The Life of Mrs. Fifty Shades | Chapter 19

The Life of Mrs. Fifty Shades

Chapter Nineteen

Ana

I hung up then searched for Crow. In this three story mansion it was impossible to find him anywhere. “Crow?” I leaned over the stairway in the hope he could hear me wherever he was.

He appeared behind me. “Ana.”

He scared me because he appeared out of nowhere, but I was too excited to be afraid. “Christian’s plane just left. He’s on the way here. He should arrive in twelve hours.” The words came tumbling out of my mouth in a jumble.

“That’s great.” He stood in his suit and tie, looking mean and powerful. “In twelve hours, I’ll finally get rid of you.”

Perhaps I knew him well enough to understand his humor because I knew it was a joke—at least partially. “I think you’re going to be sad when the children are gone.”

“Maybe them. But not you.”

“You don’t hate me.”

“I never said I hated you. But I don’t like you.” He stepped closer to me, his hands moving into his pockets. After a pause he continued. “But I’m glad Christian is okay. He’s a good guy. It would be a shame to the world if we lost him.”

“I would never recover.” I didn’t even want to think about it. His spirit would still live on through his children, but that wouldn’t be enough for me. I needed my husband every single day until my time was over.

“Now you don’t have to worry about it. Maybe you should get some sleep before he gets here.”

“I can’t sleep.” I was too anxious to calm down. Once he was finally in my arms, I would unwind.

“Don’t fuck all over my house.” He lifted the corner of his mouth in the form of a smile.

“We’ll keep it in the bedroom.”

“And Lars will burn the sheets.”

I still didn’t understand Crow, and I suspected I never would. Like Christian, he protected his secrets and refused to share them with anyone. But I felt closer to him than before. “Thank you for everything… We all appreciate it.”

He held my gaze, his expression stoic.

“It’s been really difficult for us, but you’ve made us feel at home…and safe. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”

That cocky grin emerged again. “Have a cute girlfriend?”

It was the first time I felt happy since I arrived. “None that I’m letting you go near.”

“Damn. I fancy American girls.”

“I really mean it, Crow. Thank you.”

He clearly didn’t respond to intimacy well. And he didn’t like to be complimented. He didn’t show any embarrassment or a hint of awkwardness. But he didn’t seem thrilled by my words either. “I’m not a selfless man. One day, I’ll need something from Christian, and now he’s guaranteed to deliver.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But I think it’s more than that. You act like a hollow tough guy, but I don’t buy it. I think underneath that rough ruggedness, you’re a good man. You’re kind, compassionate, and noble. But I’ll keep your secret.”

“That’s your opinion,” he said quietly. “But don’t share it with anyone else.”

I grinned from ear-to-ear. “Your secret is safe with me.”

***

I stood in the roundabout driveway holding Phoebe while Teddy stood beside me. Crow was there, but he was positioned far off to the left. Teddy looked down the empty road then turned back to me. “When is Daddy coming?”

“Any minute, sweetheart.” My arms shook as I held Phoebe because I was so excited. I couldn’t contain all the emotions in my heart. I was depressed this situation happened at all but I was so relieved he was okay.

A black car finally appeared down the road. It sped closer to the entrance, driving above the speed limit. Without knowing for a fact, I knew Christian was sitting in the backseat. “There he is.”

“Daddy!” Teddy wiggled from left to right, eager to see his father.

The car pulled into the roundabout before it came to a stop. All the windows were tinted so we couldn’t see him sitting inside. Everything moved in slow motion because I was eager for time to speed up.

The backdoor opened and his lean leg stepped out in dark jeans. His dress shoes were shiny like always. When he stepped out of the car and rose to his full height, he immediately looked different. He was thinner everywhere, particularly his face. He looked like he hadn’t eaten anything during the two weeks he’d been gone.

My tears fell all over again.

Christian took Phoebe and held her with a single arm and he pressed Teddy against his side. Then he pulled me into his chest and held me tightly, allowing me to press my face into his t-shirt and cry in privacy.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and sobbed into his shirt, happy he was there but emotionally drained that he was ever gone to be begin with.  I grabbed him harder than I meant to and my hands couldn’t stop shaking.

