Taken

by Mia Ford

  I knew I should feel guilty about being so involved with Alessio. But being around him was like being on an incredibly addictive drug. I couldn’t think straight – I couldn’t even see straight when Alessio’s powerfully hypnotic eyes focused on me.

  My phone buzzed and I smiled. I can’t believe he’s calling me again, I thought as I reached down and grabbed it. It hasn’t even been twelve hours. Maybe men really can change.

  “Hey,” I said. A smile spread across my face. “Didn’t think I’d be hearing from you so soon.”

  There was a cough – a distinct sound that I knew wasn’t coming from Alessio. My heart sank and my cheeks reddened.

  “Beth, this is Detective Aberson. I’m sorry to ask on such short notice, but would you be available to come down to the station? I’d like to speak with you.”

  My cheeks burned flame red and I nodded mechanically. “Of course.” My voice came out as a squeak and I coughed, clearing my throat. “I mean, of course,” I said smoothly. “When?”

  “Today,” Detective Aberson replied. “This afternoon. In about an hour, if you’re free.”

  My eyebrows flew up and I blinked. “That is soon,” I said. “Are you sure this can’t wait?” My heart was pounding and a cold taste of fear seeped into my mouth. “I mean, I can come in later this week, maybe that would be better?”

  “Today, Beth,” Detective Aberson said. For the first time, his voice sounded truly cold. I shivered.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be there soon.”

  An hour later, Detective Aberson met me at the police station. We shook hands, then he led me into the same room where I’d spoken with him before. I was so nervous that I was shaking.

  Detective Aberson looked deeply into my eyes, like he was searching for something hidden.

  “We’re very close to pinning Amoruso down,” Detective Aberson said. He cleared his throat. “I know this has been a long time to wait for you, Beth, and I wanted you to know that we’re sorry.” He smiled grimly. “The wheels of justice turn slowly, so they say.”

  I nodded. “It’s fine.” There was a lump forming in my throat and no matter how many times I swallowed, it was still there.

  “Do you have anything you’d like to share?”

  “Excuse me?” I squeaked loudly. “What?”

  Detective Aberson frowned. “Have you noticed anything unusual, Beth? Has Amoruso tried to contact you?”

  I shook my head. “No,” I lied. “I don’t know anything about what he’s doing right now.” That, at least, was technically not a lie – Alessio hadn’t mentioned any plans for his day.

  “Okay,” Detective Aberson said. “Well, I get that you’re still working through a lot of grief, Beth. But this is very important to us. I’m counting on you to testify – that’s what’s going to play on the jury and send that scum to prison for the rest of his life.”

  I nodded mechanically. “What if…” I trailed off, biting my lip. “What if the family retaliates against me for speaking up? Couldn’t they come after me, and make my life miserable?”

  Detective Aberson frowned. “Well, that is a possibility, but they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if they were to try anything like that,” he said slowly. “Are you really that worried, Beth? When we spoke before, you were very determined to do this.”

  I nodded. “I know,” I said slowly. “I’m really sorry, Detective. I think I’m just afraid.”

  Detective Aberson nodded. He closed his notebook. But when I started to rise from my chair, he held his hand up.

  “Not just now, Beth, if you don’t mind. I’ve got a few things I’d like to say first.”

  My heart slammed against the walls of my chest and I gaped. “Are you kidding?”

  “No,” Detective Aberson said. He smiled, but it wasn’t entirely happy. “I wanted to speak to you about guilt.”

  I blushed. Oh my god, I thought. A wave of panic crested over me and I shivered. He knows. He knows all about me and Alessio together. He’s going to tell me that I’m in trouble now, that I won’t be able to testify because I’m too close. And then I’ll get in legal trouble for lying! Oh my god, what if I go to jail?

  “Beth,” Detective Aberson said slowly. “Six months is a long time. You may have moved on from Michael…I noticed you’re no longer wearing your ring.”

  “His father asked for it back,” I said sourly. “I couldn’t exactly refuse.”

  “Ah, well, you really shouldn’t feel guilty…you know, if you’ve begun to move on from Michael.” Detective Aberson looked directly in my eyes. “It’s very natural, Beth.”

