Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Eliza
When I come down to the kitchen, Giuliana is already there. She and Benito spent the night after he drank too much wine to drive them home. I don't know what he and Adriano discussed last night but apparently a lot of alcohol was involved.
Adriano didn't get drunk, though. He was perfectly sober when he came to bed and pounded me into the mattress for two hours. The man is insatiable. He barely gives my body time to recover before he's back for more.
Rosa isn't here yet but it is only six a.m. She doesn't usually start work until later. Adriano went out for his run a half hour ago. He didn't lock me in the bedroom when he left, telling me instead to behave while he was gone.
To be honest, there's not a lot of mischief I could get up to in this place. Unless I took a knife to some of the so-called works of art hanging in the downstairs corridor.
Giuliana looks up from the coffee machine and smiles when she sees me. Wearing a silk robe and with her hair down she's considerably more relaxed than she was last night. She also looks younger without the makeup on.
There's a freshness to her complexion that the layers of foundation and powder conceal. This is the real Giuliana, not the guarded woman who came to dinner. I like her a lot more like this.
"Did you sleep well?" I ask her.
"Better than I have in weeks."
She doesn't elaborate but I'm guessing this wedding business was weighing on her mind. I get the feeling she held onto it for as long as she could before finally telling Benito what her husband had threatened.
I find the dynamic between her and Adriano's half-brother fascinating. She seems more willing to take her troubles to him than to her own son.
Perhaps she thinks Benito won't overreact the same as Adriano would if someone upsets her. From what I've seen she's wrong about that.
"Do you know how to work this thing?" she asks, waving at the coffee machine. "It's far too fancy for me."
"Yes, I've worked in a coffee shop or two in my time." I can use a gadget like this in my sleep. "What would you like?"
"Cappuccino, please. I like to start the day right."
"Me too," I agree.
She steps aside and allows me room to make the coffee. It doesn't take long before I have two cups of rich smooth coffee with perfectly frothed milk on the top. We take them to the kitchen table.
"I've been thinking about the wedding," she says. "I think you're right about my hair. I will wear it up." She pulls her hair back and twists it into a knot which she holds in place for me to see. "Something like this, I think."
"That's perfect."
"What do I ask the stylist for?"
"A French twist." It's not quite what she's showing me but it's what will work best for her hair.
"A French twist. That sounds so sophisticated." There's a hint of girlish glee in her voice. "Maurizio will hate it."
"Why?" I furrow my brow. "Because it's French?"
Giuliana throws back her head and laughs. "No, dear, because he prefers it when I wear my hair down."
"Ah." Now I feel silly. "You should ask the stylist to put some jewelled pins in your hair. Gold with embellishments to match your dress."
Giuliana sips her coffee as she contemplates that. "Yes, that would be perfect. Do you know I'm starting to get excited about this wedding now. I was dreading it but now you've given me ideas about my hair, my makeup, I'm looking forward to it."
I’ve brought a lot of harm to the people in Adriano’s world. It feels good to have done something nice for a change.
"What are you looking forward to?" Adriano asks as he strolls into the kitchen.
He's wearing shorts and a running vest. He must have left his sneakers at the door because he's in his socks now.
"I thought you were going for a run," I say.
"I did. Ten kilometers."
My jaw drops and Giuliana laughs. "Annoying, isn't it? He runs halfway to Rome and back and he looks like he was out for a stroll."
Now I know I was right not to run from him in Edinburgh. If he can run ten kilometers without breaking a sweat, he'd have caught me with embarrassing ease.
"Would you like a coffee?" I ask.
"An espresso." I'm beginning to wonder if the word please would actually choke him because I don't think I've ever heard him utter it.
"Bring it upstairs. I have to pack."
"You're leaving?" Giuliana asks.
"Business. It will just take a day or two." He walks over to his mother and bends to kiss her cheek. "Don't worry about the wedding. He will not be coming."
"Adriano, I'm not asking for that."
"No, but I'm telling you how it will be. You'll have a much nicer time without him. Nobody wants him there anyway."
Before she can dispute that, Adriano turns and walks away, his word final. I look at Giuliana who's frowning deeply as she tries to process what he said.
"Are you okay with that?" I ask. "With going to the wedding alone?"
She twists her lips to the side and then smiles. "You know, I think I am. Adriano's right, I'll be able to relax without Maurizio breathing down my neck, criticizing everything I say or do. Besides, I'll have Adriano there and Benito and Helena."
"His mother's invited?"
"Of course. When the boys were young, Ava, Helena and I used to get together whenever we could. It wasn't easy with Ava being in New York, but she brought her family here for holidays."
I could never have imagined the Volantes as an example of an open and accepting family but it seems I misjudged. It gives me hope for the future, that one day my sins will be forgiven and I'll be welcomed into the fold. I catch myself and shake my head.
What am I thinking? I'm only here until Adriano decides what to do with me. Whatever he has planned I doubt it includes a happy ever after. Even if Gabriele and his brothers allowed it, a fairytale ending is not what I deserve.
Clearing my throat before that self-pitying thought can affect me, I go to make Adriano's coffee.
"Better take this up to him," I tell Giuliana as I walk past her.
As I reach the door, I'm startled by a man I've never seen before. In his early twenties, I'd guess, he's tall and fair-haired with blue eyes. He'd look like he belonged in a commercial for surfing holidays if it wasn't for the black suit and tie.
"Signorina Moretti?" he asks.
"Yes."
He holds out a hand. "I'm Simone. Adriano asked me to introduce myself."
"Okay," I say slowly.
"I'll be staying here while Adriano is away, in case you need anything."
