Seduced by Danger

A Month. That's how long it's been since my husband left me after our first night together. After taking my virginity, he left without a word, and he still hasn't returned.

I stared at the tea cup on the table, my sighs incessant.

I live in my father's house now. Initially, I managed to stay in our house with Leandro for the first three days, but since I had no one there except the guards and the house staff, I decided to come back here.

I still remember the fury in Papa's eyes when he found out what happened on our first night. He said I wasn't worth being a wife, so Leandro left me. I let it slide because I was used to receiving hurtful words from him. He had always been like that to me, even when I was still a child.

"Bella, do you need anything? Maybe you're hungry," Lara, our househelper, appeared.

I smiled at her and shook my head. "No, I'm fine. I'm not hungry."

After saying those few words, I was left alone again.

Papa isn't here now; he's at the company. Our company's status has improved since news spread that I married Leandro David De Angelis. Our stocks have risen, and more investors are interested.

Originally, it wasn't supposed to be Leandro I married. I was destined to marry Ethan Thompson, Papa's friend's son. But due to unforeseen events, Papa wanted me to marry someone who could uplift our business, not drag it down. That's when the De Angelis marriage offer came, which Papa quickly accepted. Initially, he wanted Izzy to marry one of the De Angelis, but it seemed they wanted the eldest child, which is me. So, even though it went against Papa's wishes, he agreed.

"Bella..."

My thoughts were interrupted by Izzy calling me, my younger half-sister. She's Papa's daughter from his second marriage after my mother passed away. I was too young to remember how my biological mother died; all I knew was that she died from a severe illness.

"What is it, Izzy?" I asked her.

She smiled faintly at me, sadness evident in her eyes. "Do you want to come with me? My friends and I are going to the mall; maybe you'd like to join us? Papa has been scolding you a lot lately. Shopping might help lighten your mood," Izzy suggested.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. Go ahead and meet your friends. Don't worry about me."

Despite being only half-sisterss through our father, Izzy and I were close. Aunt Lorena, my stepmother, also treated me kindly, so I consider myself lucky, even though Papa could be harsh.

Izzy nodded, though it seemed like she didn't want to leave me alone.

After a while, I decided to enter my room. I glanced out of the window as my sister left, and when she disappeared from sight, I chose to lie down on the bed and rest. I always felt tired, even though I didn't do anything.

"Issabella!"

I tightly shut my eyes upon hearing my father's angry voice again. I thought he was at the office today, but it seems he made a detour to come home and scold me. I could feel he was about to throw something new at me. I'm really not his favorite child. To him, I'm foolish, and Izzy is the perfect child.

"Noah, just let Bella be!" Aunt Lorena intervened, trying to restrain him.

The door to my room forcefully swung open. I didn't even need to look to know who had entered. It was obviously Papa.

I got up to speak with him, but Papa slapped some photos onto my bed, and I saw Leandro in them.

"Look at these pictures! Someone sent these to us earlier. It probably hasn't made it to the media yet because Leandro's family is likely trying to contain it. Your husband supposedly has another woman."

I wearily examined the photos and let out a sigh. It was Leandro with a woman I didn't recognize, seemingly at a grand party in another country.

"I don't know, Pa. I haven't heard any news from him-"

"If you had been a good wife to him, he wouldn't have left you here and taken you with him out of the country! You're not even a useful daughter, let alone a good wife!" Papa retorted.

I could still hear Aunt Lorena trying to calm Papa down, but he seemed unwilling to be stopped.

"Why do I have to be blamed because of his infidelity, Papa? I'm not the one who cheated, am I? I'm not the one who left on the first night. Why am I the one you blame? Shouldn't it be Le-"

I stopped abruptly, almost getting slapped by my father if it wasn't for Aunt Lorena who stopped his hand mid way.

"And you dare talk back like a child! You haven't contributed anything to this family except being a burden! You can't even be a decent wife!"

"That's enough! Let Bella rest. She's tired of everything you've been saying to her, Noah. Have some mercy on your daughter," Aunt Lorena continued trying to stop Papa, but she seemed quite angry with me now.

"If that man comes back and divorces you, Bella, you'll be in real trouble with me!" Papa left after uttering those hurtful words.

This was the usual scene in our house ever since I decided to live here temporarily because my husband was gone. I always received criticism from my father, and it was always Aunt Lorena, my stepmother, or Izzy who defended me.

"Please forgive your father," Aunt Lorena said, approaching me and gently caressing my arm. "He's stressed because of the company. Some are speculating that your husband might leave you, and others want to withdraw their investments. Noah is venting his stress on you."

