Page 16 of Pride

She tries to yank her arms free, but I am too strong for her. “You are a misogynistic pig. I’d rather marry any other man on this planet than you.”

I chuckle. “There are far worse men than me, love.” I move my lips toward her ear and let them brush lightly over her earlobe, noticing the way she shudders. “Your father is pretty convinced I’d be the right man to be your husband. I’d be a little nicer to the man who holds your future in his hands. Don’t you agree?”

She pulls away a bit. “I don’t agree with anything you say.”

I can’t help but smile as I find her resistance adorable, even if it is futile. In the end, she will break exactly the same way I intend to crush her family. They will pay for what they did to my brother.

“We’ll soon see. I’m going to push for our wedding to be as soon as possible.” I yank her closer so my lips are against her ear again. “And then we’ll see if you can resist my cock once you’ve had a taste.”

Bella yanks away from me. “You are a pig.” She spins around and walks out of the room. Her hips sway from side to side as if tempting me to follow, but I don’t. First, I need to recollect myself. My cock is hard and throbbing after that brief encounter.

I didn’t expect to be so sexually attracted to the woman I intend to destroy, but it will just make my revenge that much sweeter. “Try not to dream of my cock tonight, love.”

I hear her raspy gasp as she saunters into the hallway. No matter how much she tries to convince herself she’s not affected by me, I see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

I wait for a couple of minutes so it’s not suspicious that I’m returning at the same time as her, and then I walk back in and sit next to her as if nothing happened. As I take my seat, I can feel her eyes on me.

I’m too tempted not to touch her as I slip my hand high on her thigh and squeeze, making her draw in a deep inhale of breath, the sound of which I feel in my balls. I’d imagine it’s the sound she’d make as I slide my tongue through her virgin pussy.

“So, Isiah,” Luciana, the youngest and yet most outspoken daughter, says. “What do you think of Bella?”

It’s an odd question to ask, especially with her present. “I don’t know her very well.”

Bella huffs. “Maybe it would help if you’d actually danced with me last night.”

I chuckle. “Why do you make a habit of talking while you dance? I hardly see how that would help us get to know each other.”

Her jaw clenches. “It would make me less hostile toward you.”

“Bella!” her mom says. “Don’t be so rude to Mr. Darcy.”

I glance at her. “Please call me Isiah, Mrs. Benedetto.”

She smiles. “Of course, and you must call me Viola. I do apologize about my daughter.”

“Apologize for what?” She hisses like a feral cat. “For being fucking honest?”

Viola gasps. “Language, Bella!”

I can’t deny that I find it amusing that she would take objection to a mere swear word when they earn their living from organized crime.

“There’s no need for apologies. Let her speak her mind.”

Bella’s eyes widen slightly in surprise. “Thank you.”

I nod in response. “Of course.”

Maria straightens. “What’s London like?”

It’s out of the blue, but it’s good to change the subject. “It is an exciting city. Different to Washington. Perhaps you can visit someday.”

Maria and Luciana, who obviously take that as an invitation for both of them, jump about in their seats. “Oh my God, yes, we’d love to,” Luciana says.

Cain huffs. “You two are fucking annoying.”

“Cain,” Viola says in warning.

It’s just as I expected it to be tonight, carnage. Everyone talks over each other as the evening proceeds. Bella’s mother and siblings, except Nina, make fools of themselves. It’s hard to believe that one day Cain Benedetto will take Gio’s place as head of the family, however I intend to wipe out the family entirely. And Bella and I continue to butt heads the entire night.

---