by Piper Stone
I meandered through a few more rows, feeling more peaceful than I had before. When I heard angry voices, I froze, ducking down as a reaction. The statement Gio had made about enemies was frightening. I remained where I was, trying to control my breathing. Then I recognized Matteo’s voice, although he was almost shouting in Italian.
He had to be yelling at Gio for something. I rushed forward and the second I cleared the row of grapes, I watched in horror as Matteo snapped a hard punch against Gio’s cheek. While the larger man stumbled backwards, his hand flying to his face, he was able to remain standing. Matteo moved closer, acting as if he was going to issue another brutal strike.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I demanded, lunging toward them and doing my best to get in between the two savages. I glared at Matteo, shaking my head.
“It’s all right, Mrs. Benedetti. Just a misunderstanding,” Gio said in a much softer voice than before.
“No, like hell it’s all right. Why did you hit him? What is wrong with you?” I moved closer to Matteo, hissing as I stared into the man’s eyes.
“You do not talk to me that way. I am in charge of this household.”
I was surprised at his furious actions, barely able to recognize his voice given the heightened level of rage. “In charge. You are nothing but a bully. Gio did nothing wrong. Nothing!”
“He allowed you to disappear.”
The change in the inflection of Matteo’s voice was just as astounding as what had occurred only minutes before. The glint of near desperation in his eyes wasn’t anything like the actions of a monster.
“I didn’t disappear. I took a walk. That’s all. You punched your righthand man because I took a walk? Maybe I’m the one you should be punishing. Not him. He doesn’t deserve your ridiculous, childish behavior.”
His anger had returned, his jaw clenching as he fisted his hands.
Yet I wasn’t afraid of him. I was disgusted.
“You are nothing but a horrible asshole. I will find a way to destroy you and get out from under your thumb. That’s my promise, you fuckhead.” I spun around, running toward the house. I didn’t care whether he was following me or beckoning my return instantly. I couldn’t give a shit what he did or what he thought.
I flew into the house, taking the stairs two at a time. After rushing into the bedroom, I slammed the door, delighted to find I could lock it from the inside. I gasped for air and backed away several feet. As expected, within seconds he tried the handle before pounding on the door.
“Open this door, Catherine,” Matteo growled.
“Not a chance, buster. Go the hell away.” I closed my eyes, my heart racing. What the hell did the man think he was doing?
The silence after a few seconds was more terrifying than the man berating me from behind the door. I should have been shocked when he forced the door open, kicking his booted foot against the hard wooden surface, but I wasn’t. The man was a force to be reckoned with and refused to take no for an answer.
After barging in, he stood just inside the entrance, his chest heaving from his heavy breathing. He cocked his head, gazing down the length of me.
Then he smiled.
There was something so chilling about the look he gave me, more possessive than what I’d seen before. I continued to back away even as I knew there was nowhere to go.
“You won’t deny me. Ever,” he growled.
I watched in a mixture of horror and fascination as he yanked off his jacket, tossing it with enough force it hit the wall. He wasted no time with his shirt, jerking the edges, buttons flying everywhere. Shivering, I grabbed the only thing that was close to my hands, the crystal vase holding at least three dozen of the most beautiful roses I’d seen.
A hard glare remained on his face as he ripped off his shirt, still advancing. When I tossed the vase, his hand managed to shove it aside. The crashing sound of shattering glass reverberated in my ears, my mind a blur. What the hell was he going to do to me?
“You will heed to my desires, Catherine. Always.”
I remained numb inside, trying my best to hold my composure together, but I was shaking to the point I couldn’t think straight. He advanced like the true predator he was, unbuckling his belt and ripping it from his belt loops. Stars floated in front of my eyes and even as I darted a look toward the open door, he laughed, the sensuous yet dangerous baritone forming some kind of crazy aura around me.
“If you think you can get away from me,” he murmured, “you’re wrong.”
Instead of waiting until the brute cornered me, I lunged forward, slamming my hands against his chest. The dangerous smile I’d seen before returned as he grabbed my wrist, wrenching my arm. “That wasn’t a good thing to do, Catherine.”
“You are such a bastard.”
A portion of him seemed to snap, the look in his eyes changing as his eyes became dilated. He instantly wrapped his hand around my throat, dragging me onto my toes and yanking me closer to his heated body. His breathing remained ragged, he tilted his head. “You have no idea what you do to me. I hunger to the point of madness.”
“You are insane. A monster.”
“So be it.” As he dug his fingers into my skin, he pulled me closer until our lips were almost touching. I could tell he wanted to say something, issuing another command or harsh statement. Instead, he crushed his mouth over mine, thrusting his tongue immediately inside.
I pushed hard against his chest, fighting to get away from him even as the electricity shot through us like a wildfire. I was consumed by a moment of insatiable need, my mind nothing but a blur as the rough passion continued. Lightheaded, I started clawing at his chest, raking my nails across his skin time after time. He was unfazed, dominating my tongue as the kiss continued. Even as I wiggled, doing everything I could to yank out of his clutches, it was no use. He was far too strong for me.
