Ruthless Heir: A Dark Mafia Romance (Ruthless Dynasty Book 1)

There it is.

The trembling lower lip. Softer than any pillow. More delicious than any delicacy. The most tempting sin.

She’s intoxicating.

Even after I spent an hour scrubbing her down, cleaning her wound, washing blood and guts from her long auburn hair, Bianca still retains that vanilla scent of hers.

It’s baked into her flesh. It’s seared into my mind.

I need another taste.

“Everyone is dead.”

The tender realization cascades down her face in a single tear.

It’s not the kind of response I was expecting. And my deranged lust is almost stifled by the tenderness of my captive’s sorrow.

She was being so strong—I could nearly see the queen I never thought she could become. Nearly.

“I never said that,” I remind her.

“You didn’t have to,” Bianca whispers. Lifting her chin up at me, she exposes the shimmer in her crystal blue eyes. “You would never treat me this way if any of my family were still around to make you pay for it.”

“I’m not a coward, princess. I do what I want, no matter the consequences.”

“There’s no way you wanted to be my bodyguard.”

“I wanted you.”

The revelation stuns us both. And a thick silence swirls between us as I wonder if I can shove that declaration back down my throat.

“Why?” Bianca gulps.

“It’s a long story,” I grumble, my gaze wandering down to her newly exposed clavicle.

Fuck. My cock is already throbbing.

Sure, Bianca was naked when I mended her earlier. She had to be. But I had lost enough blood to be foolishly chivalrous.

I looked only where I needed to look. I felt only where I needed to feel. And as soon as she was washed, I draped her tender innocence in that old nightgown, protecting her from my savage lust.

But now she’s awake, and a primal desire rushes into my cock, pumping it full of hot, beastly blood.

“Do we not have time?” Sniffing away the tears, I watch as Bianca physically forces herself to be brave.

It’s almost admirable.

Almost.

The way she wipes her nose makes her look as innocent as any lost doe.

Is she trying to manipulate me?

Or am I just softer than I fear?

“We have as much time as I say we do.”

“And you want to spend it torturing me?”

“Who said anything about torture?”

“You want me to strip for you,” Bianca sniffles. “That’s torture.”

Chewing on my tongue, I start to pace, circling my prey as I decide what to do next.

She’s so vulnerable right now.

Sure, I could tell her everything and watch as the brutal truth crushes her. Forty-eight hours ago, I would have jumped at the opportunity. But now…

“And what if I repaid you for your obedience?” I ask, moving around the bed, studying my captive from every angle.

The sight of her fragile little shoulder blades makes me even harder.

“How could you possibly repay me for anything I do?” Bianca asks.

“By telling you what you want to know.”

“You’ll answer my questions?” Bianca rasps, peaking at me from over her tender shoulder.

“Yes,” I reluctantly nod. “We can play a little game of truth or dare.”

This is stupid. I should assert dominance over her right away. Shatter that stubborn spirit before she can even think to resist my might.

But my cock is doing all of the thinking now. And it’s not sure how arousing another set of tears would be.

“Fine,” Bianca says. Sucking in a deep, jittery breath, she rips her gaze away from me, looking forward again. “Let’s play truth or dare.”

To my surprise, she pushes herself off the bed.

“Well, well, well…” I can’t help but smile. “Look at you.”

“There, I did as you said. That was a dare. Now, I want a truth from you.”

“My dare was to stand up and get naked,” I remind her.

“No. You only get one thing at a time.”

Before I can pick apart her terms, Bianca’s neck snaps down.

A split-second later, she’s falling.

But before she can hit the ground, I’ve lunged over the bed and caught her in my arms.

The warmth of her little body washes over me.

“You stood up too quickly, princess,” I say, watching as her eyelids flutter back open. “Are you alright?”

“I… I’m fine,” she mumbles, her brow furrowing as she tries to lift the weight I’ve forced upon her.

But all I see is that red scar above her left eye.

Fuck. It makes me so angry.

Killing the kid who did it to her hardly made me feel any better. It doesn’t take back the fact that someone else was allowed to fuck with what’s mine.

