Page 72 of The Deal

“My dad did. He said he exhausted every avenue, but had no luck. For years, I used to search for her in the streets, wherever I went … and sometimes, I still catch myself doing it, even now. I don’t know why; it’s obvious she doesn’t care about me. If she did, she wouldn’t have disappeared like that.” I glance up at Alexander and see him frowning as he listens. “She didn’t even bother to say goodbye. One minute, she was there, and the next, she was … gone.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, leaning down to kiss the side of my head again.

“Don’t be; it’s not like you had anything to do with it.”

When we reach the house, we slip in through the back door. He moves with quiet certainty, guiding us through the rooms until we reach the foot of the grand staircase.

He lets his arm drop from my shoulder, taking my hand in his. “Where are we going?” I ask, curiosity lacing my voice.

His gaze sharpens, a brow arching as if the question itself is almost an accusation—like I should already know the answer. “Our room,” he replies, his voice low. “It’s been four whole days since I’ve been inside you,Bella.”

I smile for two reasons. I’m just as desperate for him, and he referred to his bedroom as ours.

We make it halfway up the staircase before he pauses, bends slightly at the waist, and hoists me over his shoulder. He places his hand firmly on my backside as he continues his climb, taking the stairs two at a time.

When we reach his room, he kicks the door closed with the back of his foot. I hear the distinctive click of the lock before he turns and slides me down his body.

Once I’m on my feet, he backs me against the door and cages me in with his arms.

“Did you really miss me,amore mio?” he asks as his eyes scan over my face searching for the truth.

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“A lot.”

That makes him smile. “Did you touch yourself while I was gone?”

“No,”I reply quickly. I was too consumed with worry to even think about pleasuring myself.

“Good, because all of your orgasms belong to me now.”

Why do I find his possessiveness so hot? If anyone else dared to say that to me, I’d probably knee them in the balls. “Is that so?”

“Yes. You are mine, Chloe, in every sense of the word.Voglio stare sempre con te,” he says, his voice full of intensity.

“You want to be with me always?”

“Si, ossiedi il mio cuore.”

I own his heart?

Did he just tell me he’s falling in love with me in his own roundabout way?

I reach up and grasp his face in my hands, bringing his lips down to mine.

I care for this man more than it logically makes sense. Who would’ve thought, when I first walked in and found him pointing a gun at my father’s head, that we’d end up here? Certainly not me. It’s crazy and a hell of a lot unhinged, but it’s true. I can’t remember the last time I felt this … happy.

He devours my mouth with a fiery passion that equals my own. It has liquid heat flooding my core. I’ve never craved anything in my life like I do this man.

“Fuck, Chloe,” he murmurs against my mouth. “I need you naked.”

He doesn’t need to ask me twice.

Pulling out of the kiss, he retreats a step and shrugs out of his suit jacket, letting it fall to the floor. I lean down to grasp the hem of my cute sundress and whip it over my head in one fluid motion.

His eyes track down my body. I went for simple cotton underwear today because I had no idea he would bereturning home. I would’ve made more of an effort if I knew.

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