Page 50 of Maddest Temptation

I practically flew toward him, forgetting all about my previous fears, as though that never happened. I removed the hair from his face and pressed my fingers to his neck trying to feel his pulse. I knew he was alive, but I needed to know just how much danger he was in. It was then that I also realized it was not water that coated his clothes, it was blood to.

Blood on his beautiful face. Blood on his neck, hair, and hands, blood everywhere.

He tried sitting up and so, I slipped my arm under his, moving him against the wall, so that he could lean on it. Once I moved away, I noticed my hands were stained by blood. The front side of his shirt had a wide tear right on his abdomen, and as gently as I could, I pulled it up. Suddenly I felt really dizzy, my head began to spin, and my blood pressure dropped. With one hand against the wall, I tried steadying myself. There is blood…there is blood coming out of him.

I inhaled deeply five times and then counted to ten, and finally opened my eyes. This was not the time to freak out.Cassio had taken on a sickly color that worried me, his face white and his lips blue.

“Cassio! Cassio, wake up.” I shook his face with my hands. He grunted but complied finally opening his eyes.

A pained smile marked his beautiful face.“Principessa,’’ he called again, his hand moving towards mine and gripping it hard.

“Yes, Cassio. It’s me. I need to call the doctor.” I tried to stand but he pulled me down. I was surprised by the amount of force he had.

“No,” he gritted out.

“Cassio, you’re bleeding,” I pleaded almost like a cry.“You’re hurt.”

“Help me stand.”

“Cassio,” I complained again but he was having none of it, he tried to stand once more and before he could slip and hurt himself even further, I helped him up.

“Sink,” he gritted out and practically shoved me toward the kitchen.

He shot forward leaning against the counter, doubled over my sink, and began to throw up. Not knowing what to do I kept my hand on his back in case he slipped or fell. I don’t know what to do! I quickly reached for a glass and filled it with water until it almost spilled. My hands were shaking so much that most of it fell on the floor.

“Fuck.” He swore again and pushed himself away from the sink. He turned around and leaned against it.

“Here.” I handed him the glass of water and he took it from me gulping it down. I couldn’t make myself look away from the tear on his shirt and what lay underneath it. Or think about the fact he was bleeding, and I was still standing here, instead of calling a doctor.

The clink of the glass against the counter snapped me out of it, and I looked back at him. Cassio had closed his eyes and was breathing hard. I didn’t know if he was going to faint or be sick again. I moved toward him once more, but he turned around and puked again.

“Okay, I’m good now,” he said after he cleaned his hand and my sink as well. He turned to face me.

“GOOD?” I shouted. “You’re bleeding,” I pointed, my voice wavered.

He looked at his hands and then pulled at his black shirt which would’ve been bloody if the color didn’t hide it well. He let it fall back until it stuck to his skin.

“It’s not mine,” Cassio noted. His voice was slightly altered, and I wondered if this was the effect of blood loss or if he was drunk. He was certainly slurring a lot.

“I’m pretty sure it is.” I pointed to his wound.

“Shit,” he said again as he looked down at it.

“I need to call the doctor.” I tried once more to reach for my phone, but he grabbed me. “Cassio, stop! I need to ca?—”

“No doctors.” His voice was oddly serious now.

“Then let me call your brother at least.”

“Don’t!” he practically snapped. “No Vitelli,” Cassio ordered and then he hiccuped.

“Are you drunk?” The question left my lips, yet it sounded so stupid when the man was bleeding. This was the last thing I needed to worry about.

“No.” Pause. “I don’t know.” He dropped his head “Fuck, Francesca, I fucked up.” He shoved his head into his hands and began shaking it, and all I could hear now was mumbling as his hand blocked most of the sound.

“Cassio, we need to stop the bleeding,” I said but he didn’t seem to hear me. Moving toward him, I slowly put my hand on his arm, he was freezing. As always, my instinct to help set in and I focused on just that—helping him.

The moment my hands touched his skin, he shivered and dropped his arms, allowing me to look at his face. Even like this, he was achingly beautiful. His deep green eyes focused on me.His full lips were slightly parched. There was blood on his strong, defined jaw and caking his lovely light brown locks. The man had no business looking this good while he was dying.

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