Page 75 of King of Obsession

I inhaled with sharp emotion. ‘For you.’

She stared at me for an extended beat. ‘Just double checking what you told me last night. You were the sponsor who reduced my fees and gifted me months of free accommodation for Nonna?’

I sucked my teeth and looked away, letting my silence be my answer.

‘Why?’

‘Because I wanted to.’

Now, she was apprised of how much of a hold she had on me.

Leaving me weak, exposed, vulnerable as fuck.

Still, I met her eyes.

I’d aggravated her and was now motivated to get us past it.

She tilted her head and searched my face for a long time. ‘Calibrese, I see your heart,’ she finally whispered. ‘It’s not as black as you’d have me believe.’

I sliced my eyes at her, letting my need for her bleed through.

To her credit, she didn’t push me further. Instead, she took my hand and pressed an object into it.

I glanced down to see her jade bracelet in my palm.

‘Take it, it’s yours. If it has brought you peace all these years, hold onto it, Alessio. I won’t take it from you.’

She could, but only if she surrendered her heart in its place.

Turning on her heel, she eased inside her cabin.

I lingered at its threshold, uncertain of whether I was welcome.

She swiveled her head and nailed me with those stunning emerald eyes. ‘You coming soldier?’

I gave her a slight turn of my lips and followed, not unlike a battle-weary warrior returning from the cold.

‘Hungry?’ she murmured in her soft, sweet cadence.

I growled, as did my tummy. ‘Si.’

‘Minestrone?’

I cursed, wondering how she knew. She must have smelt it wafting from the tent out back.

‘Too early in the fuckin’ morning,’ I grated, following her lush ass into her home.

‘It’s never too early for anything, Calibrese.’

I tagged the tease in her voice and clenched my fists. Fighting a craving to pull her into my chest, thrust a hand down her panties, and flick her clit until she came so hard she blacked out.

Fotto.

Chapter 15

CLEO

The strain of our night apart lifted as we spent the day slowly mending the unseen, broken fences between us.

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