Nothing had prepared her for his assault on her nerve endings. Not that first fumbling boy who had come too fast and left her hurting and embarrassed, vowing never to try sex again. Not her own fingers when she was desperate for something she didn’t understand, chasing a feeling that would never come.

Stefano was relentless, not giving her time to think or breathe. He just took over her body, his finger sliding into her wet tightness, curving, finding that perfect spot deep inside she hadn’t even known existed. The gathering tension coiled so tightly she knew a tsunami was coming.

“Touch your nipples, Francesca,” he ordered. “Pinch and pull, hard. Like I did. Don’t be afraid of being rough. You like that. Every time I bit down, I could feel how wet you got for me. So hot. So slick. I want to watch you.”

She’d never done anything like that, but she didn’t think to disobey him. Her hands slid up her body to cup the weight of her breasts in her palms and then she flicked her nipples experimentally. She wanted his mouth back. He was poised, right there. She could feel his breath on her clit, his lips so close. His eyes, those twin blue flames, burned into her, watching her, waiting for her to do as he told her. She knew if she didn’t, he wouldn’t give her what she wanted.

Her fingers pinched her nipples. Tugged. Rolled.

“Harder, bella.” His lips, when he spoke, teased her clit.

A moan escaped. His demands only made her body climb higher with need. She did as he said, tugging harder. Pinching and pulling. Streaks of fire raced straight to her center so that her inner muscles spasmed, contracted, so close, the terrible pressure building even more. His shoulders held her legs spread wide, while his mouth worked at her and his finger continued to push that need to the breaking point.

She writhed and tried to push against him. She needed a moment. Just one moment to catch her breath, to get back her sanity, to try to still her wild mind enough to think, but he pressed one hand flat on her belly, fingers splayed wide, easily controlling her, holding her in place so that she had no choice but to plead for release. She begged him as he took her close several times, but stopped or slowed before she could tip over the edge.

He plunged a second finger into her without any warning, simultaneously giving her an order. “Now, baby, come for me now.” She did, screaming, as her body shattered, fragmented, her back arching, her hips bucking, a sob welling up as the tsunami roared through her.

Stefano’s blue eyes were dark with satisfaction, arrogance stamped into every sensual line. He slowly straightened, taking her legs with him as he did so. He ran his hands over her body, from her breasts, down her narrow rib cage to her belly and then along her thighs. Francesca couldn’t move, her body so boneless she thought she might have melted into the marble she lay on.

He reached down and caught both her wrists in one hand, pulling his tie from around his neck with the other. He wrapped the soft tie quickly around her wrists and then pulled her arms above her head, securing the loop he’d made into a hook built into the wall at the end of the sideboard. He accomplished the entire thing with dizzying speed. She actually didn’t comprehend what he’d done until he stepped back from the table, slowly shrugging out of his jacket, his eyes never leaving her face. He smiled, a feral, predatory smile as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt while the fact dawned on her that she was his captive.

Francesca tugged at her hands, still dazed, watching him as his hand slowly undid his belt buckle and unzipped the fly of his trousers. “Stefano?” Her voice was weak with excitement and trembling with fear.

“You’re all mine, amore, and you’re going to have no doubts about that by the end of this night.”

She had no doubts already and watching him remove his trousers to reveal his heavy erection only added to the scorching heat building so fast inside her. He was impressive and beautiful to her. She’d never thought a man could look so hot as he stepped in close again.

“You on birth control, Francesca?” he asked. His hand slid down her belly to the junction of her legs. His hands stayed right there, waiting for her answer.

She couldn’t find her voice, so she just nodded.

“I’m clean, dolce cuore. I’ve never fucked a woman without being gloved. Not ever.” He had her spread wide still, his body forcing her legs apart while his hand circled the girth of his cock. “You come when I tell you, Francesca. You understand me, bambina. When I say. I’m going to make this good for you, but you listen to me and do what I say.”

She shivered at the sheer arrogance, at the intense hunger in his hooded gaze. He bent to flick her nipple with his tongue and then he used his teeth, biting down while he rubbed the head of his cock over her clit, back and forth. She nearly exploded again, the bite of pain adding to the pleasure storming through her.