A temporary jailer, then. He doesn't look too scary though you can never tell with these men. Adriano's smile could convince the world he dropped from heaven but he's far from angelic. Unless you compare him to Lucifer, of course.
"Oh don't worry about me needing anything," I tell Simone. "You'll find I'm the perfect…." I was going to say prisoner but with Giuliana still within earshot I decide to be more discreet. "Houseguest."
"Of course, Signorina."
"Eliza," I say tightly. "If we're going to be roomies you should call me Eliza."
Leaving him at the kitchen door, I head upstairs to Adriano's bedroom. When I get there the door is ajar so I push it open and go inside.
I place the espresso cup down on the nightstand, another piece of molded plastic. I'm starting to wonder if his interior designer has shares in the Lego company.
"Adriano," I call out.
There's a leather overnight bag open on his bed. Several pairs of black pants are folded on the bed next to it along with some long-sleeved t-shirts. Is he planning to go on a housebreaking spree?
"In the shower," he replies.
I hesitate for a moment. Then he yells. "Get your ass in here."
There's an urgency in his tone that tells me I'd better obey. I walk into the bathroom to find him standing at the door of the shower cubicle, completely naked.
It's a sight I may never get used to. The raw power in those limbs, the strength in his muscles. It's intoxicating.
"Come here," he says.
I approach slowly, trying to read his intentions which, of course, is impossible. The man gives away only what he wants to and if he's decided he wants to catch me off guard he will.
As I get closer, he grabs me and pulls me into the shower.
"Adriano, my pajamas."
"Fuck your pajamas."
Shoving me under the stream of lukewarm water, he grabs the hem of my pink cotton tank top and yanks it off over my head. Then he rips it down the middle. As I make a sound of protest, he forms a rope with the torn garment and binds my wrists together.
Then he lifts my arms over my head and attaches my bindings to a small hook hanging from the ceiling. With this interesting feature and the metal ring on the arm of the chair on his private jet I'm starting to think Adriano has a thing for bondage he hasn't yet revealed.
I can't say I'm opposed, provided he maintains some boundaries. I mean, I wouldn't want him to tie me up and share me with his friends. Adriano is as much as I can handle.
He bends to kiss me with an urgency that sets the stage for what's to come. This is a goodbye fuck and it's going to go fast. He savages my mouth until my lips are swollen and possibly bruised before pulling back, a glint of smug satisfaction in his eye as he leaves me panting.
Then he startles me by dropping to his knees. "What are you doing?"
"Getting my first taste."
We've fucked in every conceivable position and he's used his fingers down there but this is new. To be honest I was starting to wonder if he was ever going to get around to it. Some men aren't the giving type. He lowers my pajama shorts and panties down my legs and helps me step out of them.
The thought crosses my mind that he might not have done this yet because it's the one thing he isn't an expert at but he immediately proves that's not the case. As he parts my folds, holding me open to him, and swipes his tongue along my slit, my eyes roll back in my head.
"Fuck, Adriano!" I moan.
He licks my sensitive flesh until I'm drenched and then laps up my juices like a man dying of thirst. I moan as he wraps his lips around my clitoris and sucks.
My legs clamp around his head as the pressure builds inside me.
I wish I could reach down and tangle my fingers in his hair but there's something exhilarating about having my hands bound.
As he continues to worship my clit, he pushes two fingers inside me and curls them to stroke that sensitive spot that sends me over the edge every time.
My body jerks violently as I come. Adriano doesn't let up.
He continues to lick my pussy as my body quivers.
Sliding a hand up to pinch my nipple, he immediately drags another orgasm out of me. I cry out in ecstasy.
Adriano gets to his feet, my white lace panties in his hand. He rubs them between my legs, soaking up the fluids gathered there. His eyes don't leave mine for a second as he holds the panties up in front of my face.
"Adriano," I warn. "Don't…"
Ignoring me, he balls up the panties and shoves them in my mouth. I taste my musky scent on them and can't decide if I like it. Maybe I do even if my mind tells me I shouldn't.
"Can you taste yourself, cara? Do you like it?"
I shake my head but he must see a different answer on my face because he chuckles. He grabs my legs and wraps them around his waist as he backs me against the wall. My arms are stretched tight and I'm forced to lean into him.
He thrusts into me in one fluid movement, stretching me in the way I've come to love.
"Fuck. So tight." He grits the words out.
He squeezes my ass as he drives his cock into me at a furious pace.
I clench my pussy in time with his thrusts.
He groans, the sound setting off something deep inside me.
As he fucks me even harder, my third orgasm of the day hits me.
I stretch my fingers out, grasping at air as I struggle to cope with the pleasure.
My scream is muffled by the panties in my mouth.
Adriano pulls out of me. He lifts me from the hook and sets me down on my knees.
"Watch!" he commands.
I look up, mesmerized by the way he strokes his cock, handling himself more roughly than I would ever dare to. He throws his head back and with an animalistic cry, he reaches his climax. I jerk back in surprise as his cum splatters across my face.
It's a mortification I wasn't ready for. Tears spring to my eyes. Adriano reaches down to caress my cheek. I think at first he's comforting me but then I realize he's spreading his seed over my face.
As he releases my wrists from their bonds and pulls the panties from my mouth, I drop onto all fours. I glance up at Adriano who's staring at me, something odd in his expression that I can't decipher.
"I'll be back in two days," he says. "Remember this moment."
As he walks away I won't forget this moment in a hurry. He wanted to humiliate me just now. The question is why. I didn’t do anything wrong. Perhaps that’s the problem.