Page 40 of The Devil's Deal

“Say one more goddamn thing, and I’ll slap another piece of tape over those pretty lips.” His face nears, close enough for his mouth to brush over mine, but it doesn’t. “And if I wanted to fuck you, I would have done it already. Nothing you could do to stop me.”

I squirm uncomfortably at the thought of being fucked by him while tied to his bed. It’s sick that the imagery even crosses my mind.

He notices my discomfort, his eyes leisurely scanning my body, leaving a scorching path of pure flames.

Gritting my teeth, I stare down at him, needing this attraction between us to burn out. I despise him and his chiseled jaw with that five o’clock shadow, making him even sexier.

“What happened, princess?” His gaze slams into mine, his finger running down in between my breasts, stopping at my belly button. “You look a little flushed.”

My body heats up again, my core clenching inadvertently.

“Don’t call me that!” I roar.

The word “princess” makes my skin crawl. My father used to call me that when he’d pretend I meant something to him. But it was all for show when his friends were around. To this day, I can’t even hear that word, let alone be referred to by it.

He laughs. “Why not? Did your ex-boyfriend call you that?”

My brows pinch tightly.

“Just don’t, okay?” My voice falls with the painful memories, scratching at the wounds I want to keep closed forever.

“Fine. I won’t call you a princess anymore.” He grins, knowing he just said the word again.

I shake my head. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Which part from today gave that away?”

I scowl. “Do you even know who my father is? Do you realize what he’ll do if he finds out what you’ve done?”

My father may not give a shit about me, but this stranger doesn’t have to know that. Then again, my father is very possessive of his name, and he won’t let anyone think he’s weak by allowing his daughter to be kidnapped without starting a war first.

For appearance’s sake, he’ll get every ally to join in a war that’ll have Brian—and whoever he has working for him—look like little children.

“Your father is the reason you’re here, Chiara.”

I narrow my eyes. “What has he done for me to deserve this?”

“You’ll find out soon, but now isn’t the time. Go rest. I’ll be back a little later. You’ll eat and take a shower then.”

“Wait a second!” I widen my stare. “You expect me to sleep like this?” I pull at the rope.

“What did you think? That I’d let you roam around my house?”

“Why can’t you just take this shit off and stop treating me like an animal? I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t choose my father. I’m nothing like him.”

He snickers. “Right. Of course you’re not.”

Then he whirls away from me, his footsteps batting across the wood floors. He reaches for the door, but before he goes, he looks over at me, his gaze turning soft, like that of the man I met at the club. I feel the weight of his eyes on mine.

“Close your eyes and go to sleep. No one will hurt you here, Chiara. I promise.”

“No one but you,” I retort softly.

He gives me a lingering look before he’s gone, the door clicking to a close behind him.

Chapter Thirteen

Chiara

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