Page 80 of Ruthless Oath

“I’m serious, Marchello.” She gazed into my eyes. “I’m drained. I’m tired of fighting with you.”

“Then stop making my life so difficult.”

“I’m making your life difficult? You’re not the one being held captive by a brutal, uncaring mob boss who has no regard for your feelings.”

Is she fucking serious?I almost lost my shit in front of my father’s most trusted advisor because I thought she walked out on me.How did I get here?

“I went for a walk to clear my head because, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re not the only one who has family issues. I’m sleeping with the enemy.”

“And I’m not? I’ve created all kinds of problems for my organization.”

She had the nerve to stand there and act like she was making some sort of sacrifice? I was the one who put it all on the line to help her.

“I’m cold, wet, and dirty.” She put her hand on her hip.

If she wanted to be defiant, I would show her how I would deal with that.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I went for a walk on the property. I didn’t try to escape, although I’m not sure why I didn’t.”

“You wouldn’t have gotten very far.”

“You’re right.” She pointed to the hole in her jeans that exposed her knee. “It started raining, and I ran to take cover. I turned my ankle and fell, but don’t worry, you brute, I’m fine.”

“You’re not going to be fine when I’m finished with you.” I pointed to the stairs because I had finally had enough of whatever this was between us. “Get upstairs.”

Eighteen

Lissia

Marchello guidedme into the bathroom. “When are you going to stop acting out and learn to obey me? Should I keep you locked in the bedroom all day so I know where you are? Should I microchip you like my pet?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but judging from his dominant look and his tense stance, now was not the time to provoke him. Whatever had set him off had little to do with my extended walk. That much I knew.

“How much longer can we keep dancing with one another?” He lifted my shirt over my head, freeing me from the soaked material. “I don’t tolerate disrespect or people who don’t listen to me.”

“I don’t work for you.” I couldn’t help myself. Sparring with him came so naturally. Maybe it was the reaction I drew from him when I baited him that I craved. When we were fighting, I had his attention.

“You don’t have to work for me to listen to me.” He swiped my hair to the side and then slipped my bra strap off my shoulder. “That’s something you keep forgetting.”

He spun me around and nudged me against the counter, trapping me between him and the cool, white marble.

Our gazes connected in the mirror when he unclasped the hook on my bra and peeled it from my skin. Goosebumps formed along my arms and neck, making me tremble even more.

“Do you really see me as brutal and uncaring?” He trailed his fingers down my side and to the button of my jeans. “Because if you want me to be a beast, as my brother called me, I can show you who I can really be.”

“I thought you already showed me.” Flashes of him flipping me over and taking me from behind flooded my thoughts. I still had the bruises from his rough fingers digging into my hips. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.” He lowered the zipper on my jeans. “Are you deliberately provoking me so I’ll punish you?”

I rested the back of my head on his chest as he slid his fingers into my panties and pushed inside me. With his other hand, he shoved my jeans and panties down to my ankles.

“Step out of them,” he growled into my ear.

I did what he asked. He couldn’t be more wrong when he said I couldn’t obey him.

I gripped the edge of the counter when he increased his pace, gliding his fingers as far as they would go and then pulling back, spreading my arousal as he went.

“Are you thinking of leaving me?” He gathered my tangled hair in his hand and jerked my head back. “Because when Ricardo couldn’t find you, that’s what I thought had happened.”

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