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“I got out of his hold and ran to my room, where I shoved my dresser and anything I could find in front of my door. My uncle never tried to open it. He didn’t say anything the next day, even when I had a huge bandage on. When he got home from work that night, he tossed me a bottle of super glue and said,go patch yourself up.”
“Allegra, fuck,” he mutters in disbelief. The tips of his fingers find my scar, stroking the raised skin. Instead of feeling ashamed, I feel seen and understood.
“Things got better for a while when I started waitressing at his… business establishment.” I stumble over the last two words, not wanting to admit what it was. A sketchy strip club offering anything for those willing to pay the right price. “I thought maybe we had turned a new leaf, and he needed proof I wasn’t going to mooch off him forever. I wanted to show him I could earn my keep, you know?”
“You shouldn’t have had to prove yourself, sweet girl. It was his responsibility to care for you.”
I shrug, dismissing his words. The concept of getting something for nothing is absurd, but I don’t tell him that. I have a feeling Armando is going to prove me wrong.
“After I graduated high school, I worked more hours, but it wasn’t enough to pay the rent he started charging me. I ended up staying at… Well, it doesn’t matter. I survived. I was working on saving up and getting out of here for good, but then…”
I break eye contact as every muscle in my body tenses. I can still feel his hand wrapped around my bicep, his fingers digging into my skin as he dragged me out of my makeshift bed in the closet. I can still smell his alcohol-soaked breath as he told me I had been promoted to serve exclusively in the VIP lounge.
“Breathe for me, baby,” Armando murmurs, cupping my cheek and tilting my head. I do as he says, inhaling deeply and exhaling, my eyes never leaving his. “Good girl.”
I sit up a little straighter, loving his praise even in the midst of telling him my whole fucked up situation. “This morning, my uncle informed me I would be working in the VIP lounge,” I continue, my voice shaky but still there. “It’s, um, a lounge for… uh, men who have lots of money and want to spend it on treating women like objects.”
“Goddammit,” Armando growls, his features turning hard as stone while he listens. “Did anyone touch you? Like that? Fuck, angel, please tell me they didn’t…”
“No,” I rush to say. “I refused. I fought him off. I knew I wouldn’t survive if I went through something like that. I somehow got out of his hold and bolted outside. I had no idea where to go or what to do. I just had to keep going, putting one foot in front of the other until… until…”
“Until you found your safe space,” Armando finishes. “Until you found me.”
I nod, resting my forehead on his. “Until I found you,” I repeat softly.
We breathe together, our hearts beating in sync as Armando rubs his nose against mine. It’s such a sweet, tender moment, and I can’t believe I met this man less than twenty-four hours ago. Still, our connection is undeniable.
“Are you going to kiss me?” I whisper, my cheeks immediately burning with the boldness of my question.
Armando groans, rolling his forehead against mine. “I want to, angel. But you understand why I can’t, right? It would kill me if you ever thought I was taking advantage of you, of your vulnerability. You came to me for help.”
“I came to you for safety,” I correct, staring at his lips. “And you make me feel safe enough to do anything. Safe enough to sleep, safe enough to tell my story, safe enough to ask for what I want.”
The hulking man trembles beneath me, his muscles shaking with the effort of holding back. Knowing how much I affect him sends a delicious shiver down my spine.
“What do you want, sweet girl? I’ll give you anything.” God, his voice is deep and filled with dark desire that slices through my nerves and spikes my awareness.
“I want you to be my first kiss,” I whisper.
“Your first…” Armando inhales sharply, his nostrils flaring as his hazel eyes turn dark brown. “I’m going to hell for wanting you the way I do, but Jesus, I can’t stop.”
His mouth is on mine in the next second, nipping at my lips until I open up for him. I moan as his tongue slides against mine, lapping at me in steady strokes. He tangles his fingers in my hair, angling my head so he can dive deeper and give me everything I’ve been missing.
I fist his shirt and claw at his chest, grinding on his lap with each toe-curling stroke of his tongue. Armando growls into our kiss, skimming his other hand down my back to grab my ass in a punishing hold. He holds me in place while rubbing his thick erection into my core, causing me to cry out when he hits some super sensitive spot.
“Allegra,” he rasps, finally breaking the kiss. We’re both gasping for breath, the frantic need for each other hanging in the air. “So sweet. So responsive for me.”
He nuzzles into the side of my neck as his arms circle my back, pulling me in for a hug. It’s surprisingly tender after the way we just devoured each other, but I need this, too. Need his gentle care after such a mind-blowing first kiss.
I’m not sure how much time has passed when I’m jostled awake. I don’t remember falling asleep.
“I’ve got you,” Armando whispers, carrying me through the house. “I’ll tuck you into bed, angel. We’ll deal with everything else tomorrow.”
I nod, snuggling into his chest. It’s the safest, most loved I’ve ever felt.
CHAPTERFIVE
ARMANDO
