Page 32 of Brutal Vows

The moment I fall asleep, my body will instinctually seek him out. He’s so big. So warm. I’ll reach out for him. Curl myself around him. Try to burrow under his skin.

He’ll react the way any hot-blooded man would, roaming his hands over me and taking liberties I don’t intend to give. By the time I wake up, we’ll be way too far along to stop.

I’ve already proven I’m a terrible liar. I can’t pretend he doesn’t turn me on. No matter how messed up our situation is or how muddled my emotions are, my body is one hundred percent ready for him. If I fall asleep on this bed, I’ll lose my virginity to Ermanno Mancini.

And I’ll have no one to blame but myself.

Using all the tricks I learned to stay awake while in college, I bite the tip of my tongue and run through a few calculations in my mind until the numbers stop matching.

He’s still awake. His slow breathing may mimic someone asleep, but after years of drugging people into unconsciousness,I know he still has too much tension and awareness in his body to be sleeping.

After biting my tongue again and waiting a few more minutes, I sigh, grab my pillow and top blanket, and scoot forward to slip onto the floor.

Massive fingers wrap around my arm.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“The floor.”

“Why?”

“I can’t sleep on the bed with you.

“Are you insulting my control?”

“No, I’m insulting mine. I’m not a restful sleeper. Trust me, it’s better for us both if I sleep on the floor.”

His growl sends shivers down my spine and heat between my legs.

“There’s no way in hell I’m letting you sleep on the floor,” he snarls.

I open my mouth to argue, but he pulls me to the center of the bed and tucks the sheets so tight around me I can’t lift my arms away from my torso. Before I can wriggle free, he snatches up his pillow and blanket and settles on the floor in front of the barricaded door.

“Ermanno, I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t say my name unless you want my tongue down your throat and my cock balls deep in your pussy,” he growls.

I close my mouth so fast my teeth click together. His amused huff curls around my throbbing clit. I hold my breath until the urge to reach between my legs and stroke away the ache subsides.

His residual body heat emanates from his side of the bed.

“If you’re not asleep in five minutes, I’m rejoining you on the bed.Capisci?”

“Capisci,” I confirm.

I wiggle to free my arms but stop when the pressure sinks deep into my bones. It feels like a hug. I relax my muscles and take a deep breath. The blanket restricts my chest from fully expanding, but comfort flows through me. The moment I relax, I slip into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Without warning, I pop awake and stare into half-lidded slate-grey eyes. A sexy smile flashes across Ermanno’s handsome face.

“I thought you were a restless sleeper?”

His sleep roughened voice melts my bones.

“What?” I mumble.

“You haven’t moved. At all,” he says.

Still reeling from my sudden alertness, my mind takes an embarrassing amount of time to process his words.

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