Page 16 of A Beautiful Crime

I want to take the nearest object and bash him in the head until his skull caves in.

I’m more than half tempted to take my precious heels and coat them in a new color of his blood.

But I’ve already caused enough of a stir this evening.

He’s already rattled me, and I acted upon my emotions. I let them control me because of him.

Damn him.

“But I am not yours at this moment,” I correct him. He looks astonished by my bravery. But it’s not bravery, for I don’t fear him. It’s my loathing that makes me so bold and blatant. The need for him to understand that I am not one of his countless possessions. “I thank you for the dance, Signore but now while I still have the will I must leave you.”

There in the dark depths of his eyes for the briefest of moments I see that he's impressed. But like a flicker of a candle the next second it is gone. If I had blinked I would have missed it.

His hand slides away from my lower back and then trails to my hip before making a path down the length of my outer thigh.

I shiver involuntarily. A dark gleam lights his eyes.

When he finally removes his hand from my body his touch still lingers. Like embers on my skin.

I nod my head out of respect but grit my teeth as I do.

As I turn to leave he captures my wrist in his big meaty hand.

I look back at him with my brow raised.

Then he does something startling. He bows slightly and brings my hand up to his lips. He blows on my hand, his hot breath tingling my skin. His eyes stay on mine and I’m lost in his gaze. Keeping contact he then presses his soft lips to my skin. Goosebumps coat my flesh as my heart beats rapidly in my chest.

From my peripheral vision I see the flash of cameras. I hear amongst the crowd the gossip between women.

Who am I and how have I captured the attention of Constantine Donati?

“Constantine,” he says against my skin. He presses one more opened mouth kiss to my hand but keeps my fingers hostage. “You will call me by my name.”

“You already know how I react to orders, Signore.” I don’t say his name out of spite. Even if we are to be wed his name will never pass my lips.

“And we have already discovered you obey me regardless,” he reminds me. “Those lips of yours will say my name, Carina and when they do I’ll be inside you.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

“I won’t have to hold for long,” he says confidently.

I then violently snatch my hand from his and he lets me go with a chuckle. Amusement and challenge dance in those eyes.

As I turn my back on him I still hear his throaty laughter. My heart still races and my skin still burns from his touch, from his lips.

My nerve endings are exploding inside me. My mind is reeling.

And although I have succeeded in what was meant to be done this evening I can’t help but feel like I have failed myself.

I’ve impressed the Devil but by doing so I’ve betrayed myself.

That will happen no more.

He will no longer get a rise out of me.

He’s the reason why I had to be reborn and for that I will never submit to him.

I hate Constantine Donati with a burning passion. And if I have the choice to kill him I will take it.

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