“You would not,” she argues, a bemused grin tugging at her lips. The knife is no longer at my throat. Careless. So careless. “Alessio, do you promise that you didn’t-”
I cut off her words with a snarl, rolling us over and grabbing her wrists. Roughly, I pin her arms above her head and spread her legs until I can ground my erection against her heat, dominating her, reminding her who answers to who in this marriage.
She yelps in surprise but that spark in those dark brown eyes, that brilliant fucking spark that’s all hers, never wavers even if her blood lust has. “That’s the last time you’ll ever threaten me with that fucking knife or I’ll show you my dark side, wife,” I growl in her ear. “Those fairytale love stories you read, aren’t there villains and monsters in them?”
She nods. “Yes, the knights fight them.”
“Guess which one you’re married to.”
“I already know.”
“Do the knights always win in your love stories? Or, do the monsters sometimes win?”
“Only in the dark ones.” She shivers. Strangely, I don’t think she’s all that frightened.
“Don’t force my hand, Caterina, or I’ll record what happens after and send it to Nico as a present. Your screams can haunt his nights when his brats aren’t squalling for their dead mother. Do you understand me?” I punctuate the question by punching the headboard beside her head, the wood banging loudly.
“I understand,” she pants, licking her lips. The gesture sends a fresh jolt of desire straight to my cock even if it shouldn’t. What the fuck is it with this woman? What witchcraft does she possess? “But, aren’t you showing me your dark side now?”
I lean in closer, pressing my body down hard on top of her far softer one to the point of crushing the breath from her as I thrust again. Slowly. Torturously. I’m not sure who I’m tormenting at this point. “Not even close, kitten.”
Her eyes roll back and she shudders. Definitely not from fear. She’s actually turned on by my anger, and my cock is close to exploding with the knowledge. I recall her tentative touches this morning, how I found her mixture of innocence and curiosity so goddamn seductive it nearly melted my brain and how much I wanted her. I still want her now despite the fact I obviously cannot trust her.
The knife glitters on the mattress just a few inches away. The sight brings back some semblance of reason. “To hell with this,” I growl, angrily. I roll off her like she’s quicksand, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and grabbing my gun. I won’t be led around by my cock and I won’t forget the burning need to avenge my brother. Even if I don’t want to hurt Caterina, I ultimately will when I kill her brother.
“Where are you going?” she squeaks, sitting up with the blanket clutched to her chest. So fucking lovely with her long black hair cascading all around her slim shoulders in that girlish white nightgown. Even now, I want to kiss her and tear that virginal gown away from her body, sink inside her innocence and claim her as mine forever.
“Away from you until the desire to smash your teeth in for that fucking stunt you just pulled passes.”
At leastthatgot the proper reaction. She curls up in a ball, her eyes wide with guilt and fright. “I’m sorry, Alessio. I thought you cheated, and I kind of lost my mind but-”
“I never said Ididn’tcheat tonight, did I?” I rasp, coldly.
My words sink in, and I watch that stupid, girlish hope she clings to crumble.‘She’ll be fun to break.’She would be so easy to break. Those expressive eyes, I could witness that spark in them die forever if I wanted. It wouldn’t take me long at all. It’s what my father wants.
But, something inside of me doesn’t want to see that. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.
“I didn’t say Ididcheat either.”
Her brows draw together in confusion, and I wonder why I said it. But that little spark still dances in her eyes, and I knowthat’swhy.
I stride out of the room, leaving her with no clear answers about my night and trying to decide where the hell I’ll sleep.
***
“What the fuck?” Armando asks when he opens the door to the room that’s semi-permanently his whenever we’re working late together.
“I need to use your shower… and the sofa in here.”
He squints at the time and then meaningfully at me, but I don’t have the patience for his questions. I head to the shower, washing away the offensive perfume that ruined my plans for the early morning hours.
When I return to the bedroom, he’s sitting on top of his bed, staring at me. “What’s going on?”
“We’re not having a slumber party, Armando. Go the fuck to sleep.”
“Did your dad find out about Lorenzo already?”
“Fuck Lorenzo. He was cutting our heroin with his garbage to turn his own profit on the side.”
