Matteo’s Pov
I only brought this escort in here to suck me off but my wife had to wander around and is now staring at me with those fake eyes of hers and I'm immediately interested in giving her a good show. I lean down and whisper into Helen's ear, "I guess you got lucky tonight, go bend over on that desk." And of course she giggles and does as she's told without question. I mean when you pay well and fuck good, they would always say yes to every command. Fucking whores. Fuck, I hate this. Why am I doing this again? Ah yes, to spite my beautiful wife. "Do you want to join us? Wife?" I ask her as I roll the condom down the length of my cock and of course my wife stays silent but I see how startled she is. Has she never seen a dick in her life? Or she probably hasn't seen two people making out. Fuck, if only she can take those contacts out and let me look into those eyes of hers; the real ones I mean. I push into Helen and she screams from how hard I'm slamming into her from behind. I keep my eyes steady on my wife and she surprisingly does the same. There I was thinking she'd watch how my cock goes in and out of Helen but no, she's looking me in the eye; not glaring, looking as though she has a million things she wants to say but is letting her eyes do the talking. If she looks at me in that manner with her real eyes, I know I'll be finished. It irritates me that Bella isn't allowing herself play into my game and I pull out of Helen and stalk over to her. "If you're not going to join us, then go back into your room and stay the fuck there," I lean down and suck on her ear lobe before whispering, "this is a private show." I slam the door against her face and turn to face Helen who's still waiting on me to come finish what I started but I'm too irritated to even get anywhere close to her. "I'll have the maid show you to where you sleep tonight. Put your clothes on, we're done here." I'm unable to sleep through the night, the nightmares that haunt me in my sleep, the intrusive thoughts that takes possession of my soul while I'm awake has me restless and the fact that Anna-Mirabella didn't play into my game makes it even more difficult to stay still. I hate being lied to and deceived. If Mirabella came clean to me about her true identity, I'd not have a problem with her but she lied. They lied and they think I'm playing their game when it's them playing mine. And by the break of dawn moving forward, I'll make sure that wife of mine regrets her decision of marrying me. . . . I walk into the dining area with annoying Helen by my corner; by now she should have left but I asked her to stay a few more hours in my desperate attempt to get a reaction out of my wife. But of course the bitch thinks the extra attention is because I'm developing some kind of attraction towards her. Dumb. I lock eyes with Anna-Mirabella and her jaw locks the moment she sights Helen. Again how do I address my wife? Guess I should just call her Bella. I take my seat and Helen does the same as the chef serves us our portion of the breakfast. My eyes stay steady on Bella's and hers on mine as she grinds her teeth and it doesn't go unnoticed, how hard she's breathing, causing me to chuckle; I guess that snapped something, Bella returns my chuckle in a very malicious way and I relax my back, waiting for the drama to unfold and it does. Fuck yes! "I'm certain you had a great time with my husband? Miss?" She asks Helen but not once ripping her gaze off me and I give her a smirky smile. "Helen." "Helen," she hums. "I'm sure you're one of his whores but this is his matrimonial home and I'm certain you understand what that means." For the first time she looks at Helen and her face contorts in displeasure. "Helen I need you to get up and get the hell out of my house." Bella deadpans. Helen goes to protest and I glare at her. "You heard my wife Helen, get up and get the hell out." I order her and I see the surprise in Bella's eyes. I do hope she's not starting to think I did any of that for her? Helen throws a little bit of her tantrum and storms out of the house leaving I and Bella. "Fucking Asshole, I get that you hate this stupid arrangement but at least have some respect for me." Bella grits through her teeth. Respect. Funny she demands respect from me when she disrespected me first by lying about her identity. But I'm not about to have some silly argument with her. I get off my seat and head into the kitchen. Turning the water on, I apply the drain cover and begin filling the sink with water. "She's gone," I say in a slight whisper and Bella smirks. She quirks a brow and answers, "yes she is." "Are you going to do her job of pleasuring me?" My eyes darken at this point, the intrusive, dark thoughts taking possession of me. Bella scrunches her face as she gets off her seat, obvious anger in her tone when she asks, "what?" I turn off the tap once the sink is filled to the brim and glare at Bella for a good minute, somehow stalling and hoping I'd take back control of my sanity and not do what I'm about to. But nothing. "Come here." I command and Bella stays still where she's standing, fueling my anger even more. "Come here, Bella!" "No." "Fucking come here!" I roar and she's immediately startled. The egotistical bitch starts taking small steps