by Piper Stone
I was surprised when he opened his mouth then shook his head instead of speaking.
“I will leave you alone for a few minutes,” he said in such a hushed tone I almost didn’t hear him. “However, we will have dinner.”
If by instinct, I reached out, wrapping my fingers around his wrist. He was just as startled as I was, his eyes glistening over as he looked down at me.
“Don’t go. Please.”
“Why, Alessandra? I’m nothing but a monster to you.”
He seemed more like an impetuous little boy needing attention than a dominating man in charge of everything. “I don’t know, Gabriel. I honestly don’t.”
When he smiled, giving me a single nod, I knew I’d passed yet another test. “I’ve had no reason to come outside. Maybe that will change, but my work is my life. There is nothing else for me.”
“That’s not true, but life is what you make of it.”
Gabriel inhaled, darting his gaze toward the pool. “Perhaps you’re right but often life presents issues that alter the course of what you believed would occur. Only the strongest usually survive.”
“That’s your world, not mine.” While I said the words with clear defiance, especially hearing his dark chuckle, I realized I was trying to fool myself.
“You still believe that good will conquer all.”
I glanced at him, studying hard clench of his jaw. “I can only hope so.”
We stood in silence.
“Masters Enterprises. What do you do? Am I even allowed to ask?”
“You may ask questions. What I answer will be my choice. You really know nothing about me, do you?” He seemed amused.
“No. I spent my time studying or working two different jobs and my father never talked about his work. I didn’t watch television and I certainly didn’t involve myself in my father’s business activities. What should I know?”
The daring question was one I didn’t anticipate he would answer. When he started talking, I was mesmerized by the blandness in tone, the lack of inflection to any degree. It was as if he was speaking about something he knew intimately, but had no place in.
Even though it was obvious almost immediately that the empire he’d built while in the states was significant.
“My family is in Dublin, a beautiful city in a gorgeous country where the green land rolls over the swell of hills. My father took over from his father and his father before that. At first, they were small manufacturers, toiling with the others for little wages while working themselves to the bone. They never complained about the long hours or backbreaking work; however, they wanted more. Within a few years, my great-grandfather had an opportunity, quickly moving into management. He was ruthless yet the proceeds doubled under his watch. Within two years, he moved up to vice president, taking over the company when the president and owner mysteriously died in a tragic accident. By then, my grandfather was already involved, his ideas of taking over smaller companies something that had yet to be done on a regular basis. And so began the regime that exists today.” He lifted his glass, chuckling under his breath.
Secrets...
“You should be there, working alongside them.” I could tell he was angry with himself for opening up, sharing anything with me.
“Perhaps I should. Sadly, I am the bastard son my father no longer wanted in his life. The chance to come here was the only one I had, or at least so I believed. And now, my father is dead.”
I shifted to face him, inching closer. “The company belongs to you.”
He laughed, the sound hollow. “For some strange and disturbing reason, my father left the company to me, certainly against my brothers’ wishes. That will allow me to continue growing our enterprise. I will also enjoy exacting my revenge.”
He was planning on returning to Ireland.
With me.
As his wife.
Masters Enterprises wasn’t just going to be a global empire. It was going to be a kingdom.
And I was the queen.
I swallowed before taking another sip of my wine, my legs quaking. Then I dared to ask the one question I needed the answer to. I pressed my hand against his face, rubbing my thumb back and forth across his scar. “What happened? Is this why you have so much anger, so much bitterness inside? You are a very handsome man and obviously talented. Why exact revenge when you have so much?”
Snarling, he gripped my hand, twisting as his eyes lit up from the same kind of venom I’d seen before, his body shaking as his jaw clenched.
I was more afraid of him tonight than I had been before. His pain was close to the surface, memories of something horrible, a nightmare he couldn’t escape from. Would he hurt me? Would he lock me away again?
The deep and very guttural sound was terrifying and when he pulled my hand to his lips, pressing kisses against my palm, I couldn’t move or think.
“Don’t,” I whispered, even though a significant portion of me wanted to get closer to him. I had to be mad. Insane.
“You are a drug, a desire that burns within me. I need you like I require air to breathe.”
His eyes were nothing but blackened pools as they bore into mine, but I caught another glimpse of his soul as well as his desperate need. As he gathered me into his arms, savage growls slipping past his voluptuous lips, I felt as if I was floating on a cloud.
“I want you.” He crushed his lips over mine as he cupped my face and neck, his fingers spread wide open. He held our mouths together, his breathing still ragged.
I knew he could devour me, unleashing the beast buried so deep within him. He was a volcano ready to spew molten lava over the both of us. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think as the kiss became a passionate roar, a mindless hunger that consumed flesh and blood. I rose onto my tiptoes, clawing his shirt in my effort to draw him in closer.
None of this made any sense. Not the longing. Not the blatant need. Not the insanity of why we shared the feelings we did.
