“Except that you’d have stripped me of my freedom, Rome. And that’s all I ever wanted.”
“You were always free with me, Cleo.”
“Not free from tradition, not free to have a say and a voice. Not free from where the family thought I belonged. And even still, what worth would I have?”
“The worth of being with me. Us together. Is that not enough?”
“You love me when I’m yours, but can you love me when I’m not too?”
“Unfortunately, that seems to be the case, doesn’t it? I’m hovering over you like a lovesick puppy in the middle of the night. And keeping tabs on things I never would have before. All because you wouldn’t give me a damn address so I could see you, so I could know you were safe.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy.” Her voice strained, trying to hold back her anger. “You couldn’t pick forgiveness or love in that moment with Mario. You chose hate and the family way instead. And I chose to walk away from the family that did that time and time again. I chose to create a different family here with them.”
“I’m going to follow you wherever you go, woman. You’re not walking very far without me.” I gripped the counter on either side of her, trying my best not to grab her hips and bend her over to remind her that I had some power here, some control, at least in our relationship.
She sighed and combed her fingers through her inky black hair. “Go home, Rome.”
My grip turned to a white-knuckled one as I ground my teeth together at her trying to make me leave. I tilted my head just close enough to her neck that I could breathe her in. The smell of her, the way goosebumps skittered across her collarbone, and the soft gasp that escaped from her lips emboldened me. “Home is up against your ass. I live where you are.”
“No. I live with the bratva now. There’s men out there that will come if I call them.”
“You intending to call them up? You want me to lay bodies down for you tonight? I’m at the point that I will.”
She bit her bottom lip and arched her ass into my cock. It was enough of an answer, even if she didn’t speak. I let go of the counter so I could lift her shirt, knowing I’d find nothing under it.
“Rome, we shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered, but she was letting the fabric inch higher and higher.
When the fabric skimmed her ass, she shuddered and I smiled like a wolf about to eat his meal. I hummed at her statement, not giving it much attention. I was focused on those two round globes. With her back arched, they were just the right size for me to squeeze. My hand latched on and I watched my fingers press into her soft skin, my thumb dangerously close to that asshole that I wanted to fuck.
“You like being in power in the bratva, Katalina?” I whispered as I massaged her cheek. Her body moved in rhythm with my touch, like she couldn’t help herself. She panted and I saw how her arms had moved in over her breasts like she was trying to feel them up herself.
“Power’s a loose term, Rome. I’m learning and it’s still Ivan’s say over mine.”
I smacked her ass hard and she yelped, but before she could pull away I was massaging it again. “I’ll punish you for downplaying your power. Remember you’ve always been ready for this.”
Her gaze on me softened. “I’m only me, Rome.”
“It’s notonlyyou. It’s Katalina, Cleo, Kate-Bait that rose to the queen of the bratva. You’re everything and you handle anything.” I brushed my thumb over the tight ring I’d yet to enter.
She gasped and pulled her back up a little.
Retreating from one another wasn’t an option at this point. I tangled my other hand in her hair and pulled her back. “Don’t think we aren’t going here, Cleo.”
“It won’t be tonight,” she panted, trying her best to keep it together. “You’re going home.”
“You think you’re kicking me out without letting me taste you? I’ve been starved of my favorite meal for far too long.” I dipped my finger far into her pussy so that she’d gasp for me before I slid it out and sucked the juices off. “I’m going to show you why I need to stay.”
“You can’t show me because there’s no good reason for you t—”
“Watch yourself in the mirror while I eat my meal, woman.” I kneeled on a knee and smelled exactly what I’d been missing for weeks.
She didn’t say yes or no, nor did she move. I brushed my finger over her clit, and her nipples tightened under the shirt instantly. “Bend forward. A ruler knows when to take the gift they’ve been offered.”
She shook her head like I was being ridiculous, but her pussy was open to me now. I dragged my tongue across her pink lips and licked slowly. I took my time. I enjoyed my feast.
She moaned my name like she was mine, she rolled her hips over my face like she was mine, and she definitely tasted like she was mine.
I ate her out like a ravenous animal.