AntonioWith her in my arms, I made my way toward the ensuite bathroom. She was warm in my hold, her face pressed against my chest and her eyelids were resting against her flushed cheeks. She hasn’t looked more beautiful than she looked at this moment, so subservient like a pretty little pet but I knew fire burned inside her. It was just on a low simmer because of what we had done. It feels like my own fire dulls her and it was a good thing as otherwise we would both still be fighting for power until the sun rose high up in the sky. I liked how she was so fûcking stubborn and even though it takes her time, she gives in to my demands.I pulled the glass door open to the shower, it was big enough for four people if needed and there was a bench adjacent to the wall. I settled her there before I fiddled with the knobs to set the temperature and stood in front of her so as not to have her drenched in the cold blast of water that would come out at first. I hadn’t ever considered such small
EricaThe car ride was uneventful and this time Ephraim was sitting in the back with Antonio and I. He was on my side of the seat while Antonio sat opposite us like the king judging his people but still his gaze felt skin deep. Thankfully, I was wearing proper clothes. Apparently Antonio had already ordered for them and Ephraim had bought them for me. Now, as I sat there with his golden gaze occasionally flickering to me I was grateful for the jeans and the blouse that was made of the softest silk, and because there was a chill in the air there was a matching pink scarf to go with my outfit. They were both into a deep discussion and talking in Italian but I heard Sokolov name a few times so I gathered they were still discussing about last night. And I didn’t miss how Antonio’s voice would turn lower and colder when he’d say something. Outwardly, he looked calmed and composed, but I could tell that more quiet he was and furious he’d be. It seemed I was starting to understand him a lit
Erica This breakfast was a new experience for me as both Ephraim and Antonio made small talk with me like they wanted to really know me. When I thanked Ephraim for the clothes and especially for the scarf, he told me it was Antonio who wanted this color. When I glanced at him in surprise, Antonio looked at me with dark eyes as he said, “Don’t ever lie to me, especially about the things you love. Ask for it and I’ll give it to you.” I opened my mouth but he placed a finger on my lips as he said, “Within boundaries, little devil. Don't push them.” And still I was warm from his earlier words, how so easily he said that he’d give me anything if I asked for it. And it wasn’t just that, Antonio hadn’t stopped touching me once since we sat down. Even when he was eating, his hand remained on my thigh. Going up and down in a maddening rhythm, making me squirm in my seat. And now as we finished our food, he turned to me and removed a napkin from his pocket then proceeded to wipe my mouth for
EricaAs soon as we were outside, Antonio grabbed my wrist and tugged me toward the narrow alley behind the restaurant and slammed me against the wall.“Anto—” He didn’t let me finish as he circled my throat with his fingers and tightened his hold before he slammed his lips down against mine.I gasped into his mouth and he took the opportunity to push his tongue past my lips as he ravaged my mouth. The kiss was punishing in its own way and I realised that was how he meant it to be. My bottom lip stung from where it was hurt but I kissed him back with equal fervor. When he pulled back, his thumb pushed down on my racing pulse as he said, “Never and I mean never do that again. I let you use that sassy mouth with me because I enjoy it and hadn’t stopped you in front of Ephraim even, but I draw the line where you think you can tell me what to do, like I’m accountable to you, in front of the whole world. These men fear me, little devil and if they see that I let my little whôre order me ar
Erica“Can we keep him? Take him with us?”For a long minute he didn’t say anything as he kept staring at the dog. And then, I watched him change in front of my eyes.I remembered the time when I had realised what was happening to me. What was being done to me. When my nightmares had turned into reality and when I had seen myself in the mirror after that horrible night. I remembered how I had looked. Just the way Antonio looked right now. Lost and broken. And fûcking angry. So angry, the rage was a palpable being between us. Instincts told me to step back but I was frozen and then... I didn’t know how it happened. Just as carefully as Antonio took the dog from me with as much force he slammed me against the wall. His face was red and his eyes were dark like the night sky without moon and the stars. “Don’t touch them. Don’t fucking touch them.” His voice wasn’t cold or heated how it normally gets when he wants to subdue me. But it was shaking, filled with emotions that I knew too well
EricaI walked to his office but when I pushed the door open it was empty. I made my way downstairs and found Mario in the small sitting room where Antonio had spànked me for the first time. When he saw me, he motioned for me to join him. “Come on, sit with me. Do you need anything?”I shook my head. “No. I’m good.” I asked, “Do you know where Antonio is?”His brows troubled and I knew he was aware of his dark mood. He said, “He went back out to the city.”“Oh.” I could hear the disappointment in that single word and so did Mario.He smiled at me as he said, “Ephraim told me what happened today.” I remained silent, waiting for him to say more. Wanting him to say more. But when he didn’t say anything, I asked, “Can you tell me more about it? I asked Ephraim but he didn’t say anything.”Mario looked like he wanted to say something but he shook his head. “I shouldn’t. They are not my secrets.”I could see that he wanted to tell me so I gave him the push that I knew would work. I said, “
