by Piper Stone
“I hate you.” The words were ridiculous, spit out as if they’d matter to a man like Cristiano.
“That we’ve already established. Now, we can have that conversation in a more comfortable atmosphere or right here. That’s entirely your decision, but we are going to talk. You owe me that.”
“I don’t owe you anything. You were the one who killed that man.”
He chuckled and rubbed his jaw, allowing me to notice for the first time the shadow of his two-day stubble. “He needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Just like me.” The petulance in my tone was increasing. I must have some kind of death wish to push a man like him.
“If there’s nothing you learn about me, you should know I have little patience. You have five seconds to determine whether you’d prefer to sit in the comfort of my home for our discussion or wallow in this basement. You do have choices, Emily, but I suggest you choose wisely.”
First the bastard was horrified I’d been tossed into a crate then he was threatening me with it.
“Four. Three.”
Nothing made any sense, but I had no other choice but to do what he wanted.
“Two.”
“Fine. Okay?” I muttered as I struggled to shift onto all fours, my muscles screaming from the cramped quarters. When I crawled out onto the cold, concrete floor, I was almost numb. Every part of me was shaking as I attempted to stand. I was instantly lightheaded and as soon as I took a single step, my body pitched forward.
And straight into Cristiano’s arms.
“Shit!” he exclaimed as he caught me, holding me a few inches away. “What the fuck did he do to you?”
“Him? You mean the brute who brought me here? Nothing. You were the only monster who did anything, but that’s all you know how to do. Hurt people.”
He clenched my jaw, wrenching it, the fire in his eyes exactly what I would expect from him.
“I’d watch your mouth if I were you,” he snarled, dragging me onto my tiptoes, hovering over me as if he planned on kissing me again.
A part of me wanted to dare him to. Perhaps that’s what I was doing as I arched my back, rising even higher on my toes.
There was the kind of delight in his eyes, raw yet possessive, his hot breath skipping across my face. I was momentarily mesmerized, the exotic, woodsy scent of him filtering into my nostrils, slip-sliding all the way down to my toes. When he allowed his gaze to fall ever so slowly to my chest, I did everything I could to recoil, humiliated that my nipples were rock hard, highlighted by the thin material of the ridiculous dress I’d chosen.
What the hell had I been thinking in selecting the only sexy dress I owned? Was I actually trying to seduce him and if so, for what purpose? Escape?
After cocking his head, he brushed the fingers of his other hand down the side of my neck, swirling the tip of his index finger around my jugular. If he was trying to terrify me, he was doing a damn good job.
“So beautiful,” he whispered in a husky tone. “It’s going to be a pleasure to take all of you.” He wrapped his hand around my neck, holding me in place as he lowered his head until our lips were centimeters apart.
I struggled in his paralyzing grip until his hand tightened, squeezing with enough pressure I knew he could snap my neck. When he pressed his lips against mine, I took several raspy breaths. “Leave me alone. Please.”
Cristiano issued a series of low growls, the deep sound vibrating in my chest. “You know I won’t do that.”
Every part of my body remained stiff, shrinking back as much as his hold would allow.
Exhaling, he pulled away by several inches. Then without warning, he claimed my mouth. I pushed my hands against him, trying to break the connection but it was no use. I refused to open my mouth as he shoved his tongue against my lips but the anguish of his fingers digging into my jaw forced an involuntary action.
His actions forceful, he swirled his tongue against mine, teasing relentlessly. The taste of him was overtly masculine, the flavors of scotch and what had to be cinnamon enticing my taste buds. I did everything I could to thwart his repulsive actions, but he was far too powerful, able to hold me in place with ease. Everything about him was larger than life, the kiss so all-consuming that it sucked all the air out of my lungs. I was lightheaded, stars floating in my periphery of vision.
The same stubble on his jaw I’d found so sexy scraped against my skin, igniting a firestorm of desire burning between my legs. I couldn’t believe I was wet, the dampness of my panties adding to the wave of embarrassment. For a few disgusting, irritating seconds, I found myself falling into the kiss, the moment of pure sin unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I was almost drunk on my desire, dizzy from the passion, no longer able to feel my legs. If the brute of a man hadn’t been holding me, there was no doubt I’d stumble and fall.
Everything about this was so wrong, bad on every level. I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to a monster. I couldn’t be. I just…
Some level of rationality settling in, I slammed my palms against him, digging my nails into his shirt and able to break the kiss. The feel of his tight muscles further fueled the sensations, my mouth suddenly bone dry. “What do you want from me?”
“I already told you. Everything. Including the truth.”
“My God. I’m really your prisoner. You can do anything you want to me.” While I said the words in passing, the sound little more than a whisper, I could tell he was listening intently. When I smashed my fists against him a second time, I was able to break his hold, but the force tossed me to the floor.
When he advanced, there was little I could do. He scooped me into his arms, tossing me over his shoulder and moving toward the stairs.
“You’re exactly right, Emily. You are my prisoner. Now, it’s time to take every inch of what belongs to me.”
