Chapter Four

Amadeo

We walk through the back of the property to the villas. My personal villa is amongst the small cluster, but I don't tell her that, I just point hers out. Mine is the biggest, with three bedrooms, a family-sized dining and living area and its own large pool and private beach area only accessible via the long dock.

"Amadeo?" she calls as I continue along the stone path. "I left my phone in your office. I have no way to get in."

"I like you at my mercy," I say as I pull my phone out of the zippered pocket of my board shorts and open up my all-access pass on the app.

"There are very few men I'd like to be at the mercy of, Amadeo. Luckily for me, you're one of them." She's quick to grin when I look at her, and my dick lurches at her words.

I don't know if it's the adrenaline rush we just shared, or something else, but I lean down, caging her between my arms, capturing her mouth.

She's stiff at first, but it's only a millisecond before her lips are soft, warm and moving with mine in the sweetest kiss I've ever experienced. Then again, she's not my usual type. And in this moment that's a damn good thing.

When she closes her mouth, and presses one soft kiss to my lips, I pull back slightly. Before she lowers her face and tucks into my chest, I note the flush of her cheeks. Her hand flattens on my chest and the feel of it makes my heart pound harder.

"That was unexpected but…" She looks up at me, her hazel eyes a kaleidoscope of emotions. "Nice."

No one has ever called my kisses nice. Never. Sexy as fuck, demanding, orgasm-worthy, yes. But nice? Jesus.

"Do you need a tour?" I ask, passing the screen of my phone over the hardware on the door. There's a quiet click as the lock disengages.

When she's silent, I look down and see I've got her pressed against the door. The blush on her face is brighter, showing more innocence than I expect.

"I…"

I brush a curl from her face, tucking it behind her ear as I step back to give her space. Her hand slides down my chest to my waist.

"I've never been a gentleman when it comes to intimacy, Zoe, but you're not the type of woman I typically pursue."

Something odd passes across her face, intriguing me.

"Confession?"

My mouth curves up and I nod at her question.

"Maybe I don't want you to be a gentleman." She swallows and I know she's nervous.

My intrigue rises. "Oh?"

"This is my fresh start, Amadeo. My new life of adventure and experiences." Her words are confident but there's a tremor in her voice.

"New? I thought adventure was your thing."

Her tongue darts out quickly, sliding across her bottom lip. I like how nervous she is. She looks away from my eyes, staring off into the distance.

"It's a long story." Her eyes dip low before finding mine again.

My brows rise in question. "You have a lot of those, it seems."

She pulls that naturally pouty bottom lip into her mouth before dragging it through her teeth.

"Do want to hear it or do you want to dominate and fuck me?"

Her saucy words make my dick jerk, so I take her chin in my thumb and forefinger. "Sass like that will get you in trouble, little girl."

"I've never been with someone like you." Her eyes leave mine and she's at that damn lip again, but when her gaze returns, I can see her determination.

"But I want to be." The confidence in her voice makes me growl under my breath.

"Is this a good move when we'll be working together?"

"I want to work with you, Amadeo, but I suddenly want to be under you more."

I usually have more control than this. Cursing, I thread my fingers through her curls and kiss her hard. She makes this sexy squeak when I do, and as I drag her bottom lip through my teeth, I growl.

"Inside. Now," I demand, giving her ass a sharp slap as she complies. For a split second I realize I haven't felt this way in a long fucking time. Not since my ex, and even then, it wasn't for her, but a combination of what I'd done with her watching me, and her reaction to it.

It's not that I've been celibate, but the women I've fucked were nothing more than a means to an end. And I never went back for seconds. I was starting to think Gwen broke me for good before now.

"You want me to stop, you say red. Yellow slows things down, lets me know you're not sure you like where things are headed and we talk it out. Got me?"

She turns to face me and nods.

"You say nothing when you're feeling uncomfortable or scared, I'll be pissed. This is for your pleasure, hmm? I'm not a fucking sadist, but I do love control. Understand?" I clench my teeth looking her up and down. "And I've been fantasizing about spanking that sexy ass of yours since you left your shit all over my office floor."

"Okay. I understand. And yes, I want that." Those wide, innocent eyes take control of me like a drug.

"Lose the wet clothes," I say, tugging on her arm to stop her from turning and heading further into the villa. "I want you bare for me."

A little gasp leaves her lips, and I think she might change her mind, but instead, her adorable little chin juts forward and she unbuttons her top, letting it fall slowly off her shoulders when she's done.

