Page 28 of Wicked

“Fine, thank you, sir,” she says, minding her own business. After a near full minute, she adds, “Did you sleep well or… toss?”

I choke on my coffee and spill some on my crotch. The tease raises a brow and winks.

As I’m about to show her I will not tolerate provocation, Maria walks in with a cooked breakfast. “Buongiorno, dears. Now, I leave you to it. I’m-a glad you’re both staying.”

“Grazie, Maria,” I say as the hot mess stands and hugs her. It is sweet, even if the insolent virgin needs to be spanked hard.

“Writing here all day?” Maria asks, dusting her hands.

“Si, and excited.”

“Wonderful. I cook you lunch when I cook my own.”

The virgin smiles again. “Grazie mille.”

“Prego,” Maria says. “Your Italian coming along. Use the old bike out back if you like. And maybe ride to castle and see Dante.”

Maria shoots me a look, but I’ve frozen mid-coffee sip. A virgin at the castle? No way! She is the last distraction I need.

I force a smile as Maria leaves with a grin at us both. We both sit again, and I try to see her butt in her cut-off shorts. She catches me, and I lecture myself internally.

“All right there, caretaker?”

“Si vergine!” I say. “I’m just pondering cleaning out the stables and bedrooms.”

The virgin smiles, unsure if I’m serious. As she sips coffee, I eat and think of my day ahead.

Between three conference calls to New York, LA, and our fashion team in London, I have to work out how to keep the castle. All while doing it without buying it out right and in an hour.

I consider the castle clean up and my current duties. Until I find a way to keep the castle in the family, I have to respectfully attend to my requested family duties.

The hard work at the castle was clearly done months ago, likely by much of the family and maintenance pros. Notes in the castle notebook detail industrial cleaners have come through in van loads.

Until I have my plan in place, I will basically do what my grandfather likely did while living in the castle.

Maintain it, stock-take, fix locks, change the odd door and window, and clean rooms out that are full of family assets. Nothing major, but still honest work.

As the virgin and I eat in silence, our eyes meet at times.

It’s hard not taking her in, and something is drawing me to her. I cannot understand if it’s her sinful lips, her curves, her body. Or her moxie and sass.

Or the idea of breaking her over my knee. Sliding inside her and forcing her to come for me.

I force myself to leave and wipe my filthy mouth. Standing, I bow my head slightly. “I must push on.”

The virgin bows her head slightly and without emotion. “Good tidings, sir. And I bid you an industrious day.”

As I leave, I force myself to not engage in banter. It’s hard, like my cock that is hungry for her body.

Between my CEO duties,I work hard at the castle all morning. I complete a stock take of mobile assets, and I place some of the last paintings around to get fresh air and warmth. I’ve also found many paintings in a turret, along with old suits of armor and valuable antiques.

After, I move essential family items from a top floor wing, and I place some in the large mobile safe on the second floor. I then take a last look around the attic.

My actions feel wrong on every level, and my mind churns constantly on how to intercept the sale.

Between vivid ways I could mark the virgin, memoriesof the castle find their way into my mind. My grandfather lived here every summer and spring, and I joined him with a cousin who has since passed whilst on a sailing trip that went badly.

Our grandfather taught us to fish, ride horses, fight with swords, and drive a tractor as lads. They were good times.

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