"Hmm," he muttered, looking thoughtful as he watched me.
He leaned back against the sofa. His muscles were clear beneath his shirt, making him look big.
I forced myself not to fidget, but it was hard. I couldn't show fear. Men like him fed on fear. They used it to their advantage.
My fingers tightened around my shirt. My throat felt heavy and dry. When I started to feel lightheaded, I realized I'd been holding my breath for too long.
I let it out in a loud whoosh and then sucked in a deep breath again, but it was pointless.
His heated gaze traveled all the way down my body. I was speechless and frozen where I stood. When my body started to warm up under his focus, I closed my eyes tightly. But the tingling didn't stop.
When he stood and walked toward me, I shrunk away. His dark presence filled the room, and I suddenly felt hot. Sweat beaded on my neck and between my breasts as he moved closer.
When he stopped before me, I shivered in fear and my body tensed in alarm. Alex stepped closer until we were half an inch apart, so close that my nose started to tingle with the scent of his cologne and I could feel his breath next to my ear.My lips were suddenly dry. When I moistened them with my tongue, Alessio's eyes followed the movement. If possible, his already lustful gaze became more heated.
He licked his own lips too, making the action appear so deeply sensual that I had to squeeze my legs together, trying to stop the sudden tingling between them.
What's happening to me?
Alex leaned his head forward until his lips were hovering over mine. My body froze, my mind went blank for a moment.
Was he going to kiss me?
His hand came up and wrapped around my shirt. He gave it a tug, but I refused to let go of the fabric. He frowned and tugged harder.
I swallowed in fear when his eyes changed and he leveled me with a glare. The shirt fell from my grasp. He took a step back and stared at me. Except for my black bra and panties, I was almost naked. Crossing my hand over my chest, I tried to hide my body from him.
"Move your hands," he ordered, his voice gruff. Shaking my head wildly, I took a step back but came in contact with the wall.
There was nowhere to hide. I was trapped as he moved closer.
Alex crowded my space and he wrapped his fingers around my wrists, tugging downward until I was no longer covering my chest.
He brought his hand right over my chest but he didn't touch me. I shivered as my body warmed under his scrutinizing gaze. Even though he hadn't touched me yet, my body was already on fire.
When the tip of his finger made contact with my skin, I jumped and stared at him with wide eyes. He kept his eyes on mine as he slowly dragged his finger down my chest, stopping between my breasts.
My chest heaved, and each time my breasts brushed against his shirt, the tingling sensation in my lower region increased. My body tightened, hyper aware of Alessio's touch.
He brought his other hand up and let it travel down my neck. I was sure he could feel my pulse throbbing in fear—and I hated to admit it, but in anticipation too. My body was reacting to his touch, eagerly awaiting his next movement. No matter how hard I tried to stop my reactions, my body wouldn't listen.
"You have lovely skin. Smooth as silk," he muttered as he softly brushed his thumb over my throbbing vein. "So fucking beautiful." Then he frowned, like he couldn't believe I was attractive to him. Or maybe he was surprised he'd said it.
His face became expressionless, but his heated gaze couldn't be misunderstood. It showed everything he felt.
He wanted me, and my body was reacting accordingly.
As he continued to look into my eyes, the hand that was over my chest moved to my right breast. I was so captivated by his pale and vivid blue eyes, I didn't notice when he moved the cup of my bra downward.
When I felt the cold air on my skin, my eyes widened and I looked down to see my right breast bare. My nipple pebbled and I sucked in a shocked breath when Alex softly moved his thumb over the tip.
My head snapped back and he was still looking at me, his gaze intensely on mine as he watched my reaction.
He rubbed his thumb over my nipple and I let out a gasp, my eyes slowly closing. When I heard a moan, my body tightened. My eyes snapped back open when I realized that it came from me.
Alex's lips tilted upward in a smirk, and then he took my nipple in between his thumb and forefinger. He pinched my nipple hard.
Gasping, I shrank away from his touch with a whimper.
