Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Cassian draws a long breath in and rises, pulling me up with him. He cups the back of my head and kisses me deeply as he turns us and lays me back onto the bed. He looks down at me, his pupils dilated so all that remains of the blue is the ring around the outside. They shine, his eyes. He grips one knee, pushes it up and looks down at me.
“My beautiful, beautiful Allegra.”
He thrusts into me and my breath catches. He does it again and again watching me, watching us, our bodies where we’re connected. He pulls out, spins me around and lifts my hips, splaying me open as he does. I lay my cheek on the bed and watch him as he looks at me, at all of me and all I can think is that I’m his. My body is his. My heart. My soul.
How could I have ever thought he did not own my soul?
It’s like he can read my mind because he pushes into me, fingers digging into flesh. He fucks me slow and deep, sweat from his brow dripping onto my lower back as I pant, sliding my fingers to my clit when I feel him swell, when I recognize the moment before he comes and I do what is now my favorite thing in the world. I watch my beautiful villain as he comes inside me, claiming me, branding me from the inside.
“I love you,” I manage in the midst of orgasm. “I love you.”
He holds me close, cock throbbing inside me. “I love you, Allegra. My Allegra.”
29
CASSIAN
Isleep heavily for what feels like an eternity, but when I wake, it’s still the middle of a black night. Rain slashes the windows. Allegra is asleep beside me. She’s turned toward me. I look at her sweet face, listen to her quiet breaths. Her lips are slightly parted, and her hand is resting on my chest. I close my hand over it, feel where her missing finger is. I think about how strong she is. Because it takes strength to survive what she’s survived. More strength than men like Malek, like me even, could ever possess. Does she realize how powerful she is, my queen? How much I need her?
My mind moves to darker matters. To the monsters who would hurt her. Who would take her from me.
Malek Lombardi in his grasping for power.
My uncle. My own blood. For what reason?
I see the sight of him on his knees before me.
My uncle begging me for his life. Begging me for time.
He was more a father to me than my own father who couldn’t stand the sight of me. He has been a constant in my life. The only constant. I never thought to question him.
Allegra must sense the shift in my mood because she mutters something, rolls onto her other side and settles into sleep again. I push the covers off and get up. I get dressed in a pair of old jeans and a sweater and quietly step out of the bedroom. The light in the kitchen is on and I’m surprised to find Enzo at the counter watching the coffee machine percolate.
“Late for coffee, isn’t it?” I ask, startling him.
“Or early,” he says, recovering himself. He gets a mug for himself and holds one up, raising his eyebrows.
I nod.
He pours us each a mug. I breathe it in before taking a sip. Enzo does the same.
“What are you doing, Enzo?” I ask.
He shifts his gaze away, then back. “I took him some water. Something to eat.”
My eyes narrow.
“He’s my father, Cassian.”
“Your father is a traitor, Enzo.” My chest tightens to say it.
He sighs. “What did he do exactly?”
“He’s working with Malek. He was at the house. The Maestro’s house.”
“You’re sure?”
“What? You’re worried about him now? I didn’t think there was any love lost between you two.”
“He’s still my father.”
I study Enzo. He’s right and even though he and his father are barely on speaking terms these days, this will impact our relationship.
“I don’t think you should go down there,” he says.
“What did he tell you?” I ask.
“Not much. Why do you think he betrayed you?”
“There’s someone on the inside,” I say. “You know that. Hell, it could have been him who tipped off Michael Moretti on that shipment. He knows more about covering his tracks than I do. That crypto payment to Michael? Could have easily come from him. He has the means.” I drink another sip.
“Well, you can’t believe anything he says now.”
“Why is that?”
“He’ll do anything to save his neck.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. What about you and me, cousin? Where do we stand?”
Enzo drinks the last of his coffee and studies me. “You and me, cousin, have nothing to do with him.”
I nod, but it won’t be as easy as that and we both know it. “I need to talk to him.”