Chapter 4 #2
Her steps faltered as she walked into the foyer of my house, the marble floors gleaming under the chandelier light.
I knew where she grew up, and her home paled in comparison.
The Carminatti estate was respectable but modest, nothing like this.
"My great-grandfather built this home for his wife.
She was used to the castles in Europe, and he wanted her to feel like she was there.
" Gently pressing my hand to her back, we walked into the great room.
It didn't take my breath away like it did when guests walked in, and Emilia was no exception.
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes widening.
I watched her expression change from awe to amazement as she looked from the oversized stone fireplace, easily twelve feet tall with intricate carvings, to the ceiling-to-floor windows and the high-vaulted ceilings.
The room was designed to intimidate, and it worked.
It was easy to see why people were intimidated when they came to my home.
"Come, you'll have your entire life to look around; we have things to discuss.
" I hadn't removed my hand from her back, and I felt her stiffen as I guided her to the stairs.
The grand staircase curved upward, the banister polished to a high shine.
"Don't worry, Emilia, I won't do anything to you that you don't beg me for.
" She narrowed her eyes, shoving my hand away from her with surprising force.
"Good, then you won't be touching me anymore," she spat, venom dripping from every word.
Getting right up in her face, our bodies touching, I stare into her beautiful brown eyes when I speak.
"Oh, no, Emilia, I'll be touching you whenever I damn well please.
" Her eyes changed, and I saw fear flash across them for the first time tonight.
"What? Sweet, poised Emilia takes pleasure bathing in another man's blood, but can't handle the touch of her soon-to-be husband?
" I run my finger from her cheek, down her throat, and between her breasts.
Her skin was warm, her pulse fluttering under my touch.
Sliding my palm across her breast, around her body, I pulled her to me.
"Maybe not tonight, but soon, you'll be begging me to do dastardly things to that pretty little body and more.
Mark my words." Lowering my head as I stop talking, her breath comes out in a huff, but she didn’t back down.
The woman had courage, I'd give her that. Her lips part and I wondered what kissing her would be like. Soft? Demanding? Would she bite? Moving ever so slightly, our lips were only a hair’s breadth apart, and I could feel her breasts rising and falling against my chest rapidly.
Neither of us moved, so I took her hand, once again, and led her up the stairs.
We stopped at the door to the room where she would be staying, and I pushed it open.
The suite was luxurious, decorated in cream and gold, with a four-poster bed that could sleep four.
"This will be your prison until the moment you walk down the aisle.
" She entered, and I followed, closing the door softly behind me.
"You intend to keep me locked up? Why?" She spun on her heel and narrowed her eyes as she looked at me, her dress swirling around her legs.
"Surely you've got enough guards to keep little old me inside the stone walls of this property.
Hmm, exactly like a prison, for a moment I thought you were waxing poetic.
" She smirked. The temptress smirked, and I was immediately fighting my cock wanting to rise at her challenge.
The defiance in her eyes, the curve of her lips, everything about her screamed danger and desire in equal measure.
"I don't trust you, Emilia. Your phone has been confiscated, and you won't have any privileges beyond these doors unless I accompany you or deem otherwise.
I encourage you to get accustomed to your own thoughts.
" I saw a flash of hatred in her eyes, but I'd seen anger like that my entire life, and it didn't affect me.
Men had looked at me with murder in their eyes before pulling the trigger.
This was nothing new. Reaching for the door, I left the room without another word.
Standing outside her door, I could still smell her light floral perfume.
Was it lilacs? Jasmine? Something delicate and feminine that sharply contrasted with the killer I knew she was.
The scent lingering on me, the feeling of her delicate hand in mine, and how it felt to be pressed against her caused my blood to rush through me, straight down to my already straining cock.
The memory of her body against mine, warm, curved, and perfect.
Five days, five days, and she would be mine. All I needed to do was make sure she didn't disappear into the wind. Keep her contained and controlled until the vows were spoken and the deal was sealed.
I also had to make sure we didn't kill each other.