by J. L. Beck
Celia
Somehow, I manage to get a few hours of sleep. Probably by sheer exhaustion. When I wake sometime later, my wrists ache, and my fingers are numb from being secured to Nicolo’s bed for hours. That’s not all I wake to. There is a blanket of warmth surrounding me from my neck down to my toes.
I blink my eyes a few times to adjust to the light and find Nicolo passed out, his naked body cupped to the side of my own.
It’s more of a shock to find him naked. Every time he takes off clothes, it’s mostly just shoving them aside than taking them off; he’s never been fully nude in front of me. The muscles low in my belly tighten at the image before me. Why do I like it so much? He’s solid, strong, his muscles dip and rise under his skin. Looking at him gives me the strange urge to trace the ridges of him with my teeth and tongue, to learn the map of his body just as he’s surely memorized mine.
It’s nothing. Obviously, I’m still on edge from him denying me an orgasm this morning. That has to be the only reason I find him so appealing right now. It’s definitely not the inky black tattoos tracking over his skin or the faint dusting of hair leading from his belly button down to his semi-erect cock. The man is always hard when he’s around me.
He stirs beside me, and I quickly stare up at the ceiling. I can’t have him thinking I actually want him.
“My stellina…” he whispers against my neck, his breath raising goose bumps down my bare chest.
I keep silent and wiggle my wrists, hoping he gets the hint. He grunts and unbuckles the belts, gently lowering my arms to the bed. I can’t move my wrists or my fingers, and an intense tingle builds in my muscles as he lies there and massages my wrists, palms, and fingers so gently. It’s like he can be the kindest man ever, and in a flash, he can become the monster of your worst nightmare.
“Better?” he asks.
I tug my hands from his grasp and rotate each wrist to make sure the circulation is restored. As much as I want to fight him at every turn, I don’t want to spend another night tied to his bed. It’s my own fault. I know he always follows through on a threat. I was just too angry to care, too full of pride.
“Are you hungry?” he asks, his voice deep and sleep ridden.
The sound tugs low in my belly, and I shake my head. “No, not yet. I really need to use the restroom and take a shower.”
He hops off the bed like a true morning person, and I scowl at his stupidly nice bare ass. When he comes around and holds his hands out to me, I glare at them. “I can get up by myself.”
To my surprise, he doesn’t argue, just walks into the bathroom. I’m ashamed to admit I watch his ass until it disappears.
While he’s brushing his teeth, I gingerly climb off the bed. I’m sore all over from the Diavolo brothers’ manhandling of me most of the last twenty-four hours. I look down at my body. Bruises line my hips, my wrists, and my upper arms.
They are minor, though, so I rub them gently but resolve to ignore them. They will always heal. It’s the deeper stuff that never goes away.
Nic’s standing in the doorway when I arrive.
“Excuse me,” I say.
He shifts to the side to let me pass, and I squeeze through and head to the toilet. He doesn’t leave as I turn around to sit, and I’m confused why he’s still standing there.
“You can go.”
His shrug sends my belly to my toes. “I’m not going anywhere. You haven’t eaten in, I don’t know how long, and you’re a little unsteady on your feet. I won’t let anything happen to you. As I said, you belong to me. I’m responsible for your care in every way.”
I have to pee, and it’s not worth arguing about this, so I sit and make direct eye contact while I take care of my needs. He just stares back with a grin on his stupidly handsome face. When I finish and wash my hands, I glance at the large shower stall. “Are you going to stay while I shower, too?”
He brushes past me and turns on the water, testing the temperature every few seconds. “Is that good?”
I stick my hand under the spray and shake my head. “I like it hotter.”
He shrugs like he doesn’t care and cranks up the temperature. Once it’s where I like it, I step under the spray, and he follows me, crowding against my back.
“I can do this on my own.”
He tips my head back into the water and strokes my scalp into the spray. “I know you can shower yourself, but I’m taking care of you now. And you will have no secrets from me. I’ll assist you when I feel like it, and I’ll watch you when I want to.”
I should argue with him about his control issues, but I can’t think as he massages shampoo into my scalp with his strong fingers. It takes everything in me not to moan out loud, between his hands and his slick, desirable body aligned with mine. Warm heat coils in my belly.
After he rinses my hair, he adds conditioner and tugs me out from under the direct spray. His gaze takes on a predatory gleam as he soaps up a washcloth. He stares down at my body like he can’t quite decide where to start. He gently washes my bruised wrists first, and then, just as carefully, runs the washcloth over every inch of me, even between my toes and behind my ears. I don’t think I’ve ever been so thoroughly soaped up.
He rinses me with equal care from the soap to the conditioner. I’m practically a big ball of goo by the time he slides the glass door open.
And as if I’m in some posh spa, he produces two large fluffy, warm towels and wraps me up. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He leads me back into the bedroom, plants me on the bed, climbs up behind me, and gently starts running a brush through my hair.
I can’t take it anymore. This has to stop. “What are you doing?”
The brush slides along my scalp, shooting tingles down my spine.
“Taking care of you.”
