Page 37 of Till Death Do Us Part

It’s been three days since he devoured me with his mouth; three days in which I’ve hidden out in my bedroom, telling Margo I wasn’t well when she tried to get me up and out—yet those images play on a loop in my head. Even now, my cheeks flush as I think of how he brought me to orgasm on his tongue.

The worst of it is, I keep imagining the knife he used. Wondering what it would feel like if Leonardo used that to pleasure me while blood pours from open wounds as he uses his tongue to clean the crimson liquid away.

God only knows what that says about me.

Not just knife play, but blood being involved too.

“Well, wake up.” Felicity laughs, pulling apart the chocolate muffin in her hands before popping small pieces into her mouth. “When we’re finished here, we’re heading to the mall to buy hot-as-fuck outfits for the Halloween party. I’m thinking Catwoman for you, Pips. Like a hot Halle Berry, leather-jumpsuit Catwoman.”

“There’s no way I’m wearing a leather jumpsuit,” I deadpan, narrowing my eyes at them as they watch me with eager smiles on their faces. Shaking my head, I finish my drink before inhaling the vanilla cheesecake in front of me.

Less than an hour later, Felicity is shoving a pair of high-waisted black leather trousers into my hand and a matching leather corset before shoving me into the nearest dressing room. My arguments fall on deaf ears when she steps in behind me, pulling the curtain closed before telling me to strip.

Rolling my eyes, I tug at my black knitted sweater and pull it over my head, dropping it onto the floor before popping the button of my jeans and sliding them over my thighs and stepping out of them.

Felicity gasps, her eyes wide as she stares at me through the mirror. Standing only in black lace underwear, my eyes fall to the scabbed line at my chest, a reminder of that morning with Leonardo.

“What happened?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I mumble while pulling on the leather trousers and corset. “I caught myself on the door, and the latch cut me, that’s all.”

I’m not sure she believes me when her eyes narrow, and honestly, I wouldn’t believe me either. I’m not even sure a door latch could cut me like that, but I will roll with the lie anyway. Say something enough, and eventually it will stick.

Right?

“What do you think?” I ask her, spinning on my heels and showing her the outfit. She lets out a whistle, thankfully taking the conversation change in stride. Her eyes run over me, a smug smile on her lips when she winks at me.

“Fuck Halle Berry. Pippa in a catsuit might just be my new wet dream.”

“Give over,” I tell her with a chuckle, turning back to the mirror and giving myself a once over. I have to admit, I look good. The leather clings to my body in all the right places, accentuating my petite frame in a way that draws the eyes to my cleavage and hips.

“You’re buying it, yes?”

“I guess so.” I sigh dramatically, clicking my tongue. “You may have been onto something with this idea.”

“Yes,” she cheers, clapping. “Get dressed and then it’s my turn to find something. I’m thinking super spicy devil.”

She skips out of the room, closing the curtain behind her while she shouts out to Georgina. Her enthusiasm is something I could stand to pick up on. I dress quickly, folding the leather outfit neatly over my shoulder as I step out of the changing room. If nothing else, I’ll look good while hiding in the library of the mansion when the party happens.

The rest of the week passes quickly and before long the day of the Halloween party is here. Servers pass through the hallway, rushing around to set everything up in the ballroom. Because what mansion doesn’t come with a ballroom? I doubt I’ve even scratched the surface of what else is lurking in the hallways of this place.

I press my back against the wall as one of Antonio’s men stalks past with a phone pressed to his ear. Half of the men probably live in this mansion, yet I only know a few. I really should make more of an effort to get to know them, to integrate myself into this world.

However, that hasn’t worked out well for me with Leonardo, has it?

Where I should be happy to have a friend in this world, instead I’m riddled with fear that what happened in that dark room will somehow reach the ears of my husband. The Capo.

Technically, I did nothing wrong—I was chained to a wall; it’s not as if I could have told Leonardo no . . . but the issue is, I didn’t even try. I wanted everything he did, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience more with him.

Plus, Antonio came back this morning and my period came a couple days before. My mood soured when I felt the first cramps and saw the spots of blood in my underwear.

Not because I want to have a child. I don’t, especially with him.

I’m twenty-one. I haven’t lived nearly enough life to be ready to become a mother. I want to see the world, to live a life full of love and laughter before I start that chapter.

Instead, my mood soured because I know not falling pregnant will make Antonio want to try even harder. Men like him can’t understand that these things take time and I’m sure he will only become more aggressive with his attempts the longer it takes.

“Pippa, there you are, dear,” Margo calls out to me when she spots me coming down the hallway. Her eyes are alight with excitement and she’s wearing a huge smile as she watches the decorations being put up in the hallway. “Should you not be getting showered? The hair and make-up artists will be here in an hour.”

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