Page 41 of Dove

I meant what I told her. Anyone who upset her would face my wrath. I’d do anything to protect her, whether she wanted it or not. She’d learn to accept my methods. There wasn’t another choice, not for her.

She pulled her hand back into her lap and continued to fidget with the hem of her dress as we parked in front ofLoOrto. A valet opened my door, and I rounded the hood to open hers. Kincaid’s hand was clammy as she grasped mine and stood.

“What’s wrong little dove?” I spoke against her ear as I placed my hand on her low back and led her into the restaurant.

“N-nothing.” She stammered as the doors opened. “Where is everyone?”

The high-end Italian restaurant was owned by the family. The space was dim, lit mostly by twinkle lights and lanterns that dangled from the ceiling. The cream-colored walls were accented with vines that scaled up them. Large wood tables dominated the space, with a long bar against one wall. An arched doorway led to the kitchen and another to a hallway where the bathrooms were. It was made to feel like you were eating in a Tuscan garden at night.

“I closed it down for us.” I led her to a table in the middle of the room.

“So no one else is here.” She looked around as she sat in the chair I’d pulled out for her.

I ran my fingertip along her neck as I leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Just us,mia amata.”

“Oh.” Why did she sound disappointed? She’d complained before that I never took her out. I told her then it was a security issue, which was more true now than ever.

But I’d gone to great lengths to secure the building so she could feel like we were on an actual date. I was trying to give her what she wanted. Freedom. Or at least the illusion of it. She’d never be free from me, but I also didn’t want to stifle her. I didn’t want her to feel like she had to escape, even if it was true.

“Why?” She asked as she scanned the room again. Heat ignited in my blood as I watched her. Why didn’t she want to be alone with me? What was she hoping for when she agreed to come out? A chance to escape? To get lost in a crowd?

“To keep you safe.” Our appetizers arrived without either of us glancing at a menu. The waiter poured us each a glass of red wine before exiting again. This night was for my little dove and I; I wanted as few interruptions as possible.

I could smell the wait-staff’s fear as they avoided looking at me. My mouth twitched in the hint of a smile. I hadn’t done anything to illicit their fear… yet, but I still enjoyed the feeling of it in the air. So unlike Kincaid when she’d once been my server. She’d fought me. Defied me even then. She didn’t know that was what had drawn me to her.

“And this way, I can bend you over the table without an audience.” I smirked at Kincaid as she choked on the sip of wine she’d taken. “Do you remember that night at the club?”

“Maddox.” She warned, but her pupils dilated as if she was replaying the memory of my hand striking her plump ass.

“You came so hard on my fingers before I coated you in my cum.” My dick throbbed in my pants, and I cursed the fact that we weren’t truly alone. There was staff waiting just around the corner, not to mention our guards. But I could wait to take my little dove. Once I got her home again, I’d strip her naked and make her scream.

“Eat your dinner.” I said as I tried to ignore the images playing in my mind.

I watched as she brought the fork to her lips and hummed at the savory taste of the arancini. I stared as her pink tongue came out to lick away a drop of marina sauce that clung to the corner of her mouth.

I had an obsession with watching her eat. It had started when I realized she practically starved to survive. It had brought back visceral memories of my own lack of food growing up. My obsession had only grown as I watched her close her eyes as she tasted something delicious. Or listened as she moaned when it was especially good.

It was the least depraved of my obsessions surrounding Kincaid and the one I liked to indulge the most. I also enjoyed the way her curves had filled up since she hadn’t been lacking food. I’d never get sick of staring at her luscious body.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” She asked when I still hadn’t taken a bite. I considered telling her how much I liked watching her eat, but I restrained myself. She was already on edge; I didn’t need to make her more self-conscious.

“Are you enjoying the library?” We made polite conversation during dinner. But her mind wasn’t in it. I could sense her pulling away from me. It was in every glance when she wouldn’t meet my eyes. In the tapping of her fingers on the table. The way she shifted in her seat.

My little dove wanted to fly away from me.

I’d hoped taking her out of the house would’ve helped, but it looked like I would have to clip her wings again.

“I need to use the bathroom.” Kincaid stood abruptly, her gray eyes refusing to meet my own. “I’ll be right back.”

She rushed down the small hallway until she disappeared from my view. I nodded my head for Henry to follow her. The restaurant should be secure, but I wasn’t taking a chance with Kincaid’s safety. Not again. A minute passed. Two. And I started to get restless. Henry had already failed to protect her once. Could I really trust him again?

My chair scraped loudly on the floor as I pushed back from the table. I crossed the room quickly, needing to see with my eyes that she was okay. Safe. But nothing could prepare me for what I found.

Kincaid was leaning against the hallway wall, and there with her was Henry. The young kid’s body pressed intomylittle dove as her hands clutched his white dress shirt. Their faces were inches apart, their lips seconds away from touching. As I watched, she brought her hands up to his cheeks and pressed up on her toes to close the distance.

I didn’t think. Didn’t have to tell my body how to react. The blood pounded through my veins, making me move. My fingers closed around the back of his neck as I ripped him off her. My vision narrowing to his shocked expression as I threw him.

Kincaid shrieked as Henry hit the opposite wall and crumbled to the ground. I turned towards him, my fist cocked back, ready to bury it in his face. Ready to murder him for touching what was mine.

---