Even if Bianca may have been asking for it.

“Drink some water, and then we’ll continue our game.”

There isn’t enough mercy in me to stop now. Sure, she needs to rest. But my cock is rock hard. I’ve waited long enough to get this close to the Byrne princess. I’m going to savor every moment of it.

Placing her back on the side of the bed, I reach over to the nightstand and grab the big glass of water I’d brought in while she was still passed out.

“No,” Bianca mumbles, pulling away as I lift the glass up to her pretty pink lips.

“You’re going to die of thirst just to fuck with me?”

“How do I know it’s not drugged?”

“Because I’m not some loser frat boy,” I growl. “Now, drink.”

“It’s not your turn to tell me what to do,” she says, that stubborn fire lashing out, even through her deep and labored breaths.

“Yes, it is. You still aren’t naked.”

Shaking her head, Bianca rebuffs the water, and I reluctantly place it back down on the nightstand.

“Here,” she grumbles, shooing me away with a limp wrist. “Back up and I’ll give you your stupid show.”

“Don’t fall down again.”

“I’ll do whatever I want to do.”

Her fire reaches down my throat, filling my chest with a strange heat, and I take a step back just to keep from being burned.

What the hell is going on here?

That attitude… it’s holding up, even under this immense pressure.

It’s not something I expected. But it’s fucking captivating.

The scar suits her, after all. I want to see what she does next.

“Fine. I’ll get you to fucking hydrate with my next turn. First, though, fulfill your dare. Stand up. Strip for me.”

“I’ll fucking strip for you alright,” Bianca grumbles.

Taking a deep breath, she pushes herself off the bed one more time. My entire body tenses as she sways before me.

But she doesn’t collapse.

Instead, she reaches up to the right strap of her nightgown and jerks it down. The soft silk doesn’t fall down her body just yet, though. Not with those perky tits holding it up.

I can’t help but bite my bottom lip as my eyes fall onto what’s happened to her nipples. Even through the thick material, I can tell exactly how hard they are.

You and me both, darling.

“Almost there,” I growl, my cock twitching beneath my pants, wild with anticipation.

“Yeah, I bet you are,” Bianca snips. Then, with a cute little snarl scrunching her button nose, she rips off the rest of the nightgown.

It’s hardly graceful. But I don’t fucking care.

The sight of her naked form almost sends me flying off my feet.

“Good girl,” I grumble, my fingers curling into fists as every inch of me begs to take her.

But I resist the urge.

Not yet.

She’s not ready.

Better to build her into something strong than to shatter her into pieces.

Someday, she will have to be my queen—if even only for a short while. For long enough to give me an heir.

“Happy?” Bianca hisses.

“Yes,” I quickly respond, almost delirious with lust. I can’t stop imagining how tight that little pussy of hers would be. How my cock would disappear between her thigh gap. How I would fill her up with my cum.

I wonder if she’s ever been fucked before?

“Good. Then, it’s my turn. Tell me—”

“If I can give you some advice,” I interrupt, snapping myself out of it. “Start small. I don’t want you fainting again.”

The warning hits Bianca like a cool breeze, and her flat stomach flexes against the realization of just how desperately fucked she might truly be.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I might have to catch you when you fall.”

The faintest pink blush flushes through Bianca’s cheeks as she rips her gaze down to the floor—a futile attempt to hide her shame… and her desire.

But there’s no hiding how aroused she is. Not anymore. Her tits are on full display. Each one of her supple pink nipples is pitched like a fucking tent.

My tongue slips out and I wet my lips, imagining how good she must taste.

“Ask your question, princess. Before I reconsider my leniency.”

A quick look of disgust flashes across her pretty face, before it’s forcefully replaced by a mask of stubborn resignation.

“Start small, right?” she whispers, her eyes still planted on the floor.

“That would be wise.”

“Alright. Then, how did I get into this nightgown?” she accuses, kicking the soft silk off from around her ankles.

“I put you in it,” I easily reply.

“Why?”

“Because you needed something to take off for me.”

