Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Ronan
"Ronan, the third son from the Colombo family is coming tomorrow to talk about that shipment stuck in Italian customs."
"Let Marco handle it."
"And," Declan adjusted his glasses, "tomorrow night's internal meeting needs to deal with some backlog issues."
God, not a damn minute to breathe.
"Got it."
Right now, I just wanted a heavy dose of nicotine or hard liquor to numb my frayed nerves.
"Ronan, you look like you're about to fall apart." The second I stepped inside, Victoria appeared from around the staircase corner, swirling a half-glass of whiskey in her hand.
"I'm fine."
"Your color's off." She stepped closer, reaching to touch my jaw. I dodged it. She didn't care, just smiled. "I already told Declan not to pack your schedule so tight. Keep this up, and you'll give yourself a heart attack."
"I won't die."
"Here," she shoved the glass into my hand, "I booked a private hot spring. They've got new pools with therapy vibes—great for easing fatigue. Wanna come unwind?"
I liked soaking in hot springs, but with Victoria...
"I know what you're gonna say." She cut me off. "You're beat and don't wanna go out. But fatigue like yours? You'll wake up with a stiff back. Take care of yourself. You've got Rose!"
"Then invite Ryan along."
"But Ronan..." Victoria hesitated, "Ryan's got plans tonight. Maybe next time?"
Plans? I frowned, but it smoothed out quickly—probably with Lulu.
"Let's go."
Half an hour later, the car pulled up to a low-key building. When I saw the sign for "Eurasia," my face darkened.
This was an old spot from the previous generation—high-end spa on the surface, but really a discreet hangout for insiders, full of shady deals. Not just for relaxing.
"Victoria."
"What?" She played innocent. "I didn't lie. They did add some new therapy pools."
I knew Victoria's feelings for me, but because of Natasha, I saw her only as Rose's family. Nothing more. Picking this place? She was crossing lines.
I was about to snap at her when she switched gears. "Oh, right, I invited some friends." She winked. "You enjoy the springs. I'll be with them."
She hustled off, leaving me standing there.
The doorman handed over my key card. I changed in the locker room and followed the guide to the new pools. Past a few private rooms, a pebble path led to a semi-open dining area. I should've kept going, but my feet stopped. I spotted a familiar figure.
Ryan sat with her back to the path, on a low wicker chair, wrapped in a thin, almost see-through white gauze robe tied loosely at the waist. Underneath, a light blue two-piece swimsuit with a cute bow at the neck.
Her exposed shoulders curved smoothly. The suit hugged her damn curves, barely covering her full breasts that rose and fell with each breath.
Her hair hung wet over her shoulders, skin flushed pink from the steam, looking downright seductive.
What spiked my blood pressure was the guy across from her. Nicholas Sterling. When the hell did they get this chummy? Chummy enough for a place like this? He sat way too close, arm nearly brushing her elbow. The intimacy burned my eyes.
On the wicker table between them, a bottle of Sancerre white wine, mostly gone. Ryan laughed, brushing a steam-damp strand from her forehead. The motion slid her robe an inch off her right shoulder, exposing a sliver of skin below her collarbone.
From my angle, Nick's eyes never left her—not once straying from the curve of her chest. His hand even hovered like he wanted to touch her fingertips on the table.
A vicious rage shot up my spine to the back of my skull. My fists clenched, knuckles cracking. I wanted to storm over, yank that lying woman off her chair, and strangle Nick with her flimsy robe.
"Mr. Valerius?" The attendant behind me whispered, uneasy.
I let out a cold snort. Betrayal blurred my vision. I turned and strode away from that nauseating scene, didn't even touch the damn springs.
I tracked down the manager and got Ryan's room key. Inside, I locked the door and waited behind the curtains, ready for whatever surprise this damn woman had in store.
At eleven-thirty, the lock clicked softly.
Ryan slipped in quietly. No man's footsteps followed. That cooled my fury just a notch.
She didn't flip on the overhead light, just hit the dim bedside lamp. I cracked the curtains. Caught her stretching, back arching into a perfect line.
She'd already ditched the swimsuit, thin straps slipping down her arms, hanging loose. She was basically naked, swaying in front of me. The low light made her skin glow pale and smooth, every curve soft and full, every rise and dip crystal clear.
I stepped out from behind the curtains. Ryan froze. Eyes wide, then darting around in panic, grabbing for a towel.
I snatched her hand, pinned her against me. Her shock flared into rage.
"Ronan, you fucking psycho? Stalking me here?"
"Who were you with tonight?"
She didn't answer, eyes narrowing, rage burning hotter.
"None of your damn business."
"I asked, who were you with tonight?"
"Ronan Valerius." She twisted. "My off-hours are none of your concern. I don't owe you reports on where I go or who I see!"
"Nick, right?"
"You—"
"You know what this place is, and you still came? Or are you just easy for anyone?" Her resistance reignited my barely cooled anger. Was she hiding it?
"So what?" She lifted her chin. "I'm a grown single woman. I can go anywhere with any man. You don't own me."
"Don't own you?" I sneered. "Dressed like that, hanging with a guy I warned you to stay away from. You really that naive, or just climbing the ladder with your body?"
The words hit, and her rage froze, tears welling fast. Regret hit me.
"Ryan—"
"Get out!" She screamed. "Ronan Valerius, get the fuck out! I don't want to see you! Who are you to control me? Who the hell do you think you are?"
Looked like she was protecting Nick. I couldn't place the feeling, but my sanity snapped in half.
"Ronan! What the fuck are you doing? Let go!" I ignored her endless cursing and slammed her down on the bed hard.
"I'll show you exactly who the hell I am!"
I pinned her wrists above her head with one hand, her body thrashing wildly beneath me.