Her breasts are fucking perfect, not too big, not too small and her tight nipples, showing through the lace of her bra, are an impeccable shade of dark pink. My mouth waters.

"Don't stop there, honey." My brow rises as she clamps her lip between her teeth in pause. She looks unsure, or maybe she's insecure. Either way, it's my job to change that. "Those clothes better be in a pile on the floor in ten seconds, or I'm going to have to teach you how to obey without hesitation. That beautiful body is mine for the next few hours, yeah? And I can worship it or punish it. The choice is yours."

Her breasts fall loose on a heaving breath when she flicks the clasp between them. They're scattered with freckles that make me want to play connect-the-dots with my tongue.

I take a step toward her without conscious thought, like I've been pulled by an unknown force, my hands aching to feel her nipples against my palms.

That pink tongue of hers darts out and she hooks her thumbs into the sides of her skirt-shorts thing. I hold my breath as she lowers them down her full hips and then grin at her beautiful naked mound.

"That's a good girl," I croon, loving that she's bare. I close the distance between us and place my mouth on hers. As I do, my hooked finger gently traces the apex of her soft lower lips. She shivers against me and I wrap my arm around her pulling her tight to me to deepen the kiss.

"Tell me what you want," I ask against her mouth.

Her eyes flick up to mine, worry in them. "Aren't you supposed to tell me what you want?"

I take her chin in my fingers like earlier. "I am, honey; I want an answer. And you're going to stop questioning me." I pinch her nether lips with my thumb and finger, making her yelp. "Yeah?"

She does that head bob, which I will forever associate with her, and I peck her lips hard. Spinning her around, I grasp her hips, pulling her ass against my throbbing cock. She takes in a swift breath.

"Feel that?"

Another head bob. "That's for you, but only if you're a very good girl. Are you my good girl, Zoe?"

When she bobs her head again, I put my leg between hers and kick hers wide. And then I give her pussy a sharp swat. She calls out and then shivers against me.

"Use your words, got me?"

"Yes, Sir."

I growl in approval at that and let my finger slide through her slit, dipping deep to collect her juices before sliding forward again to circle her swollen nub once.

"Are you going to answer my question now?"

"Uh?"

I chuckle darkly. "I will repeat myself, but just this once, yeah? After that, I expect you to remember everything I tell you. If you don't, there'll be consequences."

"You're full of threats, aren't you?"

Her words and bravado surprise me in the best way, and I chuckle again.

"That's one way of telling me." I clasp her neck in my hand, moving her forward to the arm of the couch, pushing her over it so her ass is up. My palm caresses the smooth, tightened skin of her bottom and I close my eyes from the surge of hormones that rush through me. My cock strains against the Velcro holding my board shorts closed.

"This what you're asking for, little girl?" I reach back and smack her ass, hard, the flesh of my palm instantly warming as a blush rises on her skin.

She tucks in her bottom slightly, but pushes it back out instantly. "Ow," she hisses. "No, Sir."

I cock my head. "Is that a red?

She shakes her head. "No, Sir."

"Good cause I'm nowhere near done." I spank her again. This time I leave a pink blotch on her other cheek. I smile, watching it grow a moment before continuing with alternating spanks until her little feet start to dance.

"Please!" she calls out, but she doesn't say red or yellow.

"Safewords?" I ask, shifting to ease my aching cock.

"Red for stop, yellow for unsure, but I'm all green."

"Good girl." I rub my hot palm against her hotter ass. "Very good girl." I trace a finger lightly down the crack of her ass.

"Stay."

"Yes, Sir," she answers obediently, and I have to shift my cock again. It needs to settle the fuck down because I have big plans for Zoe and if I can't get it under control, it's going hasten them.

I go to the bedroom, grabbing the pillows off the bed. When I return, she's exactly where I left her. "Up."

When she's up, I place the pillows on the seat cushion beside the armrest where her chest was. Turning her, I nudge her until the backs of her thighs hit the armrest.

With one gentle shove, she falls back, legs in the air and her ass up and on display.

Clasping her ankles to hold her legs there. I smile down at her pretty, glistening slit.

"Love this view." Looking around her gorgeous legs, I catch her gaze. "You're beautiful and you're going to keep your legs up for me, aren't you?"

"Yes Sir."

My smile widens and I nod approvingly at her. "You're a fast learner and I like that very much. Hold them if you need to, yeah?"

I don't wait for her reply though. I lower, letting my hands slide from her ankles to her thighs as I do. She whimpers quietly as I kiss the back of her right thigh, a peck at first, but then I use my tongue and teeth.

