Chapter 20
ENZO
Meu Deus, kissing Jenna is a life-altering and profound experience.
I’ve never had problems when it came to having sex with women, and there have been quite a few over the years, but it was always just about finding release. Not once did I feel any kind of emotion for the woman.
But as I devour Jenna’s mouth, I’m overcome with a need so strong, it rattles me completely. The obsession I have for her turns into something dark and possessive, my soul wanting to grab hold of hers and never let go.
Minha mulher.
Minha.
Minha.
Minha.
It’s all I can think of as my tongue strokes hers hard, and I nip and massage her lips, memorizing the feel of them until they’re ingrained in my very being.
It doesn’t matter how long I’ve known her or what I still have to learn about her. It feels like my heart is expanding to twice its size as love for her fills me, taking over every inch inside me.
As I hold my little angel and feast on her mouth, she takes total ownership of me.
I’ve never belonged to anyone. I’ve never had a home.
Until her.
Desperation to have her has me ripping my mouth from hers, and I sink down to my knees.
Jenna stumbles, and I grab hold of her legs to keep her standing. She places her hand on my shoulder, breathless and dazed as she stares at me.
Locking eyes with her, I beg, “Please. Be mine. Learn to love me and let me worship you for the rest of my life.” I press my forehead to her abdomen and suck in a deep breath before I groan, “I can’t let you go, Jenna. Don’t make me force you to stay. Become my home and belong to me.”
I feel her other hand brush over my hair, her touch tender, and I turn my head to rest my cheek against her. “I haven’t begged for anything since I was twenty, but I’ll fucking beg if that’s what you want.”
“Okay,” she whispers, repeatedly brushing her hand lovingly over the back of my hair. “I’ll be yours.”
My head snaps back, and when I see the tender expression on her face, I climb to my feet and frame her cheeks with my palms.
Just as I press my mouth to hers, the towel comes undone from all the movement and falls at my feet.
I pull back a little and quickly order, “Keep your eyes closed.”
Jenna does as she’s told, and I pick up the damn towel that interrupted our special moment. I wrap it around my waist again, then my phone begins to ring from where I left it in the bathroom, and I let out a frustrated growl.
My woman peeks through one eye at me, whispering, “Why am I keeping them closed?”
“Towel dropped.”
She squeezes them both tightly shut, but I chuckle and say, “It’s safe for you to look. I’m covered.”
Shaking her head, she walks to the door, and I hear her mumbling, “Wearing only a towel doesn’t mean you’re covered. Get dressed while I… I do something.”
My chest shakes as I laugh silently, then my phone begins to ring again, and I’m instantly pissed off.
Stalking to the bathroom, I swipe the device off the counter and answer, “What?”
“Well, hello to you, too,” Santiago says. “You really need to work on how you answer a phone. It’s a bit abrasive.”
I suck in a deep breath, then ask, “Why are you calling?”
“I’m downstairs.”
I dart out of the bathroom as Jenna comes rushing back into the bedroom, pointing wildly in the direction of the hallway.
“Foda-se! I’ll be down in ten minutes,” I mutter to Santiago.
“Okay,” he replies, ending the call.
I toss the phone on the bed and tell Jenna, “It’s just Santiago.”
She presses her hand to her chest while sucking in deep breaths.
She must’ve gone downstairs, and seeing Santiago scared the shit out of her.
“Sit on the bed while I get dressed,” I order.
She plants her butt on the covers, her back to the walk-in closet, then she pulls her knees up and wraps her arms around her shins.
I hurry to where my garment bags are hanging, and I unzip the nearest one. While I put on my pants, my eyes flick to Jenna.
She’s doing so well, much better than I expected. I know I have to work on being patient with her. I’ve made a lot of progress and don’t want to risk fucking things up by moving too fast.
I pull up the zip and reach for my shirt, then glance at her again, drinking in the sight of her blonde hair hanging down her back.
I once again realize how much smaller than me she is. Earlier, when I was kissing her, it took no strength at all to lift her from her feet.
She weighs practically nothing, and it makes my protective side come out in full force.
Deus, I swear if anyone ever tries to lay a finger on her, I’ll rip them apart with my bare hands.
Once I’m dressed, I shove my feet into my shoes before walking back to the bathroom to grab my gun from where I left it on the counter.
As I come into the room again, Jenna’s eyes land on my weapon. While shock ripples over her face, I quickly tuck the gun into my waistband at my back and adjust my jacket to cover it.
I hold my hand out to her, and without any hesitation, she climbs off the bed and comes to me. When her palm settles in mine and I link our fingers, it feels as if our souls link together.
My eyes snap to her face, and in my own language, I repeat what I said to her last night, “Nunca vais ser de mais ninguém. és minha. Para sempre.
She gives me a questioning look. “Portuguese?” When I nod, she asks, “What does it mean?”
“You’ll never belong to anyone else. You’re mine. Forever.”
Her eyebrows draw together. “I don’t understand why a man like you wants someone like me?”
Not caring that Santiago is waiting, I lift my arm and brush my knuckles along the curve of her jaw.
“Everything about you mesmerizes me. Your eyes. The way you blush. How small you are.” Once again, I’m overcome with the emotions she makes me feel.
“When you worked at the gas station, you slowly got a little comfortable with me, and it was like watching a rare flower blossom.” I take a deep breath as I cup her cheek, my eyes drifting over her beautiful face.
“Last night you were scared, but that didn’t stop you from taking care of me.