“Ana, I’m okay.” He pressed his lips to my forehead and left them there, providing warmth against my ice-cold skin. “Everything is okay now.”

“Christian, I love you so much. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

He dropped another kiss to my forehead. “You’ll never have to.” He pulled away and pressed his lips to the corner of my eye, absorbing my tears with his mouth. Then he kneeled down until he was eye level with Teddy. Wordlessly, he pulled him into his arms and held him just as hard as he held me. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, Daddy…” Teddy wrapped his arms around his neck, a tiny version of his father.

Christian held our children for a long time and had no intention of letting go. He treasured both of his kids, grateful he was there to share this moment with both of them. He turned his lips to Phoebe and kissed her on the forehead. “I missed you too, Beautiful.”

I tried to stop myself from crying but I couldn’t. This moment could have easily not have happened. Someone tried to destroy my family, and I should have listened to Christian’s instinct when he expressed his concern. Now I felt stupid—and foolish.

Christian rose to his feet again with Teddy close to his side.

I took Phoebe from his arms, and she stared up at her father with those big eyes.

He kissed me on the forehead again before he walked to Crow. All he did was extend his hand.

Crow met his look stoically, not saying a single word as he acknowledged his invitation and shook his hand.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m in your debt. Whenever you need something, I’ll be there.”

“I know.” He dropped his serious expression and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re alright. Ana was worried for a moment there. But I always knew you would figure it out.”

“You were right.”

“Your wife is a pain in the ass, by the way.” He smiled so Christian knew it was a joke.

“Yeah?” Christian didn’t smile, but his eyes showed their playfulness.

“Yeah. She keeps saying I’m a good guy.”

“She tends to do that…”

“And she never eats.”

Christian rolled his eyes. “Don’t even get me started.”

Teddy pointed at Crow from his place beside me. “Daddy, Crow can turn into a crow. He told me!”

Christian raised both eyebrows.

Crow shrugged. “I don’t know anything about kids.”

“So you tell them you’re a bird?” he asked incredulously.

Crow glared at him. “So…you guys are heading out, right?”

Christian chuckled before he patted him on the back. “We’re gonna stay at our villa over the hillside. You can always stop by for a visit.”

“I’ll pass.” Crow walked toward me while Lars packed our luggage in the trunk of the car. “Take care.” He nodded to me slightly then looked at Phoebe, who just stared at him in wonderment.

“But I didn’t get to see you change into a bird,” Teddy whined.

Crow ruffled his hair. “We’ll see each other again. I’ll show you then.”

“Alright…” Teddy bowed his head in disappointment.

“Thank you for everything, Crow.” I was eager to get back to our villa so I could hold Christian in my arms and never let go. But I wanted to give Crow a proper goodbye.

“You’re welcome, Ana. Please reconsider bringing your girlfriends by.” He winked before he walked back into the house.

Christian watched him go with an amused expression on his face. Then he turned back to me. “Let’s go.”

***

Christian sat on the floor and played with Teddy and his toys. Phoebe rested in the crook of his arm, her eyes open and concentrating on his face. He was torn between spending time with our kids and snuggling with me on the couch. But he made the right decision.

His eyes kept drifting back to me. Longing burned in the look, and he was desperate to be alone with me. He wanted to cherish my body with kisses and glide his fingers down my soft skin. He wanted to tell me everything was alright and nothing bad would ever happen again.

I wanted that too. I loved having our kids around us, but sometimes I missed the days when it was just the two of us. They always took priority over everything, and a lot of our wants and desires went unfulfilled.

I wish Mrs. Jones was here.

After spending the evening with the kids, they both fell asleep. Phoebe was still in his arms, and Teddy was asleep on the floor. Christian picked them both up and carried them into their bedrooms. Phoebe had an Italian cradle in her bedroom, and Teddy had a bedroom decorated with a Spiderman theme—just like at home. After they were both tucked in, we went into our bedroom on the other side of the house.

