Dark Masquerade: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  The next day was a Saturday, thankfully, and when Elli opened her eyes it was already mid-morning. The bed beside her was empty, and at the end of the bed, a fresh robe was placed, a note attached.

  Help yourself to anything you need, my sweet girl. I’ll be down in my study when you are ready. A.

  Elli smiled and went into the en-suite bathroom, which was as palatial as the rest of the rooms in this villa. Elli smiled to herself—Aldo Constanza did not do anything small …his business, his house, his lovemaking …

  Stepping into the shower, Elli felt relief as the warm water cascaded over her body. Soaping herself, she saw souvenirs of the night before written on her body; the imprint of Aldo’s teeth on her shoulder and bruises on her wrists and arms. There were bruises the shape of his fingertips on her hips. It didn’t bother her; they were marks of passion and desire, not cruelty or violence.

  She dressed quickly, stuffing her underwear into her purse, then went down to find Aldo.

  He looked up as she came in and smiled. “Good morning, beautiful.” He stood to greet her, brushing his lips tenderly against hers. “How did you sleep?”

  “Wonderfully, thank you.” She looked at his open lap-top. “I don’t want to disturb you, though.”

  Aldo smiled. “It is unfortunate that I do have to work today. May I ask Umberto to drive you home?”

  Elli smiled. “Of course. Thank you. And thank you for last night.”

  He kissed her again. “May I see you again, Elli?”

  She smiled and nodded. “I would like that. But, Aldo, I do have to say …I don’t want this to interfere with my work. It is very important to me.”

  “I understand. I would never place any expectations on you, my sweet girl. Please, won’t you stay and have brunch with me before you leave? I’ll ask Umberto to bring the car around in an hour.”

  “If it won’t keep you from your work,” she said, but his hands were already snaking under her skirt and encountering bare skin. She grinned, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.

  “I don’t put yesterday’s underwear on.”

  With a feral growl, Aldo pulled her into his arms and kissed her, his lips rough against hers. He fucked her against the wall of his study, and it was almost animalistic the way he took her, pinning her hands above her head and thrusting deep and long into her cunt.

  ***

  An hour later, she was being driven through the snow back to her apartment. Before she got there, feeling energized and joyful, she decided she would go grocery shopping and asked the car to change directions.

  Wandering around the Christmas markets, she spent a leisurely afternoon shopping and didn’t notice how late it had gotten until the streets were emptying. Elli hauled her full bags back toward her apartment, contemplating what she might make with the fresh ingredients.

  It began with a prickle up her spine as she walked down a dark alleyway. Elli stopped and turned. Though an alleyway could suggest danger to some, this one was as familiar to Elli as any main road. She’d never felt any kind of fear while walking through it, regardless of the time of day. But now, she felt as if someone were watching her. She sucked in a breath and checked every dark corner she could see. Nothing. Not even a breeze. Picking up her pace, she walked quickly back to her apartment., Relocking the door behind her, she put her grocery bags down. Walking into her own home, she should’ve immediately felt secure, but the feeling persisted. Hesitating just a second, she grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer.

  Her apartment was only three rooms, but she checked everywhere she could think of. Nothing and no one. Elli shook her head. She had never been one to be paranoid, so why now? Was it just the seismic shift in her life from a week ago? A night ago?

  “It must be that,” she said aloud to herself, feeling her body finally relax, and went to unpack her groceries.

  She had just finished cleaning up the kitchen and was getting into bed as her cell phone rang. “Hello, sweet girl. I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay?”

  Elli smiled. “I’m good, Aldo, thank you. I’ve had a very decadent afternoon and stocked my refrigerator.”

  Aldo laughed. “I’m glad to hear it, although I do wish I was with you. I realized tonight what a big, empty house this is.”

  Elli felt a little uncomfortable. “There’ll be other nights, Aldo.”

  “Oh, I know, sweet girl. What are you doing now?”

  “Just about to go to bed.”

  “Naked?” He sounded like a hopeful little boy, and she laughed.

  “Of course.”