  I nodded. A numb feeling was spreading through my limbs. I couldn’t tell if Aberson was playing me or not – was he just waiting for me to break down and confess that I’d been sleeping with Alessio? Or was he trying to play good cop, and get me to admit it freely.

  “I have started to move on,” I said slowly. “But no one will ever mean what Michael meant to me.” I cringed – the phrase sounded so cheesy aloud. But I hadn’t exactly meant it in a way that was entirely positive. I knew that I would never feel the same way about anyone that I’d felt about Michael.

  But I already felt stronger about Alessio than I ever had about my former fiancé.

  “Well, that’s natural,” Detective Aberson said. “Just remember, you need to do this, Beth. Try thinking about it as closure.”

  I nodded. “Okay,” I said. I shifted in my seat. “Can I go now?”

  “Yes. Of course. You know the way out?”

  I nodded gratefully. “Thanks,” I said.

  As soon as I was outside on the street, I grabbed my phone from my bag and called Alessio. I didn’t expect him to answer – after all, it was the middle of the day. But I wanted to see him. I wanted to reassure myself that my feelings were real, that Alessio and I had a passionate bond stronger than anything I’d ever thought possible.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s me,” I said quickly. “Can you pick me up? I need to see you?”

  “Of course, Beth,” Alessio said. His voice was low, and listening to the way he said my name sent shivers of lust down my spine.

  We hung up and I waited on the street for Alessio’s limo.

  It didn’t take him more than ten minute to reach me, which was incredible by New York standards. As soon as the long, sleek, black car rolled up to the curb, I bit my lip and climbed inside.

  Alessio was sitting there with a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. He looked good in a white cotton shirt that showed off his deep, olive tan. He raised an eyebrow.

  “Doing okay?”

  “Take me to a hotel,” I whispered as I slid onto Alessio’s lap. “I want to be alone with you.”

  Alessio grabbed my body and threw me down onto the big, soft bed of the penthouse suit. We were at the Plaza Hotel – Alessio had called and reserved a room as soon as I’d told him that I wanted to be alone with him. There hadn’t been time for games or chatter, just endless making out that left me with a swollen clit and stiff, throbbing nipples.

  Alessio climbed on top of me and I moaned softly as his muscular body pressed me down into the bed. His mouth covered mine and he kissed me so deeply that I couldn’t breath. I cried out with lust as I wrapped my arms around my neck and pulled our bodies as close together as possible. As Alessio kissed and nibbled his way down the bare skin of my neck, I arched my back and wrapped my legs around his waist. This was the first time that we’d been together outside of his limo, and it felt oddly strange and intimate. Sunlight was filtering through the tall windows of the penthouse suite and I closed my eyes as Alessio made his way down my body.

  “I want you,” I murmured huskily. Alessio trailed his fingers up my denim-coated thighs, then fumbled with the snap of my jeans and pulled them down my hips. I was wearing new panties – a sheer lace thong – and I could feel the crotch was soaked with my arousal juices. A musky scent filled the room and I closed my eyes as Alessio spread my legs and k
neeled between my thighs. He lowered his face to my belly, nudging up my shirt with his nose and kissing the exposed skin until I giggled and blushed all over.

  I relaxed my head onto the pillows. Alessio pulled my top over my head and tossed it to the side. He pulled me up off the mattress, then snaked a hand behind my body and unclasped my bra. As my breasts tingled in the cool air of the room, Alessio lowered his face to my erect nipples and began to bite and suck until I was moaning with passionate lust. Hot, liquid pleasure spread through my body and I screamed and cried as Alessio rolled my nipples between his fingers. The sensation was so intense that I could feel it in my clit, and I arched my back and desperately rubbed my crotch against his muscular torso until hot little darts of pleasure were pricking my skin.

  I tangled my hands in Alessio’s rick, dark hair and tugged at his scalp until he groaned. His cock was rock hard – I could feel it pressing into my thigh – and I gently pushed him away and onto his back. Alessio looked at me with surprise. For a moment, clad only in panties, I felt sexy. I wanted to please him, to give him the same pleasure that he sent soaring through my body like wildfire.

