“That’s a lie,” Carmine said and the anger in his voice made me blink rapidly.
“I’m sorry if you don’t like it,” I whispered softly. “I don’t like it either.”
He stood up. He came around the table. I pushed away, but he knelt in front of me and grabbed my hands. My heart raced and I bit my lip hard enough for it to hurt.
“It’s the same damn thing, over and over. Cap thought it. I thought it. Hell, I think even Mal felt it. We all keep thinking there’s no alternative, like life has to be one way and there’s nothing we can do about it. We keep feeling like we’re trapped in the world our parents built, and there’s no way out. But that’s a lie, Jules. It’s bullshit. There’s always another way. There’s always another option.”
“You don’t know my father,” I said, choking back tears.
He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. It’d been such an exhausting day and I felt so empty and drained. He hugged me tight and I still felt a thrill run down my spine, like being this close to him was an automatic trigger. No matter how worn down, I couldn’t help myself.
The smell of him, the feel of him. Knowing he wanted to keep me safe—and would cook for me, clean for me, do whatever I needed, so long as I was happy. I knew he’d do it. I understood how far he’d go for me.
I didn’t think I deserved it. But I saw what sort of man Carmine wanted to be.
“I don’t give a damn what your father thinks,” Carmine said, speaking low into my ear. “Fuck him and fuck the world. You’re here with me now. Do you want to go anywhere?”
“No.” I looked into his eyes. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“Then stop acting like the world’s about to end. You’re here with me, and I’m not losing you. You’re not running away from me ever again.”
He kissed me. Deep, slow, heavy. I fell against him like tumbling into a deep sleep. I melted, because there was no other response.
When Carmine kissed me, I was all his.
He dragged me away from the table and pressed me against the wall. I sucked in a breath as he pinned my wrists above my head. He held them there with one massive hand and unbuttoned my shorts with the other. He tugged them down before pulling up my shirt. He kissed my neck, my chest, and bit my lower lip. I gasped with pleasure, mindless and stupid and perfect pleasure. My core pulsed, fast and needy, and I was slick with want as he slid his fingers between my legs.
I moaned into his mouth and whimpered as his grip tightened on my wrists.
“Tell me what you want, Jules,” he said softly as his fingertips spread my lips and moved up my folds. I moaned when he found my clit and teased me. “Tell me you want to stay.”
“I want to stay with you,” I moaned as he slid his fingers inside and back out. Teasing, teasing, building the pleasure. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I’m not running away anymore.”
“Tell me you want to be mine,” he said.
“Yours. I’m yours. All yours.”
“To do with as I please.”
“Yes, god,” I moaned, throwing my head back, tilting my chin up. He kissed my neck and nibbled on the skin there. “I’m yours. You can have me. You can have all of me. Whatever you want, whenever you want.”
“That’s right. All of you, every inch.” He turned me around and pulled off my panties. He licked me from behind then stood, his slacks coming off, his thick cock in his hand. He pressed himself against me, his massive head teasing apart my tight pussy, drenching himself in my slick desire. “I need you here, right here, waiting for me. I need to know this soaking wet pussy is waiting for me to fill it up. I need your lips, and your moans, and your screaming, knee-shaking orgasms on my tongue. I need it all, Jules.”
He sunk himself deep inside. I gasped as he took me from behind. His hands moved up to my breasts, pushing my bra up, teasing my nipples. I groaned as he gripped me tight and held me, fucking me rough and wild, filling me to the brim. He was mad with want and lust, and each stroke sent a dizzy, intense, crazy tingle of want and pleasure down my spine.
He’d destroy me. He’d break me. But I’d be better for it.
I pushed back against him. I needed more, everything he could give me. I’d been starved of pleasure and love my entire life and now I felt like I was drowning in it with Carmine. He overwhelmed me, but he brought me back to life. He made me see that what happened all those years ago wasn’t my fault.