Chapter 15
Bea woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the warm weight of Dimitri’s arm draped across her waist.
She blinked slowly, her body deliciously sore in all the right places. The silk sheets were tangled around her legs, and she could feel the ghost of his hands still imprinted on her skin. She shifted slightly, and Dimitri’s arm tightened reflexively, pulling her closer even in sleep.
She smiled.
Carefully, she extracted herself from his grip and padded naked across the room to the bathroom. The marble floor was cool beneath her feet. She flipped on the light and caught sight of herself in the mirror.
Oh.
Her neck was a canvas of purple and red, hickeys blooming across her throat, her collarbone, the curve of her shoulder. Bruises shaped like fingerprints marked her hips. There was a bite mark on the swell of her left breast, teeth indentations still visible.
Dimitri had been thorough.
Bea traced one of the marks with her fingertips, watching her reflection. She looked thoroughly fucked. Claimed. Owned. She should probably be annoyed. Instead, she felt powerful.
“Admiring my work?” Dimitri’s voice came from the doorway.
Bea met his eyes in the mirror. He was leaning against the doorframe. He’d slipped his sweatpants on, his silver hair disheveled, his blue eyes dark with satisfaction. He looked like a man who’d gotten exactly what he wanted.
“You marked me.” Bea said.
“I did.” He stated smugly.
“On purpose?” She asked with a small laugh.
“Very much on purpose.” He crossed the bathroom in two strides and stood behind her, his hands settling on her hips. “You have a problem with that?”
Bea tilted her head, exposing more of her throat. “Do I look like I have a problem with it?”
Dimitri’s eyes darkened further. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to one of the bruises. “No you don’t, you look like you enjoyed every second.”
“Mm I very much did.”
His hands slid up her sides, cupping her breasts. “Good. Because I’m not done with you yet.”
Bea laughed. “We have to go downstairs eventually.”
“Do we?” Kissing behind her ear nibbling on the lobe.
“Your brothers are going to notice.”
“Let them.” Dimitri’s voice was pure possession. “Watch them go batshit crazy, especially Killian. I might have to shoot him, but it will be in self defense.” His words trailed off into a laugh.
Bea turned in his arms, pressing her palms against his chest. “Why do you want them to know?”
“I want them to see exactly what happened between us.” His thumb brushed over one of the hickeys on her collarbone. “I want them to understand what we have started.”
“What exactly have we started Don Marchetti?” She searched his gorgeous blue eyes.
“War, a beautiful and chaotic war.”
Bea grinned. “This is going to be fun.”
Breakfast was already underway when Bea walked into the dining room.
She’d dressed deliberately, black leggings and a fitted black tank top with a low neckline that put every single mark on full display.
Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, leaving her throat completely exposed.
She wore no makeup, no jewelry, nothing to distract from the evidence written across her skin. That was Dimitri’s idea.
She looked like she’d been devoured. The conversation stopped the moment she entered.
Killian’s fork clattered against his plate.
Nico’s coffee cup froze halfway to his mouth.
Isabella’s eyes widened slightly, then crinkled with barely suppressed amusement.
Dimitri, already seated at the head of the table, dressed like a Don, and didn’t even look up from his newspaper.
Bea could see the satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Good morning,” Bea said brightly, sliding into the empty chair across from Killian.
Killian stared at her neck. Then her collarbone. Then the bite marks visible above the neckline of her tank top. His face went through several expressions in rapid succession, shock, fury, hunger, then back to shock.
“Morning,” he said hoarsely.
Nico set his coffee cup down very carefully. His eyes were locked on the bruises, his jaw tight. “Sleep well?”
“Like the dead,” Bea said cheerfully. She reached for the coffee pot. “You?”
“Fine.” He gritted out.
“You sure? You look a little tense.” Nico’s knuckles went white around his fork.
Isabella cleared her throat delicately. “Beatrice, dear, would you like some eggs?”
“Please.” She smiled sweetly.
Isabella passed the serving dish, her eyes twinkling. “You look… refreshed this morning.”
Bea grinned. “I feel great, actually.”
Killian finally tore his gaze away from her neck and looked at Dimitri. “You want to explain this?”
Dimitri turned a page of his newspaper. “Explain what?”
Killian looked at his brother through narrow eyes, “Don’t play fucking dumb with me asshole.”
“I’m not playing anything.” Dimitri folded the paper and set it aside, meeting Killian’s glare with perfect calm. “You have a question, ask it.”
“Did you fuck her?”
“Killian, don’t be so crass in front of Beatrice.” Isabella said sharply.
