The Veil (The Veil Trilogy Book 1), page 24
“Good evening, Isabelle.”
18 No Safe word
I swallowed hard then sucked in a shallow, sharp breath as I watched the silhouette slowly glide across the room. He came to a stop over me, sitting on the bed next to my naked, defenseless body. At first, I was not sure if I was dreaming or not.
Folding my arms over my chest, I pulled the fluffy blanket tightly against my body. A tear rolled down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away. The blanket began to sink without my grip, exposing my right breast. Neither of us spoke for a moment. I saw his chest slowly rising and falling as he took long, calming breaths.
“Where were you?” I whispered.
He slowly turned his body toward me, caressing my cheek. His deep blue eyes now sparkled in the dark room against the twinkling city lights through the window. Without speaking, he rested his hand over my own, his eyes never leaving mine.
Without a word, he gently wrapped his fingers around my hand as he stood, guiding me off the bed. Slowly, he ran his fingertips up my arms, so lightly that they caused my skin to react with goosebumps. He slid one of his hands into mine as he turned his back, meandering toward the terrace off the master suite.
“I'm naked,” I hissed as we stepped out onto the platform high above London.
He spun my body to face him and I realized he had grabbed a blanket off the chair next to the door on the way outside. He wrapped it around my back, pulling me into his embrace as I smiled against his muscular chest. He held me tightly, resting his chin on the top of my head, sighing.
The smell of his cologne mixed with cigarettes and whiskey filled the atmosphere surrounding us while the sounds of the city's night rippled through the night air. A chilled breeze swirled around our bodies, causing me to shiver as it caught a small opening in the blanket.
“Are you going to speak?” I asked concerned, peering up at his troubled eyes.
He stepped back a little, gripping the blanket as he tugged my forehead to his lips. His gaze finally met mine and he took a deep breath. I was not sure if he were about to give me bad news or bend me over and have his way with me.
“Isabelle,” he whispered.
My entire body quivered, quaking from just him uttering my name. He did not say anything else at that point. He did not need to. I understood his tone and him saying my name the way he did was enough to tell me everything was okay with us.
He cupped my face, pulling my lips into his. His tongue danced with mine as he slid his hand through my hair, gripping, while his other hand slowly moved down my arm then snaked around my waist. He peeled away but his lips remained close to mine with his eyes barely opened.
“Isabelle,” he muttered again, placing a small peck on my lips, “I don't want you to leave me.”
My eyes popped open and I moved my head back a bit as I peered into his eyes, “Valentino, I'm not going to leave you.”
“You say that now.”
I stood on my tiptoes, trying to make myself as eye level with him as possible, but his height made that almost impossible. I smiled, “Why would I ever leave you?”
He sighed, “I'm not perfect.”
I giggled, “Then you don't see yourself as I do.”
“I'm not good at relationships,” he admitted, “but I also know I want to be with you, so I will do whatever it takes.” He stared off into the distance. “Just tell me what I have to do to keep you and I will.”
I reached up, caressing his jaw, and guiding his gaze back to mine. “You already have me,” I reassured.
“I swear I am going to fix this,” he groaned.
“I know,” I sighed, “and I trust you.”
He let go of me, backing away then pacing the terrace. “I fucked up so bad.”
“How?” I winced. “Were you with someone else?”
He began to massage his temples, “Isabelle, no for fuck’s sake.”
I did not speak and allowed him to process whatever it was that he was about to tell me.
“While I was out roaming around,” he explained, “I received a call from the estate back in New York.”
I gulped. This did not sound good. I took a seat in one of the lounge chairs, pulling my knees to my chest. I watched him continue to walk back and forth in front of me.
“The guy you are supposed to have the fucked up arranged marriage with is actually Jesse's cousin, so Jesse and Felipe have to be working together,” he revealed.
My eyes widened as I gulped, “What?”
He nodded, continuing, “William was going to be taking care of Jesse before he and Tanya fly here but somehow Jesse escaped from my holding area.”
“You’re kidding!”
He nodded, confessing, “I just found out a few hours ago. I already told my security team. Joseph is looking into it."
“My former boss is roaming around somewhere in New York?” I panicked.
“Well, that would be preferable actually.” he shrugged.
“What do you mean?”
He lit a cigarette, taking a long drag. “I had him chained underneath my house in one of the hidden rooms.”
The smoke slowly drifted out of his mouth and he blew the rest out as he finished his sentence. He roamed to the edge of the terrace, leaning on the railing as he looked out across London, puffing on his cigarette. Observing him, I understood that he was putting all the blame for this on himself.
While I grasped his reason, I knew that he had no idea that it would come to this. He was looking out for me. If anything, this was all my fault. I stood, creeping toward him.
“Okay so have them comb your entire castle…or yard…or land whatever it is that surrounds your palace thing.”
I playfully nudged him in the arm trying to help him calm down. Maybe it was the wrong timing, and as upset as I was, he was carrying so much of the burden himself. He turned his head toward me as I rested my head on his arm.
He took another drag, smirking, “Why the fuck do you have to be so adorable?”
