Page 22 of Unworthy Ties
I flexed my bruised knuckles, feeling the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “Yeah, well, I’ve got a lot on my mind lately. This was a good release.”
I wish I could say that the things on my mind were work related. But most of my thoughts were plagued with Gabriella.
And now, looking at Felix, I didn’t just see my brother and best friend. I also saw a threat; someone who could take my wife from me.
Felix must have sensed my unease, because he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You alright?”
I shrugged him off, perhaps a bit too forcefully. “I’m fine. Let’s just focus on finding Sully.”
Chapter 11
Gabriella
Icouldn’t sleep. All I could think about was Rocco, and our night on the boat. The way he had kissed me had been so sincere and full of want; nothing like the man I thought I knew.
The memory of his touch lingered on my skin, a whisper of electricity that made my heart race even now. The lapping of waves against the hull, the stars twinkling above us like a blanket of diamonds, and the way his lips had perfectly slotted into mine.
So, instead of being in bed like a normal person, I was sitting on our sofa, staring into the night sky in hopes it would give me answers.
As I gazed at the stars, the door abruptly opened. My heart leapt as Rocco stepped inside, his eyes immediately finding mine in the dim light. Fuck. I knew it was late, but I hadn’t realized it was that late.
“I…” I started, but stopped as I noticed the state he was in. His knuckles were bruised, and there was a small blood splatter on his pants. “Rocco, what happened?”
Without hesitation, he crossed the room and cupped my face with his hands, pulling me into a kiss that was filled with emotion. Desire coursed through me as Rocco’s lips met mine, urgent and filled with need.
He broke away from the kiss, his gaze holding mine as he ran his thumbs gently over my cheeks and down to my neck. It was clear he was conflicted, but there was also determination there. A fiery passion that made my belly tremble.
“I need you,” he muttered, before crashing his lips against mine once more.
The kiss was a wild dance of tongues and groans that left us both breathless. Rocco picked me up with ease, cradling my body against his as he kicked the door shut behind us. We didn’t care who or what might hear us.
We made our way to our bedroom without breaking contact, our lips still locked in a heated embrace. The sweet smell of blood mixed with his unique scent, making me hunger for more than just his lips.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I was insane. Just a few months ago I was in love with his brother. But as his hand tweaked my clothed nipple I gasped, arching into his touch. All thoughts of Felix vanished from my mind as Rocco’s skilled fingers worked their magic.
As we stumbled into the room, Rocco kicked the door shut with his foot and gently set me on my feet.
He laid me down on the bed, his eyes dark with desire as he hovered over me. “You’re so perfect,” he murmured, his voice husky with need. His hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arched into his touch, craving more.
I shivered under his touch, my body aching for more. “Rocco,” I breathed, reaching up to tangle my fingers in his hair. “Please...”
I didn’t know what I was begging for. It was the first time a man had ever touched me like this, and it felt like my body was on fire.
Rocco’s eyes flashed with a primal hunger at my plea. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear. “Tell me what you want, Piccola,” he whispered, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine.
I whimpered, my body trembling with need. “I... I don’t know,” I confessed, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve never...”
“I know,” he murmured, running his hand through my hair. His touch was soft, reassuring, but I could feel the restrained power in his muscles. “I’ll be gentle.”
He lifted my nightgown over my head, leaving me in nothing but my panties and bra. Rocco’s eyes roamed over my exposed skin, his gaze scorching. As his fingers trailed down my sides, each inch of skin prickled with goosebumps, reacting to the intimate touch.
“You’re beautiful,” Rocco whispered, his voice laced with reverence. He leaned down, pressing warm kisses along the curve of my collarbone, his lips grazing my sensitive skin. My breath hitched in my throat, and I arched my back off the bed.
With a flick of his fingers, he unclasped my bra; the straps sliding down my arms before he tossed it aside. I watched as his eyes darkened and focused on my bare chest; despite the urge to cover myself up, all I could do was exhale a shaky breath. His palms cradled my breasts, then his thumbs brushed against my erect nipples.
Rocco groaned, his lips capturing mine as our tongues intertwined, dancing together while we explored each other’smouths. A moan escaped me as he teased and tantalized my taste buds, igniting a need deep inside that I never knew existed.
Our fervent kisses morphed into deep, hungry moans when Rocco guided one hand from my breast down to the waistband of my panties. He traced the lace patterns with his fingertips, leaving a trail of shivers down my spine. “You’re so wet for me,” he rasped against my earlobe, the passion vibrating in his voice.
