reckless. I needed patience.

I should stop kissing her before losing all restraint. Reluctantly, I separated our mouths and gently bit her chin, trailing kisses down her neck. But I wanted to feel more of her, so much more. I let my hands slide up her body and touched her breasts through the thin fabric of her dress. The little one tensed, her body going rigid.

"Relax, little one. I’m just exploring you. Don’t you like when I touch you here?" I gently teased her nipples while kissing her neck. "Answer me."

"I do like it," she whispered. I smiled and placed my mouth over the fabric of her dress, kissing her breast and feeling her body tremble as she moaned softly.

She was too delicious and responsive. I couldn’t let her go. I returned to kissing her mouth and slid my hand down her body to the hem of her dress, which I lifted to her waist. Delighting in touching her, I squeezed her ass, pulling her against my erection and grinding against her. The little one moaned; her skin was covered in goosebumps like mine. She wanted this as much as I did.

While kissing her, I let my hand wander over her hip and down her thigh, then back up, subtly touching her intimacy through the thin fabric of her panties, which were damp—proof of her desire. My touch made her moan into my mouth, and I couldn’t hide my satisfaction. She wanted me and was incredibly sensitive. I would lose myself in this delicious body. I couldn’t resist touching her intimacy once more, and she moaned; her panties were completely soaked, delighting me with her reaction.

Clinging to what little control I had left, I nibbled her swollen lips and moved away, lying beside her. I looked at her on my bed—beautiful, breathless, with messy hair, disheveled, dress hiked up, and bright eyes that wouldn’t meet mine.

"Tiny one? Look at me," I requested, almost in a whisper. When she looked at me, my heart raced. "Was that kiss good for you?" She nodded. "Good enough to make you want to kiss me again?" She nodded again. "Good enough to make you want to sleep in my bed?" Once more, she nodded. "Good enough to make you want to stay with me?" Her eyes sparkled as she nodded yes. "Then we need to talk."

I stood up because I couldn’t have this conversation with her lying disheveled in my bed—I’d end up taking her instead of talking. I pulled her into my arms, and there was no more resistance or fear from her. She had chosen me.