Page 22 of Sacrifice

He looks at me like I’m the dumbest person alive. “Feeding Espresso.” His eye roll makes me arch an eyebrow at him. “I mean it’s kind of obvious, boss.”

Laughing, I walk over to him and look at the fur ball. “Yeah. Yeah. Hand him over. I’m going to take him up to the bedroom.”

Mossimo reluctantly hands me Espresso. “Be careful. He likes to bite.”

As he turns around to leave, he looks back at me with a fucking grin on his face. “Just like his owner, it seems.”

With that, he walks away, leaving me stunned. He’s never smiled before. Shit. My damn best friend is on the cat’s side.

Chapter Ten

Stretching, I groan and feel the ache in my body. My eyes pop open and I feel the shame instantly hit me. How could I sleep with Vincent? He's a monster who kills at the drop of a hat. Not only that, but he's also treated me like I owe him everything.

"God, I'm so stupid," I mutter to myself. Tears threaten to fall as I swallow the bile that rises in my throat.

Meow. I'm now pretending my cat is here. I turn from my back to my right side and a fluffy tail hits my face.

A rough tongue hits my nose and I giggle.Meow.

"Espresso!" I practically scream, and pull my precious baby to me. "How?"

Looking around the room, I see Vincent looking at me, amused. Sitting up, I hold Espresso as he curls his paws around my neck. I cry with the joy I'm feeling.

"You didn't kill him." Holding it together is hard as I stroke his fur and he continues meowing at me. My heart doesn't ache as much, knowing he isn't gone.

My baby is still here. It's on repeat, like a song in my mind. "You tricked me."

"No, I didn't. I needed you to get in line, Aribella. Fear is a wonderful tactic for that." He doesn't sound remorseful and I guess he doesn't have to; considering I did indeed fall in line. And straight into his bed.

Vincent gets up from the chair and comes over to me. Even if Espresso is alive, I shouldn't have let Vincent take me.Why not? You enjoyed it.My brain is at war with my heart and I can't seem to reconcile the trust issue I have with him. You want him, my brain teases me.No. I remind myself firmly.

As he sits down next to me, he places a hand on my leg. "I can see how conflicted you are,mi reina." His words are gentle and I almost don't hear them.

"Yes. I don't know how to take in all of this. I shouldn't have slept with you. And... and you lied to get me in line. Only a psycho believes fear is the way to get what you want."

He pushes a stray hair out of my face and smiles at me.Well, don't stop. You're on a roll,I chastise myself.The man gave you back Espresso. Besides, you liked it when he was inside of you.Vincent smirks and moves his hand along my face and down to my neck.

The clench in my womanhood is hard to ignore. I wish my brain would shut up. A blush creeps along my face as a naughty thought crosses my mind.

"Tell me what you just thought about."

Espresso climbs from my hold and sits down on the covers, watching us. Great, now my cat is totally judging me. Vincent's hand moves upward and I moan. His touch is amazing, but I'm not ready to admit that to him.

"I... Um..." There's no way I can have sex with him again. Right?

His free hand moves through my hair and tightens. "Tell me,mi reina."

I gasp as one of his fingers flicks my nipples and makes its way down toward my private area. "We..." I lick my lips and blink to clear the fog, trying to overtake me. "Are we going to do it again?"

My question causes Vincent to throw his head back and laugh. "Yes. Many times over. Does mypequeña mariposaenjoy when I spread her legs and make her cream all over my dick?"

Wow, I didn't think I'd like dirty talk, but the way his deep voice drops an octave, and his eyes blaze, I know there's no stopping my need. I'm scared of him and what he could do to me. Yet, he didn't kill my baby. Can I trust him? My heart tells me to be cautious. I notice Espresso chewing at the shirt Vincent is wearing and I sigh.

"Yes," I whisper, and he chuckles at me.

"Good." He kisses me and pushes one finger into my wetness. "You've made me happy by admitting it."

When he pulls back, I whimper and try to stop him from leaving my heat. He kisses my lips and releases me. "We have some business to take care of. Why don't you get cleaned up and meet me in the kitchen?"

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