PunishingPhoebe Read online

  “I went into the office to work on the Giovanni merger. There’s still a lot left to accomplish before we officially take them over.” His disheveled state indicated he had been working hard. His tie was crooked and he had discarded his jacket somewhere. She had never seen him in anything except a suit, so the crisp whiteness of his shirt was enough to make her mouth water, even under the circumstances. It set off his brown complexion and emphasized the darkness of his short hair and eyes.

  Phoebe blinked, trying to tear her attention from his body. She nodded, daring to hope he was here for something business-related. “I left a stack of memos on your desk before leaving.” Maybe he hadn’t seen the letter of resignation on her desk. Perhaps his anger was due to a hitch with the deal.

  He disabused her of that hope quickly. “Which time before leaving, Phoebe? Your letter stunned me. Not a word of explanation, not even anything remotely personal.” His eyes, already dark with anger, seemed to burn blacker still. “You thanked me for the opportunity to work with me and said you had to resign. Don’t you think you owed me an explanation?”

  She swallowed down moisture at the back of her throat. “It’s a family situation.”

  “Don’t lie to me anymore. You’ve lied enough already.”

  Her eyes widened. “When have I ever lied to you before?”

  The words were more of a growl than a statement. “When you submitted your resume, for one. You told me you’d taken time off to reevaluate your career. I guess you were afraid I wouldn’t hire you if you admitted the truth about your last place of employment.”

  She sagged forward. Why hadn’t she anticipated Salvatore telling Luca everything? It had been the old man’s goal to alienate her from Luca, and what better way than his twisted version of what had happened with Danny Seaton? “I can explain.”

  “I don’t care.” A vein bulged in his forehead. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters anymore.”

  The finality of his words suggested he was on the verge of leaving and she battled a surge of relief mixed with sadness. This wasn’t how she had wanted things to end between them.

  She squared her shoulders. “If that’s all then, I have business to attend to.” She still had arrangements to make for their stay in Boston and was awaiting a fax from the assistant of the director of the clinic with further information about the study in which Anya was enrolling. After all that, she hoped to have time for a good cry.

  “That’s not all,” he said silkily. “I’m not through with you yet.”

  “What do you want from me?” she asked through trembling lips.

  “What I paid for.”

  Her confusion must have shown, because he expounded. “When I saw the letter, I knew my father had something to do with your abrupt resignation.” He shook his head. “Can you believe I actually feared for your safety? I thought he might have harmed you. I didn’t see how else he could have persuaded you to leave me, not when we were getting so close.”

  She closed her eyes as each word speared her heart like a dart. “Please…”

  He ignored her interruption. “I didn’t believe him at first. I was certain he was lying. You aren’t the kind of person he described. You would never lie to me about your past. You certainly couldn’t have driven a married man to attempted suicide after your affair went sour. You absolutely wouldn’t allow my father to buy you off—not only that, but threatened him with sexual harassment charges if he didn’t meet your price.” A harsh laugh, holding little amusement, escaped him. “I was wrong about you, wasn’t I?”

  “I didn’t—” She broke off, knowing he wouldn’t believe her assertion she hadn’t threatened Salvatore, especially since she couldn’t deny his other charges. Numbness settled over her at the crushing weight of disappointment reflected from his eyes. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  He blinked, and any trace of vulnerability disappeared. “I’m not hurt, Phoebe. I’m not even angry now.” His body language belied that statement. “In fact, I’m grateful to my father for showing me just what kind of person you are. I have no reason to feel guilty for what I’m doing.”

  “What’s that?” she asked warily.

  “Claiming what I bought.” He scowled. “Papà wasn’t happy about me reimbursing him the cost of your cooperation, but didn’t keep protesting when I threatened to have him removed from the board. He knows I can do it, so he fell in line.” Luca reached out to take hold of her upper arms, drawing her closer. “I own you now.”

  Phoebe shook her head. “You can’t own someone else.”

  “The check I wrote to my father says otherwise.”

  She bit her lip, frantically trying to decide on a course of action. She would have to return the check. He couldn’t threaten her with extortion if she didn’t cash it. But she couldn’t return it. After what she’d gone through to acquire the money, she couldn’t just hand it over, leaving Luca with a horrible opinion of her and no job. It seemed unlikely he or Salvatore could prove extortion anyway, based simply on the old man’s claim she had tried to blackmail him with the threat of sexual harassment. She still didn’t have the time or money to fight the claim right now if she wanted Anya to get her sight back.

  He seemed to read her mind. “Don’t bother returning the money. You’re well worth the price of acquisition…or you will be.”

  Fear dried her mouth, making it difficult to respond. “What do you expect from me?”

  “For one thing, I want you back in the office tomorrow morning. I can’t spare you right now, until the merger goes through. After that, you’ll need to train your replacement.”

  Relief swept through her. “Of course. I’ll pay back whatever else I owe you after my employment ends.”

  He quirked a brow. “I’m not finished. Did you think I would let you off so easily?”

  She shook her head. “I can explain why I accepted your father’s offer. I can explain everything.”

