Page 98 of Devoted

I wince as he brings his muscular arm up, bracing for the impact. My eyes shoot open as he softly brushes my lips with his rough fingers.

“You’re all mine. You’d do well to remember that. I promised you I wouldn’t hurt you again. Don’t push me to break that promise.”

I let out a shaky breath. I’ve been waiting for him to snap. There is no way this man can be anything but a monster.

“Do you understand?”he says softly as he slides one of his heavy fingers over my shoulder.

I bite the inside of my cheek and give him a small nod.

“Always so obedient,” he mutters, cupping my jaw with his rough palms and bringing his lips to mine.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I freeze in his grasp. All I can concentrate on is not throwing up.

“I might as well be kissing a brick wall. Work on that,” he grumbles, pushing me away roughly.

I keep my head down and he yanks my hand, dragging me to his car. He throws the door open and pushes me in. Slamming the door shut, it echoes through the parking lot. Staring straight ahead, I blink back the tears. I wish my life was anything but this, that I was going home with the man my heart belongs to.

We pull up outside his home after a silent drive. His knuckles are white from squeezing the steering wheel. He cuts the engine and turns to me. “Get inside, and I want you naked on the bed waiting for me.”

The blood drains from my face.

I shake my head, my hands now trembling, and I grab the handle. I could run, but it would only make the punishment worse.

“I’m not asking again, Rosa. I need to fuck that man out of your system. I’ve been nice to you up until this point. Now, you’re going to be my wife, so that means you let me fuck you whenever I want,” he grits out, his face expressionless.

“You said you wouldn’t push me. You wouldn’t do this!” I don’t know if I can survive this again.

“You should think about that before you whore yourself off to other men. Now be a good little wife and get ready for me. I’ve been waiting six years to sink into that tight little cunt.” He grins at me, and I want to puke.

Bowing my head, I open the door and get out of the car. His footsteps follow closely behind mine, like a hunter stalking his prey.

He unlocks the door and holds it open for me, and I make a beeline to the bathroom in my room.

“Why can’t you follow a simple instruction, you thick bitch!” he yells and I flinch, backing myself into the cabinet.

With fury in his eyes, he strides towards me. His hands clamp around my biceps, and I try to shake him off with no success.

“Dante, please,” I croak, scratching at his forearms.

I thrash my body around to try to shrug him off, but he only tightens his hold, scowling at me the entire time.

“I like it when you fight,” he mutters and begins sloppily kissing along my jawline.

Tears stream down my cheeks.

His thick fingers wrap around my neck. “God, Rosa. I can smell the fear seeping from your pores and your heart pounding against my fingers.”

I yelp as he bites down on my earlobe.“Please, don’t, I’m begging you.”

He pulls back, his face searching mine. For a split second, I think he might stop this. But he throws me onto the marble floor, my side smashing against the ground. I roll over onto my back and he towers over me with an amused look.

I scoot myself away from him until my back hits the wall.

He walks towards me, unzipping his pants, and holds his hard dick in his hand. I fight the urge to spill the contents of my stomach all over the floor. My lungs start to burn. This can’t be happening. I close my eyes, my chest heaving, and I think about Luca. I try to imagine him charging through the door and whisking me away. My savior.

But that won’t happen.

I have to fight for myself for once.

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