Chapter Seventeen
Aurora
My heart is pounding as I look at myself in the full length mirror. My pink silk dress hugs my body perfectly, like it was made for my exact measurements. Knowing Gabriel, he probably did have this dress matched to my body.
Maria did my makeup for me. Soft and light. It makes me look innocent, like the girl I once was before Gabriel came into my life. Now, he’s taken that innocence from me.
And tonight, I am going to let him claim me in front of other people.
He’s throwing one of his orgies again. A small gathering, he told me. No other man is going to touch me. It’s what he promised and I believe him. Gabriel is possessive. I know for a fact that he would kill any man who touched me.
It’s still nerve wracking giving myself over to another person like this. Gabriel has taken me in many different ways now but it was always just the two of us. But with this party, I’ll be letting Gabriel claim me before other people. It’s the final act of trust between us.
Gabriel is making a statement with this. I don’t love the idea of being put on display but there is a part of me that is excited to show others that Gabriel is mine. Ginevra thought she could take my husband from me but she was flat out wrong.
I have never felt more worried and excited at the same time before.
With a deep breath, I go downstairs. Gabriel’s guests have already arrived. I recognize Leo, his right hand man, and Rocco, an older man who Gabriel has mentioned in passing. A few other men are present I don’t know. Women are here as well. Five of them.
One of them is Ginevra.
I stop on the stairs when I see her standing in the foyer. She looks up at me with a smirk, like she thinks she’s better than me. Maybe I’m not such a good girl anymore because I want to show Ginevra that she’ll never get Gabriel. I want to rub it in her face.
Gabriel is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. “You look beautiful,” he murmurs when I finally reach his side. I slide my hand into his, giving Ginevra a pointed look.
“You didn’t tell me that she was going to be here,” I say, nodding at Ginevra.
“I didn’t know she would come. I didn’t personally invite her. But she likes to come to these parties. Don’t worry. My past with Ginevra is long done. Another man will claim her tonight. Not me. We’ll all have fun in my maze tonight.”
I shiver. I know what fun Gabriel is talking about. Him claiming my body. I never knew I could be so desperate for anything in my entire life but Gabriel has made me feel like I can’t even breathe if he doesn’t touch me.
“Aurora,” Ginevra says, approaching me. “I’ve seen you look better before.”
I grit my teeth. “Nice to see you again, Ginevra.”
She sneers. “Yes, well… I was surprised you were hosting another party like this, Gabriel. I thought you were done with them. Especially after my husband died.”
The image of George lying dead in the maze hits me.
Gabriel doesn’t show any sort of emotion. “I was done with them but I have decided I want to bring my wife into this part of my world. Now, let us all eat. We have a long night ahead of us.”
All of us go into the dining room where a huge feast has been prepared.
Gabriel has me sit on his lap just like he did before.
This time, I don’t mind it. Ever since he opened up to me, things have been better between us.
I get to see my father. I get to know my husband. Everything is… good. Genuinely good.
Ginevra glowers in my direction as Gabriel feeds me. The delectable wine. The delicious steak. The creamy potatoes. It’s all so decadent. I have to admit: I don’t want to leave this life of luxury. It’s nice to not have to fight so hard for my next meal.
It’s nice to feel safe.
The guests speak about business and politics and pop culture.
I zone most of it out. My eyes are glued to Gabriel’s as he places a piece of meat on my tongue.
He watches me chew it. His eyes flick down to my neck as I swallow.
I thought I would feel self-conscious doing this in front of others but with Gabriel, it feels right.
Once the dinner ends, Gabriel announces that it’s time to go into the maze.
“And I’ll remind you all one more time to never touch my wife. She is mine and mine only. But the rest of you may have at it with each other. I don’t judge here.”
That gets a chuckle from the table. Ginevra continues to shoot daggers my way but I ignore her. In fact, I feel quite smug. Gabriel is mine, not hers. It feels good to have some power in my life.
Gabriel’s guests walk ahead of us into the maze. I watch as they quickly tear their clothes off and chase each other. Ginevra gives me and Gabriel one last annoyed look before following Leo into the maze. He tries touching her but she walks right past him.
“How do we do this?” I whisper, feeling suddenly afraid.
“I’ll chase you. And then I’ll catch you. And then I’ll claim you before my guests. You want this still?”
“Are you giving me an out?”
