Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“One day, all of you will die.”
“True, that’s the usual course of events, but I assure you, you’ll be long dead by then.”
“Will I? When are you ever going to kill me?” The tremor of longing in his voice brought a smile to my face. I, too, had experienced moments when I longed for death while in Achille’s hands, and it was gratifying now that the tables had turned.
“You haven’t begged me enough for death. Maybe next time I spend some quality time with you, you’ll give it another try.”
I turned on my heel and left.
“She doesn’t love you, you know? You’re too monstrous to love.”
I faltered in my steps but then continued up the stairwell. Even after all this time, even when I held the power over life and death in my hands, Achille Lamorgese still managed to wound me with words. No matter how much he cried and begged when I tortured him, he always managed to remind me of the boy who’d been helpless.
It was so good to see Flavia again. She looked pale, and her cheeks were tearstained, but her face was alight with relief and love while she stroked Luciano’s hair. He was still fast asleep, but when he woke, he’d be ecstatic to see his mom.
“How are you?” Flavia whispered as she scanned my face.
“Fine, now that Luciano is safe.”
She smiled briefly before her expression became serious again. “I’m talking about you and Nestore. He kidnapped you, and you’re his wife, right?” She glanced at the ring on my finger.
“Yes, we married. I wish you could have been there.”
“For the happiest day of your life?” Flavia said bitterly.
I shrugged. “I never stopped thinking about Nestore. I don’t think I could have ever moved on.”
“One day you would have, but he kidnapped you and forced you to marry him.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about me. You and Luciano have to rebuild your life here.”
Flavia’s lips thinned. “I don’t like it, but at the same time, I’m glad for the extra protection. I won’t survive if something happens to Luciano.”
I put my hand on hers. “Nothing will happen to him. Nestore will protect him.”
Flavia tilted her head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you love him.”
My chest tightened. “I think I do. Not his monstrous side, but the rest.” Something deep inside me protested, a dark whisper that scared me. “Both. I love both sides.”
“Is there a rest?”
I swallowed hard. “He saved Luciano, and he can be kind to me.”
Flavia shook her head, then worry overcame her face. “Is he like your father?”
I bristled at the comparison, even if I understood her reasoning. She hadn’t been with Nestore in the basement. She hadn’t witnessed his suffering and his rebirth. “He’s not, not to me.”
Nestore fought an internal battle when it came to me. Maybe part of him wished he could treat me like everyone else, but that part would never win, and he knew it.
Luciano let out whimpers and began to thrash.
“Sweetheart, Mommy is here,” Flavia crooned as she wrapped him into a tight embrace and kissed his swollen cheek. “You’re safe.”
His eyes flew open, and he rolled over and curled up against her. His whimpers turned to heart-wrenching wails as he clung to his mother.
I sat up, feeling torn between the happiness of seeing them reunited and utter sadness over his terror.
Flavia reached for me. “Don’t leave.”
I glanced at the door, then I lay back down even though I worried that Nestore would be waiting for me to join him. He would survive one night without me.
“I’ll stay.”
Flavia and Luciano were still fast asleep when I snuck out of the room around eight in the morning. When I entered the primary bedroom, the bed was untouched. I moved into the bathroom, but didn’t find Nestore there either. I stepped into the shower to wake myself fully before I went in search of him. The warm water felt good on my body as I soaped myself up.
A cry ripped from my throat when I noticed a dark figure from the corner of my eye before I realized it was Nestore. He was barefoot, only dressed in low pajama pants and his fur coat. Had he been outside?
I turned the water off and opened the glass door. “You scared me.”
Nestore’s hungry gaze raked over my naked body, making my nipples pebble and my core tighten with need. After the adrenaline and anxiety rush of yesterday, I needed an outlet for all the pent-up emotions.
Nestore’s expression promised he knew how.
He stalked toward me when I wanted to grab the towel and took it away. He raked his fingers into my hair, then tipped my head back and kissed me deeply. “I’ll lick every drop of water off your body.”
I shivered at the raw need in his voice.
His lips descended on my throat, and his tongue darted out, lapping at the droplets gathering there. His tongue followed more droplets down to my breasts, licking up the water before he chased more drops down to my navel. I giggled when he dipped his tongue in. His fingers clasped my hips and turned me around so I had no choice but to press my palms against the glass to catch my balance. His tongue caressed my tailbone, then higher, making me shiver with need. The wetness gathering between my legs had nothing to do with my shower.