A Madness of Crows: Mafia University #3

21. Day 43 – Caterina

Dark eyes lower. Still on my knees, I lift my hands to the sides of the bathtub.

Stefan’s eyes tighten as he examines the brand in my skin.

“Not here,” I whisper, and his lips tighten as if in disagreement. “Don’t let them in.”

Not in this moment, when we are laying ourselves bare for the other.

And he inhales, a slow nod making my fingers curl as he looks… lower.

His eyes trace my damp, flushed skin. Examine me, every inch. My breathing deepens as he traces my breasts, my nipples peaking in the cool air.

Stefan has seen my body before. I seem to spend most of my time in this fucking place naked, clothes forbidden in the training sessions that Cecile oversees. Just another form of power.

But… he’s never looked before. Not like this. He always keeps his face turned, trying to give me some privacy even as the rest of them work to strip it from me.

“Cat.” His own hands tighten on the porcelain, my name a groan torn from low in his throat. His voice is rough when he speaks again. “Mi sono innamorato di te, Caterina Corvo.”

When I go to him, his arms wrap around me, sending water sloshing over the side of the tub. I press myself against him, bury my face in his neck as his arms grip me, his hand on the back of my head. And he’s shaking.

“Ti amo, Stefano Asante.” I murmur the words into his neck, feel him shudder beneath me. My knees slip to either side of his legs, and he sucks in a breath. “You deserve more than what you have had. And when I leave here, I’m taking you with me.”

His throat bobs as he pulls away, Before he can argue, I slam my mouth down on his, his cheeks between my hands. My kiss is hard, almost harsh.

A declaration.

He is mine, this man, and they will not take him from me.

Stefan slips into that last piece of my heart, finds his place, solid and comforting. And it feels right, that he belongs with us. My family.

Whole.

He matches my movements, our bodies shifting as he leans me back, his lips chasing mine. Our bodies brush together, hard and soft heat, and I drink down the breathless noise he makes as his hips shift beneath me. He tears his mouth away with a groan. “I’ve never—,”

His cheeks are flushed with desire, desire and something close to nervousness, his hands sliding down to grip my hips.

And my fucking heart.

Mine, indeed.

I take his hands in mine, pushing his palms until they wrap around my breasts. He squeezes softly, kneading. “You’ve never been with anyone else?”

There’s no shame there. “Sei l”unico che abbia mai desiderato.”

You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.

And my lips curve up. “Just so you know, you’re doing very well.”

His thumbs rub over my nipples, teasing them, rubbing them. And he laughs, a breathless, low sound that curls around us as our mouths meet again.

When the water is truly cold, he stands. His hands cup the cheeks of my ass, my arms around his neck as he grabs a towel and dries me with slow, caressing strokes before he walks us out into the bedroom.

Stefan lays me carefully on top of the bedding and follows me down, holding his weight on his elbows as his face hovers over mine. I stretch out like a true cat as his lips trace my neck, moving down. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

He presses his lips carefully against my brand, my skin, apologies in every touch as he moves from bruise to bruise. Every scar, every mark, receives the same treatment as he moves down, my legs falling open to give him full access to every part of me. “More.”

“Yes.” He doesn’t pause as he pushes my folds apart, my head tipping back to stare at the ceiling as his fingers trace a line down my center that he follows with his tongue.

Hot, thick licks up my pussy, his tongue swirling over my clit, lips sucking as he loses himself in me. His fingers tangle with mine, my legs over his shoulders as I shudder and ride the wave of his mouth in a sharp, sudden burst of pleasure that tingles through my body as my back arches, his name on my lips. “Stefan—,”

He lifts his head, his mouth shining as he watches me come, watches like he’s desperate to know every part of me. It only stokes the flames higher. He strokes my skin, tracing over my sensitive clit before he slips a finger inside, testing.

But I shake my head, my body rising to meet his before I urge him down, swapping positions until he’s the one lying back, gasping as my mouth seals over the head of his cock and sucks.

“Fuck—,”

With his brows dipped, his eyes lidded, I can’t look away as I swirl my tongue over him. He bucks beneath me, hips rocking as he thrusts up and into my mouth.

He’s thick. Thick and wide, a promise that flutters in my stomach as I take him deeper, swallow him, his head brushing the back of my throat before sliding out with a wet pop.

I want to see what he looks like when he comes - if he’ll roar with pleasure, if he’ll lose control and fuck my mouth, holding my head against him. But I want him inside me more, and he moans as I shift forward to slide my gleaming, soaked pussy over him, my fingers wrapped around his cock as I guide him to my entrance.

Our eyes lock, his dark gaze creasing at the corners with sensation as I carefully sink down onto him, his cock stretching me, making me work despite the fluid that coats my fingers, my pussy as I swivel my hips to take him all the way down.

His rough, gasping breaths feel like music as he cradles my hips with his tattooed hands, his fingers digging into my skin. “Sei perfetta.”

I rock against him, leaning forward so my clit brushes against his heated skin with every stroke, my hands on either side of his head as I press my breasts down against his chest and ride him, slow and rhythmic.

Our mouths mirror the movement of our bodies, licking and sucking. Eventually, he coaxes me to let him take over. His arms wrap around my back, my neck, holding me to him as I relax my thighs and let him thrust up into me, over and over again until my toes curl and my pussy clenches, holding him tight.

And when he comes, hot heat pumping into me, our release dripping between us, he calls my name as if it’s a prayer. “Caterina.”

I lay on top of him, catching my breath, both of us sweat soaked and sticky. His hand runs through my hair, gentle and soft, stroking in a caress as his lips linger on my forehead. He’s still inside me, softening but very much present as he shifts his hips.

My fingers skate across his cheek. Touching him – I can’t stop touching him. Don’t want to lose this moment between us, as he holds me tightly.

The outside world seems so far away.

Stefan is content to wait, his arms a band of strength as they cradle me. I don’t know how much time has passed before the tension starts to creep into his hold, that horrific world outside the door forcing its way back inside. “Cat…,”

I turn, kissing his chest. “It’s already done.”

“He’s not going to stop.” And it’s agony for him. I can see it, see it in the lines of his face as his hold tightens. “What happened today with Reed – it was an escalation, Cat. And I made a lot of moves today. If he finds out… I don’t want you punished for my choices.”

“You were trying to get me out.” I sit up, turn his face to mine, dark eyes swimming with anguish. “I chose to stay, and that is not on your shoulders. Matteo still has Alessia, and I won’t risk her safety, Stefan. I have to trust Gio and the others to get her out of there, and then we will leave. All of us.”

He looks unconvinced. “I’ve spent too many years here to believe that it’s going to be that easy.”

“It won’t be easy.” I climb off him, hold out my hand. When he takes it, I lead him back toward the bathroom, to wash off the evidence of this new, fragile bond between us.

Nothing worth having ever is.