Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
"Why?" I whisper, desperate for one straight answer from him. This is more than pride or honor or whatever these men fight about. I feel it radiating from him in waves, but I have no name for it. It's nothing I've ever experienced before. But some part of me cries out in recognition. Some part of me feels the same inexplicable, confusing something for him.
"Because you're mine, piccolina," he rasps. His mouth slants down on mine, and I find that perhaps I do have a name for what's happening between us, after all. Fate. This man, this moment, all of this…. I think he's my fate. I prayed this moment into existence my whole life. I wanted out so badly, I begged for a miracle.
God answered. He sent me a Valentino to set me free or lead me to ruin. It can only be one or the other. I don't know which path leads to salvation and which leads to damnation. All I know for sure is that with Luca's lips on mine and his hand around my throat, I find a part of myself I've never met before. One desperate to feel this wicked, wanton man everywhere.
Not to forge an alliance. Not to stop a war. But because the thought of not having him all over me is a physical ache, growing stronger by the minute.
I whimper against his lips, silently pleading for relief from the turmoil.
"Fuck," he growls, dragging me out of my chair and into his arms. His hands grip my ass hard, as if he has every right to touch me like no one else ever has.
I should stop him, but I don’t want to. Instead, I wrap my legs around his waist, gasping when the hard ridge of his erection settles between my thighs.
"Feel it, principessa," he breathes against my lips. "You're responsible for it."
"Luca," I groan. "I…I…" I don't know what I'm trying to say. I don't know what I'm doing. I just know that my body burns like the surface of the sun, and it's not nearly hot enough to satisfy me.
"Work your hips, Callandria. Get nice and acquainted with what belongs to you. You'll be choking on all nine inches soon, bella." He bites my lip, dragging it through his teeth as he grinds me against his erection. "You may be a principessa, but in my bed, you'll be my little fuck doll, piccolina."
"Bastardo," I moan without heat, my core clenching at the filthy way he speaks to me.
"Yes, and you fucking love it," he growls, jostling me against him again. His erection grinds against my clit, and I see stars. "I bet your little panties are soaked right now because I'm a bastard. You love me filthy, bella. You love fighting me." He presses his lips to my ear. "And you fucking love the thought of belonging to a man who would kill for you, no questions asked."
I want to deny him. I want to call him a liar and say it isn't true, but God help me…I think maybe it is. I don't want to be a pawn. I don't want to be a principessa with no choices and no freedom. I want to be the reason someone is willing to risk everything. No, not someone. This man. I want to be the reason this man risks everything.
Maybe we aren't so different after all.
"Fucking come, bella. Now." He sinks his teeth into my throat, delivering a stinging bite that delivers a pulse straight to my clit. And then he sucks hard, putting his mark on me.
I cry out in bliss, in defiance…I hardly know which I feel. But my body bows to him. And I submit.
The orgasm crashes through me in a powerful wave, knocking my defenses asunder.
He slips beneath them, leaving a brand on my soul.
"I met with my brothers today."
I glance at him, startled. It's the first words he's spoken since he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and helped me back into my chair half an hour ago. I haven't spoken either. I don't even know where to begin.
"Oh," I say.
"They don't want a war either."
"You think my family does?"
He's silent for a moment as he stirs the sauce. "I think Tommaso left them no choice," he says after a moment. "Your father can't show weakness if he wants to secure the title. If he does nothing to retaliate for Tommaso's murder, he risks losing the vote to someone else. His only other option is to strengthen the family another way, by forging an alliance that dramatically improves their position. If he does that, they may be willing to overlook the fact that he let Tommaso's murder go unpunished, given the untenable position Tommaso put them in."
I turn this information over in my mind, not sure where to fit it. Surprised he gave it to me at all. It's more than I expected.