Chapter 2 #2
“Of course, you’ve got nothing to say,” she continues, undeterred by my silence. “Men like you belong in hell!”
“Enough!” Massimo’s voice is low and dangerous. “You are forgetting your place.”
Sienna’s chest rises and falls, and I feel a spark of irritation when she breaks my gaze to look at her father.
“Someone had to say it—”
“Enough!” He snaps, shutting her up again. “Someone has to learn when and how to speak, and I will gladly teach you.”
Camilla flinches again on the sofa. Daniela lowers her gaze.
Sienna meets her father’s gaze squarely, but it doesn’t fool me.
I see the fear she’s masking, the way her body braces for impact, and my blood ices in my veins.
A red haze stains my vision, and I struggle with the urge to drive a knife straight into Massimo’s old heart.
“My apologies, Alessandro.” Massimo turns to me. “Since we only have two weeks, I suggest you and Camilla meet for lunch tomorrow. You should at least attempt to get to know one another.”
Camilla lets out another broken gasp. This time, Sienna doesn’t reach for her. Instead, she turns and stalks out of the foyer. Just as she reaches the stairs to disappear from sight, she pulls the pins in her bun out. A waterfall of long, rich brown hair tumbles down her back.
The sight is like a physical blow to my skull. I would recognize that hair anywhere.
Sienna is the masked woman from last night.
The shift in me is immediate. I want to own her. I want that hair wrapped like a silk rope around my fist as I take her from behind. I rise to my feet, my body tense. I would plow through anyone who tries to stop me from finishing what I started last night.
“Let me talk to her,” I tell Massimo.
His brow furrows. “Why? As you said, her opinion doesn’t matter. I will deal with her myself.”
The red haze begins to cloud my vision again at the thought of Massimo dealing with Sienna. Only the thought of me getting my hands on her stops it from taking over.
“Give me a moment,” I say, not waiting for his permission.
I stride out of the room, tracking her up the stairs. She’s moving fast, her heels clicking against the stone, her hips swaying with a defiant, angry energy under the fabric of her dress.
That gorgeous curtain of brown hair bounces against her lower back with every step she takes, catching the dim light of the hallway.
Watching it swing against her curves only tightens the knot of hunger in my gut. She looks small in the sprawling, cold hallway, but her posture is stiff with pride.
I close the distance stealthily, my shadow overtaking hers on the wall just as she reaches the intersection of the gallery. Before she can turn the corner, I step into her path, cutting off her escape route and forcing her to a sudden, jarring halt.
I don't give her room to breathe. I step directly into her personal space, looming over her until she has no choice but to tilt her chin up to look at me.
“You and I have met before, bella,” I say, my voice dropping.
Her eyes go wide. “You’re crazy.”
“Am I?” I step into her space, crowding her against the wall. The tension between us is so thick it’s suffocating. “Does your father know his little daughter spends her nights at sex parties?”
Her face goes pale, and she opens her mouth to lie. I don’t let her. I fist my hand in her hair, yanking her head back. She claws at my wrist, her nails digging into my skin to break my grip, but it only exposes the delicate column of her throat.
Against my better judgement, I lean in, my lips grazing the sensitive skin. I shift my other hand, reaching between her thighs, pressing firmly against her heat.
Her eyes drift close, but they open immediately again as she forces herself to look me in the eye despite the way her pulse races. “You don’t get to touch me whenever you feel like it.”
“But I do,” I answer, leaking closer. “Tell me, Sienna,” I growl against her skin. “Do you regret that we didn’t go further last night? Is that why you’ve been mad at me since you walked in? Hmm?”
“In your dreams,” she breathes, though she whimpers the moment my pressure deepens.
I almost lose it.
Fucking fuck.
I should stay away from her. She’s everything I don’t need right now. But I crave her fire, and the submissive streak she displays when I’m near makes the burn all the more worthwhile.
I want her.
I suddenly pull back.
“You bastard!” she fires at me, eyes blazing. “Don’t mistake my body for permission,” she says, shoving against my chest. “Those are two very different things.”
“I suggest you return to the foyer, Sienna. I have an important announcement to make. You won’t want to miss it.”
I turn and walk away, not needing to look back to know she’ll follow. When I re-enter the foyer, Massimo is waiting for me to take my seat. A moment later, Sienna appears, her bun pinned back at her nape. She looks composed. I want to ruin her. And I will.
I look directly at Massimo.
“I want to change more than just the date.”
His grip on his cane tightens. “What else could you possibly want, Alessandro?”
“I want to change my bride,” I say smoothly. I let my gaze settle on Sienna, watching the color drain from her face. “I’m marrying Sienna instead.”