“A word, Ms. Russo?” His eyes were ablaze, his jaw stiff.
“I am actually entertaining a guest, Mr. Calthorpe.”
I’m sure he can wait.”
“Uhm...yeah, sure,” I managed, not wanting to cause a scene.
Leo narrowed his eyes. “You okay, Gaia?”
“Yes, this is Arthur, a friend of my mother.” I forced a smile. He nodded and disappeared in the crowd. Arthur’s hold on my arm loosened, and he placed a hand on the small of my back, leading me down the staircase. I could practically feel him seething next to me. He hadn’t said a word, simply led me through the well-manicured gardens into our greenhouse. He stepped inside, and I followed, closing the door behind me.
“Is that what you want, Gaia? Someone like that?” He placed his hands on either side of me, caging me against the door.
“Arthur, what are you talking about?”
“That bastard you were laughing with. Romano.”
“I was showing him around the property.” I hissed. “My mother asked me to, and she seemed pretty cozy with you.”
“I bet you were, and your mother means shit to me.” His temper was out of control, his jaw ticking. I’d never seen him like this.
“Are you jealous, Calthorpe?” I purred instead of placating him. He turned, flinging a few potted plants on the floor, growling like an animal. I didn’t flinch. He stopped suddenly, turning to face me. He ran his hands through his hair.
“You’re driving me crazy, Gaia! I’m losing my mind.” His voice was strained.
“You said you had no use for me.” I reminded him, taking a step closer. He watched me, a lion watching his prey.
I reached behind me and unzipped my gown.
“What are you doing?” I’d never heard him sound so afraid. I liked it, it urged me on. I let the gown fall to the ground and stood before him in my black lace bra and G-string.
I stepped out of it and made my way closer, until I was touching him.
“Show me your darkness, Arthur.”
He lifted me by the waist, and I wrapped my legs around him. He walked me to the nearest wall.
“Hold on,” he demanded, and I held onto his neck, my legs around him. I heard his zipper then felt his erection pressing against me.
“I need to make this quick.” He hissed in my ear, nipping it.
He ripped my G-string off then slipped it into his jacket pocket. That was so hot. “Now, when you walk back in there, your bare pussy is going to remind you who you belong to, little bird.”
And with that he thrust into me hard, sending me into oblivion. His kisses silenced my moans. He gripped my ass hard and pounded me against the wall mercilessly. He pulled out and pushed into me again, with such force I shuddered.
“You like it hard, don't you, Gaia? You want to piss me off, so I can fuck it all better?”
This wasn’t love making, it was hunger and anger, and desperation. And I took it, pushing my hips forward, meeting his movements until I could hold it no longer. The orgasm tore through me, and I had to bite down on his shoulder to mute my cries. With one last thrust, he came inside me, his head resting against mine.
“I fucking love you, Gaia.” He hissed, kissing my face and neck. “I love you so much I want to kill them all.”
My heart thudded in my chest. He loved me. I held his face in my hands and looked into his sad eyes that were finally bare to me. “I love you too.”
“What have I done? What am I doing?” His head rested on mine. “You could do so much better. I cannot give you the life you deserve. I’m a monster, Gaia. I’ll destroy you.”
He held me close to him, his words honest and heartbreaking.
“Then I want to be destroyed. Ruin me, Arthur.” Tears filled my eyes.
“I’m not a good man, Gaia. I’ve hurt people. I’ve hurt you.”
“You’ve never hurt me.” I held his gaze. “Never. And I’ve done things, too, bad things. There is so much you don’t know about me.”
“We need to go.” He commanded, setting me on my feet before picking my dress up and sliding it over my head. He zipped it up and kissed my shoulders. I could still feel him inside me, feel him between my thighs. My hair was a mess, so I took the pins out and let it hang loose.
“Go on, I’ll join the party in five minutes. No one will hurt you, Gaia. Just know that.” He kissed me, and when I looked up into his eyes, I knew he meant every single word.