I knew that Papa valued every investment and Leandro greatly. Because of them, our company was recovering from the brink of collapse. Now, with rumors spreading that my husband had another woman or might seek a divorce, those who invested in our company due to the De Angelis influence might pull out their shares.

Since I was accustomed to Papa's outbursts and hurtful words, I just let it slide. I was used to Papa berating me; it hardly affected me anymore.

The next day, I was shaken by the news that Leandro was reportedly returning to the country. I didn't know how to feel about that. Papa continued to give me lectures, warning me that Leandro might return and seek a divorce. I remained silent.

After a month of abruptly leaving me, now he wanted to show up? If he really intended to divorce me, that was fine with me. What I probably couldn't handle was the harsh punishment from my own father.

I wanted to run away. I had tried that several times but failed in my attempts. When Papa caught me trying to escape, he would lock me in the attic for weeks. He would bring me food, but it was still a terrifying experience. Maybe that's why I grew up afraid of dark places.

"When Leandro David De Angelis divorces you, I don't know what I'll do to you! Your mother should have taken you with her when she died!"

I gritted my teeth. If I had no appetite earlier, I had even less now.

Perhaps the most painful thing was hearing your own father pray for you to be gone from his life.

"I really wanted him to marry Izzy! Because I know she would be a better wife for Leandro, but she's still too young, so it had to be the eldest! It's all so wrong!"

I tried to block out what I was hearing. Izzy here, Izzy there. Sometimes, no matter how much I loved my sister, I couldn't help but envy the attention Papa gave her. Maybe if Izzy had been the one to marry, I wouldn't inherit anything from him. Now, the company would belong to me alone because I was the one married to the man who claimed to save it.

"If Leandro decided to annul your marriage, you won't get a single cent from me, Bella. Remember that!"

There were many grounds for annulment, and I knew our marriage wouldn't easily be voided. But with the influence of the De Angelis family, perhaps he can accomplish difficult tasks in the eyes of others.

After breakfast, I went into my room. I dressed and prepared. It seemed like my husband would arrive at any time.

We've been married for a month, but I still don't know him very well. Aside from knowing he's passionate in bed and his name, I know nothing about him. He's a complete stranger to me.

"Ma'am Bella, Sir Leandro is here," one of our helpers announced.

Leandro entered my room, and just like our first meeting, my heart raced with nervousness when I saw his cold eyes fixed on me.

We were left by the helper, who closed the door to give us some privacy.

Leandro was staring at me as if I were shrinking under the intensity of his gaze. There was no life in his eyes, and you could feel the violence simmering beneath his surface.

Should I greet him? I must make sure he doesn't contemplate leaving me. Even though I didn't want this marriage and felt nothing for him, I had to maintain it for our company's sake. He's the one who will save our business.

"How have you been?" Leandro finally broke the long silence. His voice remained cold, as if he was reluctant or forced to speak. He surveyed the entire room, his fingers gliding over some nearby furniture.

I gulped and took a deep breath, thinking about how to respond to him, even though his question was straightforward. "I-I'm good. How about you?" I stuttered. This is what he does to me; when he's around, I'm afraid of him.

I heard many rumors about him way before the marriage. That's why, at first, I begged my father not to marry me off to him. I thought he might double the abuse my father inflicted on me. I grew up in an abusive household; I can't deny that.

As for Leandro, they say he doesn't back down or show fear. He brings down anyone who crosses him. He erases anyone who opposes him. He's heartless, devoid of compassion and conscience. It's evident in the aura he's exuding right now. He's very authoritative.

He stared at me after hearing my response. Anger flashed in his eyes, intensifying my unease. I couldn't tell if I actually saw the anger in his expression or if I was just imagining it.

"Why are you still living with your parents?" He raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to me. "We have a house. Why did you choose to stay here?"

I furrowed my brow at his question. Why is he asking me this now? He left me without a word, and now he's surprised I chose to come back here. "I stayed there for a few days, but..." I trailed off.

I wanted to bring up the topic of the pictures I saw of him with another woman, which my father had shown me, but I also realized I didn't really care. It's not that I was hurt, to be honest; I didn't feel anything. What bothered me was that most people assumed he'd leave me. Or I'm only thinking that he won't.

I had many questions about Leandro. One of them was where he went during the time he left me. Who was the woman with him? Is he going to divorce me?

Despite all these thoughts swirling in my head, I couldn't voice a single one.

"Pack your things, we're leaving." Leandro turned away from me, about to leave the room when I spoke again.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

He glanced back at me and rolled his eyes. His expression conveyed impatience with my seemingly pointless question. I pressed my lips together. "We're going home, where you should've been living all along."

