Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
She stilled.
I thrust my thumb in and out of her mouth to emphasize my point. “He forces her to accept the weight of his body on her back and ruthlessly rides her repeatedly while whipping her bare ass. Until all the fight has left her body and she learns to accept her new master.”
A jolt of awareness rocked her body with my thinly veiled threat.
After freeing my thumb, I leaned over her and forcefully yanked her hair, tilting her head back. “Tonight, I respected your wish for no true sex until marriage—”
Although I knew she was only requesting consideration to delay the inevitable.
“—but defy or disrespect me again and next time there will be no such kindness.”
CHAPTER 25
ELLA
Atremor ran over my body causing my teeth to rattle before I clamped my jaw tight. The musky taste of him still on my tongue.
Matteo pulled me onto his lap. As he swept his hand over the side of my cheek to brush my hair back, he said, “What am I going to do with you, mia piccola colomba?”
Too busy fighting the comforting feel of his powerful arms wrapped close around me, I didn’t respond.
Matteo leaned to the side and grabbed the gold quilt that was still neatly folded at the end of the bed. He then swept the soft, heavy folds over my shoulders. “Let’s go get you something to eat.”
Clamping the edges of the blanket over my breasts with my fist, I shook my head. “I’m not hungry,” I whispered.
He must not have heard me because he stood, and after adjusting the waistband of his gray sweats, he secured the blanket more firmly around my body before lifting me in his arms.
As he carried me across the bedroom, I said more loudly, “I’m not hungry.”
He winked at me. “I heard you the first time.”
I huffed out a sigh. “Then where are you taking me?”
“To the kitchen.”
“But…”
“No more arguments tonight.”
For once, we were in agreement.
I was too tired, too emotionally and physically worn out, to argue anymore.
Easily navigating the narrow back servants’ stairs, we emerged into a spacious kitchen. At first glance, it appeared like a rustic, country kitchen with its exposed brick and the rough wood ceiling beams with hammered copper pots dangling from wrought iron hooks. But on closer inspection, it was easy to spot the high-end appliances and luxurious details.
Matteo set me on the polished stone kitchen island.
I shifted my hips forward, intending to hop off, but a dark look of warning from him stopped me.
He reached over my head and pulled down a heavy cast-iron skillet. After turning up the flame on the gas oven range, he warmed the skillet while he retrieved a loaf of fresh ciabatta from the bread bin. After cutting the entire loaf into thin slices, he drizzled a healthy amount of olive oil into the now heated skillet, and tossed them in.
As I looked on silently, he used his fingers to gingerly flip the slices, exposing the golden-brown toasted side glistening with olive oil.
I inhaled sharply when his arm brushed my hip as he reached past me.
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes when his own gaze focused on mine. Of course he would have heard my soft gasp. There wasn’t the smallest detail this man ever missed. It was super annoying.
The corner of his mouth lifted as he held the dishtowel he had reached for aloft. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
My eyes narrowed. “Said the wolf to the lamb.”
With a laugh, he leaned over and kissed the sensitive space just below my jaw. “When you’re not being a pain-in-the-ass little brat, you really are adorable.”
My lips thinned as I leaned over to my left and rubbed my hip. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. I’m the one who has a literal pain in my ass.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, technically not in your ass… this time.”
Heat radiated off my cheeks to rival the cast-iron skillet.
Thankfully, I was saved from a response when his attention returned to the skillet. With the towel wrapped around his hand, he grabbed the hot handle and slid the toasted slices onto a nearby pewter platter.
Matteo then opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a mason jar filled with what looked like whipped ricotta cheese and then a similar mason jar of dark honey from a nearby cabinet.
He placed both items on the counter near me then opened a drawer and retrieved two spoons before closing it with his hip.
My mouth watered as I watched him spoon a light and fluffy dollop of rich, creamy ricotta cheese onto the warm crostini. He then lifted the wooden dowel out of the honey and spun it, drizzling the whole thing with a thin stream of sweet honey.
Turning to me, he held the crostini up to my lips. “Open your mouth.”
I turned my head. Knowing I was risking another punishment, my hunger and lack of sleep got the better of me. “The last time you said that, I nearly choked to death on your… your thing.”