Page 24 of Wicked (Wicked Billionaires #2)

DANTE

I stand with hands on my hips, and I’m still distracted. The feeling of fresh water on me, however, makes me feel alive and savage. I try to contain my ruthless business side. From experience, it’s not good for anyone to be around. I turn into a robot, and it’s likely unhealthy.

“Shoot,” I say, “What do you need?”

I have no idea if Raven wants to ride the horse on the property, take photos of it, borrow a sword, or get some eggs. For whatever reason, the virgin seems nervous, even fucking anxious.

“Look, I have a proposal,” she says. “I want to… ummm.”

I start to lose patience as I slick my black hair back and towel off my stomach. “It can’t be that hard, Raven. And the answer is likely yes.”

She looks at me with her big blue eyes , and it’s as if she is trying to deal with something complex. Weirdly, her usual sassy energy is gone.

Raven appears fidgety, and I do not have time to screw around. I need to work out how to keep the castle and I need to keep working. As I look in her eyes, I decide to lay it down. “Say it or leave, Raven. Please, I have work to do.”

“I…” she starts.

“Now, or you?—”

“Okay! I need you to fuck me!”

There is silence. What the heck am I supposed to say?

“I need my virginity removed!”

What the actual hell?

For the last two days, I’ve done all I can to not shove her against a wall, to command her to pull her panties off and spread herself wide for me. I’ve worked hard, and I’m not about to lose it now. I cannot afford to get distracted, either. For the castle or for my fashion empire.

I go to command her to get off the property, but as I step up to her, I see her nervous eyes.

There is also a tear, but she wipes it away fast with the back of her hand. She really meant it. The poor girl meant it.

Sure, there was last night, but this…

“No way,” I growl, low and angrily. I shake my head and start to mutter, “And you should do it with someone you’re in love with or at least a guy your own age, Raven. I would ruin you.”

Raven shakes her head, and she steps closer as I pull on a fresh shirt. “You know there’s a high chance it’ll be awkward. And a higher chance I’ll hate it.”

“I don’t care. That’s how it goes.”

"I’ve had twelve Tinder dates in three months. All horrible!” she says, back in her more confident self. “Waiting to find love or waiting for the perfect guy will double the time to find someone. It could be years! I’ll be over twenty-five and no good to anyone!”

We stare each other out, and it’s not right. No darned way. “Please, Dante? As a friend?”

I adjust the stretched black T over my frame, and I cross my arms and look down at her. Her perfect blue eyes are pleading and big. They are also wet.

“Look, just start me off in the right direction, please!”

I growl like a cornered wolf, and I am anything but happy.

“If you don’t, I’ll be forced to go to a Tuscan bar in some town, or maybe a club in Rome. I’ll likely end up screwing some thug or just get it from some drunk. Maybe I’ll avoid vomit on my shoes, but I’ll hate every minute of it! It’ll be crude, awkward and rough.”

She is likely right, and the poor kid starts to cry.

“I’ve got nothing to lose,” she says, wiping snot from her face. “And it’s going to happen!”

I don’t know what to say, and I’ve slept with far too many women. Maybe fifty. Actually, it’s around a hundred.

The sweet kid deserves far better, anyone but me.

Stunned, I hand her my white towel. Raven wipes away her tears and then wipes her shiny nose. Astounded, I rub the back of my neck.

“Is it because there's something wrong with me, is that it?” she asks. “Is it because I’m awkward or ugly?”

She really means it. She really has no idea.

The curvy nerd has clearly had her head in books for years, and she is way off the mark. As I force myself to look away, I shake my head. “Don’t say that. You’re not ugly!”

As I walk away, Raven starts on me again.

“Maybe I’m just broken,” she pleads, now sobbing. I rub my temples, walk, and cuss. “Am I disgusting? Please, you’ve got to tell me, you owe me that fucking much!”

I stop, turn, and walk back, fast.

I stop a foot away, and enough is enough. “Listen to me! You’re pure and full of life. You’ll meet someone special one day. You’re actually a cool person, okay?”

As she starts crying, I stare at her, amazed and sickened. I really need to tell her, and I lift her chin gently. “Raven, listen to me.” Her wet eyes have trouble locking on mine and it’s hard to do. I feel like a brute, but it has to be done.

“Raven. I’m not good for you! I’ve… taken a lot of women. I also don’t make love! I don’t know how to. I don’t even have sex… I fuck.”

“Don’t… don’t you find me attractive?”

I sigh as tears stream from her large blue eyes. I look away and shake my head. As I go to walk away, she grabs me. “Please, Dante. Look at me. What’s wrong with me? What’s fucking wrong with me?”

My heart breaks for the poor girl, and I stop and shake my head. I then look back at her, knowing it’s getting dangerous.

Those perfect blue eyes. And her perfect energy. That sweet young body, and the taste of her.

An image of her coming shoots through me like a drug.

If I walk away now, she will get hurt some. If I stay, claim her and mark her, she will get hurt later. And her heart will be broken because I’ll break it… Somehow.

I’m not a good person and I’ve never known how to love. I’m also broken and only… I know it.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” I say, low and slow.

“Then please, please help me! Make it stop!”

There is silence, and I start to walk again. I can’t move fast enough, and more words come.

“What if it’s dress-up, so you can imagine me as a real woman and not… not some stupid girl?”

I pause as she sobs loudly. I take another step, and she yells, “Please!”

“Look,” I say with my back to her, getting angry, “You’re already a real woman, and there’s nothing you lack.”

“Then why?” she asks, still crying. “Why? Please… why?”

I walk back towards her, and I stare down at her crying and shaking. I feel like shit, and I lift her chin roughly this time. She has to hear it even if it sounds brutal.

“I cannot take you, because I will ruin you!”

Her eyes look at me, and she double blinks. “Trust me. I… I can handle it.”

I laugh loudly, and I roar into the sky at the madness. She really has no idea what I’ve done in the past.

As the girl leans against me exhausted, soft, and weak, I can’t but help feel sorry for her. As she buries her head in my chest. I pat her back and calm her. It’s wrong anyone feels this much pain, and finally, I cave.

I pull her in and whisper. “Okay… okay!” I kiss the top of her head, and I know I’m playing with fire.