But why did he lie to her about his name? It’s not all about you, Amory, he must have his reasons and they are private. She put the passport back where she found it and went back into the living room as Felix/Grant came back in. Felix, she told herself, for god’s sake don’t trip up and let him know you know.
He smiled at her. “They’ve taken the dude away.”
Sofia was surprised. “They didn’t want to speak to me?”
He shook his head. “I told them everything they needed to know. Hey, look, sit down. I have some bourbon here somewhere.”
Sofia hesitated, but felt she couldn’t leave without being rude. He had saved her from abduction, after all. Grant came back in with a bottle and two glasses.
“So, tell me, when is your next exhibition? I have to say I was awestruck by your pieces at the gallery opening. Inspiring stuff. Sofia, would you mind if I interviewed you? I’ve been looking for the muse to strike, and I think you may be it.”
Sofia chewed her lip. “I’m not great at being in the public eye, Felix. I did a small profile for Elli Navaro, but she’s more a friend.”
Grant cocked his head to one side, grinning. “And I’m not?”
Sofia smiled ruefully. “Sorry, of course you are. I didn’t mean that, forgive me. What I mean is…I’m shy. It’s that simple. And also, considering who my husband is, I don’t want to be put into a situation where, through my naivety, I could be embarrassing or detrimental to him or his family.”
“I’m in the dark about your husband except that he’s a very lucky man.” He held her gaze a beat too long then looked away, a shy smile on his face. Sofia flushed, and gave a small cough of embarrassment.
“He’s Ivo Zacca. You may not know of him, but I guarantee you’ve heard of his parents. Walter Zacca and Adria La Loggia.”
Grant’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
Sofia chuckled. “Yup. That was my reaction. Look, Felix, I just don’t know if I want to be that exposed. I’m still wary of it, mostly because of my ex-family members.”
“I understand the need to hide.” Grant sighed, staring out of the window, hesitating before he spoke again. “Sofia, we all have secrets, or parts of our lives we would rather forget. How about this? I use a pseudonym for you. We’ll agree on a name and anything you don’t want to tell me is off-limits. The story of a street girl made good.”
When he framed it like that, Sofia could see the appeal. “I really wouldn’t be identified?”
“Absolutely not, unless you find you want to be. Listen, I’m actually going to be away from a few days so I’ll give you time to think about.” He pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Call me. Whenever.”
Grant put Sofia in a cab back to Ivo’s hotel and waved her off. As soon as the cab disappeared, his smile dropped from his face and he went back indoors. The overwhelming twisted desire he felt for her had been a roiling thing inside him all the time he was with Sofia and now, stripping, he went into the shower, masturbating furiously as he thought about touching her, kissing her, fucking her, killing her. God, what was this? He had never felt this level of obsession before and it frightened him. He could so easily lose control around her.
Maybe it was a good thing he was going back to New York for a few days. Here, in Paris, all he wanted to do was follow her, and he was scared his obsession might make him careless. In New York, he could focus, use up some of that sexual tension on Tamara. They could plan Sofia’s murder, prepare the killing ground in the bowels of their club. Grant began to come as he thought about Sofia, leased naked to the wooden St Andrew’s Cross, bleeding and exhausted from the whipping her had given her, but begging him for more as his cock thrust deep inside her tight, velvety cunt. She would kiss him passionately as he drove his knife deep inside her and he grunted now, thick reams of semen shooting from his cock, as he imagined her thanking him with her last breath, and the light going from her lovely eyes as she bled out.
Two hours later, he was on a plane to New York, but the fantasy in his mind was all he could think of. Soon, my darling Sofia, so soon, you will tell me you love me. Soon, you will be begging for death.
Sofia had decided not to tell Ivo about the near-abduction. She had gone over it and over it in her head in the cab back to his hotel. All she wanted now was to make things up with him, and tell him that yes, he could buy their home. After that, they would split everything fifty-fifty. She guessed he would be okay with it, as long as she allowed him to treat her now and then. She didn’t want his wealth to be a factor in their marriage, but neither was she ignorant of the way the world worked. Ivo was a proud man and it would cost her nothing to make sure he never felt uncomfortable. She knew he would do the same in return.