"Oh, babygirl, I'm eager to taste you."

"Oh god, I've never?—"

I shut her up with my mouth on her pussy. I lap at her arousal, before pressing my tongue against her opening. I nuzzle my way up her slit, until her legs open in a v and my tongue finds her pulsing bean. Swirl, swirl, flick, I tease her until her legs start to tremble, and then I'm as relentless as a hungry beast, flicking and sucking until her trembles turn to tremors.

"Please, oh god, please."

"Please what?" I ask against her silky-smooth skin, forcing her back from the edge with my absence.

"Don't stop. Let me come, Sir. Please."

I chuckle evilly. "Since you asked so nicely." I tuck my tongue back between her folds, sliding up to flick her. Sucking her clit between my lips, I roll them and she arches, crying out loudly.

As she comes, I savor the taste of her, remaining buried between her legs. Waiting till she lowers from the high and her little pulses slow, I slide a finger, and then two, inside her tight, soaked hole.

"You're nice and tight, and so fucking wet for me, yeah?"

"Yes, god, yes."

"That's my girl," I croon, stroking and finding the ridges of her g-spot. Curving my fingers slightly, the area swells and Zoe starts to pant, tightening her muscles over my fingers.

"Oh, there, there. Please."

Her face, still flushed from her previous orgasm, deepens in color, and her mouth bows open.

"Open your eyes, sweet girl." This time I ask rather than demand, but she obeys quickly as if I had ordered it. Our gazes locked, I continue pumping my fingers into her hole. She begins rocking on my hand. Rising, I adjust my thumb so it rubs against her clit to intensify her pleasure.

Her breathing changes and I reach forward with my free hand to twirl her tight nip between my fingers. She calls out, arching, and then whimpering.

And when the knuckles of my pumping hand rub against her bottom hole, she gushes, her juices flooding down her ass.

"Oh my god, oh my god. I've—" She gasps as a clitoral orgasm joins the g-spot orgasm. "Never…" She doesn't end her sentence in words, but rather punctuates it with a cry that sounds a little like… Daddy.

Daddy?

I didn't think my cock could get any harder, but it does. Clenching my teeth, I remove my hand from between Zoe's legs.

My balls feeling like lead weights, I ask, "Condom?"

She shakes her head, eyes wide. "No, you?" she asks, voice choppy.

"Yeah. Not here though." I look at her. "Hands above your head." She obeys instantly, entwining them above her head on the couch.

"Now, I'm just going to be gone a minute, yeah? No touching yourself, got me?"

She nods, and I give her thigh a squeeze as I turn to leave. Just as I get to the door, she calls me.

"Amadeo?"

I turn back. She looks gorgeous, spread wide with her feet propped on the armrest of the couch. Her pink swollen pussy glistening with her juices, a puddle on the Brazilian Cherry floors beneath her.

"What happens if I do?" Her coy look is the final straw, and my cock rips open the Velcro.

"Those perky nipples will pay." And with that I rush out and across the stone path to my villa next door, my hard cock bouncing out of my shorts the whole way. "Christ." At least the villas are in a secluded area of the resort.

Grabbing a row of my favorite brand of PS condoms from the drawer, I turn back, pausing with a thought as I pass the kitchen. I eye the canister with the wooden utensils and smirk. I have a feeling my little minx is currently touching herself and I fucking love it.

Grabbing a wooden spoon, I shove it in the back pocket of my shorts and awkwardly jog back to her villa.

As I expected, Zoe's blatantly touching herself when I walk in. It hits differently, watching her playing with her pussy to push my dominant side. She's innocent and yet exciting and playful. It's a dangerous combination for me.

"Naughty girl," I scold, hooking my finger in a come-hither way. She smiles coyly and removes her hands from between her thighs. Rising, she bites her lip.

"I'm so sorry, Sir, but you were gone so long, I couldn't help it. I was trying so hard to finish before you got back."

I reach over my head and pull off my shirt, dropping it to the floor, and then hold my fist up, condoms loose in my grip. Letting them fall down in a dangling row, I say, "Now these will have to wait." I tut her and reach behind my back to grab the spoon.

Putting the wood between my teeth, I close our distance and scoop her up. The wet heat of her center against my abs, her ass in my palms, and the condoms trailing like a tail behind her, I carry her to the counter. Plopping her bare ass on the cold granite, I smile.

She hisses at the sensation. I'm unsure if it's the cold or the hardness of it on her sore ass that brings about the hiss though. And I don't ask.

