Chapter 3

I feel Olivia watching me intently. The intensity of her gaze makes me feel watched in a way I never have before. I'm not a virgin by any means, but I'm usually a lights-off kind of girl. I don't do strip teases for anyone.

Olivia makes an impatient sound and then does something that shocks me. She strips her own clothes off so quickly that she beats me to it.

She stands there proud, chest out, perfect tits pointing right at me. She watches me as I hurry to get the rest of my clothes off.

"Sorry, I don't...normally take off all my clothes in a hotel room with a stranger."

Olivia stalks over to me. She has a strut like a runway model. Everything jiggles just the right amount.

"Turn around."

I turn, and as soon as my back is to her, Olivia slaps my left ass cheek, hard.

"Ow!" I cry out.

"That's for saying you're sorry. You never use those words again, do you understand?"

"I'm so-- yes, I understand."Whew, that was a close one!

My ass cheek stings as I turn to face her again. In the mirror by the bed, I see the print of her five delicate fingers on my skin in red. Goose flesh is raised around the handprint from how hard she hit me.

She catches me looking and smiles.

"I know what I'm doing," she says. "Do you?"

Before I can answer, Olivia walks closer. She gets right up in my space, until I feel the heat from her body near my skin. Until her thigh brushes against mine. I can't resist the sharp intake of breath that happens. Olivia's features change to something much more sensual, a look that makes something clench inside me.

I'm not into women, but damn, she's beautiful. And that look would burn a hole in most men. I'm not used toanyonelooking at me like that.

She reaches up and brushes her fingertips across my breast. She gets close enough that our breasts touch, gently, and leans in to slide her full lips across my neck.

Her other hand traces its way up my inner thigh and rests on my mound. She doesn't look down, instead just exploring me with that hand. Her fingernails trace the edges of my pubic hair like she's making a map with her fingers.

"This will have to be tamed," she whispers, sultry in my ear.

I know from the way she tensed her fingers that she means my hair down there. It's been awhile since I've done any trimming or waxing, okay? I have blond hair you can hardly see and no one has been anywhere near my nether regions for way too long.

But someone has in my dreams…

Just the thought makes her touch feel like something else. Her fingers could be just the tips of his tentacles against my folds. I tremble, afraid if it goes on any longer, she'll feel that I'm getting wet, or worse...

The thought makes me blush even worse, and I turn away, gasping for air, unable to even look at her.

"You don't like to be touched?" she whispers. Her lips practically kiss just below my ear as she does.

"Normally, I give permission first," I say, a little tightly. It feels like I'm forcing the words out through clenched teeth.

"Do you think he will ask for permission? When he wants to touch his bride-to-be? Or on your wedding night? Do you think he'll beg for your permission when he wants you? A human woman he doesn't even want to marry? A play thing he hopes will die, like an unwanted goldfish? Do you really think that?"

"No...I guess I..." I didn't really think about it. I knew there'd be risks, and maybe I'd have to...do some things. But being alone with a man who feels like he owns me and my body?

I never thought of that.

Part of me hoped an arranged marriage would be cold. Like a business transaction. But I can see now that I was naive.

Men in Olivia's world don't see things that way.

"Do you really think he'll see me that way? As a plaything for him to use?"

She looks at me darkly.

"I see you're weak enough to be used. Do you know why we're often cruel to each other? It's because cruelty makes people shed tears. And tears show your weakness. Our beauty and our cruelty are our armor. Never forget that. It's what keeps you safe."

"Jesus."

A cold jet of fear inside me tries to take over, but it only mingles with the heat, like throwing gasoline on the fire. It's like my body knows I'm in danger and just wants to get laid one last time.

"I could make it easier on you," she says, licking up the curve of my neck with her smooth velvet tongue. "I could take you here and now. Harden you to it. I could teach you all about violence and lust."

My skin flushes again, heat coursing through me. Between my legs, her fingers curve to press just against my opening, causing me to get an orgasm.

Then she sighs and steps away.

"You're ready?" she says, irritably. "Just like that? You've never even had sex, have you?"

"I'm not a virgin!"

Olivia grins.

"That's not the same thing. Go put your terrible clothes on. We're going shopping. You can't be seen in those clothes again. Once you have something fit to wear, we're going to burn them."

My body still shivers with desire as I dress. Something else washes over me then, too. A warm feeling of shame. She's not wrong.

How is anyone going to believe I'm some tough as nails mafia princess?

"I wouldn't sleep with someone just because they took me to Olive Garden," I mutter as I get my pants on.

"That's an awfully low bar," Olivia replies drily.