That rips her gaze back onto me. I meet her fire with my own, straightening my back as her fury warms my very fucking soul.

I fucking love it.

“Why are you so obsessed with seeing me naked?” she hisses.

That makes me smile.

Should I tell her the truth?

That this is about asserting my dominance. That it’s about showing off the power I hold over her. That I’m desperate to confirm a lingering suspicion. A suspicion that can only be confirmed by her uncovered body.

“No,” I respond, shaking my head. “That’s not a follow up to your question about the nightgown. Only one train of thought at a time, princess. Now, it’s my turn.”

“Fine,” Bianca quickly huffs.

“I want a dare.”

“That’s not how the game works. I get to choose whether it’s a truth or dare.”

“Not when you’re in my domain.”

“So, I am your captive?”

“That can be your next question,” I chuckle. “But you’ll only get that far if you obey my next dare.”

“Go ahead then,” Bianca fumes. “Dare me.”

Running a hand through my hair, I consider what exactly I want. The answer comes quickly enough.

“Get on your knees.”

The fear in Bianca’s crystal blue eyes only grows as I take a short step forward.

“I just stood up for you,” she gulps.

“And you did it perfectly,” I tease, pinching my fingers together. “Let’s see if you can keep that streak going.”

Bianca’s jaw flexes and her stomach hardens as she takes my taunts. But her defiance only makes my cock even harder.

Oh, what I’m going to do to that body; to that mouth…

“You’re an asshole. You’ve always been an asshole,” Bianca huffs. Still, she does as she’s told, stiffly sinking to her knees.

The sight of her kneeling before me is like a shot of adrenaline. My fingers tremble and my eyelids drop halfway down as I draw in a shaky breath.

I want her so fucking bad.

“Your turn, princess” I growl, barely restraining myself. “Truth or dare?”

“I choose a dare.”

“Very well.”

“Stop calling me princess.”

The pettiness of her request nearly snaps me out of my lustful daze.

“That’s what you’re asking for? Really?”

“Yes.”

“For how long?” I tease, lifting a brow at her.

“Forever.”

“Deal. My turn.”

I already know what I’m going to do next. My cock is about to rip through my pants. I need to loosen them up a little.

“Go ahead, then,” Bianca snarls. But I can see a heavy gulp work down her throat as I move towards her. “What do you want?”

“Everything,” I answer truthfully. Stopping half-a-foot in front of her, I stare down at the kneeling princess and breathe her in. “But for now, I’ll settle for you undoing my belt.”

I can practically see the smoke fuming from her nostrils as she fights back against the urge to give into my demand unchallenged.

She’s clearly not just angry at me for making her do this.

She’s angry because she wants to do it. She’s mad at herself. Furious.

She wants me. Just like I always suspected. And she fucking hates it.

“Do I get to keep it?” Bianca snidely asks. But before I can even respond, she’s reached up and started to dutifully unbuckle my belt.

“We’ll see,” I smile, heart pounding behind my chest.

Her thin forearms brush so close to my bulge that it starts to throb. Pre-cum lines the tip of my cock. I want her to see it all.

You’re not the only one who’s into this, princess. Not by a long shot.

When every buckle has been released, Bianca violently yanks my belt out, before dropping her hands to the floor. Still, she keeps the fine leather griped tightly between her tiny fingers.

“Give it here,” I order, gesturing for the belt.

“No. You only get one dare per turn. Your dare was to take it off.”

Every inch of me wants to lean down and squish her soft little cheeks between my fingers. I want to squeeze that defiance out of her. Drink it up. But I know that won’t do any good.

I’m already wearing her down. And the anticipation is hotter than any use of force could ever be.

“Fine. Then it’s your turn. Go quickly.”

“I will go at whatever pace I please,” she says, deepening her voice, mockingly imitating me.

This fucking girl.

Even naked and on her knees, she fights back.

That scar over her eye is starting to suit her better than I ever expected. But there’s no point in fearing that my plan might not work out because of it anymore.

She’s mine.

Instead, the scar signals something else—no longer a warning, it’s quickly becoming a symbol of the endless opportunity ahead.

