Chapter 6: Champagne Wishes and Foolish Dreams 

*Layla*

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I tried to process his words. 

"Daddy," I whispered, the word already feeling so familiar on my tongue.

Dante's eyes darkened. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

I felt a shiver run through me at the praise, a warmth spreading through my body. But even as I reveled in the sensation, a part of me couldn't help but wonder at the feelings I could not hold back. 

I felt like at some point between sitting down at that moment, obeying his command to call him Daddy was like crossing a line, a point of no return. I was admitting how much I wanted to be a play in his arms. 

And it was a power dynamic I hadn't anticipated, one that both thrilled and terrified me. One that I had no way to control. 

I knew I should be focusing on gathering information, on finding a way to save my mother and escape this dangerous world. But with every beat of my heart and with every breath that I took, I found myself getting more and more drawn to Dante.

As the waiter arrived with our food, I tried to push those thoughts aside. I needed to stay focused, to remember why I was here. But as Dante's foot brushed against mine under the table, sending sparks of electricity through my body, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

We ate in comfortable silence, savoring the delicious food and the intimate atmosphere. Every so often, Dante would catch my eye, his gaze filled with a heat that made my breath catch in my throat.

When the meal was over, Dante stood and offered me his hand. "Dance with me," he said, his voice soft but commanding.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room. "Here? Now?"

Dante smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why not? There's no one else here but us."

I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet, my body molding against his as he led me in a slow, sensual dance. His hands trailed over the exposed skin of my arms and then down my back.

The music seemed to fade away, until all I could hear was the sound of our breathing and the beating of my own heart.

"Layla," Dante murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. "I want you to be completely and utterly mine."

I shivered at his words, my body responding even as my mind rebelled. "Dante, I..."

He silenced me with a kiss, his lips claiming mine with a passion that left me breathless. When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark with desire.

Dante's request for me to be his was another layer in this dangerous game. It blurred the lines between my mission and my own desires, making it harder and harder to separate the two.

But even as I recognized the danger, I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me at the thought of belonging to him. Of surrendering myself completely to his will.

As I climbed alone into the car Dante had sent for me, my body still tingling from his touch, I knew I had a decision to make. I knew in my heart that no good would come of going down this path with Dante. I wasn’t a spy and had no business even trying to be one. 

But this could be a way to stall for time, showing progress to Marco while I worked to reconnect with my father’s old allies and get me and mother clear of this nightmare.  

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the car came to a stop. I looked up, expecting to see my apartment building, but instead found myself in front of a luxurious high-rise. 

The door opened, and I was speechless to see Dante himself standing there, offering me his hand. "Come on," he said, his voice soft. "At least take a peak at what I can offer you."

I hesitated for a moment, my heart racing. But something in his eyes, an earnestness I hadn't seen before, made me reach out and take his hand.

Walking through the lobby of the building next to him felt like a fairytale dream come true. My heart thundered with the thousand reasons it was wrong not to stop in my tracks and tell him to take me home. 

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. 

He led me to the elevator and up to his penthouse, the space even more impressive than I had imagined. But instead of giving me a tour or pouring a drink, Dante led me to the couch and sat down beside me, his expression serious.

"Layla," he began, his voice gentle but firm. "I meant what I said earlier. I want you to be mine."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.

Dante reached out, cupping my cheek in his hand. "But, I would never force a woman to be with me. If you don't want this, if you're not ready or willing to be mine, then I'll take you home right now. I promise never to bother you again."

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. If I agreed to be Dante's, I knew I would be pulled even deeper into his world. Marco would pressure me even harder to feed him information on Dante's dealings, to use our relationship to bring him down. 

But as I looked into Dante's eyes, I saw something there that made my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't just desire or possessiveness, but a vulnerability, a longing to maintain our connection that seemed to mirror my own.

"Dante, I..." I began, my voice trembling and every detail about the last 48 hours flashed through my mind. I wanted to speak. I wanted to give him an answer. I wanted to explain. But all I could do was cry.

