

TW: Graphic Depictions of Violence



RAVEN



Following Adriano to a darkened room, I flipped on the light switch. His closet came to life, showcasing an expansive wardrobe from casual clothing to formal wear. He had more clothing than a shopping mall!



I was honestly beyond impressed, and as I watched him maneuver around his room, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to this man than I originally thought. 



Touching the top corner of a modern white lacquered drawer, Adriano pulled out a basic black t-shirt, tossing it at me. It didn't take much for me to catch it in my fist, as I watched him turn around. "Really? After what we just did, you're going to fucking turn around like a gentleman?"



"Would you rather I stare like a heathen?" He peeked over his shoulder, making me lose my shit laughing.



"Didn't take you as a heathen, but you know I can kind of see it."



A s



ADRIANO



"You know you really should tell m—"



Pulling away, her words died on her tongue. I searched her brown doe eyes and her parted full lips. How she looked in my black shirt draped across her breasts made my cock flex. Damnit, why had I put her in that? Dumb move, Adriano, dumb move.



Peering down at her thick sexy thighs, I couldn't help but wonder what they would feel like smothering me. Growling deep within my chest, I licked my lips and slowly peered back up at her gorgeous face.



Her eyes ran from my eyes to my lips and back again, contemplating and trying to read my body language. I pressed my teeth against my bottom lip, licking it afterward, and watched her figure out her next move.



'Your turn, honey.' I silently begged for her to do something.



She grabbed my hand and led me down the long hallway and towards my office. She was too tempting with the way she w

RAVEN


Adriano lay beneath me with his hands above his head and the knife pressed against his throat. Peering at me through his messy black hair, the corner of his lips slowly curled up into a smirk, making my heart pound in my chest.

He enjoyed what I was doing to him. I could tell by the way his body shifted in anticipation beneath me as he peered up at me with lust-filled eyes. 

Flexing his cock against my pussy, I bit back a moan and refocused on what I was doing. "You like that?"

Searching my eyes, he contemplated something within them for a moment before scanning down my body to rest at my hips, where the hem of my dress pooled. Darting his tongue out to lick his full lips, he slowly brought his hands down to run his fingertips up my thighs and gripped them hard.

However, the motion caused me to press the blade against his throat further. My breathing hitched when he raised his head to press into the sharp knife more with a chuckle. The action caused my nipples to harden against my dress, giving me away, and his lashes lowered while his hands snaked further up my thighs.

Each touch of his soft fingertips lured me closer until his hands slipped beneath my dress. Closing my eyes, I rolled my hips slightly, causing him to groan as he raised his hips to meet mine. His hands cupped the swell of my breasts, as his thumb ran along my hardened peaks, teasing me. 

Fuck, he was trouble, and so fucking delectable. 

"I wonder how long you could resist me?" Smirking, he brushed his thumb across my nipple once more before running his hand back down my side to grab my hip. With a swift movement, he flipped me onto my back. The motion caused me to lose grip on the blade as he easily took it from me, pressing it now to my throat.

The atmosphere thickened as his cologne became stronger, and I could not focus on anything else but the hot, sexy man on top of me with his knife to my throat. Pinning my hand above my head, slowly tilting his head to one side, his dark gaze pinning me to the mattress. 

"Is this what you need? Has no one given you enough or was strong enough to take control over you? Has no one been man enough to make you scream or knew how to press all the right buttons? No one wanted to touch your deepest… and darkest…" leaning down to trace the shell of my ear with the tip of his warm tongue, he whispered in a low and growling tone, "desires."

I shivered. He had nailed it. Every man who had fucked me had been too scared to give me what I wanted and needed. Every last one of them had been afraid of hurting me or had morals that stood in their way. Adriano gave me fantasies I had only been able to live out in my head. He was everything I didn't know I needed in my life, and apparently, the only man to ever be able to match me on this level.

Flipping the knife in his hand, he slowly ran the cold, dull side down the valley of my breasts as he wrapped his lips around my earlobe. Gasping, I arched my back to the feel of the cold, steel blade and the way he trailed kisses, bites, and licks down my neck, tasting my skin.

 "How much can you take, hm? How far will you let me go?" Flashing his eyes up to mine, I bit my bottom lip until I tasted metal.

Slowly dipping his thumb into my warm mouth, I ran my tongue along his calloused flesh, teasing him as my heart raced within my chest. My lips parted so that I could show him the pleasure I could give him. "I want you."

His brows raised slightly as a smile played across his lips. "Is that right?"

Nodding my head, I sucked on his finger more, hallowing out my cheeks, until he pulled it from me with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Show me how much you want me. Show me how you will worship my cock, Kitten."

