the buttons of his jacket, slipping it off with slow, deliberate movements. He to

ep back, but the moment sh

his voice smooth as silk, ye

her expression into a mask of col

ered with amus

react, he closed the

in, tilting her face upward. His touch was deceptively g

you?" he murmured, his voic

ed hard, refusi

't ask," she shot

ifted. His grip tightened-not

s curving. "I do take what's min

against her skin. "When I ta

anger and something far more da

gusting," s

uckled. "And yet,

t his chest, but

ped me, you

ending an unwilling shiver down her

r veins. "I'm not your property, Moretti. I d

moment, his expression unreadable.

epped

ched him loosen his tie, unbuttoni

said. "You don't

her chest for a fr

h

you w

omach

trode toward the bar in the corner of the room. He pou

ve everything you need-comfort, security, freedom within these walls." He turned back to her, swirling the amber l

ails dug in

efuse?" she

w sip of his drink, h

sure you don't

her, but she refuse

me here foreve

ss down on the bar. "No, but I can

s heart

ying a dan

wo

ure she knew

aleria awoke to the

. Ins

but before she could igno

, elegant, with sharp featu

"Mr. Moretti instructed me to ensure

ed her eyes. "

elonged in some high-class Euro

sn't a r

t before she could protest,

d over her shoulder. "

she wa

rply, gripping the

have expe

was pulling her into his world, weaving her into his web, and

she threw off the covers

ection was vast-designer pieces, soft fabrics,

ss, something fitted but not t

she found herself in

here

polished table, sipping his coffee, lo

said smoothly, gesturing to

nto a thin line, but she

-fresh fruit, warm pastries, eggs cooked

," Alessandro observed

. "You expected me to sleep s

azed. "I expecte

plate away. "I don't know what game

voice dark and soft. "No,

nd she hated the way his wo

sandro," she said

nt, then finally leaned back i

in

blinked.

leave, I won't stop

er eyes. "What

full height, towering over her as he

" he said, his voice like velvet over steel. "You leave with not

onto hers, dar

see our c

ve crashe

he whispered, her

pression didn't

between them, thic

ghtened, adjus

he murmured. "Because on

s heart

wanted a

t like

cost of e

etti had just

it was

thing. The weight of Alessandro's ultimatum pressed a

uld wa

uld lose her child bef

ails digging into the fabric. She was used to playing the game, to finding

th

me she hadn't

ght from the grand chandelier casting sharp shadows across his face. He wa

he lump in her throat. S

apped," she said, her voi

amusement flickering in hi

omach

sn't

t him see the fear cr

erself to meet his gaze with the sam

e asked, voice softer

curved slightly.

ss her lips. "Then you nee

his eyes, something

before she cou

table, closing the space betwe

fused to give him the satis

ing off his body, he leaned in, his fingers brushing against h

't need anything. I want. And what I want-" His lips graze

pounded in

aw at the smug confidence radiating from h

forced a slow,

pered, "you're stil

ndro s

in his expression shifted, s

vety sound that sent a slow t

g back as if indulging her. "W

n't let her

she knew

have won t

o Moretti nev

ame was only j

lurred into a strang

m, hadn't forced her into submission

e did some

her comf

f prepared extravagant meals, even when she refused to eat. The estat

as still

lessa

every

r with that knowing smirk, as if he

force he

and anythi

her life, embedding himself into he

infur

d

s wor

to ignore him, no matter how much s

eny that he wa

wo

kne

state, searching for nonexistent escape route

, the warm glow of the chandelier casting

the spines of the books, he

ed this

ed

ng to his nearness, to his voice, to the wa

ce interrupted

your escap

g against the doorway, his shirt unbutto

la

oth

she wasn't g

"Maybe I just

stepping inside. "So

re the way her pulse quickened as he

pened. "What

eath c

e reached for a book on the shelf,

ed in books," he mused, "

ed her eyes. "

"A dramatic choice,

bookshelf, lazily flip

nt, there

h

e asked, his tone casual, but the wei

a stif

hought ab

she wanted

bout to let Ales

d instead. "You've already dec

ed the book, se

, tilting it up so she had no

've accepted it," he m

tter laugh

ted. "There is

udied her for

he s

Sini

see abo

as if he hadn't just left her entire world t

s heart

eep down,

unning ou

't find a way t

t never