Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
My voice is filled with tension as I say, “I wish you would tell me what’s going on so I can fix it.”
She shakes her head again.
I press more kisses to her temple and hair while her tears form a damp spot on my shirt.
When the sobs die away, and her hold on me loosens, I grip her jaw and tilt her head back so I can see her face. Using my thumbs, I wipe the tear tracks from her cheeks before my eyes lock with hers.
“Talk to me, Sienna.”
Just like she’s done many times before, she pulls completely away from me. “It’s been an emotional week with moving in here and Riccardo getting shot.”
“You didn’t think to run it by me?” I ask.
Her red-rimmed eyes dart to mine. “What?”
“Living on your own.”
Sienna stares at me for a moment, then a tired expression settles on her face. “You might be the head of the families, but that doesn’t mean you have a say in my personal life.”
My temper flares fucking hot, and I can’t keep the growl out of my tone. “Let’s get one thing straight, Sienna.” I stalk closer, my movements too predatory. Towering over her smaller frame, I say, “I will always have a say in your personal life. Who you spend time with. Where you live. Whether you get married or not.” I lean down until an inch of air separates us. “Every single fucking thing about you is my business.”
The fear returns to her eyes, and it has my dark side retreating at the speed of light.
Making a conscious effort to soften my expression and tone, I let out a sigh while framing her face with my hands. I press my forehead to hers and whisper, “As your capo and the man who loves you, it is my job and privilege to make sure you have the best life possible.” I stare deep into her eyes, and my voice turns hoarse. “Stop fighting me.”
Once a-fucking-gain, she pulls away, causing every muscle in my body to tense and my hands to fist. Frustration surges through me like a violent storm, and before I know what I’m doing, I grab hold of Sienna and yank her against me. My hand clamps around the back of her neck, and as our eyes lock, the last of the meager patience I’ve been clinging to is stripped from me.
During the three months I got to date her, I used to kiss her with reverence, always careful not to push too hard.
But that’s a thing of the past.
My mouth crashes into hers, brutal and unforgiving. Years of restraint breaks in a single breath. There is no place for rational thinking, only the raw edge of being pushed too far.
A satisfied groan rumbles through my chest as my teeth drag over Sienna’s bottom lip. When she gasps and opens for me, I deepen the kiss, and holding her fucking tight, I lift her off her feet.
Her hands fly up to grab hold of my shoulders, pulling me closer. With Sienna’s body pressed tightly against mine, I can feel every tremble and hear every sharp intake of breath, and it has me losing my fucking mind.
There is no space left between us, no distance she can use to keep me away. I forcefully hold her exactly where I want her as I devour every delicious inch of her mouth.
Fuck. My woman tastes even better than I remember.
With the kiss turning heavier and darker from pure desperation, I teeter on the edge of losing control and fucking her right where we’re standing.
There’s no tenderness, only the incessant hunger sharpened by a lifetime’s worth of frustration and the living hell she’s forced me to endure by refusing to explain why the fuck she broke things off between us.
Getting to taste her after such a long time, my soul shudders with overwhelming relief. It confirms the fact that there will never be another. The instant I fell for Sienna, it was for life.
I pull back only far enough to let my breath rush over her lips. Seeing desire warring with a startled expression in her eyes, I press my forehead to hers.
My tone is low and stripped of mercy and patience. “I’m done waiting, Sienna. I have zero patience left.”
Chapter 11
Sienna
Gasping for air, I feel completely rattled and struggle to form a coherent thought.
I’ve been kissed before, but never with such dominance and heat.
With my gaze imprisoned by his, I can do nothing but drag deep breaths into my lungs. The dangerous look in his black eyes tells me he means every word.
Part of me wants to give in and let this powerful man take over all control of my life, but then there’s the fear. Living with the unholy terror that at any second, Christiano can be gunned down.