Page 23 of Control (Dark Syndicate #1)

“Not drunk,” I say quickly. “Maybe a little intoxicated, but drunk? I’ve never been into that.”

“What are you into then?” he asks.

“You?”

“That’s a question, princess. A piece of advice: when you come for me, you better be goddamn sure.”

I swallow hard. “Are we still talking about this…thing between us or something else?”

He studies me for a moment, his eyes unreadable. “You tell me.”

For a moment, neither of us speaks. And I know I should be afraid, but all I feel is the pull—stronger than ever—to step closer to him, to see how far I can push before he pushes back.

He flicks ash from his cigarette. “What do you want, Daniela?”

“To prove you wrong,” I reply.

His brows lift just slightly. “About what?”

“That I’m not some delicate flower who needs saving.”

I pull off my heels, the cool grass grounding me. “You think you know me, Remo, but you don’t. You don’t know what I’ve survived.”

“And you think you’ve got me all figured out?”

“Maybe.”

He stands, towering over me. “Then tell me, what am I?”

The words bubble up before I can stop them. “You’re dangerous. Ruthless. But you’re not empty. Not entirely.”

I think about everything I’ve heard about him.

The rumors, the whispers of a man who trusts no one and never lets his guard down.

Remo doesn’t just survive in this world.

He rules it, bending others to his will with calculated moves and merciless decisions.

A man like him doesn’t care what someone like me thinks.

Not really. And yet, for reasons I can’t explain, I need him to hear me.

For a split second, I think I see something shift in his expression—a flicker of something human and vulnerable beneath the hard exterior. But it’s gone so fast that I wonder if I imagined it.

He crushes the cigar under his shoe, grinding it into the pavement with deliberate force before stepping closer.

“Careful, Daniela,” he says, his voice rough, almost a growl—the kind of tone that sends a shiver down your spine whether you want it to or not. “Terrible things happen to people who think they know me.”

I don’t flinch, though every nerve in my body tells me I should. Instead, I hold my ground, meeting his icy stare with a defiance I don’t entirely feel.

“Maybe I don’t care,” I say stubbornly.

My pulse pounds as he steps closer, close enough that I can see the faint scar cutting through his jaw.

“You should,” he says softly, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face.

The moment stretches, taut and electric, before I break it.

I lean closer, rising up on my tiptoes to gently press my lips against his.

His lips are soft, with a hint of whiskey lingering on them.

At first, the kiss is shy, with him remaining stiff against me.

But suddenly, it feels like a switch is flipped, and we lose ourselves in each other.

His tongue meets mine, filled with raw, animalistic desire.

He pushes against me, kissing me passionately and groaning even as I feel myself grow wetter.

I nibble at his lips, urging him to let out another low moan, and then I reach down to palm his growing erection through his pants.

“Daniela—”

“I know what I want,” I reply, my voice strong. “I want to pleasure you tonight, Remo. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll make it happen. I’ll do anything for you.”

He wraps his hand around my throat, his grip firm, and I gasp at the thrill of it. His eyes darken as he stares down at me. “I love how eager you are. And your body…you’re so incredibly tempting, princess.”

Why do I like this so much? I’m supposed to be pretending to enjoy this, but when he speaks to me like that or grabs me as if I might run away, I become delirious with desire. “Tell me how to make you come.”

He doesn’t hesitate. Remo undoes his belt and pushes his pants down slightly, revealing his cock as it springs free from his boxers.

He strokes himself, his eyes locked on me and lips parted, burning with desire.

Pre-cum glistens at the tip of his magnificent shaft, which he rubs around the pink head. “Get on your knees,” he commands.

His cock is long and hard, stiff against the cool night air.

I kneel in the soft grass, staring at his throbbing erection.

Remo’s skin is a warm bronze, perfectly tanned, matching the color of his shaft except for the inviting pink head.

Riddled with veins, it’s clear he craves release as desperately as he needs air.

