Page 68 of Maddest Temptation

“Cassio, I?— “

“Don’t, Francesca.” He stopped me. “You can stay here tonight, I’ll take you home tomorrow, or when you’re ready,” he said and then left me.

I lay in bed replaying the kiss. It had been as it used to be between us. I touched my lips; they were still swollen. I still ached between my legs. With Paolo, sex had never been about me. It had always been about him and what he wanted. To me, sex was an obligation, but tonight it had almost been more.

Was Cassio, right? Did I kiss him only to make him stay with me? To a small amount, yes. I was scared to be lonely, but there was another part of me that wanted him. Even after everything that happened between us, I still wanted him. Physically. This had nothing to do with feelings. I was still angry at Cassio—and I might never forgive him—but I wanted him.

I pulled the covers and walked determinedly toward his room; this time I didn’t hesitate to knock on his door. I slapped the poor thing repeatedly. Cassio opened and pulled it open with force.

“France—”

“You were wrong.” I side-stepped him and entered his room. “You were wrong, Cassio.” I turned to face him.

“Francesca, don’t,” he warned me, but I was way beyond listening.

I took a step toward him.

“You don’t know what you’re doing, Francesca.” But he took a step closer, too. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

The space between us ended and I looked up into his eyes. “I do, Cassio. I know exactly what I want.”

His arctic green eyes began to shift before me, the black of his pupils bled into his irises. His long lashes lowered as he watched me. He wanted this; I knew he did.

Cassio cupped my neck and brought me even closer until our bodies were flush together. “Francesca,” he groaned out my name. “You need to get out right now.”

“No.” I stood my ground. “I want you, Cassio,” I confessed.

He shook his head. “You want comfort and someone to hold you,” he spoke against my lips. “Things I cannot give you.”

Can’t or won’t, I wanted to ask. “I don’t want that.” And it was the truth. “I want you to make me feel good.”

I had no doubt Cassio could. Sex with him must be stellar. Out of this world. When we dated, we had agreed to wait until our marriage—as was the custom, but we had tried a few things. Cassio had thought me what pleasure was, had given me the opportunity to feel it before I was married to Paolo. And thanks to him I knew sex could be good. Now there was no more reason to wait. I wanted a taste of the forbidden fruit, even if it sent me straight to Hell.

He smirked and used his other hand to remove the strands of my hair from my face. “Oh, Principessa,” he mused and pulled on my lower lip. “I’m going to count till ten and if you’re not gone by then…” he warned me. “One.” He began.

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving.”

“Two.” He let go of and took a step back.

“Cassio,” I called.

“Three.”

“I said I’m not leaving.”

“Francesca,” It sounded almost pleading. “Four.”

I stood my ground.

“Five. Six. Seven.” His eyes twinkled with desire. “Eight. Nine.” He stopped and I lifted my chin in a dare. “Ten.” He enunciated with finality. He looked at me like a lion that circled its prey. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to play out,” he instructed, causing my skin to pebble.

He grabbed my hair and pulled it back until I was looking at him, neck straining. My body rested against his and then I felt him pressed against me. Cassio was hard.

“I have dreamed about this for so long, Francesca. You have plagued my mind day and night.” He pulled my hair and kissed my exposed neck. “I have played this out so many times…in so many ways,” he mused.

All I could hear was the loud beating of my heart in my ear. My head was spinning with desire, my skin burning. “Are you going to talk all night?”

He chuckled. “I have waited too long for this, it’s only fair that you suffer, too,” I whined as he let go of me.

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