Once the door was closed, we were finally alone. I wrapped my arms around his neck and moved into his chest like it was the first time I’d been allowed to touch him. The fragrance of his cologne and natural scent washed over me, and the moment finally felt real.

Christian was back.

He was patient with me and ran his fingers through my hair. He’d been through so much and I should be the one comforting him. But I couldn’t stop my weakness from stretching through my entire body. He returned but I was hanging on by a thread. “Ana, I’m here.” He placed his lips against my temple, his affection flooding through my veins.

“I’m so sorry. I should have listened to you.”

He rubbed the back of my neck, consoling me.

“I’ll never doubt you ever again.”

“We can’t have that.” He pressed his lips against my ear. “Without you disobeying me, I would be lost.” A smile was in his voice.

I pulled away from his chest and looked into his face. “I’m being serious.”

His smile faded. “I know, Ana. But everything is okay now. No more tears.”

“I’m not going to stop crying for at least a week.”

“Then after a week, no more.” He wiped my tear away with the pad of his thumb.

I had so many questions about what happened that night but I didn’t ask. All I wanted was to be with my husband, to treasure the fact he returned to us. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to go on. I never would have fallen in love again, and I would have spent the rest of my life alone. “Okay.”

He cupped my face with his hands before he kissed me. The touch was gentle and loving, vanilla flavored. He took his time with his purposeful kisses, not rushing the connection between us. He didn’t want to tie me up and fuck me. He didn’t want to blindfold me and heighten my senses. He wanted nothing but the two of us.

When my mouth moved against his, the pain lessened. My body came back to life and the tears stopped. My hand glided up his chest, and I felt his heartbeat through his t-shirt.

Christian pulled my shirt off and unclasped my bra with precision then kissed my neck. His hands worked my jeans until they were loose. As he pulled them down, his lips trailed down my body. He went across my collarbone before he moved to my tits. He sucked each nipple into his mouth, giving a playful bite before he moved down my stomach. He kissed my navel and my hips as he pulled the jeans off my ankles.

I gripped his shoulders for balance, seeing my husband kneel for me. My fingertips dug into him harder out of desire. My nipples were hard, and I felt the area between my legs tingle with pure longing.

He pulled my panties off before he kissed the sensitive folds of my body. His tongue worked the area, his unparalleled experience making me writhe.

I dug my fingertips into him harder and couldn’t catch my breath. My heart was out of control, and I could barely think. His touch felt so good, but I needed so much more. “Christian, I need you now.” I loved the delectable foreplay he always gave, but tonight, it felt like torture. I needed him inside me, to feel him thrust into me and claim me as his own. I needed our bodies to move in sync and fully reunite.

He rose to his full height and scooped me into his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist and he carried me to the bed. He positioned me until my head was on the pillow before he tore his shirt off.

Instead of biting my lip in response to his beautiful physique, I nearly cried. Cigarette burns were scattered across his chest...and they were brand-new. The old ones sunk into the old flesh, hardly visible anymore. There were at least a dozen new ones now. “Christian…”

“Not now, Ana.” He removed his jeans and boxers then positioned himself on top of me.

My fingertips automatically reached out to touch the skin.

Christian flinched but he didn’t stop me. He allowed me into his world, allowed me into his pain. He let the touch linger for a moment before he gripped both of my wrists and pinned them over my head. “Look at me.”

My eyes automatically locked to his.

He shoved himself inside me with a quick thrust. Once he was there, my body acclimated to his size. It’d been so long since he’d been inside me that my body wasn’t used to it anymore. But I was wet enough to make it work.

Christian closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the sensation of being skin-to-skin with me. He hadn’t moved yet, just treasured the sensation of our reunion. Then he thrust into me slowly, making sure not to rock the headboard into the wall so our children wouldn’t hear.

