Page 23 of Temptation
There’s a breakfast tray laden with Italian pastries and a bowl of fresh cherries. And always the candy that I can’t get enough of.
I choose a buttery pastry stuffed with cooked apple slices that melts on my tongue when I bite into it. My eyes roll back in my head, and I sigh contentedly. The food here is divine. I could definitely get used to this.
After the delicious breakfast, I take a hot shower and pad across to the clothing rail wrapped in my towel, eager to see what clothes have been picked for me today.
I shouldn’t love this so much, but the rack of fitted trousers and luxurious sweaters is too tempting to ignore. I trail my fingers along the line of plush sweaters, the fabric so soft it makes my fingertips tingle.
At the end of the rack are the clothes I came in here wearing. They’ve been washed, and someone’s darned the holes in my sweater. My hand runs over the course fabric.
Hans is expecting me home today, and he’s going to ask questions if I turn up in designer clothing. The thought of leaving Lorenzo and going back to The Lodge causes a dull ache in my chest.
I don’t want to leave him, but how can I stay? I’m Lorenzo’s sex toy, nothing more. And once he’s finished with me, he’ll discard me.
Pain pierces my heart so intense that I clutch my chest. When did he come to mean more to me than a way to explore my dark fantasies? But I can’t ignore my feelings for Lorenzo. My naive heart is drawn to the dark stranger. I know I have no business expecting anything more from him, yet sometimes when he looks at me, there’s more in his gaze than lust.
My mind wanders to a future where I stay forever in this house in the woods, wearing beautiful clothes, eating fine food, and spending every night with the watchful Lorenzo.
I sigh heavily. It’s a naive girl’s fantasy. I’m so inexperienced with men that I’m probably reading more into his looks than what there is.
But I don’t want to think about that now. I want to enjoy my last day with Lorenzo. If I’m his sex toy, then I’ll make the most of it.
Selecting a pale blue sweater that brings out the color of my eyes and tight shiny pants, I dress quickly.
As soon as I’m ready there’s a knock at the door, and Lorenzo comes in. His gaze sweeps over me, and he smiles appreciatively.
“You look beautiful, coniglietto.”
My breath catches at the way he looks at me and the devastating smile that brings his best features into the light.
He starts forward as if he’s going to take me in his arms and then stops. His brow furrows and the smile evaporates, plunging his features into shadow.
Frustration gnaws at my stomach. I long for him to touch me, and his gaze burns my skin like a caress. But he won’t break his own rules.
“Come.”
He steps back and extends an arm for me to walk in front of him. As usual his suit is immaculate, a well put together look that’s out of place in the middle of the mountains. I wonder again who he is and what he’s doing here. I’m about to ask when a thought occurs to me.
“Where are we going?” I ask, suddenly anxious he’s going to drive me home.
“I’ve got something to show you.”
I follow Lorenzo out the front door and around to the back of the house. There’s a path that leads into the woods, and after a few minutes we come to a small building. It’s concrete with no windows. A metal door bars the way, and two men I’ve never seen before stand guarding it.
They nod to Lorenzo and step out of the way. Lorenzo pulls the door, and it opens with the squeak of heavy metal.
It’s dark inside and an acrid smell reaches my nostrils, making me wince. I glance at Lorenzo in confusion. Does he keep animals in here?
He gestures for me to enter, but I hesitate. My pulse picks up a notch. After all we’ve been through, is this another way to keep me locked up? Because it’s far from the luxurious cage I’ve been staying in.
Lorenzo must know what I’m thinking, because he smiles softly at me.
“I’m not going to lock you up, coniglietto. I have something in here to show you.”
He goes in first and switches on a light. Brightness floods the room, and I shield my eyes with my arm as I step inside the building.
There are muffled human moans coming from the corner, and I squint in the direction of the sounds as my eyes adjust to the light.
Shapes come into focus. Human shapes.
