ella

ack. The velvet comforter fell away, exposing me to the chill of the room

en I am speaking to you," he wa

the Don's wrath. "And do not forget the first co

nt he signed them. I didn't bother explaining. Instead, I ca

head out, her fac

band of the fi

ifying gaze. "My lady has the right to wake

nt urge to reassert his dominance. But a Don's word was his bond. To break the contract on the very first day wa

barked at the guard stationed outside t

e for a contract. I smiled into my pillow

awake near noon. Damien was sitting in the velvet armchair opposite the bed, a boo

d-" he began, his bariton

the dark, bruising marks he had left across my collarbone. "If you hadn't been so.

he reprimand died ins

lined up three bullets of red lipstick on the silver tray and pushed them toward his re

cked the deepest, blood-red shade and applied it meticulously. I stood, walking over to his chair, and leaned

the fragrance?

a stiff, barely percep

laugh, pulling ba

it was well past lunch. The glass room was suffocatingly warm,

. She didn't look up immediately. She took her time, taking a slow sip from her bone china teacup befo

tly polite but laced with unmistakable venom. "I thought

me, offering no excuse f

. "Maria, go fetch Sophia and Gloria. And see if Angelina has finished her