I'm not classically trained to walk a runway or strip like a skilled dancer. I'm not even sure I should be doing this. It could end horribly wrong, and I could end up regretting this after I make a big dicking of myself. But after this morning, I feel like I owe Alessandro, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since I left his room.I'm standing outside Alessandros’ office with my hand raised mid-air, and I begin to think twice about whether I should knock or not.What if he rejects me?Taking one final look at myself, I peer down at the creamy white silk robe that clings to my body like glue. Underneath, my body is wrapped up in the skimpiest lingerie I own. My physique burns with an undying fire that makes me nervous. The thought of giving Don Valentino a lap dance makes me crazy with desire. I don't know why I thought this would be a fun and slow-burning seduction to thank him for all that he has done for me. But here I stand. With my hand still raised, I take the plunge, k
“Oh, you know… just a measly nine minutes.” I sing out in an airy tone. “Do you think you can control yourself for a full nine minutes, Don Valentino? After all, it’s still a single digit.” “Are you trying to unman me, Farfalla?” His jaw ticks. “Would it only take nine minutes to unman you? The biggest, baddest, wolf in all of Aotearoa?” My brow arches as I glide my hand through the valley of my breasts and down my torso. “Cazzo!” He breathes out, “Are you sure you want this? You need to be certain that you want me to fill you as my hands caress every inch of your tempting body.” “I'll be yours to use for your enjoyment. My body is yours to use however you please.” I breathe with excitement, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, knowing how sexually wild it makes him. His jaw locks as his eyes don't leave my breasts, and every muscle in his delicious body tenses. If I am to be brutally honest. I am shit fucking scared. I know what I want, but I am uncertain if my mind can
“That's right, baby, take all of me.” He growls as he bites down on his lower lip, thrusting his hips. My eyes water, as I gasp, gag and moan. I struggle to breathe as he gives me every inch of his rigid cock, and I take it without resisting. I want him, I need every delicious inch he has to offer, filling my mouth. We mark each other in our most intimate places, claiming one another as my nude lipstick smears across the base of his cock. A forewarning to all the skanks that this man is mine. Saliva tinged with premium pre-cum slides down the side of my mouth, down my chin and lands on my breasts. I swirl the tip of my tongue over the mushroom of his cock, slowly gliding the tip of my tongue along his throbbing vein along his shaft as I take him in my mouth, inch by inch. “Cazzo, Ivy.” His grip tightens on my hair, leaving a wake of pain. “So good, so… Fucking good…” He moans hoarsely. I continue to lick and suck him, placing my hand at the base of his shaft, and I stroke hi
His brows knit together, “to keep my bed warm?” He mutters, rubbing the pad of his thumb along my cheekbone. I swallow thickly as I gaze into his clear blue eyes and lose myself in the depths of their beauty. “Mmmhmm.” A ghostly smirk curls on the corner of his mouth, “that’s not what I have planned for you, amore mio.” I sighed with relief as I start to feel tired all of a sudden. “You know, I’m pretty disappointed that you tore my thong into pieces.” I watch him throw the cloth into the laundry hamper in the corner of the room, running his fingers through his hair. “I’ll replace them. Though, it would save me a lot of money if you just skip wearing underwear altogether.” He places his arms on either side of my body, caging me in his embrace, and he winks at me. I snort, “It would save you money if you had a little self-restraint and stopped tearing them flush from my body like a hormonal schoolboy.” “I. Was. In. Control.” He states smugly, “are you proud of me?” Leanin
ALESSANDRO, AKA DON VALENTINO. Nervously fiddling with my gold-plated cuff links, I wait at the bottom of the staircase for Ivy to make her grand entrance. I turn my head to the side and peer down at Savannah. She endlessly spins around in a circle, playing with the puffy skirt of her dress, giggling. One corner of my mouth kicks up as my heart skips a beat. Knowing that my blood courses through her veins don’t make me love her more than I did before I found out. She has had all my love from the get-go, and I have loved her fiercely as if she were my own. Savannah is the only heir to the Valentino empire but first, I need to pick out all the weeds before I allow her to take over. I move my shirt's collar to the side by hooking my index finger through it. I feel like I'm suffocating. I hate attending these formal fundraiser galas. Mixing and mingling with people is not my forté. But I understand that it must be done, and this time around, it shouldn't feel too crucial as m
The sleek, black SUV glides to a graceful halt just outside the magnificent grand hotel. Its tyres whispering against the pavement, the only sound breaking the stillness of the evening. The vehicle exudes an air of power and sophistication, its polished exterior gleaming under the glow of the streetlights. As the engine purrs to a stop, the dazzling flashes of a dozen cameras flicker. Alessandro shifts to look at me, “are you ready, Farfalla?” He asks me with a look of uncertainty crossing his handsome face. Anxiety slowly starts to lick my feverish skin with the niggling sensation of anticipation of what the night is to bring. I look at Savannah, who currently has her face pressed against the tinted window, gazing outside. I nod my head, “yes,” I whisper. “Let's get the show on the road.” I smile nervously as my hands start to sweat. Alessandro nods his head with a scowl on his monotonous face. “ If the night gets too much for you and you want to leave, let me know and
