“We make absolutely no sense,” I said, my voice too soft. Too low. I should be screaming at him. Telling him to burn in hell. I couldn’t.
“You’re lying to yourself and me. You want me. At least your body does.” Goddamn him for switching tactics on me. “For now, I’ll take that. Until I can fix everything else.”
“There is no fixing us.”
His hand reached over and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered there, brushing against my sensitive skin and a shudder rolled down my spine,
“I can still remember how your pussy strangled my cock. How you shuddered underneath me, begging me to go harder and faster. I remember every single moment with you. I can make it good for you again.”
Suddenly, I could hear nothing but the drumming of blood in my ears. Every inch of my skin buzzed and ignited like it was on fire. The need vibrated under my skin, his warm scent numbing all my reasonable sense. A heaviness settled between my legs and I had half a mind to beg him to ease it.
I was wound up so tight, I thought I’d fucking explode or burn to ashes like that fucking cigarette. Four years without sex was a very long time.
“No.” My voice was throaty, betraying how much he affected me. “No to all of it. Marriage. You. Me. Us. No to everything.”
He made a rough sound of anger or maybe it was disappointment.
“You will marry me, Autumn Corbin.” His deep voice finally broke the moment. “You want to know why?”
Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it.“Why?” I breathed, while his gaze burned me.
“Because I’ll destroy everything you love if you refuse.” He put the car back in drive and pulled away from the side of the road. “Trust me, love, I have the means for it.” He flashed me that bad boy smile that promised trouble and like a fool I fell for it. “Pack your shit tonight. I’m taking you and Kol to my place.”
And this was why it was safer to hate him. He would rather destroy me than love me. He’d already proved that once. As if I needed the reminder.
Chapter26
Alessio
There’d be no escaping me.
Not this time.
I pulled up to the Corbin residence and Autumn jumped out of the car, slamming the door behind her.
As she strode away from me, she flipped me the bird over her shoulder. Okay, so she was upset.
She’d get over it. Eventually. I hoped.
She went into her parents’ home and it took all of one second for her mother to show up at the door.
For a woman who grew up surrounded by luxury and a fucking fortress, Mrs. Corbin downgraded significantly. Though by the looks of it, she didn’t mind it one bit.
The charming, two story home of three thousand square feet was surrounded by a white picket fence. There was a large vegetable garden off to one side with fruit trees spread over the yard, while on the opposite side a wide opening of green lawn stretched for two acres, every single inch covered by leaves. It was fall heaven.
Autumn’s father certainly changed his lifestyle. From the guy that chased criminals and locked them away to a security consultant who spent most of his time tending to his garden alongside his wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Corbin were one of those beloved couples and their own happiness projected to everyone around. No wonder Branka fell for their charm. Maybe Mrs. Corbin could understand Branka better than most. Growing up in the Corsican mafia exposed her to the cruelty of the underworld. Fuck, she battled the DiLustro’s and other criminals right alongside her father sometimes.
I exited my car and Mrs. Corbin waited by the door for me.
“Mrs. Corbin,” I greeted her as I reached the residence.
“Alessio Russo.” Her voice was cold and her eyes narrowed on me. “What is going on?”
“Your daughter and Kol will be staying with me,” I told her coldly.
“So you’re the reason they never came,” she stated matter-of-factly.