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“Floor?”
“Of the hall I lived in,” she explains, leaning back on the step. “The girls a few suites over threw a ton of parties, and I was coming back from class when—” she pauses, swallowing down. Even though this isn’t comfortable for the girl, I have to understand what pushed her here. “It was late, and the guy was in the hallway when I got back. He slurred out a bunch of pick-up lines, but I ignored him and kept on walking. Can’t say that doesn’t happen often…I just hadn’t realized he followed me to my door.”
My blood is starting to boil. I’m not pleased to find where this is heading, and I’ve got men rooted in Chicago. I’ll have Tessa cough up the boy’s name and have him taken care of before she eventhinksof that asshole ever touching her again.
“He didn’t dothat,” she blurts out, eyes flitting up to mine. I know this, considering David reassured me. But my head is already pounding, blood rushing through my veins as I nearly drown out Tessa’s soft voice.
“He tried, but I bit him,” she confesses, and a smirk cracks my cold expression.Well, I’m pleased to hear she has some fight in her after all. “Hard enough to make him bleed,” she continues. “He tried to hit me, but I ducked out and ran as fast as I could, joining the crowd at the end of the hall—that’s where I lost him.”
My anger dwindles as I watch Tessa. She looks somehow lighter now that I’ve got her talking.
“He didn’t force you to bed, correct?” I ask bluntly, just to be sure.
“No,” she shakes her head. “I’m still a virgin,” she whispers, immediately looking flushed.
Virgin?
I had my suspicions, I’ll admit. But knowing she’suntouchedand scantily covered in my pool, my cock is throbbing. I kneel down on the lowest step, and Tessa pulls back slightly in response.
So close, I can spot the freckles dotting her chest. My hand is itching to reach out and trace a finger from one dot to the next, outlining the perfect constellations across her fair skin…
Instead, under water, I grasp her ankle lightly.
“I’m happy you’re alright,” I say in all honesty. “Your uncle—he mentioned you went after the guy?”
Tessa’s blush spreads, as this look she wears now is one of embarrassment.
“Yeah, I sort of saw him walking back from the bar the next night. I was driving home from work and I…I uh, had a baseball bat in the car,” she shrugs, looking away. It doesn’t seem like she’s willing to finish the story, but I can picture it.
“Well, your mother would’ve been proud, princess.”
Irina may not have been an advocate for violence but she’s always been one for revenge.
Tessa’s gaze lands back on mine, and the shy girl I’ve discovered…she’s disappeared. All I see now is curiosity. She scoots forward on the step and my hand shifts up her calf naturally, gripping just behind her knee.
I try ignoring how little cloth is covering her; how easy it would be to peel that top off, exposing her pebbled nipples I keep on eyeing without remorse.
“You knew my mom?” Tessa questions, but I’m betting she knows the answer.
“What all do you know, princess?” I use the very voice that got me into this position—one that won’t tolerate a lie or delay. Tessa is staring at me now as if I’ve put her on the spot.
“I’m aware of what you do,” she mumbles. “You lead the Bratva, don’t you?” Our knees bump beneath the water and I pull her forward, my hands sliding under her thighs as she flinches at the sudden contact.
“Continue,” I grunt, squeezing her legs gently.
“I uh,” she stutters, head refocusing. “I know you grew up with my uncle. That the two of you…have done bad things.” The breathy way she’s talking is giving her away—she’s scared.
And should be. The girl should be running by now.
But I’m unable to stop my head from lingering on the thought of her unclaimed, and here she is…all mine.
Mineto protect.
With my hands on her thighs, I tug hard and Tessa gasps, getting a feel of what the fuck she’s been doing to me all along.
6
TESSA
