“Absinth.” I pulled her closer, eyeing him warily. He wouldn’t touch her again.
“A reaction, perhaps?” he muttered to himself. “I do not—this is not my expertise, I am afraid.”
Afraid to admit the truth—if he angered any man in the room, he’d lose his life, or wish that we would take it.
Donato removed the gun, putting it back in its holster, and then he slapped the man in the back of the head. His hair stuck up like a crow’s ruffled feathers.
“Get out!” Donato ordered.
The Greek ran out.
“Donato.” Rocco’s voice held a warning. He hadn’t permitted the use of force.
Donato apologized and then shrugged. “Whip me,” he said, a timid smile on his face. “She bought me ice cream.” He reassured us that he would find Dr. Sala, and then closed the door with a soft click.
Rocco nodded to Scarlett. “She is trapped somewhere inside.”
I nodded. She settled, but not much. Her heart was pressed against my hand, and it felt close to bursting. She threw her head back, swaying back and forth, grabbing a handful of my cock. I had to pry her off. She said something in French that made Rocco’s eyes widen.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing meant for me.” He cleared his throat. “He must have given her—”
I nodded again, pulling her closer.
“I will wait for Dr. Sala,” Rocco said, following Donato’s footsteps.
I stroked her hair, trying to contain the madness to one area. It was easier when she wasn’t fidgeting. She put her lips to mine softly, and I kissed her in the same way.
“Remember me, baby,” I pleaded. “Have mercy on my heart.” I sniffed. “Abbi pietà del mio cuore.”
“Baby,” she sighed, deepening the kiss. Then she pulled away. “Let me dance for you.”
She went to get up, but her legs were unsteady, like a newborn fawn trying to stand for the first time. I went to steady her, but she knocked my hands away.
“I can dance!”
“Yeah, I know you can.”
She gave me a curious look, biting her lip. “Men like it when I dance, like this. Do you?”
I shrugged.
She laughed a bit drunkenly. “I see it in your eyes. You do.”
“You got me.”
She seemed to be concentrating, thinking, moving her body like I assumed she had in that hell.
“I don’t like it when others watch,” she said. “Unless…”
“Unless?” I prompted.
She shrugged. “I can’t remember. I don’t mind you watching though. Your deep eyes move me. But that monster, one of the shadows that chased me, he…was…touching himself. I felt dirty. Ashamed.”
I wrapped my hands around her small waist, pulling her to me like a lifeline. Holding her as tightly as I could, without smothering her, I whispered against her hair, “You’re all clean now, baby. All clean.”
“That’s nice. The humming. He’s near. He’ll be here for me soon.”
