Page 110 of Diavolo

Alessandro turned down the lights. For over an hour, they shuffled and shifted awkwardly beside each other, communicating their pent-up stress and unresolved emotions through movement, not words, until a restless slumber finally drew them into its fold.

Four days dragged by in this tense, strained manner. During this time, the more Alessandro pulled back from Elyse, the less she knew how to bridge their divide. Elyse had never seen her charming, attentive husband hold himself in such an unreachable way. They lived under the same roof and slept in the same bed, but the pair of them might as well have turnedinto strangers. Alessandro saw to his affairs with his men. Elyse saw to hers, learning her new duties alongside Malina and the household staff.

Every time Alessandro glimpsed Elyse's shoulder, a frown would deepen across his face and his mood would turn heavy and pensive. Yet, ironically, it was her injury that brought them together each day. They only spoke when he helped to redress her bandages.

"Does it still... hurt?"

"It's getting… better."

"Good. I am... relieved."

These short, clipped conversations between them left much to be desired and even more unsaid. Each in their own miserable way, husband and wife seemed stuck, caught, and paralyzed by the barrage of nerve-wracking events that had transpired since their wedding. Death, violence, and unrest loomed over their consciousness.

Alessandro's stoic, rigid demeanor didn't give way until day five when Elyse's wound was mostly healed and scabbing over. That evening, something seemed to snap in him. Alessandro joined Elyse, unannounced, in the middle of her shower. She was stunned to see him, but she didn't send her husband away. As hot water hit their naked bodies and steam lifted around them, Alessandro pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Consumingly. Their bodies knew each other in a way their minds and hearts had yet to master.

Breathless and dazed, they touched and fondled and teased one another with an intimate frenzy that somehow felt like anguish and bliss rolled into one. Their hands roamed everywhere. Sweet, soft curves rubbed up against hard, solid muscle. She gripped his cock. He teased her clit. Moments later, Alessandro hauled Elyse out of the shower, still dripping wet, and tossed her onto their bed.

This time, there was very little foreplay or finesse in his seduction. Alessandro quickly slipped on a condom, shoved her legs wide open, and drove himself home. His cock thrust into her too fucking hard and too fucking fast. Elyse whimpered as he pounded her ceaselessly. The brunt force of him heightened the slick, maddening friction between them. Every balls-deep thrust was felt to her core, ramming away until it grew to betoo much, too much, too much, yet, somehow,still not enough. Pain and pleasure crackled through her body, scorching her senses. Elyse's eyes rolled back, squeezing shut, as her hips struggled to snap and roll in time to his feverish rhythm, chasing after their fast-approaching climax as though their lives depended on it.

Alessandro seemed to be pouring every ounce of his soul into this glorious, manic fucking as though he might be able to fuck away the tension and heartache that had plagued them these past few days. His large body caged her. Hard muscle tensed and strained all around her. Her hands snaked around his neck as he bent down to kiss her. Then her hands drifted away. Boldy, Elyse explored his scars, lingering on the star-shaped wound that adorned his stomach, and stroked his wrist, tracing the winged blade he'd inked in her honor. He kept kissing her through every intimate touch and every adoring caress. His mouth and tongue felt like velvet and sin on her lips, tugging and pulling and tasting until she could barely draw breath. Her head swam with the delirium. Euphoria radiated from her core. Elyse had never felt more alive.

She came like a tempest. He came like a storm. Together, they became chaos incarnate.

Afterward, Alessandro rose from the mattress to toss away his condom. He returned to bed a short while later. He folded her into his arms. She rested her head upon his chest.

"I missed you," Elyse whispered over the thud of his heartbeat.

"I know."

"Is that all you have to say to me?"

"No."

She waited for him.

"I cannot lose you," Alessandro stated. "That is what I have come to realize these past few days."

A tremor of hope rose inside Elyse. "You're not angry anymore?"

"I do not know if I was ever angry with you," he sighed.

"Then... why did you distance yourself from me?"

He hesitated before answering, "I needed to think."

There was another lull on his end. She waited some more. Alessandro continued with a grim expression, "That night, when the gun went off, I looked over and saw you with Cara on the veranda.My heart fucking stopped. Hell, even now, I cannot breathe whenever I replay that moment in my mind."

Elyse reached over to caress his cheek. "But I'm fine. I'm alive. I didn't die."

Alessandro gazed at her. For the first time ever, her man looked utterly helpless, lost. "Not this time, but what about next time? I did not know it would be like this. I thought... I could keep you safe."

"Iamsafe."

His jaw clenched, unclenched. "My authority ascapois being challenged left and right. I am ashamed to admit it, but you have married an incompetent man,Signora Vitale."

Elyse frowned worriedly. "What are you talking about?"

Her husband was beginning to look as though he had lost his shine. Alessandro gave her a sad smile. "I had my men look into some matters for me these past few days. Everything is clear now. Carmen's party was merely the first strike. But Mariposa's party was a declaration of war."

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