towards me, getting me even more riled up and I stalk over to her and grip the back of her neck, pulling her with me into the kitchen. Bella's head is submerged underwater before she gets the chance to protest. She's struggling to get out of my strong hold on her neck, she kicks her legs out and throws her arm back, her fingers clawing at my face viscously but I have my hand tightly secured around the back of her neck and I dunk head further down the sink. I lift her head up and she gasps loudly as she coughs and chokes on her spit like her life depended on it. She keeps making unwavering attempts at getting out of my grip but I'm not even close to being done with her. I plan to shove her face underwater until she's passed out. If she dies it'd be an added advantage. "Are you going to do Helen's job of pleasuring me now that you've sent her away," I breathe out. "Never." Bella chokes. Feisty. I absolutely love it; the challenge, the adrenaline. I guess I'll spare her life for today but that doesn't mean her punishment is over. In a split second, her head is underwater yet again and this time she gives up the struggle to get off. She stays calm and from the movement of her shoulders, I see that she's trying to stabilize her breathing. What the fuck. I immediately let her go and stumble back. What the fuck just happened? This came as a surprise. She's just shown me that she's been through far worst. She struggled at first because I caught her off guard with my sudden outburst but the second time, she saw it coming and took control of it. I'm intrigued; really intrigued. But it's to her own detriment considering how much torture I plan to put her through until I know for certain how much pain she can take. An interesting marriage it'll be. The maids try coming to her aid as she rolls on the ground still choking but I glare at them and pass them a stern warning never to interfere in our affairs. Bella lies on her back with her mouth open as she breathes through her mouth and I smirk at her before ordering her in a stern voice. "Clean this mess up and get ready; we leave in ten minutes." . . . Throughout the five hour drive to the little surprise I have for my wife, Bella did not care to say a word to me; not that I wanted her to but I very often noticed her eyes tear up and twitch. More like they were itching. And I'm somehow worried that she'll get an eye infection if she continues wearing those eye contacts. But I'm here to see it happen; imagine going blind because you chose to stick to a stupid lie. Very funny. Why am I concerned again? Never mind. I finally bring the car to a halt in front of her lab and I see her eyes widen; her jaw clench and unclench. "What is this place? And why are we here?" Bella manages to get out of her trembling lips and I snort a laugh ordering her to get down and she obeys. "What do you think? I'm planning on purchasing the land," I'm looking at her but she refuses to look up at me not once and it amuses me even more. "Why do you want the land? Are you in contact with the owner? What would you want with the land?" Bella starts rambling on and on as her fingers tremble. The swell in her chest obvious. "I heard the owner is some lab rat, hardly ever seen. But I've not been able to reach her," I tsk, "unfortunately." I see Bella release a shaky breath and I'm more amused and of course I'm in the mood to tease her further. "Doesn't that remind you of your sister? Mirabella is it? We should go visit her lab sometime." Bella stays quiet but I notice her throat moving from how harshly she's swallowing. "I don't think you should buy the land; it's of no use. Look into better locations." She deadpans and suddenly she's no longer fidgeting. She's bold, so bold that she turns around and lock eyes with me whilst uttering each word. Does my wife have a personality disorder? This minute she's some naive, scared little bitch and the next she's as bold as a lioness. Something to think about; but for now I should focus on putting her in place. "I'm definitely buying the land," I mutter and she locks her jaw, grinding her teeth so hard that the outline becomes visible. "No!" She yells and I silently thank my goodness. Another perfect opportunity to punish her. "Did you just refuse me? Wife?"Mirabella’s Pov The moment I was informed about this marriage and whom I'll be marrying, I knew there and then what and whom I'd be signing my life off to; The fucking devil. But the naive part of my heart thought that perhaps this devil will somehow show a great deal of restraint when dealing with me but that is very far from the truth and my reality. Just less than twenty four hours of being married to this maniac of a man, he has already attempted taking my life and cheated on me right under our roof. Fucked up, don't you think? And now he has brought me to my laboratory, affirming his interest in the land. My fucking land? There's no way in the world I'd sell off my land to that asshole. That's my thirty fucking million dollars and it's not even about the money. It's the fact that I've built my whole life here, it's my home. Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm rich. I'm so rich, sometimes I forget how rich I am and how much money I have scattered around different offshore acc
