She bites her lip and considers it, and all I can think is this was a mistake. She’s nothing like I pegged her, and the irrational anger I’ve felt toward Paolo since meeting this girl is only growing.
Still, I can’t cut her loose. I’m disappointed, a little pissed, but I can’t let her leave without getting one more taste.
“That you’re pleased with me.”
I scoff. “You bloody my friend’s nose, and you want me to imply you’reobedient?” I shake my head and stand.
Alex watches me as I walk to my closet. I rifle through a chest of goodies that rests on the floor and bring out a gag. I’ve had enough of the talking.
When I walk back toward her, she glances between me and the gag, but there’s no look of surprise like I expect. She still looks sad. Or maybe it’s defeat.
My shins hit the bed, and I reach out for her, but her words stop me. “He’s going to hurt me for this. Just in case you care.”
I take in a steadying breath. “Why would he hurt you? He’s the one who bet you. It isn’t your fault you’re here.”
She squints and purses her lips. “He doesn’t care that I’mhere,but if you tell him what I did to Scarface or that I wasdisobedient,” she sneers the word, “then he’ll be pissed. He wants to be on your good side. If that doesn’t happen, he’s going to take it out on me.”
I open my mouth, but then close it on a sigh.
“And just so you know, he doesn’t care about this. If you’re using me to hurt him, you’ve got the wrong strategy.”
I toss the gag on the bed and scoff dismissively. “Hurting Paolo isn’t worth my time.”
The words fly out of my mouth so convincingly it rings true in my own mind. Because it is partially true. He isn’t worth my time. He’s barely worth a seat at the poker table.
And yet, I still want to hurt him. If it weren’t for the respect Syrus had for Leo Romano, I probably would have done worse by now. I stare at Alex, first her hazel eyes, full of contempt and foreboding, and then my gaze moves down her body, down those soft curves I want so badly to hold.
It’s jealousy, isn’t it? He has what I’ve already marked as mine.
“Why wouldn’t he care?”
I move my eyes back to hers. A blush reddens her cheeks.
“Because he hates me as much as I hate him. This is something his dad wants, not us. So,” she nods behind me toward the door, “if that’s all you’re hoping to get out of this, I’d like to leave now.”
“Even so,” I say, ignoring her request. “You’re his. Like I told you last week, I’m pretty sure he’s gay, but if he’s like any other man I know, he’s still territorial.”
“God, would you listen to yourself? I’m not his fucking property.”
“Of course you are.” My lips lift in a smirk. “But you hate him for it, don’t you?”
She says nothing, but the revulsion in her eyes says as much.
“I got the impression you were proud of your impending status.”
“Well, I’m not.”
“Good. I meant it when I said you could do a hell of a lot better than him.”
“Oh yeah? Like you?”
My chest rumbles with a laugh, and I lick my bottom lip. Relief massages my muscles and eases the tension. She doesn’t want to marry the guy. Not even for his power. This setup suddenly feels unnecessary, especially if she’s right about Paolo being unaffected by it. He certainly seemed affected last night.
I probably could’ve gotten Alex alone and fucked her without him knowing, and it wouldn’t have made any difference. But this is still more fun.
“What, you don’t think I’m worthy?”
“I don’t think you’re worthy of a whore, Settimo.”