I locked my ankles together around his waist and pulled my hands free from their hold. I hooked them around his neck and pulled him closer to me, using my hips to rock into him from below. We already worked up a sweat, and I felt the scorching sensation between my legs. I was trembling and whimpering, already satisfied before the explosion even happened. I pressed my lips to his just before the blaze took me. “I love you, Christian Grey.” It hit me like a freight train, giving me the most powerful explosion my body had ever felt. I was worked up and hot, drunk on the feeling of his body against mine.

He breathed into my mouth as he continued to thrust. His length thickened inside me and his breaths deepened. “Mrs. Grey.” He stopped with his entire length inside me, his body tensed with the release. One hand snaked into my hair and kept his grip on me. “I love you.”

***

When I woke up the next morning, my hand immediately reached out for Christian, hoping his return wasn’t just a tempting dream. My hand felt the cold sheets and dread gripped my heart. I bolted upright in bed and opened my eyes, seeing nothing but crumpled sheets beside me.

“I’m still here.” He placed a tray of food on my nightstand. There was a glass of orange juice, scrambled eggs, and toast.

I didn’t hide the relief on my face. My mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion when I realized he was gone. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He sat on his side of the bed, crossing his ankles. “Eat.”

“I should be the one cooking for you.”

“I already ate.”

“What time is it?” I glanced at the clock on my nightstand but realized it wasn’t there. I only had one in Seattle.

“Eleven.” A smile formed in his eyes but didn’t migrate to his mouth. “I ate three hours ago. The kids did too.”

“I guess I was tired.” I brushed the hair out of my face.

He leaned over the bed and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Now eat.”

I wasn’t hungry but I didn’t dare say it. I placed the tray in front of me and took a few bites. I noticed how thin Christian looked. His muscles weren’t as prominent, and his skin didn’t contain the same firmness as it did before. It made me wonder how he’d been treated in captivity—besides the scars. “Did they not feed you?”

“I refused to eat.”

I sipped my orange juice before I looked at him. “Why?”

“I refuse to eat meals prepared by my enemy. Distasteful.”

He was gone for thirteen days. He didn’t eat once during that time?

“It also showed resilience. If he thought he could break me, he was sadly mistaken. Even when I was at my weakest, I was still three times the man he could ever be. Intimidation at its best.”

The idea of him being hungry for so long while I was pampered and treated like a queen made me feel sick. “Why didn’t you prepare for this better? Why didn’t you make sure you had a plan to protect yourself?”

“I did. But it didn’t work.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me, silently commanding me to eat.

I didn’t want to cross him today so I took another bite.

“They drugged me then threw me in the back of a car. My keys, phone, and watch were all taken away. I had no way to call for help. And Taylor was taken as well.”

“Is he okay?” Honestly, I hadn’t thought about him.

“Yes,” Christian answered. “When I left, he was being transported to the hospital. He doesn’t have any serious injuries but he needed to get checked out.”

“Like you should have.”

“I was only malnourished and dehydrated. Minor ailments.”

I couldn’t disagree more. He was starved just as he was as a child, and he was tortured with cigarette burns. If someone was determined to break him, that was the best way to do it. His past still haunted him to this day. No amount of progress we ever made would make him forget entirely. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” His tone was clipped and he looked away.

“Christian.” I kept my voice quiet but firm at the same time.

“I’m fine,” he repeated. “He did his worst, but it didn’t get him anywhere. He burned the cigarettes into my skin but they had no effect on me. I didn’t even blink. Ana, I know what you’re thinking. But I assure you, I’m fine.”

I believed him. At least, I believed he thought he was being honest. “I want you to see Dr. Flynn when we get back.”

He stared out the window.

I didn’t want to push him after everything he’d been through but I had to. “I’ll make the call when we get home.”

Again, he stayed quiet.

Tired of the sudden distance between us, I put my breakfast aside and moved to his side of the bed. I wrapped my arm around his waist and rested my face on his shoulder. I already told him I loved him, but I wanted to say it a million times.

Christian softened when he felt me curl around him, like a little girl hugging her stuffed animal. He moved his lips against my temple and gave me a gentle kiss before he wrapped his arm around me.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you. I wanted to go back and help the police find you but Crow wouldn’t let me leave.”

