Page 127 of Their Reckless Thief
I stilled against him, absorbing his words. Relief and regret twisted together, and I raised my head, meeting his gaze. I didn’t need to speak. He saw it all in my eyes.
The wicked gleam returned to his gaze.
“You know,” he said, his voice deceptively calm, “you’re still going to have to be punished for this.”
I froze, and his smirk deepened, that knowing, crooked smile that always managed to make the world tilt just a little.
“Vincenzo,” I said, a teasing edge creeping into my voice. “You wouldn’t actuallypunishme, would you? I’m not one of your enemies. You don’t have to pretend to be a devil around me.”
He chuckled, and his eyes darkened. “Dolcezza, I am notadevil.” His lips curved, eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. “I amthedevil. Don’t start getting the wrong idea. And prepare to be punished.”
The door opened, and Dorian entered with his usual confidence, but he paused when he saw us. His sharp gaze flitted between Vincenzo and me.
“What’s going on?” he asked, looking slightly amused and slightly wary.
“Go get Luca. Now.”
Dorian’s brow lifted, curiosity piqued, but he didn’t argue. He disappeared out of the room, and I turned back to Vincenzo. His eyes, dark as obsidian, rested on me, sending a thrill down my spine.
“Strip,” he said.
The air grew heavy, and my heart skipped, the command jarring yet magnetic. A flicker of doubt teased at the edges ofmy mind, but beneath it was a strange exhilaration. The barest whisper of trust I felt for him, something I wouldn’t dare admit aloud, pulsed between us.
I didn’t look away from him as I pulled off my shirt. With unsteady hands, I shed the rest of my clothes, my panties pooling at my feet. He didn’t say a word, only watched me with that fierce intensity that always stripped away my defenses.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, his hands trailing over my stomach, his touch feather-light but igniting every nerve. “Even now, when you’re defiant, when you hate me, you’re exquisite.”
“I don’t hate you,” I whispered, the confession slipping out before I could stop it. My reflection in the full-length mirror betrayed me—raw vulnerability flashing across my face.
His fingers dug into my hips, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Good, because I don’t plan on letting you go.”
The words sent a thrill through me, terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
“You’re mine, Celeste,” he growled, his voice rough with hunger. “And I’m going to make sure you never forget it. Kneel. Hands behind your back. Sit back on your heels.”
I sank to my knees, the carpet cushioning my bare skin, and put my hands behind my back, feeling each muscle lengthen, each nerve fire with an unfamiliar thrill as I settled. Every part of me was tuned to him, his presence so vast it felt as though it crowded out the walls of the room.
When Dorian returned with Luca trailing behind, they both stopped short. Dorian’s expression turned from surprise to fascination, a dark gleam in his eyes. Luca looked away, his jaw set hard, tension radiating from him.
“What the hell is going on?” Dorian asked, a trace of laughter in his voice as he stepped closer.
Vincenzo’s gaze never left me. “Our littledolcezzahas been a very bad girl,” he said, his tone deceptively light. “She’s earned herself a punishment.”
I could feel Luca’s gaze settle on me. I stole a quick glance at him, and when our eyes met, I held his gaze, hoping he’d understand. I was fine. I was here of my own will.
Dorian’s smirk softened into something sharper as he caught the silent exchange, and he nodded to Vincenzo, almost as if they were having a conversation without words. Vincenzo gestured for him to step closer.
“Tie her hands behind her back,” he commanded Dorian, a spark of satisfaction in his tone.
Dorian gave a low chuckle as he came to my side, pulling a rope out of his pocket. His fingers slid over my wrists as he secured them with practiced ease, the rough cord biting gently into my skin, binding me in place. My pulse thrummed faster, but I forced myself to stay still, to let myself feel the pull of his grip, the restraint solid and real.
“Is this what you want?” he whispered into my ear, and I gave a slight nod.
I trusted them. I didn’t know when or how that happened, but it was reality. I trusted the three monsters that were in the room with me.
Luca shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “I’m leaving.”
Vincenzo’s gaze snapped to him. “You’re staying.”
