Page 40 of Maddest Temptation

“Of this you are.”

“So, what now?” I hated how weak my voice sounded.

“That money now belongs to your father, as his daughter you are his. He has every right to take it.”

For some miracle, the alcohol remained in my stomach. My pressure reached so low I almost fainted, thank God I was sitting or else I would have toppled over. Cassio was still looking at me with that same unfazed expression. I wanted to hit him, see if something ever made him change.

“I’m not moving back in with him,” I said outraged. “I’m not giving up on my freedom. He ruined my life once; I will not let him ruin it twice.”

There was no way I was letting go of this small sliver of freedom I had found for myself, even if it only meant I had a year to enjoy it. “Plus, I don’t think my father would like to have a whore in his house, I don’t imagine it would be good for his reputation.”

“Why would you say that?” he asked simply, with… was it discomfort I saw? Did he really look that annoyed by my choice of words? I huffed, annoyed as well. Was he living under a rock? Did he not know what my father thought of me? I bet Donato had made it quite clear to everyone what kind of a daughter I was.

“How many?”

“How many what?”My brows furrowed.

“You know what I am asking. How many since your husband? I know you have a lover. How many since him?”

I choked and found it hard to swallow. I had to hold on to a laugh. Did he really think I had a lover? It would be easier to end world hunger than for me to ever be with a man again. This was just too much. “Why?” I crossed my arms.

“How many, Francesca?”

“There was only him.” Despite the fun I was having, I told the truth.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, that’s too bad,” I shrugged.

“How many, Francesca?” he snapped.

“I don’t know, I don’t remember, there were so many of them. I was high most of the time, so I don’t really recall.”

He was on me in seconds, he had pinned me against the fridge, one hand on my neck but he wasn’t squeezing or hurting. He just held me as if he needed to hurt me but couldn’t make himself do it. His tall frame was hulking over mine in a dominant way, but it didn’t scare me, he never had.

“Don’t provoke me,” he hissed.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t wish to know the answers,” I answered, dripping venom.

Just then, I realized how close our bodies were. One of his knees was in between mine and his hand was over my head. His muscular body was inches from touching me, but I could feel the heat oozing from him. Even being a cold asshole, Cassio radiated heat like a furnace. My body couldn’t help but react to his, I wanted to get closer to feel his heat, to let myself burn. My breathing accelerated and my breasts felt heavy. Everything began to feel too hot. Too much.

Our gaze met for a single second and for a moment I was transported back to a time when we were only Cassio and Francesca and there was nothing in between us. His cold green eyes grew dark like his irises was bleeding into his pupils.

I licked my lips, hungry for something I had been denied for so long.

“Did they make you scream, Principessa?” His head dropped lower. “Did they fuck you till you couldn’t walk anymore?” His head dropped again until his lips were inches from mine.

I had the urge to lick my lips, but I didn’t have to, he did it for me. His tongue darted from his mouth, and licked my lower lip, biting it gently.

I had been sexually oppressed for such so long that a moan escaped my lips before I could hold it back. Cassio chuckled, like the asshole he was. I was giving him power, power that he was going to wield over me if I wasn’t careful enough.

Cassio dipped his head even lower. “Fuck it,” he cut the distance between us and smashed his lips against mine.

I was so stunned for a second, that I didn’t know what to do, but Cassio kept his lips on mine until he breached my barriers and I softened into him. His lips were warm and wet against mine, just like I remembered. I didn’t hesitate in kissing him back, one of my hands grabbed his hair, tugging it and pulling him closer at the same time. Unsure whether I needed him closer or farther away from me.

Cassio still tasted the same… like all my sins and my dreams, all wrapped up in one. It lasted for what felt like an eternity. I was floating in time as he pushed me harder against the fridge. One of his hands settled on my waist while the other still gripped my neck. With his thumb, he caressed me gently, a contrast between the way he was fucking my mouth. Cassio shoved one leg in between mine and the contact drew fire, my skin burning. He pressed against my core, and I moaned into his mouth. I had been deprived of this for so long it was pathetic.

Sensing my need, he moved his leg higher, so that it pressed against my core in the most delicious of manners. I rubbed myself against it in desperation, seeking the kind of release only he could offer me in that moment. My panties became drenched as wetness pooled between my legs. At the back of my head, the voices screamed for me to stop, but I couldn’t, it was physically impossible right now.

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