Running the tip of my tongue up one side and then down the other, I let it circle the tip of his finger as I kept my eyes trained on him. The motion caused him to growl as his gaze locked on my mouth while I wrapped my lips around his thumb. Taking it to the back of my mouth, sucking and sweeping my tongue along the underside until he was practically purring with pleasure. I gave him everything I had.

"For someone who knows nothing about that life, you handle it well." Licking his lips and softly laughing, Adriano placed his knife back to my pulse point, the blade slightly brushing against my skin as I swallowed hard. 

"I may not know anything about that life, as you call it, but I know how to handle an asshole like you," I threw back at him, making him laugh harder.

"I'll give you that." Adriano ran his fingertips down my arm before gripping them tightly and pinning them above my head, my breasts kissing the air as I shifted beneath him.

"Fuck," the curse left my lips in a harsh breath as my heart raced with anticipation. 

"Can't move, little mouse?" The corner of his full lips curled up, as he licked one of his sharp canine teeth.

Shifting my hands against the pillow, I peered up at him as he gripped my wrists harder. I had to think fast. There was no way that I could allow him to get the upper hand in this. 

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I suddenly flipped him onto his back. He groaned beneath me with his hands still around my wrists, as I put him in the position he had me.

This man was a hulk of a man, but even the biggest of men could be brought down easily when they were caught off guard. That was something my father had taught me once upon a time. "Now who is the one in charge?" I replied smugly, staring down at Adriano pinned beneath me.

The satisfaction was only short-lived when he used his legs, wrapping them tightly around my waist, to quickly flip me back over with a laugh as he shook his head, admiring the view of having me beneath him. "Did you really think I allowed that? I simply wanted to see what you were going to do."

Gasping, he sat back on his knees and grabbed my hips, quickly flipping me so that I was on my hands and knees. My ass came flush with his hard cock as he slammed himself against me, clothing the only barrier between us.

"Shit!" I gasped, completely taken by surprise. The sound of his blade coming back out to play completely caught me off guard.

Slowly, the cool metal blade trailed down the backs of my thighs to the sensitive inner side where my skin prickled with goosebumps. He teased me as he slid it up to smack the blade against the bottom of my right ass cheek. The sensation caused me to gasp as I buried my face into his pillows, hugging them for dear life. 

"You like that, don't you?" he asked me, the tortuous play between us causing more sensations to run through me than I had expected. His deep, lustrous sent a shockwave to my tight core, only dampening my panties further. "Don't you?"

"Yes," I cried out, gripping the sheets beneath me for support and a way to release the tension circling around my body.

"Stay," he ordered in a tone that made the room spin and the atmosphere thicken between us. 

The world dropped away, and all I was left with was the soft feel of his velvet comforter against my skin, his tantalizing voice, and the weight of his sexy body pressing down against mine with a force that made me weak in the knees.

Parting my lips and keeping my head tilted back, I allowed him to run the blade's dull edge across my neck. My nipples ached, and my thighs quaked, drenched with excitement. I pressed my ass against his cock harder, practically begging for him to take me right then and there. He had me beneath his spell, enchanted and entranced by the Serpent himself in the garden of Eden—or rather the pits of Hell.

His lips ghosted up the underside of my thighs, over my ass, and up my spine until he lingered above me again. Bringing his lips to my ear, he whispered, "Roll over, Kitten."

Shifting beneath him, I moved onto my back. His gaze danced along my breasts and the expanse of my slender neck until he reached my eyes. Licking his full lips, begging to be captured, he grabbed my wrists and quickly pinned them above my head once again. The pressure on my wrists excited me to the point I was arching into him, desperate for his touch.

"Keep your gorgeous hands there for me," Adriano ordered against my mouth, barely letting his lips touch mine. I nodded, unable to answer him with words, and he softly chuckled. "I didn't hear a yes, sir."

Fuck, this man was going to kill me.

Locking my gaze with his smoldering one, I licked my lips and gave him what he wanted. "Yes, sir."

"That's my good, good girl." Leaning down to bite my shoulder, I sharply inhaled.

Arching my back, he trailed open-mouthed kisses down my body as his soft lips explored every inch he could reach from my neck, chest, stomach, and thighs. He lavished me with his tongue, teeth, and lips until I was panting and spreading my legs for more. Silently begging for mercy from his dangerous mouth.

I felt breathless but alive at the same time—a feeling I have never felt before but has me oh so fucking excited and wound up, waiting for him to help relieve the built-up tension bubbling away in my core.

He watched from between my thighs as his fingers snaked along my skin and curled around the hem of my panties. Parting my lips, I wanted to beg for a reprieve when he suddenly yanked my legs apart. Gasping for air and grasping the sheets, he closed his mouth over my wet panties.

