Page 3 of Devious
“If you continue to throw a temper tantrum, I’ll go back to Lex and snap his neck. Behave.” His tone is casual, then he lets me go.
My chest hurts as I cough, and snot trickles down to my lips.
He grabs a handkerchief from his breast pocket and tosses it at me. Grabbing it, I wipe my face and throw it to the floorboard.
“Am I clear?”
“Y-yes,” I answer.
“Good girl.” He climbs into the seat next to me. “Take us to the penthouse,” Devious orders.
The driver pulls off onto the black asphalt. Tears sting my eyes, but I try my best not to let them fall. I rest my head on the window, and the buildings pass in a blur.
Twenty minutes later, we get out of the car and head into a private elevator, neither of us speaking to each other. But Devious’s azure eyes are on me, studying every inch of me as if he’s a predator ready to pounce on his prey.
I feel naked and exposed, even though I’m fully clothed.
The metal doors open, and we step inside the massive penthouse. Two soldiers check out each room, and once they’re done, they stand in front of Devious.
“It’s all clear,” one of them says.
“Go back to your standing post,” he orders.
They nod, then stand in front of the door.
I glance around at my new prison. The drapes match the color of the gray walls, and a love seat and a couch the color of burnt leaves are tucked away in the corner. The smell of Pine-Sol chokes the air, making my nostrils burn. The oak floors are so shiny I can see my reflection. This place doesn’t feel as if anyone lives here. There isn’t a homey touch to it. No pictures offamigliashanging on the wall. We might as well live in a museum. This penthouse is cold, distant, like Devious.
Is his personality the same? I stare up at him, and his face is in its default pout, with lines around the corners of his mouth.
Devious shrugs off his navy suit jacket and places it on the coat rack. His bodyguard, with dark hair, stands by a statue, as if he’s an art piece himself. I stand next to him, and my eyes shift to the wide window wrapped around the whole penthouse. The view of the skyscrapers is beautiful, lighting up the city. Looking around again, I realize Devious is a billionaire. I knew he was one, but it didn’t sink in until now.
“Follow me,” he says. He leads me to his bedroom.
Ourbedroom. Like the living room, everything is dark and gloomy.
This can’t be my home. Thiswon’tbe my home.
He unbuttons his expensive cuff links and rolls up the sleeves of his dress shirt. He folds his veiny arms across his hard chest.
He stalks up to me, and I pedal backward until my back brushes the cool wall. He places his hands above my head as his eyes burn holes into mine, and he bites his bottom lip.
“When I fuck you, I expect to see blood.”
Women are not allowed to lose their virginity before marriage, while the men are allowed to sleep with anyone they want. If I were to, then I would be killed.
My chest tightens, and my hands catch a bad case of the tingles.
“I know the law, Devious. Women are supposed to remain virgins until we’re married off.”
He taps his finger on my nose and walks to the drawer, taking his body heat with him. “Good. Because I would hate to kill someone as pretty as you.”
How can someone as beautiful as him be so cruel?
I flinch and gulp.
He yanks out a white T-shirt, tossing it at me. “Put this on and go to bed. You need to get up early and meet me at the dining room by eight.” Then he hurries out of the room, leaving me in the eerie silence.
I climb into bed and cry myself to sleep.
