Page 5 of His Sacrifice

“Still a perv, I see.”

“Still a needy slut?” I raised my brow, noticing her quick intake of breath.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked as she got up, pulling the sheet with her to cover her front, much to my dismay, and walked over to her vanity, my handprint still visible on her ass.

“You’re late for breakfast.”

She rolled her eyes, and my hand itched to take her over my knee again. God, I needed to visit one of the clubs tonight to relieve some of this pressure. The next few weeks were going to be hell.

“I wasn’t given an agenda.” She glared at me in the mirror as she brushed out her golden locks.

I walked up behind her and leaned down to her ear. “If you are not in the dining room in ten minutes, dressed for the day, you will have more than just the one handprint on your ass. I hear you’re quite fond of the cane.”

Her gulp told me I got her attention.

“I need to shower.”

I chuckled and headed to the door. “Should have set an alarm, then.”

Four

SERAFINA

Breakfast had been unbearable. Enzo spent the whole hour reminding me of the rules and expectations of my position. I tuned him out. I wanted to go back to Vegas, or hell, Italy even. They’d been prisons, but anything was better than here. When I wanted to walk the gardens, Enzo said no. He didn’t want me to leave the house. I told him to go fuck himself and walked up and kissed one of his guards. I’d wear his handprint on my bicep for a few days, and I was pretty sure he broke his guard's nose. Fucking asshole.

Enzo had caved and allowed me to have lunch on the balcony overlooking the gardens. It wasn’t the same and only reminded me how, even in my home, I was a prisoner. But for just a moment, when the breeze hit me, I felt free. He didn’t understand. I knew what was coming. Sure, they hadn’t told me what family I was set to marry, but these last weeks before the wedding would be my last chance of anything resembling freedom.

I took one last look in the mirror, admiring my diamond teardrop earrings and matching necklace. They stood out against the sequined V-neck burgundy evening gown I ordered this morning after I overheard Enzo talk about a party tonight.

I slipped into my stilettos and grabbed my handbag before heading downstairs. Walking down the stairs, my hand sliding down the rail, I felt like the princess they called me. Whatever decorator Enzo used had done a beautiful job, every room of the house was decorated for Christmas. I used to love Christmas, but now it was just another day.

“Serafina, what the hell are you wearing?” Enzo looked up at me as he fussed with his cuff links.

“I couldn’t very well go to the party dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, could I?” I smiled, trying to put the earlier tiff aside. “Tis the season, right?”

He gave me a puzzled look. “Party?”

I gestured at his tux. “Yes, the Moreno’s Christmas party. Unless you plan on keeping me a prisoner until you marry me off?” I stepped off the last stair and he walked over toward me and grabbed my arm.

“That is exactly what I plan to do.” He pulled me with him to the study and closed the door behind us. “You are not going tonight.”

Remembering what happened the last time we were in this study together, I jerked my arm from him and stepped away, putting space between us. “Why?”

He crossed his arms. “Because I said so.”

“Enzo, this is bullshit, and you know it.” I leaned on his desk and traced my fingers down the cleavage line of my dress.

He hissed as his gaze followed my hand. “Sera, you’re walking a fine line.”

His body tensed as I strolled over to him.

I ran my hand down the buttons of his shirt, and he grabbed me by the hips, digging his fingers into them. Then turned us around and pushed me up against the wall.

My breath hitched, and the scent of sandalwood and cinnamon surrounded me as he ran his nose up my neck, his short beard brushing against my skin, sending heat coursing through my body.

“Sera, everything comes at a cost.”

His cock twitched against my stomach as he moved his hand up to my neck. I gulped when his lust-filled eyes met mine. I bit my bottom lip. “What’s this going to cost me?”

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