She shoved hard against my chest with both hands, fingers digging in like claws, but I didn't budge.
Her legs kicked out, heels slamming into my thighs, trying to buck me off.
"You bastard! Get off me, you fucking animal! " she snarled, voice raw with fury.
I squeezed her wrists tighter, the skin turning red under my grip, and forced her still.
She twisted her face away, lips pressed tight to dodge my mouth, but I grabbed her chin roughly, fingers bruising, and crushed my lips to hers.
My tongue shoved in, aggressive and unrelenting, sucking hers with wet, sloppy sounds that echoed in the room.
She bit down, tasting blood, but I just growled and deepened it, making her choke on the invasion.
"Fuck you, Ronan! You're a sick prick!" she gasped when I pulled back for air, but I didn't let her breathe long.
My knee jammed between her thighs, prying them apart despite her desperate clench.
She was slick from the steam or whatever the hell, but I didn't care—no teasing, no prep.
I thrust in hard, all the way, burying myself deep in one brutal shove.
Her body arched off the bed like a bow, a choked whimper ripping from her throat.
"Ah, stop, you asshole!" But I didn't. I pulled back to just the tip, then slammed in again, the wet slap of skin on skin filling the air.
Her full breasts bounced wildly with each impact, nipples hard and begging.
She writhed harder, wrists straining against my hold, legs trying to snap shut, but I pinned them wide with my weight, hips driving relentlessly.
"You think you can slut around with Nick?
Dress like a whore and laugh at his table?
" I snarled, leaning down to capture one nipple in my mouth.
I sucked hard, teeth grazing, then bit down, leaving red marks that bloomed fast. She yelped, body trembling under the assault.
"You're mine, Ryan. Not his. Not anyone's. Say it, you little tease."
"Fuck off! You're delusional! Get your hands off me!
" Her curses flew, but her body betrayed her, hips twitching despite the fight.
I kept pounding, each thrust pulling out slowly to torture, then ramming back in, making her gasp and shudder.
Her breaths came in short, ragged bursts, sweat slicking our skin.
I flipped her over suddenly, pressing her face-down into the mattress, ass up in a kneel.
She scrambled to get away, cursing louder, "You pig!
I'll kill you for this!" But I grabbed her hips, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her ass, and thrust in from behind.
Deep, claiming every inch. My weight pinned her, chest to her back, making escape impossible.
She clawed at the sheets, trying to drag herself forward, but I yanked her back, slamming harder.
"Feel that? That's what you get for spreading your legs for scum like him," I growled in her ear, one hand sliding up to twist in her hair, pulling her head back.
Her ass jiggled with each brutal pump, the room reeking of sex and sweat.
She kept fighting, legs kicking weakly now, but I spread them wider, owning her completely.
Then, a knock at the door. Sharp, insistent.
"Ryan? It's Nick. You left your phone at the table. I thought I'd bring it back."
Her eyes went wide, body going rigid. Panic fueled a fresh wave of struggle. She thrashed like a wildcat, hands scrabbling at the sheets, trying to crawl forward and escape my grip. "No, Ronan, stop! You fucker, let me go!" she hissed, voice muffled against the pillow, but desperate.
I didn't stop. Hell no. Satisfaction burned through me, dark and vicious. I clamped down on her waist, pulling her back onto me, thrusting deeper, fiercer. "Scream for me, Ryan. Let him hear who's fucking you right now. Who's making you wet and begging?"
She bit her lip hard, refusing, shaking her head wildly. "You son of a bitch! I hate you! I'll never—" But I pinched her jaw, forcing her mouth open, and ramped up the pace, hips snapping with brutal force. Each plunge hit that spot inside her, over and over, until she broke.
"Ah, Ronan! Fuck, Ronan!" Her scream shattered, high and broken, echoing off the walls. She called my name again and again, voice cracking with unwilling pleasure. Outside, the footsteps paused, hesitant, then faded away. Good. Let the bastard know.
A twisted rush of triumph surged through me, violent and hot.
I hauled her up, flipping her to face me.
She shoved at my shoulders, nails raking skin.
"You're a monster, Ronan! Get away from me!
" But I crushed her against me, arms like steel bands, and shoved her back onto the bed.
I hooked her legs over my shoulders, folding her in half, and drove in again, frantic and unyielding.
"Look at you, creaming around my cock while you curse me out.
Pathetic little slut, thinking you could play games with me?
" I taunted, voice rough, pounding into her with short, savage strokes.
Her breasts heaved, body quaking as I hit deeper angles, the position letting me grind against her clit with every thrust. Sweat dripped from my brow onto her chest, mixing with the marks I'd left.
"Asshole! You think this makes you a man?
You're just a controlling prick!" she spat back, but her hips bucked up involuntarily, chasing the friction.
I laughed low, dark, and sped up, the bed creaking under us.
Her walls clenched tight, pulling me in, and I felt her building, even as she fought it.
I leaned in, capturing her mouth again in a messy, dominating kiss, tongue mimicking my thrusts below.
She bit my lip, drawing blood, but I just groaned and went harder, one hand sliding between us to rub her clit in rough circles.
"Come for me, Ryan. Show me how much you hate it while you soak my dick. "
"You! I fucking—hate you!" Her words fractured into moans, body betraying her fully now. Tremors built, her legs shaking over my shoulders, toes curling. I didn't let up, slamming in with everything I had, the wet sounds obscene, her curses mixing with gasps.
Finally, she shattered, back arching, a guttural cry ripping free. "Ronan, oh God, you bastard!" Her release crashed over her, pulsing around me. I followed right after, burying deep and spilling inside her with a roar, the satisfaction of claiming her drowning out everything else.