Page 13 of Wicked (Wicked Billionaires #2)

DANTE

As the sun rises, I’m more than disturbed about preparing to sell the castle. I’m disgusted about it. It cannot leave the family. I just need time to find a way to keep it. Wishing I knew earlier, I consider my options, and fast.

It’s now clear my aunt, uncle, grandmother, and parents could all do with the funds from a sale, and times change.

I get that, and a path will clear. I will find a way. I’m just pissed I gave my word to my grandfather that I would not directly use my wealth to buy it or get involved financially.

I built my fashion empire from nothing into a fifteen billion dollar colossal in only a decade. I have another five billion in real estate and investments in opposition fashion brands no one knows about.

It has been exhausting, but a way will soon form to retain the castle.

As I consider that in the villa’s dining room, the virgin enters. The woman is not only distracting me from my CEO duties, but she is also about to distract me from the vital family situation, and she may even crash my celibacy party.

I cannot afford to be distracted by a virgin, or anyone, however sweet they may taste.

As I remember her naked in the bath last night, my gut tightens, and I start to get hard. Her flawless untouched body was stunning.

She smiles as I sip my coffee and fight for calm. I cannot help myself and I provoke her. “Did the fair maiden sleep well or toss about?”

“Fine, thank you, sir,” she says, minding her own business. After a near full minute, she adds, “Did you sleep well or… toss?”

I choke on my coffee and spill some on my crotch. The tease raises a brow and winks.

As I’m about to show her I will not tolerate provocation, Maria walks in with a cooked breakfast. “Buongiorno, dears. Now, I leave you to it. I’m-a glad you’re both staying.”

“Grazie, Maria,” I say as the hot mess stands and hugs her. It is sweet, even if the insolent virgin needs to be spanked hard.

“Writing here all day?” Maria asks, dusting her hands.

“Si, and excited.”

“Wonderful. I cook you lunch when I cook my own.”

The virgin smiles again. “Grazie mille.”

“Prego,” Maria says. “Your Italian coming along. Use the old bike out back if you like. And maybe ride to castle and see Dante.”

Maria shoots me a look, but I’ve frozen mid-coffee sip. A virgin at the castle? No way! She is the last distraction I need.

I force a smile as Maria leaves with a grin at us both. We both sit again, and I try to see her butt in her cut-off shorts. She catches me, and I lecture myself internally.

“All right there, caretaker?”

“Si vergine!” I say. “I’m just pondering cleaning out the stables and bedrooms.”

The virgin smiles, unsure if I’m serious. As she sips coffee, I eat and think of my day ahead.

Between three conference calls to New York, LA, and our fashion team in London, I have to work out how to keep the castle. All while doing it without buying it out right and in an hour.

I consider the castle clean up and my current duties. Until I find a way to keep the castle in the family, I have to respectfully attend to my requested family duties.

The hard work at the castle was clearly done months ago, likely by much of the family and maintenance pros. Notes in the castle notebook detail industrial cleaners have come through in van loads.

Until I have my plan in place, I will basically do what my grandfather likely did while living in the castle.

Maintain it, stock-take, fix locks, change the odd door and window, and clean rooms out that are full of family assets. Nothing major, but still honest work.

As the virgin and I eat in silence, our eyes meet at times.

It’s hard not taking her in, and something is drawing me to her. I cannot understand if it’s her sinful lips, her curves, her body. Or her moxie and sass.

Or the idea of breaking her over my knee. Sliding inside her and forcing her to come for me.

I force myself to leave and wipe my filthy mouth. Standing, I bow my head slightly. “I must push on.”

The virgin bows her head slightly and without emotion. “Good tidings, sir. And I bid you an industrious day.”

As I leave, I force myself to not engage in banter. It’s hard, like my cock that is hungry for her body.

Between my CEO duties, I work hard at the castle all morning. I complete a stock take of mobile assets, and I place some of the last paintings around to get fresh air and warmth. I’ve also found many paintings in a turret, along with old suits of armor and valuable antiques.

After, I move essential family items from a top floor wing, and I place some in the large mobile safe on the second floor. I then take a last look around the attic.

My actions feel wrong on every level, and my mind churns constantly on how to intercept the sale.

Between vivid ways I could mark the virgin, memories of the castle find their way into my mind. My grandfather lived here every summer and spring, and I joined him with a cousin who has since passed whilst on a sailing trip that went badly.

