Page 35 of Sweet Retribution

I don’t respond and rush past her and up the stairs.

“Stupid fool,” I curse at myself.

I take care getting out of my dress and put it back on the hanger and in the closet. I change into comfortable shorts and a loose T-shirt, then take the pins out of my hair. I brush it out and pile it in a bun on top of my head.

Since it’s not too late in New York, I step out on my balcony and call my mother. Hearing her voice will calm me down, take away some of the longing I have for Stone. No, not for Stone, but for a man in my life.

We talk about nothing for nearly an hour before I return to my room. My stomach rumbles reminding me I didn’t eat dinner. Since it’s nearly midnight, I pray everyone is asleep. Or at least Sebastiana and Stone are locked away in his room. I can’t handle seeing either of them right now.

I’m relieved to make it to the kitchen without seeing anyone. I open the fridge and make myself a turkey sandwich. When I’m done, I search for a slice of the key lime pie Maria made this afternoon.

I close the fridge and jump at the nearly-naked figure standing two feet away. A shirtless Stone wearing only a pair or silk pajama bottoms is a dangerous person for me to encounter in the middle of the night.

“I was just looking for something to eat.” I hold up the pie plate.

“Me too,” he says, his gaze fixates on me.

I back away and set the pie on the counter, then take down two plates from the cupboard. “Would you like a piece?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation.

Stone moves closer, hovering over me while I cut the pie and put a slice on each plate. The heat from his bare chest radiates against my skin. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the warmth from his breath across the back of my neck.

He rests his hands on my hips and I still.

“If I were to slide my fingers between your legs,” he nudges the back of my ear with his nose as he whispers, “how soaked will your panties be?”

His hands move to my front, still staying on top of my clothes.

“Stone,” I beg. “Don’t.” My body betrays me and leans into his touch.

He cups me and I clench my inner walls. This Stone touching me in the kitchen is different from before. He’s sleep rumpled, his hair messed from tossing and turning. I’ve never seen him in anything but suits or workout clothes.

Even the few times we’ve had sex, he stays mostly clothed. We’ve never had sex in a bed. In normal situations.

He spins me around, pinning me to the counter, his erection rubbing into my front. “Fuck, Gia. You want this as bad as I do.” He lowers his mouth to my neck and kisses it while his hands find my breasts.

I close my eyes and lean into his touch. Stone, soft, warm, and tousled from...

“No.” I put my hands on his chest and push him away.

He’s not tousled from sleep. It’s from screwing Sebastiana. I’m a stupid, stupid fool. Just another notch in his belt who easily falls for his sex appeal. My body craves him in the worst way but I have too much self-respect to whore myself out to him.

“You’ve made your bed, Stone, and I don’t share.” I slip under his arm and put the kitchen island between us. “I don’t blame you. You made no promises to me other than...”

I swallow my pride. Yes, he did promise in our marriage contract that he wouldn’t sleep around, but I made his lawyer write that as a punishment to him. I no longer want to punish him for doing what he’s done.

Kidnapping me and forcing me to marry him has been a blessing in disguise. Mother and I will soon be free to live our lives. Something I never thought we’d ever be able to do. Stone and I were never meant to be.

“I’m thankful for all you’ve done for me and my mother, but I won’t be another woman to add to your collection. I don’t regret our... time together. You’re free to carry on with your life. When you’re done with your business, I’ll return to my mother and carry on with mine.”

“Gia.”

I hold up a hand stopping whatever he plans on saying.

“Good night, Stone.” I give him a sad smile before turning on my heel and returning to my room.

I don’t know what I’m doing other than surviving. I have a myriad of emotions running through my mind every second of the day. All of them have something to do with Stone. I brush my teeth and settle into my bed.

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