Blood Money (Dinero de Sangre Book 1)
Blurb:
In this twisted dark cartel romance, revenge and hate collide with the past…
Ten years after a devastating betrayal, revenge has come back to bite Ada Pavalos.
Literally.
Once her family’s trusted bodyguard, Domino Valenciaga is out for blood.
Or her heart.
Whichever goal takes more violence to achieve…
Excerpt – Pamper
Disclaimer: The following copyrighted material is unedited and subject to change.
“These were made with more than just plain leather…” He runs the width of his thumb across my lower back as if reading the trauma simply by feel. “Metal tails. Or a spur.”
“You sound impressed,” I rasp, hating the quiver in my voice. I’m gazing up at the bottle of wine just beyond my reach, desperate for a sip.
“These weren’t done to punish you,” he continues as if I never spoke. “This was cruel. Harsh. If I were to whip you this way now, I could kill you.”
He doesn’t sound alarmed by that. My breathing feathers, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to ignore why my pulse quickens at that, my inner thighs shaking, my sore throat dampening…
“This hurt you,” Domino surmises, withdrawing his touch, leaving me shivering in the aftermath. “Though I think you enjoy pain.”
I bite my lip harder, remembering the way he whipped me. I didn’t enjoy that.
“The right kind of pain,” he corrects as if reading my mind. “Tell me who hurt you and why.”
We both know the answer to at least one of those questions. But I forget my plan for manipulation in favor of giving in to the angry impulse to deny him.
“I will never tell you. Ever.”
He growls. Or maybe that low series of notes was meant to resemble a laugh? His teeth are bared in a snarl fearsome enough to provide evidence for both theories.
Moving from my position, he grabs his half-empty wine glass and refills it. To my shock, he tops up mine as well.
“I’m sure we could come to an arrangement. I can think of several ways to coax an answer out of you.” The malice in his voice sends ripples of alarm down my spine. “Oh, but what was that I promised?—” He inclines his glass toward me and sips from the rim. “To treat you sweetly, like a goddamn princess.”
He slams his glass down, splashing liquid over his fingers and the table. The vivid splotches glimmer in the dim lighting, reminiscent of blood.
“I am to coddle you,” he adds as a slow smile plays on his mouth. “So, what will it be? A bath by candlelight? A massage? Having me hand-feed you grapes as you lounge in bed?”
His guttural tone takes each suggestion and twists it to imply something nefarious. He’ll hurt me, hurt me, or hurt me.
“I want you to give me answers,” I suggest. “Why take me? Why now? What do you want—”
“I have a better suggestion.”
He’s behind me in a heartbeat, palming my lower back with both hands, grinding his touch into the marks beneath.
White-hot pain shoots through me. For a second, I see stars. Then blackness. It feels like ages before the world returns in full focus, though it must be mere seconds. He’s still speaking. “I could fuck you senseless right here and now. You seem to respond well to that.”
Panic grips me. I can’t lose what little leverage I already have. So, I blurt, “A b-bath.”
He stills, his breathing heavy. “Good choice. Ines,” he calls, raising his voice. “Ada-Maria would like a candlelit bath. Run one in the jacuzzi. Bring out the rose petals. We’ll make it fit for a queen.”
He’s mocking me again, and I suspect it’s more than my impertinent questions that has him aggravated so. Something that’s gnawing away at him, lurking behind those dark eyes. So he lashes out.
My only method to catch him off guard has been to play along. And make him break his own mold he’s put me in.
“I…I want music,” I say, a random request that gets his attention. He looks at me again, an eyebrow raised skeptically.
“Music it is,” he says to my shock. “What kind?”
“I…”
“My choice, then,” he declares, latching onto my hesitation. “Anything else?”
Yes, my instinct tells me. I need to keep him focused on me, anticipating my next action.
“Yes. I want wine. And…”
“And sweets, let’s not forget the refreshments,” he says, taking a step toward me to press his palm against my cheek. “I’ll need you well rested and well fed for what I have planned for you. Despite what you may believe, cum is not fitting sustenance in the long-term, Ada.”
Bastard. My cheeks flush with blood, but I hold his stare and nod.
“And… I w-want—”
“Such a greedy girl.” He coaxes my chin higher, exposing my sore throat. Flashing dangerously, his eyes rake over the swollen flesh, and I realize my mistake—I’ve provoked him too much. “You want a more suitable item of clothing to wear,” he adds softly. “Something more fitting than this matronly garb, si?”
I swallow hard and remain silent, having learned my lesson.
“Excellent,” he murmurs. “Then what are we waiting for?”
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In this twisted dark cartel romance, revenge and hate collide with the past…
Ten years after a devastating betrayal, revenge has come back to bite Ada Pavalos.
Literally.
Once her family’s trusted bodyguard, Domino Valenciaga is out for blood.
Or her heart.
Whichever goal takes more violence to achieve…