I squinted. “Is that why you groped me in front of your friends? Marking your territory?”

He snorted. “Call it whatever you want to. I have maybe three in that room I’d call real friends. Now two. The others want to fuck up any good thing they see. You don’t know how it is, and I refuse to let them do that to us. So yeah, I kissed my fiancée and skipped their party. They don’t control me…Let’s get back to Isla. She wasn’t to leave your side.”

I grimaced. “Why? I am an adult—”

“You don’t leave bait in a den of snakes—”

“Bait? Fuck you, Rocco.” My lips pursed.

He blew out his breath. “Forgive me. I adore you, Bella, but you’re green. Innocent.”

I scoffed. “I can fight, Rocco. I’m not as fragile as you think. I’d have handled Janus if you hadn’t shown up —”

“You shouldn’t have to handle anyone. Isla’s whole job is to take care of you when I’m not there. I went against my instincts keeping her on after she became close to Marjorie, and now I can’t trust her. I’ll have to let her go.”

I frowned. “Please don’t. She’s been very helpful. I really like her.”

Isla was really great with me, prepared and easy to talk to. I felt comfortable with her. She gave me space at the party, and it had surprised me. But I was fine overall until Janus flirted.

“Bless your sweet heart. I’d burn it all down if anyone hurt you.” He reached for me, but dropped his hand.

I stared down at my trembling fingers in my lap. “You don’t want to touch me?”

“I’m too upset to touch you right now, Adelina. But trust me, I most definitely want to.”

“You do, Rocco?” I mumbled, my voice uncertain. He had been jealous, but I was insecure after seeing him with his ex who obviously wanted him back.

“Where is this coming from? Yes, I do. It’s all I want to do the second I let you go.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I smiled.

He took a deep breath and kissed the back of my hand. “I’m sorry. Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I need to calm down, or I won’t go easy on you when we get in.” Rocco’s tone was teasing. He unbuttoned the front of his jacket and adjusted the bulge between his thighs.

“I don’t want easy, Rocco. I can handle it.” I shifted my legs on the seat, exposing the slit up to the garter at the top of my thigh.

Our gazes met and fused. I put all my longing and emotion for him in mine. What mattered most was that I’d grown to trust him. He needed to know I’d accept all parts of him.

“Be my good girl and take it off.” His command was just above a whisper, but it amplified in my veins, coursing down to my clit that pulsed. His brand of control worked on me, but I also wanted him to see me as strong.

“Stop calling me a good girl.”

“But you love it, Adelina. You’re a young woman and you want my praise.” He reached his hand over to clasp my thigh, pushing on my leg to open it wider. “You need to please. I get that.”

My skin tingled and heated. Did pleasing him arouse me?

“Stay still for me, Bella,” he commanded in an authoritative tone.

There was a strong, visceral desire to connect, but there was also a willingness within me to submit. I gripped the seat as his hands moved higher up my leg to the top, tracing his fingers against the lace on the thong. My breath hitched, and my pulse quickened. I let out a staggered breath and tensed as his fingers underneath the fabric. Ohh, Rocco. I strained as his fingers teased my clit and rubbed my hot opening. “Mmm. Let me show you how much you love it.”

He pushed a finger inside me. “You’re my sweet, sexy girl,” he purred. My inner walls clenched, and I shuddered as he pumped his finger in and out of me. I let out a moan, opening my legs more. And he gave it to me, sliding in another finger. “Your cunt is eager to be good and fucked.” He fucked me with them, slipping his fingers in and out of me as I moaned.

My hands grasped the seat tighter. “Don’t stop, Rocco,” I pleaded. He already had me desperate. Every time he touched me, I wanted him on me, inside me.

But he pulled out his wet fingers and sucked on them, groaning, “I’d let you have a taste, but I’m too greedy. Now, do as you were told.” His tone switched from teasing to authoritative, and I gushed between my thighs.

My hands were clumsy as I unhooked the garter, and impatient as I pulled off my stockings. I was achy, needy, and frustrated, but this was his control. He wanted me to know everything I did was because I wanted him, needed him.

“Take the stay pins out, too. I want to see your big tits spill out of that tiny dress.”