"What did I fucking tell you?" he hisses. "Shut up and learn. You asked for it, after all."
My scream dies in my throat, and I can't move at all. I'm frozen to the spot, lying to myself that I'm not enjoying this. Because my body speaks for itself, and it's responding to him already, begging for more of his attention. And the worst part is, Ryder knows it.
"This is how you kiss, if you want your husband not to stray," he grunts before devouring me with an insatiable kiss, his tongue, hot and searching. He pulls back, slapping my cheek. I gasp as he goes on.
"This is how you kiss if you want to be the only thing on his mind, twenty-four seven."
This time his kiss is sweet, full of dirty promises. He slaps my other cheek.
"This is how you kiss if you want to be a good girl for your marito. This is how you prove how much you're worth. Open your mouth."
Even though I don't want them to, my lips part. Ryder laughs in my face before spitting in my mouth.
"How dare you," I hiss, spitting to the floor. "Get the fuck away from me, pervertito!"
"Sure." He easily pulls back and walks over to an armchair in the corner of his room. He watches me closely, lighting up a cigarette while I shiver. "Why don't you come sit on my lap, principessa? I'll tell you how pretty you look tonight."
"Fuck you.” I tug my panties back up. “I'm getting out of here. And I'm telling Papa what you did to me!"
"He won't believe you," Ryder smirks. "He'll believe me. The only thing you will accomplish is getting your marriage with Adrian broken off. Is that what you want?"
With my lips pursed, I shake my head no.
"Then do as I say." He watches me closely for a reaction. "Why not have some fun before you get married? If it even comes to that."
"What do you mean?" I demand.
"Let's just say there's another signorina in my brother's life. And right now, I have my doubts about him picking you."
"You just want to hurt me."
"It's the truth." He pats his knee again. "Now come here. I know you want to be a good girl and learn more."
"Are you forgetting how old I am, Ryder?" I ask him viciously. "I'm not old enough for this."
"Have it your way." He crosses his legs. "I won't bother you again."
He gives up so quickly it enrages me. What is he doing to my head? My thoughts are spinning and I want to know how he really feels about me.
"It's not long before my birthday..." I try again.
"We'll talk then." He starts to get up but I approach him, straddling his lap. Ryder lifts his hands off me while I kiss him with all the pent-up lust I've had inside me for years. I show him everything I am in that kiss, melting against him and giving him full control of my body.
I don't think he'll give in until he does. His body grows lighter, then suddenly rougher, and he grabs my hair and pulls my lips off his.
"Ow!" I cry out. "Are you crazy?"
"I've had enough of you, principessa," Ryder mutters. "We're getting you back to your room, right the fuck now."
"Signore Bernardi?"
We both go silent. I pale as I realize there's a maid right outside his door.
"Si?" Ryder calls out.
"Everything okay in there? We heard a woman scream, and, well –"
"Fuck," Ryder curses, staring me down. "You better hide. Now."
4
Ryder
"Yes?" I open the door of my bedroom halfway. The maid glances behind me suspiciously. "Is there a problem? I didn't call for a maid."
"Signore, we heard noises... is everything alright?"
"Perfectly alright, yes," I smile tersely. "Just on a phone call. See you in the morning."
"Alright," she says tightly. "I just –"
I don't wait for her to finish her sentence, I just close the door and slam the lock into place before turning to face Nicoletta again.
"You almost got me busted," I hiss at her. "You'd be smart to keep your distance from now on, Nicoletta."
She merely smiles. She's plotting something, I can tell, those wheels in her head turning fast as ever as she plots what to do next. Fuck. She's exactly the kind of woman I go for. Except she's not a woman. Not yet.
I shake my head to get the thought out. Nicoletta was right, I am a fucking pervert for lusting after her, even when she's thrown herself so desperately at me. I throw on my tracksuit and grab her by the arm.
"Come on, let's get you to your room." She doesn't move, but I hook my arm through hers and drag her off. "Don't even try me right now, principessa."
I make sure nobody can see us and take her to the upper floor. I let her into the bedroom and she stares at me through the crack in her door, eyes shining ever so brightly.