"I have no doubt, but since you are also hurt,fratello…" He gestures toward my blood stained shirt.
"I didn’t take any painkillers; I’ll be alert enough."
"Of course you will be." He blows out a breath. "Fine, then. I’ll leave you guys. If you need anything, you call, yeah?" He scowls at me. "It’s okay to ask for help, Seb. You don’t always have to be the wise man amongst us who has his shit together, know what I mean?"
If only he knew. I jerk my chin, and with a final clap to my shoulder—my injured side (which I don’t wince at, just so you know)—he turns and leaves. The door snicks shut. I slam the deadbolt in place, then I head for the stairs. The adrenaline drains and the pain in my arm ratchets up a notch.Cazzo!I walk up to my bedroom and place the sleeping Elsa on my bed. I take off her jacket and ripped shirt. Forcing myself to look away from her creamy breasts, I pull off her shoes and skirt, then cover her up. My muscles feel too heavy and my arms and legs begin to grow numb. I yawn hugely as I shuck off my shoes. My eyes begin to close and I fall onto the bed, on the covers, next to her.
Sleep embraces me almost at once. The glimmer of the light off the gun, the sound of glass breaking... The adrenaline fills my blood as I throw myself on top of her. I know I’m dreaming, but it feels so real. I twist my body to break her fall, then flip her over and throw my body over hers. My heart slams into my ribcage and the blood thuds at my pulse points.Che cazzo! If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.
I told myself we’d leave in five minutes. But I allowed myself to be pulled into a discussion with my brothers. Why did I allow my work to take precedence? The lure of my dream was within reach. I knew it was a turning point. I never truly thought I’d be able to move away from theCosa Nostrabusiness and into something I’ve always wanted to pursue. And I allowed my thirst for power to take control. I thought it wouldn’t matter if I stayed a few more minutes before leaving; before taking my wife home to consummate our marriage.
What kind of a man am I, who isn’t able to protect his woman? I’ve faced bullets, and been in the middle of gun fights before… but never when my heart was at the center of it. Never when I had so much to lose. Never when the one thing more important to me than my own life had been under threat.
Wait. Hold on. Where is this coming from? I married her to fulfill my promise to Nonna… Right. Keep fooling yourself, youtesta di cazzo!You’ve always known it’s more than that. You just didn’t want to admit it. And now, here you are, on the verge of falling in love with her. Love. Ha, you’re in love with her.
Something slams into my arm. I grunt. White-hot pain slices through my body. Sweat pours down my temples. I glance down to find her features stained with blood. Her eyes are shut. Her body is still. No, no, no, it can’t be.
"Seb!"
Someone touches me, and I grab him and throw him down.
"Seb, stop!"
"Elsa." My eyelids snap open. I stare down into blue eyes. Big blue eyes filled with pain, and something else, an emotion I can’t place. A tear hovers at the tip of her eyelash. Her chest rises and falls. I look down to find I have my fingers wrapped around her throat. I release her and she gasps for air. The sunlight slants through the window and illuminates her features. The dark circles under her eyes lend her a fragile appearance.
"Cazzo, I’m sorry Princess, so sorry. Did I hurt you?"
She shakes her head.
I touch her throat, trace the mark of my fingers on the skin. She draws in a breath.
"Do that again."
"What?" I jerk my gaze to her face. "What did you say?"
"Do it again, Seb," she says in a low voice. "Does it surprise you to hear me say that?"
I search her features. "I’m not sure," I say honestly.
"I told you, I have a craving to be dominated. The harder you give it to me, the more I want it."
I shake my head. "You don’t know what you’re doing to me right now."
"Don’t I?" She places her hand on my crotch.
A growl rumbles up my throat.
She traces the thick column in my pants, and wraps her fingers around the tented fabric. She squeezes and acute pleasure zings up my spine. The wound in my bicep throbs in tandem with the pulse that beats at my temples.
"Is this what you want, Princess?" My voice comes out harsh, "Is it? Tell me, Elsa, that you want me to dominate you."
"I do," she nods.
"Tell me that you want me to break you."
"I..." She swallows. "I want you to break me."
"Tell me that you want me to make you submit, to break you apart and piece you back together in a form that reflects our combined passions."