Placing kisses up to their waistband, Adriano gathered the elastic between his teeth and pulled my panties back to snap against my skin. My breath hitched in my chest, his hands slipping beneath my dress to push it up my body while leaving kisses on each new inch of exposed skin. Lost beneath the ocean of his kisses and rough caresses, I gave in to him, letting him consume me with passion and recklessness.

Running his lips up my body, he paused beneath my ear, whispering, claiming, "You're mine, little bird."

His words ignited a new power within me, and I abruptly flipped him onto his back and straddled his hips. Gripping his shirt in my fists, he groaned in ecstasy when I rubbed my hips against his throbbing cock with my wet pussy. His lashes lowered, drinking me in. Parting my lips, I brushed my swollen clit against his hardened length faster and harder until we were nearly there.

Toes curling, breath catching, hips bucking, I was about to come undone. And from the way he was flushed, gripping my hips, and widening his thighs, I knew he was, too. 

Adrenaline rushed through my veins, and I grabbed his knife to nick his collarbone. Hissing through his clenched teeth, I leaned down to run my tongue along the crimson line, tasting him. Adriano's cologne surrounded me, and his hand shot up to grip the sides of my throat, making me look into his eyes as a soft moan escaped through my slightly parted lips.

Our hips rolled together, seeking satisfaction after a long night of hell. I didn't care if I barely knew this man; I needed him. He was adrenaline and octane, spice and candy, drugs, and alcohol, and a vice I wasn't supposed to want but I desperately craved to have. Addiction in all the best ways.

With an earth-shattering bang, the bedroom door suddenly swung open.

Stumbling off Adriano's lap, I grabbed a pillow to shove over my body, staring at an embarrassed man in jeans and a T-shirt. It wasn't until Adriano opened his mouth that I realized the man was terrified.

"Do you need a lesson on how to have decent manners and knock?" Running a hand through his messy black hair, Adriano's chest rose and fell in quick pants. Frustration, tension, and anger colored his tone and it made me smile. 

I had done that. I had made him flustered and on edge. Pride and power surged through my veins, beckoning me to continue.

Raising his hands, the man said, "I'm sorry, boss. I just needed to come tell you something."

Clutching the pillow tightly, I watched Adriano stand up and storm across the room toward the guy. The man backed up against the wall as Adriano pulled back his hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. Flinching at the sharp sound of his hand meeting the man's face, I heard Adriano spout angry Sicilian at him.

With widened eyes, I watched Adriano take control of the situation.

"Now, you listen to me, Carlos. I need you to learn from your mistakes. NEVER walk into my bedroom unannounced, understood?" He smacked him upside the head and pointed at him with a menacing finger. "Are we clear, or do I need to tell you again?"

"Yes, Serpent. Sorry, Serpent." Swallowing hard, the man kissed his ass.

"I shouldn't have to say it more than once. You know that." Shoving the guy in the chest, Adriano flicked his blade open to press against the guy's jugular.

Heart racing and waiting with bated breath, I watched Adriano push the man out of the bedroom. Excusing himself, he shut the door behind them to obscure my view. Raising a brow, I heard something hard hit the wooden surface and a loud "fuck" before the door opened to reveal a disheveled Adriano.

Sauntering back inside, he kicked the door shut with his foot and walked toward the bed with long strides. He blew out a short brush, running a hand through his messy hair to try and tame it. His eyes locked with mine—sharp and dark. "Are you all right?"

Shrugging with a short laugh, I answered, "Nothing a glass of whiskey can't fix."

Although what would've been nice was an earth-shattering orgasm, I guess I'm going to have to receive that another time. Until then, a glass of whiskey would be perfect. 

He smirked. "Good because I have something I need to attend to in the basement."

"Oh?" Voice shifting, I became interested in what secrets lurked in his basement. What did he have hidden in there? Better yet, what did he do there?

"Mmhm, but first, come with me." 


TW: Graphic Depictions of Violence

RAVEN

Following Adriano to a darkened room, I flipped on the light switch. His closet came to life, showcasing an expansive wardrobe from casual clothing to formal wear. He had more clothing than a shopping mall!

I was honestly beyond impressed, and as I watched him maneuver around his room, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to this man than I originally thought. 

Touching the top corner of a modern white lacquered drawer, Adriano pulled out a basic black t-shirt, tossing it at me. It didn't take much for me to catch it in my fist, as I watched him turn around. "Really? After what we just did, you're going to fucking turn around like a gentleman?"

"Would you rather I stare like a heathen?" He peeked over his shoulder, making me lose my shit laughing.

"Didn't take you as a heathen, but you know I can kind of see it."

A sigh escaped him as he shook his head. "Get dressed."

Relaxing my shoulders and keep

Chapter 10 : Becoming Collateral