The Don's Unwanted Bride

CHAPTER 10

Alyssa’s POV

I stammered, unable to form a coherent word.

Why did I feel like my lungs were caving in every time he looked at me?

Why did I curse so naturally when I was near him, something I usually never did?

It was like being in his presence flipped a switch in my brain, like the electricity in the room was short-circuiting everything I thought I knew about myself.

He stared at me with this unreadable expression, almost amused. “Say it again.”

My brows furrowed. “What?”

His lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “Curse at me again.”

I blinked, caught completely off guard. “I wasn’t cursing at you—”

“Say it again,” he repeated, firmer now, like it was a command.

My throat felt tight. My heart beat louder than my thoughts. I hesitated.

“Shit…” I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips.

He closed his eyes like he was savoring the taste of it. As if my words were a rare delicacy and he was letting them melt on his tongue. When his eyes opened, there was something wild and unfiltered in them.

We stared at each other, suspended in that stillness that made the air thick and hard to breathe.

Then, his hand dropped.

I exhaled, a relieved breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I thought he was done, thought I could turn around, grab the broken pieces of my pride, and leave.

I was wrong.

He reached for the loose strand of hair that had fallen over my face and gently tucked it behind my ear. The touch was feather-light, but it felt like a spark ran down my entire spine.

“Look at me,” he murmured.

“I— I can’t,” I whispered, turning my head slightly away.

His hand was under my chin in seconds, tilting my face upward until I was forced to look into his eyes. Those dark, unreadable, captivating eyes.

“You can,” he said softly, yet with authority.

My lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Then, without warning, he leaned in.

His breath brushed against my cheek, minty, fresh, intoxicating. I barely had time to process what was happening before his lips touched mine.

I froze.

His lips were warm, and soft, yet commanding. They moved against mine like they had every right to be there.

It felt like a dream, surreal, like something my subconscious would conjure up in the dead of night.

But this wasn’t a dream.

When he deepened the kiss, pushing my lips apart, coaxing my tongue to respond—demanding it—I knew it was real.

I was kissing my boss.

No, not just a boss. A Don.

A mafia Don.

The kind of man I’d sworn never to love. The kind of man my father had been. Dangerous. Controlling. Powerful.

I had promised myself that I would never, ever fall for someone like that.

But right now, with his hands pinning me to the wall, with his mouth owning mine, I couldn’t even remember my own name, much less a promise I’d made to myself years ago.

I wanted to push him away.

But instead, I stood there like a statue, clenching my fists at my sides, letting him kiss me until he decided he was done.

When he finally pulled away, I sucked in a breath like I’d been underwater.

He didn’t step back.

His hands were still on either side of me, caging me in. His gaze burned into mine. I trembled under the intensity of it.

Then he said, voice low and lethal:

“Open your eyes.” He demanded with a tone of authority, it made shivers run down my spine.

I didn’t even realize I had closed them. Slowly, I blinked, lifting my gaze to meet his.

His eyes were different now.

Hungrier.

Dark with desire that scared me more than his temper ever could.

My hands flew up to my mouth, covering it as if to hide the taste of him still lingering on my lips.

And then he asked it.

Three words that cracked the air like a gunshot.

“Will you sleep with me?”