When she opened the door to the suite, she heard voice. “Hey, babe.” She called, lightly, not wanting to interfere. She walked in as Ivo was rising from the couch. In the armchair, another man, gloriously handsome but who looked utterly desolate rose, and gave her a half-smile.
Ivo, his eyes shining, kissed Sofia. “Hey, gorgeous, good to see you. Sofia, this is my friend, my best friend and roommate from college for his sins. Introduce yourself, man.”
The other man held out his hand and grinned at her. “Hi, Sofia. Ivo said you were beautiful, but I see he was understating. It’s great to meet you. I’m Penn, Penn Black.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Did you like Penn?” Ivo asked, later, as they returned from dinner with his friend. Sofia nodded.
“I did, very much. I’m so sorry about his sister. What a horrendous way to lose someone, and pregnant too. God,” Sofia shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.
“That’s why he came to see me, to tell me. Willa was a sweet girl, a good friend.” Ivo sighed. “So much death,” he said softly.
“Hey, stop that. An accident is just that and your mo…I mean, Adria is still with us, right? Don’t give up.”
Ivo smiled and leaning over, kissed her. “I love you.”
She brushed her lips back and forth on his. “I love you too, Mr. Zacca, and that thing I said I’d think about? Let’s do it. Let’s go for it. It’s just money.”
Ivo looked delighted. “Really?”
“Absolutely. I was being silly. Being wealthy is a part of who you are, and I love the fact that you never flash it around, or act as if it makes you superior to the rest of us. So, yes, Ivo Zacca, we should buy a home. But, I’m going to work my ass off to at least be able to contribute as much as I can. Deal?”
“Deal. Can I make a condition?”
Sofia smiled, knowing he would have to have the last word. “Go for it?”
“We look together.”
Sofia snorted. “Hell, yes. Who knows what mid-life crisis male frat-boy dump you’d buy?”
Ivo threw his head back and laughed. “You have no faith, woman. And don’t think I won’t keep your glitter fetish in check.”
“Oh, you know me so well,” Sofia dead-panned. She giggled. “This is going to be fun.”
And they did have fun. By the time they had seen the fifth apartment three days later, they knew what they wanted and where. The third apartment they had seen, in the trendy Marias district, was the penthouse of the building, with views to die for, a large outside balcony, which Ivo declared big enough for “an outside mattress.” They shared a glance – yes, sex would definitely be on the menu here.
Sofia left the room while Ivo discussed money with the realtor. She knew it would be millions of Euros and she didn’t want the feeling of being out of her depth. She went to the balcony and gazed out over the city. How the hell had she gone from living on the streets to a penthouse luxury apartment, married to a gorgeous billionaire in less than a year?
Not only that but she’d had a call from Maceo Bartoli, offering her space at an upcoming exhibition in Venice. Something’s got to give, she thought to herself. It’s all going too well. Then she felt guilty, remembering that Adria, her beloved mother in law, had limite
d time. She owed it to her to embrace all the good things in life.
“Hey.” Ivo came out to meet her. He bent his head to kiss her. “I told the realtor we would make a decision in the next few days, that we had a couple more places to see first.”
Sofia nodded, and then said in a low voice. “But this is the one, right?”
Ivo’s eyes were dancing with mischief. “Oh yes, but we don’t want her to know that.”
Sofia giggled, and heady with joy, they thanked the realtor and went to their next appointment.
Later, as they were deciding where to have dinner, Penn Black called and asked if they wanted to join him on a private boat for a moonlight dinner trip down the Seine. “If it sounds it might be weirdly romantic,” he laughed, “I think the three of us being there might alleviate some of the awkwardness.”
“Ha,” said Sofia when Ivo told her what Penn had said. “If only he knew about our kinks, he wouldn’t say that.”
