Chapter Thirteen
Chantilly
I stood on a platform in the lounge room as Marco pinned and tucked different fabrics around me. He’d already measured every inch of my body while I’d stood in nothing but the lavender panties and bra he’d retrieved out of the bag he’d brought with him.
I managed to smile at yet another swathe of fabric held against me, pretending an interest in the samples he showed. But I didn’t particularly care about being beautiful for another man. I was just as happy in sweats and a faded T-shirt. I didn’t want to be stared at more than I already was, bad enough that men seemed to notice me regardless.
Maybe if I loved someone and was loved in return, I’d want to look my best. Instead I was primped and preened as Valentino watched on and nodded or shook his head, seemingly enjoying the process of my future wardrobe.
Marco stepped back and clapped his hands, his eyes shining. “I think we’re done.” He turned to Valentino. “Of course if I’d had my assistant I would have been finished long before now.”
Valentino shrugged. “I’d prefer to take longer than have yet another person inside my house.”
Marco nodded. “I understand, your privacy is sacred.” He gathered up his fabrics and put them back into the bag he’d carried upstairs with him. “Your woman is going to be the envy of many.”
Valentino held the fashion designer’s stare. “She’d be the envy of many even if she wore a sack.”
“Of course,” Marco quickly agreed as he unwound the fabric from my body and placed it in a bag. “Either way, I’m certain you’ll both be very happy with the designs I’ll create.”
Valentino nodded before he glanced my way, his stare lingering on my body that was once again encased in nothing more than panties and a bra. “I’ll see Marco out now.”
My heart pitter-pattered as I imagined what he might do to me when we were alone again, my legs shaky as I stepped off the platform while the men descended the stairs. Looking through the bag, I chose white shorts and an olive green, off-the-shoulder blouse with a ruched neckline.
It was nice to have clothes again, though a wilder part of me had secretly enjoyed wearing nothing but Valentino’s T-shirt. It’d been risqué and exciting, and more than a little dangerous with his stare drinking me in.
I stepped past the kitchen island counter, then opened the pantry door. On finding crackers, I pulled them out before I opened the huge fridge. There were condiments inside along with three different cheeses, pastrami, olives and cherry tomatoes.
I took them out and began slicing the cherry tomatoes in half, then placed them and the olives into a container with separate compartments. I’d cubed the cheese and was adding it and the pastrami into a compartment when Valentino’s tread sounded from behind.
“What are you making?”
I resisted shivering at his dark voice so close behind me, then said in an even voice, “I thought we could share a late lunch out on the patio.”
“Hm. Good idea. I’ll open a bottle of champagne.”
He took off his neck chain and used the key to unlock the balcony door, then opened it wide. A sea breeze immediately invaded the space and I sucked in an appreciative breath before I took the food outside while he retrieved two glasses and a champagne bottle from the fridge.
I only hoped he’d forget about any punishment while enjoying the food and drink.
He placed the glasses and bottle onto the round glass table, then pulled out my chair. “Allow me.”
I resisted wincing. He was fastidiously polite, too polite. It was like the calm before the storm. Taking the seat opposite me, he opened the champagne with a pop before he poured some into our crystal flutes.
He lifted his glass and I lifted mine, our glasses clinking sweetly as he said, “To our time here together.”
I managed not to spill my champagne thanks to my suddenly shaky hands as I added, “May it be long and fulfilling.”
He cocked a brow, but didn’t add anything more. He didn’t need to. I knew where I stood in this fucked-up relationship, if it could even be called that. I was a ticking time bomb with a short fuse and he was my fire starter.
I sucked down my champagne in a few big gulps, then hiccupped as the bubbles caught up to me. He smirked and put his half-full glass down before reaching for some pastrami, cheese and an olive, stacking it neatly on a cracker and devouring it in one bite.
I looked out to sea, a different fishing boat anchored out behind the breakers this time. I sighed heavily. What must it be like to sit in that boat, a fishing rod in one hand and probably a beer in the other, and have not a worry in the world?
That the sun was close to the ocean’s horizon and spilling oranges and reds across the water barely registered. I was consumed by my too short future. Not even beautiful sunsets could deter me from my bleak thoughts.
More champagne splashed into my glass before I turned and caught Valentino’s watchful stare. He finished the last of the champagne by topping up his own glass, his silence making me nervous.
It was only after he took another sip that he asked, “Did you enjoy stripping then touching yourself for me?”
