Page 56

“I do. It’s nothing good.” He runs a hand savagely through his hair, tugging at the roots. “Fuck, Estella, I don’t know how I could have thought?—”

“You were thinking that you want me.” I take a step toward him. “As much as I want you?—”

He holds up a hand, warding me off, and I freeze in my tracks.This is what happened the last time,I realize, guilt and shame washing over me. I pushed, and Sebastian was nearly beaten to death. I’m pushing again, and if we’re caught…

“You’re right.” I step back, my shoulders slumping, misery washing over me. “We can’t. But Sebastian, youhaveto go. Leave during my engagement party. Leave me here. Please… I can’t stand knowing you’re dead or being punished some other way. It will make life with Vito easier if I think you’re somewhere, happy?—”

It’s both true and not, all at once. The thought of him living his life away from me, away from this misery,doesmake it easier… until I imagine the other women he might meet, another woman he might fall in love with, making him grateful that he listened to me and left, grateful that he got away before he could be dragged down with me even further.

“Estella—”

Sebastian goes silent suddenly, as we both hear footsteps in the hallway, the light click of men’s loafers instead of the boots of a security guard. There’s only one man wearing shoes like that who would be at my door, and we both know it.

“Shit,” Sebastian mouths. “I didn’t lock it.”

My eyes go wide as the footsteps stop just outside of the door, and I hear a knock, the voice that calls out my name, the one I was most afraid of. “Estella?”

My heart drops, and I see Sebastian’s face go white.

It’s Vito.

18

ESTELLA

“Hide!” I mouth the word to Sebastian, my pulse pounding in my ears as I hear Vito knock again. Sebastian moves toward the bathroom as quietly as he can, as I call out “Come in!” quickly, to try to cover the sound of his retreating footsteps. He makes it into the bathroom the moment before Vito opens the door, the sound of Vito walking in covering theclickof the bathroom door closing.

Vito pauses, frowning as he looks at me. “Are you alright,bella?”

I swallow hard, forcing a smile. “Of course. I’m just getting ready for bed. Why?”

His eyes narrow, and he walks toward me, kicking the door shut behind him. My gaze snaps to it, and I shake my head, backing up.

“You shouldn’t be in here.”

“You’re flushed and breathless,bella.” His voice lowers, his gaze sweeping over me. “I can see your pulse in your throat. You’re too agitated to be getting ready for bed. Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m startled that you’re in my room,” I snap defensively. “You know you shouldn’t be in here?—”

“Your father and I came to terms on the betrothal contract tonight. You are mine, Estella, in every way except the most official one. And I want something from you, to show me your commitment to this union.”

Fear races through me, turning my blood to ice. My heart is pounding for an entirely different reason now, and I look up at Vito. I don’t have to fake the pleading in my eyes. “He’ll be furious if I’m not a virgin on my wedding day?—”

Vito barks out a laugh. “Don’t be so crude,bella. Do you think I would deprive myself of enjoying my virgin wife on our wedding night? Besides—” He steps forward, his hand sliding into my hair as his fingers twist around the strands. “You shouldn’t even know about such things. I’m disappointed, actually, that my pure and innocent wife would eventhinkabout the marital bed so soon.”

I bite my lip, confusion washing over me. I see the bathroom door creak open, ever so slightly, and my heart pounds in my chest so hard that it hurts. I don’t know what Sebastian is going to do, but if he attacks Vito now?—

“What do you want, then?” I whisper, and Vito smiles, reaching up with his other hand to brush his thumb across my lip.

“There are other ways to please your husband,bella. I thought we could have a lesson here, tonight. In fact, I thought we could have lessons often, over this summer, until our wedding. You can show me how much you wish to please me, my dutiful wife, and I will teach you exactly how I like to be pleasured, in all ways except for the one that we’ll save for the appropriate time.”

I blink at him, trying to feign innocence. “Other… ways? I don’t know what you mean?—”

Vito smiles, clearly pleased with that idea. “With your hand,bella. And your mouth. There are so many intricacies that I can show you. We can spend hours on those lessons alone, and you’ll still be a virgin on our wedding night.”

“I—” I see the bathroom door creak open a little more, and I flail for some way to stave him off. “I do want to please you, Vito, but my father?—”

“--wouldn’t be happy to know that I can smell another man on you.”