Chapter 1 #2
Suddenly the room feels smaller. My panic rises as the claustrophobia takes over. My gaze strays to the window, and when I find it open, the fresh night air moving the curtains slightly, the tightness in my chest loosens.
Alessandro still stands near the door, watching me. I’ve heard so many stories about him. Many say he’s cruel, violent, ruthless. But no one mentioned his intensity.
“What am I doing here?” I ask carefully, proud that my voice sounds steadier than I feel.
His gaze drifts from my mask to my heels.
“You’re clearly not one of the invited guests,” he says. “How did you get an invite?”
I swallow. Is he on to me? The need to get out of here —alive—is stronger than ever. I plaster a smile on my face and slowly walk toward him.
“I wanted to have some fun, so I stole the card,” I answer, light and cheeky. “Is that what you want to hear?”
I’m in front of him now, only a hair’s breadth between us.
The air between us is thick, heavy with an electric current that threatens to snap at any second.
Before I can say more, Alessandro slides his fingers into my hair, tightening his grip at the back of my head, and tugs once, forcing my face up toward his. Heat sparks violently through me.
"Look at you," he murmurs, his breath hot against my lips, sending a shiver straight down my spine. "Trembling before I’ve even touched you."
With his other hand, he slowly takes off his mask, revealing his sharp, striking face. He leans in closer, his lips brushing against mine without quite taking them, teasing me until I’m practically begging for the contact.
"You want this," he whispers against my skin, his voice a low, gravelly command. "Show me how much you want it."
Then he lowers his head fully. My lips part just as his mouth crashes over mine.
The kiss tastes like violence. Like fire.
It devastates me, wiping off every other physical encounter I’ve had.
His tongue tangles with mine hungrily, claiming my mouth with an intense, possessive heat, while his free hand slides down my neck, his thumb tracing the racing pulse at my throat before moving lower to bruise the sensitive skin of my collarbone.
I’m no virgin. Domenico and I were together for months before he died. But this kiss alone, the sheer filth and hunger of it, feels more intense than anything I ever experienced with him, which immediately fills me with guilt. Alarm bells start screaming somewhere in my head.
This is wrong. I should shove him away. My hands slide against his chest slowly, feeling hard muscle beneath the thin white shirt. I let my fingers drift up casually, toward the breast-pocket, where he slid the key.
Just before I can reach it, Alessandro catches my wrist. He breaks the kiss suddenly, a dark, knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Did you really think you could play me?" he growls, his grip tightening.
He spins me around and pushes me onto the bed. A sharp gasp escapes me as warmth floods between my legs.
What is happening to me?
Alessandro stalks forward like a predator cornering its prey.
He grabs my ankles, yanking hard until my backside hits the edge of the bed, then he pushes my dress up to my waist. I usually have more underwear under my clothing, but for tonight, because of this flimsy dress, I had to go with just panties. I’ve never felt so exposed.
"Look at you," he purrs, his eyes dark with pure heat as he stares down at me. "Dressed like a whore for me, begging for it."
He should not be speaking to me like this, yet his words send heat straight to my pussy. Why do I like this?
“Alessandro,” I gasp, my voice shaking.
He smirks, leaning over me, his hands pinning my wrists above my head. “You know who I am.”
I start to shake my head, but he ignores me. “That means you know exactly what I’m capable of doing to you.”
Before I can respond, he releases my wrists only to push my knees back toward my face until I’m bent in half, completely open to him.
“Stay right there,” he says, like he’s talking to a child. “Don’t you dare move a single inch.”
I frown and am about to spring off the bed, but he’s already leaning down, his hot breath anchoring me in place.
"Let's see how wet you are for me, slut," he whispers filthily against my bare skin.
He shifts my panties to the side and gives a long, deliberate lick from my ass to my pussy, before burying his face between my thighs and sucking my clit deeply into his mouth.
I moan so loud that shame floods me.
My whole body spasms, and my hands scramble to fist the silk sheets. Alessandro is relentless. His tongue is rough, swirling around my sensitive clit like he’s punishing me for something.
Every time he sucks, a new wave of heat rolls through me. I’m not a vocal person during sex, I just moan here and there. But I can’t stay still now. I’m thrashing so hard, Alessandro snakes an arm around my waist to lock me in place.
“Please…” I cry. “Please…”
He ignores my plea, and gives me another long lick.
My body is tingling, and my legs are spread wider than I knew they could go.
When Alessandro sinks his teeth softly into my clit, I explode with another loud cry.
Visions of white burst behind my eyes, and for a moment, I’m transported to another realm.
I’m still in the throes of the most powerful orgasm when he pulls back just enough to look up at me, his mouth wet with my fluids, a dark, wicked smirk on his face.
"Tell me how good that felt," he commands, his voice low and dripping with arrogance. "Say it. Tell me no one has ever made you scream like that."
"No..." I pant, shaking my head blindly as the aftershocks roll through me.
He grabs my hips, digging his fingers into my skin. "Don't lie to me, sweetheart. Look at how you're shaking. Look at how much you're leaking for me. Admit it. You've never felt anything like this in your life, have you?"
"No," I finally sob out. “Let me go!”
Alessandro chuckles, a dark, victorious sound that vibrates against my thighs. “I thought so. I wonder what kind of fucking fumblers you’ve been with before me that never gave you a real orgasm.”
Humiliation slams into me so fast I practically launch myself off the bed.
“You jerk! I—” My traitorous legs give out.
Alessandro is there, catching me in his arms again, his cologne detailing my train of thoughts. He’s staring so intensely, I touch my mask to confirm it’s still there.
I have a gazillion questions to ask, but it’s been confirmed that my body cannot properly function around him, so it’s important that I leave immediately!
I clear my throat and force my voice steady. “Let’s return to the party.”
To my surprise, he nods. I follow him to the door, willing myself to stay still as he twists the key into the lock.
The moment the door swings open, I don't just run, I pivot on my heel and drive the heel of my shoe straight between his legs, kicking him square in the balls with every ounce of strength I have left.
Alessandro doubles over with a strangled gasp, completely breathless and dropping to his knees. That will buy me the time I need so he doesn't come after me.
Before he can even recover, I bolt.
I slip past him into the hallway and hurry down the corridor without looking back, my pulse hammering wildly.
I need to get out of this mansion.
Now.