Suddenly he covers my shoulders with his jacket, the scent of citrus and cedarwood encompassing me.His hands linger on my upper arms and he gently turns me to face him.
His gaze is intense, searching for something in my face.My skin prickles and goosebumps rise.
“Are you afraid of me, little flower?”His voice is a deep murmur, the roughness like a caress on my skin.
“Should I be?”I ask again breathlessly.
He remains silent, staring into my eyes as if probing my soul.
My lips feel dry and I wet them.His gaze darts down to my mouth to track the movement of my tongue, his eyes burning.
Shit, shit, shit, he is going to kiss m—
His lips descend on mine and my mind flies out the window.
I gasp in shock and, before I can process it, his tongue sweeps in, claiming every inch of my mouth and every fiber of my being.I’m frozen in place, my mind scrambling, lost in the storm of sensation.His kiss shifts, becoming demanding and he pulls at my hair, angling my head back to give him better access, fully taking control.
My head spins, the onslaught of his lips and tongue muddling my thoughts.My body surrenders to his dominance.I am spiraling, lost in the heat of it.
Without thinking, I tangle my fingers in his silky hair, pulling him closer, my body aching for more.His lips devour me, claiming me, owning me.I’m about to combust, my entire being igniting under the pressure of him.
A low growl rumbles from deep within his chest, vibrating through me.
But then, lucidity strikes.The haze clears for a brief second, and I manage to push him away.
I am a panting mess, frantically trying to get my wits together.His eyes are wild, his chest heaves and his jaw is clenched.
“I…I need to go.”I shrug off his jacket and bolt from the terrace, back inside to the relative safety of the crowd.
This time I don’t even seek out Father to tell him that I am leaving.I run out of the mansion to the driveway, cursing myself for leaving my phone at home, wondering how I will escape this mess.
A kind voice stops me.“Miss, do you need a drive home?Mr.Santaluccia has arranged for drivers to take any guest safely home in case they didn’t drive here tonight.”Several other drivers standing there gesture toward the line of waiting cars.I can only nod in silent thanks, my hands trembling slightly as I slide into the backseat of the first car in line.I press myself into the cool leather, my heart hammering in my chest, and I silently pray to God that tonight the Devil won’t claim my soul.
Chapter Seven
Damiano
That kiss… It was raw, genuine.It has shifted something deep inside me, something my mind can’t quite comprehend.
It has changed me on a fundamental level.
I stand there, frozen, staring at the door she has disappeared through, my chest heaving with every ragged breath, my mind a whirlwind of confusion.
It took every ounce of my willpower to let her go when she pushed me back.I wasn’t done with her.Not by a long shot.My body is still screaming for her, urging me to take her, to claim her as mine.I want to follow her inside, but I have to get my raging boner under control.
Fuck.
What is it about this little flower that draws me in like a moth to the purest light?One look into her green eyes and I was a goner.
Maybe I need to fuck her out of my system.But how am I supposed to, when she bolts every time we meet?And right now, distraction is the last thing I need.
Fuck, fuck,fuck.
But who am I kidding?I don’t want to just fuck her and be done with her.I want her sharp mind, her wit, the fire I sense simmering beneath her sass.
For a brief moment tonight, I forgot I was the head of thefamiglia.She made me smile, laugh, her quirky mind cutting through the heavy weight of my responsibilities.Never have I been so liberated from the constant pressure.
More than that, the darkness that’s always coiled inside me, ready to strike, is subdued.My soul, usually consumed by shadows, is soothed by her presence.Her light tempers my darkness, and I find myself craving it, needing it, aching to bask in its warmth.