Matteo’s Pov I didn't think marriage could be this thrilling. Bella is like the devil born to me; she mirrors me in the weirdest, unexpected ways. She's the challenge I need, the war I love, and the hate I seek. It has not been longer than forty eight hours since we said our vows and she's made me aware in more ways than one how much she'd complete me. She's truly my better half. She gets to trigger the monster I keep chained, and the monster answers her call and swallows her whole each time. This is all I've waited for a really long time, and now, I have it. One slap and she's on the floor whimpering, crying with her eyes closed while she mumbles a few words, chanting them like a mantra and that tells me a lot about her. It tells me she has been through something, a certain kind of trauma that goes beyond physical abuse; she has danced with the devil one too many times. But who could it be? Who could have hurt my wife? It certainly isn't her father seeing how much of a good r
Mirabella’s Pov Tears uncontrollably roll down my cheeks as I observe myself in the huge mirror, and I ask myself what wrong I've done to deserve this level of punishment the universe has chosen to deal me. This is my life; misery. One month since I've been married to this monster, and every day, I'm one step closer to death. A death I know will be delivered to me by my husband. Matteo. In one month, I've been buried alive and made to stay underneath the earth five hours each day for three days. I've been stripped and flogged with a leather flogger until I passed out. I've been locked up in a dark room with no food for so many days until I was close to losing my sanity. I've been pushed into the pool and left to drown by Matteo after he found out I couldn't swim. This has been my life with Matteo for a long one month. He doesn't talk to me but whenever he does, there's always punishment accompanying each word. Punishments that seem too extreme and well thought out as though h
Matteo’s Pov There's power in self reflection, to take a moment and look at how far you've come, how you have transformed into a better or a ridiculously worst version of yourself. To give yourself credit for conquering all your demons and waking from that nightmare. As I stand by this window and try my best to self reflect, the only question that plagues my mind is, where has my head been in the past month? I watch my wife as she trembles from the cold, I look at her and see how much damage I've done to her both physically, emotionally, and mentally. I ask myself how much of a monster I truly am to have done this to an innocent woman. The same woman I saw her pictures and felt the need to be close to; the same one I wanted to become my wife and I have an opportunity to have her as my wife but look what I've done to her. What differentiates me now from the people I detest the most? The people who derive pleasure in hurting others? The people who hurt me. The people who hu
Mirabella’s Pov A fist drives into my gut and knocks me out. I choke and cough, my hand clutching tightly onto the part of me that seems completely ruptured. I fall face down and sob, there's not a part of me that is whole; at least not anymore and my father made certain of it. "Enough with your whining!" Father's voice thunders as he forces me on my knees. "Tell me exactly what it is you saw that day," he orders and I shake my head 'no'. "I don't remember anything." I lie; but I do it to protect myself. "Maybe she's telling the truth. we've broken her in unimaginable ways, yet, she still stands by her word," my father's minion whispers to him but I pay very close attention and I hear him. "Have we? There's still one thing that is yet to be done to her." Father sneers and the man's eyes widen. "She's a kid! She'll not survive it. Isn't she just ten years old?" "I don't care if she dies. Ready the chair, no questions asked." Father orders as he stands by the side with Annabella
Mirabella’s Pov "Tell me something about you; something I don't already know." Matteo questions in a soft voice as he wraps the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around my upper arm. I blink a few times from the unexpectedness of his question. He raises an eyebrow nudging me to answer as he continues taking my blood pressure and I scoff. "Bold of you to think you know even a thing about me." "You have no idea, Annabella. . ." His voice is laced with mischief. I narrow my eyes at him. Something in my gut telling me that Matteo knows something about me; something that might jeopardize me. My identity perhaps. "So, what's your story, you know with the consistent nightmares." Matteo calls back my attention and I bite down on my bottom lip. "I don't know, Matteo, you tell me. After all you're the one who has dedicated your time to making sure you traumatize me with your horrific punishments," I answer in one breath making sure my sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed. "So? I'm responsible
