Empress in Lingerie (Lingerie 5)

“Like you didn’t want to fuck me.”

My eyes narrowed. “No, I—”

“I made you come in less than two minutes. You enjoyed every fucking second of it. Let’s not rewrite history and paint you in a fictional light. I kissed you against my van, and you kissed me back. I kissed you on the floor just seconds after I held a knife to your throat. I fucked you in my bed and listened to you moan for me, felt your nails slice into my skin. I listened to your screams when my fat dick hit you in the right place. I may not be a good man, but you’ll always have my honesty. I deserve the same from you.”

It was the first time a man shut me up. He didn’t tell me to be quiet, but his argument left me speechless. There was no way I could contradict any of those things, not when we both witnessed them. “Whether I wanted to fuck you or not, I want my freedom.”

“Freedom is a privilege, not a right.”

“Not according to the law.”

“In the underworld, there is no law. There are only rules—my rules.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, my appetite suppressed now that this conversation took a deadly turn. I refused to give in to the fear, but I couldn’t deny how lethal this guy was. He didn’t kill me, but he was definitely temperamental. “When are you going to let me go?”

He grabbed the bottle and refilled his glass. “I’ll let you leave the house in a few days.” He worded it the same way as last time—and that was unsettling.

“My mother will call soon.”

“She hasn’t yet.”

“You’re keeping an eye on my phone?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have it back?”

He laughed into his glass before he took a drink.

Richard entered the dining room with our entrees. Two steaks with roasted potatoes and asparagus. He set the dishes in front of us, topped off my glass with wine, and then set a basket of bread on the table before he walked out.

Once the succulent food was placed in front of me, my appetite came back. I grabbed my fork and knife and dug in.

Bones watched me for a few seconds before he started eating.

“What am I supposed to do for the next few days?”

“Don’t be stupid.” He cut into his steak then placed a large piece of meat in his mouth. “I prefer it when you’re smart, even when you won’t shut your mouth. You know your only job is to lie in whatever position I ask while I fill you with my endless loads.” He cut into his steak again and took another bite, like this was an appropriate conversation to have over dinner.

A tiny chill ran down my spine, and that made me despise myself. “I was under the impression this was just a one-night thing.”

“You’re the one who told me I wouldn’t just want you once—but I wouldn’t stop wanting you. Looks like you made good on your word.” He put another piece of steak into his mouth and chewed, his hard jaw working while his eyes focused on my face.

“And you think that’s going to change in a few days?”

He kept chewing, the tension escalating between us. “There’s a good chance it won’t.”

“But you promised you would let me go.”

“I promised I would let you leave the house.”

“Is that not the same thing?”

He didn’t answer. “I told you I would never let you go, whether you’re in my captivity or not.”

“The second I’m out of here, you’ll have no power over me.”

“That’s what you think. But you’ve never been in the presence of real power.” He spoke with such confidence that I didn’t want to challenge him.

I was the daughter of a very powerful man. My uncle had the same influence, and I knew my mother didn’t take shit from anybody. But my family had walked away from a life of crime and danger. Their power was enforced by respect, not fear. Bones was different, a type of enemy I didn’t know how to combat.

“Eat your dinner. I don’t want you to be hungry later.” He dropped his gaze for the first time, looking down at his food. His muscles shifted and worked together to accommodate his movements. Even the slightest maneuvers forced his muscles to bulge noticeably. Not only was he a large man, but his muscles were ripped and tight. They were pulled close to his skeletal frame, making him an extremely heavy mass. I would know…since I’d been underneath him.

I picked up my fork and continued eating, knowing what was coming next once dinner was over. If he were any other man, the situation would make me sick to my stomach. But no matter how much I hated him, the truth couldn’t be denied.

I was attracted to him.

When I stepped into his bedroom, I spotted the red rug underneath his bed. His stone fireplace was larger than usual, reaching high off the ground so it could illuminate his entire bedroom. With dark wood furniture and paintings of the landscape around Lake Garda, I felt like I was hidden away in a chalet in Switzerland instead of a few hours outside of Milan.