I blushed, “I can't help it.” I fluttered my eyelashes and playfully smiled, still forcing a lighter mood.
Rolling his lip between his teeth, he thought for a moment. “For starters, it's not a castle,” he corrected. “It's a--.”
“Palace? Chalet? Hotel? Chateau? Manor? Big ole' fortress?” I teased.
He prodded my side with his finger, making me jump.
Smirking, he shrugged, “Mansion maybe? I don't know.” He glanced away then back toward me. “Why can't it just be a house? Why are you making this weird?"
For the first time in a while we shared a genuine laugh. He snuffed his cigarette out on the railing then tossed it in a nearby ashtray on a table. I began to get a little cold, so I sashayed toward the balcony door, looking back over my shoulder.
“Living in a big house like that alone, is what's weird, Sir,” I winked.
Spinning, he reached out, grabbing the blanket before I could walk inside. It fell to the floor and his eyes trailed hungrily up and down my body. Heat began to instantly form between my legs as he clutched my hand then jerked me into his body.
“You know what that word does to me,” he growled as he placed his lips next to my ear. “I’ve warned you many times before.”
Smirking, a sense of bravery rose within me. “And yet you have on way more clothes than you should.” I scraped my fingernails down his shirt with enough pressure to cause a sensation on his skin.
He leaned me backward just a bit, nibbling my neck, growling, “You want me naked?”
“If I had my way, you'd always be naked,” I hissed as his stubble tickled my nape.
I stood Isabelle straight. She immediately ran her fingertips under my shirt, teasing me as she stroked inside the hem of my slacks. Her touch felt unreal causing me to involuntarily shiver. She gazed into my eyes as she pulled my black t-shirt over my head. Dropping it to the floor, she bit her bottom lip, never taking her eyes off my tight, rippled abs.
I peered out at the skyline and buildings, wondering if anyone could see us from here. I did not want anyone looking at her, but it made this moment much more spontaneous and interesting. Knowing people could be spying on us, was a bit erotic.
I was completely into this new venture. Here we were, out on the penthouse terrace, about to do unholy things in front of whoever would be able to see us; anyone from other tall buildings or low flying planes, arriving at both Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Suddenly, she took me by surprise when she bent over, kissing my abdomen then slowly trailed her tongue over each muscle as she unbuckled my belt. I felt it snapping through each of the belt loops, as she slid it off my pants. Raising up with a devilish grin on her face, she rolled my belt around her hand then handed it to me. She craned her neck, placing her lips next to my ear.
“I believe you know how to use this, Sir.”
“Fuck!” I growled, yanking her to my mouth. I bit her bottom lip, before harshly facing her away from me. ”Yes, and this time we're going to play a different game.” I brushed her hair off her shoulder, sprinkling her neck with small kisses. “You might want a safe word.”
She tried to turn and face me, but I held her in place.
“Isabelle,” I muttered, “pick a safe word.”
She shook her head, rasping, “I won't need one with you.” Leaning her head back against my chest, she peered up at me, smiling, “Safe words are limitations and wimps.” She moved her hips in a figure eight against my already erect bulge. “I don't want you to hold back.”
I spun her around quickly to face me, wrapping my fingers around her throat, but only gently applying pressure. “Pick a safe word Isabelle!”
She grinned hungrily with a mischievous gaze in her lust filled eyes. “No, Sir,” she swallowed hard, “no safe word. Do with me as you desire, Valentino.”
“As you wish, Darling.”
Pulling my hand away, I spun her body facing away from me, seeing her reflection in the glass doors. She smirked while I secured her hands behind her body tightly, wrapping my belt around her wrists. I drew my hand back, swiping it across her bare round bottom. She jumped, yelping at the unsuspected contact on her flesh. I pushed her chest over to the railing of the balcony, bending her over the edge.
Leaning forward I whispered, “You are going to wish you had one.”
I spanked her five more times and each time she yelped, more of her wetness, slowly trickled down her thighs. I smirked proudly at my accomplishment as she attempted to grind her rear on my erection.
I shivered every time this man spoke to me whether it was in my ear or not. His tone, combined with his accent, kept me weak in the knees. His touch crashed blissful waves of ecstasy over my body every time he pleasured me. I bowed forward against the terrace railing, eagerly anticipating his next move, quivering as he preyed on my yearning body.
His hand slowly slid up the center of my back with a mildly scratchy object intertwined with his fingers as he trailed my spine. Placing the object in front of my face, he held it out for me to see. Immediately, I recognized it.
I could still somewhat see through little holes as he pulled it against my eyes. Shivering, I remembered the recent past of having to wear this in his home. While this did feel remarkably familiar to me, it brought a whole new sensation to me this time as I knew who was on the other side. I sucked in a sharp breath as the knot on the back of my head got tighter.
“Too tight?”
“No,” I squeaked as I felt more increasing warmth and wetness between my legs.
“What a shame.”
A devilish grin spread across my face as I started to experience the darker side of him. He formed a ponytail with my hair, holding it in his hand as he reached down between my legs with the other. He quickly tapped the bottom of my backside.
“Spread.”
