CHAPTER 17
Nirah
WITH TREMBLING HANDS—feeling like I had betrayed him by turning my back on him—I opened his bedroom door, and his head snapped up, almost hopefully.
It was as though he was pleased to know that I had entered.
Without turning back, I closed the door behind me.
I looked at him sympathetically as I walked closer while being ridden by guilt. I kneeled down in front of him, taking the band aid in my hand, lowering his hands.
He stared down at me intently, and my heart ached at the sight of him. I am so sorry I left, Antonio . His chest had a few bruises and cuts on them.
After cleaning him up, I plopped down beside him. I ran my eyes over his bruised chest, and a lump of anxiety grew in my throat.
“These look awfully painful,” I stated.
His reply was effortless. “At least my face is untouched.”
I chewed my bottom lip, scanning his entire upper body before gently cupping his face in both of my hands. My eyes trailed over his face, and I sighed in relief. “You’re fine. You’re perfectly fine.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I won?” he suddenly spoke up.
I simply shrugged my shoulders, hiding a genuine smile. “You never lose.”
I noticed a flicker of concern behind his eyes, so I let go of his face, looking down as I picked the skin on my fingers. My stomach twisted in a knot, and I could feel my pulse throbbing in my neck.
“Why are you so upset with me, tesoro ?” he asked, and I was hesitant as I glanced up at him.
“It’s nothing.”
A beat passed before he reached over, lifting me onto his lap. “Come here.” I straddled him, not meeting his eyes.
With his gentle touch, he tilted my chin upwards with his fingers, and my fearful gaze finally met his patient eyes. “Talk to me.”
My heart raced in my chest as I tried to piece together the best way to admit my feelings to him.
I knew he’d listen and understand, and that should have made this conversation a lot easier.
But, it didn’t. Because my anxiety would not allow me to embrace the peace and reassurance he had constantly given me.
With a deep breath of courage, I finally spoke. “I don’t like seeing you like this. It hurts, Antonio,” I confessed. “It scares me,” I rather clarified. “I’ve seen every important person in my life like this—bloody, bruised, and some even hanging on for dear life.”
My eyes stung with tears, and he noticed because his hands found my waist as he pulled me closer. “Oh, baby,” he cooed. “You don’t have to be afraid for me.”
“But,” I protested, shaking my head. “I saw what you did to your opponent and the thought of you—of you being in that position, I—”
“They couldn’t knock me out like that no matter how hard they tried,” he assured me. “Trust me. I’ve been in the ring many times to know that.”
I sighed, dropping my shoulders. A part of me knew he was right. I saw tonight’s fight, and well, even though I hate to admit it, he definitely knew what he was doing.
“And the fight with the twins…” he trailed off. “It’s complicated. They wouldn’t have fought unless it involved you. Plus, winning them did wonders for my ego,” he added.
My brows drew together as my jaw dropped in utter disbelief. “You egotistical bastard—I am not some trophy , De Luca,” I scolded him.
“No, but you’re definitely a reward,” he grinned, pulling me up against his chest, and my hands gripped his shoulders. “You also weren’t the only woman involved—”
“Oh?” I sarcastically smiled. “So you’re fighting for the affection of other women now, too?”
He shook his head instantly. “Of course not— baby, like I said, it’s complicated . And I’d rather not involve you any further. It’s over now.”
With a knot of uncertainty sitting in my stomach, I adjusted myself on his lap as I glanced away for a minute, trying to gather my thoughts.
“But do you have to fight?” I asked, and he lifted his hand, gently cupping the side of my face.
His voice was low, and his tone sincere. “How else am I supposed to protect my little vixen who can’t seem to stay out of trouble?” he asked, and I could not help the smile that danced on my lips.
I let out a breathless chuckle as he took both of my hands in his, placing multiple little kisses on my knuckles.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You did win, right?” I asked, and he nodded in confirmation. “Good.”
“So what do I get for this victory?” he asked, letting go of my hands and gripping my waist.
“Absolutely nothing,” I shook my head, and he only leaned in.
“Nothing?” he teased, leaving kisses up my jaw. “Come on, you have to give me a little more than that.”
His lips found my neck as he sucked the sensitive skin. My head subconsciously tilted to the side as my skin buzzed with warmth.
I gripped his shoulders, pushing him back. “You can’t piss me off, then shower me with kisses, De Luca. That’s not how it works.”
