I had bid twenty-five thousand, hoping to end the ridiculous back-and-forth. That amount was already a stretch! A fucking inconvenience I had calculated down to the last cent.
I couldn't go higher than a hundred thousand, and even that would've required selling off everything Elise owned in this world.
But this man…this monster had just bid ten times that.
And the worst part?
He leaned forward from the seat behind me, his breath grazing the back of my neck.
"I've set aside ten million for this auction, love." he whispered. "And that includes any other land you want. So if you're planning to beat me, save us both the stress and bid eleven." He ended his speech with a soft laugh that aroused me.
It is confirmed. I was dealing with the devil himself.
I wanted to scream. To claw at him. To show him how angry and crazy I could be too. But even I knew he was a different specie of crazy. The psychotic kind that didn't blink when blood was spilled. I seemed to have forgotten I was dealing with a member of the mafia.
Only by staying alive can I live to fight another day.
I clenched my fists and conceded defeat.
The auctioneer slammed the gavel. "Sold to seat 13!"
Small murmurs rippled through the room, but I didn't hear it. My ears rang with fury. My vision blurred with rage.
Sold??!
My plan shattered in that single word. That land was my ticket. My escape. My empire. I had built my entire plan around it: Crushing the Smiths, mending Elise's legacy, enjoying paramount success!
And now? Thus bloody man had scattered it all like ash.
I hated him. But I hated myself more… for how my body reacted to him. For how my skin tingled when he was near. For how my breath caught when he spoke.
I needed to get out.
I felt heat rush to my eyes, but I swallowed it down. Sofia Powell doesn't break down, especially in front of enemies.
Standing up abruptly, I ignored the stares, and stormed out of the auction room.
I still refused look at the demon's face. I couldn't. I was still a witness to his murder.
If I saw his face, I'd be marked. And if he knew I had seen him, he'd have to kill me.
I knew the rules.
I walked fast through the corridor, as my heart pounded against my ribs.
Then I saw an empty elevator that someone had just stepped out from. I ran in, slammed the ground floor button, and jabbed it repeatedly, pissed at how slow these 2015 elevators were.
The doors began to close, and I felt relief.
But it lasted only a second. Large, veiny hands stopped the doors, and I didn't need to look up. I knew who those hands belonged to.
He stepped in, and I knew I was trapped. Even in daylight, Alessio carried shadows with him.
I looked up, and my breath caught.
He was beautiful. He was fucking beautiful.
Thick, healthy hair. Full brows. Dark olive skin that glowed under the elevator lights. His sky-blue shirt hugged his abs like it was sewed onto him. The sleeves were folded just enough to show off his muscular and veined forearms.
But it was his brownish hazel eyes that paralyzed me.
They pierced into mine with such intensity, I thought I'd collapse. He smirked, wickedly and slow, as his gaze ravished me like I was already undressed.
I had seen god-level fine ass men. But I hadn't seen Alessio.
He was something else.
I wanted to run. But my feet wouldn't move.
My mind screamed at me to escape. But my body was weak.
And he knew it. Goddammit, the bastard knew.
He stepped in fully and pressed the door shut.
"Hey, trackstar." he said, voice deep and teasing.
That snapped me out of it. I tried to scream, but his large palm immediately clamped my mouth shut. He was strong as fuck. "Relax, Amore. I'm not going to hurt you."
I didn't believe him. I discreetly reached into my bag, fingers brushing the handle of my pocket knife.
He shook his head, amused, and made a 'tsk tsk' sound. "My favorite foreplay is being stabbed. So unless you're ready to get freaky, I'd leave that alone."
I froze.
He reached out, slowly, deliberately. My breath caught as his fingers brushed my sunglasses, lifting them away from my face. I couldn't stop him.
He stared.
And stared.
And stared.
Like I was the first sunrise he'd ever seen. Like I was the breath he breathed. He took his time studying me, as if committing every inch of my face to memory.
Then he smiled, slow and reverent. "You're the most beautiful being I've ever laid eyes on."
I blinked, stunned and confused. Do killers usually compliment their victims before ending their lives?
He looked like he was bewitched.
