9. Matteo

Chapter 9

Matteo

LATER THAT EVENING

I was tired of fucking walking around Liliana like she wasn't going to be mine in the end.

I was tired of waiting.

I wanted her with this fierceness that rivaled anything I'd ever felt before.

Wanting her was such a tame fucking way to describe the level of obsession I felt for her. And the longer she stayed under my roof and denied me, the more I watched her, knew her every move, and jerked off to thoughts of her, the more that need grew in me.

I'd barely touched her. Those late night sessions where I snuck in her bedroom and touched her skin and gently tasted her lips were just teases. She set a fire in my blood the likes of which I'd never felt before.

What I didn't realize was how fun it would be to have her under my thumb. To make her do what I wanted.

To use her.

It made little sense in my world, not in the way I held myself in control. I was used to people cowing to my will. I expected it. That's how I got my power, how people did what I said without thinking.

But everything was different where Liliana was concerned. Everything was different in me because of her, and it pissed me off.

Her very presence threatened to unravel my restraint and all the fucking shit I'd done in my life to build the world around me.

I had to wonder just how far I could push her—how much she'd give in before breaking.

I was a fucking bastard. I reveled in it and wasn't sorry one fucking bit.

I'm sure she knew that, but I doubted she knew the extent I went to for what I wanted.

That's what this little dinner was about. I wanted to see how far my girl would go when I offered her freedom. Would she accept and submit or slap me in the face?

I heard her enter the dining room, breaking my thoughts so I was now fully consumed by the very sight of her.

Although I knew she had an array of designer clothes in the closet, she opted to wear a plain sweater and a pair of dark leggings. The girl didn't even fucking wear shoes as she tipped her chin up and padded to her place setting.

She sat down but didn't look at me. "I think it's fucking cute you think dressing down and being barefoot for dinner doesn't have my cock hard." I grabbed her wrist and brought her hand over to my lap. I placed it right over my hard as granite cock.

She snapped her head in my direction, her mouth parting and her eyes wide. She didn't pull away at first, and I forced her to curl her fingers around my girth.

"You could wear a burlap sack and I'd be rock hard."

She ripped her hand away then but not before I saw how her fingers shook as she reached for her water glass.

I didn't push her in that moment, although I really fucking wanted to. I wanted to see how far she'd bend to my will, how she'd submit so beautifully to me.

The food was served, and once we were alone, I started eating, but my mind was churning with all the things I could do to make my little flower feel a little off-kilter.

I took my time eating and waited until she finished. I could see how nervous she still was, as if she were waiting for me to break the news that I was about to kill her and that's what this whole dinner charade was about.

Far from it, my pretty girl.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked with a hesitant lithe to her voice. She refused to look at me as she picked up her wineglass and took a small sip. Then another. And another until she finished it.

I reached for the bottle and topped her off without saying a word. I finished my whiskey, but instead of going for another, I drank water. I didn't want to consume so much that I couldn't fully appreciate tonight.

"I want you," I finally said. I had to give Liliana credit. She showed zero reaction to my words.

"You can't have me," was her response a moment later.

I smirked, even if she wasn't looking at me. Funny girl thought I didn't get what I wanted. I always did.

"Want to make a wager that you're wrong and I'm right?"

She snapped her head up to look at me then, her brows furrowed, her pretty little face showing deep thought. Then, she touched her lips and looked away.

Awe, sweet, little Sunshine was thinking about those "dreams" of hers, no doubt.

I leaned forward and braced my forearms on the table, staring at her hard enough I knew she had to feel it.

"What do you want?"

She took a second before staring at me in the eyes. "Nothing from you."

"Everyone has a price."

She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. A clear defensive posture. "I'm not a whore and can't be bought."

I chuckled. "Everyone can be bought."

She shook her head but said nothing.

"What about your freedom and enough money that you never have to worry about it again?"

Her entire body tensed. "I won't be a whore for my freedom." She looked at me again. "Just let me go. You can have anyone you want. I'm no one special?—"

I had her throat in my hand a second later. Her eyes widened, her jaw slackened. I wasn't hurting her, wasn't using enough pressure to cut off her air supply, but I held her tight enough that she would know who was in control.

"I thought I told you not to fucking talk about yourself that way." I felt her swallow beneath my palm and stroked her pulse point with my thumb. "I could let you go, but I'm a bastard. I'm selfish, and I want something in return."

She lifted her hand and placed it over my wrist, adding a bit of pressure to remove my hand. I shook my head, and she let her fingers fall away. "Something in return?"

"Mmm." I thought about all the things I wanted in return. "You know what I want." I let my gaze travel up and down her body. "I want you to be my whore."

Her mouth dropped open before she quickly snapped it shut. "You're literally insane."

