Chapter 10 - Chiara

Maxim stands tall leaning over me, his grip tight around my chin so that I cannot look away from the darkness in his eyes. The usually bright blue has turned into a storm of anger, and I am completely shocked into silence.

His muscular arm is pressed into the wall above my head, and the muscles are rippling with tension.

Never mind the fact that I am practically naked, and completely caught off guard, and his body is pressed right against mine…

He is furious.

He is not angry that I went shopping, or left the house, he is just furious because I apparently put myself in danger.

“Chiara, I need you to tell me that you understand and that this won’t happen again,” he demands.

I nod, the coldness in his voice warning me that this is not a negotiation. The ruthless way in which he is handling me has caused a heated tension between us and the small change room is charged with electricity.

“It won’t happen again,” I say softly, feeling the heat growing between my legs. Fuck, he”s sexy when he”s like this. Why is this turning me on so much?

He leans a little closer to me, and the heat increases.

“Say it again,” he growls.

“It won’t happen again, Maxim. I promise.”

“You are mine, and it is my responsibility to keep you safe.” His eyes penetrate mine with fierceness.

I nod, as my breathing becomes faster, and I feel my body pulling toward him.

He has gone very quiet.

His blue eyes are locked on my lips. I slowly run my tongue over my lower lip, trying to gain control of myself, but already knowing that I have lost it.

Then his lips press against mine and his hand runs from my chin to my throat, then over my breasts. I gasp softly at his touch as his other hand slips around my waist, pushing my hips against him. I can feel how hard he is, his cock pressing against me as the tension between us increases.

I wrap my arms around his neck and stand up on my tip toes, lifting one leg to wrap it around his waist as he slips his hand under my thigh to steady me.

His hand drifts up my leg, brushing over the bikini bottoms, then sliding beneath them and touching the soft skin of my most sensitive parts.

I moan against his mouth and press my pussy harder against his hand. He slips his fingers inside me, and I shudder with pleasure.

My hands are on his belt, tugging at it, needing more of him, wanting to feel his cock.

A knock on the changing room door causes us both to freeze.

“Is everything still alright in there?” a tentative voice comes through. “Do you need any assistance with the sizes?”

“Um, everything is fine,” I reply with a shaking voice.

“Just shout if you need me,” the shop assistant says, then we hear footsteps as she slowly walks away.

Maxim closes his eyes and clamps his jaw tight. “This is not happening. Not in here.”

“But—” I breathe heavily, pressing my pussy into his hand again.

He slides his fingers out of me and I bite my lip.

“I won’t risk someone walking in and seeing you naked. This body is for my eyes only. You are mine; you belong to me, and I am the only one who may have the pleasure of experiencing you.”

He steps away, leaving me feeling empty and desperate. When he glances at me and sees the look in my eyes, almost pleading, he leans down and kisses me again, sending fire all the way through me.

“There is a time and a place for this, my love,” he whispers. “Get dressed.”

Then he looks around the fitting room.

“Which one did you like?”

“Which one?” I stammer, confused.

“Which bikini?”

“Oh, um, I, um—”

“The one you are wearing looks incredible on you.”

“It was between this one and the blue one,” I say, pointing to the suit hanging on the hook near the door.

“Mm. That color would look great on you, too. Get both.”

He takes a seat, his eyes on me. I realize that he has no intention of leaving the changing room while I get dressed, and the thought of him watching me turns me on even more, although I have no idea how that”s possible at this point since I feel like I”m going to explode if I don’t have him now.

I turn my back to him and start pulling at the bikini top, trying to undo the strings.

“Face me,” he says.

I turn back around, the bikini springing loose.

“Good girl,” he whispers.

What the fuck is he doing to me? This is insane. Why is this dark side of him driving me so wild?

I find myself getting dressed slower than I normally would, turning my body, arching my back, putting a show on for him as his hungry eyes wash over me.

When I am fully dressed, which feels a bit disappointing, he picks up both of the bikinis that I like and opens the door for me.

Outside, we walk past the shop assistant, and I feel my cheeks flushing pink. She grins conspiratorially at me. Maxim doesn’t even glance in her direction.

The housekeeper’s daughter, Shayla, is still browsing inside the shop.

She looks relieved but embarrassed to see us walking towards her.

Maxim hands her a set of car keys.

“Take yourself home. The car is parked on B84, on the lower level. When you get home, tell my driver I”ll need to be collected after dinner. I”ll send him a message when we are almost done, but he should just be ready.”

Shayla takes the keys from him. “You want me to drive your car?” she asks, shocked.

“You have a license, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir, but perhaps it”d better if you drove us home? I”ve never driven a car like this before.”

“I”m taking my wife to dinner. You”ll be fine.”

He turns away from Shayla, letting her know that there will be no further discussion on the matter. He faces me, touching my cheek gently. “Was there anything else you wanted from this store?”

I glance at the soft, mint-colored kimono.

“No, um, just the swimwear.” But his eyes are already following to where my gaze went, and he walks over to the kimono. “This one?” he asks, picking it up.

I stare at him, not saying anything. He checks the size and nods, then carries it along with the swimwear to the counter. Along the way he sees a sunhat in the same pretty mint color and picks that up, too.

He pays for everything, and the lady places the items into a paper boutique bag.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

“Yes, actually,” I say as we walk out of the shop. “You didn’t have to get all of those things for me.”

“Why not? I want to spoil you.”

I feel his hand on my lower back, resting there as warmth spreads over my skin.

I grin, enjoying this side of him. A side that seems to take control and demand respect. A side of him that is more dominant and tells me in no uncertain terms that he is attracted to me and interested in pursuing me, not just having me around as a decoration in his house.

We walk out of the mall onto the city streets. “I thought you were hungry?” I ask, wondering why we didn’t stop at one of the restaurants inside.

“I am, but I have a special place I want to take you. It isn’t far, just down the road.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, holding me against his body in a protective way, and I find myself leaning into his embrace.

Outside the restaurant, I hesitate. “Maxim, I”m not dressed properly for a place like this.”

“You look incredible.”

“But I”m wearing jeans and sneakers.”

“Trust me, they won’t have a problem with it.”

We step inside and immediately someone rushes over to us. “Mr. Dubrov. Welcome back, it’s good to see you, will it be a table for two tonight?”

“Yes, my wife and I would like to sit by the window.”

My heart jumps a little as he refers to me as his wife.

The host smiles at us, glancing briefly over my attire. “Welcome, Mrs. Dubrov, what an absolute pleasure to meet you,” he gushes.

We follow him through the pristine restaurant with ornate, glittering decor that is modern and luxurious. Maxim immediately steps in front of me to hold my chair out for me. I smile and sit down, and he takes a seat right next to me, then grabs the edge of my seat and pulls me closer to him. Our legs touch, and the sexual tension I feel remains constant.

I stare at the menu in my hands. “I don’t actually know what I feel like eating.”

“Shall I decide for us? Is there anything you don’t like?” he asks.

“I like almost everything. Maybe everything expect liver,” I laugh.

“Oh, we agree on that, then,” he grins.

He points out a number of items on the menu and the waiter nods. “You can pair it with a bottle of Chateau Mouton.”

“Good choice, sir.”

When we are alone, Maxim turns towards me, his hand slipping beneath the table and resting on my thigh. “I realized that apart from the one dinner, we haven”t really left the house much, and when we did it was for social events, surrounded by other people. I think this is what we need more of.” His smile is absolutely divine.

“I was starting to feel a bit of cabin fever at home. Thank you for this.”