Good. I could use his distraction.
Holding his eyes, I slowly adjusted, ready to kick him in the groin with all the strength my body can muster.
But he caught my leg mid-air. Then flipped it up, so high, it was almost over his shoulder.
I didn't even know my legs could be raised that high!
In my shock, I didn't register the tear sound that came from under me. I did register a cool breeze on my skin. My skirt had split at the back, right where the slit had been.
I gasped so loud, Alessio laughed, as he pressed deeper into me, sandwiching me between him and the wall.
He was amused. Angry. Horny. And I was wearing a thin thong underneath my now torn skirt, practically naked!
Before I could react, he grabbed both my wrists, moving us, and slammed them against the elevator panel. My back hit the buttons. His body pressed fully against mine, leg still raised.
Then he hit a hidden panel near the buttons, and the elevator jolted, coming to a stop. The lights flickered out, and we were plunged into darkness.
I wanted to scream, but as usual, he was quicker, covering my mouth, while his other hand still held my wrists.
He leaned in, whispering against my ear. "Don't test me, Celeste. I enjoy pain way more than pleasure."
My body came to a still. I could hear my heart beating louder than an african drum.
He gently bit my earlobe, and I felt my pussy getting wetter by the second. His dick print pressed against me, and I could feel its anger. It pulsed to the sound of my erratic heartbeat.
I wanted to rub against him.
Have I mentioned how much I hate my body?
"Please…I'm sorry…" I stammered, flexing my bound wrists. He wouldn't let go.
Instead, he chuckled. "You wanted to hit it. But I think it's better to first feel it, so you can know just how much force you'd need to exert to damage it. Don't you agree?"
I was scared, but so turned on. "I think my hands will do a better job." I felt bold.
He laughed so loud, it thundered in the darkness. "You're right, love. Let me quickly get these pants off." He moved to unzip his fly.
"No! No! Please! I was joking." My begged with wide eyes.
He pressed deeper, as he rested his forehead against mine, and for the first time, I was happy the lights were off. I wouldn't be able to look at his face without begging him to kiss me.
"Ouch. You were getting me so excited, baby."
He released me, and I stumbled, grabbing the nearest banister to stay upright.
I grabbed what little dignity was left of my skirt. "What did you do to stop the elevator?"
"Just a little trick I learned when I was seventeen." he said.
I cursed him silently.
He jammed the panel a different way, making light return, but movement was still restricted.
He leaned back, relaxed. Then loosened his shirt cuffs, casually, as if nothing had happened.
"I'll give you the land certificate." he said, eyes never leaving mine.
My heart skipped a beat. Did I hear him correctly?
I narrowed my eyes. "What's the price?"
He licked his bottom lip. "Why do you assume there's a price?"
"Cut the crap" I snapped. "You're sick. I know how people like you operate."
"People like me…?" He stepped forward, and stroked my cheek.
"You're right, amore." he whispered. "The price is dinner. Two hours. That's all."
"Why dinner?"
"Because…" he said, tucking a hair strand behind my ear. "I want to know more about the woman who made me blow a quarter of a million."
I hesitated. Could I trust him?
He leaned in. "You have my word."
I nodded quickly. "Fine. Just release the elevator."
He chuckled. "You're just saying that to run again."
Dammit.
He crouched, pulled a pen from his pocket, and wrote something above my knee.
"My personal number." he clarified, then kissed my knee, making me shiver.
"Make the right decision, love. If you don't… I'll hand the land back to the government. Who knows what they might find…"
My heart skipped. Does he know?? How does he know??!
He smirked, and removed his shirt, handing it to me.
I wanted to refuse. But I looked down, seeing the deplorable condition my skirt was in. I swallowed in shame. I couldn't walk out in this.
I yanked the shirt, fuming. Then looked back up at him, and regretted it. He had a thin inner singlet on. He looked like born sinner, and if I stayed any second longer, I would become a sinner like him.
He rubbed a finger on the fly of his trousers—where my wetness had stained him.
Then looking at me dead in the eye, he brought it to his mouth and licked it.
Slowly and succulently. Cherishing it. Like a hungry man
The doors split open, and I ran out.