Page 8 of Owning Nicci

Here, men can do whatever they want to me. But I don’t have to go anywhere with them. They can’t make me go to a hotel room with them, can’t force me back to their apartment.

And none of themownme. I’m powerless to stop them until they’ve gotten what they paid for, but it’s always over eventually. No one gets me exclusively. And the fact that this man thinks he owns me now is both entirely unsurprising and laughable.

I do exactly that. I laugh, the sound spilling out of me in a sharp jolt, and I can’t stop it. I laugh at him, and I know a man like him won’t take that well, but I can’t help myself. I can see his eyes darkening, see the muscle in his jaw leap, but the words are already spilling from my lips despite my better judgment.

“You don’townme,” I spit out. “I can’t stop you from doing whatever you want to me here, but I don’t have to go anywhere with you. So decide what you want or leave, but I’m staying right here.”

His jaw tightens. “That’s where you’re wrong,principessa. You are mine now. I do own you. Come along with me quietly, or?—”

“Or what?” I glare at him. “What are you going to do that every man who comes in here and decides he wants me hasn’t already done?”

“I told you who I am.” His voice is even, but I can hear a thread of anger in it. “I told you how this is going to go. And you’re still defying me?”

“Why not?” I toss my hair back, feeling a flood of adrenaline at finally,finallyfighting back. And maybe I’ll regret it when Savio gives up this game and hurts me in whatever ways men imagine hurting women who talk back to them, but for this one, blissful moment, it’s as if all the repressed anger and resentment pours out of me—and it feels so fucking good. “You can’t hurt me more than anyone else has.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” His cool voice roughens ever so slightly, a hint of a growl to the words, and I feel an inexplicable shiver roll down my spine. “I can do things to you that you can’t begin to imagine,principessa.”

“Well, decide which of them you’d like me to imagine. The hundred dollars that you gave Bryce will only go so far?—”

Savio smirks. “His name is Bryce? Unsurprising. How many times has he had his hands on you?”

That stops me short. “I—” I don’t want to think about it, to count them. “I don’t know.”

“After tonight, if he or any other man touches you, I’ll cut off his hands.” Savio raises an eyebrow. “Any man but me. Wouldyou like that? If I cut off his hands? One finger at a time, for every time he’s forced you to let him use you?”

I’d rather you cut off his fucking dick.I bite back the words, forcing myself to ignore the allure of what Savio’s saying. The revenge he’s pretending to offer. It doesn’t matter, because nothing is going to happen to Bryce. And I don’t belong to Savio, regardless of what fantasy he’s playing out. I force myself to ignore the effect that fantasy is having onme, the way something hot and needy uncurls in my belly and slides through my veins at the thought of him punishing Bryce for touching me.

“Just tell me what you want,” I spit out. I’m suddenly tired of this game, tired of being taunted, tired of pretending that this back-and-forth ends with anything other than his hands hurting me and his cock inside me.

“I told you.” Savio steps forward, and I glance at the door, measuring if I could make a break for it. But I’d be in worse trouble, then. Running from a customer?—

“Stop it.” I bite out the words. “Just…stop playing this game.”

“It’s not a game.” Savio walks towards me, his strides smooth and effortless. “We’re leaving, Nicci. Now. I want to hear that you understand that. You won’t enjoy the repercussions if you try to run from me.”

He’s saying one thing, but I see the flicker of heat in his eyes at the thought of me running from him. Of what he thinks he’d do to me if he caught me. And strangely, once again, I feel that slither of heat down my spine at the thought of him doing those things.

His green eyes are hypnotizing. I feel like I’m being trapped in a web, slowly, as it’s spun around me.But he’s full of shit,I remind myself, and I swallow hard, taking a step back.

“I think your time is up,” I tell him decisively. “I’m not going anywhere with you. You should go.”

He chuckles, the sound dry and dark. “I’m not going anywhere,principessa. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Buteitherway, you’re leaving here with me.”

“No, I’m not.”

His gaze darkens, hard and cold as stone. “Fine.” There’s a hint of impatience in his voice. “Get on your knees, Nicci.”

Finally.He’s gotten tired of playing this game, and now he wants his dick sucked.

Problem is, I don’t want to give him anything now.

How much worse could it be to say no?

Much, much worse. I can’t refuse him. But before I can acquiesce, Savio loses his patience and snaps his fingers, pointing to the floor in front of him.

“Now,” he barks, and I stiffen, anger flooding me.

“No.” I feel fear flood me, like ice in my veins, because my rebellion is unthinkable. I’ll regret it later. But I can’t do it. Maybe it’s because Savio is Barca Valenti’s brother, or maybe it’s because of how he’s shown up here every night, saying he wants me like he’s entitled to have me and then declaring that I’mhis. Maybe it’s because he just offered me something I desperately want—while knowing he’s not going to give it to me. But right now, I can’t imagine obeying him.

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