Page 48 of Desire and Revenge

Sofia

“Where have you been?”

I jump a foot in the air and let out a terrified shriek, spinning around to face the figure peeling away from the dark hallway. My heart is pounding in my chest as I whip around.

“You almost gave me a heart attack,” I grumble, hand pressed to my chest.

“Sorry, ma’am,” Alba looks truly apologetic. “I was just really worried when you weren’t in. It was getting late, and you don’t really know the area.”

Right. I’ve lived here for almost a month now and I still don’t know the area because I’ve been confined inside these walls like a convict.

“Where were you?”

Oh, just around, getting my mind blown by Nero Castello, with one or three orgasms, nothing too serious.

I flash her a strained smile. “The confinement was getting to me; I just took a walk around.”

She blinks. “I walked around the grounds and still didn’t see you.”

“We must have missed each other, then,” I tell her, hoping she’ll drop it. “Did you keep dinner for me?”

“Yes,” she tells me. “Shall I bring it to you now?”

“Yes, please.” I open my bedroom door and walk in, feeling the twinge in between my legs with every step. “I just need to shower first. I’m all sweaty and gross.”

“Sure.” She smiles and walks off.

As soon as she’s gone, I hobble to the shower and turn it on. I need a long, soothing bubble bath, but I’m going to have to settle for a quick shower or my food will get cold.

I try to keep Nero out of my thoughts as I strip out of my dress and bra and soap up my body, but he refuses to be relegated to the sidelines, and I can’t help the moan that slips out when I slide the loofah down between my legs.

Oh, mio Dio.

It feels like it’s his long, calloused hands touching me so intimately. I toss the loofah away from me when I hear my bedroom door open and glare at it like it’s responsible for turning me into a shameless hussy.

I turn the shower knob down till the water turns into icy needles pelting my skin. I’m shivering when I step out of the bathroom, and I quickly dry my body and toss on a heavy dressing gown.

“The boss was asking about you earlier, at dinner,” Alba begins as I walk into the room, “I told him you had a headache. Mr. Castello wasn’t at dinner either.”

I jolt, stomach turning until I realize there’s no suspicion in her voice. I settle into the couch. “Is it unusual that he wasn’t?”

“He’s never missed one. You know, I thought he would spend his time here driving around the city with girls hanging off his arms. But he doesn’t even bat an eyelash when I smile at him.”She glances over at me with a twinkle in her eyes, and I force a smile. “He’s really handsome, but—” She trails off, looking nervous.

“But what?” I lean forward, ignoring the food in front of me.

The girl hesitates. “Well, er, there are rumors.”

“About what?” I ask impatiently, raising my glass of water to my mouth for a sip.

“I heard that he’s not into women.”

The water goes in the wrong way, and I splutter, water flying everywhere as I begin to choke. Alba rushes to my side, hitting my back.

“Ma’am, ma'am, are you alright?”

“Yes,” I croak. “I swallowed wrong.”

“You should eat, before your food gets cold.”

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