10

[Rebecca]
I slowly emerged from the depths of sleep, my eyelids fluttering open. The world around me appeared blurry and indistinct, prompting me to instinctively shut my eyes again. Seeking comfort, I shifted to my side, sinking deeper into the welcoming embrace of the soft covers.
A groan escaped my lips as my weary muscles protested, longing for respite. The strains of work had taken their toll, and I yearned for a break from the ceaseless toil.
Suddenly, the bed shifted, jolting me out of my drowsy state. I snapped my eyes open and found myself face to face with Artemy. He sat on the edge of the bed, his figure leaning forward until our faces were mere inches apart.
“Good morning,” he greeted me with a gentle tone, his words mingling with the astonishment reflected in my widened eyes. A startled scream escaped my lips, and in my frantic attempt to escape, I struggled to untangle myself from the covers. In my haste, the fabric twisted around me, resulting in an undignified tumble onto the floor.
Lying there, I gazed up at Artemy, my chest heaving with fear. I was certain that my face displayed sheer terror, while he appeared poised to pounce, a predator ready to strike. Memories of the previous night crashed into my mind like relentless waves, causing my head to spin uncontrollably.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I endeavored to free myself from the clutches of the covers. Finally extricating myself, I staggered to my feet and took several steps backward, trying to create a safe distance between us.
“How could you?” I managed to utter, my voice trembling with a mix of accusation and bewilderment. Artemy rose from the bed, deliberately taking his time to adjust his suit, as if deliberately provoking me and elongating the suspense.
When he was satisfied, he fixed me with an inscrutable gaze. “What do you mean?” he inquired, his tone neutral yet brimming with an undercurrent of intensity.
“You…” I stammered, struggling to find the right words to articulate my thoughts. A voice inside my head interjected, reminding me of the pleasure he had given me the previous night. The thought horrified me, and against my will, I screamed back in my mind, desperately rejecting the idea.
“I what?” His voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. I glanced up to see him steadily advancing toward me, his steps purposeful and determined.
“You…” His presence loomed so close that his warmth enveloped me, wrapping me in a magnetic pull that was hard to resist.
“What is it?” Artemy inquired, his voice softening as he bent down slightly to meet my eyes.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry, but words failed to escape my lips.
“Come on,” he urged, his voice laced with determination.
I shook my head, desperately attempting to create some distance between us. But his arms shot out like lightning, encircling my waist and pulling me in closer. His presence was overpowering, his lips dangerously close to mine.
Desperation took over as I placed both hands on his chest, attempting to push him away. But his grip was unyielding, as if immovable.
“Mr. Loskutov, please, just let me go,” I pleaded, struggling against his firm hold, longing to break free.
His arms tightened around me, his grip unrelenting. “Oh, kitten, let’s skip the pleasantries,” he whispered in my ear, his voice filled with a hint of mischief. “After what happened last night, it’s Artemy we should stick with.” With a playful nip on my earlobe, he evoked a startled reaction from me.
“Fine. Artemy, please release me.”
“I will, once you tell me what happened between us last night. Say it,” he muttered huskily, his words dripping with anticipation.
He was trying to humiliate me, to expose me. His heartlessness knew no bounds. He was a monster.
Artemy pressed his face against my neck, his warm lips against my cold skin. A shiver ran down my spine as I surrendered, leaning into his embrace, supported solely by his arms.
His lips left a trail of wet kisses on my neck, biting and sucking at the delicate flesh, leaving marks of his possession.
Shaking my head, I grasped his hair tightly, forcing his face away from my neck.
“Fuck,” Artemy cursed, his voice filled with frustration, as I continued to pull.
His head snapped up, and he rose to his full height, towering over me. His arms held me firmly, causing a slight hiss of discomfort and pain to escape my lips.
He gripped my chin, his touch unyielding as he forced me to meet his piercing, cold gaze. Anger flickered within his blue irises, and I cowered under his intense glare.
“I don’t like repeating myself, but I’ll give you one last chance,” he stated, his voice flat and grating. “Tell me what happened last night, and I’ll release you. It’s that simple.”
“You gave me an orgasm,” the words spilled out of my mouth, uncontrollable and unfiltered.
The anger in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a hard, unforgiving look. I had toyed with a wild lion, and now I would face the consequences. “And did you enjoy it?” he asked, his tone laced with an unsettling intensity.
I whispered softly, barely audible, “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
Artemy drew my face closer, his lips stretching into a slight smirk. “Oh, kitten. I make the rules. I make the deals, and I can change them whenever I please. You don’t have a say in the matter. Do you understand?”
I nodded silently, attempting to avert my gaze and escape his piercing, cruel stare. But his firm grip on my chin prevented any movement. “Answer me, kitten.”
“Um, I…” I began, but couldn’t find the words to finish my sentence. How could I possibly respond to something like that? Did I enjoy it when he granted me pleasure? No? Yes? Even I was uncertain. I shouldn’t have liked it. I didn’t want to like it, but I did.
I squeezed my eyes shut, struggling to accept my own conflicted emotions. Something was seriously wrong with me. This monster had taken me against my will, confined me in his mansion, and then bestowed upon me an orgasm I hadn’t asked for-and I had enjoyed it.
“Rebecca, answer me!”
“Yes!” I shouted.
Whenever I was near him, my body ceased to be my own. My thoughts became a tangled mess, impossible to untangle.
He skillfully manipulated both my body and mind.
He held the strings, and I became his puppet.
