Giovanni"I need to go." Because every minute I'm here, I'm in danger. I set the envelope of cash in the drawer of the nightstand by her bed."Can I call you at least?" she asks."That's not a good idea. I told you that the last time. I can't see you again, Ciara. It's too dangerous."I walk to the door."So that's it?"I stop. "I'm sorry, I—""You just walk away? Again?"I turn to face her. "Do you know Giovanni's men came to my house?" I ask, remembering how scared I'd been. Letting myself get angry. "Do you know they were waiting there for me when I got home? Do you know what I did for you last night?"This time, it's her to shift her one good eye away."I think we're even, Ciara."I walk out the door then, feelings of guilt and anger warring inside me. I believe her when she says he hurt her after I left, but the family adopted her months after I was gone. She's officially Sean's sister. And he won't hurt her now if only because it won't look good if he does. He's like his father,
Sienna"I won't be a prisoner.""I don't want a prisoner.""Why do you need to know where I am all the time?""I don't need to. I just want to." I lean in toward her. I want to be sure she understands what I say next. "I won't put many restrictions on you. I'm a reasonable man. But if you say yes then we have an agreement, and these are my terms. Your acceptance means your compliance to said terms.""Your rules you mean?""Whatever language you're comfortable with.""I want to talk—""And know that there will be consequences if you break those rules.""What does that mean?"I relax back and give her a wide grin. "It means don't break them. Did you visit Ciara today?""No personal questions. Like your 'no personal effects' rule during the auction.""Touché."The food comes then, filet mignon with roasted potatoes and asparagus. She puts her wine down and picks up her knife and fork. I'm surprised at the zeal with which she eats. She's half-way through her steak before I take my first b
SiennaHe opens the robe wider.I look down at the thick dark hair on top of his head as he takes in my newly waxed pussy, only the thinnest strip of hair remaining there now. I think about yesterday or the day before or the week before. I think about how my life had been normal then. Now, this, him...it's about as far from my normal as it can get. I'm not really even sure how I got here. Or how I said yes to this deal. Or why.Even given the situation with Ciara and Sean, wasn't there an alternative? One that made more sense?But then his fingers are on me again, touching the strip of hair and I can't think about Ciara or Sean or anything anymore. Especially not when he looks at me with his strange now darker eyes."Sit."I sit on the coffee table behind me."Lie back.""I'm not a dog.""Lie back, Sienna."I do as he says and immediately, I feel his knees between mine, nudging my legs apart. I startle when a moment later, cool liquid spills on me and when I look at its source, I find
SiennaI consider switching out the lights and trying to sleep, but I won't be able to. I'm too wound up. I get up, grab my phone out of my tote, and check for messages. There aren't any.When I'm walking back to the bed, I notice a book lying open and face down on the dresser.I pick it up, read the title. I don't recognize it. I open it, meaning to flip through to read the first few pages when a photograph falls out.I bend to pick it up. It's a photo of an older man with his arm around a younger woman, and beside them stands a man who resembles Giovanni. He's got a baby in his arms, and the woman, I assume the baby's mother, has her face turned to the baby. A little hand has got a fistful of her hair, and she's trying to loosen it.I turn it over to look to see if it has a date, but there isn't one, and when I look at it again, I have to smile at the woman's expression.I'm so engrossed that I don't hear him come in."Are you going through my private things?"I'm so startled when h
Giovanni Her gaze is locked on me, and she pulls away when I sit on the bed. Bruises are already darkening her neck.When I reach out to touch her, she flinches."I'm not going to hurt you.""You already did."I grit my teeth, but I accept that. I own it."I can't fight you," she says. "You're stronger than me even without trying.""Don't look through my things and you won't have to worry about it.""I wasn't looking through your things. I wouldn't. It fell out of the book that was on top of the dresser."I switch out the light. Was it? I'm usually more careful with things."Lie down and go to sleep."She switches the light back on on her side. "What happened? Why did you get so angry?"This is unexpected.I give a little snort. "No personal effects, remember?""It was a photograph.""Shut off the light and go to sleep." I lie down and turn my back to her."Was it the phone call?"I roll to face her. "Were you eavesdropping too?""No. I just came out into the hall after my shower and
SiennaIt's suddenly cold when he slides off me and goes into the bathroom. I hear water running, and a few minutes later, he returns. He's cleaned himself and now cleans me with a warm washcloth."I can do that." I try to take the cloth from him."Stay," he says like a caveman.When he's finished cleaning me, he goes back into the bathroom to get rid of the towel before returning and switching out the light. He lies down beside me.I turn my back to him, meaning to slide to the other side of the bed, but he wraps his big arm around me and pulls me to him. He holds me there, tight against his chest.He doesn't say a word, he doesn't let me go, not for a second and all I can think is how warm he is. How soft his skin is over all that muscle and I find myself melting into him. Again, this feeling of something solid at my back. Something safe.I should pull away. This is too close. But when I try, he just tightens his grip."Sleep," he says as if he hears my thoughts, hears the chaos in
SiennaI have a feeling I wouldn't get very far if I tried that. Besides, I need this time. This month.Is it naïve to think that if I stay here, in this penthouse, that if or when Ciara tells Sean about me, maybe he'll think I'm gone—that I took off—and I can slip back into my life once the month is up?And with Giovanni, I think I'm safe even as that image of him last night, that of the raging beast, flashes in my memory.Who's going to keep you safe from Giovanni?I'm about to go back into the bedroom to get dressed, thinking I'll wear the jeans and top I'd quickly shoved into my tote last night when the elevator dings, announcing someone's arrival.The doors slide open and a woman steps out, giving me a once over. Two men follow her, each pushing a rack into the penthouse."Put them there," she tells them."What's this?" I ask when she introduces herself as she tugs the cloth covering the first rack off.I forget her name as soon as she says it when I get a look at what's on those
SiennaWhen we get to the lobby, I ask the man to wait when I see a coffee shop and stop for a to-go cup. I take out my wallet to pay but an older woman, I guess the manager, steps between me and the girl and pushes my money away."It's taken care of, Miss," she says. "Anything you need."Of course, it is.I'm his whore. And they all know it. The woman with the designer clothes. The man who is standing a few feet from me. This woman."Thank you," I say awkwardly, knowing it's no use arguing.I put my money back in my wallet and take the cup, too distracted to even add cream or sugar before heading outside where the sedan that once brought me here carries me to the shop.Sundays aren't usually that busy at the shop so being there today will give me a chance to take inventory.On Monday I'll walk over to the homeless shelter a few blocks away and hand them a check for fifty-percent of what the shop took in minus what I'd given Ciara. It's not usually that much, but people don't realize