“Come.”
He grabs my elbow and hauls me to the dining room where the table is set and the food is already waiting.
Holy shit, Rosa sure is efficient.
He pulls out a chair and sits down, dragging me down on top of him until I am sitting sideways on his lap.I yelp and try to get up but his arm snakes around my waist to immobilize me.“Shhh, sweetheart.Let’s eat.”
“I’d rather sit on my own chair, thank you very much.”I push back against his chest.But he doesn’t seem to notice nor is he relenting.
He pulls a grape from the fruit basket on the table and holds it to my lips.
I glare at him and turn my head away, refusing the offering.With a calculating look, he pops the grape into his mouth and, without warning, he grabs my head and slams his mouth on mine.Taking advantage of my shock, he parts my lips and pushes the grape into my mouth, mingling the sweet flesh of the fruit with his tongue on mine.Juice is running down my chin and he licks it up with a raspy growl.I gulp down the squashed grape and stare at him in shock.
He reaches out to pluck another grape and offers it to me.I look at it like it will bite me but this time I wrap my lips around it and take it obediently in my mouth, chew and swallow.
“Good girl.”His deep rumble zaps straight to my pussy and I clench my thighs together.
Shit, I am in big trouble.
He proceeds to offer me a forkful of food that I compliantly take.Then he takes a bite himself from the same fork, his eyes never leaving mine.
My face is heating from embarrassment.Never has anyone made me feel so helpless and weak.I hate it.At least my mind hates it, because my body is more than on board.
The rest of the meal goes the same way—he feeds me food from his plate, wine from his glass, and I want to choke his smug expression out of him.As if he senses my indignation, he smirks—smirks!—up at me.I glare at him.
At last, I am full and shake my head at the offered food.His expression flickers briefly with what I can only describe as triumph and he puts the fork down, dropping a kiss on my neck that sends an involuntary shiver through me.I hate how much his touch affects me even when I’m furious.
Out of nowhere, Rosa appears, making me jump.I struggle again, my face crimson, but Damiano merely tightens his grip to prevent me from escaping.
Rosa doesn’t even flinch at our position.She clears the plates with practiced efficiency, as though she’s seen it all before, but my cheeks burn with humiliation.She’s not even fazed by the fact that I’m sitting on this man’s lap, his hand resting possessively on my waist.
Then she returns, carrying a single plate, setting it down in front of us with a neutral expression, then leaving again.My breath catches when I see what’s on it…two chocolate fondants, perfectly plated with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of each, and it’s all placed on one dish.
Two desserts.One plate.
Oh God, I want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
It’s as if they think I’m some child, or worse, some pet.The thought churns in my stomach.The shame rises like bile in my throat, a mix of anger and helplessness.What the hell is wrong with these people?How can they be so casual about treating people like prisoners?
Before my brain can filter my thoughts, the question blurts out of my mouth, “How many hostages have been here before me?”
Damiano stares at me, his eyes darkening with amusement.Then his lips curl into a smile, like he finds this whole situation entertaining.“None,” he replies, his voice almost too calm.“You’re the first.”
I don’t know whether to be relieved or horrified by his answer.“And how about at the mansion?Is that the place you keep all the others?”
“There is only you, little flower.”I feel his deep rumble against my side.“Feeling jealous?”Then the bastard has the audacity to wink at me.
I angrily eye the dessert fork, gauging if I can be fast enough to stab him in the throat with the tiny utensil.Not worth the try.I huff.
I look up, suddenly curious.“Why are you not staying at your family mansion?It seems a bit excessive to have two places to stay in the same city.”
He shrugs.“The estate is my family’s place.My mother still lives there when she comes to visit.I prefer to stay in the condo.”He grabs my jaw to turn my face to his and looks me in the eyes.His gaze is dark, intense, the usual smirk gone.Instead there is a seriousness that sends a shiver down my spine.“Do you want a villa of our own?”he asks, his voice low.“I can buy one and move us there.We’ll need more space anyway when we have kids.”
When we…what now?
My jaw drops to the floor.
“There is no us,” I shriek.“And there won’t be any kids, you sick monster!”
