Page 5 of His Wicked Obsession
“So have I.” We’ve had this argument before. Before I left Malta.
Placing her hands on my chest, Bella drops her head, but not before I see the tears in her eyes. The last thing I want to do is make the woman I love, the woman I’m obsessed with, cry.
“Please, Donato, please stop…” She pauses to catch her breath. “Please stop tearing my heart in half.”
Fuck. Cupping her face in both hands, I bring her eyes to mine but don’t say anything. I take her lips in a kiss filled with every promise I’ve made so far and the wicked temptation of what could be. Sweeping my tongue into her mouth when she gasps in surprise, I lick at her, taking her flavor into myself and claiming it as my own.
This woman is meant to be mine. There is nothing else to explain the obsession I’ve had with her since the first time I saw her picture before Maso and I flew to Malta.
Bella’s body melts into me, and I take the advantage. Tilting her head for better access, I swallow her moan of delight, and a groan rumbles from my chest as I try to absorb this woman into my being. I need her more than air.
“Please, cara mia, don’t leave.” Sipping at her lips, I use her aroused state against her. Playing this way is dirty, but I don’t care. I don’t want her going home. “Let me put a baby in your belly. Let me love you like the goddess you are. Let me be the man who loves you until the end of time.” I don’t point out how Lude can never love her because it’s a cruel remark that will only make her feel bad, and that’s not what I want. “Let me worship you and this beautiful body until the end of my days.”
Tears sting the corners of her eyes as she studies me. Her swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and peaked nipples behind her peasant top tell a story of a woman who wants what I’m offering. “I can’t,” she exhales before fleeing.
Two words. Torture in each syllable.
The only reason I don’t go after her.
I can’t pretend to understand why she stays in a loveless marriage, and while my patience is running thin, I’ll give her more time. My love isn’t going anywhere.
The rejection stings to this day. I haven’t been near Bella in months and have only spoken to her once since the kiss that stole my sanity. Having her reach out now because she’s in trouble is a step in the right direction, even if she’s done it out of necessity instead of her need for me.
CHAPTER 3
Bella
I’m twitching, starving, and I can’t think straight.
It took all night, but Lude caught up with me. He demanded I tell him what had been happening, and when I did, he looked just like I figured he would.
He thought I was crazy.
And I am.
But I didn’t need his visual affirmation of it.
Sometimes, I wonder if I’d have been better off staying in Sicily with Donato when he’d begged and promised me all sorts of wonderful things. I’d wanted to; I almost did. Until I remembered the loyalty I owed Lude. He may have purchased me for selfish reasons, but he’s always taken care of me. He wants the things I do. But kissing him never came as easily as it did with Donato, and since then, I’ve slept in a separate room from him. I think that’s why he’s gone more often than not now.
He senses the distance I’ve put between us. He sees the walls I’ve been building, and still, I can’t bring myself to ask him to leave. And now, I’ll never be able to.
Because I’m nuts.
Hearing voices that don’t belong.
“Bella?” The shrink calls my name again. “Can you tell me more about the voices?” His wrinkled face is passive. He doesn’t care either way; he’s still getting paid.
I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “I hear my papa.” How I miss the man. I assume they died, and that’s why we were given to the church, but I don’t remember much. It was too traumatizing at my young age.
“What does he say?” His head tilts curiously as he watches me while scribbling in his notebook.
“Nothing, really.” And that’s the weirdest part. Everything I’ve read about has said the voices would make me paranoid and demand things from me; however, all I feel is tormented.
“Nothing…” he hums. “Be more specific.”
“My name, mostly.” Over and over until I feel like my ears will bleed.
“That’s all?” He seems surprised. “What other voices do you hear?”