Page 10 of His Wicked Obsession
The bright white tiny little dots are annoying when you try to bat them away. Pushing them out of your vision is not possible, and they play tricks on you, making you think they’re something else when they’re not.
No, these stars are not the ones I want to see. Because while I’m seeing them, I don’t know if anything is real.
Like Donato.
I see him, feel him, hear him when he speaks to me. But the stars, they float around his head and make me believe something else is happening.
“Donato?” I say his name just as a loud bang reverberates around the room.
That was real, right? It was too startling not to be.
And if that was real, then the man standing in the doorway to my room must be, too. “Donato?” I cry out on a sob. “Please be real.” My head might be fuzzy, and my body is lethargic, but I see him. I know I do.
Don’t I?
“I’m here, cara mia,” he replies. His head turns back to me, but tears swim in my eyes, and he goes blurry. “Stay strong a little longer, mia Bella.”
Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing, counting in and out. Exhaling slowly. Inhaling deeply. I need this to be real because if I open my eyes and he isn’t here, I’ll break.
Whimpering when a door slams, I cry out as hands touch me. “Open your eyes, cara mia. Show me those incredible green emeralds.” His voice is so close. So real. Biting my lip, I slowly blink my lids open. His smiling face is before me. I’m not alone. “There’s Daddy’s pretty girl.” I gasp, and my body jerks at his words. “You ready to go home now?” I don’t do or say anything because the home I had no longer feels like one.
Donato gets to work on untying me. My entire body aches as I move, and I wince when I notice the bruising and dried blood on my raw wrists. Without looking, I know my ankles are in the same shape. Surprisingly, this man does not hesitate to pick me up when I bite back a cry of pain as I sit up and try to stand.
Lightheaded, the stars intensify. “I’m too heavy.” My protest comes out slurred.
Kissing my temple, he only tells me, “Daddy’s got you.” Warmth floods my body with safety, and I relax in his hold.
As he makes his way out of the room, the harsh lights nearly blind my sensitive eyes. Burying my face in Donato’s chest, I keep them closed until he stops moving.
“Bella.” Lude’s voice makes me flinch away. “Fuck,” he curses.
“Don’t make me,” I whisper only loud enough for the man carrying me to hear.
“Never. You’re mine now, cara mia. No more running. No more denying us.” I can only nod. When he begins speaking again, I drown everything and everyone else out. I need the security he’s giving me right now. I need the solace his strong arms provide by holding me so close to his heart. The thundering beat emits a comforting sound that helps relax the tension from my muscles.
Before I know it, I’m falling asleep in his arms, wondering if we’re returning to Malta or if he meant his home. Sicily was so beautiful when I was there for Bria’s wedding. I wouldn’t mind going back. Staying. Creating a life there.
Gasping awake, my body jerks upright, and my pounding heart tries to break free from my chest as my eyes adjust to the inviting room. The walls are painted a toasty beige, and the hardwood floor is stained a rich dark brown. The furniture is a mix of vintage and modern pieces, all chosen for their comfort and style. The large windows let in plenty of natural light, and the curtains are made of a soft, airy linen, moving ever so slightly from the breeze.
My head throbs and my body feels like it’s simultaneously frozen and on fire. My heart still races, and I’m unsure if it’s adrenaline from everything that happened or fear of the unknown because I have no idea where I am.
“You’re awake.” Donato’s voice grabs my attention. I groan from the quick action as my head spins and my stomach revolts. “Easy.” His calm voice contradicts the rippling muscles of his naked torso as he flexes and tenses.
“Where am I?” I croak. He begins to come forward, a bottle of water in his hand. Cracking the top open, he eases it towards my lips, not allowing me to do it myself. Carefully drinking down the cool liquid, I try to follow it when he pulls it away.
“Not too much, I don’t want you getting sick.” Twisting the top back on, he places it on the nightstand beside the bed. “How are you feeling?” He lifts a hand to my head, pressing the back of it to my flushed skin.
“Confused,” I respond, searching his dark blue eyes. I wish I knew what he was thinking. “What happened?” Everything is so foggy. Bits and pieces flash in my mind, but I don’t remember much.
“Lude said you were hearing voices, that you were terrified and ran away from him.” Dropping my head, my long dark hair covers my face. Shame fills me from the inside out. I never wanted Donato to know about that.
“Cara mia, no, do not dare hide from me.” He sounds angry that I would think to try.
“I didn’t want you to know,” I confess, pressing the palms of my hand into my eyes, hoping to relieve the pressure.
“And if I want to know everything? The good and the bad? Would you really keep this all from me?” Tilting my chin up, he forces me to meet his burning stare. “Do you really want to hide from me, Bella?” My head shakes subtly. I don’t. I never did. But I don’t know how to be around him.
A man like Donato Cardarelli is virile and strong. Commanding. He doesn’t need someone like me dragging him down into the dirt. Especially after I’ve done nothing but push him away from the first time we met.