I jut my chin at her. "Hands behind your back." She obeys shoving her chest out, her nipples puckered tightly. "Any colors on your mind right now?" I ask, smacking the spoon on my palm.

Her eyes widen at the sound, but she shakes her head, those bouncy curls sweeping off her bare freckled shoulders.

"Good." I give her a devilish smile. "Because I'm about to teach you a valuable lesson about doing as you're told."

Reaching out, I flick my thumb over one of her nipples. It's silky and hard at the same time and my mouth waters to taste it. But that'll have to wait, my naughty minx must learn first.

Using the spoon handle, I trace a line down her cleavage, under her breast and back up her chest and neck to tip her chin up with it.

"What were you told not to do?"

"Touch myself, Sir," she says, her voice sure. Long gone is the nervous young woman. Before me now is a brave, adventurous, and stunning creature.

"And what did I say would happen if you didn't obey me?"

She smiles, but instantly bites her lip to control it. "You were going to make my perky nipples pay." She can't hold it back; her grin is on full display.

"And why are you smiling about that, little girl?" I ask, while tracing her other breast with the spoon.

"I've wanted you to touch me there this whole time. And you know what they say…"

"What do they say?"

"Even negative attention is better than none."

I smile at that. "Then you're going to enjoy this." With a quick toss, I flip the spoon around, so the handle is in my palm and the rounded part is ready to play.

I flick the bottom of the spoon's curved side against her right nipple, in a lightning-fast strike. The spoon lands in a sharp swat, and to my fucking delight, she squeals. I watch as the punished nipple tightens further, blood flooding to the area.

"Did you like that?"

Her breathing is slightly elevated and her eyes a little glassy, but she nods. So I quickly smack the other. And this time, her squeal is followed by a trailing whimper.

"Gah, it hurts."

"It's punishment."

Zoe licks her lips and they're so red and swollen from biting them, I can't resist tasting them. I kiss her, our melding mouths needy and wet. But then I'm completely in control and slow it down. My tongue sweeps into her mouth slowly as I palm her breast, massaging, and rubbing my thumb over her punished bud. Rolling and squeezing it, I lower my mouth onto her neck, then her collar bone, and finally her tortured nipple.

Her moan goes straight to my cock. Using my hand to torment her other nipple, I gently suck and play with the one in my mouth. She squirms with the contradicting sensations.

"I'm going to come on this counter," she cries, and I pop off her nipple.

"The hell you are." I yank my shorts down, ripping a condom free of the strip lying on the floor. "You're going to come on my cock and nowhere else, yeah?"

"Hurry," she begs.

And I do.

Sliding inside her is perfect, and almost enough to make me come right there. She's hot and wet and fucking tight. God, so tight.

I take my time with the first thrust, listening to her mewling cues and then increase the tempo, pumping into her until our breathing is synced, and as labored as when we climbed the cliffs earlier. Was that just an hour ago?

How the fuck did this happen? How am I balls deep, my eyes practically rolling back in my head at the feel of her glorious pussy, when we only officially met a few hours ago? That's not altogether unusual for my encounters since I've played with strangers at clubs, but never with this kind of connection. Never feeling so consumed by them.

Zoe calls out, breaking me from my thoughts and watching her head tip back, her eyes squeezed tight and her chest heaving as her pussy muscles squeeze around my cock, pushing me close. My balls tighten, the base of my spine tingles and I fucking spurt hot cum into the condom.

She falls forward, her forehead coming to rest on mine. "God, that was good."

"It fucking was, sweetheart."

She whimpers and I hold back my hiss at the sensitivity of my cock as I disengage from her.

"Don't move," I demand, looking her in the eye and she nods. This time I'm positive she doesn't have the energy to disobey.

I return moments later with a bottle of cold water and a warm washcloth. Handing her the water, I clean her up wishing my cum was weeping from her pussy. The thought halts me.

When have I ever wanted that? That sounds like some fucking weird breeding fantasy. But it's not that, it's more about wanting something of me left inside her. I'm just not sure if that's about staking my claim, or if it's about needing a safe place to leave myself before I meet with Gwen and lose myself again.

Shaking my head, I leave her, to toss the washcloth in the tub. I don't want thoughts of Gwen to taint whatever this is.

The glass is empty when I get back to her, but she hasn't moved. There's a vulnerability in her eyes that I recognize well. There is an intimacy in what we've just done that supersedes vanilla sex and requires aftercare, so I scoop her up and carry her to the bedroom.

"Come on. I'll hold you."

Zoe wraps her arms around my neck and lowers her head to my shoulder. My gut tightens as I hear a sniff. Fuck.