He thrust his tongue into my mouth, entwining them together as he drank in every drop of my essence. This was an entirely different man, one who was losing his tight control. This was the man I hoped to understand, even get to know.
And so, I let go.
As I fell into the kiss, I could feel him stiffening and within seconds he broke the embrace.
When he fucked me, it would be on his terms, not some crazy thought about romance. This wasn’t about dating. This would never be about doing anything normal together.
This was about possession.
He lifted his head, his eyes never leaving mine. I found myself leaning forward, wanting to keep the beautiful moment of intimacy, but knowing even if I did it wouldn’t matter in the least.
He’d already shut down. As he stared at me, his own level of defiance more intense than mine, I realized there was no getting through to the man he’d shut down, burying in the past.
“You are the most beautiful creature on the face of this earth. If only I could give you what you need. If only I could be a better man, but I am a monster inside and out. It’s best you remember that.”
The wretched sound of his voice would stay with me for some time to come. When he released his hold, he backed away.
Disappearing into the darkness.
Chapter Eleven
Gabriel
Darkness.
It would forever surround my soul, its bony fingers drawing me to the very brink of hell. I was true evil, the epitome of darkness to her light.
Some said the sins of the fathers would place a permanent stain. Now I knew exactly what that meant.
I was the man who would destroy her through my existence and my damning needs.
The reality was difficult, something I would be forced to face.
I’d let go with her, forgetting my own rules of not engaging emotionally. She was my possession and nothing more. I owned her outright. She would pay off her father’s debt with her body, her presence, and her acceptance that she would be my wife.
Th
e rest was merely an enjoyable perk.
There was no love between us and would never be. She would never get under my skin or coerce me into becoming her friend. I clenched my fist, furious with myself even as I found it difficult to breathe, my heart racing.
“Fuck!”
The grip on my glass was strong enough to shatter the fucking thing into a thousand pieces. She’d managed to yank the beast from his lair because she’d dared to touch me, to defy my space.
Damn it.
To act like she fucking cared.
To pretend that I would ever mean anything to her.
She wanted to know truths in all things. Would that freaking help her see the glorious goodness in all people?
There is no such thing, little princess. There are only evil and much, much worse. Imagine your worst nightmare then expand it tenfold.
I lifted my glass, toasting to the past. If she learned the truth, those very nightmares would haunt her for years to come. Even I wasn’t so much of a monster to wish that on her.
Maybe I’d wanted her to use the gun, to fight her way into freedom. I was surprised that she hadn’t attempted to make a single call or even walked closer to the phone. She’d had two perfect chances to find a way out of her prison, but she’d failed.
I wasn’t certain what that meant on any level.
However, she remained astute as fuck, realizing that I also wanted to know the truth about whatever had gone on with Mr. Rivers. My gut told him that whatever game he’d played with her wasn’t over. I refused to have any issues, including a lowlife like him attempting to take her away.
Or worse.
I would indeed do what was necessary.
Exhaling, I backed further into the room, still able to see her, to catch a glimpse of her beauty and silent rebellion.
As well as her sadness.
I’d seen the haunted look in her eyes, the confusion riding her face. I’d also witnessed the hurt the moment I’d wrapped my hand around hers, prepared to break her fingers given a simple touch, a crossing of personal boundaries. Sighing, I moved away from the French doors altogether, second guessing my decision to allow her to go outside.
She wasn’t ready and I certainly couldn’t trust her.
Fuck. Fuck!
No, the truth was much uglier.
I wanted darkness. I needed shadows. Even the pool seemed too bright, luring me away from the safety net I’d surrounded myself with.
Hiding. My God, I’d spent years acquiring businesses, building an empire. I’d faced the ugliness of assholes and treachery, but this beguiling and very disobedient woman had seriously come close to derailing me.
I had to have more control, for God’s sake.
I would have full authority over her as well as my emotions.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, holding until my lungs expanded, the burn painful in my chest. I was still able to feel the tingle of skin from her touch, the intensity of the heat emitted from her body. She was beautiful, alluring.
Defiant.
She was a woman who needed to be broken and quickly. She actually did believe that good could conquer all, that there was someone out there who would save her from the monster who’d lured her into a trap.
Sadly, I would have to be the one to explain to her that there was no hero who would break her free from her chains. She had no one. Not a single soul who gave a crap about her. How pitiful. Damn, the woman had gotten under my skin. I polished off the wine, moving immediately to refill it.
We would sit down to dinner but that would be the last of her privileges until she completely understood what was required of her. Why did the stunning images of her remain in the back of my mind? Why did they tingle every one of my senses, forcing bile to surge in my throat?
The vision of her in the dress was even more incredible than I’d imagined. She was meant to wear the finer things in life. I laughed bitterly as I took a gulp of wine. What the hell did I know?
Exhaling, I walked closer to the opening, leaning against the doorjamb, enjoying being able to watch her as she walked the circumference of the pool. There was nowhere for her to go, no chance for her to escape. And even if she did, I would find her.
I would hunt her.
