Chapter 23
SIMEON
She’s right about that.
I am hers because no woman has ever created such an explosion of emotion inside me. I have been ridden many times, but nothing like this. She has become an important part of my world, and I never saw it coming.
I cup her face as she sits astride me, marveling at the warrior she is. Her auburn hair is tousled; her green eyes heavy with desire. The soft ruby red lips are swollen, and her smile is genuine and full of happiness.
She is naked, unashamedly naked, and her breasts are the perfect size.
Not too big, not too small. Just enough.
She is enough. I don’t require a woman who is polished and contrived.
One who knows how to play the game and pretends to flatter me.
Alice doesn’t know the game, and yet she’s already a master of it.
I have never seen such beauty in my life, and if that makes me the beast, then bring it on.
“We did it.”
Her triumphant smile holds no embarrassment. If anything, she appears proud of that.
“We did.”
“So–” Her eyes flash with amusement. “Do you think that will be enough to honor our business arrangement?”
“No,” I shake my head, failing to disguise the smirk on my lips. “I’m guessing it will take many more attempts to sign that particular contract. You had better prepare yourself for more of the same.”
She nods, her eyes bright and shining with happiness, and it’s like a blow to my heart. She is beautiful, a rare treasure, and something shifts inside me as an overwhelming urge to protect her takes over my world.
“We should clean up.”
“We should.”
Her soft smile holds my attention far longer than a suggestive one. It’s intoxicating—she is intoxicating and she whispers, “How do I get off?”
She giggles as I roll my eyes and reach for her panties.
“We’ll clean up when we get there.”
With two hands I shift her off my cock, and she gasps at the sudden pain.
“Wow, pleasure sure brings pain with it.”
The fact that it looks as if she stabbed me in the balls causes her to gasp, “Oh my God. What just happened?”
“Pleasure comes with sacrifice, angel, and that is your innocence decorating my balls right now. I own that part of you and wear it like a trophy.”
“You’re a strange man, Simeon.”
The horror in her expression is amusing, and as I pull on my pants, I shrug.
“It’s not unusual for me to be covered in blood, sweetheart. I prefer this kind, though.”
“You really are disgusting.”
She pulls on her clothes and bites down on her lip, and I can tell that reality is setting in.
Reaching out, I grasp her face to turn to look at me, and I whisper, “Thank you.”
She says nothing, and I rub my thumb against her lips and attempt to reassure her.
“I did not take that for granted, and I would never have forced you to do anything you didn’t want to. I may be a monster to many people, but I’m not where it concerns you.”
Tears fill her eyes, and as the spark reignites in them, she says softly, “You may infuriate me, Simeon, but you’re my kind of madness, if that makes sense.”
“Perfect sense.”
For a second, we gaze into each other’s eyes and reach an understanding.
There are no victims here, merely two people figuring it out as they go along.
We are a reluctant team that is making the best of a forced situation, and I wonder how the lines blurred so quickly and she became a lot more important than a mere business deal.
The rest of the journey is spent with Alice nestled against me, my arm draped over her shoulder as I scroll on my phone.
Her gentle breathing reveals she is sleeping, and I’m thankful for that.
We both require sleep now, to regroup and to clean up, and the house just outside the airfield is the perfect place for that.
The mansion in Milan is perfect. We roll onto the grounds as dusk falls, and I’m envious of how peacefully Alice is sleeping. I can’t remember when I last slept well; there are a million nightmares waiting to plague me when my eyes close every night.
The demons dance and my sins punish me, and I wonder how it feels to enjoy a peaceful mind.
I almost consider having to carry her inside, and I’m surprised to find I hope that’s the case. I wonder when Alice Zaferelli became more to me than a project.
Why I enjoy her company and crave one taste from her lips above everything else.
When she glares at me, it turns me on and is considered foreplay. Her free spirit intrigues me, despite having been caged for most of her life.
A woman of God, not even close. Sometimes the devil wears angel’s wings because if Alice is even contemplating taking her final vows in that convent, I am a poor judge of character.
I pride myself on my ability to sum up a person’s character within two seconds of knowing them. However, Alice is an enigma and an intriguing woman.
She stirs as the car jolts to a stop and sits up, rubbing her eyes as she stares out at the serene view, her soft gasp of pleasure dragging an unusual smile out of me.
“This place is gorgeous.”
The sun is dipping below the horizon, painting the scene with master strokes of brilliance. It’s so quiet here away from the bustling town, and the air is still, unbroken by man—recharging.
She steps out as soon as the guard opens the door and leaves me to follow her, wandering around as if in a daze, stopping to admire an exotic flower or merely just inhaling deeply the sweet scent of jasmine that lingers in the air.
“Where are we?”
“Villa Bella, I believe.”
“You believe.”
She shakes her head. “You’re a strange man, Simeon.”
The fact that my guards are enjoying the show causes me to groan inside. They will love this woman speaking her mind because until now nobody has, unless you count Jack, and that’s always in private.
Now I have Alice. She is my wife and free to speak as she wishes. However, I would prefer our relationship to be a private one, so I march across and grasp her hand, pulling her briskly along with me in my haste to get into the house.
As I do, I remember the massacre that must be decorating the upholstery of the car and say as an aside to the nearest guard, “Arrange for the car to be valeted. My guest had a nosebleed after the helicopter flight, and it’s made quite a mess.”
He nods, and if he believes my statement, I’ll take that as a win, but the fact Alice blushes deeper than one of the red roses nearby almost makes me chuckle.
“Thank you.” She whispers as we step inside the impressive hallway.
“You’re welcome.”
She sighs. “I could certainly use a shower.”
Jack appears like a mirage, and I’m relieved to have him beside me once more and I turn to Alice.
“Go upstairs, pick a bedroom, anyone you like, and make use of it. Jack has arranged for supplies to be delivered, including a change of clothing and some food. When you are ready, meet me on the terrace.”
Her huge yawn is contagious, and my eyes are heavy, reminding me I sometimes require sleep to survive. With a grateful smile, she heads toward the grand staircase and doesn’t look back once as she climbs it.
I wonder why I wish she would.
I watch her until she disappears and then, with a deep sigh, I turn to Jack and nod toward the living area.
“We have a lot to catch up on.”
He says nothing but from the understanding in his expression, I’m guessing I should practice my disinterest a little harder.
The last thing I want is for anyone to realize I’ve caught feelings for one infuriating woman.
It’s most inconvenient and I’m putting it down to lack of sleep and the fact she’s the only one around.
Things will return to normal when we, well, return to normal and I wonder how Alice will cope with what normal means in my world.