After Riccardo went around the block for the third time, he brought the vehicle to a standstill for the second time tonight. And like the first time, Alessandro waits for me outside the vehicle with his hand extended. Clenching my jaw, I place my hand in his with no hesitation, no deep breaths and no second-guessing. He assists me in exiting the vehicle, and the entire time, all I can think about is avoiding tripping over my gown and collapsing. When both of my feet safely land on the red carpet, I privately sigh with relief while externally flashing the brightest, toothiest smile I can muster despite the dazzling lights blinding me. As Alessandro wraps his hand around my waist, he draws me closer to him and kisses the top of my head. “You are bellissimo inside and out, amore mio. And now the world is going to know that you are mine.” He mutters as his lips linger over my pebbling flesh. I blush, blinking back tears, and try not to scoff at his description of me being beauti
Upon entering the lavish hotel building, some random woman saunters directly towards us and blocks our path with a heated look blazing in her eyes. She slips her hand inside Alessandros' tuxedo jacket and rests her palm over his beating heart as she reaches him. “Don Valentino, it’s been a while.” She hums with sexual seduction. My eyes grow large as I steal a glance in Alessandros’ direction, taking note that his features harden and his eyes slightly narrow as he drinks her in. “Ciara.” He says in a hoarsely clipped manner. I direct my attention to this Ciara woman, scorned with jealousy. There is no denying that she is drop-dead gorgeous. She oozes elegance and if I were to use the word beautiful to try to describe her, it would be a serious offence for an understatement of the century. Her high cheekbones accentuate her slender monolid eyes with her perfectly shaped brows. Natural blonde curls frame her oval-shaped face with a low tip bridged nose that looks like it's
I set the bouquet that little Savannah had gathered from the villa’s lovely rose garden on Roses' grave. I take a step back to where Savannah stands. In her small, delicate hands, she holds the photo frame that contains a picture of her and Rose on their trip to the beach one sunny day. I peer down at her, a sad pout upon her bottom lip, and the tears in her eyes gnaw at the branches of my heart.She is so young and innocent, and she's lost both of her parents. I can't even comprehend what turmoil invades her little body. If anything happens to me or Alessandro, she will be left all alone. Tears pool in my eyes when I imagine her going through life alone, and I nibble on my bottom lip, deep in thought. I wish to give her a sibling. Whether it be blood or through an adoption agency. Conceiving a child is one of my biggest fears after losing our precious child beforehand. But with my tubes being cleaned and two doctors on call at my every whim. The fear that harbours my body isn't
FIVE DAYs LATER.It's been five pleasurable days since I spontaneously married the man whom I love like there is no tomorrow. We finally left the room and joined the rest of civilisation yesterday afternoon. We also took Savannah out to the beach for dinner and an early evening swim in the water. We ate, laughed, sang silly childhood songs from the past and swam. It was a perfect evening to end a perfect wedding and the start of a wonderful life together — as a family. Alessandro hasn't been able to keep his hands off my body either and this morning, I slipped out of the room bright and early to evade his wandering hands. Torturous mouth. And well… I'm sure you get the picture.My body aches in places I never knew it could. My womanly parts have never felt so raw and beautifully used at the same time. But today I'd actually like to sit down without gnawing on the inside of my cheek to mask the hissing wince that escapes my lips. As I descend the stairs, with Viktor not too far
Alessandro lets out a little growl. “You'll be the death of me, woman.” He takes my hand and starts leading us off the dance floor, making a small pit stop when we reach Riccardo and Selena.Riccardo clears his throat, steps away from Selena like her touch suddenly burnt, and he straightens his posture, running a hand through his hair. Selenas’ eyes widen as they dart between Alessandro and Riccardo, placing her hands behind her back. “I think you'll both make one hell of a power couple, and I give you my blessing,” Alessandro says with amusement flickering in his eyes as he thrusts his hand out.Selenas’ head snaps up with a big smile spreading across her face and her mouth agape. Riccardo looks at Alessandro with shock-engulfed irises, and he clears his throat as he takes Alessandros’ hand in his and starts shaking it. “You knew?” “Of course I did,” Alessandro chuckles as he releases Riccardos’ hand and pulls me into his side. “There's not much that goes on in the villa that I