  He held up a hand. “As I said, I don’t care to hear rationalizations for your greed. All I want from you is what I paid for—your body.”

  Her eyes widened when he pulled her against him. She couldn’t believe it was happening, that he was about to kiss her, even as her body melted against his firmly muscled frame. Of its own volition, her head tipped back and she moistened her lips as he brought his mouth against hers. His lips were firm and demanding, molding hers to his possession. Phoebe groaned when he buried a hand in her hair to pull her neck back even more, allowing his tongue to penetrate her mouth.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, anxious to be closer to Luca. It didn’t matter how they had come to this right then. She only cared about tasting him. With eager strokes, she met each thrust of his tongue, savoring the trace of brandy she detected. Pressing herself closer, Phoebe brought her hands to his shoulders, then lower, to his chest. His muscles rippled under her hands as she pressed her palms against the silky cotton of his dress shirt and the heat of his skin scorched her palms.

  Luca seemed intent on devouring her. His tongue had swept every inch of her mouth several times over and he began thrusting it in and out suggestively, in time with his hips as he pumped them. Phoebe wanted to be closer to him still, but couldn’t. They were pressed against each other so tightly only their clothing served as a barrier to separate them.

  He stroked his tongue across her lips before moving his mouth, brushing his lips against her cheek on his way to her ear. Phoebe cried out when he nipped her earlobe before whispering, “Bella.” The endearment was almost as pleasurable as his tongue tracing the contour of her ear before he sucked the lobe into his mouth once again.

  Her hands shook as she tugged impatiently at the hem of his shirt to remove it from the waistband of his pants. It took more concentration than it should have to work the small buttons through the buttonholes and she whimpered with need when she managed to push open the shirt to reveal his bare chest. “Luca.” His name was more a cry of passion than an actual sound as she placed her palms against
the lightly haired skin. He retaliated by bringing his mouth to the bend of her shoulder, to suck on her neck. Her insides warmed and melted, making it difficult to do anything besides enjoy his touch.

  A deep-throated groan left Luca when she raked her nails lightly across his nipples, propelling her to repeat the action. His throaty sound of satisfaction fed her own and she ignored the voice in the back of her mind trying to get her attention. She didn’t care about common sense at the moment.

  Luca made short work of the robe, while she tried focusing on removing his belt. Her persistence paid off, as did his, and they were soon standing together in the living room, bare body to bare body. The hair on his chest tickled her nipples and she squirmed with pleasure.

  He brought his mouth to hers again, his lips taking possession of hers. Phoebe swept her tongue inside the moist confines of his before he could edge inside hers, taking control. Her moans of pleasure mirrored his as she absorbed his taste.

  She cried out his name when he cupped her breasts, his thumbs rubbing against the firm buds of her nipples with confident strokes. “Luca,” she whispered, dropping her face to his chest and burrowing against him. His name was her talisman, the only thing keeping her anchored to the world, and she found herself almost screaming it when he lifted her higher. Instinctively her thighs locked around his waist and she gasped when his cock sank inside her wet pussy.

  He filled her completely—almost to the point of too much—and she clutched his back to keep her balance. Her nails dug into his skin when Luca began thrusting. He supported her with his hands cupping her bottom, bringing her tightly against him with each thrust. “That’s amazing, Luca.” That she could manage any coherent sound surprised her.

  He buried his head in her fall of blonde hair. “Mia tesoro dorato. My golden treasure.”

  Convulsions deep inside her womb instigated an orgasm and she shuddered, tightening around his cock. He convulsed inside her and they fell backward together on the sofa. “Mia tesoro,” he repeated, his mouth against her ear.

  Phoebe struggled to catch her breath, still ravaged by the force of their passions and her earth-shattering release. It had been unforgettable, more than she could have imagined in her most erotic fantasies. So why did she still feel empty?

  “Worth every penny,” he said in a different tone—a mix of smugness and smoldering anger. “I have imagined you like this, but didn’t want to rush you. You seemed so sweet and a bit uncertain.” He sneered. “Now, I don’t have to worry about building trust just to get you in my bed.”

  She jumped away from him as though burned. Memory came crashing back and she cupped her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. How could she have been so stupid? He hadn’t taken her because he wanted her but because he thought he was entitled to.

  Her mouth firmed and she glared at him. “I hope you enjoyed it, because it will never happen again.”

  He stared up at her impassively, seemingly unbothered by their state of undress, and showing no sign of leaving. “Wrong, mia tesoro. It will happen when and where I want it to.”

  “Because you own me?” Her voice was full of anger but she didn’t miss the shaky note underlying it. Phoebe hoped he didn’t notice the hurt in her tone or expression.

  He smiled, a sexy quirking of just one side of his mouth. “Partly, but mostly because you want it to happen too.”

  She sagged, unable to deny his assertion. How could she resist him when she wanted him so desperately? Making love with him once hadn’t sated her. It had only deepened her hunger for Luca, regardless of what he thought of her.

  She hugged herself, both in an attempt to hide her breasts and to disguise her conflict. “Will you leave now? I’m tired.”