Matteo’s Pov "Get over here! Come here and prove to me that you're worthy of this empire!" Grandfather commands and I fall on my knees. I'm shaking my head vigorously, tears running down my face uncontrollably as I sob. "Please pa don't make me do this," I plead. I am now at Grandfather's feet, at his fucking mercy and I grasp both his ankles as I continue to beg him. My father being held down by a few men in a corner, my mother hugging my five year old sister in another corner. My life flashing before my own eyes. I can't bring myself to do what grandfather is asking of me. Never. The butt of a gun slams against my forehead over and over again until my blood is spewing uncontrollably but I do not quit begging. With each slam to my forehead, my plea becomes louder. "Matteo, fratellino; it's okay, I understand. Go ahead and do it," my eldest sister says in between her sobs and I shake my head 'no'. Her voice keeps taunting me and I can no longer take it. "Stai zitto per l'amor d
Mirabella’s Pov I'm home alone, I might as well put a call across to my associate and handle my own business. Exactly three days ago, about two hours after my very thoughtful husband violated me with his eyes and walked out of the room, I decided to go to the kitchen and help myself with something to calm my nerves. While I made my way down the hall, my ears picked up on some inaudible chatter and being a curious personality that I am, I decided to listen in. The closer I got to where the sound was coming from, the clearer I could hear what was being talked about. Matteo and his father seemed to have been in a heated argument about me? "Father, I already told you many times before that I do not trust her father. This marriage is just an illusion; he's playing a game with us and we don't even know it." Well, I didn't think I'd ever say this but my husband is a smart man. "She's your wife regardless," Matteo's father had voiced. "Only on paper!" Matteo snapped and silence ensued
Mariana’s Pov“Why did you bring me here?”My voice is accusing as I ask the question, my eyes tight, void of emotions. Alejandro’s Adam's apple bobs, an indication that a thick lump just slid down his throat.Then he smiles. He doesn’t know it, but the smile seems forced. “I’ve told you a million times, Mariana,” he says, his tone firm, robotic, “I want us to live freely for at least one week.”And that’s how I know he’s lying.Alejandro might be dangerous, but he has a casual persona. The type of man to wear a matching set of sweat shirt and pants in a room full of formally dressed men. The type of man to pull a trigger with a smile on his face. But his sudden seriousness when I ask my question is enough to sell him out. He’s suddenly defensive, and when one becomes defensive, something is amiss.“Cut the crap,” I murmur, my voice inaudible.“What was that?” Alejandro’s voice is low, sharp. It cuts through the air like a blade. His eyes are on mine, waiting, daring me to answer.I
Alejandro’s PovEating is done, and the basket is discarded to the side, leaving enough space for Mariana and I to share in each other’s warmth.We’re lying beside each other, finger interlocked, our gazes faced towards the sky. We revel in the silence, feel the depth of our connection without actually speaking.And it surprises me how Mariana is so receptive to this newness, to this softness.The intensity of her beauty, the authority in her words, and even her gracefulness will have anyone who doesn’t truly know her believing that she’s such a tough woman who has no emotions.Lies.She’s just as soft hearted, and she craves gentility.The night is still, the sound of the waves the only thing breaking the quiet. I’m staring up at the sky again, but I can’t help it—my mind keeps drifting back to her.What does she feel about me? What does she feel now that we have our finger locked, and our eyes faced towards the same direction?I roll onto my side, propping myself up on my elbow so I
Alejandro’s PovDay one on the Island.I jerk awake to heat, my muscles straining. Mariana’s body is perfectly molded into mine, her mass of dark, silky hair falling over my chest.A feeling of satisfaction fills my heart and I kiss the back of her head.She groans, and shifts back, wanting to disappear into me. But she wakes something else. Her ass locks around my growing bulge and a strained grunt escapes in my throat.“Shit, baby,” my voice comes out gruff, “you need to move a little.”I go to gently push her legs when she suddenly arches her back into me, causing my hand to land between her thighs. She moans.Fuck me.I move my hand, my fingertips grazing the skin of her inner thigh. She stirs, a small cry eliciting in her throat. I can’t tell if she’s fully awake, but her breathing is too uneven for someone who is still asleep. My hand squeezes her thigh, waiting for her to stop me. She doesn’t. I take that as a sign to continue. The hand buried between her thighs travels furth
Mariana’s PovWe’ve had quite the journey, moving from flying, to riding in the back of a truck, and now, we’re boarding a boat.I have no complaints.This somewhat reminds me of my days of active duty, the days when I was going on dangerous missions. The feeling is exhilarating.“You can’t keep ignoring me, my lady,” Alejandro’s whiny voice resounds beside me. And it warms my heart. Still, I sidestep him and make my way into the boat.I sit in the plush leather seat, feeling the warmth of the sun-kissed leather envelop me. The boat's engines roar to life, and we set out, gliding across the turquoise waters, leaving the world behind.I inhale and exhale a breath, calming my heart.My hair whips back, the strands dancing in the ocean breeze. I laugh, feeling carefree, alive. The wind carries the sweet scent of saltwater and the faint hint of Alejandro's cologne. I throw my head back and breathe a relieved sigh. The blue of the ocean catches my eyes. The shininess of it, the glow cast