Laying her onto the bed, I tuck in behind her. "You okay?"

"More than okay." She rolls to face me and the glassy sheen of her eyes have nothing on the shine of her smile. "That was my first kinky experience and holy crap, I loved it."

I wipe a tear that drips over her bottom eyelid. "Enough to cry?"

"These are happy tears, maybe not happy per se, but emotion-letting. You know, like bloodletting, but to balance out my emotions."

I chuckle at that. But inside, I feel it too. Heightened emotions I've never felt before. What am I, a fucking girl now? Jesus.

"How's your bottom?"

"It feels good. Warm, tingly and maybe slightly sore, but in the best possible way."

"Good."

"You don't have to stay, you know. I know you're busy and this was just an adrenaline-induced sexcapade. I don't think they usually conclude with cuddling."

I want to reassure her this was more than that, but was it? Yes, we had fun, something I never allow myself to do, and yes, there were some endorphins involved. We're also both dodging some people we don't want to see, but is that enough to make this feel so… intense?

Damn. I've always been an overthinker but fuck, this is a new record.

"Zoe, close your eyes. Have a nap. That's an order." I punctuate my words with a slap to her ass, which makes her smile. And her smile makes me grin like a goddamned fool.

It's just a combination of adrenaline drop, endorphins, and fucking oxytocin, I tell myself, and then shut my own eyes.

As I head to my office after showering and changing back into my suit, I feel the absence of her. The villas are quiet, the guests off enjoying the facilities or on excursions and the empty pathway allows me to slip deeper into my thoughts. I'd snuck out of the bed, leaving her to sleep off the jetlag. But I still carry her with me, the taste of her on my tongue, and her poignant expressions, especially her o-face, burned into my brain.

It makes no bloody sense. I've spent the better part of two years avoiding people. Women in particular, except for the ones just looking for a good time. I meet this woman once, find her frustrating as hell, go fucking cliff-jumping with her after hearing that my ex-wife and ex-best friend are on their way from the airport, and now I'm obsessed? These new feelings irritate the hell out of me. Especially when her scent hits me like a wall as I enter my office. I think it's some fancy brand of sunscreen because it smells like hibiscus, coconut and pineapple.

Did I just describe her scent? I shake my head. Who the fuck am I?

It's just the exes showing up, I tell myself. Gwen and émile arriving has me off kilter. Seeing them always makes me crazy but having them here, where we spent our honeymoon, and then where I caught her with émile, my supposed best friend... it would throw anyone off.

And as if that wasn't enough, the reason they're here is so I can negotiate the return of this resort, which Gwen currently owns forty-nine percent of, thanks to her killer divorce lawyer.

Gwen had her own money. She had more money in her trust than my entire family had. Not that we weren't filthy rich either, but the point is, she didn't need to take the hotel. She did it because she knew it would hurt me and she was mad because I didn't react the way she wanted over her infidelity.

She whined that she was lonely, and it just happened. I didn't spend enough time with her, all I cared about was the business… and on and on. But my father passed away suddenly three days after our wedding, and that meant my time fucking around was over. The Pellegrino Group needed to be run and there was no one else to run it but me.

So yeah, seeing her and émile is stressful. And who cares if my body responds to Zoe?

She's a nice escape, with her risk-free unpredictability and excitement. But that's all she is. A distraction. Unpredictability isn't what I'm looking for in a … girlfriend.

A girlfriend? Fuck. I don't do girlfriends. Why the hell would I even think that?

I like people who are drama-free… who don't challenge me, make me smile out of nowhere, and make my cock jump to attention and lose control while simultaneously taking it.

And I don't do relationships.

I sit at my desk, staring at her phone which is exactly where she left it. It's the millionth time I've done this in the last hour, so I've gotten exactly zero work done.

Sighing, I rise.

I should bring it to her. She can't get in and out of the villa without it and she'll likely forget about our appointment tomorrow if it's not in her calendar. At least that's what I tell myself as I scoop up her phone and head for the door.

"Mr. Pellegrino?"

"Hm?"

"Milo needs you in the lobby."

I ignore the ripple of annoyance her words induce and hand her the phone. "Can you have someone bring this to the Eden Suite?"

She nods.

"Actually, can you take it yourself? And remind Miss Wayz about our appointment at 11 am tomorrow." It's stupid, but I don't want one of our bellboys going near the villa where she's likely still lying naked. Where she might answer the door in nothing more than a silky robe and well-fucked curls.

"Of course, sir."

Nodding, I head to the lobby.