” I shake my head in absolute wonder. “You are perfect in every way that matters to me.”
I lean down and press a tender kiss to her parted lips.
“You are everything I never knew I wanted, and the biggest surprise of my life.”
Jenna’s face is so expressive, it allows me to witness the exact moment she falls in love with me.
Her eyes fill with wonder, and she looks at me as if I’ve just given her everything she’s ever wanted.
My phone begins to ring, once again disturbing a special moment for me.
Letting out a growl, I tighten my hold on Jenna’s hand and stalk out of the bedroom. As we head down the stairs, my eyes lock on Santiago, who still has his phone to his ear, where he’s standing in the foyer.
“Your timing sucks,” I snap at him.
A wide smile spreads over his face while he pushes his phone into his pocket. “Finally. I think I got an extra gray hair waiting for you.”
His dark gaze moves to Jenna, and it has me letting go of her hand and instantly stepping in front of her to block his view of her.
He brings his attention back to me, then smirks, “How the mighty have fallen.”
Letting out a sigh, I ask, “Why are you here?”
“Just checking if you’re still alive and to meet Jenna.” He gestures with his hand for me to move. “Let me see her.”
I raise an eyebrow at him.
Santiago shakes his head while chuckling again. “You’re being overprotective for no reason. I spoke to Cassia, and I just want to see for myself how Jenna is holding up, staying in the same house as you.”
I feel Jenna move, and she hugs my arm as she comes to stand beside me, keeping her head lowered.
When Santiago’s eyes rest on her, his features tense. He’s devoted his life to saving people like Jenna and me and has given them all a safe place to live.
That means he has a lot of experience working with survivors, and he knows all the signs.
“Hi, Jenna. I’m Santiago Castro,” he says, his tone very gentle.
She only removes her hand from my arm to give him a quick wave, then she clings to me again.
I look down at Jenna, and hating how she’s cowering, I pull my arm free and wrap it around her shoulders. “It’s okay, meu anjinho. He’s a friend.”
Even though she nods, she doesn’t stop trembling, but instead, turns her body into mine and presses her cheek against my chest while her hair covers the rest of her face.
A sad expression ripples over Santiago’s face, then he meets my eyes. “I see you have everything under control. If you need help or advice, you know where to get me. This is good for both of you. It makes me happy.”
As I stare at him, the thought that Santiago might know about what happened in my past shudders through me.
He’s had decades of training, working with sex slavery survivors and hundreds of rape victims.
Merda!
As if he can read my mind, he shakes his head and says, “Don’t worry about it, brother.
My lips are sealed.” He lets out a sigh and checks the time on his wristwatch.
“Grace and Ciara are on their way. Dominik and I are going to Minneapolis to pick them up, and once we return, Leo and Cassia are heading back to Europe. They have business to take care of.”
I nod. “You and Dominik don’t have to stay.”
He lets out a burst of laughter. “With you dropping bodies all over the place every other day, I beg to differ.” He walks toward the front door. “Nice meeting you, Jenna.”
When the door shuts behind him, I glance down at my woman and say, “He’s gone.”
She glances around the room, then pulls away from me and begins to walk toward the kitchen.
“What are you going to do now?”
“Clean. It’s getting late.”
“The house is spotless. Come back.”
She hesitates, then says, “But it’s my job.” Her eyes widen suddenly. “I still have a job, right?”
I gesture toward the living room. “Let’s sit and talk about everything.”
Worry tightens her features, and I wait for her to pick a couch before I sit down beside her.
“The job was just a ruse to get you away from the gas station,” I admit.
Her worry grows, making her look anxious. “I’m not your housekeeper?” Her knee begins to bounce nervously, and she fists her hands together on her lap. “Mr. Cahoon won’t take me back.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to work again, Jenna. I want to take care of you, and I have the means to give you everything your heart desires.”
To make my point, I climb to my feet and jog to my bathroom, where my wallet is in the pants I wore yesterday. I grab it and hurry back to where Jenna is still sitting on the couch, looking way too worried.
I pull out my black credit card, and as I take a seat beside her again, I pick up her hand and place the card down on her palm. “I’ll order one for you, but in the meantime, use this for anything you need.”
“What?” she gasps. “I…I…”
Lifting my hand, I take hold of her chin and nudge her face up so she’ll look at me. “You’re mine to take care of, meu amor.” I slowly lean down and press a kiss to her mouth. “Buy whatever you want.”
She looks like she’s still in shock as she whispers, “Like?”
“New clothes. Jeans are a trigger for me, so I’d appreciate it if you stop wearing them.”
“Okay,” she replies, then her eyebrows lift. “I can leave the house?”
I nod. “But you’re not to go anywhere alone. Either me or the guards…” I rethink what I was going to say and shake my head. “You go nowhere without me.”
She gapes at me as if I’m insane. “Ever?”
I move my hand to the back of her neck and lock eyes with her.
“In all my thirty-seven years on this planet, I have never had anyone to call my own. If something were to happen to you…” I shake my head hard.
“I don’t trust anyone to keep you safe. Maybe things will change at a later stage, but for now, humor me. ”
She hesitates for a moment, then asks, “Are you going to go shopping with me? There’s a nice thrift store in Aurora where I always get my clothes. I’ll be in and out in minutes.”
“You’re done wearing second-hand clothes,” I mutter as I pull out my phone to check the time and where I can take her shopping. “From now on, you only get the best.”