Chapter 3 The De Angelis' Mansion

• I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the hand extended in front of me. I looked at it before raising my gaze to Leandro. I hesitated for a moment before accepting it and getting up from the bed. I stared at him, trying to gauge his expression.
• I had assumed earlier that he would be angry with me and would use force. I thought, like my father, he would punish me if I didn't do what he wanted. But it didn't seem that way.
• "Let's go home, Bella."
• It felt like a warm caress on my heart. For the first time, hearing my name being called by someone else felt so comforting.
• I didn't know that someone who seemed so heartless could say my name in the softest and most caring voice I could imagine.
• We were silent during the journey from my father's place to my husband's. I closed my eyes, realizing that in my thoughts, I was calling Leandro, my husband. It's not technically wrong. Leandro is my husband, but it still feels weird.
• I glanced at Leandro, who was seated on the other side of the car, deeply engrossed in his laptop. When there were no phone calls, he busied himself typing away on his laptop.
• I wanted to strike up a conversation with him. I wanted us to be comfortable with each other because we had entered into a lifelong commitment, but whenever I saw Leandro or his cold, penetrating eyes fixed on me, my confidence waned.
• If my father was intimidating, Leandro was worse, ten times more intimidating than my father.
• When Leandro's head moved, I quickly averted my gaze. My heart raced wildly for a moment; I thought he was going to look in my direction.
• I kept my eyes fixed on the scenery outside the window. The view was familiar to me, as it was the same sight I had seen when I left Leandro's house to return to my father's home.
• We entered an exclusive subdivision where Leandro's house was located. It's still awkward for me to call that house...ours.
• After a while, I spotted the imposing and elegant gate of the house. It was towering, and you could see the family emblem on it. I remembered the first time I arrived here; I was captivated by the emblem carved on the gate. It was the only part of the gate in gold, while the rest was black.
• The gate opened, and our car drove in. Not far away, I saw the familiar house where I had stayed for a few days before leaving.
• I suddenly remembered what he had said about the woman he was with in another country. The woman died, and I didn't know the cause of her death. I wanted to ask Leandro, but I was afraid. Leandro had this aura that discouraged you from asking about things he had already discussed. It was as if he gave you certain details, and that was all you should inquire about; the rest was off-limits. If you asked for more information, he would become irritated.
• And the last thing I wanted right now was to make him mad. He might... he might hurt me like my father did when he was angry with me.
• The car pulled up in front of the house, and someone opened the door for me. As I stepped out, all the household staff and Leandro's employees lined up to greet us. I felt a slight jolt when I saw Leandro standing beside me.
• Respectfully, they all greeted us. I slowly felt Leandro's hand slide from my back to my waist. I took a deep breath. In those few moments, I wondered where his hand would go next.
• We entered the house together. Aside from the staff who welcomed us, two more people were in the office. One was a woman, and the other was a man.
• Both of them were as intimidating as their boss. It wouldn't surprise me if all of Leandro's employees were emotionless.
• "Welcome home, Mrs. De Angelis," both of them greeted me. A strange surge of electricity coursed through my back as I heard them address me.
• Right, because I am Mrs. De Angelis now. I married Leandro, and we are now husband and wife. When will I get used to this?
• "My name is Nicola," the woman introduced herself.
• "Fabio, Mrs. De Angelis," the man added.
• I smiled at the two of them, even though I was nervous. I extended my hand to shake theirs, but they just stared at it before looking at Leandro, who was beside me.
• I also glanced at Leandro, who was staring at my hand, so I quickly withdrew it. Wasn't this a common gesture here? I mean, shaking hands with someone you just met.
• Nicola cleared her throat and stood up straight.
• "They'll be your personal bodyguards," Leandro said, pulling me away from them as if our conversation was over.
• I smiled again at Nicola and Fabio, and they nodded in response.
• Leandro held me tightly, but I didn't feel any pain. Not like when Papa holds me. I couldn't help but compare how the two men in my life touch me. When Papa holds me, all I feel is fear because I know he'll hurt me. But whenever Leandro's holding or touching me, my heart is at ease. Still, my fear lingers, afraid that one day he might hurt me too.
• Both me and Leandro entered the room together, and my belongings were already here.
• I didn't move from my spot. I was still trying to figure out what to do and what Leandro wanted, as we were now alone in the room.
• I looked in his direction. He was loosening his tie. The top three buttons of his dress shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of his chest.
• I took a deep breath as I remembered seeing his entire body once.
• I shook my head. This is not the time to think about that! And then what did Leandro do? He left you the next morning!
• Leandro walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and I could see the veins in his forearms when he moved.
• "What are you doing? Come here, Bella. We have unfinished business to attend to."
• I slowly walked towards him, my heart racing with nervousness. He's just too intimidating! You can't even tell if he's pleased or not because he always shows the same expression—cold and dark. Okay, that's two.
• When I was in front of him, he pulled me closer, and I sat on his lap.
• I'm not a coward. Sure, I have a lot of trauma from my childhood, and sometimes it gets triggered. But I'm not a coward. There are only two people who can make me feel weak and powerless—Papa and my husband. When they're in front of me, I'd rather just obey than question them because in the end, I know I'm the one who will suffer.
• I let out a sigh as Leandro's hand moved up and down my side, inching toward my underboob. My face heated up from the embarrassment of not stopping him.
• "I have three house rules." His warm breath brushed against my cheek as his hand trailed down to my neck. Given our proximity, I could smell his cologne.
• I nervously fiddled with my hands, feeling like a child waiting for someone to instruct her, afraid of making a mistake.
• "First, obey me. Second, follow everything I say. Third, don't defy me. Because if you're going to disobey me, I'll make sure to discipline and punish you."
