Page 143 of A War Around Us

It was what I had wanted from the moment I agreed to this sham of marriage. However, hearing it from her fragile lips, and yet the strong spirit she was, constricted my breathing. It twisted and gripped me from the inside as if I was on the receiving end of agony.

Maybe I was because the torment in her voice spread through me like bane.

“You make me question my instincts. Youblindme, Lucca.” My hand ran beneath her hair, listening to her accusations and the truth she’d set free. “I don’t recognize who I am anymore.”

Smart, beautiful, dangerous.She hadn’t changed, if anything she had become a bigger threat than ever.

“Are you done?” I asked, composed, and damn if I didn’t stare at hell when her eyes flared quickly as she glared at me.

I listened, Katia. You too made me question my actions. You too blinded me. And I too didn’t recognize the man whose thoughts wandered to a fucking woman in the middle of creating a blood painting.

But I couldn’t worry about theories I was incapable of feeling, or ideas I didn’t want to be a part of. I liked my life just the way it was. Vacant. Nothing more than her body to sink into and a fucking empire to rule.

My fingers spread over her mouth, and I dug my thumb deep and low into her bow lips.

“You were loud and clear. Now, you do what I asked.”

Make me show you what will happen if you don’t. Come on Katia, another round.

“I wish it would’ve never been you,” she spat, aiming to hurt.

“That’s alright. It would be a sixty-year-old dick you sucked instead.”

Her hand quickly fell to her thigh, and her fingers ran across it, finding it empty and stripped of any weapon. I smiled. She sneered, and her fist flung.

I don’t think so.

I gripped her jaw and shoved her into the mirror, taking her balled fist. Ambers of ire kindled. This wasn’t what I’d come here for. This whole scene wasn’t how I’d envisioned it. How I’d hope to start or finish. Instead, it was fueling and tumbling, deepening into pits of endless hostility.

“Your dagger is one thing, Katia, and one I acknowledge I deserve. But don’teverraise your fucking hand at me, much less your fist unless you want to be treated as a fucking man.” My words touched her flushed face. “And while I don’t fear you, I can lose the small thread of respect I hold for you.”

Katia’s brows furrowed.

“Were you not just fighting my touch because I caused you pain? Because my hands inflictedfear?”

Her eyes lowered.

“Yes, I listened.” Our faces were mere inches apart. “You want to hurt me?” I asked, and her vivid greens fogged. “Do it while you fuck me violently.” I pulled her body closer. “Cut me, bite me, draw blood if that’s what you need, but do it while your mouth chokes on my dick, or while you ride me in pleasure. But never outside of sex. That’s not a marriage I will honor.”

I could see tears of anger pooling in the brims of her eyes. Her face was dotted with splotches of red, and the veins in her forehead were filled with wrath.

Her hand swatted mine off her face, and she gave me what I wanted.Another round. The fight.

At least this time, we both agreed and understood our limits.

Katia gripped my blazer, pulled it to her, and turned so my back pressed against the mirror.

Damn. I had a feeling sweet pain would soon arrive in rapids of ecstasy.

I grinned triumphantly. Katia didn’t. She was driven by pure anger and need. Her hands fumbled with my buckle, and as much as I liked watching her temper loose, I wanted another taste of her lips.

I tugged at her face and my lips sought out for her soft and warm mouth that lingered in dipped cherry.

I drew back and our eyes connected. “Have I mentioned how divine your body is in only high tights and lace?” I pried another kiss. “Or how the color white against your golden skin makes me hard?” I hauled her back for one last taste and groaned when my lip stung painfully by her teeth.

“Shut up,” she spat as her hands freed my dick.

I pushed her head down with force and shoved her mouth deep as I moved forward with her lips wrapped around my shaft.

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