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When he sat down on the concrete bench with a brutal thud, I was finally given another opportunity to struggle in an effort to escape his clutches. He threw me over his lap, even curling his leg over mine.

“I don’t think you understand, Carmella. A contract was signed, an alliance cemented. You and I will become man and wife, a family. The sooner you accept the inevitable, the easier it will be on both of us.”

“I already told you. That is not happening.”

“Then I guess I’ll need to help you realize that you have no say in the matter. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but I pledged an oath to both Don Santorelli and Don Lupini.”

“You mean you sold your soul.” I struggled again, almost managing to slip away.

I sensed his entire body tensing and wasn’t prepared for him to bring down his palm against my ass.

“What the hell are you doing?” I did what I could to push up from him, more shocked than from anything he’d said or done up to this point.

“Ensuring you at least realize there will be rules to follow in our relationship.”

“Are you kidding me?” Did he think we were living in another century? I was so stunned that I couldn’t move for a few seconds as he smashed his hand down several times. The pain was strangely only uncomfortable at first, but was slowly building to true anguish.

He didn’t stop, going full throttle as he moved from one side to the other.

I found my resolve once again, doing everything in my power to get away.

He wasn’t budging an inch, using his power and strength to lift my dress and cover my bottom with enough swats the shock was wearing me down. While a few tears had formed in my eyes, ignoring them was easy because my body was reacting wildly to the act of discipline.

I was breathless, my pussy throbbing.

The entire moment was unnerving as hell, embarrassing to the point heat was building across my jaw as it was in my pussy.

This was a nightmare. I was wet, hot all over. What did the bastard think he was doing to me?

Even worse? Why was I excited, not only by his actions, but also by the unknown man with the face of a Greek god?

CHAPTER7

Alejandro

The woman could drive me crazy.

So much so that I had no understanding of what I was doing. I’d reacted or perhaps I’d overreacted to her constant push and pull. I’d been furious with her father when he’d dared treat her as an object, but I was doing the exact same thing.

Even though my cock was hard as a goddamn rock. I’d never disciplined a woman before, but my instinct had fallen to the action without a second guess.

As Carmella continued struggling in my arms, I felt a sense of possessiveness that surprised me as much as Don Santorelli’s request I marry her had. Between her rapidly reddening ass and the growing scent of her desire, I was intoxicated.

When a man cleared his throat, I threw my head in that direction, instantly reaching for my weapon. That allowed her the opportunity to push herself off my lap. She stumbled to her feet, cursing under her breath as she did.

“Sorry to interrupt you, boss, but everyone is looking for you. And for Ms. Lupini.” Gio stood at the entrance to the garden, obviously uncomfortable since he’d turned his body to the side. What? To offer some privacy?

What a dumbass I’d been to punish her in the open. Any discipline needed was a private matter. Fuck me. I was already thinking like a husband of a mafia princess. Sighing, I didn’t acknowledge him right away, tilting my head to study the way Carmella was fuming. She was also ashamed we’d been seen, holding her hand in front of her face.

“Yes, Gio. I imagine they are. We’ll be right there,” I told him.

He didn’t act as if he was eager to walk away. I noticed a slight smirk on his face and was angry enough I almost wiped it off with my fist.

“Do you need me to wait?” he asked.

My first reaction was to laugh, but I held back. “No. I do not. As I said. We’ll be right there.” I didn’t need to explain myself or my actions to anyone any longer. That was something I’d reminded myself of the night before as I’d paced my bedroom, unable to rid my mind of thoughts regarding my previous life.

The mental image of my daughter on her birthday would never leave my mind.