“I’d rather show you,” he whispered against my lips before claiming them in a hard kiss. He let go of my face and brought his hands down, wrapping them around my tiny waist as he pulled me closer into his body.
My body molded to his. Hard against soft. His hold was unyielding as I returned his kiss with just the same intensity. I was lost in him when he pulled away and I moaned in protest. “Shhh. I’ve got you,” he muttered through the hazy fog that clouded my thoughts.
Alessio bent down, sliding an arm behind my back and my knees before lifting me up in his arms, cradling me to his chest.
“What?” I said.
He chuckled low in my ear and placed a kiss there. “Relax, Ayla,” he soothed, his voice deep and rough.
At his words, I instantly relaxed in his arms and wrapped my hands around his neck. “Where are you taking me?”
“You ask too many questions,” he said. Alessio looked down at me, his lips tilted up in a small smirk, his eyes gleaming with intensity—the same intensity that made me weak in the knees and my heart flutter every time.
“But…”
His arms tightened around me in warning. As Alessio walked us down the hall and stopped in front of his bedroom, I didn’t have to ask any questions. He didn’t look down at me when he opened the door, but I saw a ghost of a smile on his lips.
He walked inside and kicked the door shut. As soon as we were in the middle of the room, he lowered me down until my feet hit the floor. Alessio turned me around so that I was facing him.
“You won’t be needing my jacket anymore because you will be sleeping with me.”
I knew it was coming. I knew what he would say but the words still took me by surprise. “Alessio,” I whispered, taking a step closer to him. He cupped my jaw and rubbed his thumb over the curve. I pressed my cheek into his palm and a sigh of contentment whispered past my lips.
“But why?” I asked, wanting to understand him further.
Alessio smiled wide and rested his forehead against mine. “I had the best sleep last night,” he said.
I moved closer. He was the same as me. I melted into his body, his sweet words, soft eyes and gentle touch taking over my senses.
“It’s simple. You need me, and in some ways, I need you too,” Alessio continued, his gaze intense. I swallowed hard and brought my hand up, placing it over his. “You…calm me.”
Just like he was my peace…I had the same effect on him.
Bringing my other hand up, I placed it over his cheek. “You bring me peace. I don’t know how. But you do. You make it all go away. The pain. The darkness. The hurt. I feel peace when I’m with you.”
I saw Alessio smile and he slowly brought his lips down to mine. “I know,” he whispered back before taking my lips. He moved his hand to the back of my head, holding me firmly. His kiss was soft and sweet.
“We should go to sleep,” he said, pulling back. His voice was husky and rough. The way his eyes glinted dangerously in the light, I knew that was the last thing he wanted to do.
But I was grateful he stopped there. I wasn’t ready for more. Whatever was between us at the moment…it was already too much.
Alessio let go of me and I stepped back. “I need to change. Get yourself comfortable.” He nodded toward the bed.
I watched him go into the bathroom and close the door behind him. As soon as he was out of sight, I moved back to his bed.
I still remembered the first time we met, his eyes filled with fury and his gun pointed at me.
All I could see now was affection in his soft gaze. All I felt were gentle caresses. He was no longer the killer I met the first time.
He might be a monster out there, but to me he was my savior. My anchor.
Moments later, he returned wearing only grey sweatpants, his chest bare
“Oh.” My mouth fell open as I took him in, my gaze drawn to his muscular body. Lean, big, and hard. He was sculpted, beautifully rugged. Intense, dark, dangerous.
There were still some droplets of water on his perfectly tanned body. But what got most of my attention were the tattoos weaved around the length of his arms, ending just above his elbows. The most prominent looked Celtic and almost tribal in design but I couldn’t make out the other design.
It was dark, intense, and fierce…just like him.
Alessio walked toward me and my gaze roamed over broad shoulders and chest. He stopped in front of me and I had to tilt my head up. He was so big and powerful like this.