“Then what do you want, hm?” he dropped his eyes to my lips with need . “I’ll give you anything you want,” he leaned, stealing a kiss. “Just name it,” he whispered against my lips, and heat pooled between my thighs at the desperation in his voice.
“Goodnight, Antonio,” I said, shifting back, but he immediately grabbed my hips, pulling me up against his chest.
“Baby, please,” he sighed. “You’re killing me here.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Fine. But are you going to he honest with me from now on?”
He answered with no hesitation as his eyes stayed glued to my lips. “Yes.”
“And you’ll never again—”
“ Yes .”
My jaw dropped. “Let me finish.”
His eyes met mine, and I continued. “You’ll never again do something like this that’ll involve me.”
“Never,” he wrapped a firm hand around my throat, pulling my lips to his, but my body tensed as I pulled away. His brows drew together in confusion.
“Don’t do that.”
“Don’t kiss you?” he reluctantly asked for confirmation.
I swallowed hard, lifting my fingers to my throat, but immediately changed my mind, shaking my head. “Never mind—”
“What don’t you want me to do?” he sternly asked.
Everything inside of me was screaming, begging me not to let him in. Pleading with me to not let him see through the cracks. But his eyes held so much patience that the words oozed out of me unknowingly.
“Touch the front of my throat,” I answered, and he gave me a single nod.
“I won’t touch the front of your throat anymore,” assured me, no explanation needed, no hesitation. I appreciated that, so mentally, I smiled.
I leaned in to kiss him, and his lips met mine with desire. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I gripped his shoulders, feeling him guide and control the kiss.
Electricity. His lips were the missing puzzle piece to mine. Like a lock and key. I was the fire, and he was the gasoline. He fueled me more than anyone ever has. The world around us completely disappeared.
His hand gripped the back of my neck, and his free hand latched onto my waist as he pulled me closer.
Our tongues found a perfect rhythm as I melted under his touch—he dominated the kiss, and I loved every second of it.
He broke the kiss, leaving a trail of wet kisses down my jawline until he reached my neck. I could feel the pulsing between my legs worsen as he sucked and nibbled before sinking his teeth into my skin.
I groaned, allowing my head to roll back, and he slipped his hand between my thighs. He trailed his fingers up and down my slit—over my shorts—and when his fingers brushed my clit, soothing the ache, I rolled my hips into the palm of his hand.
My nails dug into his shoulders while he sucked the sensitive part of my neck, making my body buzz with warmth.
He slipped his hand down the front of my shorts and I let out a faint gasp at the sudden contact. He used his fingers to circle my clit, then dragged them lower, dipping is fingers in my arousal.
His finger slipped inside of me, followed by a second finger, and I broke the kiss with a whimper as my shoulders tensed. He held the nape of my neck, smashing our lips together. He swallowed every sound I made as his fingers pumped in and out of me.
His thumb brushed my clit before he applied pressure and my heart raced in my chest. Our kiss was fast and wet. Desperate and lustful.
I gently bit down on his bottom lip as I pulled back, catching my breath.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he breathed against my lips as my eyes fell shut and I slowly rolled my hips back and forth.
He cupped the side of my face, burying his face in my neck. I felt my muscles tighten around his fingers as he sucked every inch of my neck. Soft, gentle moans left my lips and I squeezed my legs around his waist.
He cupped my breast with his hand, pinching my sensitive nipple between his two fingers, and I softly whimpered.
Without warning, his teeth sunk into my skin and I opened my mouth to moan. I ran my fingers through his hair as I gripped his roots. He pulled his fingers out of me and grabbed the back of both of my thighs, standing up.
He lowered me onto his soft sheets before hovering over me and I could feel the burning passion radiating off him.
His lips met mine in desperation as he gripped the sides of my shorts and I lifted my hips. He yanked them down and tossed them over his head, sending them into oblivion. Our tongues swirled to fiery rhythm and my clit ache with the need to feel him.
“But you’re hurt,” I breathed between kisses as he slowly pulled my lace panties down.
“I’ll never be too hurt to fuck my fiancée the way she deserves to be fucked,” he breathed against my lips, slipping his hand between my thighs and I sucked in a quick breath.
His fingers trailed up my wet slit as he gathered my arousal. He dragged his fingers up and over my clit, causing a whimper to slip out of me.
“So romantic,” I teased as my hands loosened his belt. He pulled his pants down and broke the kiss, reaching into his drawer.
He tore the condom wrapper and I gripped his shoulders, pushing him back just enough to see him roll the condom on between us.