Perhaps she’s truly tough enough to last as my queen.

“Truth or dare?” I ask.

“I want a truth.”

Bianca must know that I would never grant a dare for her freedom. Letting her go just isn’t an option, and I think she realizes that the best she’s going to get are some answers.

“Ask away, little mouse.”

“Little mouse. That’s almost worse than princess,” she grumbles.

“Would you like to change to a dare?”

“No,” she defiantly sneers up at me. “I want the truth. Tell me: who the hell are you? Really.”

Bending my knees, I crouch down until my gaze is level with hers. The heat swirling around us is intoxicating, but even more tempting than the thought of how I could use her body, is the memory of how her lips tasted.

“I am Gabriel Corso,” I lie.

“No,” Bianca responds, her voice turning raspy as she feels the same electricity I do. “That’s not true.” Her brows furrow, accentuating the jagged scar, just as she seems to remember something. “You… You told me it wasn’t your real name…”

I can tell that she isn’t sure if the memory is from a dream or not, and I let Bianca struggle for just a little bit longer as I wait for her to remember what happened just after my delirious confession.

“What else did I tell you?” I impatiently ask, pushing her towards the answer.

Fuck. I want to kiss her again so badly.

But what I want even more is for her to kiss me back. Just like she did in the darkness of that alleyway.

That won’t happen if I take her by force.

“You… You…” Her eyes suddenly go wide, nearly popping out of her head. “Did… Did you kiss me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Reaching down, I grab hold of my belt and gently slip it out of her hands.

“Because you were fading on me, pri—Bianca. I needed to shock you back awake, and I didn’t have jumper cables.”

“So, you kissed me?”

“And you kissed me back.”

“No…”

“Yes.”

“I… I was delusional.”

“So was I. But I know you liked it. Just like how I know you like this. Kneeling naked in front of your master.”

“You’re not my master,” she croaks, a horrible realization dawning on her.

“Not quite yet,” I admit. “But we’re getting there. And it’s my turn.”

Bianca is too lost in her own thoughts to fight back as I lift the belt from the floor and tenderly begin to wrap it around her throat.

Even as I tighten the leather, pulling until I’ve found the perfect buckle, she hardly reacts. Her crystal blue eyes dart back and forth trying to make sense of the searing memory we both share.

The kiss.

Finally, I’m able to snap her back to reality. With a stern tug on her new choker, I cut off enough air to force her to concentrate.

“What are you doing?” she rasps.

“Claiming you.”

“Why?”

“That question will have to wait until it’s your turn again.”

Through the tight leather, I can feel a heavy gulp slide down Bianca’s tender throat.

“What do you want?”

“A dare.”

“What else could I possibly do?”

Only one thought occupies my mind. It’s the only option.

“I want you to kiss me again.”

Those crystal blue eyes shimmer with uncertainty… or maybe it’s just that my belt is wrapped too tightly around her throat. Either way, it doesn’t stop Bianca from blushing.

A pretty pink hue fills her cheeks. Her gaze drops. My hand lifts.

Pinching her chin, I force those crystal blue eyes back onto me.

“Dare you,” I whisper.

That’s all it takes. She’s too competitive for her own good.

Closing her eyes, Bianca takes a deep breath, then leans forward.

The next thing I know, my eyes have closed too.

Our lips meet, and the electricity that pricks the air explodes, rushing through our lips, and into our bodies.

The kiss fills me up with an unexpected feeling. Something that I have trouble grasping as we taste each other with a careful desire.

Bianca’s warmth fills my chest and grabs my heart. I just want to wrap her up and protect her from all of this darkness.

But I know I can’t do that. Not yet.

“Who are you?” Bianca whispers, when our lips finally fall apart. Her voice is so soft, yet so coarse. And her question is filled with equal parts terror and sincerity.

“I am the man who’s committed his entire adult life to capturing you,” I confess. “And now, you’re mine. But that’s not enough.”

“What could I possibly give you?” she rasps, terror overcoming the sincerity.

“Everything,” I declare. “You are my key to everything.”