  As Alessio stared at me, I pouted and licked my lips. I closed my eyes and ran my hands over my breasts, strumming my hard nipples until I was moaning at my own touch. Alessio groaned and reached for me but I swatted his hand away and crawled sensually between his legs, making sure to keep my ass pointed high in the air. The bulge at the crotch of Alessio’s pants made my mouth water.

  “I want to please you,” I said coyly, running a hand over Alessio’s erection. He gaped and grunted, throwing his head back and shoving his crotch against my hands. My fingers were shaking as I fumbled with his belt, then the snap of his fly. As I eased his pants down his muscular body, I realized that he was trembling, too.

  Inside of Alessio’s slacks were silk boxers. I lowered my face to his crotch, inhaling his musky scent and rubbing my face on his erect cock through the thin layer of material. Alessio went wild. He moaned and grunted and tangled his hands in my hair, yanking at my scalp until my face was pressed into his cock. I pulled his boxers down and his cock snapped free, standing straight in the air. He was so beautiful. His cock was just a shade lighter than the rest of his gorgeous body, and I could see big blue veins pulsing on his column of lust.

  I licked my lips. “I’m going to taste you, Alessio,” I purred. I wrapped my hand around the base of his cock and began to pump my hand up and down. I leaned down and licked my lips again, then opened my mouth and took the first few inches of his beautiful manhood into my mouth. He tasted both salty and sweet and I bobbed my head up and down, swirling my tongue around the base.

  Alessio yanked away, pulling his cock out of my mouth. I grunted with surprise as he grabbed my hips, turning me around on the bed until I was facing his feet. Alessio grabbed my panties and ripped them apart, tossing the sodden material to the side. I gasped as he grabbed one of my knees and pulled my legs apart. He moved me back over his body, until my legs were spread on either side of his face.

  My cheeks were burning bright red with shame – Alessio was looking right at my pussy and asshole! I twitched and moaned as I felt his tongue plunge inside of me and swirl around. An amazing feeling of lust swelled in my lower belly and I eagerly resumed my work, sucking on Alessio’s cock and pumping it up and down with one hand.

  It was harder than I’d thought to concentrate. Every time I pause to moan and cry, Alessio stopped licking me. When he wrapped his lips around my clit and started sucking, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Pinpricks of pleasure were studding me all over my body and I wriggled and moaned and shoved my pussy in Alessio’s face as I cried out. I could feel that the skin on my face was burning bright red with desire and I started sucking Alessio’s cock harder than ever before.

  Alessio grunted. The sensation against my clit sent a new wave of orgasmic pleasure rushing through my body and I felt juices dripping out of my pussy, all over Alessio’s face and chest. With my free hand, I cupped his balls and continued bobbing my head up and down over his silky smooth skin.

  Just as I was about to come, Alessio stopped. I moaned in frustration and he pushed me to the side. I rolled over until I was lying on my back and Alessio eagerly crawled on top of me. He slid a hand between my legs and slapped my thighs open. I squeaked and whimpered – it hurt, but somehow the pain mingled with my intense arousal, making it stronger than ever.

  Alessio’s wet cock was poking me between the thighs. I spread my legs and Alessio reached down to grab my ankles. He hoisted my legs over his shoulders and dug his fingers into the flesh of my ass, pulling me close until our bodies were touching. As his cock slid inside of my waiting pussy, Alessio bent down. My thighs stretched painfully but the pleasure flooding my body was so intense that I didn’t care. I moaned and grunted and whimpered as Alessio pressed his lips to mine. He began thrusting in and out of my pussy with more force, and I moaned as his hips slammed against my body. With each thrust, Alessio’s lower abdomen was pressing against my clit and I wriggled against his body, eager for as much contact as possible with his sexy muscles.

  “God,” I moaned. “This feels so good, Alessio!”

  Alessio bit my lower lip, sucking until I cried out in his mouth. He reached up and tangled his hands in my hair, yanking my head back as he fucked me with wild abandon. As his cock slid in and out of my pussy, Alessio covered my neck and collarbone with kisses. He pinched and pulled at my nipples until I was crying out with insane, furious pleasure.