“It’s fine, but Isabella you might want to plug your ears.” Bea interjected.
“Honey there is nothing you could possibly say that will surprise me,” Isabella laughed.
Bea looked backed at Killian as she took a sip of coffee, utterly unbothered. “He did. Multiple times, actually. It was mind blowing.”
Nico choked on his orange juice.
Killian’s hands curled into fists. “You don’t get to fucking claim her just because you marked her!”
“She’s not anyone’s property, Killian, she’s an adult just like the rest of us, well most of us.” Dimitri said evenly. “But yes, I marked her, and she enjoyed it, I definitely enjoyed it more though.”
Bea raised her coffee cup in a mock toast. “Can confirm.”
Killian shoved his chair back and stood, his massive frame vibrating with barely contained rage. “You think you can just-”
“I think,” Dimitri interrupted, his voice cold and sharp, “that Bea is a grown woman who makes her own choices, and she chose me. Last night, at least.”
The qualifier hung in the air, Nico leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Dimitri shrugged. “She’s not mine to control. If she wants to fuck one of you next, that’s her decision.”
Bea nearly choked on her coffee.
Killian’s eyes snapped to her. “Is that true?”
“Is what true?” Bea asked innocently.
“Are you…” Killian’s jaw worked. “Are you open to… other options?”
Bea set her coffee cup down and leaned back in her chair, studying him. Then Nico. Then Dimitri, who was watching her with dark amusement.
“I’m open to a lot of things,” she said finally.
Killian’s entire body went rigid, and Nico’s breathing quickened.
“But” Bea continued, “I don’t do games. I don’t do manipulation.
And I sure as hell don’t do jealous tantrums. You want to shoot your shot?
” She gestured broadly. “Shoot. But don’t expect me to bow down like some kind of sex servant.
Also, if you are with me you better be clean and you sure as shit better not be with anyone else and I’ll show you all the same courtesy. ”
Killian’s scarred mouth curved into a slow, dangerous smile. “I’m clean, and don’t worry you have been the star of my fantasies for a very long time, no one else can get it up for me.”
Bea stared for a moment, “I really don’t know if I should be flattered or concerned.”
Nico stood abruptly. “I need to check the security feeds.”
“Running away, pretty boy?” Bea called after him. He didn’t answer. Just walked out, his shoulders tight.
Killian was still staring at her, his eyes dark with intent. “I’m not running.”
Bea laughed, “Go take a cold shower horny boy.”
Isabella stood, gathering her plate. “I didn’t think I could be grossed out by the things my boys say, but I do believe it is time for me to take my leave before clothes start flying off.
I think I’ll take my breakfast in the sitting room.
You children have fun and,” She looks at Beatrice “be safe, please don’t break them, I can’t run this place on my own. ”
She grabbed her plate and left the remaining three alone.
Dimitri picked up his newspaper again. “This should be very entertaining.”
Killian ignored him. He rounded the table slowly, his gaze never leaving Bea’s face. “You mean that? About shooting my shot?”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“Even after last night?”
Bea glanced at Dimitri, who was watching them over the top of his paper with lazy interest. “Dimitri and I had a good time. That doesn’t mean I’m his exclusively. Right, Dimitri?”
“Right,” Dimitri said mildly. “Though I will say, good luck competing with that performance.”
Killian’s jaw tightened as he gave Bea one of his panty-dropping smiles, “I don’t compete, I claim.”
Bea laughed. “Such a caveman, besides you can’t claim what isn’t yours.”
His smile grew wolfish, “Yet.”
The word hung between them, heavy with promise.
Bea stood, her chair scraping against the floor. “We’ll see.” She walked out, feeling both sets of eyes on her back.
Bea spent the rest of the morning in her room, ostensibly reviewing case files but mostly just enjoying the chaos she’d unleashed downstairs.
Her phone buzzed.
BARB: How’s the investigation going?
BEA: Slowly. But I am making progress on a different front. (insert devil face)
BARB: Do I want to know?
BEA: Probably not. But I’m going to tell you anyway….I slept with Dimitri.
BARB: WHAT!!
BEA: And now Killian and Nico are losing their minds.
BARB: Bea. What are you doing?
BEA: Having fun.
BARB: This is going to end badly.
BEA: Probably. But it’s going to be a hell of a ride.
She set her phone aside and stretched out on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her body was still humming from last night, still marked by Dimitri’s hands and mouth. She could feel the bruises when she moved, a constant reminder of-
The door opened, Bea sat up, expecting Dimitri but it was Killian.
He stood in the doorway, his massive frame filling the space, his face unreadable.
“You busy?”