Chapter 29
Waking up with Isabella in my arms seemed somewhat surreal.
Truth was I didn’t sleep with anyone. I’d never been a fan of attachments.
But I couldn’t deny how right it felt. The way her soft breath tickled my chest. The feel of her long, smooth legs tangled with mine.
Her soft skin sliding against my own. It was enough to put thoughts in a geezer’s head.
Glancing down, I took in the gentle rise and fall of her chest and the small wrinkle I knew marred her forehead when she had bad dreams.
Alright, so this wasn’t the first time I’d seen her sleep.
I knew it was wrong to sneak into her room but I couldn’t help it.
Over the weeks, it’d been the closest I could get without her realising the depth of my obsession.
Part of me still wanted to fight against it, this need to claim her and satisfy my carnal cravings.
I glanced at my watch and frowned when I realised the time. The moon may yet still be up, but we couldn’t afford to break her routine. She was getting stronger and faster but if we were to face these bastards together, I’d need her sharp, focused and deadly.
“Arturo?” She murmured in a sleepy voice.
“Wakey wakey, sleepin’ beauty,” I cooed as her eyelids batted ever so slightly. “It’s time for target practice, mi princesa. ”
“No… Five more minutes, please,” she whispered against my skin.
“I thought you hated beggin’?” I teased. The corners of her pouty mouth turned up into a smile.
“When it comes to target practice I’m prepared to beg,” she giggled and pressed her tight little body against mine. I swallowed a growl when her shorts slid up.
“Bella, unless you want me to bend you over and spank the shit out of you, I’d stop what you’re doing,” I drawled. A sexy grin told me she knew exactly what she was doing.
“What if I want you to?” she whispered, tracing the outline of my lips. Dammit. I was hard at the thought of it and for no other reason other than because she wanted me to. This woman was ruining my control.
“Tell you what,” I replied, flipping her under me and making her gasp.
”If you’re a good girl and do as you’re told at target practice then I’ll think about it.
” My blood pumped faster as her cheeks blushed.
Giving in a little, I decorated her neck with long, slow kisses making her moan.
She was turned on, and I wanted nothing more than to bury myself inside her.
“I’d better be on my best behaviour then, hmm?” Her smile was infectious as she pulled back, trailing her fingers up and down my bare chest. But then a thought flashed in her eyes and her smile dissipated. “How are you feeling by the way?”
“Shouldn’t I be askin’ you that?” I linked my fingers with her slender ones.
“I just mean, you know… Last night was…” She sighed, pulling her fingers loose before sliding backwards to lean against the headboard. “You finally let me in and I guess I was just worried.”
I flinched. Fuck, I’d really done a number on her. She was expecting me to start pulling away again. Even after I’d told her everything.
What did I expect?
“Fuck, Bella.” I groaned. “The shit I said to you. I don’t expect you to?—”
“I understand why you did it. Believe me I do,” she whispered, “You’re used to being alone.”
“I am.” Was this when she booted me out of her bed? It was the least I deserved.
Her soft fingers trailed down my face, sliding into and stroking the back of my head.
“When are you going to realise that you don’t need to be anymore?
” I blinked as she pulled my head down to hers.
I groaned as white hot desire shot through my centre.
This woman was slowly melting me from the inside out.
Her tongue stroked my lips and for a moment I let her set the pace of the kiss.
But she soon got frustrated, making little moans of need.
I gripped her face and slid my tongue deeper, tangling with hers.
“Men like me don’t get the luxury of family, Bella.” I whispered. “If I weren’t such a selfish twat, I’d leave you alone.”
“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed, cupping my face on both sides as her face slowly morphed into fury. “I know you think you don’t deserve anything good in your life, but it’s bullshit. You are so much more than your past.”
I paused, waiting for my heart to stop racing as I let her words sink in. I hadn’t felt this close to anyone in a long time, let alone heard words of comfort or… pride. Actually come to think of it, I hadn’t heard any since just before my mum was ripped from my life.
“My boy, I’m so proud of you,” she smiled, that heart warming smile.
“Mama, I did what I had to do for us, and only us.” Only I knew what I meant. Only I knew what I had to do for us to be happy.
“I look forward to enjoying the rest of my life with you by my side. I’ve only ever needed two men and one is no longer here, but you, you complete me. You have done since the day you were placed in my arms.”
But I failed you, Ma.
