“Did he hurt you?” My voice is thick with pain as I tilt her beautiful face up, examining her eyes for the truth.
She shakes her head. “No. He just moved too fast.”
Of course, he did, ’cause he’s a jackass who wasn’t thinking about her needs. Nat has been sheltered her entire life, and she is inexperienced. She needs a gentle touch and slow pace to ease her into exploring her sexuality.
One I would love to give her but can’t.
One I know Greco won’t offer her either.
And just like that, my anger is cranked to the max.
A primal growl rips from my throat. “I’m going to tear him limb from limb.”
“No, you’re not.”
She moves to pull her hand away, and I slap my larger palm over hers, not ready to lose the warmth of her touch. “Did he touch you here?” Gently, I place my hand on top of her chest, over the swell of one breast, right where her heart thumps wildly against my palm. Fuck, her skin is velvety soft, and I have never wanted anyone as badly as I want her.
“I didn’t let him,” she whispers, peering up at me with so much adoration and longing and trust that I lose control of the tenuous hold on my emotions.
“Fuck,” I hiss before I grab the nape of her neck, pull her into my body, and slant my mouth over hers. I’m a hypocrite, because there is nothing gentle or slow about this kiss. I’m devouring her mouth like I haven’t eaten in years. I can’t get enough of her, and I demand everything with greedy lips.
She doesn’t let me down, angling her head as she kisses me back, while pressing her tantalizing chest into mine. The feel of her breasts against my bare skin undoes me, and I lose all sense of civility. Placing my hand on her lower back, I press her into me, needing her closer, closer, closer. I ravish her with my mouth as I pour all my pent-up longing into my kisses. My tongue slides easily between her lips, and when she moans into my mouth, I grind my hips against her, unable to stop myself, needing the friction to ease the overwhelming lust infiltrating my bloodstream.
I need her.
I need her so badly.
My hands freely roam her body, and we are reaching the point of no return. Nat whimpers and moans into my mouth as my hands explore her gorgeous curves, but it’s still not enough. I need more. I am lost in a haze of desire. Consumed with the need to claim her. So out of my mind with fucking lust I don’t think of all the reasons why this is so fucking dangerous.
She kisses me back with the same ferocity, sliding her hands up and down my chest and tilting her hips so her sweet spot rubs against where I ache for her. Mydolcezzais so brave, grinding against my cock and clawing at my back, going after what she wants and needs.
Until she’s gone, falling back, grabbing her discarded bikini top off the ground and hastily putting it on. I’m rooted to the spot, unable to act, my mind and body still lost to the touch and taste of her. The screaming in my head demands I retake her in my arms, but I ignore it, attempting to wrangle a hold on my all-consuming desire. Blood rushes to my head, and my cock leaks precum as it strains painfully behind my swim shorts.
“Dolcezza,” I rasp, taking a step toward her as I break out of my fugue state.
“Don’t, Leo.” She holds up one hand. “You don’t get to toy with my feelings like this. You don’t get to do this just because you have some beef with Santino and now it suits your agenda.”
What the ever-loving fuck did she just say? Does she seriously think this is some form of jealous revenge? “Nat. You know it’s not like that.”
“I know nothing of the sort.”
She brushes past me, and I reach for her, my fingers meeting thin air. “Wait!” I’m rooted to the spot again, feeling conflicted and helpless as I watch her leave. I fight the urge to run after her, scoop her into my arms, and tell her how much I love her and desire her.
“You rejected me, Leo. You rejected me forher.” Pain slices across her face, and a new wave of guilt and self-loathing crests over me.
I couldn’t give two shits about Nicole Chastain. She was a mistake I will not be repeating. Though it serves me to have Nat think the opposite. Things can’t develop between us. It’s too dangerous. I need her to hate me. To push me away. To see I am not an option. Common sense comes flooding in, and I clamp my lips shut, folding my arms over my chest and closing off my emotions.
What the fuck have I done?
“That’s what I thought,” she says, spinning around and running away from me.
Crouching down, I bury my face in my hands, berating myself for being so weak. I am totally fucked now. That tiny taste has not sated my thirst for her. It has opened a void in my chest and uncaged the beast. Mateo will put a bullet in my skull if he finds out I made out with his sister. I have seen him beat the living daylights out of guys for just looking at her.
Gunfire peppers the otherwise silent air, and my heart stutters behind my chest. I’m racing after Natalia before I have even processed the motion. “Get down,” I roar, spotting her in the distance, as a rain of bullets flies over her head. Nat drops to the ground on her stomach, covering her head with her hands. Cursing my stupidity at chasing after her with no shoes and no gun, I ignore the pain in my feet as I pound the pavement, exiting the orchard onto the grassy lawn.
Movement in the corner of my eye captures my attention. Horror slams into me as I spy a man with a rifle in hand making a beeline for mydolcezza.
8
