The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 71

Rachel

My head was spinning. What had just happened? Everything had changed so quickly, so suddenly, that it was hard to understand how we had gotten to this point. Vincenzo, who moments ago had seemed disoriented, acting as if he had forgotten everything, was now back in control, without offering any explanation. And Nancy... their relationship was more than intriguing, it was disturbing. What, after all, was uniting them in such an intense and at the same time destructive way?

Questions flooded my mind, one after another, but I knew that I wouldn't get answers if I stayed there, lost in my thoughts. Vincenzo had left the room with Nancy, and I knew that if I wanted to understand what was really happening, I would have to face him. Taking a deep breath, I gathered the strength to stand up. My muscles still ached, but the urge to clarify everything that was happening drove me to continue.

When I stood up, I saw my black overcoat thrown on the bedroom floor. I walked towards him, moving with some difficulty, my legs still weak from the recent events. I quickly put it on, covering what was left of my dignity, and left the room. The walls of the house seemed to breathe with me, as if the entire space was impregnated with the tension that hung between us. But I was determined. I needed to face Vincenzo and demand answers.

I walked towards the exit of the room, where I could hear the sound of running water. Vincenzo was taking a shower. I stopped for a moment, trying to calm my mind and plan what I was going to say. There was so much I needed to understand: his relationship with Nancy, what exactly he expected of me, and, most of all, what the real dynamics of that house were. It all seemed like a great web of secrets that I now found myself trapped in.

Without hesitating any longer, I walked towards the sound of the water. His bathroom was next to the bedroom, partially hidden by a heavy curtain. As I approached, I saw Vincenzo from behind, the water running down his body as he washed his hair. For a moment, I hesitated. Was I sure I should confront him there? But the determination in me grew. I needed answers, and he was the only one who could provide them.

Without saying anything, I removed the lingerie that was still attached to my body. I felt the fabric slide over my skin, and for a second, the cold air of the room made me shiver. But it wasn't the cold that bothered me, it was the tension, the uncertainty of what would happen next.

I took a step towards Vincenzo, who hadn't yet noticed my presence. My heart was pounding in my chest, and each movement felt heavier than the last. When I was close enough, the hot water from the shower began to splash on me, as if it wanted to pull me into that moment, into that confrontation that I feared so much, but knew was necessary.

"Vincenzo..." my voice was low, but firm enough to catch his attention. He stopped what he was doing and slowly turned to me, his piercing eyes meeting mine. There was no turning back. I was going to get my answers, or at least try.

I stood there for a moment, frozen, watching Vincenzo turn completely to face me as the water ran down his muscular body. It was hard not to admire his physique every line and contour seemed perfectly drawn. My heart was racing, but not just because of attraction. There was something deeper there, something that mixed fascination and fear.

"Are you just going to stare at me?" he asked, his voice calm but full of command. "Why don't you join me?"

I tried to answer naturally, but the tension of the moment was too great. "It's too cold for me," I said, trying to sound casual, but the truth was that I was nervous.

Without saying anything, he turned to the touch panel on the wall and adjusted the water temperature. Steam rose almost instantly, enveloping us like a warm curtain. Vincenzo was always so meticulous, always in control of every detail, and that only increased my uncertainty about him. But I was determined not to let my mind wander from the questions that needed answers.

With a final hesitant breath, I stepped into the shower, feeling the warm water hit my shoulders and run down my skin. His closeness made me feel vulnerable, but at the same time, stronger than ever. I knew this was the moment to demand what I needed.

"I want answers," I said, my voice shaking a little but held together by my determination. "A lot of things don't make sense to me in this house. If you want me to stay here, you need to start answering my questions."

Vincenzo, who had been focused on the shower until then, turned his gaze to me. The intensity in his eyes almost made me flinch, but I held my ground. He was silent for a few seconds, his eyes assessing my expression. When he finally spoke, it was with a simple, disconcerting city.

"Sure."

The speed with which he responded took me by surprise. Was that it? Was he just going to agree? There was something odd about his calmness. I didn't know if I should trust that calm, indifferent tone. "After the shower," he continued, turning back to the water. "We talked at the dinner table. I'm hungry."

A mixture of relief and frustration washed over me. Part of me was ready to press him further, to get answers now, but another part knew there was no point in forcing the situation. Vincenzo always acted in his own time, and trying to control him would be futile. The only choice I had was to wait.

With a smirk, I decided to break the tension another way. "Hungry?" I asked, a tease in the words. "I thought you were already full."

Vincenzo gave me a look that sent a shiver down my spine, despite the hot water. "I am insatiable," he replied, his voice low, almost a whisper, but full of meaning.

Without thinking, I knelt in front of him, as if surrendered to that moment. But my eyes never left his. It wasn't submission, it was a silent search for answers, for understanding. Even though everything around me was chaotic, I needed to understand the man who stood before me.

The silence between us was full of unspoken words, unasked questions. And in that brief moment, as the water ran down our bodies and our eyes met, I knew that the conversation at the table wouldn't be enough to resolve all my doubts. But it would be a start.