Page 6 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“It will be messy.”

“No worries. I like the messy ones.”

I rolled my eyes and hung up before firing off the address to him. Then I looked at Ari. She fidgeted in her chair.

“Come, let’s get you cleaned up.”

She rose slowly, wariness crossing her features. She’d just sold her fucking soul to the devil. And she knew it, even if she was trying to be brave.

I placed my cigarillo in the ashtray on my desk before walking over to a door behind it. Opening it up, I stepped in and flipped on the light. When I looked around, Ari had followed me. I smiled before walking into the next room. She peered around the first room before coming into my private bathroom after me. I went over to the shower and turned it on. She twisted her hands in front of her, looking between me and the shower.

“Those need to come off.” I pointed at her clothes. “I hope you’re not too attached to them.”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Okay.”

“Now, Arianna.”

I didn’t like to say things twice.

She shot me a look of bewilderment.

“What? In… in front of you?”

“Did I not make myself clear enough?” I took a step towards her. “When I tell you to do something, I expect it done. No questions. No complaints. Defiance won’t be tolerated, and trust me, I’m not above forcing you. I would prefer it if you did it yourself, but either way, you will take your clothes off and get in the shower.”

We stared at each other for a moment. I could see the battle waging on in her mind before she dropped her arms from her body. Ari slid the hoodie off her shoulders, the fabric dropping to the tiled floor. Her eyes remained fixed on mine as she curled her fingers around her bloody t-shirt and pulled it up her body.

I didn’t outwardly react to the sight of her curves. She was far too fucking young for me to be looking at her with anything but clinical detachment. And yet, I was far from detached. Especially when she unhooked her bra and allowed it to fall to the floor. The way her dark nipples pebbled in the cool air had my fingers twitching.

Her chestnut brown eyes dared me to say something as she kicked off her trainers and tugged at her socks. Then she was sliding down her tracksuit bottoms, leaving her almost bare. Her fingers hooked into the waistband of her underwear, pulling them off her body.

Fuck.

Her tawny brown skin glowed under the lights. Her body was all curves. The spark of interest I should have had earlier watching the fucking pole dancers flared inside me.

Before I had a chance to say a word, she flounced by me and got in the shower. My fucking shower. Where she’d use my products to wash herself. She’d smell of me. It made the deviant smile, even as I tried to keep my face neutral.

I knew then I was going to have a fight on my hands, both internally and with Arianna herself. Apparently, I didn’t care because no part of me regretted this course of action. But perhaps she would come to regret her decision to seek me out and become indebted to a man like me. One who had few morals and even less patience.

You are mine now, Tinkerbell. Mine.

I wouldn’t touch her, but she was still my possession. She would learn very soon why she should obey me. If I knew anything about Ari, it was that she had little regard for authority. And it would be her downfall.

Four

Arianna

Having Zayn watch me undress in front of him made me wonder what on earth he planned to do with me. He told me I had a choice, but seeing as I’d killed my own uncle, my options were rather slim. It was this or face my father. The latter was something I dreaded. At least this way I would be safe. Or as safe as anyone could be at the mercy of a man like Zayn Villetti.

I kept my hair out of the spray. Not having any of my products made me wary of getting it wet. I could feel Zayn’s eyes on my back, burning into my skin like fucking brands. Not like I’d got naked for many men, and especially not one who told me he had no interest in sleeping with me. My hands fumbled with the shower gel in the rack when I reached out for it. The blood still stuck to my skin in places. It was a relief to wash it off, even if my every move was being watched.

When I was done, I turned off the shower and stepped out onto the mat. Zayn leant against the sink counter with a blank expression on his annoyingly handsome face. It was annoying because he had no right being attractive when he was downright terrifying.

A clean towel sat next to him. I didn’t know whether to reach for it or await further instructions. I curled my arms around myself when his gaze drew lower, taking in every inch of my naked, dripping skin. Maybe I wasn’t what he was used to. The girls in his club, especially the pole dancer, looked like they barely ate. I’d always carried extra inches, especially around my thighs. I wasn’t ashamed of the way I looked, but then again, I’d never had anyone openly stare at me the way Zayn was.

When his eyes dragged down to the thatch of curls between my legs, my face grew hot. Especially when his teeth grazed across his bottom lip for the briefest of seconds. I almost missed the subtle movement. He straightened and picked up the towel. I nearly backed away into the shower when he stepped up into my personal space.

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