Ivo grinned. “I don’t think it would shock him. Penn’s a pretty open-minded guy, and by open-minded, I mean, he isn’t shy about his particular proclivities.”
“Really? Do tell.” Sofia was wriggling into a purple bandanna dress, which distracted Ivo for a moment. She saw him ogling her and wiggled her butt at him. Io laughed.
“Damn, woman, now I have to get my pants on over this tentpole. Anyway, Penn,” he stopped and ruefully looked down at his erection. “Nope, I can’t talk about Penn’s sexual hijinks with a hard-on. That’s too weird even for me.”
Sofia snickered but then took pity, sinking to her knees before him. “Let me help you with that, and while I do, pretend that Penn’s kinks are yours and tell me what you want to do to me…or what you want me to do to you. There’s not much I won’t agree to, baby.”
Ivo gave a groan as she took him into her mouth and began to tease the tip of his cock with her tongue. “Jesus, Sofia…well…in college, Penn…I mean I used to frequent all the BDM clubs in the local area. Every night. I was quite open with my room-mate about what I did there. I would fuck and be fucked, then, as a Dom, I would find a Sub for the night. She would have to do everything I ordered her to, and gratefully too. She would let me paddle her ass, whip her with a riding crop, leave bruises on her skin…”
Sofia, so turned on by his talk, gave a moan of pleasure, her mouth working his cock until she felt him shudder and jerk, spilling salty, creamy cum onto her tongue. Ivo pushed her back onto the floor, hiking her dress up around her waist and burying his head in her groin. His teeth nipped at her clit, his tongue delving deep inside her. Sofia shuddered through one orgasm, then when he plunged his ramrod-hard cock into her sodden cunt, she gasped and yelped with pleasure. “Tell me what Ivo and Penn would do to me…. would you both fuck me?”
“Christ, yes. Penn would drive his cock into your cunt and I would take your perfect little ass and plunge into it. We would kiss you, caress your breasts, stroke your beautiful belly. I would leave my fingerprints on your hips, my fingernails digging in your skin, drawing blood...”
“Oh god, yes, yes…” Sofia was writhing beneath him, panting and gasping, “more, Ivo, more…”
“You would take my riding crop across your buttocks, your belly, your labia. It would be an exquisite pain and you would beg me for more. You would suck my cock, while I pleasure your clit, all while Penn took you in the ass. You would let us both take over your body… you would straddle Penn, ride him while I fucked you from behind…let me come on your belly…”
They were both so crazed with desire that by the time they came, explosively, both screaming the other’s name, they were exhausted and had to lay down on the floor for twenty minutes just to be able to speak. Finally, Ivo rolled onto his side, grinning down at her.
“Wow.”
Sofia laughed. “Wow is right. Who knew you could get so turned on by adding another man.”
Ivo chuckled. “Well, I do have a kink for watching you get fucked – as long as I trusted the guy and Penn, well, he’s like brother to me. Actually, nope, in this context, brother seems wrong.”
“Best friend.”
“That’s it. I trust Penn.”
Sofia studied him. “So, if he were willing…?”
Ivo nodded. “If he were willing. You think he’s attractive, right?”
“I only have eyes for you,” she batted her lashes dramatically and Ivo laughed. “But, yes, he’s a very handsome dude, second only to you. You really wouldn’t mind him fucking me?”
“No. As long as I was there of course,” he joked but suddenly, she saw the uncertainty in his eyes.
“Hey,” she sat up and made him sit up too. “We don’t have to do this. Just talking about it was good enough for a mind-shattering orgasm, so if you have any doubts about me and another man…”
“It’s not that, I trust you implicitly,” he said firmly, but then hesitated. “It’s that…I want to be sure that I’m not coercing you into something you’re not ready for. A few months ago, you were a virgin. And now…”
“You are sweet,” Sofia kissed him softly, “and yes, I was a virgin. But you think I didn’t fantasize when I was a virgin? You think I didn’t masturbate? Jesus, the amount of batteries I got through…” She crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue and, Ivo laughed. “But Ivo, I want to experience everything with you. I want to make your fantasies come true as much as you’ve given me everything. Everything.”
