Page 36 of The Reaper's Bride
“Does that mean you will hurt me when we do have sex?” I can see the wheels spinning as he decides what to tell and what to conceal. “I want the truth, Alessio.”
“You’re petite, and I’m very muchnot.”
“You can say that again.”
“Goddammit, I told you it hurts to laugh, Caterina,” he says, chuckling.
“My pain is funny to you?”
“I didn’t say that. We categorize pain based on our own individual experiences. I suspect some pain will be inevitable your first few times.” My body tenses at the thought until hegently cups my face. “Let’s not think about that right now. Tonight, you’ll writhe with pleasure for me.”
The tension eases as my natural curiosity is peaked. “How?”
“How what? How will I make you come?” I nod; aware my cheeks are burning from his bluntness and my own boldness. “Off the top of my head, there are three ways I would like to.” Then, he leans down and kisses me. It’s so much softer than I expected as his rough lips repeatedly graze mine like the bullet grazed his side tonight, just a passing thing, a hint of what could be. His body is so warm and close. I feel like a flower unfolding its petals for the sun. He keeps kissing me, giving me time to grow completely comfortable.
“I like kissing,” I gasp when he finally lets us both breathe. “I never thought about how sensitive my lips were until that first time you touched mine at the bridal shop.” He bites his own lip, stifling a groan as I babble. “Your wound?” I ask, worriedly. I’m selfish to suggest this tonight.
But it isn’t his wound troubling him I realize as he carefully grinds his thickening erection into my mound. Like wanton things with a mind of their own, my thighs eagerly part for him. “Do you have any idea how much I want you, Caterina? How much I long to claim you fully?”
“I thought bedding Morelli’s whiny virgin sister wasn’t your idea of fun.”
“Should’ve known you’d remember that,” he says, chuckling softly. “Fuck it, I want you, whiny virgin and all. Happy?” I scowl at him, but he’s not deterred. “I want to see your gorgeous body again,” he rasps, tugging at my nightgown and then flicking on the lamp for more light.
Shyly, I start to sit up and, with quick hands, he practically tears the fine gossamer fabric from my body. The cooler air greets my nipples causing them to tighten, and Alessio’s eyesburn hotter than blue flames as he stares at me. “So fucking perfect, soft and lovely. I want your panties gone, too.”
“Okay,” I squeak. Startled and a little unsure, IthinkI’m ready for this.
“Are you still bleeding?”
A blast of mortification rolls over me, far worse than the cool air. “No, it’s done. Mostly.”
“Hmm.” Despite what he said to his father earlier, he almost sounds disappointed.
His strong hands grip my panties, pulling them down with practiced movements. The small triangle of dark hair above my pussy draws his eyes and he licks his lips. “Fuck, yes. I can’t wait to eat you.”
“Said the monster,” I joke, feebly. “Alessio…” I’m not at all sure what I want anymore. Why did I suggest this again? He turns me on, but now I’m worried about what’s to come and how I’ll measure up against other women he’s slept with.
As if he notices my distress, he sits back. “What?” I can’t tell if he’s more impatient or simply struggling to understand my hesitance.
“This is all new to me and-”
“Yes, I know. It gets me so fucking hard, Caterina, knowing no other man has ever touched you. No other man ever will. I would tear anyone who dared limb from limb. You’remine.”
“But, you’ve slept with other women and-”
“I’vefuckedother women. My wife is my first virgin, and she’s the only woman I’ll ever sleep beside.”
I stiffen, wanting to protest the disparity in our situations and remembering Sofia’s heartbreak.
With a heavy sigh, he adds, “Look… I’m not a good man, Caterina. I kill and torture among other things. I’m not used to waiting for anything I want. Girls like you are expected to remain pure until marriage. It’s the opposite for us men, but I haven’tfucked anyone since we married. No one at the Seconda. There was a blonde girl who sat in my lap uninvited while I was talking to the other men there. She reeked of that perfume. I should’ve shoved her onto the floor, but I pushed her toward Armando instead.”
It’s a hard truth to hear, but he hasn’t forsaken our wedding vows at least. I want to believe him. “I won’t tolerate cheating. I know I can’t stop you but, if you do, you will never again have me willingly in your bed.”
He studies me silently for several seconds, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far. The disparity in our sexual experience is nothing compared to the imbalance of power between us. I know he still wants revenge on my brother, and he knows hurting me would hurt Nico.
But Alessio raises his hand at length, staring me dead in the eye and touching the three-headed wolf tattoo on his throat, giving me a nod. An oath. He gave one to my father two years ago regarding Armando the night he named his friend my bodyguard. He’s making me one now.
“You won’t cheat and neither will I,” I whisper once his hand has dropped back to his side, wanting him to say it aloud.