t spoken to h

e if it was punishm

specte

lingering reminder of the night before, the press of his fingers against her thi

n't ta

d taken s

as worse

ken her

east tr

the façade. The moment his fingers had trembled ever so slightly on the key

ust want he

her to c

made him

didn't kn

rs rolled through the villa's gates. She could see them from the upper balcony

ito

y Luciano's guards. She didn't recognize them, but the way they

of p

rous

g happening, and s

ld've be

she was

e, silent, watchful, listening to her heels click softly on the marble. A

ardroom were cracke

closer, staying j

table. Eight men surrounded him, all older, all arm

one of them said. "A

didn't

ne," he s

another man growled. "You do

Luciano said. "But I o

ella twisted. Anger.

e first man continued. "What ha

won

n you b

air. "Because I'm not giving

t

est ti

aying a l

in chains. Slowly, inch by inch, he was tu

orst

s wor

Luciano finall

owed. The hallways were darker, lined with oil paintings and anti

at the en

epped

stop

f wall sconces. But what caught her attention wasn't

ch

just a

ne had

s throat

, glass of scotch in hand,

late,"

the clock. "I

e when I sa

slowly. "W

les

't ask

said, sipping his drink.

through

en who kill for sport," he said coldly. "

ms. "Then why am I

t decided how I w

le

hundered in

ace remai

what the ch

The chair is for

her now. His gaze flicked over her fea

ar me the way

I see thr

sharpened

it. To want you. Not because of some contract or blo

aw ti

that only works i

dn't

tared

he set the

p," h

eath c

N

closer. "

N

t reach

t raise

opened a hidden drawer, and re

lk r

her, eyes nev

said. "You can strip.

idn't

't b

our dec

ers move

ttoned h

by

. The chill in the room brushed her skin li

from her shoulders. Le

rt. Slowly.

nothing but her lingerie

reath visib

ed beh

the silk rope

," he

e

ly, around her wrists. Not tight.

" he

in the

knelt be

ds slid up

softly. "But I am going to teach you what i

ed over her lac

se. So

didn'

bre

e body t

he s

Isabella return

ouc

do

ill tingled f

rned with f

her

nd was

wasn't just tryi

falling

by p

would

me, she would be the one