“Good. I wouldn’t have forgiven him if he let you go.”

“I talked to your mom every day. She was so worried.”

The mention of his mother softened him further. “I know. She was shaken up when she saw me. The fact that I’ve dropped ten pounds didn’t help.”

I rested my hand on his chest, feeling his slowly beating heart. “How did the police find you?”

He suddenly stiffened, the movement so slight I wouldn’t have noticed unless he was underneath me. He brushed his lips against my temple again before he spoke. “The police have him in custody. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next.”

“He’s going to prison. Said and done.” I wouldn’t stop until that man was behind bars. He tried to kidnap my children. And he took my husband and tortured him. “I wish he was dead.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Wishing someone to die wasn’t my sort of thing. But I was too angry to see reason. When it came to my family, I was a bit protective. “I hope we do.”

“Do you want to stay here for a while?”

“In Italy?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s up to you. I want whatever you want.” Maybe he needed a break from Seattle, from the media. The second he walked into Grey House, he would be swarmed by the paparazzi. He didn’t look like himself with the weight he'd lost. Perhaps he should wait to recover before he made an appearance.

“I’m not ready to go home.”

“Then we’ll stay.” Whatever he needed, he would get.

He glanced at the open door and heard the TV from down the hall. Teddy was watching cartoons while Phoebe lay in her crib beside him. The baby monitor was on so we could hear everything. He gripped me tighter like he wanted alone time but couldn’t act on his feelings.

“They have to go to bed sometime.”

He chuckled slightly. “Might need to borrow someone from Crow’s staff.”

“They loved Patricia.”

“She’s nice.”

I doubt he would mind sparing her. After all, he had eight other staff members working there. “I’m sure he would loan her if you asked.”

“He’s done enough for us. I’m not asking him for anything.”

“True.”

“How was your stay with him?”

“He was good to all of us.” The thirteen days I spent at his estate were some of the worst in my life. But he did everything he could to make it as comfortable as possible. “He bonded with the children and he was very protective of me.”

“Protective from what?”

“His brother, Cane.”

Christian’s eyes darkened in understanding.

“He told Cane not to come back until I was gone. And he made sure that happened.” I didn’t tell Christian about Cane’s unexpected visit. It would only get him fired up. “Crow is stern and difficult to understand, but after spending time with him, I like him.”

Christian eyed me coldly.

“In a friendly, brother-sister kind of way.”

The threatening look never left his face.

“The two of you are so similar you remind me of brothers. He’s like another Elliot to me—but quieter.”

That finally calmed him down. “Crow is a lot darker than he lets on. He’s done and seen incredible things. If you think I’m in intense, you’re in for a surprise.”

“I think he’s soft underneath—just like you.”

“I’m not soft underneath. I’m just as hard as I used to be. That softness only emerges when I’m with you and the children. There’s a difference.”

Crow said the same thing, so I understood. “What makes him so threatening?” He can’t just run a winery. “What kind of work does he do outside of wine?”

“I can’t tell you that, Ana. It’s confidential.”

So it was something illegal. “I understand.”

“But I can tell you he does his deals with the criminals of the underworld. He doesn’t have loyalty to any specific side. He goes to the highest bidder because the top dollar is all that matters to him. He’s right to the point—no bullshit.”

“If his work is illegal, why do you work with him?”

“He gets shit done.”

I moved my fingers to his hair and spun a strand in my forefinger. “And that’s it?”

“He knows the right people and he’s trustworthy. Not many men are.”

“I didn’t realize that was possible. A criminal can have rules.”

“The powerful ones do.” He turned on his side until I was underneath him. He was clearly done talking about Crow. Now all his attention was on me. He eyed my lips like he wanted to kiss me hard on the mouth.

“Kissing wouldn’t hurt, right?”

His eyes lightened in a smile. “If it doesn’t, we aren’t doing it right.”

  <<  chapter 18   |  chapter 20 >>

Thanks so much for reading about Christian and Ana. I love these characters so much! I'm going to keep writing their story, but I also have something really special to share with you...

