Chapter Ten
Fabiana’s entire body screamed at her when she woke up. Apparently, acrobatic sex on a marble floor wasn’t the easiest thing to recover from.
Who knew?
Grumbling, Fabiana reached out across the bed, intent on strangling her mate within an inch of his life.
“As much as I love the idea of another round, I don’t think you could handle it.”
Fabiana forced her gaze to her mate as he leaned against his dresser in black briefs, his arms crossed over his chest. She supposed she should be thankful he wasn’t on full display, but she could appreciate his love of black. The color highlighted the golden tone of his skin and made his eyes more vibrant.
“I think you broke it,” she groaned.
A sudden bark of surprised laughter filled the room. “It’s not possible to breakit,pequeña.”
Fabiana begged to differ. As amazing as last night had been, everything was stiff and achy now.
“Come,” he whispered, and she shivered. He chuckled. “Not that way.”
Shaking his head, Adonis pushed away from the dresser. His body was a living work of art, each muscle flexing and relaxing with each movement. He approached the bed and lifted her into his arms.
“I’ve run a bath for you.”
Fabiana only nodded as he carried her into the bathroom and lowered her into a clawfoot tub filled with fragrant, steaming water. Roses and notes of citrus wafted to her nose. She moaned as heat seeped into her weary body, chasing away the fog of sleep.
“So good.”
“You were,” he commended, running his finger down her nose before standing up.
A heated flush of embarrassment filled her cheeks. She ducked her head so her hair covered her face. “Shut up.”
“Not a very spirited comeback,” he teased.
“Well, it’s the best I got.”
“Look at me.”
She didn’t want to, but his soft request encouraged her to lift her gaze anyway.
“Last night was more than I ever dreamed it would be.” He rubbed the back of his neck, stretching his torso in the process, and she swallowed hard. “I can’t say it won’t be like that every time. I seem to lose my head every time you gasp. I crave more of them, demand I have them all. But Icanswear I will always take care of you afterward.”
Fabiana blinked. Every time? She didn’t think she’d survive pleasure so sharp it nearly hurt. She didn’t even have a chance to do anything in return, no way to pay him back for the maelstrom he’d created in her.
Yet here he stood, telling her he’d take care of her.
“It was,” she licked her lips, “amazing.”
Adonis cocked his head in the way she loved so much. “I am thankful I found you.”
What was she supposed to say to that? The quiet intensity of his gaze lent truth to his words and it was enough just to maintain eye contact. Adonis wasn’t what she’d thought he’d be. It almost seemed silly to have hidden from him in the first place.
Fabiana didn’t know what love really looked like between a woman and a man. Of course, she saw Giules and Pasquale and the unspoken words that passed between them in a room full of people. Zoey perked up whenever Dominic came into a room. Kalinda could face anything with her man at her side.
Even Asherah came out of her shell when Heath shielded her.
But while their love was visible, Fabiana didn’t know the path to get there, what steps she needed to take to let her heart go. She kept it locked away, an organ sealed in a lab to study and prod. The edges were decayed with black, and scars marred the surface, but yet it beat.
Struggled to be normal like all the other hearts.
