Stealing Beauty (Stolen 1)

But I wouldn’t fuck her with his blood coating my hands, even though a savage part of me was attracted to the idea.

I strode into our bedroom, and she pushed up off the bed where she’d been lounging, reading her book. The faint bruises his fingers had left on her throat incited my maddened rage, but her wide eyes stalled me from closing the distance between us and claiming her.

She stared at the gore that covered me, her mouth hanging open in shock. After a few tense seconds, she swallowed hard. “He’s dead?” she asked.

“Yes,” I confirmed with savage satisfaction. “He’ll never touch you again.”

I drew in a calming breath. “I’m going to clean up. Stay here.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said fervently.

Somewhat calmed by her promise, I made my way into the bathroom and stripped off my blood-soaked clothes. I stepped into the shower, letting all six jets spray away the crimson that coated my arms and chest.

The glass door opened, and Valentina stepped in to join me. The warm water cascaded over her naked body, which was pure and clean compared to the bloody canvas of my own skin.

She squeezed body wash into her hands and pressed them against my chest, washing away the last signs of Hugo’s death. He didn’t matter anymore. There was no trace of him remaining, no threat hanging over our heads. Valentina was safe with me, and she was all mine.

“Are you all right?” she asked softly, running her soap-slicked hands over my abs. My muscles danced beneath her gentle touch.

I didn’t answer her question. I grabbed her hair, twining it around my fist to tug her head back. A little gasp left her lips, and her chocolate eyes sparkled as her dark gaze locked beneath mine.

“Marry me,” I growled.

“What?” she asked faintly.

I tugged on her hair, capturing her full attention. “Marry me.”

“Yes,” she replied, even though it hadn’t been a question. Her perfect features illuminated on a beatific grin. “Yes, Adrián. I’ll marry you.”

My mouth crashed down on hers in a brutal kiss. We didn’t need a document or a pair of rings to seal our unbreakable union, but I wanted to tie her to me in every way. My Valentina had pledged herself to me forever, and I’d never let her go.

The End