Page 17 of His Wicked Obsession
“Let me give this to you, Bella. You can start your life free and clear with Donato. I’ll be like the big brother you never had. I may not be in love with you, but I care for you so much. If I were to lose you, it’d be like losing a limb. Something I’m not willing to live without.”
“I love you too, Lude.” Moving closer, I embrace him, needing this, needing him. I have a family. One I didn’t realize had been right in front of my eyes this entire time.
“Good. So let’s get up, get dressed into something fresh, and start to put your life together.” He gives a playful grin this time, and I love seeing it on him.
“Are you saying I stink?” I had a shower early this morning with Donato, and he made sure every inch of me was clean.
“You said it.” He winks and jumps out of bed.
“Donato,” I squeal when I see him standing in the doorway. “It’s not, we weren’t…” I don’t know what to say. His face is an unreadable mask.
“I know, cara mia, I’ve been listening.” Lude claps his shoulder before leaving without saying a word.
“Listening?” I ask.
He nods. “For a few minutes.”
“Oh.” My hands fist, the crinkling papers drawing my attention. “I think I’m supposed to sign these.”
“I’d like it if you did.” I still can’t get a read on him.
“Are you angry?” His head tilts to the side. “About Lude…” I wave my hand to where we just were. I know how intimate it must have looked to see us like that.
Shaking his head, Donato walks over before lying across the end of the bed, propped up by his elbow. “Not even a little bit, my sweet Bella. You have someone in your corner who wants the best for you. How can that make me angry?”
He’s simmering with rage. The voice is back.
“No, he isn’t,” I hiss. I’ve gotten so used to talking back, I don’t always realize when I do it.
“Who isn’t what?” Donato’s brows furrow.
He hates you. Who wants a dirty whore like you?
“No,” I snap.
“Bella?”
Staring into his beseeching gaze, I recognize that it’s now or never; he needs to be aware of the worst thing about me. My vision blurs, but I finally come clean. “The voice in my head. He says you hate me.”
“Fuck no.” His tone is pure venom. “What else does it tell you?”
Chewing my lip, I fight the words. “That you wouldn’t want a dirty whore like me.” This time, I can’t stop the tears from trekking down my cheeks.
“Christ, Bella. You’re not that or any other crude fucking name. Lude was right when he said you were special. I knew it from the second I saw your picture. I felt it deep inside my soul.” He brushes a tear away with his thumb. “When I met you, heard you laugh at my stupid jokes, saw your stunning smile, I knew without a doubt that I was in love with you. There is nothing on the face of the planet that could ever change my mind.”
“I don’t understand why this is happening to me.” I wish I knew if anyone else in our family had these kinds of issues. “Donato?” I flick my eyes up to find him waiting on me. “Do you think it’s possible to find my parents?” I’d convinced myself they were dead. It was the only way to survive. But truthfully, we have no idea what happened to them or where they are.
“I will,” he replies, and it sounds like a vow.
“Thank you.” Crawling in closer, I curl up into his body and absorb his strength. I need him so badly right now.
Rolling on top of me, Donato covers my body with his, leaning down to brush his lips across mine as my legs wrap around his hips. “I want you.” I whisper the words I never thought I’d say.
“You have me,” he whispers back as his hands explore me, sliding slowly down my body, pushing the waist of my lounge pants past my hips and taking my panties with them. My breath hitches, and he pauses, meeting my eyes, waiting for my reaction.
“Please, Daddy.” A salacious grin crosses his face as desire darkens his eyes.
“Anything my Bella wants,” he vows.