He pulled me into his arms, holding me close as I buried my face in his chest, feeling my tears soak through his expensive shirt. I knew I was silently making a dangerous choice, one that would most certainly cost me everything. But in that moment, wrapped in Dante's embrace, I couldn't bring myself to deny what I really wanted.

I wanted to be his. And for better or worse, there was no going back.

***

The morning light filtered through the expansive windows of Dante's penthouse. I stirred from my sleep, my body deliciously sore and my mind hazy with memories of the night before.

Beside me, Dante slept peacefully, his chiseled features relaxed and his dark hair tousled. I watched him for a moment, marveling at the power he held over me, both physically and emotionally.

As if sensing my gaze, Dante's eyes fluttered open, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

I couldn't help but smile back, my heart fluttering in my chest. "Good morning, Dante."

He pulled me closer, his arm wrapping around my waist as he nuzzled my neck and then laid a stinging smack on my ass.

“Oh… What was that?” 

“In bed, call me Daddy.” 

He lifted a meaningful eyebrow, and I felt my face fall into a frown. He rubbed my smarting cheek and I relaxed into the tenderness of his caress and shivered at his touch, memories of our passionate lovemaking flooding my mind.

"Yes, Daddy," I agreed.

Dante pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "I want you to know that I meant what I said last night. I need you to understand what it means to be my woman."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "What?"

Dante sat up, pulling me with him until we were facing each other on the bed. "It means that you belong to me," he explained. "It means that you'll be loyal to me, honest with me, and obedient to my commands."

I felt a mix of fear and excitement course through me. "And what do I get in return?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Dante's hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my lips. "You get my protection, my provision, and my unwavering devotion. I will give you everything you could ever want or need, Layla. I will cherish you, pleasure you, and make you feel like the queen you are."

I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed. "It sounds too good to be true," I whispered, my voice filled with longing.

Dante chuckled, his fingers tilting my chin up until I was looking into his eyes. "It's not," he assured me. "But there are some things you need to know, some rules you'll need to follow."

I nodded, my stomach twisting with nerves. "Like what?"

Dante's expression turned serious, his gaze intense. "First and foremost, I expect complete honesty from you. No secrets, no lies. If there's something you can't tell me, then you need to say so, but don't ever deceive me."

I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I was already keeping a huge secret from him. But I pushed it down, focusing on his next words.

"Second, I expect obedience. When I give you a command, I expect you to follow it without question. I'm not a tyrant, Layla, but I am a man who is used to being in control. If you can't handle that, then this won't work."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "I understand," I said softly.

Dante's hand slid down my neck, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of my collarbone. "Third, I expect exclusivity. You're mine, Layla, and I don't share. I won't tolerate any other men in your life, not even as friends."

I swallowed hard, a flicker of fear running through me. I thought of Anton, of the way he watched me with a mix of concern and suspicion. I would have to be careful, to make sure that Dante never found out about my connection to him or Marco.

"And finally," Dante said, his voice dropping to a low, seductive purr, "I expect passion. I want you to give yourself to me completely, body and soul. I want to be the only man who ever touches you, the only one who brings you pleasure and when needed…pain."

I shivered at his words thinking about that smack on my ass, my body responding instinctively to his words. 

“How much pain?” 

“As much as you can stand.” 

"Dante," I breathed, my voice thick with desire, and received another painful smack on my ass.

I bit my lip against cry out and smiled as I became excited by the prospects of pleasure and pain at Dante’s touch. 

“Daddy,” I corrected myself. 

He smiled, his hand sliding up my body until he was cupping my breast. "Do you accept all of my terms, Layla?" he asked, his thumb brushing over my nipple.

I arched into his touch, my mind hazy with need. "Yes," I gasped, my eyes locked on his. "Yes, I accept."

Dante's smile widened, his eyes darkening with hunger. "Good girl," he praised, his hand sliding lower. "Now let me show you the rewards of being mine."

He pushed me back onto the bed, his body covering mine as he claimed my lips in a searing kiss. The pleasure was exquisite and I was certain if he ever learned the secret I was holding back from him, the pain would be sublime.