“And it shows that you are stronger now.”
I looked up through tear-filled eyes to see Alessio standing in the doorway.
He sent me one of his beautiful smiles and he walked into the room. “I’m sorry I’m late. I was held back at the last minute.”
“It’s okay,” I said as he stopped in front of me. He leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the lips before straightening up.
“Everything good?” he asked.
“Perfect,” I replied.
“Well. We are done here.” Sam cleared his throat. Maddie gave me another squeeze and then let go of me.
“I’ll see you later,” she said with a wink before leaving.
Alessio wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into his body. He placed a kiss on my forehead before turning to Sam. “Thank you,” he said. Sam nodded and Alessio led me out of the room.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Good. I’m glad the stitches are out. They were very annoying and itched a lot.”
Alessio laughed and kissed me as I pouted. “I know. You have been complaining about them for days.”
When he pulled away, I didn’t like it. Leaning on my toes, I brought my lips to his and kissed him. It was quick and then I pulled away. “You are such a tease,” Alessio growled, his arm tightening around me in almost a bruising grip.
A small giggle escaped past my lips at his words and I shrugged. Placing a hand on his chest, I looked up at his shining blue eyes. “You were gone before I woke up this morning,” I said.
Alessio nodded solemnly. “I had to take care of some things. You looked too peaceful while sleeping, I didn’t want to wake you up.”
“I missed you.”
My admission was a surprise to both of us. His eyes flared dangerously and I trembled in his embrace. “Well, fuck,” he whispered harshly before slamming his lips on mine.
He pushed me against the wall, his lips devouring mine. I absorbed his kisses hungrily, like I was starving for him. His hands delved into my hair and he grasped it tight in his fist, tilting my head back.
My fingers dug in his shoulders and I moaned when he sucked at my tongue, kissing me deeper. His kisses were rough and hard, as if he was claiming me.
And then suddenly, he wasn’t in my arms anymore.
He pulled away harshly and took several steps away, his breathing hard, his eyes glittering with need. “If we don’t stop now, I won’t be able to stop later. And we are in the hallway,” he said.
“Okay,” I replied.
“I’ll see you for lunch,” Alessio said, his eyes showing his desperate hunger for me yet he held himself back. For me. All for me. Everything he had done so far…was for me.
I nodded speechlessly and he quickly swiveled around, walking away. When he was out of sight, I sank against the wall and wrapped my arms around my middle, holding myself together.
I knew what Alessio wanted. It was clear in his eyes and every time he looked at me. He held himself back, waiting for me to make the next move. His need for me grew stronger each day. I saw it every time he lost control.
But I wasn’t sure if I was ready.
Chapter 46
When I heard the shower turn off, I let out a sigh of relief and closed my book, turning toward the door as I waited for him to come out.
It had been almost half an hour and he was still inside.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw me on the couch. “You aren’t in bed yet,” he mumbled, drying his hair with the towel. “Are you not sleepy?”
I shook my head and looked down at the book on my lap. “I wanted to finish the book before going to sleep. And I’m not that sleepy.”
“Hmm.” Alessio threw the towel on the plush bench in front of the bed, before sitting down on the bed, facing me.
“How many pages do you have left?” he asked.
Opening the book, I checked and then shrugged before looking back at him. “Thirty-two pages. I have two chapters left.”
“Go ahead then. Read it and then we’ll go to sleep.”
“Are you going to stare at me like that while I read?” I teased with a small laugh.
“Is that a problem, kitten?”
“It’s a little creepy.”
“I like looking at you. I find that I can’t take my eyes off you when we are in the same room.”
I smiled, looking down at my book. I had to read every paragraph twice, because I didn’t understand what I was reading.
My mind…my body was hyper-aware of Alessio’s stares. With each minute, my body heated under his penetrating gaze.
When I finally finished the book, I snapped it shut, leaning against the sofa.
“Done?” Alessio questioned. I nodded and closed my eyes.
But I felt him moving closer and closer, until I felt him right in front of me. His heat made my heart flip and I licked my lips nervously as my eyes fluttered open.
“You are so beautiful, do you know that?” he whispered, leaning forward to touch my lips. He rubbed his thumb over it and then moved to my cheeks, trailing his finger upward. My eyes opened to stare into his.
“Stand up,” he ordered softly. My body trembled as I did to his bidding. So many feelings…foreign feelings coursed through my body as I stood up in front of him.
“These lips, I will never grow tired of kissing them,” he continued, his lips just inches away from mine.
“Please.” I didn’t know what I begged for. All I knew was that I needed him. And he understood.
Alessio brought his lips to mine and kissed me gently, sweetly. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to his body and my hands instinctively went to his chest, making contact with his skin.
He kissed me while I explored every inch of his naked skin, my hands moving up his chest to his shoulders and then down his biceps and the length of his arms.
The more I touched him, the harder and deeper his kisses became. Our tongues danced together, in perfect harmony. We kissed each other like we had been kissing those same lips for years. We touched like our bodies were accustomed to each other.
His hold on me tightened and he pulled me deeper into his body until I was completely plastered against him. Our bodies molded together. We fit as if we were meant to be.
I could feel his heart beating hard, and I smiled against his kisses. Our hearts danced as if they had recognized their mate.
With that thought in my mind, I melted in Alessio’s embrace and welcomed his kisses. I was nervous but I wasn’t scared. Not of Alessio.
He continued to kiss me with the same fervor. He bit, sucked, nibbled, and kissed my lips.
He was claiming me.
His hands moved down my body until they were at the end of my nightgown and he slowly pulled the hem upward, stopping mid-thigh. Alessio slightly pulled away and I moaned at the loss of him.
“Ayla, this is the time to say no. If we continue now, I don’t think I will be able to stop. I need you too much,” he whispered.