He looks me right in the eye as he answers. “Yes. I am. I care for you, Aurora. I don’t want you to hate me at this point.”
“I don’t want an out,” I answer honestly. “I want this. I want to claim you as much as you want to claim me.”
His smirk is dangerous. “Good girl.” It makes a heat spread through my body. “Now, run.” The darkness in his voice sends a shiver down my spine.
I run into the maze without any more hesitation. I can feel Gabriel behind me but he keeps his distance, giving me a chance to get ahead.
As I run through the hedge maze, I come upon couples who already are having sex. I see Rocco with one of the women. He’s taking her from behind and her moans fill the night air.
I can’t help but blush. I run past them until I come upon another couple.
A woman is sucking a man’s erection. I haven’t done that to Gabriel yet.
I’m not sure if I have the bravery to do it but it does make me curious: how powerful would I feel having Gabriel’s most intimate area in the palm of my hands?
I keep running. I don’t stop until I reach the center of the maze. The first place Gabriel claimed me. And the place I know he’ll claim me again.
Another loss of innocence.
I wait for Gabriel to find me. I can feel his presence behind me once he reaches the center. I would know him like I know the back of my hand. His power. His strength. His darkness.
Gabriel wraps his arms around my waist. “You didn’t make it hard for me.”
“I know.”
A couple of the other guests arrive in the center and stop, watching us. Gabriel nods at them, silently telling them to stay. My heart is pounding so hard, I can’t even think.
Six of the guests are here with us. Watching us. Waiting. Some are naked. Some are half-dressed.
It’s a night of primal desire.
That’s when I see Ginevra come into the center. She grabs one of the men to touch her but he pulls back, keeping his eyes on me and Gabriel. A sneer crosses her face.
Good. Let her see this. Let her know that she doesn’t get to just have anything – or anyone – she wants.
Gabriel turns me to face him and captures my lips in a heated kiss. His black suit is still in place, making him look like the most powerful man in the maze.
I know I look like the lost, innocent lamb he’s going to slaughter and I don’t care. I want him to slaughter me. I want him to claim me.
Gabriel picks me up and carries me to the large stone bench right in the middle of the maze. My skin is glowing under the moonlight.
He pushes my dress up to expose my thighs. “Look how beautiful my wife is. And she’s all for me.”
I can see the lust in the eyes of the guest. I’m assuming this is something they don’t get to see often. Gabriel doesn’t let himself be vulnerable in the eyes of other people. They’re all hungry for it. It makes a desire settle deep within me.
Gabriel unclasps the front of my dress so it falls around me, showing my entire naked body underneath. I didn’t bother with a bra or panties. With my high heels on, it all feel so scandalous.
He presses my knees into my chest and parts my legs.
“Look at my wife’s pretty little pussy. I’m sure all of you are jealous that only I get to touch it.
” I can’t help the wetness that seeps out of me.
“And see? She wants this. Poor baby. She’s so wet for me already.
” Gabriel straddles the bench and leans down, pressing his mouth right to my nub.
I cry out into the night. A man makes a sound low in his voice. A woman shifts, pressing her legs together. Ginevra frowns harder. I keep my eyes on her as Gabriel pleasures me with his mouth.
I can’t stop myself from moaning as he runs his tongue over my nub again and again and again. My hips buck into his face. All the while I don’t look away from Ginevra. Her scowl deepens and deepens.
This is what she gets for trying to take my husband.
It startles me – this darkness inside of my soul. It’s a darkness that Gabriel has brought out in me.
I finally look away from her and stare up at the sky as Gabriel continues to eat me out. His lips and tongue lick all over my folds. He grips my thighs, spreading them wider.
I can feel the energy in the air. The lust. The darkness.
Gabriel nips at my clit until I can’t take it anymore and my first orgasm of the night wracks itself through me. He sits up, not bothering to wipe my wetness from his chin. It makes me blush.
“Look at my innocent little wife.” He runs the back of his hand down my cheek. “She still blushes despite all the ways I’ve taken her. And I am the only one who has taken her.”
“You are a lucky man, Gabriel,” one of the men says.
He laughs darkly. “I know.” Gabriel stands up and unzips his pants, pulling his large cock out. I can hear some of the women gasp. A quick glance shows me that the women want him just as much as I do. Ginevra is practically green at this point.
Gabriel straddles the bench again and grabs my waist, bringing me astride him. I grab his shoulders to steady myself.