I look up at him pleadingly, arching my body in offer. His eyes lock with mine, and then flare as a flame stirs inside of him. Slowly, he surrenders, dipping his head toward my breast. The scruff on his jaw scrapes against the tender flesh as he rubs against me, bringing every nerve in my body to attention. But when his mouth latches onto my nipple, it feels like liquid heroin in my veins.
Oh, God. I did not expect it to be … so intense.
I curl my hands into his hair, breathing him in as he rocks his pelvis against me. He stuffs another finger inside of me, fucking me while the length of his erection jars against my clit. I don’t have to look down to know I’m soaking his pants, and I don’t know why he’s not taking them off, but I’m too dazed to give it much thought. His teeth graze my nipple, and I hiss as pleasure rolls through me, blindsiding me with its power.
I want to call out his name. I want to beg him for more, but it’s all coming too fast. He’s rocking against me, branding my flesh with his lips and his teeth. I’m greedy for every touch. Every kiss. Every shudder. The more I respond, the harder he thrusts. His neck muscles strain as he bites back the sounds of his rough approval and I just want to freeze this moment. I want to memorize that drunken bliss on his face as he abandons himself to me.
Inevitably, I’m lost to his control far too soon. Blinding light flashes behind my eyes as my body begins to convulse, the orgasm tearing through me violently. His grip on me tightens, his breath skittering across my nipple as my liberation tips him over the edge. He growls, a low painful sound as his body jerks against mine.
I’m breathless, shaking, and dumbfounded when I glance down and see he never even unbuckled his belt, and then it occurs to me. This was my opportunity. It was right there. All I had to do was reach beneath the pillow, take that knife, and plunge it into his neck.
One glance at his face when he drags himself up, hovering over me with as much uncertainty and torment as I feel, I know that I can’t. I can’t fucking do it because I don’t want to.
“Knock, knock.” The bedroom door swings open unexpectedly, startling both of us.
I swing my gaze past Alessio, who’s still between my thighs, to see a woman I don’t recognize standing there. She surveys us, her face souring as I yank at my nightgown, trying to cover myself up.
“Alessio.” She narrows her gaze. “What the hell is going on?”
12
Natalia
“Christ,” Alessio mutters under his breath, dragging his gaze back to mine.
I can’t discern the meaning behind the look on his face. He’s on edge, like he was caught doing something wrong. A surge of irrational jealousy takes hold of me as I glance behind him at the woman who’s currently staring daggers at me. I don’t want to believe she could have any kind of intimate relationship with him, given that she’s at least twenty years older, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility, is it? Why else would she come up here as if she has the right to do so?
“You should go get dressed,” Alessio tells me in a low voice. “Wake Nino up and bring him downstairs.”
I don’t understand what’s happening, but there isn’t time to think about it. I lose the protective shield of his body as he pulls away from me and turns to face the woman. Something seems to pass between them, but I’m not a mind reader, so I don’t have any idea what it is.
A sick, panicky feeling washes over me when I realize they’re both waiting for me to leave, and my knife is still hidden beneath the middle pillow.
Oh, God. This is so bad.
I linger for another moment, trying to figure out what to do, but they’re both staring at me, and there’s no way I can grab it without being noticed. This plan of mine has turned out to be a colossal fuckup. I don’t know when Angelina comes to make Alessio’s bed, but I assume she does. Then, I have no doubt the truth will be discovered. I could be dead before lunchtime. To make matters worse, I think I’m way too reactive to the fact that Alessio is asking me to leave him here with this woman. I know it doesn’t make sense. I’m not entitled to anything from him. But ten minutes ago, his fingers were inside me. His lips were on me. The sounds of pleasure that tore from his throat were mine, and now it’s like none of it even mattered.