Our grandfather taught us to fish, ride horses, fight with swords, and drive a tractor as lads. They were good times.

As I walk from the main castle to the newer manager’s villa, stables, and a 1970s barn, I come across old surviving chickens.

Somehow, they have survived on the property, and I think about their existence.

How on earth have they survived? Either way, it is great, and they must have been breeding here for generations, just like my family. I like the idea as I push on, and I think of ways to retain the family asset.

An hour later, the Tuscan sun is high. It’s hot and midday, so I eat my lunch in the sun and catch my breath.

Looking at the old buildings, I sit with my roughly made sandwiches of bread, local cold cuts and two types of cheeses.

As I strip off my shirt, I lay in the sun. I am doing well, not thinking of how I would claim the virgin, when I see a bicycle rider head my way.

“You have to be kidding,” I mumble.

I do not pull on a shirt, and I do not move. I do, however, remember her naked in the bath. As I watch Raven’s legs in her jean shorts get closer, she peers around. She has not seen me yet, and I am laying in the long grass ahead.

I watch her tight butt climb off the bike as I sink my teeth into the soft sandwich.

As I lick crumbs from my lips, I imagine licking her seam and tasting her. I then think of her as she bucks under pressure and comes in my face.

As she is ruined.

The virgin pushes the old bike around the building, and finally she notices me in the sun. As she walks over, she smiles freely.

I’m reminded of another reason why I love Americans. They are usually so relaxed, so chill, and so informal, unlike many in much of Europe.

“Hey.”

I chew, watch her, and finish the mouthful before motioning to the ground. “Sit.”

As the cute stranger sits in the warm grass, I lean against an old statue and wipe my mouth.

“It’s nice,” she says.

“It is,” I say proudly. “I grew up here.” My eyes run over the many windows and rooms of the Tuscan castle. All I can see are adjustments to be made before remembering my primary duty.

Block the sale.

As Raven’s eyes take in the building, she glances over.

“Did your father help look after the castle, too?”

“Kind of,” I say, “but more my grandfather. He lived here at times.”

Her eyes move around in awe.

“You know, I once read some of the old Europeans stuck to one career, for generations. Almost like generations of butlers, grooms, or caretakers, you know, working for the wealthy or landed gentry.”

I grin at her, and she catches me. “What?”

“Nada,” I say, telling myself to contain my energy.

Raven’s fascination with history is charming, and I like smart women, much more than beautiful ones. She is both. I’ve also grown bored of ultra glossy stick figure catwalk types who read less books than they have in years of life.

“It’s good that great old families have folk like you,” Raven says. “Willing to sacrifice your own time and freedom to serve others more fortunate.”

I try not to smile, and the poor virgin really has no idea.

“I am only doing a little,” I say, playing along and enjoying it. I then remember she knows nothing about me. Absolutely fucking nothing.

The idea of toying with her crosses my mind, but I have real duties. In saying that, there is no real harm in showing her the place.

As she stands, she does a slow three-sixty, her hand on her forehead, her eyes sweeping the area. She is now close, and so is her tight, unused butt.

Dear God.

The things I could do if she was on her knees in front of me. Wet, panting, and charged.

I imagine peeling off her panties, yanking her hair, and commanding her to prepare herself for me. Make herself wet… drenched.

“What an interesting bloodline they must have been or are.”

I’m shaken from my vision, and I stand and dust off crumbs. “Perhaps,” I say, avoiding engaging too much.

The virgin faces me, and she looks completely honest and kind. “Maybe you’re just a little jealous. Work hard all your life, and maybe, just maybe you too can get ahead in the world.”

I try not to laugh.

“Or stay here hefting fence posts. There’s no shame in serving others. None at all, Dante.”

Careful, or I will serve you more hard cock than you could ever imagine.

“Come, I’ll show you around,” I say, trying to move us on.

Raven follows as I head for the ground-floor kitchen inside the castle. One of the chickens tags along and Raven peers back and laughs. “Won’t the owners get angry?”

“Not at all. I’m close to them. Even on a first-name basis.”

“Wow, they must like you.”

“Some. Other’s think I am lazy.”

As I pull on my tight black T, I catch her checking out my body. I’m more carved from past adventure trips than workouts. In saying that, when I’m not in boardrooms or traveling on the jet to complete deals, I hit my private gym.