Page 55 of King of Obsession

I reached a hand to touch his arm in instant commiseration.

His gaze tracked my gesture, eyes narrowing even further, teeth clenched, a tic in his jaw.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I breathed.

He shrugged and glanced away, his face dark and clouded. Ever the brooder, he was a tortured soul. Dangerous, too, he wielded power with ease, which drove me crazy but also enticed me.

He electrified me not only because he was ruthless but because he was aware enough of it and didn’t try to apologize for it or cover it up.

‘I lost my granddad,’ I whispered, the words spilling out before I was able to stop them. ‘He and Nonna were the only ones who never let me down and always had my back. And now he’s gone. My grandmother is in hospice, and here on the farm, I’m alone again.’

My voice broke on the last word, and a tear slipped down my cheek. I brushed it away with anger, furious with myself for showing weakness.

Alessio didn’t serve me with pity or condescension.

Instead, he gave me a searching look with such meaning that its intense power hit me. ‘You’re not alone,’ he growled.

As I gazed into his eyes, a flicker of something I hadn’t sensed in a long time went through. Something that bordered on hope.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden racing of my pulse. ‘I should get these inside,’ I muttered, lifting the dishes.

He nodded, pushing himself to his feet. ‘Let me help.’

He followed me into the cozy kitchen, the worn floorboards creaking beneath our soles. I busied myself emptying the remains on our plates into the trash as he leaned on the counter, his presence filling the small space.

‘Cleo.’

I turned, the hotness of his raw, timbered whisper on my back.

He cupped my jaw.

His eyes searched mine as if trying to read something hidden below the surface.

My heart lurched.

His head lowered, and he brushed his lips to the corner of my mouth.

When he bent over, my breath hitched, all out of my element.

His hand brushed my cheek with a gentleness that undid me.

Then his lips touched my mouth, soft, testing the waters.

Heat spread through me, starting from where our lips met and radiating outwards, filling each cranny of my being.

The kiss deepened, every movement careful, deliberate.

Holy fuck, how he kissed me, a mix of tenderness and desire that made my knees feel weak.

I surged into him as our lips melded into a heated, searching exploration.

I reached up, threading through his golden locks, pulling him closer. His other hand found its way to the small of my back, the scorching heat of his touch imprinting through my clothes.

Time appeared to blur, and all that existed was the two of us wrapped in that perfect moment.

When we pulled away, our foreheads rested against each other, breaths mingling. My heart raced as the world around us faded back into focus.

Yet, I was different now, touched by something beautiful, something I never wanted to let go of.

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