Elliot

The mirror is only a reflection, the real tether is the soul. Lies and truth. Fake and real …

 

She was gorgeous, all legs and lacking grace, but her innocence was what intrigued me. I could swallow my irritation from the ill care Infidelity had shown in dressing her according to upstate weather, but in the face of her hesitant steps behind me I could accept it.

She followed me through my foyer and the stainless-steel kitchen into a small alcove dining area I enjoyed using when it was just me. Candles colored he white linen cloth over the table with dancing yellow, and the single plate setting had a large serving of prime rib, steamed vegetables, and a chilled bottle of wine. I pulled the single seat back and sat down. Ilaria hovered, her quizzical glance tracing the single setting before her gaze traveled to meet mine.

Ask me. I dare you.

But she didn’t. She fidgeted with her dress a moment before she clasped her hands together and stood silently. It made my dick hard. Intrinsically, she waited for me to direct her. Fuck, this plan may have worked better than I’d ever realized. Her pouty lips were pressed into a firm line as she stared at the table, ignoring me, and I took my time admiring her. She was a classic beauty, ripped from the gutter, easy prey for predators and scam artists to use. But her visual belied the steel up her spine. Despite her innocent look, she’d survived in the world and helped her mother keep her existence well-hidden. She followed direction well, without asking much, and I didn’t think she realized what that said about her personality.

But I understood.

I’d use it to my advantage and tie her to me. At first, the idea had taken root simply because I could, because having her under me would be apt payment for all I’d gone through at the hands of her parents. But now, there was a new layer, an added benefit I hadn’t banked on. I wanted her.

Slowly, I spread my legs and patted my thigh. “Come, sit.”

Her gaze widened before she shook her head. “What is this?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Come. Sit.”

She swallowed, a delicate bob in her throat catching my attention. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not some dog.”

“I’m paying good money for you to be whatever I want you to be, but it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you want to do what I say.”

She gritted her teeth. “You know nothing about me.”

“Your name is Ilaria Paolo, daughter of Tasmin Paolo, deceased. You’ve lived your whole life on the run, scrapping by in whatever way you could but never going so far as to sell yourself to make ends meet. Every rule your mother gave you, you followed to the letter, and now that she’s gone, you’re angry, lost, and wanting a guiding hand to step in. I am that guiding hand.”

Emotions filtered over her features. Anger. Disbelief. Disgust. Curiosity. She didn’t like my words, but she felt them to her core. I knew people like her because I’d been her once upon a time. Before the darkness crept in, before I realized life was shit and you made what you could of it before you went out. I’d live a life of what I thought had been safe until I’d gotten old enough to understand safety and security had different meanings when you didn’t know what was right or wrong. When you didn’t understand how parents should act, and that sometimes, those who should protect you will hurt you simply because they don’t have “blood” connections to stop them.

It was a pity those who shared my blood hadn’t wanted me either.

So, yes, I understood exactly who Ilaria was. And like the world that had saved me from spiraling, she needed it too—we were just different sides of the same coin. I needed to have control of every aspect of my life, and she needed to give up that control. More importantly, she needed to give it to me.

She took a step forward, fists balled at her sides. “I am not a pet.”

“Who said I wanted a pet?”

She shook her head. “Then what do you want?”

“That, my dear, is always the right question. Never go into a battle without knowing what each side requires.” Not that I’d ever give her what I truly wanted, but that was semantics. “I want you to sit on my lap so that I may feed you.”

“I can feed myself, you know.”

“That isn’t what pleases me, is it?”

There it was. That same wide-eyed, confused look when what I wanted turned her on but she didn’t understand why. I patted my lap again, and she took shaky steps forward until she was between my legs.

“Why?” Her whispered words were more to herself than me, but I heard them.

“Because I want you to, so you want it too.”

It wasn’t the answer she wanted, but it was the one she needed, and she finally sat down. Her warm body, soft and supple, pressed against mine as I shifted her to have her back to me, her ass squarely over my cock and her facing the table. Ilaria gripped the edge of the wood and placed her feet together between mine. Slipping my arms under hers, I tucked my head next to her right ear and sliced the prime rib. The succulent meat was pink inside, and I was famished. After I dunked it into the au jus, I brought it to her lips.

“Eat.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Fuck, I’m going to bend her over this table if she keeps saying that.

Her voice was breathy, her pulse jumping. With each bite I was more aware of her. The house disappeared, and all that mattered was each slip of her teeth against the tines of the fork. When Ilaria finished chewing and swallowing, I gave her more until she placed her fingers over her mouth to stop me.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Because you aren’t finished,” I explained. She frowned. “Once I know you are full and taken care of, I will eat.”

“Why?”

“So many questions. It’s because.”

Ilaria didn’t like that answer, and I smiled at her pout. After a few more bites, she shook her head. “I’m full.”

“Good. Leave this room. Natalie will take you to my bedroom to get ready for the night.”

She looked down at the plate and then over at me before Ilaria’s gaze traveled to the alcove opening. So many questions, always questions. I could see her mind working, but she remained silent. Finally, I took pity on her.

“I plan to fuck you, Ilaria.”

She tensed. “Infidelity doesn’t sell sex, Elliot.”

I liked how she said my name. I didn’t think I would, but it rumbled through me. “They do not, and I’m not buying it. You are going to give it to me.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Ilaria jumped off my lap and spun around to face me. “Look, I need the money, we both know that, but I’m not your whore.”

“No, you’re simply mine.”

“I won’t sleep with you.”

“Then get on your knees and thank me for your meal,” I challenged.

Her face flushed, eyes snapping. “Fuck you.”

“I’m trying. You can choose one or the other, Ilaria. On your knees, or in my bed. That’s the only way we continue this. Or you can walk out the door and the agreement is over.”

“That’s not what Karen said—”

“I’m sure she told you all financial responsibility would be over if you discontinued the agreement.”

Ilaria bit her lip, and I knew she understood where she was.

“Your knees or my bed. Which one will it be?”