Page 81 of Psycho

He shakes his head and looks into my eyes.

“Have you ever felt so guilty about something, you thought it would swallow you whole?”

I nod slowly.

“Yes, after Michael died, I thought the never-ending guilt would take me too.”

Sliding his fingers down my arm, he stops, and stares at me with a somber expression.

“That was not your fault.”

I argue, “And this was not something you did. Yes, you were going to sell me to him, and we’ll talk about that another time, Massimo, but you did not tell him to beat me, or anything else. He found me because of you, but he probably would have, at some point, anyway. It does not make you responsible for what he did to me.”

I trace the line of his jaw with my fingers. “You have many things to regret, but that isn’t one.”

The look in his eyes is far away, like he’s lost in a memory.

“Regret is a poison like cancer. It kills slowly. Painfully.”

Standing on my toes, I press a kiss to his jaw.

“Yes, it is. Let it go.”

He wraps his arms around me, and holds me tight against his chest. His heart pounds against me, as he takes my chin in his hand, and tilts my head back. Leaning his head down, he kisses me softly. Once, twice, three times, and pulls away.

“You need sleep. Two minutes, and if you’re not out on your own, I’ll come back and carry you to bed.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

PSYCHO

“I’m so glad the bathroom is fully stocked. Brushing my teeth has never felt so good.”

Pulling the blankets back, I pat the mattress.

“Drop the towel. I will not touch that beautiful pussy, but I want to feel you in my arms.”

Her cheeks turn red, and when she drops the towel, fuck, she’s gorgeous. My cock automatically springs to life, like it always does around her, even when I know I can’t do what I want. Hadley climbs into bed beside me, and I don’t waste any time pulling her into my arms. She lies with her head on my shoulder, as she peers up at me. I pull the covers over her, and kiss the tip of her nose.

“What is going through your mind?”

“Does she hate me?”

I brush the fallen hair out of her face.

“Who? Nobody could hate you, Hadley.”

“Your mother,” she whispers.

I can’t help the chuckle that comes out of me, although she makes it clear it wasn’t appreciated, with a cute little scowl on her face.

“No. She does not hate you. My mother has missed you more than you can imagine. I couldn’t get her to wait to see you, so she came home with me, when I found my house on fire. To say she was devastated, would be a gross understatement. Mama Bonetti is far more insightful than the rest of us, and I think she understands how everything happened. Her only concern was if I hurt you.”

Placing her hand on my chest, she strokes her fingers down the center, and I have to clench my jaw for a moment, to stop myself from doing the same to her.

“Does she know everything?”

I bark out a laugh as I stare at her incredulously.

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