I don't know how many times I have told myself that marrying Alessandro today is crazy.Impulsive.But when I think back to the photos of the stunning Brazilian dancer all over him. Jealousy invades my body like a plague. It's cruel, tormenting, and body crippling. It's a feeling that I wouldn't want to wish upon my greatest enemy.The truth is, I love Alessandro. I want to be his wife. His lifetime companion and I know he feels the same about me. He refers to me as his Farfalla. My glorious, powerful prince charming, who is hell-bent on haunting my nightmares back even though he has demons of his own, lurking in the shadows that I vow to slay on his behalf.Together, we can be unstoppable. We can conquer the impossible and build an indestructible empire.Together as one.We have old wounds that have been opened and exposed, forcing me to face my insecurities as they lured cruel enemies back into our lives from the shadows of hell.We slipped through each other's fingers multipl
MINUTES EARLIER.Walking out of the bathroom, a knock sounds at my bedroom door. “Come in,” I call out, jumping back under the sheets in the bed I share with Alessandro.The door slowly pries open. I glance up and watch as Nic and Selena walk into the room, looking like utter shit. They look how I feel. Pointing to the bottle of painkillers on the bedside table, “help yourself, there's no ice water, so you'll have to go downstairs for that,” I say as I try to stifle a yawn behind my hands.“Babe,” Nic says in her 'I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it' voice.Shit…The blood drains from my face. “What's wrong?” I ask as I sit upright, pulling the sheet with me.Selena sits down on the bed, followed by Nic, and she opens the laptop she had walked in with and turns it around to face me. “There are some pictures…” Selena says as she glances at Nic.“Of what?” I ask before looking at the screen.If it's about the shitfest that happened last night. I might jus
“Come on, hon,” I say to Nic as I loop our arms together and follow Riccardo out of the club.Nic stumbles across the dance floor muttering, “I seriously like Reece, I mean, I think he's a top-notch bloke, but…” She sighs, leaving her sentence unfinished and I let her be.I just want to get out of here and go home to my big, comfortable bed. As we exit the club, we take a right, following Riccardo and I watch as he catches up with Selena, wrapping his long fingers around her upper arm; she instantly halts her movements, spinning around to face him. “What do you want from me, Cardo?” She cries out as she shrugs him.“What the cazzo’s gotten into you?” He growls incredulously.“Gotten into me?” She snorts as she violently wipes the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Si, you.” He hisses. She laughs bitterly at him as her eyes search his face. “You're unbelievable.” She spits as she walks away from him once again.Nic and I try to keep our distance to give them their privacy, as we lurk
THE FOLLOWING WEEK.As I walk into Alessandros’ office, knowing that his meeting is drawing to an end; I hear his velvet voice fill the vicinity.“Is there still no word from Ryan?” He asks his henchmen with frustration.I trip over my feet, thanking the God's no one saw me, as everyone is distracted with the folios they have in their grasps.“I'll take that as a firm no,” Alessandro mutters under his breath as he types away on his keyboard.Guilt nibbles away at my heart.I desperately want to tell him where Ryan is to prevent him from stressing out any further. Then I consider the consequences of telling him that I sent one of his finest men on a mission without his knowledge.It's undoubtedly safer if I don't tell him. I scan the third row of books at the bottom of the bookcase and halt when my finger lands on Roses' favourite novel. I remove it from the shelf and open it, turning the pages as dust escapes from the spine.Just as I'm about to close it, a scrap of paper falls out
I turn my attention to the large clock on the wall. “Shit!” I mutter, walking out of the kitchen with my stomach twisting in knots. “Viktor?” I call out as I see him talking to one of the other henchmen. He expresses his farewells and jogs towards me. “You called, Miss Bishop?” He responds with a broad grin. “I did.” I chuckle. Viktor is always smiling, and I've noticed whenever he smiles, I smile too, as his is infectious. “I need to go into town. I have a lunch date with the girls and if I don't leave now, I'm going to be super late.” I exhale loudly, wanting nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep the rest of the week away. “Very well, I'll bring the car around and inform Ryan?” He curtly bows his head and walks away before I can respond. I make my way out of the villa after retrieving my handbag and to where the car awaits, with Ryan behind the wheel and Viktor holding the passenger door wide open. As I slide into the car, I raise my brows at him. “Don't.” He mu
I run my hands through my hair as I exhale. I have no idea what is going on and am completely bewildered. Riccardo tells me this is Alessandros’ method of submitting to me as he drapes an extremely thick coat with weights over Alessandros’ shoulders. His face distorts in anguish as he attempts to maintain his calm and stance. “Tell him what's bothering you and what you expect from him.” Riccardo shares with me. I nod my head, looking around the yard, and I become well aware that we have an audience on our hands. Part of me wants to tell them all to piss right off, but then the other part of me wants them to stay. So they can hear what I've said straight from my mouth, rather than the gossip that spreads through the thin walls like wildfire. I return my attention to Alessandro. His head is bowed as he continues to kneel before me. Swallowing my pride, I lower myself onto my knees. “You hurt me,” I declare in an even tone. “I know you have been driven by wrath to find Mrs D