Page 57 of Forbidden Sins

I freeze. Vito’s eyes are glittering, a cruel smile on his lips. “He was in here, wasn’t he? Your bodyguard? What would your father do, do you think, if I went downstairs and told him that I could smell his cologne on your skin? That I’m sure he was in your bedroom, touching my future wife? Would he leave his cock attached to his body, this time, or cut it off entirely before sending him back to you?”

Tears well up in my eyes. I can’t move, caught in the trap that I unwittingly set, and Vito smiles with satisfaction.

“I have eyes everywhere,bella. Even before I came to stay here, I had ways of finding out what happened within these walls… even outside of them, where your father took your precious bodyguard to teach him a lesson. A lesson he didn’t learn well enough, clearly. But you,bella, can save him for now. Learnyourlessons, and I won’t breathe a word of it, so long as you try very, very hard.” His hand tightens in my hair, and I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. “Do you understand?”

I open my mouth to answer, just as he grabs my other hand and presses it between his legs, right against the firm line of his pencil-thin cock.

My entire body rebels. My stomach heaves, and bile burns the back of my throat as I retch—vomit hitting the front of Vito’s shirt, and then his shoes—as I double over, coughing and choking. I catch a glimpse of the repulsion on his face as hestumbles back, entirely focused on the mess I’ve made. And when I see Sebastian creeping out of the bathroom, I mouth one word to him, my eyes wide with panic.

Run!

I see him hesitate. I know he doesn’t want to leave me like this.Please, I mouth, hoping with everything in me that he won’t pick this moment to make a stand, and I see him give in. I turn, dry-heaving toward Vito again as he grabs me and pushes me away from him, just as I grab onto him to keep from falling. The resulting chaos lasts just long enough for Sebastian to slip soundlessly out of the room, closing the door behind him, as I fall back against the bed.

“I’m so sorry,” I gasp. “I was flushed when you came in because I’d just been sick. The veal didn’t sit well with me, I think?—”

Vito narrows his eyes at me. “You said you were fine.”

“I lied.” I look up at him pleadingly. “I thought you’d be disgusted if I said something about vomiting. I want you to be pleased with me, to want me—” I don’t have to fake the tears that well up in my eyes, spilling quickly over my lashes, and Vito takes another step back, his face twisted with anger.

“I’m disgustednow,” he spits. “Don’t come out of your room for breakfast tomorrow, Estella. I don’t want to see you until dinner. Give me time to get this foul image out of my head. I can’t imagine touching you right now.”

“I’m so sorry. Please don’t be angry. I’ll—I’ll do whatever you want,” I promise. “You can teach me…I’ll do my best to learn. Whenever you want, Vito. Just please?—”

He waves a hand at me, his own face faintly green. “I’ll call a maid,” he snaps, striding out of the room, and the door slams behind him a moment later.

I sag against the bed, tears still dripping down my cheeks, panic flooding me. I don’t know if he’ll say anything to my fatherabout Sebastian. Maybe, maybe not. Vito clearly doesn’t want to wait until our wedding to get some pleasure from me, and if he tells my father, he’ll no longer have anything to hold over me.

Which is just another reason why Sebastian needs to leave. I close my eyes, pain clutching at my heart at the thought, but I know there’s no other way. With him gone, my father and Vito will have nothing to hold over me any longer.

And Sebastian will be free.

—

I don’t come downuntil dinner the next day, as I’m told. I don’t see Sebastian. I spend the entire day panicking, filled with anxiety that Vito has said something to my father, and Sebastian has been punished again. I spend the day pacing, working myself up into a frenzy of worry, until I’m finally forced to get dressed to go down for dinner.

A wave of relief hits me when I see Sebastian standing guard for dinner as always. He’s still bruised from the prior beating, his lip swollen and red, but not more than it was from our kisses last night. My skin prickles when I look at his mouth, heat blooming through me at the memory of his lips on mine, the taste of his blood on my tongue, the most intimate thing I can imagine.

He doesn’t look at me as I take my seat next to Vito, who is cold and composed. My heart races in my chest, rabbit-fast, but I say nothing, taking small sips of the cold cucumber soup that’s served as the first course.

“You’re feeling better,bella?” Vito asks, his voice crisp, and I look up, nodding quickly.

“I am, thank you.”

“Were you unwell?” My father looks at me curiously, and I swallow hard, glancing at Vito. There’s no way he can say morewithout revealing he was in my room last night. But I’m not getting the sense that he’s said anything about Sebastian, either.

“Dinner didn’t sit well with me last night,” I say quickly. “I asked my maid to let Vito know I’d be spending the day in my room until I felt better.”

Antony nods. “I’m glad to hear you’re better now, then, daughter.” He smiles, picking up his wine glass. “Vito and I came to terms last night. Your betrothal contract is ready to be signed at the church in three days, and this weekend it will be officially announced at the party.” He glances at Vito. “Your husband-to-be has asked to give you the ring at the celebration, instead of at the church. He wishes to propose to you in front of the guests.” My father chuckles. “A slight departure from tradition, and he knows what the answer will be, of course, since the papers will already be signed. But he thought it would be special for you. Isn’t that kind, Estella?”

I nod, forcing a smile. “So kind,” I echo, knowing that it has nothing to do with that at all. Vito wants the pleasure of forcing myyespublicly, in front of every rich and well-connected guest we know, to prove that I’m his. It’s not to makemehappy.

Nothing about this marriage ever will be. And the last moment I was ever happy will be the one where Sebastian first kissed me, with the scent of roses all around me.

The happiest moment of my entire life… and the last joy I’ll ever feel.

19

ESTELLA

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