And when I captured her, I would punish her time and time again.
The thought made my cock hard all over again, the savagery of my needs increasing. As she sat down on the edge of the pool, easing her bare feet into the water, I was mesmerized by the simple action.
I honestly had no answer as to why I’d never bothered to take a swim or even spend time outdoors. Work was a convenient excuse.
Happiness. I thought about Jefferson’s earlier suggestion. I’d wanted this house to be a special place for family, a home. Over the years I’d come to understand that a home wasn’t about the four walls and a roof, but the enjoyment shared with someone else.
Dinners with friends.
Fucking backyard barbeques.
Movies on date night.
Shit, even several children.
I could only imagine Christmas morning and all the little presents scattered under the festively decorated tree.
That was bullshit.
Jefferson obviously didn’t understand me any better than my own family had. I wasn’t that kind of man. This was no fairytale. There would be no romance, hand in hand walks on the beach, or candlelit dinners with anything but unbridled sex in mind.
And Alessandra would learn to enjoy, succumbing no matter what I asked.
I walked back inside, grabbing the wine bottle. When I heard a solid splash, my heart skipped. What the hell? Slamming the glass and bottle onto the counter, I grabbed my gun, clicking off the safety. I raced outside, unable to see her anywhere. There was no sign the security system had been breached, but there were always possibilities that my various enemies had realized I did indeed have a weakness.
Alessandra.
I moved from one end of the pool to the other, unable to see any sign of her. Had she fallen into the water? Had she fainted? Jesus fucking Christ.
“Alessandra!” My harsh yell seemed to echo in the night. There was nothing. No sign of her. No return to the surface. Nothing. No. No. This couldn’t happen. She was mine. “Where are you? You need to come here right now.”
The only sound was the splash of water as it cascaded down the pile of fake rocks.
“Where are you?” I heard the guttural inflections, more beast than man. My head ached as a combination of fury and fear rushed inside.
When I noticed her glass on the other side of the pool deck, I reacted, dropping the gun, kicking off my shoes and diving into the water without hesitation.
I swam to the surface, paddling to the other side, able to see her dress positioned over the arm of a chair. Although I breathed a sigh of relief, I was pissed at her impetuous behavior. I hadn’t given her permission to swim. She’d disobeyed me. Again. Fuck. Fuck. Where the hell was she?
The hard whoosh over my head drew my attention, the manmade wave coming from the area near the waterfall. Growling, I shifted in the direction and was able to catch a glimpse of her. Damn it. She believed this was some kind of a game. I dove under the water, coming up behind the splashing water tumbling over the rocks. At first, I couldn’t see her. Then I felt the heat of her body even through the chill of the water.
I slowly turned around, my anger abating the moment I was able to see her pensive eyes as she hovered in one place. Her long arms created rings of water, beads of water on her face shimmering in the pool lighting. At that moment, she took my breath away.
Stunning.
Provocative.
I even gathered a glimpse of her rosy nipples, the sight making my mouth water. I shoved aside my desire, cocking my head as I glared at her.
“What are you doing?” I asked, swimming closer.
She paddled away a few inches, a slight smile curling on her lips even though her eyes held hesitation. “Seeing if you’d come find
me.”
I hadn’t been prepared for her playful attitude and in truth, it didn’t make any sense. She was taunting the beast, pushing him too far. What was her point? “I already told you, if you attempted to run, I would find you no matter what lengths I had to take. You defied me.”
“Yes.”
All the anger seemed swept away, replaced by a sense of relief. A moment of anguish also settled in, the longing I felt for her entirely different than it had been just minutes before. I swam closer, able to see the swell of her breasts as the water ebbed and flowed. She was even more dazzling with her wet hair, the light reflecting off her sun-kissed hair.
“And you deserve punishment,” I said gruffly.
“Only if you catch me.” She dove into the water, pushing off from the rocks, her body shooting past me.
Snarling, I ripped the shirt over my shoulders before following her, the hindrance of the trousers keeping me inches away. But it was only a matter of time. She was going nowhere. I wrapped my hand around her ankle, yanking her backward, the adrenaline rushing through every cell and vein.
She struggled as I pulled her against my chest, her eyes open in the water as she beat her hands against my chest. There was no fear in her actions, merely an attempt to find out what I would do.
I fisted her hair, pulling her face closer even as the slight current from the waterfall pushed us in a full circle. When a full smile crossed her face, I pushed us up from the bottom, breaking through to the surface.
There was no holding back. I captured her mouth as I held the back of her head, refusing to let her go. I didn’t care that she deserved to face my wrath, her punishment warranted. I only wanted to indulge in the raging hunger that was threatening to consume my entire being.
Alessandra entangled her fingers in my hair, her other hand pressed firmly against my chest. She wrapped her leg around mine, still attempting to garner control even as I eased my hand down, wrapping my finger around the thin elastic of her panties. There was no hesitation as I ripped them away, her gasp of surprise nothing but a delicious reward.