Ivo leaned his forehead against hers. “God, I love you, Mrs. Zacca.”
“Still not used to that, but I love you too.”
Ivo kissed her. “Sometimes I forget there’s such an age gap between us. When I met you, I truly did meet my other half.”
“And I, mine.” Sofia got to her feet slowly and pulled him up. “There’s nothing we can’t do as long as we’re together.” She chewed on her lip, thinking about something. “Ivo, there’s something you should know. A few days ago, the day I met Penn, something had happened earlier in the day. I didn’t tell you about it because I didn’t want you to go off and do something stupid, but now I want to be totally honest. Just promise me, you’ll hear me out.”
Ivo drew in a deep breath. “Go for it.”
“My step-father tried to abduct me.”
Sofia could see the rage and fear explode in Ivo’s expression, but he struggled to reign it in. “Tell me more, Sofia.”
She sat down on the bed and patted it. When he sat, she took his hand. “It was outside Desi’s apartment. He had a bodyguard with him, a huge dude, and he tried to manhandle me into a cab. Luckily, Felix…or Grant…or whatever he calls himself, came along and helped me out. He called the police and they took the bodyguard away. My step-father had already gotten away, the coward.”
Ivo’s knuckles were very white as he clenched and unclenched his fists. She swept a hand into his hair. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m fine.”
“That son-of-a-bitch.” Ivo closed his eyes and she could see him struggle with his temper. Finally, he opened his eyes. “Who the hell is Felix Grant?”
Sofia chuckled. “No, when I met him, he said his name was Felix but then…oh, never mind. He’s Desi’s neighbor.”
“I owe him a drink, an expensive one.”
“He’s a nice guy. I thought you met him at the gallery opening, but maybe not.” She got up and straightened her dress. “Anyway, I thought you should know.”
“Thank you for telling me, but if there is a next time, you tell me immediately, okay?”
She kissed him. “I will. Thanks for not blowing your top.” She grinned wickedly. “Although anytime you want me to blow your top…”
“Dirty girl.”
“You know it.”
She could see it was still bothering him as they took a cab down to the river. Sofia nudged him as they walked down to where they could see Penn’s boat waiting. “Hey, you. Stop thinking about it.”
Ivo smiled ruefully. “Not going to happen, but for tonight, I’ll try.”
Sofia kissed
his cheek, nuzzling the stubble on his face with her nose. “All that matters is I love you, husband. Now, tonight, we have other things to think about, remember?”
She ran the tip of her tongue along his bottom lip and he gave a groan. “Tentpole, again. Damn it, Sofia.” But he laughed and tightened his arm around her shoulders.
“By the end of the night, Ivo, I’m going to make your fantasies come true, at least, I hope to.”
Penn greeted them with a smile a bear-hug for them both. He eyed Sofia appreciatively. “God, Sofia…Ivo Zacca, you are a lucky bastard.”
Ivo and Sofia shared a knowingly look and Sofia took Penn’s hand, enjoying the shock on his face when she brushed her lips quickly against his. She chuckled as he looked between the two of them, and Ivo grinned.
“Let’s go grab our table, shall we? I think it’s going to be an interesting night.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tamara only felt a little unfaithful as she straddled Grant Christo and impaled herself on his rampant cock. Grant grinned up at her. “Such a sweet little snatch you have.”
Tamara snorted. “Sweet? I don’t think so. But it can do this…” She clenched her vaginal muscles hard around his shaft and he groaned.
“Fuck, I think I might have missed you.”
“You’d better had.” She rode him, slowly at first, concentrating on her own pleasure. “Pinch my nipples.” She ordered him and yelped with pleasure as he tweaked them hard. “Good. Now tell me about the little whore.”
“Your father tried to abduct her, force her to come back to New York.”
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