After consuming enough to quench his thirst, he reared back, his nostrils flaring. “I’m going to fuck you, Catherine. Then I’m going to punish you for disobeying my rules.”
“You bastard. I don’t know your rules. You’ve never bothered to tell me.”
When his upper lip curled, I tried to rake out his eyes, managing to scratch the side of his face. The air around us was electrified, our bodies on high alert. I was unable to breathe, his hold far too strong. There was no calming him, the desperate need inside of him allowing the beast to take over.
He bit my lower lip then shifted his hand to my hair, fisting and pulling on my head until my neck was vulnerable. Every growl he issued was savage in nature, his actions exactly as I’d expected. He was going to ravage me, more out of his anger for my defiance than any concept of passion.
The way he dragged his tongue down the side of my neck made my insides flutter. I was unable to keep my eyes open, lost in the powerful man who believed he owned me. I hated my body’s reaction, but there was no denying that I craved both his domination and his darkness. A slight whimper escaped my mouth, the guttural sounds he made fueling the fire burning deep within me, my pussy clenching and releasing several times.
I hungered to have his cock inside of me even if my mind told me I would never be able to break through his defenses.
“Are you wet for me, my princessa?”
“No.”
He chuckled, allowing another slice of heated breath to cascade over my skin. “You’re lying to me.”
“No. No!” My moans and ragged statement meant nothing to him. When he pushed me away, tossing the belt onto the bed then using both hands to rip the front of my dress, I was far too stunned to react. His eyes held nothing but the kind of darkness that reminded me just how soulless he was.
With another snap of his wrist, he jerked my panties away, leaving me completely naked, every inch of my body covered in goosebumps. I did what I could to back away, finally hitting the wall next to the set of doors leading to the veranda. When I darted a quick glance toward them, he laughed in the same deep baritone that had attracted me to him th
e first time.
Seductive.
Dominating.
Possessive.
“If you honestly think you can get away from me, you’re wrong.”
His words reverberated in my mind and I was powerless to watch as he removed the rest of his clothing, allowing me to see just how aroused he’d become.
“I wasn’t trying to escape.” My words seemed weak, useless to bother stating.
The carnal expression he wore told me I’d been right. “I think you need another reminder who owns you.” He yanked my arm, immediately turning me away from him and wrapping his arm around my throat. While there was no pressure against my neck, there was also no doubt as to his power. He could easily snap my neck if he wanted to.
His breathing remaining heavy, he eased hair away from my neck before lowering his head. I clenched my hands around his arm, unable to stop shaking. Every sound he made was barbaric, every husky breath nothing but a reminder of my place in his world.
He nipped my earlobe before sliding his tongue into the shell of my ear. My legs quivered, the touch becoming as provocative as the man himself. I didn’t want to enjoy the moment, couldn’t stand the wondrous feel spilling into every blood cell from the heat that continued to build between us, but I was unable to stop the madness taking over my mind.
As he walked me out onto the balcony, my breath caught in my throat. It was broad daylight, the incredible view unable to take away the humiliation of being seen. That’s exactly what he wanted, to reinforce that he could take me at any time in front of anyone he decided. The thought made me sick to my stomach yet even more aroused. I couldn’t believe my nipples remained hard and aching, much like there was no way to stop the juice from trickling down my thighs.
His dark chuckle continued as he pushed me closer to the railing, slipping his hand around my hip to my stomach. His light touch was far too enticing, creating another wave of tremors shifting all the way to my toes. When he pressed his cock against my backside, I was thrown into a moment of ecstasy, my desire reaching a boiling point. Even though I shouldn’t hunger for such a brutal man, there was no denying the intense vibrations that had overtaken my entire body.
Matteo pressed kisses against my neck, his breathless whispers setting the mood. He couldn’t care less who noticed our sinful event. This was his world, an empire that he’d determined would be handled with an iron fist. While I was unable to see anyone, the knowledge that it was possible at any moment kept the embarrassment high, the adrenaline rush making it even more difficult to breathe.
As he pushed his cock between my legs, my grip on the railing became white knuckled. Blinking, I hated the fact tears had already formed, several salty beads slipping past my lashes. A part of me was uncertain why I was emotional. I’d been determined to shut off every single one of my feelings for fear he’d crawl deep inside. I bit back another moan as he slipped his cockhead between my swollen and aching folds, taking his time before enacting the brutal deed of taking me like the savage he was.
Every touch of his fingers, every time he ground his hips against me produced a flurry of thoughts, a brutal moment of emotions. I couldn’t seem to push him out of my mind let alone abandon the desire that always surfaced when he was in close proximity. He was some form of jaded kryptonite, able to control my body in ways no man had ever done before.
Chuckling darkly, he kicked my legs apart, rubbing the tip of his cock up and down my pussy. Teasing me.
I did everything I could to keep from responding in any way, but it was no use, whimpers slipping past my mouth. I kept my eyes closed, refusing to acknowledge my fears as he thrust the entire length of his cock inside, going so deep I knew he’d breached my womb.
