Page 41 of Do It For Me

His hands grip my wrists, forcing them away from my body.

“Please, let me go!”

He doesn’t.

He pulls me onto his lap, his legs pinning mine in place as he wraps his arms around me. My hands are trapped against my belly, his breath warm against my neck. I thrash, desperate to break free, but it’s useless.

I’m useless.

I shouldn’t have suggested this. I’ve doomed myself. I’m—

“I’m right here,amore. I won’t hurt you. You’re safe, do you hear me? You are safe.”

Dante.

But he—

“I promise you’re safe. I swear,cara mia.10 I won’t hurt you. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

I glance down at my body. He’s not restraining me to force me. He’s... comforting me. His arms wrap around me, holding me close as he repeats the same words over and over again.

I’m safe.

I’m with him.

I’m not alone.

A sob tears through me, and I burst into tears. My body goes limp in his arms. He gently rocks me from side to side, trying to soothe me, just like the other day. Only this time, he doesn’t ask me to speak.

And after a few moments, I shut down.

Notes:

10. Cara mia: My dear.

I’M BROKEN

Iopen my eyes, expecting to see my bedroom window or my door, but I find only darkness... and arms holding my naked body.

“Dante?” I whisper.

“I’m here,” he replies softly. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to—”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s okay.”

“I don’t—you don’t have to go through this. You don’t have to marry me. I… it’s too much. I’m too broken.”

“You’re not broken,amore.” He turns me around, his hand cupping my cheek. “Don’t say that, sweetheart.”

“I—”

“You want to talk about it?”

I shake my head, then cling to him, burying myself in his chest. His arms wrap around me, his hand gently caressing my body.

There’s a bulge pressing against my belly. I close my eyes.