I dropped the gun and shot past him, heading straight out the door, forgetting which side was out. As soon as I spotted the first door, I hurried toward it. Once outside, I paused to look over the waist-high railing, realizing it was a large balcony overlooking the pool two stories below me.
“Shit,” I cursed, remembering my mid-thigh, silk nightie-clad body.
The only way out was jumping over the balcony. I turned. Vincenzo stood between me and the only door back into the house. Moonlight shadows hid his expression from me. Two pillars holding up the balcony above us were the only hindrance between me and him that I could probably duck around.
Then he moved into the light and my gaze dropped. My heartbeat went into overdrive. “What are you doing?” Slowly, his brow lifted as he walked toward me, his hands unbuckling his belt. “Stay away from me.” Even as the words left my mouth, my eyes darted in all directions looking for an escape.
He stopped halfway between me and the door. The belt folded in half, the buckle end slapping his palm. Pulling in a deep breath in readiness to run, I shot past him. When would I ever learn that Vincenzo was an extremely agile man? He caught me by the arm, yanking me backward. My back hit his chest, he locked my arms just below my breasts with his hands over them. I tried to headbutt him but only managed to hurt my shoulder in the process and winced.
“Let me go, Salvatore,” I grunted with the exertion of fighting him off. “You’re hurting me.”
“You didn’t seem to bother when I warned you. Pain or pleasure, remember?” He brought his lips to my ear and traced his tongue along the curve. I shivered. “You can’t run from me.” His words fortified with an unspoken threat. “You have two choices. Take your punishment or I force it on you.”
“I’m not a child. My chest rose and fell in quick succession, my breath labored.
“No. You’re not. You just have a beautiful ass that I want to see blush with strikes from my belt.” His deep, husky voice messed with my senses, the scent of his cologne curling its way around my nostrils.
Dropping the belt, He pushed a leg between mine and spread me wide. One of his hands slipped down and bunched my nightie up to the hand that held mine in place. Then in a quick tug, he snapped my panty, stuffing it in his pants pocket. A second one for tonight.
“Say, I’m sorry,bella.” I shook my head. Without warning, he smacked my pussy and I jumped against him, the sensation rousing a tingle through me. “Remember what I said the last time I belted you? The next time, my belting will follow with my cock filling this sweet cunt.”
His hand struck my pussy twice in quick succession and I couldn’t stop the groan. Pleasure starting to seep through the pain, desire igniting in my belly. Another smack and my hips bucked hard, and I felt the immediate rush of wetness slick thighs. My nipples tightened and I closed my eyes, biting my tongue, anticipating the next blow. Instead, he slipped a finger through my slit and brought it up.
“Would you look at that? The mouth fights me, but your fucking cunt is weeping me for me.”
Annoyed, I ground out, “I am your wife. I deserve respect from my husband.”
“Respect is earned and you’re not in a position to request anything unless you bend over. It’s the only position I’ll consider right now.”
Before I could anticipate his move, he nudged me toward the carved railing. Forcing my hands around the stone structure, he bent me over and I panicked when he tied my wrists together with my torn panty.
“Please, Salvatore, don’t do this,” I cringed at the break in my voice, the pleading even more so.
In reply, he pulled the material tighter until I was flush against the railing. The tear of silk had me craning my neck to look over my shoulder as my nightie, ripped down the center, fell on either side of my body. I dropped my head in the crook of my two arms and stared at the floor, trying hard not to let the flutter of anticipation control my body’s reaction. I was determined to show him I wouldn’t bow to him, not again.
33