Erica“Where. Were. You?”He stepped back from me and replied coolly, “It’s none of your fûcking business.”I slapped him. I didn’t stop to think. I should have. But I was too furious to consider my actions, to think twice. I was hurting. Fûck. My chest ached like he had just slammed a fist there. And I didn’t even regret it a moment later when my cheek burned from his palm as he reciprocated in the same way.We stood there, glaring at each other. At last, he said, “I told you again and again, not to cross this line with me.”“I hate you.”He remained silent and looked at me like I was crazy. But my chest burned with something close to betrayal. I shouldn’t be surprised after the way he had been with the women at the party the other night but I had believed him when he had said that he only wanted me. But now seeing the red lipstick mark on his shirt, I was fûcking furious and felt cheated. And stupid. Maybe I was crazy, even as I fought the feelings, some might’ve slipped through the
AntonioI looked down at my little captive. The woman I bought from an auction for my revenge and then realised that I also wanted her to serve the purpose for which she was placed on that stage to be auctioned. To be under my command and to sate my lust that she provoked with every insult she hurtled at me.With each day that passed she revealed to me an aspect of her that intrigued and made me want to bare every inch of her, inside and out, so I could dominate her however I liked. To bring her down on her knees not because I wanted but also because she desired it. I have several women kneeling before me but it was different when it’s a woman like her. Erica Cavanagh had demons that had forged rock hard walls around her, made her into a woman who refused to bow down and I admired that about her. And I wanted to be the man she’d bow down for. Only me.She told me she hated me and I believed her. But she also behaved like a woman cheated, heartbroken and furious when she saw the red li
Ephraim“Your job is to do whatever I tell you to do. Protect her.”I gritted my teeth at his absurd command, all these years I had been his shadow, spent all my time protecting him whenever he stepped out of that castle where he lived like a recluse. And now here he was telling me to protect her but not him. I’d have protected her but not at the cost of him, not if it meant letting him be in danger.I pressed on the accelerator as the car that was following us came to the side and slammed at the back of ours, for a moment I lost control of the steering wheel and the car tilted to the one side. I glanced in the rear-view mirror to catch Antonio cupping Erica’s head to prevent her head from slamming into the wind
AntonioMy office door opened with a bang for the second time that day and Ephraim stood there with Thor barking behind him. Before I could really give him a lashing to remind him of his place and for letting that dog into my office, I noticed the set of his jaw and the paleness of his face and without a second thought, my mind went straight to Erica. “What is it?”Instead of answering me, he asked, “Have you talked to Erica?”Even though I had wanted to call her, I hadn’t. And it was his fault. Because Ephraim’s words had unsettled me and I didn’t want to prove him right so no matter how much I was tempted to call her, I had refrained but now as I saw the expression on Ephraim’s face I regretted not doing so. And more than that as I slipped out my phone and dialled her number I regretted not putting a tracker on her phone after she broke the bracelet when the call ended without ringing on the other side.I had wanted to give her some privacy to talk to her family and it was the reaso
EricaI excused myself from the table to go to the bathroom, I wanted to ask Riley if she wanted to join me but she was busy talking to the guy sitting opposite her. But just as I took a step away from the table, Leo also stood up. I asked, “Where are you going?”“I’ll walk with you.”“Oh, you don’t have to.” I said, feeling embarrassed that he could easily read how I was hesitant and felt a little out of place here which was why I needed company to not look like a lost child.He ignored me and grabbed my hand as he made his way to the left side of the sitting area of the cafe where there was a door that led to a mildly lit corridor and pointed out the washroom for me. He said, “I know that your bodyguards aren't here today, so it’s understandable if you don't feel okay to roam around the unfamiliar place all alone.”I never thought about it in such a way but I guess I was almost carefree at the base level knowing nothing would hurt me, for instance no masked man would materialize out
