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His face lowered and his nose trailed up the side of my throat, pulling a string of goosebumps from my skin. I exhaled a shaky breath, feeling him brush his lips over the shell of my ear.

“What am I going to do with you?” He murmured, deeply inhaling and I tried to shift away but his hold was too strong.

The point of his nose trailed up the side of my neck and my eyes threatened to flutter closed, my heart beating rhythmically as his scent wrapped around me, forcing me to lean in. To accept him. Welcome him.

“I already told you to let me go,” I whispered, but he only allowed his lips to graze my jaw.

Then, his mouth stopped at my ear. “Finché morte non ci separi, tesoro.”

Fear struck my spine as it straightened, and his grip loosened as he shoved me back. I landed on my ass, groaning as I watched him rise to his full height, eyes of sin taking in my naked appearance.

The ghost of a gleam appeared in his eyes as quickly as it vanished before he crouched down on his haunches, lowering himself to my level. I kept my chin up, fighting my fear as he placed the muzzle on my inner thigh, dragging it up to my waist, only to stop between the valley of my breasts.

I anticipated his next move, and everything I’d learned about him forced me to believe that he was on the verge of saying something before opting not to.

Adrenaline warmed my veins as he stood, turned, and exited my bedroom without another word.

I exhaled sharply, collapsing as I lay back on the floor, a vicious tremor fighting to be let free.

Running a trembling hand through my hair I squeezed my eyes shut, hating myself for feeling like this.

He’s always had an effect on my body, my mind… even my goddamn soul didn’t want to part from him. He had entwined himself in every fold of my brain that I hated myself for not being able to forget him.

I didn’t know who I despised more. Him… or me.

* * *

It felt as though my senses tingled in the middle of the night.

I pierced my eyes open and reached for the clock on my nightstand. 2 a.m.

I yawned then rolled onto my back, rubbing my eyes.

With a dry throat I sat up with the intention of grabbing something to drink but my body jolted back against the headboard.

A figure was sat on the couch—watching me.

Even in the dark I already knew who it was, but I reached over to flick on the bedside lamp anyway. Antonio.

“What are you doing?” I yawned, pulling my knees up to my chest underneath the sheets. “Wait let me guess. You’re just watching me sleep like a stalker.”

He was still dressed in his suit and his hair wasn’t disheveled, so it was safe to say he hadn’t slept yet.

When he didn’t answer I rolled my eyes and dropped my legs. “Well if you’re just going to wordlessly stare at me, can you at least grab me a bottle of water?” I motioned my hand to the mini fridge and he looked in said direction before looking back at me. I smiled. “Please?”

He got to his feet and walked over. Do it, Nirah. Do it now!

As soon as his back was toward me I yanked out my robes belt and jumped up. I threw the belt over his head and when it fell around his neck I pulled back with force.

He groaned, trying to pull the belt from his throat and I bit down on my teeth, pulling harder.

He walked backwards, pushing me with him until he trapped my body between him and the wall.

With his firm back pressed to my chest, cutting off my oxygen supply, my grip slackened and he used the opportunity to yank the belt from his neck and toss it across the room.

I coughed as he whipped around and pressed his forearm to my throat, holding me up against the wall.

“Let. Go.” I dug my nails into his forearm but he didn’t budge.