Page 52 of Hated Vows

I wipe at my mouth, basking in his praise, but also knowing he is a man of his word. There won’t be a repeat and he won’t give me more. He takes my hands in his, helping me to stand. I feel wobbly on my legs, but he sweeps me up in his arms and carries me to bed, where he gently lowers me down.

“Don’t go,” I murmur, reaching out for him to hold him back. “I need you with me… to sleep.”

“Trust me, kitten,” he says as he humors my touch, “after that you’ll sleep pretty well.”

I wonder what he’ll do if I tell him honestly what I want. “After that I want to come again,” I whisper, heat rising to my cheeks.

He quirks an eyebrow, a smile toying on his lips which I only want to kiss again. “Not only is she pretty and clever,” he murmurs, “but she’s insatiable too.” He gently eases my fingers from where I’ve circled them around his neck. “I can’t give you what you need, kitten.”

“What more do I need than you staying here, being with me, doing what we did before?” I’m going to be losing all self-respect if I beg like this, even more so if he dares give me the silent treatment like earlier.

“You need cock, kitten. Lots of it. Until you’ve had it, you won’t be satisfied. And I can’t give you mine.”

He walks away to where he has kicked his jeans, giving me the perfect visual of his sexy ass and that tattoo that covers most of his muscled back and chest. His words don’t shock me. I’ve started to suspect that this empty longing in my core is for him. For all of him.

I sit up, reaching for tissues on the nightstand. “Don’t tell me it’s because I’m merchandise and you’re still planning to auction me off at some hideous virginity auction like a piece of meat.”

“And she’s back. All sassy and ready for a cock to gag her. Should have lasted fucking longer, but that sweet little mouth of hers was too good.” He isn’t looking at me as he speaks, taking time to dress and monologuing as if I can’t hear him.

He walks to the side table where he left his whiskey and picks it up. “You can’t have me, kitten, because I can’t have you. You’re a whole bag of emotions I’m not allowed to have. Get fucking used to it.”

I crumple up the semen-smeared tissues. “And who decides what you’re allowed to have and not have?” He just stares at me, not answering, and it pushes me over the edge. I throw the ball of tissues in his direction. “Just leave already.”

He picks up the tissues and drops them in a bin by the bar counter. “Such a pity. I liked the smell of sex on you.” He raises his glass at me as he switches off the reading light. “Sweet dreams, kitten.”

I slump back on the covers and push my face into the pillow, strangling a sob, hiding my tears. He is such a fucking asshole.

When the bedroom’s door clicks closed, I scream my frustration into the pillow.

40

MATTEO

I’ve needed distance since the moment I walked in on her, but I never needed it more than I do right now. I find it increasingly impossible to say no to this woman, and then she tells me that I shouldn’t go… that she needs me? That she wants me?

Fuck.

I need to be cruel to be kind. Whatever feelings she might have for me now, they will be obliterated when she learns of Il Consiglio’s hand in her mom’s and brother’s deaths. I didn’t mastermind it or give the go-ahead for the car wreck, but from her perspective, it will all be the same.

She is too fucking beautiful to be ruined by the likes of me. Men like me don’t get to have women like her. The risk is too big. This is set in stone, and having a woman like her will ruin me for my own status quo forever. I’m that guy who fucks and leaves. I won’t be able to do that with her.

I make my way back to the deck to find a crew member. The same guy who showed me the way earlier is still on duty. “Tell the captain we’re ready to leave,” I say as I walk up to him.

“Right now?” he asks, not questioning but confirming.

“Right now.” I finish my whiskey and put the glass on the counter. Time to get away from the scene of the crime. “First show me where Burley is sleeping?”

“Sure. This way.”

I follow him down another passage to where some smaller cabins are situated. With a nod for the crew member to go wake the captain up, I knock on the door. There’s a grunt, so I open the door and walk in.

“Welcome on board, boss,” Burley huffs as I walk in. “Glad you could join us.”

“You managed to get some sleep?”

“Yeah, mostly.”

“How’re you doing?” I go to stand next to the bed where Burley is sprawled out on his stomach.

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