  “Hmm, now I’m beginning to visualize that, and it’s very, very nice …” His voice dropped low. “If I were with you, I’d be running my hands down your soft skin, cupping your beautiful breasts …will you do that for me, cara mia, and pretend it’s me touching you?”

  Elli closed her eyes and did as he asked, enjoying the sensuality of his voice purring down the phone. She stroked her hand down her body, over her breasts. “What else would do you do to me?”

  “I would circle your bellybutton with my thumb, gently, over and over until I could feel your belly quiver under my touch.”

  Elli moaned softly, turned on by his words and the feel of her hand on her belly. “Then lower, my love, down into your sex, your delicious tight little cunt. I would caress your clit until it was hard and so sensitive that you wanted to scream. Spread your legs wide, my baby, and stroke yourself for me.”

  Elli gasped as she obeyed him. “Aldo …Aldo …are you touching yourself?”

  He gave a low, amused chuckle. “You better believe it, sweetheart. Now, I want you to imagine my cock is sliding into you, so slowly that you get annoyed with me and scream at me to fuck you …”

  “Wait,” Elli gasped, panting. She reached over to her nightstand and grabbed her vibrator. She pushed it inside of herself, moaning as she imagined it was his cock.

  “Good. That’s good, sweet girl. My cock is inside you now, filling you, plowing deep inside you again and again until you see stars in your eyes …Elli?”

  Almost delirious, Elli gasped her “Yes?”

  “Are you free tomorrow? Can I come see you?”

  Elli came as she sighed, “Yes, yes, yes …”

  Aldo gave a satisfied laugh. “Good …tomorrow, then?”

  Elli chuckled, still catching her breath. “Tomorrow, Aldo.”

  All traces of her earlier fear had long fled as she said goodnight and fell straight asleep, thoroughly sated.

  Two weeks later—two long weeks full of every manner of fucking, whether or not Elli and Aldo were in the same —room—Vivienne met with Elli for lunch. After an enjoyable thirty minutes spent discussing everything under the sun, Vivienne finally got around to work talk. Only, because Vivienne was Vivienne and her radar missed nothing, work had a double meaning. “Girl, this article is one of your best. Hands down. How’d you get him to open up so much?”

  Elli could feel her face burn a little, thinking of all the different kinds of opening up she and Aldo had been doing. “He’s very … loquacious when you get him on the right topic. His work in Uganda, his love of art. He even told me some stuff about his personal life, but I felt it didn’t add anything to the article and it would be taking advantage of a personal tragedy.”

  . “You’re sleeping with him,” Vivienne said bluntly, not asking.

  Hiding things from her best friend was an impossibility. “Maybe …”

  Vivienne grinned from ear to ear. “Well, hallelujah. So, are you two an ‘item?’”

  Elli laughed then, taking a sip of wine. “Yeah, Grandma, we’re a-courtin’. No, I think, for me, it’s just a pleasant fling.”

  “And what about for him?” Vivienne pressed, pushing her plate back and waving a waiter over to remove it before refilling her glass. “Aldo Constanza doesn’t strike me as a man to do things by half. You sure he doesn’t think you two are serious?”

  Elli shrugged. “We haven’t talked about it, but, Viv
, I won’t let it affect my work here, I swear. I’m scared that if I get too involved and it ends badly, it could mean Aldo withdrawing his investment.”

  Vivienne looked vaguely horrified. “Elli, your sex life is your business. Don’t let Aldo dictate things like that.”

  “Oh, he’s not, Viv. I’m sorry if it came out that way. I mean, my work is my passion. That’s the most important thing to me.”

  Studying her intently, Vivienne covered Elli’s hand with her own. “Would you say that if we were talking about Indio Navaro?”

  A bolt of pain shot through Elli, leaving her feeling like she’d been ambushed. “But we’re not.”

  Immediately remorseful, Vivienne rounded the table and sat down beside Ellie, hugging her close. “Oh, sweetheart. I say this is as your friend and because I love you. It’s been eight years, Elli. You have to start looking to the future. Indio’s not coming back, however much you keep your heart hidden from everyone else. Aldo Constanza is gorgeous, delicious, and he believes in your work.”