Chapter 6
Cristiano
Anger rushed through me like a tidal wave, although my rage had nothing to do with the woman I’d captured. The meeting with my family was the reason. If my brothers had allowed the Azzurris to move in on any of our territories, there would be hell to pay.
However, if Giancarlo had broken our deal, he would die by my hands.
My family knew what was at stake, the viciousness of the Azzurris. My father would like nothing more than to exterminate every one of them. At least they hadn’t acted during my incarceration, starting a war that would destroy the city. However, I would need to get to the bottom of the rumors, the attempt on my father’s life and even the answer to whether Giancarlo had Michael’s wife killed. I laughed at the thought. Could I trust the bastard?
Then there was the issue of Mario’s disobedience. He was little more than a thug, although he’d saved my father’s life on two occasions, including the attack that had escalated my time spent behind bars. He’d been ‘loaned’ to me by Lucian in case I’d need additional muscle while leaving the prison, as if the offer held any real meaning. I couldn’t stand Mario’s arrogance or particularly brutal methods, especially the way he’d handled Emily. While the cage had been placed in the basement for a specific reason months before I’d been arrested, I’d use it as a method of punishment at my choosing, not his.
I’d deal with the bullshit in the morning.
As for now, I was far too hungry.
The shower would wait.
I moved to the stairs, still hating the way the old wooden treads creaked under the heaviness of my shoes. While a significant portion of the house had been renovated before I’d moved in six years before, the refurbishment of the ornate stairway and handrail had been minimal. For some reason, that’s all I could think about as I took them two at a time.
She kicked out, struggling to reach for the railing. The sound of her nails scratching the well-oiled surface forced an immediate reaction. I brought my palm against her backside with brutal smacks, one after the other, chuckling as she moaned several times.
“Ouch! Let me down,” Emily insisted, pummeling her hands aga
inst my back.
“Fight me all you want, little pet. That just turns me on.”
“You’re a bastard.”
Her actions created a primal surge from deep within, the kind of aching need that swept through me like a tidal wave. It was difficult to comprehend why this woman, the very one who’d been able to break the Kings’ veil of power, ignited the dark passion within me, but there was no denying my intense yearning.
She was mine.
I stormed into my bedroom, only bothering to flip on the single light on the dresser. As a warm glow filled the room, she did everything she could do to get out of my hold. When she managed to kick me in the stomach with her bare foot, I slid my hand under her dress, wrapping my fingers around her leg.
“I suggest you stop fighting me,” I growled.
Whether or not Dimitri had anticipated my actions remained unknown, I’d been pleasantly surprised after entering the house to find the cleaning staff had provided a new set of sheets and a comforter. I’d expected to find Emily in one of the other rooms, secured to the bed and awaiting my return. When that hadn’t been the case, I’d almost erupted in rage, uncertain she’d even been brought to the house.
Another thought regarding the cage entered my mind, fueling the anger even more.
I had to get the ugliness out of my mind, at least for tonight. I needed a clear head in order to proceed with certain plans. Rest was in order.
While this wasn’t about a romantic moment, I was exhausted, the ebb of adrenaline coming to an end.
That wouldn’t stop me from taking what was mine.
I dumped her onto the bed and within seconds, she managed to scramble off the side, grabbing the bedside lamp and swinging it in my direction. I couldn’t help but be amused, her jabbing and slashing motions coming dangerously close to connecting.
However, the time for playing games was over.
Ducking, I wrapped my arm around her waist, driving us both into the middle of the bed, the lamp crashing to the floor with a hard thud. I could tell I’d knocked the wind out of her, her mouth twisting, the girl trying desperately to claw as far away from me as possible. Then her lovely doe eyes opened wide, venom still prickling the beautiful flecks of gold surrounding her irises.
Without hesitation, I straddled her hips, jerking first one of her arms then the other over her head, wrapping a single hand around both wrists.
She was going nowhere.
Her chest rose and fell as she glared at me. Still so damn beautiful, so fraught with rebellion.
I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame, although I knew in my gut that my actions could create the kind of combustible fire that could turn into acid, scarring both of us. I was taking a significant chance. Her disappearance would be questioned at some point, although perhaps only by her employer.
I continued to try to figure out why she’d had the nerve to testify against me. The woman was obviously highly intelligent, no doubt well versed in the underground dealings within the city. Our family’s name rarely made it a week without being featured by one reporter or another. My instinct told me she was hiding something from me, perhaps the real reason she’d agreed to testify. I would find out soon enough.
No matter how I was forced to obtain the information.
“You’re a very naughty girl,” I breathed before lowering my head, nipping her earlobe.
She shuddered, her breathing ragged. “Get away from me.”
“You know that’s not going to happen.”
I brushed my lips along her jaw then down and against the column of her neck, allowing my hot breath to cascade across her skin. Very slowly I lowered my hand, swirling my fingers back and forth.
Across her arm.
Across her breast.
Crawling my fingers down to the hem of her dress.
She stiffened, sucking in her breath when I eased the slip of material up to her thigh. I rubbed my knuckles back and forth across her leg, my entire arm tingling from the softness of her skin.
“Oh…” she moaned, turning her head to one side and avoiding eye contact.