I was taken aback by his words. He was too aloof, and I guessed he'd be difficult to get along with. He was the kind of person you had to immediately understand what he meant because he didn't like repeating himself. He was hard to read. I could only hope that he wasn't abusive. I'm done being a battered daughter, and I don't want to be a battered wife.

Several maids entered my room and immediately started packing my belongings. Everything was neatly placed into a few suitcases that I would be taking with me. It felt like they didn't want me to come back here.

I noticed Leandro leaning against the door frame, watching me. I avoided his gaze because I didn't feel comfortable.

"If you're done packing her things, you all may leave now," Leandro said with authority.

The maids hurriedly organized my belongings and I watched them, trying to avoid the piercing gaze of the man near the door. The maids left quickly.

Leandro walked toward me, and with each step he took, I felt my saliva go dry. I took a step back for no apparent reason.

Leandro was too intimidating and terrifying. His presence alone was enough to make me tremble with fear. Even with clothes on, you could still feel it.

Lost in my thoughts about him, I didn't realize he was already standing right in front of me. I attempted to move away from him, but Leandro grabbed my hand. In one swift motion, he laid me down on the bed.

"L-Let me go," I whispered softly. I felt weak, just because Leandro was here.

"You told me never to ask you again, but am I allowed to kiss my wife? Am I allowed to have sex with you right now?"

I was stunned by his consecutive questions. I thought of this as my duty as a wife, so I nodded. As long as Leandro didn't hurt or beat me, I would allow him to use my body.

Leandro kissed me after seeing my nod. I let out a faint moan due to the intensity of his kiss.

I tried to push him away to catch my breath, but I felt weak. Was I really weak, or did I just not want him to stop even though I was running out of breath?

"I'm mad at you," he whispered amidst kissing my lips. He kissed me shallowly, intoxicatingly. It felt like I was drinking alcohol with every touch of his lips, and I lost myself in it. "I know you don't want this marriage, but can you at least act like you're pleased and happy to see your husband after not seeing him for a month?"

Leandro held both of my cheeks. My lips parted because of what he did, allowing his tongue to enter my mouth. It explored as if searching for something inside me. I couldn't help but close my eyes tightly. Something strange was happening in my stomach. It felt like a storm raging there, and I couldn't explain it.

I couldn't breathe anymore. Nevertheless, I couldn't bring myself to push him away or stop him from kissing me. Instead of stopping him, I saw myself being drawn into what he was doing. This was part of my duty as his wife: to satisfy my husband's needs, so he wouldn't think of divorcing me and leaving me.

When he finally released my hand that he had been holding earlier, I slowly wrapped my arms around his neck. Our kisses deepened, and I found myself reciprocating each of Leandro's kisses.

"Hmm..." I couldn't help but release a small moan because of that. I seemed to have lost myself completely and my sanity had abandoned me.

His hand moved from my neck. I could feel his warm touch as it trailed down my neck and down to my chest. I involuntarily flinched when he grazed the curve of my right breast. It didn't stay there long; his hand moved down to my abdomen, almost reaching between my thighs, and I accidentally bit his lip.

Both of us froze, especially when I tasted the metallic tang of blood.

"S-Sorry," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

He simply stared at me, his eyes devoid of emotion. He sighed before withdrawing from his position over me.

I bit my lip. Did my unintentional action disappoint him? It was embarrassing!

"Leandro..." I couldn't remember if I had called him by his name before or if this was the first time. "Were you cheating on me? Is that why you left for a month?"

Leandro swiftly faced me, faster than lightning. I bowed my head; I couldn't look at him because he was too much for me.

"Someone sent Dad photos of you with another woman. He said you were cheating and planning to divorce me," I managed to choke out the words, my saliva feeling like acid to swallow.

I raised my gaze to meet Leandro's, boldly locking eyes with him.

He took a step closer, and I flinched, thinking he might hurt me. But he didn't lay a hand on me. Instead, he pressed his palm onto the bed and leaned in closer.

"I am not cheating on you," he said, his tone cold. "But be thankful for that woman you saw in the pictures; it's not you six feet under."

He straightened up after saying that. His expression was still dark and difficult to read.

"That's why I told your father that I wanted our wedding to be intimate, not broadcasted in any media. But he couldn't keep his mouth shut and spread the news about the wedding. Luckily, the pictures of you didn't circulate," he continued, shaking his head as if disappointed. "Because the moment our enemies find out that I'm getting married, as the head of our family, your life could be in danger." He tilted his head to the side. "Just think that I was absent for a month to ensure your safety."

I must have been drooling at his words. The thought that the woman with him in the picture might be buried six feet under crossed my mind. Is she dead? How?

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.