POV: EVE The ride back to Dimitri’s penthouse felt like driving toward her own execution.
Or her salvation.
Eve couldn’t tell which anymore.
She sat in the back of the SUV, her thighs pressed together, her body humming with a need she’d never experienced before.
Every bump in the road sent sparks of sensation through her core.
Every time Dimitri’s hand brushed against her thigh….casual, possessive, like he owned her….she had to bite back a whimper.
She’d watched him threaten to murder her husband.
She should be horrified.
Instead, she was so wet she could feel it soaking through the barely-there panties he’d put on her this morning.
“You’re thinking very loudly, cara mia,” Dimitri murmured beside her, his hand sliding higher up her thigh.
“I’m not thinking anything.” “Liar.” His fingers traced the edge of her panties through the dress.
“You’re thinking about what I’m going to do to you when we get home.
Aren’t you?” Home.
He’d called it home.
Not his penthouse.
Not his place.
Home.
Like she belonged there.
Like she belonged to him.
“Yes,” she whispered, because lying seemed pointless when her body was betraying her so completely.
“Good girl.” His hand retreated, and she actually whimpered at the loss.
“Patience.
We’re almost there.” Marco pulled into the underground garage, parked in a spot marked “PRIVATE – VIOLATORS WILL BE SHOT,” which seemed excessive until Eve remembered who she was dealing with.
Dimitri helped her out of the car while Marco grabbed her suitcase and boxes from the trunk.
“Take those to the bedroom,” Dimitri instructed.
“Then I need you to run point on the Ward situation.
I want updates every hour.” “Yes, boss.” Marco disappeared into the private elevator.
Dimitri’s hand settled on Eve’s lower back, guiding her toward the elevator.
“After you, piccola.” The ride up was silent, but the air between them crackled with tension.
Eve could feel his eyes on her, could feel the weight of his attention like a physical touch.
When the doors opened to his penthouse, she stepped out on shaking legs.
“Bedroom.
Now.” The command in his voice made her core clench.
She walked down the hallway, heard him following, felt like prey being stalked by a predator.
She entered the bedroom….their bedroom now, apparently….and turned to face him.
He closed the door behind him with a soft click that sounded impossibly loud in the silence.
“Strip,” he said.
Eve’s hands went to the zipper of her dress, but he stopped her.
“Slowly.
I want to watch.” Her fingers trembled as she pulled the zipper down, let the dress slip from her shoulders, pool at her feet.
She stood in just the black lace panties he’d put on her this morning, her breasts bare, her nipples already hard peaks.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, circling her slowly like he was inspecting a piece of art.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve fantasized about this?
About having you naked and willing in my bedroom?” “How long?” Her voice came out breathy, desperate.
“Seven years.” He stopped in front of her, his finger trailing down the center of her chest, between her breasts, over her stomach.
“Seven years of imagining all the ways I’d claim you.
All the ways I’d make you mine.” His finger hooked in the waistband of her panties.
“These.
Off.” She pushed them down, stepped out of them, stood completely naked before him while he remained fully dressed in his expensive suit.
The power imbalance was staggering.
And arousing.
God help her, she’d never been so turned on in her entire life.
“On the bed.
On your back.
And spread those legs for me.” She obeyed, climbing onto the massive bed, lying back against the pillows, spreading her thighs.
He stood at the foot of the bed, looking at her with eyes that had gone dark and hungry.
“Wider.” She spread her legs further, felt herself flush at how exposed she was, how vulnerable.
“Perfect.” He loosened his tie, pulled it off, began unbuttoning his shirt.
“Do you remember what I told you this morning?
About your pleasure belonging to me?” “Yes.” “And have you touched yourself since I told you not to?” “No.” “Good girl.” His shirt came off, revealing a body that looked like it had been carved from marble.
All muscle and power and controlled violence.
Scars littered his skin….some old and faded, some newer.
Evidence of a life she was only beginning to understand.
“Do you see these?” He gestured to the scars.
“Each one is a reminder that this world is dangerous.
That I’m dangerous.
And now, you’re part of this world.
Part of my world.” He unbuckled his belt, and Eve’s mouth went dry.
“I’m going to make you come, Eve.
Multiple times.
I’m going to use my hands, my mouth, toys…everything except my cock.
Do you know why?” She shook her head, unable to speak.
“Because I’m going to make you so desperate for it that you’ll beg.
You’ll cry.
You’ll do anything I ask just for the chance to feel me inside you.” He pushed his pants down, stepped out of them, and Eve’s eyes went wide.
He was massive.
Easily fourteen inches, thick enough that she wasn’t sure she could wrap her hand around him, and already hard and straining toward his stomach.
“Like what you see, cara mia?” “I don’t think…
I can’t…
that won’t fit.” His smile was wicked.
“It will.
Eventually.
But not today.” He moved to the nightstand, pulled out a bottle of lube and something else….a vibrator.
Large, intimidating.
“Today, I’m going to train your body to crave me.
To need me.
Until you can’t function without my touch.” He climbed onto the bed, settled between her spread thighs, and looked at her pussy like it was a feast laid out just for him.
“So wet already,” he murmured, his fingers sliding through her folds, gathering her arousal.
“And I’ve barely touched you.
Were you this wet in the car?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because…” She couldn’t say it.
“Because why, Eve?” His thumb found her clit, pressed, and she cried out.
“Tell me.” “Because I wanted you!” “Wanted me to what?” “To touch me.
To fuck me.
To make me feel something other than empty!” “Good girl.
Honesty.
I like that.” He lowered his head, and his tongue replaced his thumb.