“The hell you are.” I moved into the room, closing the door behind me.
“Elio, I just need a break.”
“From me?”
“From everyone. You all forget that my life has stalled staying here, my job, my social life, my responsibilities. I did that because you asked me to, but now,” she shook the emotion from her head, “I’m being questioned by you.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “I know the risks, and I know how this might look to everyone, but I don’t care. I’m taking some time because I need it.”
“That’s not how this works.” She wasn’t getting it.
“Maybe not in your world, but it does in mine.”
I fought through darkness I’d purposely let in.
“What about your mother?”
“She’ll understand.”
“What about my mother? She loves you too.”
“If only her son did.”
“Sienna,” I rubbed my head, not needing this right now, “you’re not leaving.”
“Elio, just stop. You may be the boss to many, but you’re not to me.”
What was happening? How was I losing control here?
She zipped the suitcase shut and let it fall to the floor. I toed it from her reach and sent it spinning on its wheels across the room. I swung her around and pushed her into the wall, using my knee between her legs to hold her still. Both of my hands slammed to the wall next to her head.
“I’m not in the right frame of mind to deal with this right now. I’m about to go hunting, so my mind is focused on ending someone’s life.” I spoke slowly, making sure she heard each word. “And the biggest part of this particular death is making sure that he experiences a lot of fucking pain.” I was inches from her face; I could feel her heartbeat against mine. I closed my eyes and steadied my feverish temper. “I’m in a pretty dark place right now, so do me a favor and stay put.” My hand snapped over her mouth when she went to speak. “If you need some time alone, take our house and seclude yourself there. No one will bother you. But for God’s fucking sake, do it there and not somewhere Stefano can get to you. If you have any sense at all and want to live to see another day, stay home. Do you understand me?”
She held my intense gaze, and I wanted to shake her for even having a thought to leave.
“All right,” she hissed and shoved my arm out of her way, but I shoved her back in place, grabbing her chin and kissing her hard. “Elio,” she squeaked, and I took advantage of her open mouth and kissed her deeper, stroking her tongue and sucking on it just the way she loved. It was all I could do to make myself stay calm. If I was leaving her for a few days, she was going to let me have her.
She tried to shove me away, but I didn’t budge. I was a brick wall that she’d never get by, so I snagged her wrists and lifted them above her head. With one hand, I parted her legs and skimmed my fingers over the silk fabric and nearly groaned at how turned on she was. I slowed the kiss and let her take a breath. Sienna was a sexy kisser. It was one of the main reasons I couldn’t stop demanding them from her. In all the years we’d fought, she’d always kissed me back. Even when I pissed her off royally, she always made sure I knew we connected. Tonight, she kissed me back, so I knew, deep down inside, she was still with me.
“Be pissed at me,” my chest heaved with the need to be inside her, “but don’t ever deny me something that belongs to me,” I warned as I rubbed my middle finger over her sensitive bud. For a single moment she slipped, but then I saw the fire back in her eyes.
“You’re infuriating,” she huffed, knocking my hand away.
“And you’re turned on, so don’t tell me you don’t like it.”
“So, what if I do?” she shot back, further pissing me off. “You’re using sex as a way to make me submit.”
“You’ve never claimed to have a problem with it before.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Elio, I’m really bothered by what’s happening here. You tell me you love me, tell me the house is ours. You tell me you want me to sleep next to you every night, and the next minute you’re questioning my history, seeing if I could be hiding something that could hurt your family. I have been nothing but honest with you. I’ve never lied to you, or ever did or said anything to hurt your family. I’m the one who takes all the hits in our relationship, and after everything—everythingthat has happened, I’m still here.” She brushed a tear away.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced at a text from my nonna.
Nonna: Did you get some answers? Everyone has something they keep quiet.
My head spun harder.