Page 97 of King of Obsession

He washed me with a tenderness that brought tears to my eyes before drying me off.

‘Now get the hell out of here so I can cool down, bella.’

I nabbed my towel from his hands and kissed the corner of his lips.

And fled.

Chapter 19

ALESSIO

Shadowed in the dense treeline, binoculars pressed to my eyes. I scanned the perimeter of the sprawling Conti compound.

The early morning air bit at my cheeks, but I remained motionless, absorbing every detail.

I’d staked the property for a few mornings, gathering intel, piecing together their patterns, routines, and vulnerabilities—like a predator stalking its prey, biding its time.

Cleo’s revelations about the Caputo clan’s devout adherence to Sunday dawn mass in Moss Vale was a godsend, giving us a window of opportunity.

I lowered the binoculars as my woman stirred beside me in the SUV. Her short-cropped, sable hair caught the first rays of dawn light filtering through theforest canopy.

‘They’ll be on the move soon,’ I murmured, my breath forming mist in the chilly breeze. ‘The liturgy kicks off at 7:00 a.m. sharp.’

Cleo nodded, her green eyes alert despite the early hour.

I reached over, grasping her delicate hand in my calloused one, our unity a silent reassurance.

She stroked my arm, then handed me a thermos of piping hot coffee.

I drank it and gave it back.

Eyes on her, mulling her shower moment the night before.

When she’d left the outhouse, it’d taken minutes of sucking in air and sluicing cold, fucking water over my groin to calm down.

Still, like every instant I was with her, my cock throbbed, thickening and aching for her.

But I was also a man of extreme patience.

I’d kept away from her for ten years.

A few more hours was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Loving her, bumping her, and making her scream would happen on my terms, and the forbearance only elevated the chances of heightened and titillating bliss even more.

So, I sat back, waiting.

For the right timing with her.

For the next fuckin’ move from our marks.

The distant rumble of engines shattered the tranquil morning air.

I tensed and knifed forward. Cleo leaned, peering, squinting through the foliage.

She squeezed my hand in affirmation.

Her eyes flickered to the compound’s gates. ‘Showtime, baby.’

---