Page 82 of A Beautiful Crime

I wish to be haunted by her for the rest of my days.

Glancing down at my watch I see that it is ten before seven. It gives me time to freshen up before the dinner I had my personal chef, Lucio, prepare for us.

I would’ve made her dinner myself, my mamma taught me how to cook young, and I quite enjoy myself in the kitchen, but lately I have such little time for it.

Entering my bathroom I shrug out of my suit jacket and free myself of my tie. I undo the top three buttons, my smattering of dark chest hair peeking through, and take a good look of myself in the mirror.

Hunger is what I see first. So blatantly displayed in my eyes. I don’t want to frighten Carina, but I also don’t want to not push her.

I’ve seen the very same hunger in my own eyes reflected in hers. And yet she fights it. Fights me.

And as much as it is frustrating, it’s also a fucking turn on.

Cursing myself and my half mast cock I leave the bathroom before splashing some much needed cold water on my face.

By the time I arrive in the dining room at seven sharp the food is displayed before me beautifully but Carina is not.

I want to say that I am displeased that she isn’t here. A part of me is. How can I not be? But truthfully, I expected her defiance. The other part of me even hoped for it.

Carina seems to only have a backbone towards me. She isn’t afraid to use her tongue. Won’t blink an eye at disobeying an order. If she was anyone else I wouldn’t tolerate it.

But if Carina can stand before me with no fear then she can stand before any man without fear.

A true Queen in the making.

A Queen on the rise.

Excitement humming in my blood I turn away from the food, dinner forgotten, as I set to find her.

I’m before her door in little time. I can hear her feet softly against the marble flooring. My heart begins to pound viciously as my mouth salivates as I think about how her rebellious tonguetastes. My eyes hunger for the sight of her. My fingers itch for a touch.

It’s as if I’m a young boy who has just discovered how a woman can pleasure a man. The excitement. The lust. The need.

It’s consuming.

She’s consuming.

The power she has over me and she doesn’t even know it.

I shake my head, silently chuckling to myself.

If only she would open her eyes.

Giving her no time to prepare to hide from me I open the door. And giving her no escape I shut it behind me.

Wide emerald eyes meet mine as she stands in the middle of her temporary room. Her hand flexes against her throat to contain the gasp of shock.

I’m envious of her hand. Of how it gently applies pressure around her delicate neck. Her fingers feel the flutter of her pulse.

And as if her hand isn’t enough to be envious of, it has to be the black silk slip dress that fits her like a second skin.

Dio mio.

I’m at a loss of breath.

“You’re in my room,” Carina states, trying to sound as unaffected as she appears. But I know mia leonessa is a liar. One day she’ll finally be signing the truth.

I take a step further in the room and press forward again as she retreats backwards.

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