“Arturo?” I blinked, Bella’s voice pulling me back to the present. “Where’d you go just now”
“To a time where I thought I was happiest.” My mum was my everything, there’s no doubt she always would be, and up until now there was no room for anyone else.
“So you’re not happy now?” I couldn’t help but smile at her cute little pout.
“ Mi princesa, before you I was just goin’ through the motions. It took meetin’ you to teach me how to feel alive again.”
“Oh… Well, what makes you feel so sure?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.
“I knew the second you spilled my drink on me. You were this wild, angry little thing, and the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
” I breathed. “I’ve never believed things happen for a reason and all that shit, but the day your dad offered me the job somethin’ told me to say yes.
Fate pulled me out of one life… and dropped me into yours. ”
Her breath shuddered as I ran a finger down her cheek. With a brief kiss, she grinned and then rolled out of bed. She was so graceful and elegant in everything she did.
And she was mine.
“Want a picture?” she teased as she shimmied into her leather pants.
“Of you in those leathers and nothing else, too fuckin’ right I do,” I snatched my phone off the side and snapped a picture of a shying away Bella.
“Hey, you asked…” I snapped another but this time there was no embarrassment on her part, she glanced over her shoulder, her back bare as her bed head hair tumbled over her right shoulder.
She pouted those goddess sculpted lips as they turned up ever so slightly in a smirk.
“Got all you need, pretty boy?”
“Never, but it’ll do for now,” I jumped out of bed, caging her against the wall, without giving her time to bat those pretty little lashes at me. “How am I meant to concentrate on your aim when you’re wearin’ these?”
Just as she was about to open her mouth, there was a soft tap at the door.
“Bells, are you awake?”
Bugger… It was Lorenzo.
The sheer look of terror on Isabella’s face was a picture. I could practically see her heart thumping in her chest as I didn’t move away from her.
“Bella?” He called again, this time louder than the first.
“Two minutes, Pa,” she called back, but it almost came out as a squeak.
“I’ll wait.”
Of course he would.
“You need to hide,” she whispered, and I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. “Please.” She begged.
“Where do you expect me to hide?” I had to admit, this was quite amusing.
“Under the bed. In the wardrobe. The bathroom? I don’t care where, but do it now ,” she hissed, eyes narrowing with each word.
“Or I could open the door to daddy dearest?” I joked and I could tell it wasn’t appreciated.
“Now!” She shoved me off of her with all her strength.
Fucks sake. I’m too damn old for a game of hide and seek. Well, technically just hide.
“Bella, will you hurry up? I want to talk to you before you head out for training.” That man didn’t give up, that's for sure.
I slipped into the bathroom just as Bella sighed, slipped on a t-shirt, and opened the door to her father.
“Sorry, Papa.”
“That’s quite alright, how did you sleep?” My ears easily picked up their muffled voices. What I didn’t expect was to be sat in there for over thirty minutes while Lorenzo spoke business and then of course about the damn date she’d been on.
“Listen, Papa, I’m going to be late for target practice,” I could hear the sweetness in Bella’s voice as she tried to escape her father’s questions.
“Of course, I’ll let Arturo know you’ll be ready shortly.” There it was… the one thing I hoped Isabella would keep her cool on.
“It’s okay, Papa, you don’t need to worry, we already agreed on a time for me to be ready.” Good girl.
“As you wish.” And with that final sentence, I heard the door softly close. The little puff of air and sigh told me a relieved Bella was now very much alone.
I exited to find her looking a little panicked. “Close call.” I chuckled.
“How can you stand there with that stupid smile on your face, when my heart has never beat so violently?” I went to reply when she threw herself into my arms.
“Better get used to it, princess. It’ll do that often when I worship every inch of your body.” I dipped my head, bringing my lips to her ear. “Now, finish gettin’ ready and meet me downstairs in ten minutes.” I placed a rough kiss to her neck, sucking gently until a soft moan escaped her.
“Arturo—” she gasped.
“Don’t worry, I won’t leave a mark.” Grinning, I placed another kiss on her skin. “Yet.”
Before she could get her knickers further in a twist, I slipped from her room and took a moment to look around.
Good, we were still the only ones up, except for Lorenzo of course.
It felt pathetic , but I couldn’t deny how all the sneaking around excited me.
Not that I gave two shits whether we got caught, but knowing how stressed Bella was made me want to protect our little secrets even more.