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But there’s nothing here.
Moving on to the next one, I’m taken aback.
Scrubs? Hospital scrubs? My brows furrow. Is he into some weird roleplaying? But then I remember him mentioning having appointments at the hospital to Maxwell.
“I’m a doctor, piccolina, and I see you are a snoop.”
I jump, placing my hand over my erratic heartbeat.
“I wasn’t snooping. I was looking for… um…” I pause, trying to think of something, anything. “Clothes. I was hoping I could find something to wear that is better fitting. Surely, you’ve had a fair share of women in and out of here. They must have left something behind,” I say matter-of-factly. Crossing my arms to really make my story believable, I wait for his response. When I get it, I want to slap his smug face.
“Silly woman. You’re the only woman who has ever been here, and you will be the last one. Don’t be jealous now. Come on. Your new clothes are downstairs.” With that, he leaves. Just walks out. And I’m left speechless.
It takes me a minute, but I finally propel myself into movement and stomp downstairs. I listen for noise and find voices coming from the left of the hall. I follow them, recognizing both voices. Maxwell and DeLuca.
At the bottom of the stairs, I go left and enter the great room. It’s just off the dining room, and it reminds me of something from medieval times, yet it still has a dash of modern to it, still all white and gray with touches of gold and black. DeLuca sits on the sofa, his arms placed lazily along the back of the leather, one ankle propped on his opposite knee. He’s wearing dark denim jeans and a fitted white tee. His thick dark hair looks effortlessly styled, and it just further annoys me. Why did he have to be so handsome? Couldn’t I have been taken by someone who resembles… I don’t know… Shrek?
My annoyance annoys me. Why is he irking me so badly today?
Because he got you all hot and bothered, then turned you down when you gave in and asked him to make you come.
Ah, yes.
“Arabella, Maxwell went shopping with a personal stylist for you. I want you to go through the clothes and try them on for me. You can pick the ones you like, and we can order more if you see fit.”
I scoff. “You want me to put on a show for you? I’m not a dog or pony, DeLuca.”
He leans forward, placing both feet on the ground, his elbows resting on his knees. “Principessa, I want you to try on the clothes without giving me attitude. Maxwell, I’ll call you back when I need you. You can leave us.”
I look to Maxwell, and he gives DeLuca a curt nod, then gives me the same but with a soft smile. That gives me an idea. Get close with him, and he might help me escape.
When he clears the room, I turn, and with a bit of aggression, I sift through the clothes. I won’t lie—they’re beautiful. High end and almost all of them are in my size. Grabbing some of the shirts and jeans, I turn to him. “Is there a bathroom down here?”
He sits back when I ask this, giving me a sinister laugh. “Yes, but none you may use. Too many ways for you to get creative. I have… Arabella-proofed every room.”
Is he leading to what I think he is?
“You want me to change in front of you? I’m not doing this, DeLuca.”
“You’re mine, and that means your body is too. Now change.”
I hate that this is happening, hate the burn I feel coming on, and I wish I could suppress it, but I can’t. Acting tough isn’t as easy as I wanted it to be. Tears well, then slowly fall. I try to wipe them away and pull my shoulders back, but he stops me.
“Piccolina?”
“I’m a human being, DeLuca, and you know nothing about me. You saw a vulnerable woman alone, and you took your chance. But my life has been ruled by men like you. They control me, tell me what to wear and say and where to go. You say you want me to want you and to fall for you. But you’re just treating me like all the men I knew before you.” I drop the clothes and run back toward the bedroom.
I hate that he saw me weak, but my emotions are shot. I can’t handle much more. He calls after me, but I don’t stop. Instead, I keep going, finding his room and slamming the door before crawling back into the bed. I curl into a ball and just let the past fifteen hours consume me. I sob. In a way I never have before.
The door opens slowly, and I feel him behind me, towering over the bed, but I don’t pay him any mind. I just want to be left alone, because this will be my new life, and I was stupid to think I would ever be able to escape this man.