  My body belonged to him. He’d claimed me. He’d staked me and conquered me and won me. As he fucked me deeply on that pristine hotel bed, I knew that I’d never belong to another man for the rest of my life. I belonged to Alessio Amoruso exclusively…whether or not he felt the same way about me, it didn’t matter. I was his forever, and I felt it in my bones.

  Alessio yanked my head savagely forward and kissed me deeply. He shoved his tongue in my mouth, mimicking his cock’s savage thrusts as he licked and suckled every inch of my wet flesh. My pussy was swollen and aching but my clit was bursting with pleasure. As I moaned loudly, something delicious snapped in my lower belly and my orgasm began to wash over my head like a powerful gust. As my body clenched and tightened beneath Alessio’s, I grunted and whimpered. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. Alessio thrust harder and harder, and grit his teeth with pleasure. As my pussy clenched his cock with the force of my orgasm, I finally felt his cock begin to spasm and twitch and gush cum inside of my waiting body.

  “You’re mine,” Alessio grunted in my ear as he came. “You belong to me.”

  “Yes,” I whimpered softly. “I do.”

  Beth

  I couldn’t believe that I actually fell asleep in the Plaza Hotel, snuggled up with Alessio like he was my longtime boyfriend. The sex had been so perfect, so hot, that I hadn’t been able to move when we’d finished. And to my shock, Alessio hadn’t kicked me out. Instead, he’d ordered lobster mac and cheese and a bottle of champagne from room service. We’d stayed up all night, laughing at the cheesy soft-core porn movies on late-night HBO. I hated to admit it, but it was so easy to have fun with Alessio. I never would have expected someone as intense as him to be so relaxed, but then again, I never would have expected to fall in love with anyone ever again.

  I was in a real bad situation, and I had no idea what I was going to go.

  In the morning, I kissed Alessio for a long time at the door before he left me go. He was standing with just a white towel wrapped around his neat, muscled waist and the sight of him was making me wet again. The truth was, I was so sore from the night before that I had no idea whether or not I could perform again. Alessio knew exactly what to do to satisfy me and turn me on.

  I’d never thought sex could actually be that good.

  As I walked home, I was so happy that I felt like I was floating above the pavement. The warm streak from the previous day had turned chill and rainy, but I didn’t mind. If anything, it made
me feel closer to Alessio than ever before. I knew that what I was feeling for him was real…but I had no idea whether or not he felt the same way.

  It wasn’t just the sex. Alessio had really tried hard to show me that he was changing. In addition to volunteering at the homeless shelter and food pantry, he was also donating money to charity groups all over the city. He even donated two million dollars to a charity that helped little kids with cancer get wigs during chemotherapy.

  It was like he knew all the right roads to my heart…and he was choosing to take all of them at once.

  I had no idea what I was going to do when it came time for his trial. What could I possibly say to Detective Aberson? It was a crime to refuse to testify – I could even go to jail myself.

  But would I be able to betray the man that I was slowly falling in love with?

  It was so hard to believe that in six months, my whole life had changed so drastically. When I thought of the timid little Beth Wilson who had planned on marrying Michael Bennett, it didn’t even seem like me. And knowing that had Michael lived, we’d be married by now was really upsetting. It wasn’t upsetting because that was what I still wanted. It was upsetting because I caught myself thinking more than once that a divorce wouldn’t be so awful.

  By the time I got home, I was feeling anxious and worried. Alessio wasn’t the kind of guy who talked about his feelings, but I was dying to know what he thought of me. Did he still think I was some stupid, spoiled, silly little girl? Was he only wooing me so that I wouldn’t testify when the time came?

  And what would happen after the trial? Would Alessio revert to his awful ways, and break my heart?

  Heather was in the kitchen making breakfast when I walked in. When she saw my rumpled clothes, she gasped.

  “Oh my god, I thought you’d already left for work,” she said. She smiled slyly. “But I can tell you were working on something else.”

  “Ha, ha,” I said dryly. “Spare me the humor, please.”

  “What happened?” Heather poured me a mug of coffee with cream and sugar and passed it over. I took a long deep breath and a big swallow before answering.