Page 58 of Twisted Vows

Her pupils shrink. She digs her nails deeper into my wrist but doesn’t fight as I overpower the rest of her body.

“I had no choice! You wouldn’t let me go.”

The note of betrayal in her tone fertilizes the seeds of doubt in my soul.

“You’re right,mia caramellina; I wouldn’t let you go then and I won’t let you go now. I’ll never let you go. You’re mine.”

She lifts her other arm and completes her bracelet of fingers around my wrist.

“You’re a monster,” she hisses.

“Damn straight. I’m your monster.”

She grits her teeth and glares at me with such intensity I can’t resist the urge to incite her. I need more of her anger. I’m addicted.

Her hard nipples dig into my abs as I crane her neck further back and study her reaction as I speak.

“And now I’m the monster who has to decide whether I worship you or torture you. Are you my wife or my plaything? My enemy or my ally?”

Her nails, despite how short she keeps them trimmed, pierce my wrist. Blood trickles down our arms and pools on her collarbone. A muscle ticks in her jaw and her lip trembles when she opens her mouth.

I’ve never seen someone so furious yet so stunning.

“Two days ago, I was your prisoner. Yesterday I was your wife. Last night I was your plaything. Today I’m your enemy. Tomorrow?” She scoffs. “I don’t have a tomorrow. I’ve never had a tomorrow.”

Ice coalesces behind my sternum at the abject misery lurking amidst her anger.

“Your brother destroyed my life seven years ago, and now it’s you. So, you tell me what I am to you, because the only thing I’ve ever wanted was to be free.”

I pull her hair harder but gentle my grip on her throat and rub my thumb over her jugular as I respond.

“Freedom isn’t something people like you or I can have,principessa.”

“Don’t call me that!”

Her chest heaves so hard my entire torso jostles from the movement.

“Why? Does it make you miss your papà?” I snarl and stroke my thumb over her sensitive earlobe.

She hawks a massive glob of spit onto my cheek. My cock throbs with the need to put her mouth to better use, but as I release her hair and wipe her saliva off my face, the shock of her words erases all thoughts of shoving my dick in her mouth.

“No, you fuckingstronzo. That’s what your brother called me as he stripped and beat me in front of dozens of men while vowing to make me his perfect little slave.”

I grab her face and dip closer to better study her.

“What? Ciro Lanza would never allow—”

“My father was there! I don’t know what your brother has on him, but my father sat there and did nothing as Seppi—”

“Donotsay my brother’s name while you’re naked in my arms, Emma. Not unless you want me to lose what little control I have left,” I snarl.

“You’re hurting me.”

Any other woman would cower or look pathetic to soften their man’s temper, butmia caramellinahurls the accusation at me with nothing but contempt. She’s gorgeous. I want her.

But she’s not making sense.

“Give me a reason to stop,mia moglie. Why wouldn’t my brother just marry you and inherit your father’s fortune?”

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