Page 41 of Deadly Intentions

“Antonio called Massimo… who called everyone. How is he?”

I smiled up at him. “Weak but awake. He remembers everything, so that’s a good sign. I felt like they needed some time alone.”

Donny nodded his understanding. “How are you?”

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at him. “Good. Actually—" I took a deep breath and then spoke. “Can we talk for a minute?” He stiffened at my request. “Please? I have some things I need to say.”

“Sure. Let’s go into Harley’s room. She and Drew won’t be back for a while.”

I followed him down the hall and into her room.

twenty-five

DONNY

Catarina closedthe door behind her and took a deep breath. I’d been waiting for this moment for weeks as she’d been pulling away from me. Even though I’d seen snippets of the old Catarina, there was a wall the size of Mount Rushmore between us.

“I’m ready to take this to the next level.”

“Catarina, I—” my head snapped up to hers. “What did you say?”

“I said—" She stepped closer to me. “—I’m ready to take our relationship to the next level.”

That was not what I was expecting her to say. “I don’t understand.” I shook my head.

“My therapist said I need to stop using what happened to me as an excuse to push the people who love me away. I told her I feared what you’d think if you knew I wanted sex and that’s why I was distancing myself.”

“You thought I’d be what? Disgusted you wanted me?” I blinked at her admission.

“Yes. I was raped, Donny. Most women steer clear of intimacy after something like that. But my therapist keeps telling me the rape is something that happened to me. Not something that I am.” Catarina blew out a frustrated breath.

“Catarina.” I stepped into her, backing her against the door. “I’ve never stopped wanting you. Your therapist is right. What happened to you is just that. Something that happened. It didn’t define you. It didn’t change you. And it sure as fuck didn’t change anything about the way I feel about you.”

She gasped when I pressed my hips into her, letting her feel exactly how much I still wanted her. “I’ve kept my distance because I wanted you to be ready for that between us. I told you I would wait an eternity for you to be ready—I meant it.”

“I’m ready.” Catarina reached out and ran her hand down my cheek. “I need to know that part of me isn’t broken, Donny. And you’re the only man I want to show me I’m still whole.”

She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to mine. Her touch was soft at first, but then her hands pushed through my hair and tugged on the strands. I was barely holding on by a thread and I wanted to take things slow.

“Baby. I appreciate that you say you’re ready. But don’t you think we should take it slow?”

Catarina slid her hand between our bodies and cupped the bulge pressing against the zipper of my pants. “Fuck slow. I need fast and hard, Donny. I don’t need to stop and think, because that’s when the memories sneak in.” She flicked the button on my pants and slipped her hand inside.

“Christ.” I gritted my teeth as her fingers wrapped around my shaft. “Catarina. We’re in your friend's room.”

“I. Don’t. Care.” She stroked me beneath my jeans.

The strength I had, trying to remain gentlemanly, cracked into a thousand pieces. I tugged her hand out and lifted her into my arms. Her legs wrapped around my back as I spun us toward the bed.

“You’re going to owe your friend new linens.” I laid her down and shoved her shirt up. “Because I’m going to remind you who you are. You’re not what happened to you, Catarina. You’re the woman I love.” I pressed my lips to her belly. “You’re the woman I can’t live without.” I tugged her bra down, exposing her nipple. My fingers pinched the pink bud, making her body arch into mine. “You’re the woman I’m going to marry.”

Catarina gasped as I tugged her pants down and tossed them to the floor. “If you’re having second thoughts, tell me now. We can stop.”

“Don’t stop,” she moaned, wiggling her hips against me.

“Look at me,” I demanded, her eyes on mine. “You’re in control. If you say no, this stops immediately, ok?” She nodded. “I need to hear you say it, Catarina—or it ends now.”

“I understand.”

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