Page 2 of Ruthless Touch

I watch her grow more frustrated by the moment, but she really is stunning. Something about green eyes never fails to intrigue me, and hers are the color of dark emeralds. The longer I stare at her, the more I see flecks of gold dance around her pupils. She looks exotic, like something foreign washed up on the shore that rivals anything beautiful I’ve seen on the Amalfi Coast.

Finally, she gives in, her entire body trembling when she realizes she can’t convince me to let her go. “What do you mean you didn’t pay for me? Franco told me you did. I told him he was crazy and that I wasn’t going to be sold to anyone, but he told me you bought me, which by the way isn’t legal.”

“Well, I didn’t. I paid for something else entirely.”

“Then why won’t you set me free? What good do I do you? I’ve been here for more than a day already, and not once have you said more than ten words to me before now, and that’s only because I’m forcing you to.”

Her delusions amuse me, so I smile and shake my head. “You couldn’t force me to do anything, Aria. As for why I won’t let you go, that’s my business. For now, you’ll stay right here in this hotel and in this penthouse where you want for nothing. As for how much I speak to you, that depends. Right now, this conversation is over since I want to go to bed. I’ve had a long day, and nothing is more desirable to me than sleep at this moment.”

When I turn to walk to my bedroom, she touches my forearm, sending a rush of excitement coursing through my body. I can’t deny how desirable she is and the effect she has on me. I felt it that night at Angeloni’s villa, and as I stand here with her now, I’m already hard.

“Nothing?” she asks, her eyes full of something I can’t place at the moment. Seduction? Manipulation? Whatever it is, she knows how to use it because all I can think of as she looks at me is how much I’d like to be balls deep inside her right now.

Aria steps toward me, brushing her fingertips over the front of my black dress shirt. “I will do anything you want. Name it. Just don’t make me sit in this penthouse alone for another day.”

I let my gaze drift down her body, exciting me even more. Beautiful with curves most men would love, she’s nothing short of breathtaking in the pale-yellow sundress she’s wearing.

Unfortunately for her, I don’t need that in my life. Want is an entirely different story, however.

Dragging my fingertip along her collarbone, I smile at the thought of what she’s willing to give me. “I’m not the kind of man you should offer anything to. Trust me, I’ll take it all.”

“Whatever you want as long as you don’t make me feel like a prisoner, Gideon.”

“I’m not a man who plays games. If I do as you want, I’ll expect something in return. Something big.”

As I speak, I stare into her eyes to make sure she understands the bargain she’s about to make. I’m not the Devil, but I’m closer than she’s used to, for sure.

She hesitates for a moment before answering, “I’ll do whatever you demand if you let me feel like I’m not trapped here. All I ask is one thing.”

Intrigued that she thinks she should be bargaining for even more at this moment, I ask, “And that is?”

“Don’t let any harm come to me. If you do that, then I’ll do whatever you command me to. I’ll be at your beck and call for anything and everything you want. Just keep me safe and let me feel like I’m not a prisoner.”

She wants a protector and is willing to trade anything to get one, including her body? That’s an offer I can’t pass up. I’d be insane to even consider saying no.

I press my hand to hers and shake it to seal the deal. “Done. You’re mine to do as I please whenever and wherever I please, and in return, I promise to keep you safe. Welcome to the Villa Aurelia.”

Sliding my arm around her waist, I pull her to me so she can feel how hard she makes me. “Let me show you to your new bedroom, Aria.”

Her eyes grow wide, but in them I see not fear but desire. Good. She bartered with her body, and now I plan on using it as payment as often as I want, and I expect her willing compliance.

“Know this,” I warn her. “I expect you to obey me. Do that and we’ll get along fine.”

In a trembling voice, she asks, “And if I don’t?”

“I have a reputation for being aloof. You don’t want to see how cold I can be. Be a good girl, Aria, and we’ll get along fine.”

As I escort her to the bedroom, I sense fear begin to grow in her. She thought she escaped a bad man and found a good one in me. But she didn’t.

She found a villain.

Or at least the member of a family of villains.

Aria looks around my bedroom and smiles at me. “Very nice. Very you.”

“Undress,” I order, surprising her, oddly enough.

Didn’t I just say I expected her to obey me? Aria’s not a stupid woman, so how she could be surprised at what’s about to happen doesn’t make sense. She wants something from me, and at this moment, this is what I want from her.

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