“But why? Why are you doing this? I can care for myself, and I’m sure you have plenty of bad guy things you could be doing. You know, like ruining people’s lives and kidnapping people?”
“Nope. The only life I have to ruin today is yours. Soo is taking care of a few things, and I’ll touch base with him later. Do you want me to call down and have Sarah bring some food up for us?”
I don’t want to admit I want anything from him, but I’m so hungry my stomach is cramping up. Biting back my words, I nod.
He grabs his phone from the bedside table and types out a text. Then resumes his grooming of me. After a short while, I’m reminded that I still don’t know what is going to happen next. Where do we go from here?
“So, you are keeping me until you get bored or until I say something that pisses you off?”
He snorts. “I’m pretty sure you say more that pisses me off than you do otherwise.”
I can’t wrap my head around what he’s saying. If he doesn’t want to sell me, then what does he want to do with me? And when did I suddenly start caring? The last two days have me upside down and turned inside out. I was sure when he left me in that room, and we parted ways, I’d never see him again, let alone ever hear him say that I belong to him, in more than a form of revenge. This is different. His need for me hinges on something deeper.
“Then please just tell me what you want?” My tone is calm, level, and I hope we can have a civil conversation for once. Ours always seem to develop into a fight, or worse.
His hands go still in my hair. “I want you. That’s it.” He pauses, “No, that’s not it. I want you to want me in return. And while I can understand that, it might take you some time to come around to that. I’m willing to wait.”
I blink and pull away from him, turning fully so I can actually look at his face. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. His features are serious, set in hard lines, and his full lips tilt down as he stares at me with the same fury I feel. Daring me to fight him, to call him names, or lash out.
Part of me feels guilt for taking advantage of his current mood, and his request, but I can’t pass up the opportunity. “Is Lucas okay?”
He spins me to face away again, so he can fin
ish brushing and drying my hair. “He is alive and should remain so if he does no more stupid shit.”
“Can I see him?” I whisper.
The brush snags on a tangle, and I wince.
“No, you can’t see him. Not yet.”
“Not even to see if he’s actually alive?”
“Really, stellina? You don’t trust me? I’m wounded.”
I jerk myself from his hands and turn around once more. “I just wanted to make sure.”
He sits the brush on the bed with a long sigh. I can’t help but stare at him. I’ve never seen him like this. And every moment since I woke up feels important somehow. And because of it, there’s an extra layer of pressure not to fuck things up.
“Tell me why you care. Why it’s so important to you.”
Again, I’m shocked at his rational request. He seems to be a different man, and I don’t understand if he’s been like this all along or if he’s just changed overnight. “I told you everything I knew last night. He knows something about me, about my family, and I want answers.”
He tips his head to the side to study me, tracing my cheeks, down my neck to where the towel is wrapped securely above my breasts. “That’s not enough. I don’t want you near him, or any man.” His tone is strained, like he’s moderating it for my benefit. And hell, he’s been strange all morning, acting like he actually cares about me. What a ridiculous idea.
I tug the towel higher and slide off the bed to look down at him. “What the hell is this? Why are you keeping me here? Is this just another level on your twisted game of revenge? Make me care so you can break me in a new fun way? Sell me as broken and a virgin?”
He shifts his legs from underneath him, and I get a full-on look at every inch of his naked body. The smirk on his face tells me how much he likes it. “I told you I wasn’t going to sell you. If you bring it up again, I’m going to get angry.”
“Wouldn’t want you to get angry,” I murmur sarcastically. “And your revenge plan to destroy everyone I love? I assume that’s still on the table.”
His shoulders stiffen, and he sits up straight. “You don’t know anything about my plans for your father. But trust me, when I get to him, he’ll pay for his sins. That, however, has nothing to do with you. I’ve changed my tactic. I’ll find a way to hurt your father without using you. “
I wave at him. “You think I’ll be able to touch you, to look at you, after you’ve murdered my family? Did you consider that angle in your grand plan for things?”
A knock on the door interrupts us, and he hops off the bed and opens it. A few seconds later, he turns back to face me with a tray of food. “Let’s talk about this later so you can eat.”
“I don’t want to fucking eat. I want answers. I want you to understand how much all of this hurts me. We might not be a loving family, but they are still my parents. The only family I’ve ever known. Every second you plot and plan against my family is like a punch to my heart.”
He carefully sits the tray on the bed and faces me, hands on his hips. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, and I don’t want it. If I desire to know how you feel about my murdering your family one by one, then I’ll fucking ask. Until then, sit the fuck down and eat.”
I swallow against the lump lodged in my throat. Obviously, his good mood couldn’t last forever. And he and I have a way of butting heads. Every time we fight, things get out of hand, and I step away from him, waiting for when he’s had enough of my mouth and makes a move to shut me up.
“I was just trying to be honest with you, but as I thought, you want a sex doll, not an actual woman with thoughts and feelings.”
He stalks forward, and I jerk away from him. When he drops his hands, I dare to meet his eyes. My knees are already trembling in anticipation of whatever violence I’m luring out of him.
“You aren’t being honest. How can you be when you don’t know the entire story?” he says.
I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. “And what, I don’t deserve that either?”
