His cock pounds harder, deeper than ever. My nails dig into his shoulders as my head flings back against the wall. “Shit, Lev.”
He ducks, capturing a nipple between his teeth. He’s usually so gentle with me, but he isn’t this time as he bites until it’s red and throbbing and then does the same to the other.
“Then again,” he murmurs into my skin, “they’ll need to catch me first. I’ll never be locked in that fucking cell again if it means being away from you. Not unless they want a psychopath who’ll smash every stone to return to you.”
I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but I don’t interrupt him. Hell, I’m not even sure Lev is completely present anymore.
It’s okay, because this is what he needs, and not enough people have been giving him that. Love, affection—there’s a lifetime for me to make up. So, as he thrusts into me, pulling my orgasm closer to the edge, I grip his hair, his neck, his shoulders, and let him do what he needs to.
To take me how he needs.
“Lev,” I groan, reminding us both I’mhere.
“Fina,” he answers, hoisting one of my legs up higher and changing the angle slightly. “Come for me,printessa.Come now.”
I do, and he soon follows, our pasts washed away with the force of our joint release.
Later, Lev heads downstairs while I return to my room to grab my cell before joining him in the basement. As I do, it lights up with the messages delivered in my absence.
Amara
I’m sorry.
Our friendship was a lie, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. Good luck in life.
I read it four times over, nearly unable to believe the words. She wasn’t at the wedding and kept me blocked in the weeks leading up to it, even after revealing herself.
I mistype my password three times before eventually unlocking the device.
Me
It’s okay. Can we talk? Can I call you? I miss you.
The message hangs for a few long seconds before being delivered.Deliveredturns toRead, and I bring the device even nearer, anticipating her reply.
Amara
No.
I’m sorry for the role I played in my cousin’s deception. For what it’s worth, I’m glad he’s dead and it’s all over.
Don’t contact this number again. I’ll be moving to the US soon.
Thank you for giving me a normal secondary school experience. The talks, the parties, the study sessions—all of those were real to me. I’d hoped to get more months with you at uni, but now you can guess why I had to go home after move-in. When Alessio gave me next steps, I felt like I was losing something real.
You’re free, Sera. Use it wisely.
It’s a pointless attempt, but one I try, nonetheless,needingto hear her voice one more time. No fighting, no explanations, just to talk. If she really is leaving, never planning on answering again, then at least give me this much…
My finger stabs into her name, dialling her number.
It rings twice before being abruptly cut off. My heart flies, assuming she’s picked up, a deep inhale the start of my impending ramble, only for the mechanical voice on the other end to talk instead.
“We’re sorry, but this number is no longer in service.”
Hope dwindles until I drop my phone to the bed, rereading her final words, trying to make sense of it. Her initial one sounded like the Amara who walked into Zeno’s restaurant, but the rest was my friend.
Taking the phone, I slip down to the basement to show Lev. He’s at his desk, working, and, without looking away from the screen, loops his arm around my waist to drag me onto his lap—something he’s doing more and more lately.