  Elli sat back, looking away for a second to regain her composure. “I know, and you’re right about …Indio.” Why did it still hurt so much to say his name? It was like a thousand swords being plunged into her heart. Elli rubbed her eyes and Vivienne smiled.

  “If I did that, I’d look like a panda,” she said. “I will never stop being jealous of the fact you don’t have to wear makeup, girl. Just don’t throw this thing with Aldo away because of an old attachment, no matter how much Indio once meant to you. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “He didn’t once mean something to me,” Elli muttered, reaching for her empty wine glass just to do something with her hands. “He still does, Viv.”

  “And he always will, I know. But you can temper that meaning so that you still have a chance at a meaningful relationship, Elliana. A real relationship.”

  “As opposed to a ghost one.” Elli nodded, stifling a sigh. “Yes. Yes. I know.”

  Aldo came to meet her as Elli was leaving the office. He kissed her passionately, not caring who saw them on the crowded street.

  “Mm, I’ve missed you today, Elli Bella.”

  Elli hated that he called her that—it had been Indio’s nickname for her. Then she pulled herself up—so what? It was as sweet a name for her and Indio didn’t own it. He would never say those words again, so what did it matter? She smiled up at Aldo, stroking the short hair over his ear.

  “Shall we spend tonight at my place? We always seem to be going to your home.”

  Aldo tightened his arms around her. “Ah, but there’s more space at mine. Come back with me, Elli. I have a surprise for you.”

  Elli pushed away from the annoyance she felt. Every time she had seen Aldo since that first time when they had eaten pizza together, it had been assumed that they would spend the night at his villa. Did he think her place wasn’t suitable for a man such as himself? She didn’t want to argue, though, not out in public like this, so she agreed, giving him a half-smile as he took her hand and led her to his car.

  At his villa, he placed his hands over her eyes and then steered her into his vast living room. “Open.”

  Elli opened her eyes and gave a delighted laugh. A huge Christmas tree stood, its lights twinkling in the dim light of the living room. “Oh, Aldo, it’s so beautiful.”

  He kissed the soft skin on the inside of her wrist. “I remember you telling me that you missed having Christmas with your family and that your apartment was too small for you to have a tree. So I thought of this.”

  Elli felt tears in her eyes and felt badly for her earlier irritation. She touched Aldo’s face, then went to examine the tree. She breathed in the fresh scent of pine and admired the glitter and sparkle of the gold decorations. It was opulent, extravagant, and exquisitely decorated—a far cry from when Enzo and Indio used to haul in a bedraggled tree from the garden and make paper decorations for it. Elli knew that it was improbable that Aldo had decorated this tree himself, but it was still a thoughtful gesture.

  She felt his hand on her back. “You like it?”

  She nodded, turning to kiss him. “It’s beautiful.”

  He took her face in his hands, studying her eyes. “It pales in comparison to you, beautiful girl.” His lips touched hers and Elli sank into the kiss, Aldo’s hands roaming over her body leisurely before his fingers pulled at the zipper of her dress. She grinned at him as the dress fell to the floor, and Aldo smiled back, pulling her to him roughly, so her belly curved against his shirt. “There is no comparison when I see your body like this, except for when …” And he unclasped her bra and drew her panties down. “You should always be naked, Elliana Moretti. The world would thank you. I have a gift for you.”

  He bent down and picked up a box, giftwrapped in silver and gold with an off-white bow. Carefully, Elli peeled the paper away, wanting to save it for no reason other than the memory. The box beneath matched the wrapping paper, metallic colors gleaming in the low light as Elli slid her thumbs into an indentation on each end and popped the lid off. She drew in her breath at the incredible necklace embedded in soft velvet, white gold and diamonds glistening at her like the gleam in Aldo’s eyes when she looked up to thank him

  “It’s beautiful,” she murmured, lifting it out and starting to put it to her neck, then stopping in confusion as she realized that there was a lot more to the opulent strand than she had initially thought.

  Smiling, Aldo reached for the piece of jewelry. “It’s a body chain. Here let me put it on for you.”