Under my secret pen name, I've written a new story. It's called Buttons and Lace. It's DARKER and MORE INTENSE than Fifty Shades ever was. And Crow Barsetti is the leading man. 

Here's the synopsis and a special peek. 

***

Buttons and Lace by Penelope Sky

Available November 15

I owe him a debt. A big one.

The payment can't be settled with money or favors. He only wants one thing. Me.

Every action gets a reward. A button. Once I fill his jar with three hundred and sixty-five buttons, he'll let me go. He'll let me walk away.

But I have to earn every single one. By submitting to the darkest, cruelest, and most beautiful man I've ever known.

** TRIGGER WARNING ** There are some dark and disturbing scenes of abuse and punishment.

Excerpt:

The last thing I remember was a needle going straight into my neck. The serum knocked me out cold and I slept for god knows how long. When I first looked at that man, I thought he was my savior.

But he was my kidnapper.

I finally opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a bedroom decorated with elegant taste. The furniture was constructed of fine Italian craftsmanship, and the bookshelves were lined with novels in both Italian and English. A vase of flowers sat on the table, full of deep red roses that had just been cut.

I got out of bed and realized I was dressed in the same clothes as the night before. I still wore the expensive gown I took to the opera, and the diamond earrings still hung from my lobes. My fingers absentmindedly touched them as I examined the private bathroom, the Italian statues on the end tables, and the beautifully ornate window that looked out into the vineyards.

The vines trailed as far as the eye could see to the hillside in the distance. Purple grapes could be seen from my location on the second floor. Plump and juicy, they looked perfect for picking. The cool breeze moved through my hair and gave me the first moment of peace I’d known in a long time. I used to live in hell—something worse than hell.

And now I was in the most beautiful place I’d ever seen.

On the windowsill was a single red rose. The thorns had been sawed off and the petals were soft and blossoming with life. Underneath was a note scribbled on vintage parchment. The message was brief.

Don’t run.

I knew exactly who it was from.

The man who kidnapped me was a mystery. I didn’t know anything about him other than he was powerful, dangerous—and so handsome it was terrifying. With a chiseled jaw that was covered by a five o’clock shadow, he was rugged and rough around the edges. He had dark brown hair that almost looked black, and his mocha brown eyes burned with constant threat. He was tall and muscular but slender and toned. He was the kind of man who spent a great deal of time running and lifting weights.

Or maybe he got his exercise from more criminal activities.

I didn’t know.

Last night was the first time I’d gotten true rest. Every other night, I flinched at the slightest noise, fearful of impending danger. Even though I wasn’t safe here, the mask of beauty tricked me into believing I was.

Since the window was open, I assumed that meant I was free to move about the house. I walked out the double doors and stepped onto the landing that led to the staircase. The rest of the large estate was just as beautiful as my bedroom. I was in a house of Italian royalty.

Who was I dealing with?

I walked down the stairs until I reached the bottom floor. “Hello?”

A man in a suit emerged from a door on the far right. He was in his late fifties with gray hair that was thinning, but he had a twinkle in his eyes that suggested he was kind. He was nothing like the man who took me. “Hello, miss. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lars, the butler.”

“Hi…” I didn’t know what else to say other than to ask where the nearest exit was.

“His Grace is waiting for you in the dining room. Breakfast will be served shortly.”

His Grace? What kind of ego did this guy have? “I’m not hungry, but thank you.”

“Not even for homemade Italian pancakes?” he asked.

My stomach growled in response. “Homemade, huh?”

He smiled. “I promise, they’re far better than anything you’ve gotten at IHOP.” He chuckled at his own joke then led me to the dining room. He opened the door for me and ushered me inside. “I’ll be back in a moment. How do you take your coffee?”

“Cream and sugar, please.”

He bowed before he shut the door.

I walked into the room and spotted the large mahogany table that could easily sit sixteen people. A large, ornate window took up most of the back wall, showing the vineyards just a few feet from the house. Like a large shadow in the room, the man sitting there took my entire notice.

