Page 59 of Dreadful

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Sever closes his eyes and groans under his breath.

He grips my thighs so hard that I can feel his fingertips bruising me…marking me. I don’t stop him. If this is what he needs to get through this, I can take it. Other than that, all I can do to help him is focus on the task in front of me.

Once I get to the final few stitches, he begins to hyperventilate, and my heart stutters.

“Breathe with me, Sev. Just breathe, I’m almost done. We can get through this together.”

I breathe an exaggerated inhale and exhale slowly, waiting for him to catch up with me. I don’t know if this is the right technique, but hopefully getting him to focus on anything else will help. On his exhale, I pierce his skin again. He bucks lightly underneath me and digs his fingers into my ass cheeks. I ignore the sudden jolt that shoots up my spine like lightning.

Now is so not the time.

He breathes with me, and I go with the rise and fall of his chest to finish up. When it looks like there’s just one final piece left, I slow my breaths even further.

“One more for me, Sev. You can do this.”

“One more for myvipera.” He grins softly, making my core flutter, and I quickly make the last stitch.

“Porca mis—son of a—”

He groans and bucks up underneath me. I can feel his half-hard cock straining behind his slacks. My eyes bulge out, but he’s too racked by his pain to notice, and there’s no way he’s in charge of his body right now. What’s underneath me ismassive, though, and a confusing thrill rushes through me.

Sweat pricks his brow, and his skin has taken on an ashen color. I don’t know how much blood he lost, but I’m hoping these stitches will hold him together. His lips are clamped closed, and he breathes heavily underneath me as I tie the thread off and snip it. When I’m finished, I set the spool and scissors aside. I turn back to find him breathing much more normally, but he’s staring at me with a mixture of gratefulness, awe, and…something else.

Desire.

Cazzo.

My nipples perk against my T-shirt, and for the first time, I really register the position we’re in. I’m still straddling him, and my hands now rest on his chiseled torso. I’m just in a simple long-sleeved nightshirt, no bra, and all that’s underneath is a flimsy—totally soaked—thong.

I’m not small, but Sever’s large hands nearly span the width of my thighs, and his fingers brush against my thong’s elastic band. The heat in his eyes goes from a campfire to an inferno in an instant. The hardness underneath me turns to stone. Almost as if it has a mind of its own, his hand drifts up from my thigh to squeeze the back of my neck. I lean into him and let him guide me closer.

“Sev…” His name sounds like a desperate plea. My eyes drop to his lips, and I lick mine.

We balance on the edge of temptation, until he growls, “Fuck it.”

Scene 17

FIRST KISS, LAST CHANCE

Talia

Tension explodes between us as our lips collide. Sev’s are like pillows against mine, promising solace and safety in him. At first, his fingers dig into my nape, and his other hand grips my hip to the point of pain, as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear. But leaving his arms is the last thing I want to do. As I melt into him, he lets up on the pressure. I’m tempted to fight him just to get it back, but the part of me that’s controlling my body is still too stunned that this is even happening. And withhim.

From the moment he caught me in the bakery, I’ve been dying to know how Sev tastes, but I’ve never kissed anyone before. Of all the things my body has had to sacrifice, I’ve never given that piece of me. With Sev, though, he isn’ttakinganything from me. It feels like I’m getting something back. I don’t know what that is yet, and I’m too caught up in this moment to care right now.

That’s why I let him in. Sev moans like he’s been waiting for me to make this move for an eternity rather than a few seconds. Our tongues meet with long strokes, and his teeth nip my bottom lip, making me moan. His kiss is sweet, flavored from the Amaretto. He shifts to grab both of my hips and pull me closer.

“I want you,vipera. All of you.” His hard length grinds into my core, and I squeeze my thighs around him to roll my hips on him. “Give into me, Tallie.”

Tallie…

My eyes snap open, but his are still closed. He’s serene, relaxed, and has no idea that he just flipped a switch in me. As much as my body wants to fall into his peace, soak up the security his strong arms promise, my mind remembers. And it has never let me rest.

I shove away from him and stumble off the bed.

“Tallie!” Sev tries to catch me, but I’m able to right myself before I fall. Once I’m standing, I quickly straighten my T-shirt over my thighs and my sleeves down my forearms to cover myself.

“Tallie? What’s—”