Chapter Fourteen
Roselyn
A fter I eat lunch, I lie down on the bed and stare out into space. I’ve been trying to adjust to my new life. Trying to make sense of this chaos of a marriage. So, I play with Binx. I’ve been doing what Devious says, obeying, trying my damnedest to avoid him. One minute, Devious is being nice and the next he’s a complete asshole. Last night he came home and told me he’s allergic to cats and to keep Binx away from him. When I asked him for extra toys for Binx, he told me not to speak to him unless I’m down on my knees sucking him off. I overheard one of the maids speaking and she said he found out some bad news. I should place Binx in his bedroom and allow him to scratch up his nice bedsheets and clothes, or at least rub his fur all over his clothes so he can have an allergic reaction, but then that would lead me to getting into trouble with him. I feel myself breaking a little on the inside, and I’m giving up on hope of escaping this hellhole. To be honest, I’d rather be far away from him. He likes his power over me and to control me.
Someone knocks on the door, and I don’t bother moving, so I shout, “Come in,” and Max pokes his head inside.
“You have a delivery from a floral shop,” he says.
Who would send me flowers? I hope it’s not another man because if Devious finds out, he’ll kill him like he killed Tommy. Speaking of him, earlier today I said a little prayer to his soul, hoping that he finds some kind of peace in the afterlife.
I cock my eyebrows and shake my head, then drag my feet downstairs to the foyer.
There is a guy wearing overalls with a clipboard in his hand.
“Mrs. Vitali. Where would you like the flowers?” the man asks.
I point to the right. “Um… I guess in the living room.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He tips his hat at me, and then a few other men bring in over a hundred flowers, ranging from bright colors to different sizes. Each one so beautiful.
He hands me a small bouquet of pink flowers with a note attached to it. I read it.
I’m sorry for lashing out on you. You’re more beautiful than the flowers.
Devious xo
Why is he all of a sudden being nice to me? Is this some mind game to fuck with me? He already fucked with my mind enough. What is it with his bipolar mood? Psycho ass. One minute he’s acting cold toward me and the next he’s being kind. Fuck him.
I toss the vase against the beige wall, and it shatters in pieces. Water and petals scatter over the marble floor. One of the maids rushes to the living room. She peers at me, then to the floor. “Are you okay?”
I’m not falling for his bullshit. And he’s stupid to believe this will win me over. Tears burn my eyes, and I crumple the note and toss it on the floor.
The maid’s phone rings, and she answers on the first ring, then she holds it out to me. “Mrs. Vitali. You have a phone call.”
I know who it is, and I’m not in the mood to speak to him. It sucks that I don’t have access to basic shit like a phone, making me realize that I’m just a prisoner here.
“I’m not allowed to have phone conversations.”
“It’s Mr. Vitali.”
I huff out, snatching the phone from her. I mouth, “Sorry,” and she nods.
“Yes, Cayden.” My tone is cryptic and nonchalant.
“Did you like the flowers I bought you?” His voice sounds deeper and sexier over the phone. It would be a lot easier if I wasn’t sexually attracted to him. It would be a lot easier, too, if I didn’t want him touching me. My mind still goes back to the night he gave me an orgasm. And I don’t like the way he’s acting like our dynamic changed.
“They are lovely.”
I don’t offer a thanks because I don’t want anything except to be away from him.
“Tonight, I’m taking you out on a date. Wear a red dress and be ready by seven.”
Date? Why, all of a sudden, is he being nice? It doesn’t matter. I’m going to make myself so horrible to be around, he’ll think twice about playing games with my mind.
“Hell no.”
“You’re going to go, either with a collar around your neck where I’ll drag you around as my pet or you’ll go as my wife.”
Then the phone goes dead.
“Asshole!!!!” I slam the phone down, and head straight to my bedroom.
Devious
When I open the bedroom door, she has her legs crossed with a remote in her hand, flipping through the channels. Binx is snuggled up against her, purring in his sleep. I’m going to have a few words with my cousin about bringing that cat into my home. She knows I’m allergic to animal fur.
