Chapter 40: FORTY

CELESTIA

My sixth sense told me that I needed to reconcile before I land up in more significant trouble. Even though I had sensed danger from a mile away, I still pursued it.

Pfft. Who am I kidding?

I was already standing in the middle of the most significant trouble that made abduction episode look like a bump on the road.

Raffaele Roselli stood before me in his blue shirt, completely unbuttoned from top to bottom and his tailored slacks. But more than his brazen seduction, it was the black desire in his eyes that stumped me.

He looked at me like he wanted me.

Not in a captive, forceful way.

In a way that involved wild and reckless encounters.

Or maybe it was just my stupid brain.

Either way, I was doomed.

I pushed away from him, needing the space. “I might live a secluded life, but that doesn’t mean I live under the rocks.”

I knew about BDSM, so did every other American. What was the big deal?

Raffaele’s laughed morphed into a delighted smile as his eyes bore into mine, murmuring, “You aren’t so innocent after all, bambi.”

Ugh. That nickname. I glared at him in full measure. “I swear, if you call me by that name again, I’ll—”

He grabbed my shoulders, pulling me against him, challenging. “You will what, bambi?”

Rational sense left me quite some time ago, but I didn’t understand the need to goad him any further. Perhaps, playing with fire has its own thrill, just like craving a taste of pain.

Instead of answering in words, I tried to knee his balls for sounding like an arrogant ass and provoking me in the process. Except, I didn’t realize that I was too short, compared to his scaling height.

All he had to do was step away from a little.

Instantly, the signs of playfulness vanished and replaced by an icy veneer. He tsked away, shaking his head and tightening his grip on my shoulder. “Now, that wasn’t very smart of you.”

“I told you I want to go back!”

“I believe no one has ever told you that you are too easy to read.”

I thwarted at his forearms, squirming to get away. “The same way no one ever told you that you are the devil?” I punched back.

He chuckled like I cracked a joke. “Thank you for the compliment. Now coming back to you, you lash out when you are nervous. Quite a trait, I must say, but you need to put a lid on around me.”

I frowned and opened my mouth to deny, except I couldn’t.

He was…kind of…right. Damn it!

“What? No comebacks?” Raffaele teased as I scowled at him.

“Wipe that smug smile, asshole. You could only say that about me because you piss me off. Every. Goddamn. Time.”

He magically let me go and thrust his hands into the pockets. “So, did you snoop on me because I sent you away?”

I groaned as my voice softened. “Fine, I agree this time I overstepped a little.”

“A little?” he cocked a brow.

“I didn’t know you were…” I trailed off and threw my hands in the air frustratingly.

“Fucking her, you mean?” He was enjoying this...way too much.

“You don’t have to be so crass about it,” I mumbled.

“I prefer honesty over crass any day, Celestia. Sugarcoating isn’t exactly my forte.”

I nodded and nervously looked at the door. As expected, it was locked. Apparently, Raffaele doesn’t do anything half-hearted either.

Sighing, I met his lethal gaze. “I take responsibility for this. I shouldn’t have come back or snooped around, and I am sorry. Can we please call it a truce?”

He lifted a finger, stilling me. “I don’t want the apology, at least, not yet. We will have plenty of time for that later.” His words quickened my pulse as I bit into the bottom lip. “I want to know precisely why you came back.”

Courage and guts evaporated as I looked away from him. It was easier to apologize than admit a petty feeling like jealousy. It was even tougher to decipher my feelings when I swung between extremes.

“I guess…I was just curious.” I shrugged, pretending to be casual about it.

Raffaele shook his head and took a step closer. And like clockwork, I tried to step back before he caught me. “Another lie,” he hissed with displeasure. “Let’s try something easier then. Have you ever been spanked?”

Every muscle in my body froze and locked with his question. But it was the least of my worry. The growing heat trickled and ached between my legs, making me squirm. Would he notice if I discreetly squeeze my thighs?

“Answer me.” He captured my chin and tilted up my head.

“No and never,” I scowled. “Are you happy? Let me go!”

He did let me go but with a crooked smile. “We are just getting started now. I have a whole bunch of questions you need to answer, so let’s get you comfortable.”

“What? No—” The words left unfinished as he dragged me towards the desk. It was similar to the one in his office, only a little smaller and emptier.

What was this room anyway?

It was not even remotely close to the dark and gritty sex dungeons I have read and seen on the internet. The decor was suave, and furniture was utilitarian. It was adorned with a giant L-shaped couch, desk and chairs, a stool, and a couple of paintings and large flower vases.

“Bend over the desk,” he directed. “I want to show you something.”

“There’s no way I’d—”

“Celestia.” He rolled off my name smoothly, without an air authority or warning. “You obviously acquired bit knowledge from here and there, but you haven’t ever seen what a dominant does, or how it feels to submit.”

He put me in front of the desk, pressing a firm hand on my back and urging me down. “Bend over now.”

I caught, cornered, and trapped.

RAFFAELE

Over the passage of time, Celestia and I had developed a thin veil of trust between us, no matter how bizarre the concept was. And for that reason alone, she must have stopped resisting and slowly doubled over the desk

Her lithe body draped over the polished wood with her cheeks firmly pressed to the surface.

I went and stood behind her, nudging the ankles apart with my feet “Spread your legs, the way you saw her doing earlier,” I coached.

She did, only half-heartedly until I pinched her thighs over the dress. “Ow! Seriously?”

It was cute of her to glare and grunt, and then turn pliant the very next second when my fingers closed near my sex. The place was a buzzing inferno. In my mind, I waged how long it would take me to bring her to orgasm, given how intolerant her primal demands were.

“When I tell you to do something, you do it without fussing, and this will go on smoothly.”

The second I flipped her dress over the back, Celestia tried to rise and reached back to cover with her hands. “None of that, bambi!” I pushed her back down with all my strength, stilling her movements.

“Please…Raffaele,” she pleaded, unsure of her own words. “I will just go back.”

“Shh. Quiet, Celestia.”

I didn’t know it was the melodious ‘please’ from her mouth or submissive state of her body or mind, but every day I saw in her in a different light, and it made me fucking weak. It made me want her more. And for a man who stood at the pinnacle of power and danger in every day of his life, snapping control wasn’t a choice.

My gaze dropped down to her ass, covered in black high-cut briefs. Obviously, the staff would not put her in G-string. My fingers curled and hooked into the elastic band, pulling her briefs to her knees in a single yank.

“Shit, no, Raffaele!”

Celestia stood up so quickly and forcefully, my reflex faltered. By the time she turned to me, her face was flaming red, even though I have merely touched her.

“Did you change your mind?” I asked.

“I—I need to tell you something first.”

What do you think will happen next? Tell me in the comments because I am really excited to hear from you.