“Remember, how I spanked you yesterday? That was before I knew what had happened to you. Now I will simply strip you naked and tie you down and force you to rest,” he said huskily. “Do you want me to do it?”
He smiled but there was menace behind his eyes and she knew if she continued to push him he would do it without hesitation. But what was more disturbing was how it made her feel damp between her thighs.
Yet she still said, “Why don’t you try and see what happens to you?”
Gabriel’s fathomless black eyes widened as did that sexy wicked smile he always gave her but at first, he said nothing, just leaned in closer. His closeness made her heart beat a little faster and again she was surprised it wasn’t from fear but a gentle flutter of excitement.
He won’t want you.
He surprised her by caressing his fingertips down across her throat where the bruising was almost faded. She watched him study her lips while he continued to soothe her pain with his comforting cool fingers as they played along her bruising.
“I haven’t met a woman like you before,” he said. “You are very brave.”
He tucked his fingers underneath her chin and tilted it upwards. Antonia held her breath.
“But there is one thing you have to learn. I am in charge and you have to start doing as you’re told,” he whispered into her ear, his voice betraying a little bit more of his sexy Russian accent, his breath causing a shiver of delight to transmute through her body. “If you move again, I will remove my belt, flip you over on this bed, pull down your trousers and your panties and whip your adorable bare peachy bottom until you understand.”
She gave a shocked gasp feeling her cheeks warm and that dampness begin to strengthen and flood her pussy. She opened her mouth to speak, to offer a retort but his lips brushed hers gently, carefully. The touch was magnetic and the loss was immediately felt when he removed them. She stared at him in silence communicating her need for him to kiss her again through her eyes.
She wanted him to prove she could still be wanted after being raped. Unbelievably she felt responsive to his strong male dominating nature. Antonia wanted him to take control of her whether she liked it or not and prove that nasty voice inside her was wrong. He held her gaze and then swept both of his hands around her face and pulled her closer. He kissed her lightly once more before probing his tongue deep inside her mouth. Her heart leapt glad it could feel something for a man other than fear and distrust.
An intoxicating smell of lime and basil swirled around her from his cologne making her feel heady. His hands weaved their way through her hair holding her to him. She responded strongly winding her arms around his neck.
It was all a delicious dream until he started to lie her back down in the bed and intensify his kiss as though to take it further. Antonia’s hand shot out and pushed at his chest.
“No, no, I can’t.”
An overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia swept over her. An invisible weight was crushing her. Memories of Aalam’s attack entered her mind and plagued her. Her hands were trying to push Gabriel away but he was already moving back from her. She sat up trying to calm another panic attack. She wanted to cry and crawl away with embarrassment. The tears came and this time she couldn’t stop them flowing.
“I am sorry. So sorry. I should have known,” he said softly with heavy remorse.
Gabriel didn’t appear to know which way to turn. He ran his hands through his hair and then looked directly at her. He took steps towards her and then backed off again. Now she felt even worse for making him feel uncomfortable.
“No, I am sorry. It’s just when I lay down, I couldn’t breathe and I was right back there.”
He nodded.
“Not that you provoked that in me I just…”
Shut up. Shut up.
He nodded again and tried to smile.
“Relax, I understand.”
He took the neatly folded handkerchief from his dark grey front suit pocket and extended his arm to give it to her from a safe distance. It made her feel like a leper even though it was obvious he was considering her feelings and keeping his distance.
“Thank you,” she said dabbing at her face with it.
Gabriel Malinov folded his hands in front of him where she could see them and patiently waited for her to finish wiping her tears away. He looked immaculate and sexy in his suit and she felt ashamed at making him feel awkward. She was waiting for him to say, “It will not happen again.” But to her relief he said nothing to dash her hope of him ever trying again.
“How about you get some more rest and I…”
Gabriel cut his sentence short when the sound of an explosion rocked the Palazzo. It was so strong Antonia had to hold on to the ends of the bed to keep herself from falling. He staggered forward and caught hold of the bed to steady himself when another shook the building. His mobile rang. Botelli’s voice was loud down the other end enough for the journalist to hear everything.
“Get her out. Two suicide bombs have just gone off in St Mark’s Square and the island is being attacked. Take her to the Paris office.”
Antonia stared at him with terror-stricken eyes.
“I’m on it.”
He slipped the mobile back in his inside pocket and took hold of Antonia’s waist to lower her to the floor forgetting the idea of keeping his distance.
“We have to go,” he said reaching inside his suit jacket for his weapon when she was standing on the floor.
She nodded feeling her anxiety pound loudly in her chest and adrenaline force her into action. She fastened her silver-grey trouser suit