Roselyn glances at me, taking in the expensive navy suit and brown leather loafers. Her cheeks turn red, but she doesn’t say a word and puts on her red Vans. She looks tacky as hell. She didn’t bother with putting on makeup, and her curly hair is frizzy and stiff. Her skin is paler than usual. Enzo’s words echo in the back of my head. She’s rebelling because she doesn’t want to be with me.
“You look beautiful. Despite you not putting in effort with your looks.”
She glares at me but doesn’t respond. I grab her hand, and she follows me to the three-car garage. I open the back door to the black SUV, and she slides inside. Then King opens my door, and I sit next to her. Max sits in the middle row, and Damien sits in the passenger seat. Roselyn scoots to the edge of the seat, away from me, putting her hands under her butt. My eyes keep venturing to her long, toned legs.
Her eyes stay glued to the window. “Why are you being sweet to me?” She pauses. “If you’re mindfucking me, please stop. It will be awfully cruel of you to paint me an illusion that you’re going to be nice to me when later on you’re mean to me.”
Her eyes water, blinking rapidly, trying not to let her tears fall, and her gaze is intense as she frowns.
She’s on edge, I get it. She doesn’t trust me, and I don’t blame her.
I rub the back of my head. “I’m not mindfucking you.”
King pulls up to the front of the steak house restaurant I own. Getting out of the car, I open her door as she steps out. She stops, inhales deeply, and she twirls around, closing her eyes.
“I miss this smell and the sounds of the city.”
She opens her eyes, and I take her hand. We head inside and go straight to the elevator.
The elevator stops and dings open. When we step out, Roselyn’s eyes widen as she takes in the view of the city and the people eating and chatting. I made sure that it’s a restaurant that I own, so she can’t escape me. I still don’t trust her, so I made sure that guards surround the restaurant.
It’s romantic. Something that hasn’t left me is knowing how to woo the fuck out of a woman. I’m taking Enzo’s advice, because I don’t want her life to be miserable and I don’t want our marriage to suffer either.
The hostess shows us to our table, and the waitress brings the menus.
“Mr. Vitali. It’s nice to see you.” Her smile is perky before her gaze focuses on Roselyn, and then she bows. “Mrs. Vitali. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Marie, and I’ll be your waitress. Congratulations on the wedding. Would you like an appetizer?”
“I’m not hungry, but I’ll take a glass of Coke and a loaded gun,” Roselyn says, and she places two fingers on the side of her temple, pretending to blow her brains out.
She’s so fucking dramatic, it’s comical.
Marie scrunches up her face, then twists to glance at me.
“The usual for me. For Roselyn, she’ll have a rack of your lamb with a salad and mashed sweet potatoes.”
Marie nods, scurrying off to the next table.
We’re quiet, listening to the soft music. The wind blows her stiff hair, and she eyes me. A smirk plays at the end of her mouth, and then her eyes settle on the lit skyscrapers. Gray clouds hover over the crescent moon.
The way she looks at me, so innocent, makes me want to take her virginity right now. I’ll take it soon enough.
The waitress brings us a bottle of expensive champagne, and I pour Roselyn a glass.
I hate small talk, but I hate the silence between us more.
“What did you do today?”
She takes long and slow sips of her champagne. “What else is there to do? I stay stuck in the house all day, guarded like a prisoner,” she snaps. “I played with Binx, cleaned out his litter box, and I painted and binge-watched a cheesy anime.”
I don’t respond, so I lean back in the chair. The waitress comes back with our meals, and I cut up my steak into small pieces and pour sauce on it.
Roselyn folds her arms across her chest.
“Eat your food,” I order.
She plasters a fake smile on her face. “Yes, sir.”
Then she scoops a handful of mashed potatoes in her hand and feeds herself. She holds a handful and says, “You want some, my darling husband?”