I drank in her scent as I swirled my knuckles in lazy circles, moving closer and closer to her heated wetness. The second I pressed my hand between her legs, rubbing my palm up and down her lacy panties, she kicked out, bucking hard on the bed in an effort to free her arms.
“Asshole,” she spouted off, her reaction forcing her body to grind against mine.
I was even more aroused than before, my cock fully engorged.
“There’s nowhere you can run, no way to get away from me. Now, I suggest you relax, Emily. I can provide extreme pleasure, or I can provide excruciating anguish. As I told you before,” I whispered, “the decision is entirely your own. Your destiny. Your life.”
“My life,” she sputtered. “It’s already over.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as if she could block me out. I continued rubbing, using enough force I pressed the material between her swollen folds, growling from the slickness covering my fingers, my cock pressing hard against my trousers. There would be no holding back the beast for long, the hunger swelling, my carnal needs refusing to be denied.
“That will depend on just how obedient you become.” The harder I rubbed, the more she had difficulty holding back a single sound. She fisted then flexed her hands, shifting her head from one side to the other.
My heart racing, I slipped two fingers underneath the thin elastic of her panties, swirling the tips around her clit.
She did everything she could to buck against me, her head tossing back and forth, her hips rocking.
“So wet. So hot.” I adored the feel of her, the extreme heat as well as the surging electricity sparking a wave of energy. “You hunger, the dark and filthy needs you’ve desired rushing to the surface. Isn’t that true?”
“No,” she moaned, twisting her lovely mouth, fighting with everything she had to ignore her body’s reaction.
“And your body betrays you once again. Tell me.”
“No. I just…” Unable to finish her sentence, she darted a glance in my direction, her eyes glassy.
I allowed her to enjoy the pleasure for a full minute, unable to take my eyes off her reaction. Then I released her hands, using both of mine to rip the edges of her dress down her arms, exposing her breasts. The ripping sound gave me a gleeful feeling, the sight of her breasts tightening my balls. She was truly beautiful all over, her porcelain skin glistening in the dim lighting.
Her high-pitched wail continued to ignite the remaining embers, the fire in my belly that of a barbarian.
“Keep your arms over your head, Emily,” I directed.
“Bastard.” The word was the same, but the tone was new. She was purring, her chest continuing to heave but for an entirely different reason. The fact her blushing rose nipples were fully aroused, hard like perfect diamonds, was just another sign of her growing desire.
Electricity surged through me as I lowered my head, darting my tongue around her hardened bud, growling from the pinched expression crossing her face. I nipped the tender flesh, sucking until I was rewarded with a slight whimper, the sound like sweet music.
Cupping her other breast, I pinched the tip between my thumb and forefinger, twisting and pulling. Her legs flailed, but to her credit, she remained obedient, struggling to keep her arms over her head.
I shifted my attention to her other nipple, sucking and biting down. Her mouth opened into a perfect ‘O,’ her eyes once against closed tightly.
The very sight of her in the throes of pleasure evoked the sadistic side of me. I’d never been considered a gentleman, my brutal needs something few women could tolerate. There was usually nothing gentle about my touch, no subtle caresses. I took what I wanted.
But this girl, this beautiful and fragile flower required something different. Too bad she’d crossed me. Perhaps in another life, we could have shared exactly what she needed, indulging in days and nights of passion. That wasn’t going to be the
case. Not now.
Not ever.
Although I planned on thoroughly exploring every inch of her body. I couldn’t wait to sink my cock deep inside her wetness, her tight muscles clamping around my shaft like a vise.
When she started to have trouble keeping her arms over her head, I pulled back, moving off the bed, taking the knife from my pocket.
She searched for me almost immediately, her eyes still glazed over, her mouth pursed.
“Undress,” I commanded, flicking the switchblade open once, twisting and turning the sharp steel back and forth. Chuckling darkly, I slapped it closed, placing it on the dresser. At some point, there was no doubt in my mind that she’d make an attempt for one or more of my weapons. Perhaps I was baiting her, longing to find out just how strong her resolve was.
That would make breaking her that much sweeter.
Now she stared at me, the hatred from before returning.
I lifted a single eyebrow as I began to unfasten my shirt, taking my time with every button.
Her actions stiff, she climbed off the comforter, lowering her head and allowing her long hair to tumble over her shoulders. “Why are you doing this?”
She actually had the nerve to ask me why for a second time? Why not just kill her instead? That’s exactly what she was asking, although she was terrified of my answer. I snorted, tugging on my shirt until I’d managed to release it from my trousers. When I didn’t answer her immediately, she tipped her head in my direction, studying me intently.
“Because I enjoy beautiful things.” The answer was the most truthful I could provide. Any other reason and I would be lying.
Especially since I wasn’t entirely certain myself.
Nodding, she seemed to accept the answer. I was surprised there was no pushback. She simply stood, tugging on the bottom of her dress, shimmying her rounded hips back and forth until the material fell to the floor. Her shoulders heaved, but her hesitation was only minimal before she slipped her fingers into her thong, shoving the lace down her long legs, kicking out of them with vigor.