I obeyed, separating my legs shoulder length apart. I moaned, feeling his hand trailing up my thigh, pinching my pearl, then repeating on the other leg. Forcefully pressing his hand on my slit, he circled my opening causing me to tremble. That sensation was quickly replaced by him slamming two fingers into me hard and deep. I let out an involuntary gasp while crying out in pleasure at the same time.
“You're always so wet for me,” he growled, leaning toward my ear. “Tell me you are mine.”
He began to pump his fingers in and out of my core at a faster pace, as deep as my body would allow. I felt his knuckles crashing hard into my opening. I was barely able to speak as he took away my breath with every movement.
“I'm…yours,” I moaned through the painful pleasure of his thrashing fingers.
Just as I was getting used to the feeling, he ripped his fingers out of me. A groan of frustration escaped my mouth as I longed for his touch once again. Just as I was about to protest, he taunted me.
“Are you sure you don't want me to hold back with you?” I heard him licking my juices off one of his fingers before he pressed the other into my mouth. “Suck.”
I obeyed, wrapping my lips around his finger as he slowly pulled it out. He then harshly turned me to face him, grabbing the back of my head, yanking my mouth into his. His tongue fought with mine over dominance and he was not backing down. I loved this game. I managed to pull away long enough to breathlessly speak.
“Yes, Sir,” I squeaked as he pressed his fingers into me once again, “I'm sure.”
Without warning, he picked me up, backing me into the edge of the balcony railing. “Hold on tight,” he grinned as he managed to pull his pants down enough to free himself.
I wrapped my legs tighter around him as my arms were still behind me, restrained by his belt. He slid my body down to the tip of his arousal, pushing his hips up as he slightly loosened his grip, impaling my insides on his shaft.
I screamed random incomprehensible phrases as he pinned my body against the side of the half wall, thrusting himself into my core faster than I had ever experienced. I thought my cervix was being pushed deep into my stomach.
“All of London can hear you.”
“Let...them!” I cried out.
Resting his forehead against mine, he gazed through the black lacy veil with a starving scowl as he picked up the pace. I continued to moan loudly, trying my best to communicate with him but I could not form a full sentence.
“They...should...all...know...I...love...you,” I finally managed to proclaim loudly.
He immediately froze, ripping my veil off over my head, pulling a few strands of my hair out of my head along with it. His eyes never left mine, but he also did not move away. The glazed over lustful appearance left his eyes. I was now staring into an empty, icy blue abyss that I was not familiar with.
He pulled me off him, gently standing me on the floor then pulled up his pants and buttoned them. Turning me around quickly, he unfastened the belt from my wrists, gripping it tightly as his knuckles began to turn white. He leaned over the blanket and picked it up, handing it to me without looking at me.
“Put this on.”
“That was not my safe word!” I called out irritably, but he disappeared inside without another word or glimpse of me.
I was frozen in my sadness as I replayed that awful life altering moment in my head, over and over again. I could not believe I said that to him. I mean it yes, I could but why the heck did I have to say it to him? You never ever tell someone you love them during sex unless you know the feeling is mutual. It should definitely never be said for the first time during a heated moment such as that. I felt so stupid and small. Collapsing in a lounge chair, I promised myself that I would not cry.
Staring up at the sky, I leaned back, trying to identify constellations to get my mind off the moment that probably changed everything forever. The twinkling lights of the city cancelled out most of the stars in the sky, but I counted a few bright ones as I tried to take deep breaths.
Surely this would blow over. I wanted to go inside to defend myself, but I did not dare move. I had no defense. If I told him I did not mean it, then it would be a lie. However, I would also dig my hole much deeper trying to explain, only to make him feel more awkward than I am assuming he felt now. He would come to me when he was ready to talk about it.
I left Isabelle standing naked on the balcony as I found myself mindlessly plodding back into the bedroom. It was as if I were a robot, having no control over my movements. Something switched in my body the moment she said that, and I froze.
Everything suddenly became so real to me because of her words. How could she love someone like me? I lied to her. I betrayed her. I scared her. I went to shower and did not even look outside as I passed the windows. I am sure I left her with sadness and pain on her face and I could not stand to see it.
After quickly scrubbing myself, I turned the water off, stepping out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. I headed back toward the bed noticing her wrapped tightly in a blanket, lying on a lounger, staring at the sky. I prayed that tears were not running down her flawless, beautiful face. Hurting was the last thing I wanted her to do, but I did not have it in me to face her right now.
I dropped the towel on the floor next to the bed then crawled in, leaving myself uncovered. I hoped she would come in and get into bed with me. However, I felt she might end up wanting more time alone.
I believed me not saying it back to her, hurt her. Why did I keep screwing things up with her? I did not understand why everything could not be simple with us. They were never that way.
Since day one, I had been lying to her, and I still was. There was one secret left that I had not told her yet. It was one that I kept so close to myself that I was not sure I could ever tell her. The truth is, I was scared she would walk away the moment she knew.
I sighed loudly, pulling the blanket over my exposed body. I closed my eyes and my thoughts began to run wild about how I would handle all of the drama with her uncle, then handling what she told me he did to her.