She’s trying to fucking embarrass me so I won’t take her anywhere else. My little nymph thinks she can outsmart me with her antics. I grab her hand and lick it, eating the food, and her eyes widen in shock. My dick aches with my tongue on her skin. Then she groans as she bites her lips, continuing to eat her food with her hands.
People around the restaurant stare at us as if we have three heads. Then she picks up a lamb chop and eats it, smacking her lips loud.
“This shit is so fucking good,” she murmurs.
Marie strolls back to the table, sets a batch of fresh bread on the table, and she stares at Roselyn in disgust, and then her eyes snag on to me.
“My wife was a homeless prostitute, and I found her eating out of a dumpster, so I’m still trying to teach her how to behave at the table. Please excuse her eating habits.” Smiling, I hold out my glass and tap it against hers, then swallow my champagne. I’m going to need some hard liquor to deal with tonight.
Roselyn’s eyes widen, and she puts the food down. She didn’t expect me to beat her at her own game.
“Do you need anything, Mr. Vitali?”
I shake my head. “Do you need anything, my dear wife?”
“Woof, woof, woof,” Roselyn says, holding out her tongue like a dog.
I’ve never been so provoked to hit a woman until now. I grip the edge of the table.
“She’s in therapy because she thinks she’s a dog. She loves it when I gag her and put a leash on her.”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Vitali. This time must be difficult for you.”
“I love her so much, and I want the best for her. She’s my everything.” I lie through my teeth.
Roselyn wrinkles her lips after wiping her hands on a napkin, gets up from the table, and stomps toward the elevator. I tell Marie to put the meals on my tab and I follow Roselyn.
We wait for the elevator doors to open. Damien and Max step into the elevator, and Roselyn and I follow suit.
“Your little tactics aren’t going to work, nymph. So suck the shit up and deal with the fact that I will be taking you out on dates regularly.”
“What’s the point in all of this? So you can fill my head with a bunch of empty lies and break my heart? Whatever bullshit you’re trying to pull, it isn’t going to work on me.”
This woman has lost her goddamn mind if she thinks I’m going to let her speak to me in a disrespectful manner. I really don’t want to hurt her, and I’m going to take Enzo’s advice and treat her better, but her disrespect will not be tolerated.
When the door closes, I tap a button to stop the car. I grab her by the neck, squeezing, but not enough to close off her airway.
“Listen to me carefully, my little nymph.” I lean down. “I’m not trying to pull any bullshit with you. I’m trying to be a good husband, but you’re making it very hard with your immature bullshit. FYI, I’m not filling your head with empty lies. I never promised you anything, but I can promise you this: if you ever pull this bullshit again, I’ll punish you, I’ll lock you in the mansion, seclude you to your room.”
I let her go and press the Down button and the elevator descends, meanwhile she keeps her eyes straight ahead.
“I hate you,” she says calmly.
“As long as your pussy gets wet for me, I don’t care if you do.”
Roselyn
A s soon as we get home, I head straight to the backyard to get fresh air and to get away from Devious.
I’m so sick of his bullshit, and I want to slap him. He says he’s trying to be a good husband, but how can I trust him when he put me through a lot of shit already? At the dinner table, I was hoping that I’d embarrass him enough that he wouldn’t take me out again, but my plan backfired. He played along with my bullshit, beating me at my own damn game, making me the one to look like a nutcase. Fuck Devious. I’m not letting my guard down with him, and I don’t trust him. I won’t allow him to mindfuck me.
Finally, I decide to stroll to the bedroom. With the day I’m having, I could use a long bath. I call Binx, because I need to snuggle up with him. I need his warm body next to mine. He’s the only friend that I truly care about. I check every room, and I know he’s not outside because he doesn’t like it.
I open the door and realize this is the room that Devious and I were supposed to share. Once I’m inside the room, I find Devious is nowhere in sight. I look under the bed but my cat’s not there.
Where are you, Binx? I just want to snuggle and lie down and watch TV.
As I stroll to the dresser, my eyes snag on to the nightstand, and Devious’s phone glows.
