Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
His expression hardens. "When we're married, you'll be mine to protect, and I don't let anyone touch what I own."
"You're going to own me?" I laugh lightly, a thrill running between my legs and a fire in my belly. "Like I'm property."
"More like a means to an end."
"Sure, just like your club."
"Go home, Lucy." He releases my arm.
"Why did you give me that card?"
He hesitates. I can tell he wants to get out of this conversation. "That was a mistake."
"Bullshit. You did it for a reason." I move close to him, desperate to keep this going. "You were thinking about the first time we met, weren't you?"
He glares back at me, but now there's something heavy in his expression. It's hungry and burns like a lightning crack. "Would you like it if that were true?" He leans in close. I smell whiskey and mint. "Do you want me to want you, Lucy? Is that the fantasy you spun up in your mind?"
My cheeks are bright scarlet and my heart hammers in my ears. "You're the one that gave me the card."
"I already said it was a mistake."
He starts up the stairs. I heave annoyed breaths. I could let him go and forget about this. Clearly, my future husband is kind of a bastard. I should go home and enjoy what time I have left as a single woman.
But I came here tonight for a reason, and I'm sick of being blown off. My grandmother treats me like a worthless vestigial organ, and my brother has nothing but quiet disdain for me.
I refuse to be treated that way by my future husband.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what my grandmother said to you." I follow him up the steps. He bypasses the VIP lounge, and when a guard moves to stop me, Adriano waves him away.
"Then you'll be staying here for a long time."
"There's debt. Lawyers are involved. It's going to affect me, so why won't you say anything?"
He goes into his office, and I follow. The memory of this room hits me like a jolt. I linger near the door, fingers and toes tingling with the memory of orgasm after orgasm rolling down my spine.
Adriano goes to his desk and leans back against it. He faces me, head tilted to the side, giving me a curious frown like he's considering something.
"You really want to know?"
His sudden change of heart feels very ominous. "I think I have a right."
He laughs darkly and shakes his head. "You don't have a goddamn thing, my future wife. But I'll tell you what. I like that you followed me up here. I like that you have a spine. I like that you snuck into my office and pretended to be anyone but who you are. So I'll give you a chance." He holds out a hand and curls a finger, beckoning me. "Come here."
I don't move. This reeks of a trap. But what's he going to do to me? Something bad, most likely.
Maybe something I'll like.
Chapter 8
Lucy
Slowly, I go to him.
My heart's in my throat. Adriano is death and sin. He's danger and lust. I hate him, and I'm drawn to him all at once. I grew up liking preppy rich boys with nice parents and a trust fund. Adriano's none of that. Where they were clean, he's filth. Where they were well-mannered, Adriano's a beast. And I want him even more for how wrong he is.
I stop a few inches from him.
"Tell me," I whisper, mouth watering as I stare into his deep, dark eyes.
"Hands behind your back."
"What?"
He cranes across his desk and plucks something from a top drawer. "Don't make me repeat myself, love." He holds up something black and plastic. I frown slightly, confused.
"And what happens if I do it?"
"If you obey, love, I'm going to use you."
My heart rate instantly doubles. I feel dizzy with excitement. "Use me how?"
"However I want. I'm going to use you, and when I'm done, I'll decide if you've earned a little truth. Are you willing to play?"
Yes. Fuck, yes. But no, god, no. I should get away from here as fast as I can. Playing with this man is like sucking on a loaded gun.
I should be putting distance between us if I'm going to survive marrying him.
Instead, irrationally, stupidly, I obey.
I put my hands behind my back.
“Now what?” I whisper.
He pulls me closer. I gasp slightly as he wraps the plastic cord around my wrist, slips one end into the other, and tightens it.
Oh, shit. It’s a zip tie, and now my hands are bound behind my back.
My eyes go wide as he takes me by the hair.
“Now you get on your knees,” he says, his other hand unbuckling his belt. He yanks me closer to him, his mouth pressing to my ear. “The safe word is lightbulb. Say it back to me.”