Page 58 of The Devil's Deal

“What the fuck was that?” he whisper-shouts, leaning his face into mine, his snarl drifting over my lips.

“What are you talking about, you psycho?” My voice is hushed, but anger swells in my gut.

Who does he think he is, manhandling me like this? And why do I want him to pin me to the wall and fuck me ruthlessly?

“Chiara, I swear to God.” He grits his teeth, his gaze wandering between my lips and my eyes. “I’ll lock you back in that fucking room if you try that shit again. Sonia knows nothing about this side of me, and I want it kept that way.”

I slant my head to the side. “So she doesn’t know you kidnap women and lock them in your big, bad room?”

“I don’t kidnap women.” His lips curve, so close to mine that if I moved a fraction, I’d taste his. “Just one in particular.”

“Maybe next time you should give me a heads-up regarding who you’ve told about me being your hostage,” I spit out through clenched teeth. “I prefer an Excel spreadsheet.”

“I’ll think about it.” He smirks, his breath licking up my mouth.

“How can she not realize anything?” I whisper, the roar of desire warming me from the inside. “Isn’t she suspicious with these men around?”

“No,” he stamps out low and deep, his eyes narrowed.

“Who does she think they are? Your friends?” I let out a small laugh.

“Guards. She knows I have businesses and competitors. One can never be too careful.”

“She really has no idea you brought me here against my will?”

“Not a clue.” A hand finds my jaw, his fingers roughly delving into it. “And if I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut, princess.”

“Stop calling me that!” I say with a soft shout, my fingers landing on his back, my nails clawing down the length of it, enough to make it hurt.

He lets out a small growl as one of his legs slices in between my thighs, his body pressing roughly into mine as the hand on my jaw slithers to my neck.

I exhale a quiet moan when I feel his hardness pushing into my lower belly from beneath his clothes. The span of his large palm envelops the column of my neck, his fingers gradually closing in, pushing into my throat until I fight for every one of my breaths.

“I think you’ve forgotten who’s in charge here.” He leans in further, his lips brushing over my jaw. “I hope this is a good reminder.” He squeezes harder. “Don’t fuck with me, Chiara. You won’t like what you find.”

“You don’t scare me,” I choke out the words with a snarl, finding it harder to inhale, my nails piercing deeper into his back.

A spark ignites within his stormy gaze, pulsing through me, the desire for what we could be together so evident in his eyes. If only we were different people, born into a different life.

“I guess we’ll have to remedy that.” The words are meant as a threat.

My nails slowly trace up his spine, to the back of his neck until I reach his head, biting into his skin.

“Bring it on,” I challenge with a stuttered tone while my nails sink deeper into the hardness of his muscles.

He hisses with a wild growl, clearly enjoying my hands on him. I like knowing he does. It helps further my cause. The more we touch, the better chance he lets me walk right into his bed, and after that, I’ll slip right into his heart when he doesn’t even see it coming.

Once I’m there, there will be nothing he wouldn’t do for me, like allow me to leave his house whenever I want, giving me the opportunity to disappear before he ever has a chance to take my heart in return.

I know men like him: powerful in all aspects, guarding everything, even their hearts. But it only takes one single crack to crumble every wall they’ve so carefully built.

“Don’t provoke me, baby,” he asserts. “I could snap you like a twig, and there’ll be no one here to stop me.”

My pulse thumps in my neck.

I can hear it.

Feel it.

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