He was gorgeous, dangerous, and I’d fallen into a trap that I could have stopped months before. Even now, the gruffness of his seductive voice left me hot and wet all over.
“Who are you talking about? What debt?” I asked, horrified that I already knew the answer. When he took another step closer, I whimpered, hating myself for doing so. My phone. Where was my phone? On the kitchen table. If I could grab it and run into the street, maybe I’d be able to get away from him.
“Don’t you know, my sweet kitten? Haven’t you realized by now that you were living a lie for over a year? What you will soon learn is that no one crosses either myself or a single member of the Montenegro family without paying a hefty price. Every action has consequences.”
The Montenegro family. As in the brutal mafia syndicate out of New York?
Wait. That didn’t make any sense.
“I’ll ask you one last time. Who the fuck are you? Did you make up a lie when you seduced me in the bistro? Did you really think I’d buy your bullshit?” I demanded, humiliated I remained wet after the incredible moment of passion.
His smirk was filled with delight. “I would never lie to you. My name is Alessandro Montenegro.”
I repeated the name in my mind until finally recognition settled in. I’d been right. He was a brutal, ruthless man who’d reportedly murdered several people in cold blood. Oh, God. Oh, dear God. How could this be happening?
“Tristen? You killed Tristen, you fucking bastard.” I’d known something was wrong four years before to this day, the moment my world had crumbled when I’d received a single phone call in the middle of the night. I hadn’t been allowed to see Tristen’s body because it had been too mangled from the accident. At least that’s what I’d been told. The casket had remained closed, his family acting as if they didn’t know who I was or why I was at the funeral in the first place. Tears formed in my eyes even as a nagging feeling rushed into the back of my mind.
Tristen’s odd behavior, his refusal to talk about his work had bothered me, enough that we’d argued several times during our last month spent together.
“No, my precious flower. Unfortunately, I’ve been forced to wait for four long years to have my revenge. I plan on enjoying every minute of recouping the debt owed.”
What the hell was he talking about? “I don’t understand.”
“You will very soon, my sweet kitten. Now, it’s time for your penance.”
He closed the distance without warning, but I managed to yank the lamp from the nightstand, smashing the antique piece given to me by my mother against his face as soon as he was close, a hysterical wail erupting from my throat.
“Fuck!” he hissed, startled enough I was able to jump to the side and make a dash for the door. “You shouldn’t have done that, Sierra. I’ve been patient long enough.”
He snapped his hand around my wrist, jerking me back with enough force I was lifted off the floor before being slammed against his chest. Even as I tried to fight him, pummeling my fists against his rock-solid frame, he easily yanked my arms over my head, wrapping the long fingers of one hand around both my wrists.
Blood trickled from the wound I’d inflicted, but it no longer seemed to bother him. He radiated power, utter dominance, and the heat pouring over me was explosive. I was still attracted to him, my nipples fully aroused. While a small portion of my mind screamed in silence that my reaction was insane, my mouth watered from his rough handling of me.
When he raked his fingers down my blouse, I bit back a yelp, determined not to let this freak of a man get a reaction from me. I was shocked when he wasted no time ripping the top that I’d spent far too much on to shreds, tossing it aside.
His breathing was ragged, so much so that his chest was heaving. The scent of his desire wafted into my nostrils, filtering into every cell. I found myself drunk on the fragrance, so lightheaded I could no longer feel my feet. I struggled again until he gripped my throat, rubbing his thumb back and forth across my lower lip, his actions rough and demanding.
“I suggest you learn to be a good girl, Sierra. You won’t like what happens if you aren’t.” His words reverberated in my ears, adding to the woozy feeling in my stomach. I continued to struggle, almost breaking free twice. Each time, he jerked me back into position, his dark eyes piercing mine.
“Just let me go. I haven’t done anything to you.”
“It’s not what you’ve done but what you’ll learn to do for me.”
I shuddered at his answer, another promise of what would come. He was so strong, his fingers ripping through the thin lace of my bra, snapping the straps as if they were paper thin. Then he slipped his hand around me, unfastening my skirt. As he wrangled it to the floor, I heard myself whimper several times. The fear had left me hollow inside, fighting to process what was happening. When I stood in only panties, an expensive lacy red thong I’d purchased the day I’d lured a famous author to commit to a book signing in my little bookstore and wine shop, I couldn’t stand looking into his eyes any longer.
With another snap of his wrist, my thong was tossed to the side. I’d never felt so humiliated in my life, a warm flush now splashed across my neck and cheeks. I’d also never been so vulnerable, terrified of what he had planned for me. Before I could object, he sat down on the bed, yanking me over his lap. Then he brought his hand down several times, the pain soaring through me but also creating several waves of tingles. This just couldn’t be happening.
I wiggled, almost managing to drop off his lap. His growl was more ominous than before as he jerked me back into position, immediately fisting my hair, yanking my head up by several inches. “You need to learn there’s no escape and that we’re just getting started.”
He was like a crazed man, the look in his eyes what nightmares were made of. “Let me go.”
“But we’re having so much fun, you and I.” The moment he loosened his hold, I took several scattered pants, wincing when he brushed his fingers down the crack of my ass.
Alessandro brought his hand down repeatedly, and anguish skittered down my legs. I remained nauseous, tears forming in my eyes. None of this made any sense. My mind stayed muddled as the spanking continued. The dark stranger delivered several brutal strikes in a row, each one harder than the one before. Despite his hold, I pitched my body back and forth, repulsed to realize his cock was thick and hard, throbbing against my stomach.
He brought his hand down in rapid motions, the rhythm providing a dull thump in my ears. Visions formed, every one of them vivid and detailed. Almost instantly another sick thought of yearning shattered any concept of sanity I thought I had. He continued the harsh punishment, the savagery of what he was doing pushing me into a lull. The moment he stopped long enough to caress my skin, every muscle tightened, and I clenched my bottom.
The bastard rolled his finger between my ass cheeks, shoving it between my slickened thighs. When he dared to tease my pussy lips, I bucked as hard as possible, able to throw my arm out, striking him across the neck.