Page 104 of Humility

“You could learn to mind your own business.”

“Impossible, it’s part of my job description to call you out when you’re a flaming dick. You had me agree to it years ago.” I glared at him. “Although, I’m starting to come around on Enzo’s thought process. It’s nice that you’re such a fucking ass. It makes the two of us look great in her eyes.”

“I fucking hate you.”

He chuckled. “I’ll go get the car.”

Dario had a point. Everything I did took me two steps forward and one step back. Fuck my life.

Chapter Forty-Seven

JASMINE

Okay, sleeping in my room didn’t feel like as much of a punishment for Angelo as it was for me. He was annoyed and upset, but Enzo was working late, and Dario went to see Kenji, so I slept alone. That was a stretch. Staring at the ceiling frustrated was more accurate. How quickly times change.

“Ugh, this is useless.” Tossing the blankets off, I walked to my door and opened it a crack. Angelo didn’t want me wandering the house alone, but I wanted a drink and would be quick. The guard at the end of the hall stared out the window, so I slipped out and tiptoed in the other direction. This reminded me of when Angelo and I would sneak around my home, and despite my anger with him, excitement soared through my body.

I managed to dodge another guard and was surprised I didn’t knock over an expensive statue, break a glass, or walk into a wall. The kitchen was quiet, and of course my stomach dropped with disappointment that I didn’t find Angelo waiting for me. I poured myself a tall glass of cold water and took the long way back to my room. Turning down the hallway that led to the back stairs, I froze when I heard a loud thud. I looked down at the vibration that I’d felt through my bare feet.

My first instinct was to press my back against the wall and keep an eye on both directions. The thud came again, but there was also a faint grunt. A normal person would turn around and run away, but not me. Nope, I had to know what made the noise and continued down the hall, listening.

Rock music poured from behind the next door, and I paused to listen.

“Ah!” Thud.

I jumped when I heard the yell, and my pulse spiked. It took a second, but I recognized Dario’s voice, and my curiosity got the better of me. Like a thief in the night, I opened the door a crack and peeked inside. The glass almost slipped from my hand as I spotted the cause of the noise.

Dario stood in front of a wall of mirrors without a shirt, and I bit my lip as I stared at the massive, roaring gorilla. It took up his entire back and contrasted sharply with the calm gorilla tattooed on his chest, but they were both so much like him. He wore black track pants, and my mouth watered as he squatted, his hard ass pressing against the material. With a roar, he lifted the heavy weights, his back and arm muscles flexing as he pushed the bar above his head before dropping it to the floor in front of him with a bang.

“You can come in, you know,” Dario said, looking over his shoulder at me.

Startled, I jerked, and my water sloshed in the glass and splashed the front of my top.

“Shit,” I grumbled. “Great.” My face heated as I wiped at the wet mark, my embarrassment alive and well. He caught me being a peeping Tom. Maybe for my next trick, I would take up stalking like Angelo.

Dario pulled the door open wider, his eyes taking in my wet shirt as he looked me up and down. “You’re not supposed to leave your room without a guard,” he said.

“Are you going to tell Angelo?”

He smiled and reached out to pull me into the room. The door closed behind me, and I swallowed hard. Dario stepped into my body, and I moved back until there was nowhere to go. Reaching around me, he flicked the lock.

“I’m sure you could bribe me to keep my mouth shut,” he said, and I rubbed my thighs together.

“I thought you were the nice one,” I teased, and he smiled, making my heart skip a beat.

“Oh, I am the nice one. Angelo would have you over his lap, spanking your ass by now for disobeying him.” I smirked as he stepped in closer. “Unless you want me to spank you.” Dario dropped his head to my neck, the rough five o’clock shadow brushing against my skin. “I would happily lay you over my lap.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?”

“I’d say that’s the other way around. You found me in the middle of the night with a wet tank top, no less.” He nipped my ear, and I closed my eyes as my fingers tightened on the water glass like it was the only thing keeping me on my feet. “What am I to do with you now? Should I tell Angelo or punish you myself?”

It was as if someone set fire to my body. The little shorts and tank felt too constricting, and I was tempted to dump the glass of water over my head. It was as rare as an eclipse that Dario let himself be playful. He was always too worried about protecting, keeping up appearances, and hiding his ture feelings infront of the wrong person. It made moments like this special.

“I don’t think Angelo needs to know about my little nighttime adventure to the fridge. I’m sure we can keep this between us,” I said. I could feel Dario smiling against my neck, sending the twinges of need soaring throughout my body. “Should we take this back to my room?”

He pulled back and looked down at me before plucking my water from my fingers. Why was watching a man drink so sexy? With each swallow the clear liquid disappeared down his throat, and I bit my lip unable to look away. Who knew you could be jealous of water? He licked his lips before he sat the glass down on the ground.

“Oh, we aren’t going to your room.” Reaching out, he lowered the bright lights to a soft glow. “I plan on punishing you right here.”