Page 95 of Sweet Prison
“WHAT THE HELL POSSESSED YOU TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT YOUR SECURITY DETAIL, ZAHARA?”
I barely manage to suppress a grin. “I wanted to visit my sister and niece. As you can see, Kai is here, and we’re all perfectly safe.”
Massimo throws a look over his shoulder at Kai. For his part, Nera’s husband is now right next to my unhinged man, looking rather homicidal himself, even with a giggling toddler in his arms. The sight seems to make Massimo a bit calmer, because his breathing is more even when he turns back to me. “I don’t trust strangers with your safety.” His tone has reverted to the honeyed quality he reserves for me.
“Kai is not a stranger.”
“YOUR BASKET CASE OF A BROTHER-IN-LAW IS ABSOLUTELY INCLUDED!”
His yo-yoing between violent outburst and soothing manner is so comical, I can’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
“You find this situation funny?”
“Hilarious, actually,” I snort.
“I almost lost my goddamned mind, worried that SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU!” He runs his palm over the back of his head. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just… YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME!”
I steal a look at Nera, who’s been patiently watching this whole exchange. There’s bewilderment written all over her face. Then, I glance at her husband.
Kai’s forehead remains furrowed as he observes Massimo with caution. “What the fuck is wrong with him? Is he brain damaged or something?” he asks.
“For your information, if there wasn’t a child present, I’d brain-damage you, Mazur,” Massimo snaps.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I leap off the bench and grab Massimo’s hand. “Let’s go home. We’ve caused enough of a scene.”
Massimo broods the entire time I usher him along the paths toward the parking garage at Boston Common. I, on the other hand, am still fighting to keep my laughter at bay, and losing big time.
“I’m glad you’re finding my mental breakdown entertaining,” he grumbles as he opens the passenger door of the car I borrowed and motions for me to get in.
“Sorry.” I chortle. “Where’s your car?”
“It’s… around. I’ll have the guys come back to pick it up,” he says and then makes the trek to the driver’s side.
He doesn’t start the BMW when he slides behind the wheel. Instead, he takes a deep breath and laces his fingers with mine.
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have raised my voice.” Taking my chin between his fingers, he slams his lips to mine.
The kiss is hard. Claiming. His teeth are nipping my lower lip while he slides his palm along my chin to grab my neck. Oh sweet Jesus! I never expected a hand necklace to be my thing. As he lightly squeezes my throat, I feel the delicious pressure all the way in my clit. My heartbeat skyrockets. Goddamn! More. I want more. I’m ready to beg, and a small moan escapes me as I lean into his hand, but his fingers are already lifting.
“Sorry, baby.” His hold on my neck dissolves immediately. The next moment, his kiss transforms. Becomes softer. Tender. His velvet tongue gently caresses my own. It’s a great kiss, and I still enjoy it, yet a small wound breaks open in my chest nevertheless. He’s taking it easy on me. Again.
When his lips finally lift off mine, and he leans away, I stare into his stormy eyes. There is so much passion brewing there. Desire. Unsated hunger. This man could devour me with his eyes alone. And I want that! But I also want to feel all of his rawpower. Want him to stop suppressing his lustful fire and let us burn.
But it’s obviously not going to happen now. His strokes on my chin are already back to the barely-there touch of before.
“We should get going,” I sigh.
Chapter 23
Two weeks later
“How would you tell a man that you want him to be… rougher with you?”
Iris spins around, the stack of clean towels nearly slipping out of her hands. She stares at me in slack-jawed shock. “Um… rougher? As in…?”
“As in I’m not fine damned china that will break if he squeezes me too hard,” I clarify. “Imagine that you’re with a partner who’s very passionate. A strong, dominant person. That’s who he is, and you like him just the way he is. But he does everything he can to suppress his true nature when he’s with you. All because he’s petrified that you’ll get hurt, so he tries to shield you from it. From himself.”
“That’s beyond adorable.”