I shrugged, not refuting that.

"I could escape."

I smiled slowly. "You could but you won't."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "So confident."

"In all things, yes. But especially this." I inhaled deeply. "I know your perfect, little cunt is wet for me."

"You're a monster. A disgusting, vile motherfucker."

"I've done enough horrible shit that there's a place in hell for me, but fucking my mother wasn't one of them."

She seemed shocked by my words, and when I grinned, she let out an incredulous laugh.

"Crazy. That's what you are."

She rubbed her eyes and stared ahead. "I'll escape. I'll get out of here and run away from this fucking city and never look back."

I admired her courage and strength. It turned me on.

"You could deny me, and I could keep you here forever, if I wanted. I could not offer any deal and lock you away like my personal little ray of sunshine." I leaned in so our mouths were so close I felt her breath against my lips. "I'd come visit you every day, needing that dose of warmth and light only you can provide." Her eyes widened in surprise of my words. They shocked me, too. They were too gentle, too sweet for the likes of me.

"But I don't want to snuff out your brightness, Liliana." With one more swipe to her pulse point, I let go of her throat and leaned back. "So, I'm giving you the deal. A choice."

"And if I say no, you'll keep me locked away?" She rubbed her throat, but her hand shook, her pupils dilated, and her breathing sped up.

I bet her cunt was wet for me.

I thought about her question. "I don't know what I'd do with you." It was the truth. I said I wouldn't want to snuff out her light, and keeping her my prisoner would do just that. I didn't want her to hate me…and I didn't understand why.

But I knew thinking about her gone made something ugly rise in me.

"This is a good deal for you."

She snorted and I smiled. Genuinely.

"Coercion isn't a fucking choice."

Touché, Amore.

"And you killed my brother and father. How does someone get over that and sleep with that person?"

"You say thank you for taking out those worthless fucking pieces of shit who hurt you. Take what I'm offering then leave Desolation at the end of our arrangement, if that's what you choose."

The fact of the matter was, I was telling her she could leave when all was said and done. But that thought of her gone irritated me to the point I wanted to fucking break something.

As she mulled everything over, I decided one more glass of whiskey wouldn't hurt. I sipped on it slowly, letting the warmth consume my belly. After dinner, the waitstaff entered to clear our place settings and, a moment later, came back with dessert.

Chocolate cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries sat in front of both of us.

Once we were alone again, she exhaled and leaned back. I could see the resignation and acceptance on her face.

"You were eager to give me your body when it would help those two fuckers. I'm disappointed you're not doing the same for yourself."

I was an asshole for pulling that card. But I was desperate for her.

Liliana looked at me and asked, "How much?"

I wanted to fucking grin that she gave in, but I kept my expression blank. "How much do you want?"

She scoffed again. "So generous with your money. It's like you have a bottomless pit of it."

"I do," I said without hesitation.

"How do I know you'll keep your end of the deal?"

I didn't answer as I pulled my phone out and dialed my attorney. He picked up right away. "Open an account for Liliana Johnson. I want it accessible only to her." I rattled off the amount to be deposited into the account immediately. "Put the same amount into the account in two weeks." I disconnected the call and set the phone aside.

"That's…That's an insane amount of money."

"More than you could spend in five lifetimes. But it'll be yours after two weeks." I went back to sipping on my whiskey.

"And w-what do you want from me? Like exactly?" She licked her lips and started shifting on the chair.

"Whatever the fuck I want to do with you, Liliana. You'll be mine in any way I see fit."

"I don't want to be hurt," she whispered.

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. "Have I hurt you?" It only took her a second but then she shook her head slowly. "I could have ten times over by now. But I've cared for you, bought you what you needed, and haven't made you do anything you didn't want to."

"Keeping me here contradicts that."

Sassy, fucking beautiful girl. I didn't respond and didn't tell her I'd been sneaking into her room at night to touch and lick her and watch her gorgeous ass sleep.

"I want to fuck you. Plain and simple. I want that cherry between your legs. I want your virgin blood to coat my cock as I take it for the first time." I finished my drink and leaned forward again. "And I'll do all of that and more every day I have you here until I'm so ingrained in your head and body, you'll never get rid of me."

I could see how my words affected her. They pissed Liliana off, but underneath all of that, I saw something else.

Desire. Curiosity. Compliance.

I knew she was wet. I knew she'd agree. But she was too proud to cave so easily. My girl had to fight me at every turn, and it aroused me like nothing else in this fucking world.

After long seconds—too long if I was being fucking honest because I was eager for her to comply—she exhaled and nodded.

"Use your words."

Her jaw clenched, but she gave in. "When would this all start?"

"As soon as the words that you agree come out of your mouth."

She licked her lips and said, "Okay. I agree."