Page 61 of Sins of the Son

When I released her mouth, her lips were bruised and swollen. The delicate skin on her cheeks and chin was chafed from my beard, and she was breathless, with a glazed, unfocused gaze. She looked beautiful.

I propped my forearm over her head and leaned in. “I want you to listen very carefully, carissima. If you ever make the mistake of taunting me with the idea of the other men who wanted you before me, I will make you write their names down and then watch as I take great pleasure in ruining their lives, one by one.”

She stared at me wide-eyed and slowly nodded.

Knowing she understood my words were not an idle threat, I continued. “I never said you were not fuckable. I consider it a matter of great self-restraint that I permit you to wear clothes and leave this house. If it were truly up to me, you would do nothing all day but stay in bed naked, waiting for me.”

She opened her mouth to object.

I placed a finger over her full lips. “Don’t.”

She subsided.

I moved my hand to cup her jaw. “What makes you the rarest, most unparalleled, exquisite creature I have ever met is there is more than just the fleeting pleasure to be found between your pretty thighs in bed. There is the pleasure of holding your warm body close to mine, knowing that while in my arms, you will be protected and safe throughout the night. There is the soft feel of your breath on my skin as you nestle against my shoulder. There is being there when you open these gorgeous dark eyes of yours in the morning. So, while I am looking forward to the moment your sweet lips moan as I sink my cock deep inside your pussy again, it is definitely not the only reason I want you in my bed, close to me, tonight.”

She averted her gaze. “What if I….”

Knowing she was weakening, I pressed my advantage. I lifted her into my arms and carried her into my bedroom. “If you have a nightmare, then I will be there to hold you and make you feel safe again. And maybe this time, things will be different. Maybe this time, I won’t be the monster in them.”

CHAPTER 21

MILANA

I awoke alone.

I ran my hand over the indentation in the pillow next to mine. It was cold. I leaned back and sighed.

This shouldn’t be happening.

None of this should be happening.

I shouldn’t have been able to fall asleep in Cesare’s arms last night.

I shouldn’t be waking up with a sinking disappointment that he’s not here.

I shouldn’t be having doubts about his involvement seven years ago.

Yesterday morning I'd been certain of two things: that I hated Cesare Cavalieri and that I was leaving at the end of the week.

This morning?

I was certain of nothing.

I turned my head to check the clock. A cup was waiting on the nightstand with a note propped up next to it. The cup was still warm as I wrapped my hand around it. It was a latte macchiato. I picked up the note.

From now on, you get these from me.

Alfonso will drive you in when you are ready.

Don’t worry about yesterday’s announcement. I will fix it.

See you soon.

- C

P.S. Don’t try not coming in. I’ll find you.

I crumpled the note up in my hand and tossed it onto the nightstand. Because I didn’t know what else to do, I headed into the dressing room and got ready for work. I put Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes on my phone as I dressed.

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