Scarred Seductress

The Night Came Back

“Strip.” The command came and sent a dizzy wave shooting down Selene’s spine, leaving her knees on the verge of buckling.

Damien’s wide eyes met his father’s stern face.

“Father….”

“You heard her, Damien… she claims to be my woman, so stay out of it.” Matteo growled, shutting Damien up.

Selene stood breathless, her thoughts spiralling out of control as every unbearable feeling known to man tangled inside her—anger, shame, helplessness—all at once.

“You’ve wanted this for the longest time, little w***e, haven’t you?” He sneered and settled against his table, lighting a cigarette between his lips and dragging in a slow smoke.

“But Father—”

“It’s our first time together. Don’t you think we need at least privacy?” Selene blurted, sending colour draining from Damien’s face. His eyes snagged from his father’s to Selene’s suddenly confident one, his lashes blinking with disbelief.

Matteo smiled. She never failed to surprise him—just as he had expected.

“I don’t think Mr Damien here would like to bore himself with the sight of his father sleeping with a w***e…”

Damien bit low on his lip, fury barely contained within him. How dare she agree to such a thing? He was just about to talk his father out of it, and she was agreeing?

He let out a bitter scoff. What was he expecting, in fact? She was a slut—she had been with Ricardo just nights ago.

“So what do you say, son? Do you mind excusing us?” Matteo said, trailing his gaze to Selene, this time lingering with interest.

He had only asked her to strip so Damien would witness her humiliation and not take her for more than what she was—an ambitious w***e. But now, no doubt, he was going down with her.

“Leave us…” Matteo’s cold voice sliced through the air, sending Damien tucking his face away as he burned with rage.

“Now.”

Damien shot Selene a hard glare, turned, and stormed out of the office.

“Get yourself in that room,” Matteo said to her, gesturing toward the door that led to the room latched to the office.

Selene’s shaking hands clutched her skin, echoes of the exact words from Matteo’s lips the other night replaying in her mind.

If I ever touch you… you’ll be mine till the day you die.

Her eyes met Matteo’s and she lowered her gaze quickly. She hated where this was going. She had only needed Damien out of the room for her sanity and had expected Matteo would turn her away—no doubt—but he actually wanted to make love to her?

“Do not keep me waiting….” He growled.

She nodded slowly and turned, walking stiffly toward the room as fear coiled tight around her chest.

“s**t,” she muttered under her breath as soon as she entered the room, away from his sight, her heart slamming violently against her ribs like it wanted out.

“What the f**k do I do?” Selene whimpered, her fingers clawing desperately through her hair.

She was losing control of her own game, and it would mean terror for her if Matteo owned her. It would mean tracking her everywhere, figuring out her intention of revenge faster—before she even got the chance to act.

If only he had not shown up that day she had improvised to save herself from Marina’s scheme to test her DNA, he would never have known about the fire. He would never have had his eyes on her—until maybe she was sure of her victory.

“No…” she shook her head quickly.

“I need to get out of here…” she mouthed, pressing a nod as she pushed herself into motion, her eyes searching the room for any escapable route.

“Don’t even think about it.” Matteo’s voice cut in from behind, freezing Selene in place.

She turned to meet his figure towering beside the door.

A dry chuckle tore from Selene’s lips.

“I said strip,” Matteo said, firm and calm.

Selene met his gaze, her lips curling into a pleading pout.

“There’s no reason to, Mr Moretti… how am I even worthy to—”

“You said you were my woman,” Matteo cut her off.

Selene’s face fell, her lips sinking into her shivering teeth.

“I hate to repeat myself….”

“But… but you know so well I’ve had something with your son—Damien—” Selene spouted.

Matteo scoffed and came walking in fully, smoking.

“It doesn’t matter… besides, you’re just a whore.” He spat, sending a sharp sting pushing deep into her heart.

“So if I say it one more time… I’m throwing you back out there,” Matteo said, his voice as serious as ever as he walked to the bed, settling quietly.

Selene hesitated, and he scoffed, anger erupting inside him for reasons he couldn’t name.

He peeled his phone out of his pocket and typed something, and within minutes quick footsteps came closing in on the door.

Selene took a slow step back.

“Get out of my face,” Matteo snarled, tearing his eyes from her as the door creaked open, revealing a guard just about to seize Selene’s wrist when she bolted toward Matteo on the bed—jumping onto it and crouching behind him, clinging to his shirt so fiercely she left a tear on it.

The guard gasped.

Matteo drained his eyes over himself, his face expressionless, leaving Selene yanking her hands off him as more terror flooded her spine.

“I can take care of her, sir—”

Matteo flicked his eyes to the guard and signalled for him to leave the room just as he was about to lurch for Selene.

“I’m sorry….” Selene apologised, stumbling away from him until she crumbled onto her back, breathless.

Matteo turned, his eyes trailing over her body beneath him.

“I’m sorry…” Selene apologised again—but to her surprise, Matteo peeled off his shirt quickly, revealing his heavily tattooed body and sending Selene’s soul jumping from her body as memories of that night years ago coincidentally came crashing back.

The man who had rid her of her virginity had been heavily tattooed, and ever since she had feared them—preferred to cover her scars with makeup and dreaded anyone who bore them.

“Get off me…” Selene choked out, shaking her head frantically, her breathing spiralling out of control.

At first, Matteo ignored her and leaned in to kiss her—until Selene broke into frantic tears, her body shaking beyond control.

Matteo leaned away slowly, confused.

“Don’t touch me, please!” Selene whined, clutching her head as she broke.

Matteo hissed madly and stepped out of the bed, leaving her to herself as he moved aside to smoke, unalarmed.

“Please… I beg you, please… don’t touch me!” Selene cried, squeezing her eyes shut as the horror of that night crashed back on her without mercy, threatening to drown her in silence as darkness hovered close.

I asked you to f*****g strip!

The voice from years ago echoed in her mind and tore a painful yelp from Selene’s throat.

Matteo’s eyes flicked to her.

She blacked out.