I lose the last of my control at that. I thrust harder and deeper. She meets every stroke, her hips rising to take me, her moans turning into cries.
“Look at me,” I growl, voice strained. “I need to see you while I fuck you.”
Her eyes lock on mine, glassy and desperate. “Damiano… fuck… I hate how much I need this… how much I need you.”
The words hit like cocaine.
I lean down, forehead pressed to hers, thrusting deep and steady.
“You think I don’t need you?” I rasp, voice breaking. “Every day, I’ve been fighting this. Fighting how much I fucking want you.”
She cries out as I hit that perfect spot inside her again and again.
“Take me,” she gasps, nails raking down my back. “Don’t hold back…”
I thrust harder, faster, my voice rough against her ear.
“You’ve ruined me for anyone else,Dolcezza.”
She comes with a broken scream of my name, her walls pulsing around me so tightly it drags me over the edge with her. I groan her name as I spill into the condom, hips stuttering against hers, holding her like I never want to let go. We stay locked together for a long moment, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together.
I pull out slowly, take off the condom, and dispose of it in the trash before returning to her. She’s still flushed and breathing heavily on the bed. I climb back in and pull her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her possessively, one hand cradling the back of her head.
“You’re mine,” I murmur against her hair, voice low and rough. “Every part of you. I don’t care how angry you get. I don’t care how much you fight me. I’m keeping you, even if you hate me for it.” She doesn’t answer right away, but she presses closer, her fingers curling into my side. Still holding her, I pull back just enough to look into her eyes.
“Still jealous?” I murmur, a small smirk tugging at my lips.
“I’m not jealous,” she breathes, her heart fluttering against my chest.
“Okay,” I whisper, giving her chin a playful nudge.
Just then, my gaze dropped to her bare wrist. I reach into the pocket of my trousers on the floor and produce the small, black velvet box.
“What is that?” she asks.
I don’t answer with words. Instead, I take her hand and open the box. Inside lies a platinum cuff bracelet. The center of the band is forged into an intricate, seamless nautical knot. Embedded deep within the metal are three blood-red rubies, glowing like embers.
Snap.
The metal locks with a crisp, expensive click. It fits perfectly snug against her wrist.
“What is this, Damiano?”
“A promise,” I say, my voice a low, rough rasp. “A promise that I will always keep you safe. No matter what happens, you are under my protection. Always.” I lean in, pressing a lingering kiss to the pulse point just above the gold.
“Don’t try to take it off, baby. Only I have the key.” I pull out the small, matching gold key and smirk.
Chapter 19
Katarina
I keep my eyes closed, savoring the feeling of being held. His bare skin is warm against mine, radiating the lingering heat of what we just did, his heartbeat a steady drum against my cheek.
I nuzzle deeper into the muscular crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of him. For a few perfect minutes, I let all my worries go and allow myself the absolute luxury of feeling safe and cherished by this man. But as I shift my arm to hold him tighter, the cuff on my wrist drags across his chest.
The cold bite of the metal snaps me out of the fantasy.
A promise, he called it.A shackle, my fear whispers in the back of my head.
