Page 58 of Sacrifice

"Ah, Jorge, this is Aribella," Vincent says, and Jorge walks over to us.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Aribella." He extends his hand toward me and I look at it for a long moment, dipping back into my mind. God, why does everything have to remind me of my time away from here? Why can't I just let it go?

Blushing, I reach out to shake his hand not wanting to be rude. "Hi Jorge. It's... it's nice to meet you too." I shiver and Jorge looks at me with sympathy, which makes me feel weak again.

"It's alright, we will become fast friends, I just know it. I'll get you some water and your medicine will be on the bedside table. Mr. Mossimo has already retired for the night, but Espresso now has cat doors to all the rooms in the house. So I'm sure he'll make his way to you soon enough."

With that, Jorge bounces away and I realize I kind of like him. "See, I told you Jorge is nice," Vincent says as he walks us up the stairs.

"Did you really put cat doors on all the inside doors?" There's no way that this Vincent is the same as the one I’ve come to know. Where is my beastly king? And why would he care about the cat?

He laughs. "Yes, I really did. I wanted you to know this is your home, and that means it is Espresso's as well."

Once we are in the bathroom, Vincent sets me down on the counter. "Take your time in here, and rest." He leaves me as soon as the water starts to run. I'm left confused but happy.

Chapter Twenty-Five

My dick is raging hard. There's nothing I can say to Aribella that will explain why I am so hard. Other than that I loveherand I want to feel her body against mine. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, I walk away as the water fills the tub, leaving her to be at peace. Closing the door, I lean against it, trying to get myself under control.

The ache in my balls is turning me impatient, and I know I can't do this to her. I will not barge into that room and fuck her, even if she does want it. I'm trying to be a better man. A man she deserves. Walking to my office, I look at my phone and groan at the sight of Aribella getting naked.. This whole situation is fucked up.

Sitting down, I look at Aribella as she steps into the tub, and I clench my fists. Her body is still healing and I see the damn wounds that will leave her with many scars. A reminder for the rest of her life that I'm the reason she's damaged.

Fucking assholes, I wish I could bring them all back from the dead just to kill them all again, for hurtingmi reina so permanently. I should be turned off and wanting nothing todo with her while she's in this state, yet all I can think about is sinking my dick into her wet cunt. "Goddamn it," I growl to myself and pull the bathroom camera up on my computer while unzipping my pants.

If I was a stronger man, I'd let it go, and get to work on rebuilding my damn empire. Instead, I watch my sweet one laying in the tub, head back against the bench and her eyes closed, looking peaceful. My hand is tight around my dick as I stroke it. I imagine walking back into that bathroom, gripping Aribella's hair and pushing my cock straight into her mouth.

Opening my desk drawer, I pull out the panties I stole from her the first night she stayed with me. Three strokes. That's all it takes for me to orgasm into the panties. Shit, how many times have I done this? It never stops. The ache that hurts so damn deep inside of me, hardens me again.

"Fuck!" I bang my hand on the desk and push my dick back into my pants. I can't keep doing this. There will be no more getting off until I'm with Aribella. Going into the office bathroom, I wash myself up and look out the window. I think about how if I were a better man, I'd give Aribella her true freedom and never burden her life again. As it is, I'm not a good man and I refuse to let her out of my sight.

As the sun lowers itself, I move away from the window and go in search of Aribella. Sure, I could look at my phone and find where she is, but I need the chase. To find where she has ended up. The first place I check is the kitchen, but all I find is Jorge and his husband. I smile and move on.

"Try the library," Mossimo says as he hands me Espresso. "And be nice." He mother fucking growls at me, and as I look him in his one good eye, he winks at me. He doesn't even care that he's lost a hand and an eye or that he is five seconds away from me hitting him.

As he leans in close to me, I feel the guilt in knowing that he will never be the same again. "Fucking hurt her, and I'll end you."

Mossimo walks away and I stare after him. What fucking alternate reality have I stepped into? He's never not been on my side, but I see whose side he's on now. It endears my heart and I know that if anything happens to me, Mossimo will take care of Aribella. Fuck, the cat won him and now my girl. I'm batting negative numbers here.

Shaking my head, I look down at Espresso, and he touches my face with his paw. With a soft meow, he head butts me and I scratch his head. "It seems everyone thinks I'm going to hurt her," I whisper to him and he meows at me and curls into my neck. Shit, they are probably right.

Espresso and I were close during the time that we were hunting for Aribella. He's my little boy, too now, and I'm sure that Aribella will be upset about it. Maybe I can get her riled up enough to be feisty and fight with me.

Opening the door to the library, I sit Espresso down and he goes directly to the window where Aribella is sitting. A book is on her chest and her face is turned toward the window. A soft snore leaves her and I smile. I don't wake her up. No, I sit down in a chair near her and watch her sleep.

"NO!" The word resounds through the library and I jerk awake. Pulling my gun, I look around and see Aribella on the ground, cowering, and my heart breaks open.

Holstering my gun, I get on my knees and crawl over to her. "Mi reina, it's alright. You're safe here. There's no one that's going to hurt you."

Her eyes are blurry and she blinks a few times to clear them before she focuses on me. "Vin.. Vincent?" Her sob nearly kills me as she launches herself at me. "You're real," she repeats as she touches my chest.

"Yes, sweet one. I'm real and you're safe." I hold her to me and stroke her hair as she cries.

"I... I was back in that room." She shivers and I lift her face a little so she can see me. "I never... never want to go back there, Vincent."

Lowering my lips to hers, I give her a soft kiss and pull back. "Aribella, I swear on my life you will never be hurt again."

She curls deeper into me and Espresso looks at me from the window perch, judging me. Closing my eyes, I turn so my back is against the wall and I bring Aribella into my arms. "Rest,mi pequinareina. I got you."

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