Dressed in a gray suit and yellow tie, he read the morning paper. The headlines were in Italian, and his black coffee sat on a saucer in front of him. His plate contained a half-eaten egg white omelet. He didn’t look up at me, even though he knew I was there. His eyes continued to scan the paper, and my existence didn’t mean a damn thing to him. “Sit.”

Out of defiance, I continued to stand. There was nothing I hated more than being bossed around like an inferior. I crossed my arms over my chest and prepared to eat my breakfast while standing.

He still didn’t look up from his paper. “I won’t ask you again. And believe me, you don’t want me to repeat myself.” He didn’t raise his voice or use hostile language, but his ominous tone made me rethink my actions.

 I sat in the chair across from him, and the moment my ass hit the hand-sewn cushion, Lars came into the room and placed my breakfast in front of me. Three fluffy pancakes occupied one plate on their own, the steam rising to the ceiling. The other plate contained eggs, bacon, and assorted fruit. Steaming hot coffee was placed on my left, along with cream and sugar. I wasn’t sure how Lars carried everything.

Lars left the room, returning us to the stern and uncomfortable silence.

Again, he read the paper. He took a few sips of his coffee but didn’t make conversation with me. His wide shoulders looked powerful in his suit, and his bright tie contrasted against his innate darkness. His lips looked soft despite his calloused appearance. With short hair meticulously styled, he matched his elegant estate like they came as a pair.

I took a few bites while I studied him, trying to gleam details from my enemy. He wasn’t anything like my previous captor. This man was refined and educated. He had the kind of power that allowed him to command a room with only his silence. It wasn’t the false authority that relied on fear for cooperation. During my small interaction with Lars, I could sense his loyalty to his employer. “What’s your name?”

He turned the page like he hadn’t heard me.

“Would you rather I call you Picasso?”

His eyes continued to move from the left to the right as he read. “He was Spanish, not Italian. And I’ll speak to you when I’m finished reading.”

My jaw dropped at his attitude. Who the hell did he think he was?

Fucking asshole.

I scarfed down my food and my stomach expanded in happiness at feeling full. The food was delicious, the best breakfast I'd ever had. But the great meals and the pretty house didn’t trick me into believing I wasn’t in hell. I was just about to stand when he set down the paper.

With his elbows resting on the table, he stared me down with an expression so cold it made the arctic looked tropical. His large hands came together, his palms touching. Instead of looking at me like a person, he stared at me like a painting. Always gawking and never blinking. The intense eye contact was hostile and uncomfortable—because I had no idea what he was thinking. “Crow Barsetti.”

“Crow?” The word moved across my tongue. It was an unusual name, so strange I almost didn’t believe him. “There’s no way that’s Italian.”

“And there’s no way Pearl is American. It’s actually French in origin.”

My jaw dropped again when he knew my name.

He took a bite of his food then sipped his coffee like this conversation was perfectly normal for a Wednesday morning. “I’m glad you liked your breakfast. Lars is a talented cook.”

“I wasn’t hungry, but then he told me about the pancakes…and I caved.”

There was no humor in his eyes, just darkness.

I understood my enemy less and less. “When are you going to let me go?” He hadn’t hurt me or thrown me in a cage. When I woke up that morning, the window was open. I could have jumped out and run for it, probably with a broken leg. I knew he was dangerous, but he didn’t seem crazy.

“What makes you think I’ll let you go?” He moved his hands to the table and his fingers interlocked together. His shoulders shifted under the material of his suit, highlighting his muscles of steel.

My heart began to palpitate, terrified of the implicit meaning in his words. “The window was open. I’m not tied up. You seem pretty careless about keeping me confined.” The last thing I would do was show fear. The only way to interact with an enemy was to be ruthless. The moment I told him just how scared I was, he would take advantage of that weakness without mercy.

The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “I inserted a tracker in your right ankle.”

My eyes went wide, and I immediately felt the area with my fingertips. Sure enough, a small bump protruded from under the skin and a tiny scar was just above it. “You’re a freak.”