  In an infuriating fashion, Luca shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere, Phoebe.”

  Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “You have to. I have things to do.”

  “You have nothing to do other than spend the night in bed with me.”

  “You don’t understand—”

  Luca gained his feet in one fluid motion, a visual performance that took her breath away as she watched the coordinated way his muscles flexed and contracted under his skin, reminding her just how it felt to be joined with him.

  He walked toward her slowly, as if he had all night. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. I don’t trust you not to run.”

  “I won’t…” She trailed off, remembering the forthcoming trip. “I mean, I have to go somewhere, but I’ll pay you back when I return.”

  He tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes, you will, mia tesoro. You’ve made a start and now it’s time to continue.” In seconds, he had lifted her into his arms and was headed down the hallway, seeming to know exactly where her bedroom was. “I’m going to spend the night getting to know every inch of you.”

  He seemed to swallow all the space in her bedroom, making it difficult to breathe as he lowered her to the bed. The feminine pastels should have been a jarring backdrop for his masculinity, but he looked right, settled on her bed, against her pale purple sheets. Maybe it was because she had imagined him there so many times in the past few months.

  As he straddled her, she put up her hands, resting them against her chest. “You don’t have to do this. Please, let me explain.”

  He sighed, sounding impatient. “Enough. I can think of much more pleasurable uses for your mouth—like wrapped around my cock.”

  She moaned, unable to resist picturing the mental image his words evoked. Her pussy grew wetter and she squirmed.

  Luca chuckled while shifting his weight to free one of his hands. Phoebe tensed when he brought a hand between her thighs, his fingers slipping inside her folds to find the slippery little bud hiding within. She cried out as he stroked her clit, arching against his hand. “So hot, mia tesoro.” Luca penetrated her with two of his fingers. “And so tight. Surprising, considering your previous…experience.”

  She flinched, torn between anger and hurt, all the while under the onslaught of his expert fingers. Pride demanded she push him away. Phoebe pressed her palms against his chest. “Get off me.”

  “Not yet.” With ruthless precision, Luca continued stroking and thrusting his fingers inside her.

  Tears of shame blurred her eyes as her body responded, giving him the climax he sought. She turned her head, trying to hide her tears as they escaped to trickle down her cheeks.

  Luca said something in Italian that sounded like a curse. With the same hand he’d had between her legs, he wiped away the moisture with his thumb. “I apologize. That comment was unnecessary.”

  She took a deep breath, struggling to restore her calm before speaking. Her voice was still thick with tears when she said, “This isn’t going to work. You hate me. How can you still want me?”

  Luca eased himself off her body to lie beside her. “I don’t hate you. I wish I could, but I don’t. I do not understand the avarice that drives you, but I had a privileged upbringing that you lacked.”

  She didn’t try to proffer an explanation again. “I can’t do this. Your snide words…the anger. I just can’t.” But what choice was there? Even if she could convince him to accept the check from Salvatore and release her from this twisted deal, Anya would be just as blind, with no hope.

  Luca caressed her hip. “I can’t promise I will always be able to control my anger with you, but I will not make such comments again, especially when we are in bed together.”

  In defeat, she rolled into his arms as he turned her. The thought of being his whore for however long he wanted her was heartbreaking, but Anya’s needs came before her own. Not that her needs didn’t include Luca, at least physically, she admitted to herself when he lifted her leg to position her for his cock. She bit hard on her tongue to keep in her cries of pleasure as his cock entered her. It would be even more humiliating for him to know the depth of her desire.

  Silently, she counselled herself not to reveal that she still planned to leave tomorr
ow. He would be furious, but Anya needed her. When she returned, she would make herself available until his revenge burned itself out. Perhaps he would even reconsider the whole idea during her absence, since he had now had sex with her. She allowed herself to cling to the hope as Luca drove in and out of her, hoping each thrust of his cock brought her one step closer to absolution.

  Chapter Three

  He had been true to his word, having spent most of the night fucking her in myriad ways. Phoebe was sore in places she hadn’t even remembered existed and the hot water cascading over her did little to ease the pleasurable aches. It would serve him right if every muscle in his body screamed in protest from their night of sex, though he had seemed disgustingly chipper upon waking. She needed coffee before she could even consider being half that alert.

  She had to admit the previous night had served to invigorate rather than exhaust her as she might have expected. It had been too long since her last lover to remember if she had always felt this way after a night of vigorous sex. Being unable to remember her morning-after reactions with previous partners spoke for itself. Luca was different, and being with him was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

  It was going to be hard to leave him, but she had no choice. Anya needed her, but she couldn’t have stayed anyway, not under the circumstances. She had come to that realization sometime around dawn. Her heart was already at risk, but there was no way he would ever love her after she had taken money to get out of his life. Staying with Luca would destroy her. Phoebe knew she would have to return to serve her sentence in his bed, but she needed to figure out a way to protect her heart first.

  She dried off and dressed quickly, not from eagerness to face Luca but because time was growing short. She had to get rid of him so she could pick up Anya in time for their flight.