I can call my father and see if he can get me out of this god-awful situation. Maybe he can speak to Devious and pay him his money back so I can come home and get out of this toxic-ass marriage. After I call him, I can delete the recent call.
My heart goes haywire, my throat tightens, and a shiver snakes up my spine. My hand trembles like leaves as I grab the phone and swipe up.
I swipe up and dial my papa’s number, and he picks up on the second ring.
“Yeah, D.” His tone sounds annoyed.
I miss hearing his voice, and tears trickle down my cheeks.
“Papa?”
“Yes, Roselyn. Where is Devious?”
I expect him to ask how I’m doing or tell me he misses me, but he doesn’t. Papa never really expressed any concerns about me, and I haven’t seen him since my wedding. I know my father doesn’t love me in the way I need, but he’s still my father and I love him. My heart breaks.
“He’s not here. I want to come home—please come get me. Devious is cruel. He locked me in this mansion and never lets me go anywhere. This place feels like a prison. I want to be home with you.” I sigh. “Can you pay him the money you owe him so I can come home? We can act like none of this happened. I’ll even call up Nero and see if he still wants to marry me. We can get a quick divorce.”
There is a long pause before he answers. “Why haven’t you been behaving? I told you not to give him any trouble. You know we don’t do divorces. I can’t pay back his money.”
I’ve never felt so alone as I feel now. I should have known Papa wasn’t going to be on my side. Everything is my fault in his eyes.
As soon as the door opens, I tap the End button, delete the call log, and toss the phone to the nightstand, pretending I’m looking for Binx.
Devious makes his way inside. I stand up and dust off my dress. Devious undoes his dress shirt, hanging it on the corner of the door. Then he throws on a plaid pajama set and sits on the lounge chair beside the minibar he has here, staring at me with his leg across his thigh. He leans over and pours himself a glass of bourbon, then downs it fast.
“What were you doing before I walked into the room?” His tone is low and calm.
Did he figure out I called my father? Of course not—there is no possible way he could know. I made sure I left the phone in the exact same place. All the blood from my face drains, and it suddenly gets hot in here as I keep my eyes glued to him. I swallow thickly.
“N-nothing.”
“Roselyn, you’re lying, and I hate liars and thieves. This is my last time asking you what you did while I was gone.”
His face is wiped clean of emotions.
“I asked you a question, Mrs. Vitali. Last warning.”
Fear wraps around me like a tight rubber band, squeezing the life out of me, and I rock on the back of my heels.
“I called my papa,” I admit. “How did you know?”
He points to his digital watch on his right wrist. “My watch is connected to my phone, and I heard your conversation with him.” He stands up, and I take a step back until my back slams into the hard wall.
“Bend over on the bed,” he says.
There is no use in fighting him or trying to argue with him. I disobeyed him. He didn’t tell me how I should behave at the restaurant, but he did tell me not to use the phone. I do what he says, lying on my stomach, waiting for him to hit me. I feel the first slap of his hand across my ass, and tears sting my eyes so I bite down on my lip. It felt so good, and I want him to spank me again. I don’t know why I like him hurting me that way, and I feel my cheeks heating because I shouldn’t want this from the man I hate.
Each slap after the first one, I moan louder and louder. He sits me on his lap and I pull down my dress, trying to get up, but he keeps me in place. He pulls my panties to the side and slips his fingers between my folds, and he slides inside of me, stretching me.
“You’re soaking wet, nymph.” He removes his fingers and licks them. “You’re turned on by pain.”
“No,” I say too fast as my cheeks burn.
“When I take your virginity, it’s going to be when you least expect it.”
“That’s the only thing you’re interested in, my virginity. You will never have it.”
I’m not going to have sex with Devious, and I’m afraid that if I do give my virginity to him, he’s going to discard me like old shoes. He wants me to be his whore, and I’m not signing up for it.
He strokes my face and chuckles. “That’s not the only thing I’m interested in.”
“Sure.” I get up from his lap. “I’m going to bed.”