on the counter, making the entire thing shake.
Just then, I heard footsteps in the hall. Shit. Someone was awake and I had no choice but to go out there and face them.
Washing my hands, I dried them on a towel before slipping out into the empty hall. Thank fuck. Whoever it was must have doubled back when they saw the bathroom in use.
I padded down the hall back into the living area, only to realize Nora was up and rummaging in the refrigerator. Staying in the shadows, I watched her for a second. Her hips swayed hypnotically as she leaned in, trying to locate whatever it was she wanted.
“Hungry?” I asked her and she almost jumped out of her skin.
“Oh my God,” Nora breathed, clutching her chest, her thin pajama top doing little to conceal her perky tits. “You scared me half to death. What are you doing awake?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Gattina.” I smirked.
“Please don’t call me that.”
My brows furrowed. “Is that how it is between us now?”
“How did you think it was going to be?” Nora lifted her chin in defiance. Usually, her sass turned me the fuck on, but after the night I’d had, it only fanned the flames of anger already raging in my stomach.
“Don’t act like you didn’t beg for it, la mia puttana.”
Her palm collided against my cheek, pain ricocheting through my jaw. Nora gasped, stepping back, and I pressed forward, pinning her to the counter.
“You hit me.” I rubbed my cheek, my blood boiling.
“You deserved it,” she bit out. “I hate that you’re hurting. I do. But I won’t be your punching bag, Enzo. I deserve more than that.”
I scoffed. “Like Luca?”
“I’m not doing this with you,” she said, pressing her lips together and levelling me with a scathing look.
I didn’t budge though, too worked up to just let her go. Part of me enjoyed this, craved the push and pull between us. It craved something else too, and before I knew it, I’d leaned in and run my nose along the curve of her neck.
“Fuck, Gattina, you smell delicious.” My hips rolled against her, desperately seeking out her heat. Maybe I was still a little drunk or delirious from the nightmare because I couldn’t think about anything except getting my hands on her sinful body.
“Enzo, don’t do this.” Her hands curled against my t-shirt. Even rough, her touch seared me to the bone.
“Are you telling me no, Gattina?” I leaned down, with every intention of letting my mouth ghost over Nora’s lips, but she turned away at the last second, giving me her cheek instead.
Bitter laughter rumbled in my chest. I hated that she was defying me, pretending like she wasn’t as hot for me as I was her, but Nora’s defiance was like a red rag to a bull. I wanted to push her. To push and push until she snapped. Until she succumbed to the tension cracking between us.
“You can pretend I don’t affect you, Gattina,” I whispered against the shell of her ear, “but we both know if I slipped my hands in your itty-bitty little shorts, I’d find you soaking wet for me.”
I heard the hitch of her breath, felt the shiver roll through her body. Nora was as wired as I was. Question was, was she going to give in to her baser instincts or was she going to continue her crusade to keep me out?
My hand slipped to her waist, stroking the sliver of skin there. Nora fought a moan, trying to pull away from me. But there was nowhere to go. I had her caged between the counter. Completely at my mercy. With Nora, nothing else—not the nightmares, or my old man, or the new fucker causing mayhem—could touch me. I was invincible. Untouchable. Nora made me feel like no one else ever had and although I didn’t want to admit it, it was addictive.
She was addictive.
“Look at me, Gattina.” I took hold of her chin and forced her face to mine. “Tell me you don’t want me? Tell me you don’t want me to drop to my knees and bury my face between your legs.”
“That’s all I am to you, isn’t it?”
My brows drew together.
“A willing body. A hole to fuck when you need to work off some steam.” Nora jabbed her finger in my chest. “You’ll fuck me in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping, but you’d rather sleep on the couch than share a room with me?”
What