"I went without for twenty-four years; five years is nothing," I mutter low under my breath, not intending for her to hear. But her sudden intake of breath tells me she did, in fact, hear me.
"What do you mean?" Her words come out in a whimper as her eyes seek mine, looking to confirm the veracity of my claim.
"You're the only woman I've ever touched, Allegra.Ever," I confess. Before her, I'd never so much as wanted to beneara woman, the thought of touching one filling me with nausea and disgust.
Not my little tigress. She'd wormed her way into my heart and I couldn'tnottouch her. It's one of the reasons I'd tried to put some distance between us as I struggled to come to grips with the fact that I desired a woman—in every sense.
I'd been blown away by my body's reaction to her, but at the same time, I'd been scared shitless of the implications.
Her face trembles slightly, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"What… what did you just say?" she asks, her voice unsteady.
She doesn't believe me.
"I've never been with another woman, little tigress. Before or after you."
I steel myself for her questions, ready to tell her every part of my shameful past and hoping she won't look at me differently.
57
ALLEGRA
"I've never beenwith another woman, little tigress. Before, or after you."
I stare in shock at Enzo and his latest lie, trying to process how in the living hell he could have contrived something like this. It's so ludicrous that I do the only natural thing.
I laugh.
Bending over, I grip my stomach with laughter, amazed at what he could fabricate.
Does he think I'm that big of an idiot?
But as my laughter stops and I take in his wound, still leaking blood down his chest, I have to admit to myself that Iaman idiot.
I'd come here with the express purpose of putting an end to our wretched relationship and cut ties with him forever. I'd been set on driving the knife through his heart just like he'd done to me so many times in the past. The plan had been rather easy, especially when I'd smelledthatperfume on him and my anger had skyrocketed.
It should have been easy!
Except it wasn't.
It only took one glance from him, one whisper to make me waver.
I couldn't kill him.
Then he had to go and tell me he'd been helping me behind the scenes? Just how much of what he's telling me is the truth?
I have to admit I'd been skeptical of the way Lia had helped me set everything up, and in retrospect it makes sense I may have had some outside help. But why?
So many things don't make sense, and now he has to drop another bomb on me.
"Do you expect me to believe that?" I raise an eyebrow at him, watching hopelessness envelop his entire face.
He looks tired and beaten up, and somehow that tugs at my heartstrings.
"I guess I deserve that," he responds with a sigh, falling back and leaning against the couch, his head tilted at an angle, blood still pouring out of his wound.
Is the wound hurting him? Is it serious?