“Oh!” My single word floated away in the light breeze, but his animalistic growls remained furrowing into my brain. He was nothing but a predator, the kind of monster that all people should be terrified of.
Yet he was passionate and debonair, impossible to resist.
As he plunged into me over and over again, my body was slammed against the hard surface of the railing.
“You make me crazy, Catherine. I’ve never wanted a woman like I crave you.”
His words only kept the fire ignited, pushing us both into a level of longing that we would never be able to escape from. I was just as addicted to him as he was to me. After a few seconds of brutal fucking, I opened my eyes, trying to concentrate on the clouds lightly drifting across the sky. Maybe I wanted to slide into another realm, protecting my mind from the reality of what I was facing.
His actions only intensified and when he changed the angle, pushing me up onto my toes, I couldn’t stop an orgasm from sweeping into my system. He seemed to sense my body’s reaction, driving into me with enough force the wind was knocked out of me.
“Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.” I hated my cries of acceptance, but there was nothing I could do. Exhilarated, I was tossed into utter rapture, every muscle in my body twitching as the powerful climax erupted from the deep core of my body, rumbling like a thunderstorm to the outer limits.
A single beautiful moment turned into a disturbing wave until I was unable to catch my breath. I would have crumbled to the floor if he didn’t have a firm grip on my hips. He whispered several phrases in Italian, keeping the prickles and shivers dancing from one part of my body to the other. I was floating on air, the rapture all consuming.
“Come for me again, princess. I crave the way your pussy muscles clench around my cock. I need more before I take you in the ass.” His words were filthy yet inviting, terrifying yet further awakening the woman locked inside a steel box. His command was easy to accept, my body reacting almost instantly.
As I lolled my head against him, I opened my mouth to scream, but only a husky breath of air surfaced. When I was finished shaking, he lowered his head, brushing his open mouth from one shoulder to the other. The tingling feel of his hot lips against my skin was invigorating, keeping me on edge while soothing the unveiled darkness and hunger.
The sounds he made, his deep, husky growls, were just a telling of more to come. I bristled when he eased his cock from my aching pussy, sliding the tip up and down the crack of my ass. I shifted onto my toes, twisting my hands around the railing. He was so damn big, his thick cock larger than most men’s. Whether he knew or cared I couldn’t tell. As he pushed the tip into my dark hole, he smacked my bottom several times.
“Relax, princessa.”
As if I could relax. I was tense all over, fighting the urge to escape from his hold. He’d pulled me into a vacuum, stripping me of my defenses while fueling what had once been an unwanted fire. Now? I wasn’t certain of anything except I doubted that he would ever let me go. He’d become obsessed with controlling me, ensuring his place as my master.
As he slid another two inches inside, my muscles spasmed. Gasping, I pushed hard against him, blinking profusely as the round of anguish erupted.
“Too much. Too big,” I moaned, receiving another set of hard smacks for my outburst.
“You seem to forget that there isn’t an inch of you that doesn’t belong to me.”
There were no soft words of acceptance, no encouragement of any type. He simply plunged the remainder of his shaft inside, the pain becoming explosive.
“Oh!” My cry filtered away from the balcony and only seconds later, I was able to see two of three employees walking close enough that they could have heard my outcry. Flustered, I was felt an instant round of guilt and embarrassment, even though a small part of me wanted nothing more than for others to view our unbridled passion.
He said nothing else as he fucked me long and hard, alternating between smacking my bottom then sliding his hand between my legs. The way he pinched and twisted my clit left me gasping for air, moaning like an animal. And suddenly I didn’t care, the sensations far too delicious.
When he was close to coming, I hung my head, ashamed that I’d been so excited by his vulgar act. As he began to shake violently, erupting deep inside my as
s, I said a silent prayer that I wouldn’t be sent straight to hell.
But that he would be for his sins.
Chapter 10
Matteo
Death.
I’d been prepared for the actuality of falling into the darkness of hell my entire life. As soon as I’d been old enough to understand, my father had brought me into his office one dreary day. I’d been nothing but a kid then, although I had enough understanding to know that my father wasn’t like the men my few friends had described. While up to that point I’d never witnessed or heard about the violent nature of his work, I’d heard whispers amongst my teachers and a few of the older kids.
Every one of them had been afraid of me. Even the bigger, stronger boys had left me alone, bullying the other kids whose fathers were accountants or engineers. While I hadn’t understood why at the time, as soon as my father had explained on that day, showing me several vivid photographs of murders his soldiers had committed, I’d finally begun to understand.
That’s the same day I began to hunger for the same kind of power my father had.
And I’d only been nine years old.
The desire had only increased over the years, culminating with what my father had called the rite of passage when I turned eighteen. I’d been required to prove my worth and mental acuity by killing one of our enemies myself. While other boys would have become terrified or disgusted, I’d been enthralled, adoring the hunt prior to the actual kill. I’d never turned the desire against anyone who didn’t deserve the family wrath, but my brothers had shied away from me, no longer treating me as one of their heroes. Now they were exactly the same way.
Maybe I should have fought against my father’s wishes, refusing to accept my destiny. That would certainly have meant an easier life, one devoid of constant death.
