Page 59 of Pretend
He takes a deep breath like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I’m not a stranger to what SEALS go through. I may not know all the little details about their missions, but I know enough. And I know the outcomes may cost them their lives. I don’t know him…I don’t know Daegan, but the thought of never seeing him again scares me.
“Don’t worry, Valentine. I looked at the video footage. It was just a racoon. You’ll be safe here tonight until I get back, and then we’ll be on your little PSD assignment.” He snaps in a soft voice, combing his hair with his hand. And that’s when I notice it’s bandaged with white medical fabric.
I know this must bother him. A personal security detail isn’t something he asked for, which is why I did my best to plead my case with Ravenmore. And yet, every time he says PSD, there’s a hint of disgust in his tone. It’s the way he frowns to stop himself from grimacing. I try not to take it personally, but after tonight…it’s hard not to.
“I know this assignment isn’t what you strive for. You must not want it…or me.” I admit, pinning my vision to the floor instead of facing his reaction.
He groans like he’s frustrated.
“Is that what you think? You think I don’t want you?” He says in a cold tone.
“Yes, I mean, you did say something along those lines tonight. Several times, actually.” I whisper.
He spins me around faster than I can register what he’s doing. He pushes my face against the wall, his hand cups a handful of my hair, and he places his chest on my back desperately. His waist on mine, his bulge on my ass. Then his lips are on my neck, and the smell of his cigarettes gets stronger.
“Can you feel that? Can you feel how fucking hard you make me? Just being next to you does this to me. I’m filled with so much fire I feel like I’ll burn the entire world down if I don’t get my fill of you.” He presses his cock deeper into my ass like he’s about to fuck it. “Do you feel how badly I want to bury myself so deep inside you until your cunt is molded to mine and mine only? Just thinking about being inside you makes me crazy.” He pushes his hard length again against my ass, in between my cheeks, like he’s ready to push it in again. I moan against the wall. “Can you feel what you do to me? My cock is aching, Alessia,” he snarls into my ear, “and it’s aching for you.” He pulls my hair again.
Daegan brushes his knuckles on my face gently. “And I can’t have you.”
He lets go of my face, taking a step back and letting me breathe again.
“Don’t ever question if I want you again. Now, be a good girl and go to sleep. It’s your birthday.”
I turn around to face him. “Whatever this was stays here and doesn’t follow us after tonight, right Daegan?”
He pauses, his jaw tightening over and over again, his gaze piercing mine.
“Right,” he murmurs softly. “I’ll report this stalker problem of yours to the police. I have close friends in the department. Now, please, Alessia. Have mercy on me and go back into my bedroom. Lock the fucking door before I?—”
He stops himself from going further. Palming the wall behind me, I take one step back. He’s caging me into the door frame, and my shoulder blade hits the front of the door.
“Before what?” I rasp, daring him for more excitedly.
He towers over me, and I’m forced to tilt my head upwards. His finger tilts my chin up, and he grins.
“Before I tie you up to my headboard, gag you with your own thong, and do all the things I’ve been craving to do to you since I first met you in that elevator. So, no matter how loud you try to scream, no matter how bad you want to run, you’re forced to just lie there like a good little nasty whore I want to turn you into andtake it.”
I gasp, my heart thundering and the sensation pooling in between my thighs. No one has ever talked to me like this before. It’s degrading, but it’s so hot.
“So, bedroom…now.” He orders. “I hope I’ll be back soon.”
“I have to take another shower. I still havethisall over my neck.” I motion towards the dried blood all over my neck.
“Leave it on. I like seeing you covered in red.”
20
ALESSIA
The next morning,I woke up alone, the haze of the night’s memories slowly coming into my mind. Recollecting every detail sent a fire to scorch my core. Memories of his knife…getting pushed against the wall made my heart flutter, heat fueling my every pulse, just like it did when he kissed me.
He trusted me to take off his mask, and even though I haven’t asked him about it, a part of me feels like he’s never done that with anyone before. But it was just one night…
And in that one night, he ignited a storm—a storm I want to ride through and risk, take all of those strong winds, and go through them with him.
After Daegan and I interacted in the hallway, I escaped into his bedroom, did as I was told, and locked the door. God, I was praying that he would kick the door down and do all those things he said he would. But with my luck, he disappeared from the house in less than twenty minutes after receiving that call.