• Technically, those three rules were just the same. He was basically telling me never to go against his wishes.
• I wondered what kind of punishment he had in mind. Would it be similar to the punishments my father imposed on me? Maybe there wasn't much difference between the two.
• "Do you understand that?" His voice was calm yet carried a dangerous and threatening undertone.
• I nodded involuntarily. I didn't have a choice; if I disagreed now, it would probably be considered my first offense.
• He caressed my side again, this time reaching higher, causing me to close my eyes and let out a soft moan. I quickly bit my lip when I realized what I had done.
• I looked at Leandro, aware that my expression might not be appropriate right now, but it was beyond my control. The way he touched me sent shivers down my spine.
• "Do you have any questions, Bella?"
• Even his use of my name sent electric shocks through my body. I clenched my thigh as my body pulsed with desire.
• I mustered the courage to meet Leandro's gaze. His cold and dark expression was unwavering, as if nothing could change it.
• Leandro was a handsome man. Actually, ‘handsome’ was an understatement. I didn't think words were enough to describe him. He was sexy, hot, and masculine. I had been pursued by men before, and I could confidently say that, appearance-wise, none came close to Leandro.
• "Are you leaving again?" Of all the questions I wanted to ask him, that was the one that slipped out.
• I regretted it immediately, especially when I noticed his raised eyebrow. It felt like he didn't appreciate my question.
• "What do you mean?" His hand remained on my waist. My heart raced so fast that I felt he could hear it.
• "I mean, like before, are you going to leave without saying anything? I just want to know so I won't be surprised." Lies! I was asking because it made me sad. It was disheartening to wake up one morning and find the man you were with the night before was gone. So many thoughts would cross your mind, wondering if I was the reason he left or if he would ever return. I just wished Leandro would at least say goodbye if he planned to leave again for an extended period.
• He stared at me for a long time before speaking. "The next time I leave, you're coming with me. If not, I'll make sure to let you know that I'm leaving."
• My face lit up with joy. My heart leaped with happiness at Leandro's words. It was a simple statement, but it meant the world to me.
• I hadn't even noticed that I was smiling at Leandro. I quickly suppressed the smile and bit my lip to keep from grinning again.
• Leandro's gaze descended from my eyes to my lips, which I had been gently nibbling on. My breath grew heavier as he fixated on my lips. Unconsciously, I stopped biting them, leaving them slightly parted.
• I couldn't help but also look at his lips. I noticed a small cut from when I bit him earlier. I wanted to touch it, to run my finger along it, but then I remembered that Leandro might not appreciate me touching him without permission.
• I observed Leandro's face drawing closer to mine, still locked on my lips. My heart raced so fast because of his movements that I ended up biting my lip again.
• A low, almost inaudible groan escaped him. What happened next surprised me.
• He grasped my nape and pulled me closer to him. Leandro kissed me passionately, his kisses aggressive and filled with hunger, unlike the ones he had given me at my father's house.
• I moaned and clung to his shirt as he kissed me this way. It felt like I was being consumed by him.
• His tongue grazed my lips, tasting every inch of them. When I parted my lips, he entered with his tongue.
• I surrendered to the sensations coursing through me. I knew there was no use resisting because I had been feeling something strange between my legs for a while now.
• "Hmm..."
• I decided not to bite Leandro's lip again, fearing that it would end this moment, just like what happened earlier.
• His hands found their way from my shoulders down to my breast. He kissed me even deeper as he slipped his hand beneath my clothes.
• The way he fondled my breast sent shivers down my spine. I broke our kiss and arched my back. It just gave him access to my neck, which he kissed and sucked on. The sound of him sucking on my neck filled the room.
• My breathing quickened, and my nails dug into him. Even though not much had happened yet, I already felt like I was losing my mind.
• I was too sensitive.
• "Leandro…”
• When I called his name, it was as if I had given him a signal—a permission. Leandro lifted me and laid me on the bed, never breaking our kiss. I moaned in the midst of our passionate exchange.
• He lifted my left leg and raised it slightly in the air. We were in the midst of an intense and fiery moment when suddenly, his cellphone rang.
• Leandro paused his kissing but not our proximity. He closed his eyes briefly, then eventually pulled away and reached for his cellphone.
• I was left feeling disappointed, and as I realized what I had done earlier, embarrassment surged within me. Seriously? Where did I find the courage? And I even moaned his name!
• "What is it?" I wasn't sure who had called Leandro, as he didn't even greet the caller when he answered.
• He released a deep sigh, and as I noticed him getting himself together, my dismay washed over me.
• "I'll be there in a while." He hung up the phone and looked at me. I was sitting on the bed, gazing at him.
• I knew Leandro had to leave. It was evident in what he said to the person on the other end of the line.
• "I have to go. I'll be back tonight."
• I simply nodded, unable to think of anything else to say. I couldn't stop him. There might be an issue with his company that required his presence.
• "Take care," I said.
• Leandro was about to leave when I noticed something.
• "Leandro!" I called after him. He turned to face me, so I stood up to approach him. When I attempted to touch him, I saw him avoid my touch. "Y-You have a lipstick stain on your lips."
• I pointed at my own lips to indicate where the lipstick stain was, probably from me.
• Leandro didn't move. He didn't wipe it off.
• "Do it," he said. "You were about to get rid of the stain, right? Do it."
• My eyes widened. Earlier, I thought he didn't want me to touch him, so I refrained from doing it. I nodded and slowly brushed my finger against his lips to remove the lipstick. I couldn't help but feel restless while doing it because he was staring at me intently.
• "Done." I took a step back. He was still looking at me.
• He closed his eyes firmly and took a deep breath.
• "I'll see you tonight." He turned away from me, and I noticed him sigh. He left after that.