I part my lips to deny his accusation and to berate him for saying such a thing. But I never get the chance.
Rafael moves with almost supernatural speed, gripping my waist and hauling me across the length of the couch. My dress rides up my thighs, but that’s the least of my concerns. I slap my palms on his chest as he covers me with his large frame and cages me in the space between his arms. He plants his hands on either side of my shoulders and lowers his head, bringing his face close to mine.
He stares down at me, pinning me with gaze, as well as his body, and tendrils of his dark hair now glide along his jawline. “Before you open that pretty mouth of yours,” he says, placing his finger on my lips, “let’s get some things straight.”
In a stupor, I gaze up at him with my chest spasming from lack of air. I know I should tell him to get off me or demand he show some respect, but all I can do is think about how furiously his heart beats against my palm and how his nostrils flare with every inhale. Rafael’s expression is controlled, yet his body reveals the raging storm within.
And it matches mine; But only in intensity and destruction.
What’s happening within me is not a tornado of anger, demolishing everything in its path. That’s Rafael. My emotions are similar to a tsunami, a disturbance deep within that ends up drowning everyone. Especially me.
Black clouds of fear gather at the edges of my mind, teasing it with their vile memories. I finally pull in a shallow breath and focus heavily on the hard lines of Rafael’s face in order to keep my terror at bay.
What I feel is meaningless. What I do is meaningful.
Mind over matter.
Love over fear.
Violetta over myself.
I have to stay focused on what really matters, what’s essential. And it’s not my emotions. Regardless of how much they threaten to sabotage me.
He leans closer, as though he’s not already breathing in my oxygen. “If we’re going to work together and pull this deception off, then we need to trust one another. Correct?” At my nod he continues. “We are agreed then. That means we have to tell each other the truth about everything. So, I’ll say this one more time: you want me as much as I want you. Yes or no?”
I shake my head and he glowers, sending a chill along my torso and all the way down my body until I’m flexing the muscles in my legs. Every one of my physical reactions could be a manifestation of anxiety or arousal, and I’m not sure which one it is.
Am I anticipating pain or pleasure?
Am I even capable of the latter?
Now it’s Rafael who shakes his head, his hair swaying. “I can see you’re stubborn and want to be difficult. Just know this will be worse for you than it is for me because I’ll enjoy this. Immensely.”
He wedges his knee between my thighs, and then uses his hands to spread me wide. Instinctively, I try to close my legs and my grip on his shirt becomes cat-like with me digging my nails into the expensive material.
“Signore.” My voice comes out at a higher pitch and I surmise it’s nature’s way of telling me I should scream.
“Principessa?”
Just hearing that foul word, that disgusting name threatens to send me over the edge of the dark abyss in my mind. I teeter over the precipice, unsure if I can withstand plummeting into emotional chaos.
But I would succumb to any darkness for my sister.
My body has already been broken for the greater good, so if this is what it’ll take for me to carry out my plans? I’ll gather the mental fortitude to get through.
I swallow past the nerves building in my throat and almost choke on them, but somehow manage to speak. “Don’t call me that.”
“Very well.” He drops his head, putting his lips close to my ear, and his warm breath grazes the sensitive skin. “Carina, open for me so we can put this lie of yours to rest.”
Rafael
I’m going to fuck her.
It’s only a matter of when.
Carina stares up at me as if she’s unsure of what to do. Not that there’s much, as far as choices go. I’ve got her immobilized. Despite the fact, she darts her gaze away and brings it quickly back to me as though there’s inspiration to be found.
There’s no inspiration, only determination.
