Page 29 of A Shade of Evil

CHAPTER15

ALLEGRA

Iwatch him head off with an inner glow of peace that I’m keen to hang onto. Out here, clinging to the buoy, I am free. No responsibilities, no family to lie to me, and no inhibitions. I never realized being naked was so freeing. I love it. The fact I’ve fucked a man who was a stranger to me a few short weeks ago doesn’t seem as bad now as when he first requested my company. For the next seven days and six nights, I am guaranteed freedom which is strange when I’m his sex prisoner.

It makes me giggle as I turn my face to the sun, knowing that he isn’t making me do anything I’m not hungry for. I enjoy the moment for a little longer before I reluctantly slide into the cool sea and take a gentle swim, floating on my back and letting the waves wash over my heated body. I have never had sex like this before. It’s always been a disappointing experience with dates that never really make the grade. A frantic act courtesy of a drunken stupor most nights and the odd encounter with a guy who catches my eye at a party. Not this premeditated assault that I still don’t really understand the meaning of.

Who cares though, because my life isn’t what I thought it was, anyway.

With a sigh, I haul myself back on the ski and head back the way I came. This time enjoying a solitary ride at leisure rather than speed and letting Shade win the race was an easy one. You don’t have to win every game, just the ones that count. I wanted my solitude and my freedom far more than I wanted to beat him back to the boat and so I got what I wanted, as did he.

The ship gains in size as I approach, and I admire the sleek bow of a super-yacht. It’s amazing, much like its owner, and I still can’t believe what has happened to my life since I met him.

Mafia. Is this how they live? Blood money spent on decadence. How can he live with what he does? Murdering a man with no consequences and no dent in his conscience, either. I have never met a man like Shade Vieri in my life and yet from what he told me I’ve been surrounded by them. Unlike him, they don’t announce it to the world. They don’t revel in it, and they hide a don’t give a fuck attitude where he wears his as a badge of honor.

I know what criminal I prefer and it’s the one who doesn’t pretend otherwise.

The anger boils away inside me, waiting to explode and I have a feeling the man watching me approach can help with that.

He has changed already and is wearing a black t-shirt and denim shorts, his expression hidden behind mirrored shades. My heart beats faster as I stare at a man who intrigues me. I love his attitude, as if nothing can drag him down. It’s addictive—he’s addictive, and it’s no hardship to be his guest for a while.

Then I can walk away.

Why doesn’t that sound as appealing as it did yesterday?

The steward helps bring the ski in and as my fingers attempt to unfasten the life vest, Shade appears by my side and says irritably, “Where the fuck were you?”

“Chilling.” I shrug as his fingers inch inside the vest and twists one of my nipples—hard.

It brings tears to my eyes, and he growls, “I don’t like to be kept waiting. Come.”

He tears off my vest and grabs my wrist, not caring that I am naked for anyone to see and as we move through the boat, I sigh inside because I’ve angered him. He obviously issues orders and expects them to be obeyed and I suppose I must now face the consequences of that.

He tugs me down into the cabin area and thrusts me through a door that opens into a bedroom.

Then he drags me over to the bed and pulls me over his lap and I shriek when he lands a hard blow on my ass.

“Stop. What’s that for?” I cry out and he hisses. “When I tell you to do something, you do it.”

“Fuck you.” I say through gritted teeth, causing him to add another sharp blow by way of a response.

“You’re a fucking sadist, asshole.”

I yell and he rewards me with another.

I struggle, but the more I do, the more he responds, and it becomes a contest as to who will win.

I’m not sure how many times he strikes my ass, but for some reason I am numb to it. Perhaps I’ve lost the ability to feel. It certainly seems like that and so I fall silent and let him vent his anger with no response.

It has the desired effect and with a low growl, he pushes me onto the floor and says roughly, “You disobey me, and I punish you. Get used to it.”

“What do I care?”

I shift so my back is against the wall and draw my knees to my chest, peering at him through tear encrusted eyes. My ass is stinging, but my blood is heated, and I say sadly, “Whatever you do doesn’t matter.”

He appears shocked at that and says quickly, “Why?”

“Because I don’t care anymore, Shade. To be honest, you could toss me overboard and I would welcome it. My life isn’t what I thought it was, and I’m kind of searching for a new one.”

---