Page 33 of Brutal Crown
The air tilts sideways. My pulse roars in my ears.
I should shove him away. Or even scream. But I just stand there.
Because I don’t know what I want anymore.
He reaches up, brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. His fingers linger as his thumb flicks along my jaw, gently.
And then he says it: “Despite it all, though… one thing is clear.”
I should stay silent. But I ask anyway.
“What’s that?”
He looks at me like he’s already known the answer forever.
“I want you.”
His mouth hovers inches from mine. And for one reckless second, I start to think I want him too.
But when I close my eyes—it’s not Marco I see.
“Tell me you don’t feel it too.”
I swallow hard, feeling slightly dizzy.
First Francesco, now Marco. I don’t think I can handle whatever this is. It’s too much. Too dangerous.
I pull away like I’ve been burned.
“I can’t,” I whisper, ashamed of how weak I sound.
Marco’s eyes flicker. “Why not?”
This moment feels all too familiar.
Francesco. He’s the only one on my mind as Marco steps even closer, pressing me against the wall. My body burns with heat. There’s a tiny pull deep within me, one that wants to reach up and press my lips to his, but I remain frozen.
With Francesco, it’s different. The desire is always there like a wildfire, and he’s like the fuel. I don’t think when he’s around me. I don’t even know what exactly I’m doing. I just follow what my body wants, which is to press against his.
But with Marco, I’m hesitant.
I feel something, but I’m not willing to see what it is.
“I asked you a question, Lia.” He leans down to press his forehead against mine. “Why can’t you?”
“Because I’ve never—” I stop myself. “Because I’m not ready.”
His thumb strokes over my jaw. I resist a shudder. “You’ve never…?”
“I’ve never been with a man,” I say quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
He’s silent for a beat. Then: “You’ve never been with anyone?”
I nod, unable to meet his gaze.
He doesn’t pull away immediately. His eyes search my face, and then something shifts in him—some mix of awe and possessiveness that makes my skin crawl. He looks at me like I’m not a person but a gift he doesn’t deserve yet still plans to keep.
“Then let me be your first.”