He smells divine—vanilla, expensive cologne, and pure masculinity.

“Put your hands on me,” he growls, wetting his lips above me. “I want to feel your hands on me.”

I gently wrap my fingers around his balls, following his command.

As I swirl my tongue over the tip of his cock, I moan against him, and he groans in approval.

His pre-cum tastes salty as I swipe my tongue around his cock and then take him into my mouth.

“Yes, Daniela, I love how you suck my dick like a dirty little slut. Keep doing that, baby. Oh, fuck.”

He pulls my hair, gathering locks in his hands to control the movement of my tongue. The pressure on my scalp is intense, and even though it stings, he doesn’t relent. I can tell he enjoys the control he has over me just as much as I relish the sensations he gives.

His moans, accompanied by whispers of my name, ignite a fire within me as I continue to work on him.

I glide my tongue off him, causing him to hiss, only to take him in again, sucking hard before pulling back.

He shakes his head, giving me a stern look.

“Don’t tease me like that, Daniela. I want to fuck your mouth so hard that you forget where you are.

If you keep teasing me, I might lose control. ”

The truth is, I want to see him lose control. The dare, the thrill, and the uncertainty behind those words draw me in. Remo is changing me, and even if I deny it, I know it’s only a matter of time before I give in completely. “Use my mouth however you want.”

“Oh, I will.” With his hand still in my hair, he shifts closer. “Open that pretty mouth for me, princess.” I obey, but he doesn’t immediately push himself back in. Instead, he uses his free hand to stroke himself, grunting, “This night just became fucking amazing.”

“Yes…”

I take his cock back into my mouth, lapping my tongue around him and drawing deep moans from his throat. The hard flesh feels incredible, and Remo tastes heavenly. I don’t want this night to end. I kiss the hard ridges of his burning flesh while my hands tease his balls.

Then he begins to fuck my mouth, just as he promised.

His hips thrust forward, his grip on my hair guiding my movements.

I drown in the pleasure, feeling as if I, too, am being consumed.

He plunges deeply, grunting with each thrust, and I gag slightly.

He pulls out briefly to stroke himself, then pushes back inside again, pounding harder while I moan, empowered by the pleasure I’m giving him.

As his shoulders and rock-hard abs tighten, I realize he’s close. He rolls his head back, grunting, “Holy hell, you take me so deep, Daniela. Damn, do you feel what you do to me? Hold still…I’m going to shoot my load deep in your mouth.”

I obey and hold still, craning my neck to catch a glimpse of his face and his slightly parted lips.

He floods my mouth with his salty release, and I sink into the sweetness of his arousal.

After he empties himself, he pulls back, breathing heavily, and tucks his cock back into his pants.

I get to my feet and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

Suddenly, someone coughs in the darkness, pulling my attention. I look up quickly to see a figure lurking in the shadows.

I grab Remo’s arm and point to the figure as Marco steps forward, looking conflicted and avoiding eye contact with me. “I came to get you, Boss,” he says to Remo. “They’ve agreed to your demands and want to renegotiate the deal. Is it still on the table?”

“I’m still trying to decide whether to put a bullet in Jared’s head, to be honest. Trying to smuggle drugs within my territory? Rookie move.”

Marco seems like he’s about to say more, but then he glances at me and back at Remo as if to acknowledge my presence.

Remo catches on, placing a possessive hand on the small of my back and leaning in to nibble on my earlobe.

“I have to take this meeting,” Remo whispers.

“Go back to the party and enjoy yourself. We’ll head home soon, and I’m going to fuck that pretty little pussy of yours until you’re screaming my name. ”

A thrill runs down my spine at the thought, and I nod, looking at Marco, though his eyes still refuse to connect with mine. He had seen me. He had witnessed me pleasuring Remo, and he seemed to enjoy it. I should feel angry, embarrassed, or even mortified, but instead, I feel exhilarated.

What does that say about me? Staying with Remo is changing me.