Antonio“Sit down and explain yourself before I lose it.” I said to Ephraim as I entered the study after making sure that Elijah knew not to lose sight of her in any way and also to make sure she doesn't see him, if the former happened I’ll make sure he loses his fûcking life.Erica had asked me to stop sending men with her before too, saying that she felt like the odd one out with all the other students gawking at her because of all the men standing guard. But I had ignored her then because I knew most of them probably already knew who she was with, I was one of the men that people recognised on sight and associating with me puts her at risk so it wasn’t just to prevent her from running but also to make sure no one hurts her. And now I wanted to test her out. To know what she’ll do with her new found freedom that I was giving her. Even though it will be an illusion, for her it will be real enough.As I sat behind my desk, I folded my hands and looked at Ephraim. In the past, there ha
Antonio“Antonio...”“Mmm?”“There is this new place that has opened up in downtown that everyone is going to after the classes. Can I go?”“Of course. I told you, you can go anywhere you want to go. I’ll tell Ephraim to take you.” I replied, feeling a smile turn up my lips at the way she asked for my permission.She sat up, slipping out of my hold. And even though it annoyed me, I opened my eyes to look at her. Her flawless back was to me and I couldn't help but trail down my fingers on the curve of her spine and smiled when she shuddered. Without looking at me, she said, “I, actually, don't want him to come with me.”I narrowed my eyes on her back. Grabbing the back of her nape, I pulled her back until she was lying and then I sat up on my elbow to look down at her as I asked, “Are you planning to run away?”She rolled her eyes. She actually rolled her eyes and gave me a smile that made my cock hard, again. She said, “If I wanted to leave, I would've left that night.”It was three n
AntonioI stood near the windows and looked down at her. Ephraim had given her his jacket that she had wrapped around her to protect herself from the cold. She was looking back at the castle from time to time, and sometimes her gaze would go up to the terrace but she didn't turn to look in the direction of the bedroom which was on her left. And even if she had looked I doubted she would be able to make me out in the darkness of the bedroom.I have no fûcking idea why I said what I said. I didn't know what got into me to let her leave. I just fûcking forced her to go. But when I saw her bandaged hand... I wasn’t lying. Seeing her hurt messes with me in a way I couldn’t explain. It was like going back in the past and seeing all the blood and feeling the pain. Being helpless, that's what it felt like.I wasn't prepared to say any of the things I told her but unlike her I was mature enough to recognise the truth when it smacked me in the face every time I looked at her, kissed her, touche
Erica“What does that mean?” He questioned, his golden brown eyes frowning down at me. “What are you talking about?”I stared at him for a few seconds, if I didn’t know better I would really believe that he has no idea what I was talking about. The way he looked so confused, like he had done nothing wrong, like he didn’t know what I was talking about, like he hadn’t left me in the bed only to be with her. I swallowed against the lump in my throat as I sat up and slipped out of the bed. Sitting there with him so close wouldn’t give me enough strength to keep my anger. But even while I stood and he sat there on the bed, he was almost my height and just as big.“I saw you with her.” It took more effort than it should have to say her name. “Nicole. The way she was touching you. Kissing you. She kissed you...” I couldn't hide the pain as I said those words. And once again the image of her materialized in my mind, the same image that had been haunting me, that had forced me to slam my fist
EphraimErica pushed past me and walked away to the exit I was pointing out instead of going through the one where Antonio was standing close to. Nicole’s eyes met mine, smug and taunting. She said, “You should go after her before you lose his toy. I heard it’s very expensive.”I took a step closer to her and she sucked in a nervous breath. I had never interacted with her, apart from the times when Antonio needed another set of hands in an act that he put up in the club with her as the submissive for the night. “Stay away from her. If Antonio knew what you just did—”“Save your threats, he already made his.” Her nostrils flared as she looked over my shoulder. “I don’t understand what you see in her. She is not even Italian, also he bought her from an auction, how could you take her side over mine when she’s nothing but his sex slave.” “She is anything but that. Did you see her in chains or kneeling at his feet like you did so often?”Anger flashed in her eyes as she glared at me. H
EricaI woke up sprawled in the middle of the bed with blankets wrapped around me and sun shining through the parted curtains. Gathering my hair to the one side, I sat up and looked around the bedroom. The basket from which I had eaten number of sweet things was still on the bedside table and it reminded me of how Antonio had fed me the baked soft cookies with his own hands while I was curled up in his lap. I took my gaze off the basket to our clothes that were all over the place last night but now we’re folded and placed on the bench near the bathroom door, but there was no sign of Antonio.Deciding to get up and start the day, I slipped out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. For the first time, I didn't sleep nakéd after sex and still Antonio had taken me in his arms, surrounding me with his big body as we slept. When I came out of the bathroom, I opened the closet door to find a selection of his shirts but there were a few dresses and jeans and tops too. I picked out a bla