Page 41 of Power
“He wasn’t trying to hurt me at first,” she says. “At least, not in the way you think.”
I pull her slightly away so I can see her face, noting the worried frown that has settled on her beautiful features. “What do you mean he wasn’t trying to hurt you? He had his hands on you—”
“Yeah, but only after I rejected his advances.”
“What?”
She exhales. “I asked him for his phone to call my husband. He said he’d help—but only if I slept with him. He promised not to tell, but when I changed my mind at the last second, he got angry and grabbed me. I slapped him first. He only retaliated.”
Even though I should be goddamn furious that she still tried to reach out to her husband, I can’t ignore what this moment means. It’s the first time she’s opened up to me, despite knowing I might not like what she has to say.
She told me.
It means she trusts me.
And yet, all I can think about is his hands on her. My pulse pounds, my vision narrows, and rage coils tight in my chest. “That makes me want to kill him all over again.”
She gives me a watery smile, something caught between humor and relief. “You already killed him, didn’t you?”
“Are you kidding me?” My words come out in a growl. “He tried to fuck you. I should have slit his throat, but not so he dies immediately. I’d want to sit and watch him suffer for even thinking about you.”
She hesitates, swallowing hard. “But why?”
“Because you're caught in my hold. You exist in the space I carve for you. Do you understand? You burn for only me, Vittoria, and no one else.”
“Dario…”
I drag my thumb over her lip. “Tell me to stop.”
She doesn’t.
She just exhales, tipping her head back, eyes darting to the empty walking path before locking onto mine. And for a second, I think she might give in. Might let herself forget about the world outside of us.
She looks soft and inviting, and I feel a deep longing rise within me. I want to kiss her. I want to lay her bare on this soft, dewy grass and map her body so I’ll never forget it.
Still, I force myself back to the present. I glance upward, straining to see the grey clouds parting for a hint of sunlight. Thankfully, it’s still dark enough for us to have a moment’s privacy, but I can sense we’re nearing the end of our rope.
I pull her closer, my hands drifting under her shirt to cup her breasts. She’s wearing a gym bra, so with a slight nudge, her breasts fall free. Her nipples harden as I rub my thumb across them.
“No one else gets to touch these perky little breasts.” I cradle each one, and she stares at me, mouth slightly open. So far, she hasn’t pushed me away, and I take it as an invitation to continue because I know I wouldn’t be able to stop myself if she’d told meshe wasn’t interested. “You feel so soft… so gentle. Fuck, I’m so turned on right now I think I could break you.”
She lets out a soft gasp. “Please…”
My hands travel from her breasts to her navel. She sighs contentedly when I hover there, mapping her with my fingers. “No one gets to touch your body or claim you as I do.”
“Yeah…” she breathes, and my cock twitches.
I pull my hand from her stomach and push through the band of her leggings. She isn’t wearing panties. “You’re a danger to my soul, baby. I’m a mess at your feet.”
“Ohh… put your fingers in me, damn it. Your teasing is torture.”
She’s losing control. Yeah… that’s what I like. “You’re too impatient, Vittoria.”
She arches her hips upward and groans, clearly frustrated that I’m still not touching her. I can feel the heat radiating from her, and I know she’s wet.
“You say I’m yours, so why won’t you touch me like I want you to?” she pleads.
“And needy too,” I tease.
