to the coffee machine, needing to distract myself from his intense stare.
I set about making a fresh pot and waited. I didn’t feel him move behind me until his hands slid around my waist.
“Is it true?” he whispered, so quietly I almost missed it.
“Is what true?” I sucked in a harsh breath as he pulled me closer to his chest. His mouth dipped to my ear.
“Did you sleep with him, Gattina. Did you let him fuck you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, my eyes fluttering closed as he breathed against the curve of my neck.
“It matters. You know it does.”
“The last time I checked, you didn’t want me.” The words cut me deep.
“There isn’t a single second of the day when I don’t want you, Gattina. But it doesn’t change the fact I shouldn’t want you.”
“Enzo.” I tried to turn in his arms, but he had me caged against the counter.
“Just put me out of my misery and tell me…”
God, I wanted to tell him. I wanted to drive a knife through his heart the way he’d done so many times to me.
But I wasn’t cruel and even now, I still didn’t want to hurt him. Not when I knew he was dealing with so much.
“Enzo…” My voice cracked.
“It’s okay, Gattina.” His lips ghosted over my collarbone sending bolts of electricity zipping through me.
“I didn’t sleep with him.”
“What?”
“I went over to have dinner with him. There was wine. Too much wine. I spilled a glass all over me, so Luca gave me a clean t-shirt. I got embarrassed and a little upset. I didn’t want to be alone, so he let me stay. We didn’t—”
Enzo spun me in his arms. “You didn’t fuck him?”
“I wanted to. I wanted to do it so much. I wanted to get back at you for hurting me. But I couldn’t do it because no matter how much you don’t want me to care, I do. I care, Lorenzo Marchetti.” Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes as I slid my hands up his chest. “I care and I don’t know how to stop.” The first tear fell right as Enzo splayed his hand around my throat and kissed me. His lips were hard and bruising, every lick of his tongue steady and sure. He didn’t just kiss me, he devoured me without hesitation.
“Fuck, Gattina,” he rasped against my mouth. “I thought I’d lost you to him.” Enzo grabbed my ass and lifted me slightly, grinding into me with impressive restraint.
My heart soared at his words, at the possessive way he held me, as if he would never let me go. I didn’t want him to. I’d only ever wanted this. Us. Together.
“Never,” I breathed. “He knows I’m yours. Only yours, Enzo.”
He hoisted me higher, forcing my legs around his waist and walked me through the apartment until we were in my bedroom.
Liquid lust coursed through my body, I wanted him so much. But Enzo didn’t kiss me again. Instead, he placed me on my feet and moved around my bed, pulling back the covers.
“Get in.”
“But—”
“Get in the damn bed, Gattina.” He smirked before yanking his sweater off. Heat flooded me as I traced the ink covering Enzo’s body, every ridge and muscle. God, he was perfection.
He kicked off his boots and unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them over his hips and letting them pool at his feet. The thick outline of his erection didn’t help the firestorm building in my stomach.
He climbed into bed and pulled me into his arms.
“Are you hugging me?”
“No,” he said, “I’m avocuddling you.”
A wide grin tugged at my mouth as I lifted my face to his. “Is this a dream? Did I bump my head and wake up in some alternate universe where bad boy Enzo Marchetti’s got jokes?”
“Don’t push it.” His fingers attacked my waist, tickling and pinching, making me shriek.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry… I won’t mention it again.” My laughter subsided, silence filling the space between us. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” Enzo swallowed thickly. “I am so fucking sorry to bring this to your door.”
“What can I say, I’m a magnet for deranged murderous psychopaths.” It was supposed to be a joke, but the second I said the words, I regretted them. “Enzo, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant.” His fingers began stroking my skin, sending shivers skating up and down my skin. It was my turn to swallow. “Is this okay?” His voice crackled with lust.