Gripping the lapels of my shirt, I tugged her towards me. I covered her mouth, determined to get control back the only way I knew how.
Her lips opened, and my tongue claimed her. I drove deep, exploiting the soft sobs of her instant surrender. There was only one language we both understood, only one way to make this work. But as she sank into the kiss, giving of herself, her fingers clutching at my shoulders, the scent of her arousal filling my senses… I lost sight of my objective.
Not a problem, I told myself as I swung her into my arms and began the long climb up the stairs to the villa. Each step of the way, I focussed on my physical needs, and my determination to possess her again. I had not lied to her when I had told her that keeping her riding my cock would be the best way to keep her out of trouble…
She could have her damn precious freedom, up to a point. She had fought valiantly for it, and I respected that. And if conceding this much meant she would not run from me again, that she would give herself to me without holding anything back—these small concessions would be worth it.
Mia
‘Evie, it’s me,’ I said when the video call connected.
Evie’s face lit up, and the guilt blindsided me. My sister looked exhausted, her usually bright eyes dull from lack of sleep.
‘Mia, thank god. I’ve been so worried. Where the hell…’ Evie trailed off as her gaze shifted to the man over my shoulder.
As per our agreement, Vito was sitting behind me, his hands on my abdomen. His thighs bracketing my hips.
He’d insisted on showering with me when we’d reached his suite, and he’d taken me against the wall of the cubicle. The man was insatiable, but then, so was I.
‘You contacted him?’ Evie asked, confused and wary.
I shifted in his lap.
‘Your sister is with me so that I can protect her and our child,’ Vito said, his low voice husky with purpose.
‘Why didn’t you tell me, Mia? Didn’t you trust me?’ Evie asked, her expression devastated that I hadn’t confided in her something which had never happened.
I wanted to kick Vito in that moment for making Evie think even for a second I didn’t trust her. But I had to concede it was better for Evie not to know how I had really got to Isla Donna, or she would move heaven and earth to rescue me.
And after everything that had happened, I knew I didn’t need to be rescued anymore.
Even though I already suspected my decision to remain with Vito wasn’t just about the need to protect my baby. It was also about all those glimpses he had given me of another man. Not just the ruthless, dominating mafia boss, but the man who had risked his life to save mine. And the man who had looked overawed by the sight of his baby in the surgery in Naples last night. The man who had draped his wet shirt over me and carried me up about five hundred stairs as if I were precious. The guy who could make me feel cherished and more alive than I had ever felt before. The man who could bend if I pushed him hard enough.
‘I’m sorry, Evie. I didn’t know he planned to come and get me,’ I said, trying to lie to her as little as possible. ‘Until he turned up at the flat yesterday.’
Had it really only been yesterday?
‘Are you sure you’re okay? Where even are you?’ Evie asked, not buying my white lies. ‘It’s not like you to just disappear. You didn’t even take your phone or your shoes with you. It reminded me of when Mum took off…’ she continued. Her voice broke, and I could see the panic in her eyes from the day our mother had disappeared.
‘I’m in Italy. It was all quite sudden. Vito didn’t want to hang around. I’m so, so sorry…’ I tried to make amends, to convince her, but before either of us could say more, Vito rode his hand up my bump, tugging me firmly into his lap.
‘You must not concern yourself with your sister’s welfare,’ he said, as if that was even a thing Evie could do, just cut off her feelings for me. ‘She is my responsibility now.’
I glanced at him over my shoulder, the weightless feeling in my belly at the possessive tone not helping. ‘Vito, please. I need to talk to my sister without you interfering.’
His dark brows flattened. But he didn’t object the way I knew he wanted to.
‘Prego!’ he growled, clearly not happy, but willing to give me an inch—which felt like a mile. ‘Talk. I will listen.’
The weightless feeling in my belly returned because he had backed down when I’d asked him to and made room for my feelings, even though I knew he wanted to dominate this conversation.
I turned back to Evie, trying not to make too much of it. ‘Honestly, I’m good, sis. Vito’s arranged maternity care on the island. He’s taking care of me…’ Heat blasted up my neck as I recalled exactly how well he’d taken care of me in the shower.Maybe don’t go there.
‘He’s not…’ Evie’s gaze darted to Vito.‘He’s not keeping you there against your will?’
Vito tensed against my back. Was he expecting me to use the chance he’d given me against him? He still didn’t really trust me, I realised.
So don’t go getting ahead of yourself, Mia, and reading things into his behaviour that probably aren’t there.