Oh God, what was happening to me? I felt myself growing wet between my legs.
"Shhh. Don't be scared, kitten. I'm not going to hurt you."
I let out another whimper when he rolled my nipple around his fingers, teasing the tip until I was shaking my head, my stomach clenching as I moaned again.
Alex leaned closer until his mouth was next to my ear. He blew on my skin and then bit down on my earlobe. "Not unless you want me to," he whispered harshly in my ears, saying the same words that he had when we first met.
"What…what…what are you doing?" I stumbled over my words, my voice hoarse.
He let out a laugh and pulled back. "What do you think I'm doing? From your reaction, I think it's pretty obvious."
I shook my head and stared at him mutely. No, it was not obvious. He was playing with me. But why?
I tried to pull away, but Alex wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his body. My breasts pressed hard against his chest. When my sensitive nipples brushed against the roughness of his shirt, I couldn't keep from moaning.
Oh, God. No. Save me from this.
"Plea…please don't hurt me."
His body shook with silent laughter. "Aww, baby. Pleasure and pain come hand in hand." Alex leaned forward, and slowly licked down my neck. "Don't you know? The best pleasure comes from pain," he whispered roughly against my skin.
No. I knew pain. I was accustomed to pain and felt it every night when Alberto tortured me mercilessly. There was no pleasure from that.
My body froze, and then I started to struggle against his hold.
"Let me go. Please. Please let me go," I begged as my eyes filled with unshed tears. I was wrong to think I was safe. He was a monster like Alberto. He would take what he wanted and then leave me bleeding and scarred.
"Stop struggling," he ordered harshly.
"No. No. No. Please." I shook my head and pushed hard against his chest but it was like pushing a wall. He didn't even move a step.
"Enough!"
I whimpered and shrank away. He let go of me and I scrambled back to the wall, plastering myself against it.
Alex stared at me blankly. My harsh breathing filled the room and I was trembling. My legs were barely holding me up.
He stepped forward, but when I let out cry, he stopped.
"You are scared of me," he said.
I swallowed but didn't say anything. What could I say? He already had me figured out.
"But you also enjoy my touch," he continued. My body went still, and this time I shook my head. His eyes became hard and he walked closer.
"Don't lie to me. If you didn't know already, then let me enlighten you," he said through gritted teeth. "I always know when someone lies. So, you'd be better off if you don't."
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My throat was dry and my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. Alex moved his hand to my hair and twisted it around his fist. Even though his hold was firm, he gently tilted my head up, making sure he didn't hurt me.
"Now answer me, kitten. Did you like it when I touched you?"
I thought of lying again, but what would it bring me? It wouldn't help my situation. I nodded. It was so small that it would have been easy for him to miss it. But he didn't.
Alex Ivanshov never missed anything.
At my nod, he smiled and it took my breath away. It was the first real smile that I saw from him. His lips stretched wide and I noticed a dimple on his right cheek.
The smile changed his face completely. He didn't look so scary anymore.
He looked gentle.
My eyes widened as my heart constricted.
"Now, that's out of the way. Let's talk about why I'm here," he said, losing the smile. I swallowed nervously and nodded again.
I tried to move away but his fingers tightened in my hair. When he seemed sure I wouldn't move, Alex let go. He placed his hands on the wall behind me, one on either side of my face, caging me into his body.
"I want you," he said without any hesitation.
Oh, I knew that was coming, but what I didn't expect was how my body reacted to his words.
My legs weakened and my panties were instantly wet. My lower region pulsed and I bit down on my lips hard to stop the moan that threatened to slip out.
"What?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Alex leaned forward until his lips were hovering over mine. I saw his tongue slip out and he gently licked my lips. My body tightened in shock.
"Exactly what I said. I want to fuck you."
I didn't want to admit it, but I could see myself doing whatever he wanted me to do. He knew how to play with his words and how to play my body. The only fear I had was that he might hurt me. I suddenly felt sick.