Page 162 of Madness & Mercy

My chest convulses, desperate for air. My nails dig into his thighs. He doesn’t let up, shifting his boot, grinding down harder until I bite back a sob. Humiliation floods me hot and sharp, arousal entwined with panic until I can’t separate them anymore.

“Good,” Nico murmurs. “Keep him in line. Anyone who crosses us—” He cuts off, yanking me all the way down again until my throat seizes tight around him. My vision blurs, stars popping behind my eyes.“—ends up like the others.”

“Understood,” Luca says. His voice is steady.He doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know I’m here, on my knees, choking on his boss, every gasp broken and wet. He doesn’t know how close I am to losing control, to giving myself away with some humiliating sound I won’t be able to stop.

Nico pets my hair once more, almost fond, before shoving me back down again, deeper, harder. His boot grinds cruelly, and I can’t stop the muffled noise that escapes me this time; half whimper, half strangled moan.

Luca pauses for the briefest second, then keeps talking. He doesn’t notice. Or hepretendsnot to.

And Nico… Nico just smirks above me, his eyes fixed lazily on his right-hand man, as if nothing in the world is out of place while he keeps me gagging, breaking, on my knees under his desk.

After what feels like a goddamn eternity, Luca finally leaves, the door clicking shut behind him. The second he’s gone, Nico’s grip on me loosens. I collapse back, dragging in air like I’ve been drowning. My throat burns, chest heaving, lips wet.

“I’m impressed,” he murmurs, his voice dripping with amusement, his expression darkly satisfied. “You’ve got talent,piccolino.”

I swipe my hand across my mouth, glaring up at him. “You’re fucking insane.”

His eyes flick down, and that smug grin curves his lips. “And you’re still hard.”

My dick throbs, as if to prove his point.

“Be honest,” he presses, tilting his head like he’s studying me under glass. “Youlikethe idea of getting caught, don’t you?”

The words sink into me like hooks, my pulse spiking as my neck heats. “Why the hell would I like that?” I growl.

Nico doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he closes the distance, his grip firm as he tilts my chin up until I can’t look anywhere but at him.

“Because you’remine,”he whispers, the words brushing against my skin like fire.

God. I hate how much my body reacts to that tone, to his voice wrapping around words I don’t even understand.

“I don’t even know what that means,” I mutter, my voice rough.

He leans in close enough that his lips graze my ear.

“It means you’re my little whore,”he whispers.

The words hit me like a gut punch, stealing the air from my lungs. My body reacts instantly, betraying me in ways I can’t hide. Nico’s smirk deepens against my skin.

“Ah,” he drawls softly, voice soaked in satisfaction. “There it is.”

“Fuck you,” I grit out, but my voice trembles.

He chuckles, a low, dark sound that vibrates through my body. His thumb drags over my jaw, almost gentle, though it pins me in place. “You can curse me all you want,cucciolo.But your body tells the truth.”

My face burns, shame and need warring together.

I still think he’s hiding something. Maybeeverything.And one day, I’m going to drag it all out of him. But right now, all I can think about is how much Iwanthim.

“So what—you gonna fuck me over the desk or something?” I mutter.

Nico smirks. “That depends… you want me to?”

I stay silent, heat burning its way up my throat. My gaze flicks to the side, to anywhere but him. But he’s not having it. His hand comes up, fingers gripping my jaw, forcing my gaze back toward his.

“I’m gonna need an answer,amore mio,”he murmurs. “You want me to bend you over my desk andfuck youuntil you can’t think straight?”