Alejandro’s PovResistance. That’s all I see in her eyes. She’s fighting her pleasure—a war between her flesh and her mind. And I’ll tell you for sure that the flesh will always win.My face buries deeper, my tongue swirling around her bud. Her skin tightens, but she holds back her voice.“Let go, baby. . .Let go. . .” I urge, my tongue pushing into her entrance, curling. She doesn’t budge. I push a finger into her, and another, and another, and another. I curl all three fingers and she lets out a cry.“There you go,” I praise, “there you fucking go. . .”And then I’m fucking her recklessly with my fingers and my tongue. She cries harder, her body jerking. Her sweet, melodious voice draws a moan out of me. And suddenly, it’s no longer a fight of pleasure.She’s full on fighting me.I see how much my words affect her, but I know it’s not just about the words. It’s the confirmation. She always has been curious to know if I hold a grudge against her over what transpired between our pare
Mariana's Pov“It was you?” I ask, unsure, “the soldier who stole from the family?”“Bingo,” he smiles broadly, “we’re going to have a blast, baby.”I lean back into my seat and allow my brain fall into silence and calmness for a moment. Just a few minutes. And then laughter erupts in my throat.My chest quakes with the frequency of my laugh, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.“You’re a fucking genius aren’t you?” I ask, cackling, “all that calmness you exude, all that patience and endurance. . .you had it all figured out.”Alejandro’s eyes are on me, observing, careful. The movement of his arm is slow, deliberate as he puts his gun down.“You’re not mad at me?” He asks.I tip my head to the side, my teeth diving my bottom lip, nibbling sensually. Alejandro throws his hips in the air, a small grunt resounding low in his throat.“Is there a reason to be angry?” I ask and wait.He hesitates for a moment before tucking his gun away. And that’s when I strike. He doesn’t see me com
Mariana's Pov“It was you who put him in that state after all. How did you do it, Maria, huh? Was it the cookies you couldn't stop serving him? Or your special teas? How the fuck did you, right under our noses, succeed in reducing Don Vladimr Zakone Vaslav to a vegetable?”My brows twitch and a muscle feathers in my jaw. I throw my back against the backrest and heave out a sigh, my eyes locking with his.“I’m still waiting, Mariana,” Alejandro presses. He tries to sound serious, but I notice the slight upturn of the corner of his mouth and the look of awe in his eyes.He’s not angry.Good.Perhaps he is but is exceptionally good at concealing it: the logical part of my mind warns.My brows twitch. “Mind your business, Alejandro,” I mutter, my tone bored.His chuckle rumbles. “Your business is my business, amore mio,” he replies, “especially when my name was mentioned. “And that mad son of yours, his punishment will be doubled for ever putting hands on Alejandro. . .” I didn’t think a
Mariana's Pov“My love should be enough for the both of us, Mariana.”His words shake me to the core. And what shakes me more is the emotion swirling in those orbs of his. Why won’t he get angry at me?Why won’t he scream at me? Do something that shows me how much I drive him to the point of anger?“You’re a fool,” I mutter, a hand raking through my hair. “Come get my bags, soldier!” I command. A smile coats his lips as he approaches. He picks up my bags as though they weigh nothing and then he turns around, intending to exit the room.The door creaks open and Radimr walks in, his eyes on me, tender. He flashes me a smile and I mirror his smile.Huffing out an angry breath, Alejandro storms out of the room. But he doesn’t leave—he stands by the door, his eyes peeking through the small space.He watches as his brother’s arms envelope me in a hug, he watches how I reciprocate that hug with so much enthusiasm. His eyes cloud over with rage. And then Radimr’s mouth crashes on mine, rava
Mariana's PovI puff out a breath and squeeze the last of my clothes into the small travel bag I intend to go on my travels with.A little backtracking here: earlier today while Alejandro, my husband, and myself sat in my office deciding how to track down the soldier who dared to steal from the family and run off, Alejandro had volunteered to track him through the countries the fucker has been in and out of in the last few days.And at that moment, my stupid little heart thought it was an opportunity. An opportunity to experience those seven days Alejandro promised me without dealing with my husband’s suspecting eyes.What did I do? I made a declaration that I regretted right when the words left my mouth.“I’ll go with you,” I blurted, surprising both brothers.“What?” My husband had asked, eyes wide.“You know how good I am with words, baby,” I responded as I slid my hand into his. “Sending Alejandro alone for something like this might turn out to be a mistake. He lacks in communicat