Page 57 of Roque

“I do,” I whispered.

He tensed, reminded me I spoke his true name. “I need to take care of this,” he gestures to the condom he took off and tied. It was automatic. Easy. Just like tying your shoes. My hands fisted in the sheets; angry he wasn’t all mine the way I was his. I was tempted to rip off my contacts, strip off all my layers and let him see exactly who I am.

Let him see who had ensnared the beast.

He grabbed my wrist, ripping me from the flimsy sheet and pulled me up with him to the bathroom. He turned in the massive shower and pushed me in. Caging me against the stone wall, his eyes went back to chips of arctic ice as the warm water washed over us. He twirled a lock of soaked blue hair around his fingers. His cock jut out from beneath his washboard abs. But he braced his hands on the wall above me, letting his pecs almost brush the tips of my breasts while his hips refrained from touching me at all. I knew he wanted me again. I could taste it. ButIl Sovranowas back, and the king wanted his answers first.

“Don’t hurt him.”

“Who?”

“My uncle.”

“How?”

“Palermo. I told you my family…”

“Your uncle recognized me? Impossible…”

“I’m his only living relative. He raised me as a daughter… You? A Princeton boy obsessed with me? A high school reject with barely anything? He hates it. Hates you. And…” I swallowed hard, “hates that he knew this night could happen. Would happen eventually.”

Rafe’s palms smacked against the tiled wall. Then he gripped my chin so hard, I knew it’d bruise.

“Who sent you? Are you a mole for them? The Castellione’s?”

My brows furrowed. I haven’t heard that name in forever. A lifetime ago.”

I splayed a wet hand on his sculpted chest. “As if anyone could fake this…thing we both feel. I didn’t want it. Didn’t want it to be you. But it is.”

His muscles bunched and tensed. Hie eyes never left mine as he judged. Decided.

“How then?”

“Your eyes. They are unforgettable and according to my uncle, a trade Salvatore trait. A DNA gift from the Gods.”

His eyes ed hard but his lips twitched. “Your uncle didn’t call me a God.”

I shrugged. “No, he didn’t. He said something more like ‘those Salvatore’s have thick heads and believe they are decedents of the Gods…”

“Your uncle… he’s making problems...”

“How? Zio’s an old man. He can barely walk some days when his arthritis flares.”

“I-I’m not just a college student with a bad past, Blue.” I lowered my gaze debating how much to disclose that I knew. He exhaled sharply then pulled me in tight, stroking his hands down my back. “I’d never hurt you, bella. But you must not betray me. Ever. I’ve broken the one rule with you. The one rule that a man like me knows better to break.”

“I won’t betray you if you don’t betray me.” I met his intense stare, giving one just as intense back.

He cursed in Italian and crushed his lips to mine. We clawed at one another. Both our secrets screamed to break free from where we had them locked down. But I don’t break and he… he growled, spinning me against the wall. He opened the glass shower door to flick off the lights.

In the dark, the water fell like rain. There was no window in the bathroom. Steam started to cling in the air. I was trapped in the dark with him again. But this time it was a world of carnal pleasures.

He fells to his knees behind me. I gasped, feeling his breath against my ass. From behind, he spread me, spearing me with his tongue. I garbled nonsense as his teeth scraped against me and his tongue delved deep.

Unable to help myself, I bucked back against him fucking me with his mouth. His laugh tickled. But soon, I lost all ability to think as he took me closer to that sweet edge. It’s not long before I fell.

In the dark, he does things to me. Unspeakable, wicked things. Things Tati and I would snicker about when we watched a popular film. But I wasn’t snickering now. I was drowning in ecstasy.

I lost track of time. I understood why they called orgasms “the little death.” I died in his arms over and over again.

Languid, and limp somewhere near dawn, wrapped up in his arms I finally slept.

When I awoke, I wasn’t the same. He had awakened me. Made me come alive for the second time.

Sore and covered in light bruises, I blinked and stretched. I knew the instant I awoke that he wasn’t there. The energy is different when he’s around. It’s palpable.

I winced as I swung my legs over the bed. He wasn’t lying when he said he’d take everything from me, and I wasn’t lying to myself when I knew I’d let him.

I’m grateful he’s gone though as I try to collect myself and put the pieces of myself, I let him rip from me back together.

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