Again, he charges forward, and I tuck my chin, trying to anticipate how he’s going to grab me and what he’s going to use to punish me this time.
Shock consumes me when he gently cups the back of my head and draws me into him slowly. I don’t resist, still coiled, waiting for him to strike.
He leads me to the bed, sits down, and gathers me, towel and all, across his lap. I freeze in his grip, waiting for something. All he does is hug me to his chest, and after a moment, he scoops my hair to the back of my neck and presses his forehead into mine.
“I’m going to be hard on you. Some days, I’ll be so demanding you won’t be able to stand it. Others, I’ll care for you so gently you’ll be putty in my hands. And even still, there will be days you hate the very sight of me. But the thing you need to remember is no matter how bad or good the days are, you belong to me.”
His tone takes on an edge, and the grip on my neck tightens as he digs his fingers into my skin. “You belong to me,” he repeats. “Every breath you take is mine. Every time you fall apart, every happy moment, and sad, they all belong to me. One day you’ll understand, but for now, just know you’re safe. I won’t be selling you. No one will gawk at you or touch you except me.”
I swallow heavily, my heart beating hard against my ribs, and I don’t even know why. It’s not like I want him. Because I don’t. I definitely want nothing to do with this murderer who turns me inside out and makes me feel every nerve ending in my body.
He tugs the tray toward him on the bed and lifts a piece of toast to my lips. “Eat for me.”
And all I can do is meet his eyes and let him feed me.
9
Nic
There’s an accusation in her eyes. As if I’ve stolen her all over again, and she’s counting the seconds until she can break free. I hate that the look is there because of me, but I’m also not strong enough to give her up. Not strong enough to watch her slip from my grasp.
She frowns as I feed her a bite of scrambled eggs. In her mind, feeding her is an act of degradation. In mine, it’s an act of caring, an act of a provider.
When she finishes chewing, I feed her a bit of sausage and take a bite for myself.
“Why are you doing this?”
Deliberately misunderstanding her question, I say, “You’re hungry, and I want to feed you.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
I hold the fork up to her lips again, but she bats my hand away and shakes her head.
“Not eating isn’t going to help your situation. You might as well enjoy my excellent cook as part of the perks.”
Her scowl makes me grin as I move the tray to my dresser and then return to the bed.
“Now what?” she asks, ice returning to her voice.
I tuck a piece of damp hair behind one of her delicate ears. “I give you what you tried to offer me before the auction, a way to ensure you don’t get put on the block again, by me or anyone else.”
“How?” Her eyes narrow in suspicion.
My grin should be a warning, but her eyes are still wide as I tug the tucked ends of the towel around her breasts and strip it away.
She tries to chase after the towel, but I’ve already jerked it off and tossed it on the floor before she can get a proper grasp on the cotton.
“What the hell? I don’t want to sleep with you,” she whines, cupping her hands over the breasts I just carefully washed.
“It’s adorable that you think you have a choice, princess. Do you want your buyer to get his hands on you? Because I promise, if he finds you, and you’re still a virgin, he’s going to be a very happy man until he breaks you and then discards you.”
“How is that different from what you’re doing to me?”
I wave at the food and toward the shower. “I’m caring for you. Having sex with you, while I admit, will be enjoyable, is also meant to ensure you lose some of your appeal to many of my clients in the future.”
Her gaze
is even icier than her tone now. “How magnanimous of you to fuck me to keep me safe. What a hardship this must be for you.”
With a snatch, I grasp her chin and pull her into me. “Watch your tone, stellina. I’m being gentle with you, but I won’t be disrespected so defiantly.”
She clamps her mouth shut and continues to glare. I can’t wait to wipe that look from her eyes when I make her shudder and moan around my cock.
“Come here,” I say and drag her naked into my lap. Her ass is full and soft in my hands, and I knead my fingertips into her muscles.
Thankfully, she doesn’t fight, her body straddling mine, her knees pinned against my hips. Her core is flush with my already lengthening erection, and I watch her until she realizes, her body tightening above mine as if she wants to pull away but can’t think of how to do it safely.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, curious about what she is thinking regarding my plan.
She shakes her head a little too hard to be the truth.
I trail my lips over the tight curve of her jaw and enjoy the way she squirms against me. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”
Carefully, I cup her ass in my hands and roll us over, so she’s flat on her back, and I’m wedged between her thighs. She sucks in a ragged breath that is loud between us.
“I’m not going to just take you. I have to make sure you’re ready first. I’ll try to minimize the pain the best I can. And then afterward, make sure you come so hard you see stars.”
She averts her gaze and grits her teeth. “Don’t bother.”
Damn this woman and her pride. I drag her chin down to force her to look at me. “Did you just say ‘don’t bother?’ Because if that’s the case, then I shouldn’t. I should push you so very close and leave you trembling on the edge, just like I did in the car. Do you want that?”
Her head shake is minimal, but I know I’ve gotten inside.
“Then fucking change your tune. Tell me you want me to make you come, and I’ll forget what a mouthy little brat you are.”
The clench in her jaw and the fire in her glare are the only outward signs of her anger toward me. I’ll take it. Anger is a thousand times better than indifference.