bore into mine. “Fucking, that is. I told him you still hated me.” His voice has dropped, a soft scratch moving along his vocal cords.
I swallow the rock in my throat at what the rough touch of his voice does to me.
“Assuming he’s still right…” he probes.
“Of course,” I answer too quickly, my voice a similar volume to his.
The ring of his cell sounds, breaking the moment. Glancing at the screen, he holds it up. “Gotta take this.”
He moves away without a further word. Alone in the room, I take advantage, emptying the green slush in my glass down the sink. Shifting off my seat, I rush to the sink flicking on the tap to rid the evidence from the sparkling metal. The tap turns on too fast. The pressure too much, it ricochets off the base, spraying up my shirt, hitting me in the face.
“Serves you right.” Rocco’s voice sounds at my back.
Turning quickly, I rub at my face, wiping at the droplets racing down my skin. “Look, in my defense, it’s awful.”
He smiles. “It’s an acquired taste.”
I don’t let myself read into how nice I find his smile. The soft pull of his lips showing off the white line of his teeth. The strong line of his bearded jawline pulling up in a way that hides the animosity that seems ingrained into his features.
Eyes tracking along my body, down the now see-through material of my inconveniently chosen white t-shirt, his smile drops away.
He steps closer, moving his lips to the shell of my ear. “I take it back, beauty. You’re not a disgusting little hermit. A hermit, yes, but not disgusting. Not like the thoughts running through my head right now.”
Teeth on nipples, biting hard enough to make me come. Forcing me to beg for it.
Ducking away from the full proximity of his overwhelming body, I force a laugh.
“Get a grip, Shay. Your slushie was horrible, kind of like my sweaty self. I’m out. Catch you next week.”
His smile follows my exit in its entirety, my body only free from his hungry gaze the moment his front door closes, essentially shutting him out. Even then, I feel him staring through the thick wood. His eyes as powerful as his body.
Chapter Fifteen
Rocco
My body buzzes with the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I feel alive. My heart is racing with expectation and excitement. My cock is hard; my blood pumping so steadily through my body I can feel it throbbing. My leg bounces as I drive, my fingers tapping against the steering wheel, working to rid myself of the excess energy wanting to break me apart.
But while my body is a live wire ready to put to death anything that stands in my path, I feel dead inside. My hands itch with the need to kill, to maim, to watch the fragile reality of life crushed under the weight of my palm. This dark need only further blackens the venom of my soul. Soon it’ll be all that remains; shadows of destruction that once held slivers of good, patches of light. I’ve accepted that’s not my future. Hearts and roses were never my ending. I’m at peace with the fact that I’ll eventually be buried alongside misery and scorn.
Can you remain calm?
Calm? Is he fucking kidding?
I pray she fucking runs. I crave her fight. I want nothing more than for Sarah Rein to give me a reason to snap her double-crossing neck.
Who could honestly say they’d remain calm while standing face-to-face with the person responsible for the death of their mom? I’d like Dominic Rein to tell me he wouldn’t suck the life out of a hopeless cunt that crossed him in the same way.
The shrill ring of my cell interrupts my murderous thoughts and I’m equally relieved and disappointed.
“Yeah?”
“Just checking you haven’t skinned her alive and began feasting on her flesh.”
I laugh humorlessly. “Ain’t no way I’m putting the taint of her insides into mine. My soul is rotten enough all on its own.”
I suck in a deep breath, letting it go with the temptation Dominic just offered me. “Checkin’ up on me? Thought you trusted me.”
“I do,” he implores. “I don’t trust her.”
I laugh again. “Your wife can do her worst, Rein. Frankly, I’m prayin’ she does. It’ll give me an excuse to hurt her.”
A sigh of disappointment filters down the line. “That’s what she wants, Rocco. Don’t let her pick away at your self-control.”
“Yeah, yeah. She’ll come back to you in one piece, boss. Calm your fucking farm.”