[Artemy]
She became limp in my embrace, the fight draining from her body. It was what I had yearned for, to hear her confess her desires, and it brought me a sense of fulfillment. At least for a fleeting moment. She was afraid, and I knew I needed to give her time to process everything.
Yet, my patience was wearing thin because I believed I had given her enough time already. Holding her so closely ignited a primal urge within me. Her warmth and scent overwhelmed my senses, consuming me. All I craved was to throw her onto her back, part those long, smooth legs, and passionately make love to her until she screamed in ecstasy, her pleasure enveloping me.
Despite wanting her to fear me, I didn’t want her to regret what transpired between us. I had never taken a woman against her will, and I wasn’t about to start with her.
Her desire for me was evident, but her fear was equally palpable. The confusion painted across her face was unmistakable.
I vowed to seduce Rebecca until she pleaded for my touch.
Releasing my hold on her chin, I delicately brushed her hair away from her face. My fingers lingered on her cheek for a few moments, and then my thumb traced a path across her velvety skin. It warmed under my touch, a subtle blush tainting her pale complexion, revealing the impact I had on her.
“See? It wasn’t so difficult to admit, was it?” I gazed at her blushing cheek, captivated by its color and the softness of her skin.
Rebecca attempted to distance herself, and I let her go without resistance.
Let’s grant the little kitten a respite.
She took several steps back, a trembling hand resting on her heaving chest. Fear coursed through her, evident in every tremor.
But why was she so terrified? The fear didn’t solely stem from me. There was something else, something I hadn’t quite unraveled yet.
Rebecca remained a enigma to me. She acted as if she despised my touch, yet she had moaned with pleasure at the same time.
She fascinated me, capturing my attention, and I had no desire to fight it.
Although she had initiated the first move by hiding under my bed, I now held the reins. I wouldn’t let go until I had my fill.
Locking my unyielding gaze on her, I spoke, “Now, Rebecca. Don’t be afraid. There’s nothing for you to fear. Have I hurt you?”
She shook her head, her eyes fixed on my every movement and reaction. Truly, she reminded me of a vulnerable kitten seeking an escape from danger. Small, skittish, and utterly defenseless.
As I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, I retrieved it and saw Brayden’s name flashing on the screen.
“Yeah?” I responded, my voice tinged with curiosity.
“There’s something we need to tell you. It’s messed up,” he blurted out, sounding frantic. Panic crept into my veins. Damn it.
“Now what?” I sighed, my frustration evident.
“We should talk about this face to face, Artemy.”
Glancing at Rebecca, who had pressed herself against the wall, a surge of anger coursed through me. Brayden couldn’t have picked a worse time.
“I’m busy at the moment,” I snapped, my tone harsh.
“It’s important.”
“Fine. Meet me in my office,” I commanded before abruptly ending the call.
I approached Rebecca, closing the distance in just a few long strides. She hunched over, as if shielding herself from harm. Her whimper hinted at her fear that I might strike her.
“Relax,” I said, surprisingly gentle. My grip on her was light as I pulled her closer, her body melding with mine. Leaning down, my lips brushed against her ear.
“I’ll be back, kitten. We’re not finished yet,” I whispered sharply, my hand entwined in her hair, tugging it back.
Without warning, I captured her lips in a forceful kiss. It was swift, intense, and left a mark, a message that she belonged to me alone.
Rebecca gasped when I traced the contours of her lips with my tongue. I nibbled, sucked, and kissed until I was satisfied that she grasped the significance.
Pulling away, I stared at her flushed face. She was flushed and breathless, a sight that tempted me to chuckle. We hadn’t even shared a proper kiss, and yet her reaction was so intense.
Rebecca gingerly touched her swollen lips, wincing slightly as she gazed at me with innocent eyes.
Ah, my innocent kitten.
With a final, searing look, I spun on my heels and exited the bedroom, leaving her to wrestle with her own thoughts. The door slammed shut behind me, resonating with a resounding bang that echoed through the corridor. Determined, I made my way to my office located in the left wing of the estate. As I approached, I noticed that the door was already ajar, inviting me inside. Stepping through the threshold, I found Brayden, Avim, Leon, and Milandro waiting inside, their faces etched with frustration.
Without hesitation, I strode forward, the tension radiating from my presence. “What’s the matter?” I growled, my arms folding across my chest as I settled into my chair behind the desk. Leon swiftly closed the door, positioning himself in front of it to address me directly.
“We’ve discovered that someone has been spying,” Brayden began, his voice tinged with anger.
“What?” I bellowed, my body instinctively rising from the seat, pushing the chair back forcefully.
“Yeah, those damn Cavalieri bastards. They knew our next club location before we even announced it. Raffaele thinks we need to tighten our circle of trust,” Leon hissed, struggling to contain his own irritation. My fury surged, causing my entire body to tremble, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles throbbed with pain.
Seizing the chair, I hurled it across the room, narrowly missing Avim, who swiftly dodged out of harm’s way. “Who the fuck is responsible?” I roared, my desire for bloodshed overwhelming me. My eyes twitched as I fought to regain control, plotting a slow and agonizing demise for the traitor who had betrayed me. No mercy would be granted.
“Find out who it is!” I commanded, my voice filled with seething rage. Yet, none of them moved. Brayden nervously swallowed, drawing the attention of Avim, who stared at him intently.
When Brayden remained silent, Avim shot him a glare before redirecting his gaze back to me, swiftly masking his own emotions. “We suspect it’s Rebecca,” he finally revealed.