Page 29 of The Ache That Stayed

Before permission was granted. Before thought. Before pride.

“Still reckless, Volpi,” he said, rubbing his nose against mine.

My stomach twisted violently.

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “Let me go.”

I twisted against his grip, but his hold only tightened, bruising me with restraint.

He cocked his head slightly, studying me.

“So you can attempt to kill me again?”

“Get out of my house,” I demanded, voice thinner than I wanted.

“My house.”

My heart stuttered. He didn’t blink. There was a devilish amusement in his voice.

“Marcello wouldn’t put me somewhere you could touch.” I shot back. “He’d know.”

A faint smirk ghosted his mouth. “Marcello doesn’t know everything.”

Lightning flashed again. Thunder rolled closer now.

“And if you hadn’t noticed,” he continued, voice lowering, “there’s a storm outside.”

“Like I give a fuck,” I spat. “Get struck by lightning for all I care.”

He leaned closer, nose grazing my cheek.

“Then who would you use as a pincushion, hm? Who would you stab when you’re angry?”

I bucked beneath him.

“Let. Me. Go.”

I drove my knee up, aiming for his groin, but he trapped my legs instantly. He shifted his hips, pressing harder into my core.

“Careful,” he said, voice low. “Keep moving like that, and I’ll think you want to fuck me.”

“In your dreams.”

I hated how breathless I sounded. I hated that my nipples were hard. Hated that my pulse was erratic, heat crawling up my neck, turning me crimson with shame. Wetness pooled embarrassingly between my thighs, soaking into my shorts, and I hated myself for it.

Hated my body for choosing sensation over loyalty. Over logic. Over everything I built my life on.

He smiled slowly. That same infuriating, knowing smile. Like he could feel it all.

His cock twitched again, and my pulse jumped.

His thumb brushed the inside of my wrist once. Twice. Right over the pulse. Slow, steady circles. Where his fingers had already left red marks.

Then he loosened his grip, just enough.

I shoved him off and scrambled back. Got to my feet, chest heaving.

“Disappear,” I said, voice shaking despite my effort. “Disappear before I wake up.”