“Would you like me to remove it?”

“You bet your ass I would.”

“Consider it done.”

I stared at him suspiciously, wondering if I missed something.

“But you’ll be confined to your bedroom at all times, bars will be placed over your windows, and you’ll take your meals in there as well.”

I hated this man. “You’re a dick.”

“I know.” He sipped his coffee without an ounce of shame in his eyes.

“What the hell do you want with me?”

He sipped his coffee again, ignoring the question.

I didn’t understand my captor. His mind and motives were a mystery to me. Evil wasn’t ingrained on the surface because his beauty was a distraction. His dangerously handsome face and powerful physique was like a trap. It lured you in, and once you were close enough, he snatched you.

That made him more dangerous.

A butter knife sat next to my fork on the cloth napkin. It wasn’t sharp like a steak knife, but if I used blunt force, I should be able to get it inside his heart. The table was three feet wide so it was a leap, but if I moved quickly, I could strike without giving him time to react.

Crow finished his coffee then grabbed the paper again, dismissing our conversation as old news. He wanted to keep me as his prisoner, but he didn’t seem particularly interested in me. Maybe he was biding his time until I dropped my guard.

He wouldn’t live long enough for that to happen.

I snatched the knife and threw myself across the table, prepared to stab him right through his expensive suit and into his beating heart underneath. My knee scraped against one of the plates and the table almost tipped over with my unexpected weight. I flew into his arms and pulled my hand back before it came down for the death blow.

With lightning speed, he grabbed me by the neck and threw me hard onto the surface of the table, my back colliding with the Italian wood and immediately screaming in pain. The knife was yanked from my hand and thrown across the room.

Fuck, he was quick.

He yanked my dress up and ripped it in the back. The tear sounded loud on my ears as more of my legs were exposed. My thighs and my underwear were on display for anyone to see.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I tried to punch him, but he twisted my wrist and pinned it over my head. He got his slacks undone and they fell to his feet. He stood in his black boxers with his jacket and tie still on.

When I realized what was happening, I panicked. “No! Stop!” I tried to twist out of his hold but he was unnaturally strong.

He yanked my hips over the edge and pressed the definition of his rock-hard cock directly against my clit through my panties. He was thick and long, impressive in size and girth. He purposely grinded against me, his cock stimulating my clit unwillingly. One hand was still on my neck, and he squeezed my throat until he nearly choked me.

A maniacal gleam was in his eyes as he stared at me possessively. His brown eyes nearly looked black as he conquered me with just a look. His cock throbbed against me, eager to be inside me and fuck me right then and there. He leaned farther over me until our lips were almost touching. “I. Own. You.”

I finally stopped fighting because I already lost the battle. He bested me with both power and agility. Just when I thought I successfully took him down, he slammed me back into reality. He was an opponent I couldn’t defeat. He was the kind of evil that never disappeared. “Don’t…” All I could do was beg. And right now, I wasn’t above begging.

He inched closer to me until he pressed a kiss to my mouth. It was soft, delicate in comparison to the way he gripped my neck and wrists. Heat burned into my mouth, and I felt my panties soak with my own fluid. My body immediately reacted to him like metal against steel. I hated him. I would kill him if I could. But my body naturally wanted his for inexplicable reasons. He pulled away with the same threat in his eyes. “I won’t.” He kissed the corner of my mouth, his soft lips delectable against mine. “For now.”

He pulled away and left me lying on the table. When he took a step back, he noticed the large spot of liquid that formed in the front of his boxers. The corner of his mouth rose in a smile because he knew it wasn’t from him.

I pulled my dress down and looked away, unable to handle the humiliation. I tried to kill him, and when he pinned me down to rape me, I actually got turned on. It was disgusting and despicable. I just wanted to disappear, to fade away until I no longer existed.

I just wanted to die.

Buttons and Lace 

by Penelope Sky

It hits stores November 15th, 2016. Click here to preorder your copy.
Thanks so much. 
Laters baby