“Good. Have a seat and finish your breakfast.”
Tears clouded her vision as she lowered herself back into the chair. She told herself they were tears of frustration, but she couldn’t lie to herself any more convincingly than she’d lied to him. As baffling as it was, she felt guilty for lying to him.
She’d gone mad from being brought so close to coming and left wanting. It was the only logical explanation. Some chemical reaction in her brain had scrambled everything around, and she was confusing guilt with un-slaked lust.
That had to be it. The alternative was too horrifying to even consider.
Chapter Five
After breakfast, shewas changed into an outfit somehow even more humiliating than the ‘pajamas’ she’d been forced to wear. The pink monstrosity was a mass of ruffles and lace that barely covered her bottom.
She’d kept her mouth shut, though. Uncle Gio hadn’t raised a fool, and she wasn’t looking to have a larger hunk of metal shoved up her butt. Not when she could already feel the one she had with every step she took.
When she was dressed, Emilio tilted his head to the side, studying her. “You look adorable,” he said, and she almost believed he meant it as a compliment. “I have several calls to make this morning, so you’ll be joining me in my office until lunch. After lunch you’ll need to stay in your room, as I have a few meetings to attend in person.” A rather satisfied grin split his face. “Unless you don’t mind our mutual acquaintances seeing you in your current state.”
“I’d rather you just put me out of my misery,” she mumbled, tugging at the frilly skirt. “Can’t I just stay up here all day?”
“No. Naughty little girls need to be watched carefully and I can’t spare Benny all day to keep an eye on you.”
“But your staff will see me!”
“My staff is well aware of my... proclivities. And they’ve all been carefully vetted.” His expression softened, just a fraction. “You are safe here, Amara. Nobody outside these walls will ever know what happens here.”
It was the height of stupidity to trust a man who’d kidnapped her, beaten her, and dressed her like a child. But despite all that, he was still the same man she’d known her entire life. So trust him, she did. “All right.”
“I have some coloring books and other toys in the office to keep you occupied. Come.”
Face burning with shame, she slipped her hand into his outstretched one and allowed him to lead her down the stairs. His office reminded her of him—elegant and imposing, but with a warmth often lacking in men of his profession.
All traits that had attracted her to him in the first place. Under different circumstances, she might have enjoyed a bit of kinky play with him and they could have each gone their separate ways afterwards, remaining friends. But now, she was stuck here, at his mercy. And the punishments he had planned for her were nothing compared to what he would do if he discovered the truth about why she’d been in his room last night.
What a fucking mess she’d landed herself in, all because Uncle Gio owed someone a favor. If she made it out of this alive, she was never doing another job again. It certainly wasn’t like she needed the money.
“Are you all right,piccolina?”
God, she wished he’d stop calling her that. It was equal parts sweet and humiliating, and just altogether confusing. “I’m fine.”