Page 67 of Fierce Hearts

When she shattered beneath me, crying out my name, I followed her over the edge, my release a claim on her body, on her very being.

Afterward, I gathered her against my chest, my hand splayed protectively over her stomach. Neither of us spoke for a long time, content to simply breathe together in the aftermath.

"That was..." Sofia finally murmured, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Too much?" I asked, suddenly worried I'd frightened her with my intensity.

I wasn’t even sure where it had come from. I’d never bitten a woman before to this extent, bruising them, or held one by the throat.

Why had it felt oddly right?

She shook her head, pressing a kiss to my chest. "No. It was exactly what I needed. Oddly enough.”

I tightened my arms around her, burying my face in her hair. Tomorrow would bring back reality—Canzio, Ernesto, the looming engagement party. But tonight, in this bed, Sofia was mine. Our child was safe. And I'd move heaven and earth to keep it that way.

CHAPTER17

SOFIA

Isat on the couch, balancing my plate of peanut butter toast on my lap while cradling a mug of decaf coffee between my hands. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting golden rectangles across the floor. My first day off in a week, and all I could think about was how much had changed in such a short time.

Gray had made breakfast before disappearing into another room to take a call about Lion Freight Services. I could hear his muffled voice through the door, the authoritative tone he used for business matters so different from how he spoke to me.

Last night replayed in my mind like a film I couldn't stop watching. The way his hands had moved over my body, how he'd held me by the throat, not too tightly, but with a possessive grip. Something that should have bothered me, and yet, I'd been only even more turned on. I'd never thought Grayson was that type, but it had made him wild, fucking me like a man possessed as he'd claimed me as his own. And I had adored it.

His nips on my skin had left small bruises, but I’d also seen his back this morning, covered in scratch marks, some that were not going to fade any time soon.

We’d been feral, but damn, I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been amazing.

As if we’d both needed to let out the darker parts of ourselves in this mess, to give in to the wicked whispers in our mind.

Something had shifted between us. What started as a one-night stand had transformed into something new, something incredible. I'd given him parts of myself I'd kept locked away for years—not just my body, but my fears, my past, my future. My trust.

The thought both terrified and exhilarated me.

I'd let him in, fully.

I took a sip of my coffee, grimacing at the decaf taste. Another reminder of how my life had changed. No more caffeine, no more wine with dinner. I had to consider the life growing inside me.

The doorbell rang, pulling me from my thoughts.

I checked my security feed on my phone, smiling softly at the sight of Meredith, but then it fell when both Leo and Canzio stepped into the frame.

What was Canzio doing here?

Right. Gray had said he wanted to meet to discuss our options. My options.

My chest tightened as I rose and headed to the front door to let them all in, unease churning in my gut.

What was their plan? Was I going to like it or hate it? I doubted I could like any plan they came up with.

I paused in front of the door, drawing in a steadying breath before unlocking it and tugging it open.

"Sofia.” Meredith threw her arms around me, and I hugged her back, although my focus was on Canzio now. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine," I said, though the sight of Canzio Donati had me on edge. He smiled at me as Meredith stepped aside, offering me his hand.

"Canzio Donati, although I feel like you already know that," he said, and I made sure to give his hand a firm shake. The edge of his mouth curled ever so slightly at my grip. Standing before the head of another family was unnerving, but thankfully, he looked past me.

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