I picked up my glass and took a deep swallow, almost choking as my throat tightened. “More to the point, did you enjoy it?”
“Going by my permanent erection, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t.” His eyes glittered. “I’m guessing that was your intention though, was it not my little Tilly?”
What was it about his pet name that made me shiver with self-awareness? I was no more special to him than any other woman he took to bed and fucked. Less so considering he wasn’t about to simply let me walk away once he was done with me. I lifted my chin. “You’ve kept me alive to fuck. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”
His chuckle was soft and deadly, though his expression stayed unreadable. “You’re honest, I’ll give you that.” He drank the last of his champagne. “So why did you sleep in the guest bedroom?”
He was smart, telling me I was honest then expecting my next answer to be just as truthful. “Being in your bed would have reminded me too much of you,” I admitted.
His eyes darkened. “Don’t you want to remember how good we were in bed together?”
“I’m not comfortable knowing I’ve had multiple orgasms from the same man intending to kill me.”
“It is a bit of a dilemma,” he conceded. “Eat,” he then added. “Starving yourself isn’t going to make your end come any quicker.”
“Good to know!” I snapped, automatically reaching for a cracker and cheese, then shoving it into my mouth.
He made my coming death seem so insipid we could have been talking about algebra or calculus. I only wish we were talking about math’s problems!
I chewed angrily. “So where did you go earlier today?”
“That isn’t up for discussion.”
Of course it wasn’t. I was expected to answer everything truthfully while he got to avoid answering anything he wanted.
I wrapped some pastrami around an olive and stuck it in my mouth. The salty flavor barely registered as I chewed and swallowed. “If it’s okay with you,” I said frostily, “I might shower and get some sleep.”
He cocked a brow. “Five hours wasn’t enough for you today?”
I blinked. He couldn’t seriously have been monitoring me the entire time, could he? “Did you enjoy watching me?”
He smirked. “I did. Your purity and innocence was intoxicating.”
I bristled. “If it’s so intoxicating, then maybe you should consider keeping me alive?”
His smirk faded. “That’s a hard no. I do what I’m asked and have never failed a task. My credibility depends on it.”
I pushed my chair back, my anger rising. “Aren’t you a good little lapdog?”
He stuck out an arm, and short of trying to break it by storming past, I had no choice but to pause. His stare held mine. “This is your first and last warning,” he said softly, but with such dangerous undercurrents my stomach clenched and my throat convulsed. “You will never disrespect me again.”
I bristled at his command, but nodded stiffly. There was a time and place to pick my battles, and this definitely wasn’t one. It wasn’t until he stood, towering over me, that I looked away, my fight or flight instinct kicking in.
I no longer wanted to argue, but oh, how I wanted to run!
“Look at me,” he commanded.
I swallowed hard, then lifted my head, my stare colliding with his. “I’m tired,” I reminded him.
“And I’m painfully erect.”
I dropped my gaze to the thick wedge tenting his pants, a nervous exhale leaving my throat even before he clasped my chin and brought my stare back up to meet his.
“Take off your clothes,” he said huskily.
I wrenched my chin out of his clasp. “Go fuck yourself!” I gritted.
He stepped closer, his big body pressed against mine. “Get. Undressed.”
I wanted to fight and scream and punch and bite, but I also wanted to do exactly what he asked and be pleasured all over again. Hadn’t I told myself I’d make him need me so that he’d put off his assignment? At least for as long as it took for me to escape.
I pulled my olive-green shirt over my head and tossed it aside, then pulled down my white shorts and stepped out of them.
He smiled, his teeth gleaming white against his dark beard with its flecks of gray. “Now take off your bra and panties,” he instructed.
Excitement and arousal once again warred with defiant anger, my whole body trembling as I did what he asked then stood in front of him with my shoulders back and my head high. That my nipples puckered was thanks to the crisp breeze that took away the dying sun’s last warmth, not because I was so damn aroused sticky moisture gathered between my thighs.
“Touch me,” he growled. “Feel what you do to me.”
I reached out and ran my hand down the impressive length of his cock imprisoned behind his pants. It jerked and thickened even more as I stroked up and down, his breath hissing.
He unzipped his gray pants, freeing the python inside. Though I’d never enjoyed sucking dick, my mouth suddenly watered at the idea.
He groaned, no doubt reading my expression. “Now take me in your mouth.”