Page 14 of Wicked (Wicked Billionaires #2)

Three times a year, me and my closest friends, Nico and Lorenzo, ski, trek, dive, climb and travel to remote locations. Extreme fitness keeps my body cut, but it’s more about health than looking good.

Inside, I pull food from the modern area of the kitchen, and I make a rough bread, cheese, and snack board.

I hand Raven a bottle of chilled Tuscan wine and glasses, and I lead the way.

We head up and into the castle’s main stairwell near the front entrance, and we climb two flights of wide stone stairs to reach the top level.

Exiting a door, we walk onto one of the turrets, the one that has the best view. The coastal view from here has always been spectacular, and we sit on a high stone plinth outside.

The view leads south down the Tuscan coast, towards the mighty city of Rome.

As we eat and drink the wine in the sun, we look over the area and talk about Italy. It’s gentle, if odd. It’s the first time I’ve just talked to a woman for months, unless it was work related. I’ve not had time to take my foot off the gas and just live either.

“It’s stunning, Dante,” she says, using my real name and not Grumpy.

“It is,” I agree, watching horses cantering in the sun.

As Raven lets her hair out and fluffs it up, I run my eyes down her body. It gets me thinking. Even if there is no way I could claim and ruin her, she is not hard on the eyes, at all. She is also interesting to talk to, and she is obviously well-read.

I have to attend a family gathering I do not want to. I am, however, keen to see my sister and grandmother.

I will be bored at the event, but maybe, just maybe with Raven and her banter, it would be workable.

“I have to attend a wedding,” I say without fully planning to. Our eyes meet, and I push on. “You should come.” Our eyes hold. “With you around, it may be less… boring.”

Raven stares at me for a long moment before she appears to have decided. “Thanks, but unless it’s a small casual village affair, I have nothing to wear.”

I already considered that, and I lift my wine and walk. “Come! And bring your vino.”

We head for the correct castle wing and level, and Raven walks behind me, wide-eyed. We are both in bare feet, and the energy is calming.

After endless meetings in navy or black suits, boardroom type meetings, lengthy legal battles, and endless jet flights, it’s relaxing.

It is also good to see someone appreciate the family building.

As Raven sips her wine, I find the necessary key on the set. After unlocking the door, we enter, and I show her the huge four-poster bed and large rack of gowns, dresses, and shoes.

The array covers an entire wall, and a team have done an excellent job of ventilation, dry cleaning, and arranging.

The collection of gowns, dresses, shoes, and boots are in perfect condition, and they should likely be in a museum.

Raven’s eyes pop and she runs for the clear plastic covers and gowns within.

“Oh my god!”

I notice a full-sized mirror in the corner, and a chair is next to the racks.

“Dante, I can’t! What if they find out?”

“Have a look and try,” I say, walking up. “Anything you want, trust me. Nothing bad will happen.”

Raven moves along the gowns, entranced. As I walk across the room, I stand under the huge arched windows and take in the warm sun. Suddenly, there is a shriek and a rustle of plastic.

In the distance, Raven carefully lifts a gown from the plastic. She pulls off her shorts, top and bra without hesitation, and I turn away.

As I walk around the room, I check the window frames for damaged wood, and I distract myself.

“Ready,” Raven calls excitedly.

Her back is to me, the gown open, and she stands barefooted. She is wearing a gorgeous cream-and-gold embroidered gown, and I walk towards her.

The dress’s back is down low, and I can just make out the top of a white thong and her cute virgin butt.

“Do me up, will you, Dante?”

I slowly do up her gown, clasp by clasp and inch by inch, my fingers skimming her skin. Electricity sparks, and the small shocks are delightful and erotic.

My face is inches from her neck, and I am tempted to kiss her just behind her ear. Then I would then reach around to play with her nipples.

As she moans, I would lift her hands, forcing the dress to cascade and reveal her butt and legs.

Pushing her against the wall, I would place her hands high on it, and I would slide inside her.

As I stare at the silky untouched skin on her now-braless back, I am tempted to take her. Raven must sense my energy, because as I move slow, I find her big eyes watching me in the mirror.

She smiles sweetly, and my energy retreats fast. I cannot have her; we are from different worlds.

I clear my throat to clear my energy, and I inhale to re-center myself. I then do up the last three clasps and step back.

“Now, don’t look,” Raven says excitedly. I turn away and hear light noises. “Just trying shoes.”

After a few grunts, steps, and a squeal, I hear, “Okay!”

I turn as Raven spins and walks forwards.

Gone forever is the goofy virgin. Raven is now a timeless beauty of both class and sophistication. The spectacular gown pushes her stunning breasts up, and it compliments her perfect curves.

My mouth is open—and it is now dry. What the actual fuck?

Raven looks like a timeless goddess, and I’m thrown far. After being around pop stars, models, actresses, heiresses and bronze-toned babes in bikinis the last decade, I thought I’d seen it all.

“How do I look?” she asks excitedly. She is young, timeless, and free.

I try to work out why she is here, and why now. Why she is throwing me, of all people. I guess I’ve not come across such a pure, educated, light and uncomplicated young woman with such a free spirit. And a pussy that would be so sweet, tight, and edible.

“Nice. You look nice,” I say, husky and starting to get hard.

“Nice?” Raven asks.

“Fantastic. You look fantastic,” I say, happy for her. “Seriously.”

Raven squeals and hugs me. We hold on for a few strange seconds, and it’s hard to let go. Suddenly, she leaps back and excitedly spins.

Her fresh, unrestrained energy is a sight for my weary eyes, but there is something else about her.

She is uncontaminated and fresh . Her spirit is pure like… like her soul has not been broken or hardened with time and a mix of average to bad experiences …

Most of the women I’ve taken and marked have been sophisticated. They have been through the dating machine, for lack of a better term.

They’ve dated many guys in their lives, and they have adjusted their behavior and somewhat hardened up.

Raven is pure and unbruised. She is uncomplicated and real. Even if that is what makes her more unique, and more alluring than any woman I’ve bedded, it is the same reason I cannot mark her or call her mine.

I will just ruin her and hurt her.

The delicate young woman deserves better! As I look at the princess-like woman in front of me, my heart breaks. One day, she will find another, a better man than I.