Ruthless Prince (Dark Syndicate 1)

“All of it,” he states, and his jaw tightens.

Which should I start with? My bra or my panties? While I decide, I bend and slip off my shoes… slowly. One, then the other.

No one has ever seen me naked. Not even this much. Nobody, not even my doctors.

I straighten and note the amused look on his handsome face. Amused at me for taking my shoes off and the slowness in which I did it. My hands shake as I reach up to the little butterfly clasp holding my bra together, and I fumble to get it undone. It’s not actually that hard to undo. I just can’t get my hands to work. My breath catches when the clip snaps open, and I wince when the heft of my breasts spill out.

I can’t look at him. The hot blush of humiliation that sweeps through me leaves me breathless and lightheaded. I’m frightened and ashamed. I’m terrified and angry at what I’m being forced to do.

I take off my bra, and it drifts to the floor, joining my dress. My breasts bobble when I bend to push my panties down my legs. Once they’re down, I step out of them and steel my spine, willing myself to be strong.

I keep my gaze ahead, staring at the white of his shirt, avoiding his eyes.

He reaches out and lifts my chin, guiding my gaze back to his. The brush of his fingers on my skin sends a shiver through me. A shiver of sexual heat that I hate. I shouldn’t feel anything for this man. Definitely not anything sexual. No part of what he does next will be with my permission. Nothing. Nothing at all.

He holds my gaze and releases me, but not before brushing his fingers along my neck. Then slowly, slowly he walks around me, circling me the way a predator would its prey. His eyes have a lean, hungry look that grows hungrier, greedier with each passing second.

They touch me everywhere. My head, my chest, my stomach, right down to the smooth mound of my sex, where he lingers before his gaze flicks right back up to meet mine.

“I can see what the talk is all about now,” he comments. I don’t know what he means. “Beautiful…” he adds. My traitorous pussy clenches with need.

I’ve never had a man look at me the way he is. If they have, I wouldn’t have seen them because they would have been scared of my father. I’ve also never had a man call me beautiful either, for the same reason. Not even Jacob.

“Take your hair down for me,” he adds. I pull the band from my ponytail.

As soon as I do, my long dark locks tumble down my shoulders and gather at the small of my back.

The desire in his eyes is a tell that he’s ready to strike. Fear lances through me like a bolt of lightning.

He takes one step closer, and I step back. One more step, and I’m completely pressed up against the wall. I wasn’t far from it in the first place.

He places a hand right by my shoulder, blocking me in so I can’t move. I can’t stop shaking. The terror comes from deep inside. Deep inside my soul. I can’t control it.

Massimo lowers his head until he’s a breath away and smells my hair. Then he reaches down to touch a lock. His fingers brush over my nipples, making them hard. The contact makes arousal ripple through me, and my throat goes dry.

Allowing the ends of my hair to curl around his thumb, he watches, fascinated. Then, when he presses his hand to the flat of my stomach, I know this is it. He’s going to strike. I just don’t know if I’ll survive it.

“Please… not this way. I’ve never…” I wince, hoping he won’t laugh at me and make me feel worse.

“Never… never what, Princesca?” he as

ks. His warm breath tickles my nose.

“I’ve never… been with a man.”

At the declaration, the devilish smile that lights up his face scares me. It’s unlike the one he gave me before. It holds an air of victory, like he just struck the jackpot.

“Fucking hell. I definitely did well,” he breathes out and chuckles. “Are you on the pill, Princesca? I like to fuck bareback.”

My mouth opens, but I can’t speak. I’m not used to people talking to me like that. His dirty mouth shocks me but at the same time commands a response from my body in a way I don’t like.

“Answer me,” he pushes.

“Yes,” I reply quickly.

“Good girl. Make sure you take them.”

I take the pill for my skin. When my doctor prescribed them, I never even thought about sex.