Page 97 of Maddest Temptation

I opened my mouth, shocked by her words, but then she wasn’t so wrong, was she? I had been an asshole and left her when she needed me the most. I might have been dealing with my own shit, but I should never have abandoned Francesca.

I ran my thumb under my lower lip, growing frustrated. I wanted her, God only knew I did, and for the second time in our lives, we stood at an impasse. Francesca was promised to someone else, and I couldn’t have her, not until I killed Grigori Petrovich and settled the promise I’d made to my sister. I couldn’t move forward until she was avenged.

“I don’t want you to go,” I confessed.

“For how long?”

“Does it matter? I want you and you want me, why can’t we just be for now?”

“Because it will end,” she pointed out simply. “Just like it did last time.” With our hearts broken and Francesca marrying another man. I couldn’t let that happen.

Again, I headed toward her and placed my hands on her waist, the smooth fabric of her dress a pale comparison to her silky skin. She didn’t seem happy with my proximity, but I needed her to understand that this wasn’t a game for me, that if I could, I would hold her forever and never let go. Even if the world fought to tear us apart, I’d hold onto Francesca. She was my lifeline.

“I’ll talk to your father,” the words slipped from my mouth. “I’ll convince him to dissolve this marriage arrangement.” I couldn’t believe my ears, but I knew at that moment I’d do anything to end it.

Not because I wanted her for myself, but because I wanted her to have her freedom. The ability to choose and to be with whom she wanted. Her sapphire eyes lit up, and in that moment, I was the luckiest man in the world to behold such a sight.

“You would?”

“For you, I would do anything, haven’t you figured that out yet?”

Francesca smiled shyly and stared at me through her lashes. I wanted to kiss her so badly. “He won’t agree to it.”

“I don’t care if I have to threaten him, I will,” I promised. “You deserve to have a choice, Principessa. To be happy with whom you choose.”

She was silent for a while and then her shy smile turned into a grin. “I’m happy here,” she admitted, and I swore my heart skipped a beat. It was none of that cheesy shit, it was the truth, I felt it. I swear.

“Then trust me,” I asked of her. “This won’t end like last time, I promise.”

“I trust you.” She did not hesitate.

I caressed her waist and took a step forward pushing her back, one of my hands cupped her neck and I brought her forward. “Good.” I pulled her closer. “Now,” I said, pulling at her hair so that her neck was exposed for me to feast on, “you’ll suffer your punishment for ever thinking I’d let you go.” I sucked on that particular spot beneath her ear which she loved.

“Cassio,” Francesca breathed.

I sucked until I left a mark, enjoying the sight of it on her. I then trailed down her neck and kissed her collar bone nibbling on it, pulled the strap of her dress, and kissed her shoulder. I did it to the other one and then kissed the swell of her breast. Francesca’s chest rose as she sucked in a deep breath. Her fingers gripped my hair as I tugged on her skin-tight dress. The fabric bunched at her waist, exposing eager pink nipples.

I pinched one just as I sucked the other into my mouth. She moaned softly, and it traveled all the way to my dick, which stirred to life. When I let them go and stood back up she was panting hard.

“Oh, Principessa,” I tugged on her bottom lip. “You’re in so much trouble.”

“Shut up and kiss me,” she ordered.

I laughed and leaned down, my lips inches from hers, enough that I could almost taste them. Francesca wouldn’t get away so easily for scaring the shit out of me. I watched as she licked her lips in anticipation. My dick strained against my pants, but I ignored it.

“Good night, Principessa.” I smirked, turned around, and left her standing there in my kitchen.

I left my bathroom, drying myself and dropping the towel on the floor. Francesca lay on my bed, her golden hair spilled over the pillow, her long legs exposed, and her silhouette outlined by my shirt that she wore to sleep.

When I lay down beside her, I stopped to stare at her beauty. At the soft lines, full lips, slightly darker brows. Angelic features. She was so undeniably beautiful it hurt to look at her. A man like me shouldn’t be privy to such a sight. It almost felt like a sin to have her here.

It took everything in me not to wake her up and fuck her like I had wanted to do all night long. It had been a testament to my strength to walk away from her, but I wanted—needed—her to know that whatever this was between us, it wasn’t about sex. It was much more than that.

With her back to me, I lay down and wrapped my arms around her like a protective barrier. I was a light sleeper but holding her always made me sleep better. She instantly melted into me and let out a soft sigh. At that moment, I couldn’t have been more fulfilled.

Francesca meant the world to me, but I needed my revenge, without it I had no idea who I was supposed to be. But I knew one thing…one thousand four hundred and six days and I still wasn’t over her.

She was mine and I was hers, simple as that. There was no fighting anymore. I couldn’t do this. I was so God damned tired. I couldn’t help falling in love with her, it was as easy as breathing.

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