Page 17 of Dangerous Intent

“Don’t tell me what to do.” He pulled out of me and flipped me onto my back. “I don’t like it.”

He was delaying his release to prolong my torture. The torture I had begged him for.

Gazing into my eyes, he lowered his face to mine and slowly kissed me, sliding his tongue between my lips and exploring my mouth.

I hooked my legs around his waist and scratched at his back. When I raised my hips off the bed, he glided his hand between us and stroked my slit.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, trying to control my desire for him.

“Taking care of you.” He replaced his fingers with his hard length. “I don’t have to cause you pain to take away your anguish.”

His gentle actions confused me. I wanted to be angry and out of control, but I also craved this side of him. My protector, my lifeline… His love was my anchor through all of our craziness.

“I only have to be here for you.” He lifted up and rested on his forearms as he continued to move inside me. “I’ll be here through all of your chaos. I won’t leave during your tantrums. I will stand by you no matter what.”

A lump caught in my throat.I don’t deserve him.

“Do you know why?” he asked.

“Because you love me.”

“More than I ever thought I could.” He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me long and deep as his strokes inside me intensified.

I tightened my legs around him and raised my hips off the bed. He picked up the tempo, meeting my upward thrusts with quick and powerful plunges inside me. I let go, knowing he wasn’t going to stop. It was time for both of us to lose ourselves in one another.

“Marchello…” I sighed, climaxing in one long breath.

He covered my mouth with his. Frantic and chaotic, he clawed at my sides before gripping my hips and using my body to bring him to ultimate pleasure.

Collapsing on top of me, he breathed in the scent of my hair before rolling off and bringing me to his side.

“Thank you.” I rested my head on his chest.

“You don’t have to thank me for that.” He quietly laughed. “I wanted it too.”

“As much as I appreciate the sex, I’m thanking you for loving me. I know I’m not easy.”

“Well.” He held me close. “Neither am I. That’s probably why we work so well.”

“I’m all over the place right now.” There was so much to process, but I didn’t know where to begin.

“I’m your safe place,” he said. “That’s why I allowed that behavior.”

“I don’t know why I provoked you.”

“You wanted me to rein you in.” He sat up and rested against the headboard. “I can let you be you, but I know when to bring you back in.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” He stroked my hair. “We’re going to get through all this shit. I promise.”

I didn’t want to deal with Nico’s confession right now. I didn’t want any more explanations. All I needed was to be with Marchello. The rest would fall into place.

“I’m hungry.” I gazed up at him.

“I’m sure you are.” He slipped out of bed and went to the closet, giving me a sinful view of his glorious backside. “I’ll get you something from the kitchen.”

“Thank you.”