His whole body was against him, still aching from the dream he had been having. He had been back outside Marcella's apartment building, one hand on the wall to block her from getting past. He had licked his way down the soft olive skin on her neck, all the way to her collarbone.
Her hands had buried in his hair as he had gone down on his knees right there. The skin of her thighs had been so soft and hot under his reverent fingertips. The skirt of her long dress had dropped back over him, enclosing him in the musky scent of her arousal. He had pushed the black satin of her panties aside and had his first taste of that delicious, hot pussy.
"Fuck," Cosimo groaned, banging his head lightly against the wet tiles. His hand was already around his cock, precum leaking from the tip. He bit back a moan, this thumb running over it to smear down his length.
He had been attracted to her in the beginning, but the more he got to know her, the more he saw her passion and intelligence, and it was starting to drive him crazier than his dragon. He needed to get off, and then he would be able to think clearly.
He recalled the dream again, the scent of her, the secretive sphinx smile she had that said she knew exactly the turmoil she made him feel. Those intoxicating red lips would look so good wrapped around his cock.
Cosimo bit back a moan as he came so suddenly, he had to put a hand on the wet wall to steady himself. He tried to catch his breath.
He was a fifty-three-year-old man for fuck's sake. He shouldn't be losing control of himself like he was some teenager with his first crush again. He could go months without even a flicker of arousal or desire for anything. All it had taken wasthe scent of Marcella's perfume, and he was reduced to a horny moron.
Want her pinned. Want her wearing my marks. Want her soft body painted in our scent, his dragon growled out and forced the images of its plans into Cosimo's head. His dick was hard again, his hand back on it, and for once, he didn't try to silence his dragon side and all the dark and filthy things he wanted to do to hisstrega.
Twenty minutes later, Cosimo dressed and went to find coffee. He felt wrung out and empty, and his mind was clearer than it had been in days.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he was surprised to see it was a text from Marcella. He blushed, seeing her name so soon after his shower. He opened it up, and all his sexy thoughts disappeared.
Carlo messaged me last night. They want to meet me tomorrow in Forli at 6. Renata has information on Maria.
You aren't going without us, he replied, his protective instincts going into overdrive.
I was hoping you would say that. They never specified that I come alone, and I don't think I could have faced them if they had.
It wasn't like Marcella to acknowledge she was afraid of anything, and Cosimo had to take a few deep breaths before he was able to write his reply.
You will never have to face them alone again if I have my way. Are you okay?
The dots danced for a full minute before Marcella replied,I will be. Have a good time with your boys today. Message me later, and we will figure out how we are all going to get to Forli x.
Cosimo was still staring at that small x when Yelena came up behind him and wrapped him in a sleepy good-morning hug.
"You are up early," Cosimo commented and took out another mug for her tea.
"Dragon is restless. It's worried about Marcella," Yelena replied and rubbed at her neck. "What's your excuse?"
"The same. Why are you worried about her?"
Yelena frowned. "She's exposed. I don't like it even with the wards."
"She's not in danger of enemies coming to attack her," Cosimo tried to reason.
"Not all enemies need to be near her to attack her. I put the wards around her apartment. No one can get in there without her blessing, but that won't protect her from dream magic."
"Or phones," Cosimo grumbled and told her about the message.
Yelena growled in a way that reminded Cosimo that she was always going to be a dragon first.
"They want to get her into their territory, where they have the most power. Her family's blood is in that land, and they have purposely cut her off from it. It should be hers with her ancestors to give her their strength," she hissed, pacing about the kitchen.
"I told her we won't let her go alone, and I mean it," Cosimo said, trying to ease her irritation. "You think it could be more sinister than to attack her self-esteem."
"They had been tearing at the protections around her apartment. I could feel it," Yelena replied. "They still want her power, and while she was alone and friendless, they were content to ignore her. Now that she's working with us, they won't let her power be used by anyone else. They couldn't persuade her to return until now, but if we don't protect her, they will try to take her by force."
Cosimo leaned back against the counter and thought. "Why are they so obsessed with the Sforza power? She is astregalike they are. She doesn't seem to be doing anything beyond a normal folk practice."
"That we know of. She is wearing a muffling spell."