  He put the delicate chain over her head, the light metal feeling cool across her bare skin, and crisscrossed it between her breasts, over her belly, and between her legs. Elli looked down at herself in amazement; she had to admit it looked good against her caramel skin, the diamonds twinkling in the light of the Christmas tree’s own illuminations.

  Aldo stepped back and admired her body. “Wow. Just wow …Elli, you have the body of a goddess …”

  Elli smiled, feeling very sensual now and completely sexy in this man’s presence. Aldo quietly swept her off of her feet and lay her on the thick carpet before stripping off his tie. “I’m going to touch you now, Elli, and caress you until you beg for my cock …but I want to make you shiver in anticipation and the best way to do that is …” He wound his tie around her eyes, blindfolding her. Elli shivered straight away, feeling vulnerable, and she heard Aldo give a low chuckle. “That’s right, Elliana …you’re at my mercy.”

  Her breath hitching and trembling, she waited for his touch.

  Aldo gazed down at the beautiful woman on his carpet and smiled. This is what he had wanted--having her helpless, desperate for his touch. He began by kissing her lips and throat, then trailing his lips across her collar bones, taking each nipple into his mouth and teasing the small bud of each, stroking his hand down her soft belly and between her legs, then stopping just before he reached her clit, teasing and tormenting her. He stripped off his clothes, hefting the weight of his cock in his hand as it hardened at the sight of her. He lay down, taking her hands and pinning them above her head, his body covering hers, his weight on her tiny frame.

  “You are mine tonight, Elliana.”

  Elli gasped as he began to push his cock into her, then withdrew, doing it again and again until she nearly screamed with frustration, then thrust it in deep, pushing her legs apart until he knew her hips were objecting, sore and burning. Good. In the morning, he wanted her to ache and to feel the aftermath of the way he was going to fuck her tonight. Feel it in every part of her delicious body. As his thrusts began to get hard and deeper, he gathered her to him, his mouth on her lips, her throat, his teeth biting her shoulders, her breasts. Elli clung to him as his lovemaking became almost frenzied and he heard her give a small cry of pain as he rammed his cock deeper inside her, but he ignored it. She was his and his alone.

  He came, shuddering and groaning her name as she panted beneath him. He kissed her tenderly, stroking her clit until she too came. He rolled off
her and propped himself up on his elbow to watch her as she caught her breath. He pushed the blindfold from her eyes and studied them. “Principessa, was that not good for you?”

  Elli nodded, but he could see wariness and hesitation in her eyes. “It was, Aldo …thank you.”

  He laughed. “You’re thanking me for sex?”

  Elli chuckled too, running her hand over her face. “Sorry, I’m just a little dazed.”

  “Do you feel well?”

  “Oh, yes, fine. Just a little …I’ve never had sex like that before and it …scared me a little. The intensity. Being blindfolded.” She chewed her bottom lip nervously as she looked up at him.

  Aldo frowned. “You’re not scared of me, surely?” He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. “You need never be afraid of me, sweet one.”

  But Elli didn’t look convinced, and Aldo decided that he needed to be tender from now on. “I’m sorry if I frightened you, Elli. I had not thought that it might be too much, but now I can see it was. Please don’t be scared.”

  She relaxed a little, half-smiling at him. “I’m just not as experienced as some women you might have dated. I’m a solitary creature by nature, Aldo. I have never felt the need to be coupled-up, or to always be in a relationship. The men I have slept with have always been good friends first. With you, it’s different.”

  “We’re not friends?” He felt a little stung and Elli touched his face.

  “Of course we are, Aldo. I meant those other men were friends of long-standing, who just happened, at different moments, to be the right guy at the right time. You and I, we had an unusual start.”

  Aldo smiled at her, brushing his lips against hers. “Ours was romantic.”

  “Yeah,” Elli looked at him askance, then laughed, “Concussions are so sexy.”

  He grinned. “You know what I mean.”

  She relented. “I do.”

  Reaching for another box, this one not wrapped, Aldo pressed it into Elli’s hands. “This gift is more practical,” he whispered in her ear, nibbling at it as she mildly protested what she deemed his ‘extravagance,’ then laughing when the box was open, revealing a simple white satin robe.