Page 112 of Never Say Never

His grip tightened on my shirt once more. "Someone did try to kill the people I give a fuck about, remember? And I was the one you called to clean up the whole mess. Don't act like I don't get why you want to do this, but it still doesn't change the fact that you're not going to."

"What?"

"You're not leaving this apartment. Get used to it."

I stared at him. "Are you serious? Who the fuck do you think you are, Gianpaolo," I spat, saying his name with every bit of the ire I felt coursing through my blood. "I can do this if I want. Casey has already arranged for me to be safely escorted out and back."

"Are you forgetting there's a mole?"

"It’s not Casey!"

Paolo grabbed my cheeks, his grip tight. "I don't give a fuck what he says or what you think! You are not leaving. What if I lost you, York? What if you were just gone? I can't—" His words cut off as he choked on them. I watched tears line his eyes and he bit them back. "Navy and Nyra can't live without you. I know you're living for them, for Dawn. Can't you live for me, just this fucking once?"

"I don't even know you," I whispered. "And that's not me being a dick, it's the truth. How can you ask things of me when you lied to me for so long? Am I supposed to just go with it?"

"Yes," he whispered back, his lips close to mine. "I am begging you to trust me. When have I hurt you? Yes, I lied and I will apologize for that on my knees the rest of my life. But you can't go out there and risk your life. I'd rather die for you."

That thought made my blood run cold. I tried to push it away, the idea of Paolo lying on the ground, covered in blood, his eyes open and unblinking, unseeing, ever again. Revulsion settled in the pit of my stomach.

"Don't say that," I bit out.

"The truth?" he asked as he ran his hand over my cheek. "Let me handle this for you."

I stiffened. "I know what your version of handling it looks like. I can't have you murdering in my name."

Paolo shrugged. "It's already happened. And it'll happen again. That's what it means to love someone like me."

"Who said anything about love?"

His gaze darkened. "I know you love me."

"You're mistaken."

Paolo grabbed me up so quickly, the phone dropped to the floor as I stared at him with wide eyes. He dragged me to his room, shut the door, and threw the lock. Before I could get a word out he pressed his lips against mine. My breath was stolen away as I closed my eyes and kissed him back just as urgently.

Our hands grabbed, tugged, and pulled away clothes until we were both naked. We didn't speak, just groaned and moaned and muffled our sounds as best we could. Paolo grabbed the remote off his nightstand as we fell into bed and turned on music. It blasted, cutting us off from the outside world as we went back to devouring each other.

"I'm going," I finally panted. "This isn't negotiable."

"You're right, it's not," Paolo said as he rolled us until I was on bottom. "I'm not letting you leave this house. From now on, you're on lockdown. Don't think you'll see the sun again outside of this building if I can help it."

"I'll find a way."

"You'll be putting someone's life in jeopardy and their family. Is that what you want, York?"

I tightened my grip on his arms. "Don't threaten me, Paolo."

"Too late for that, sweet cheeks. I'll do more than threaten if one of these idiots lets you die."

A shiver worked up my spine, but I didn't have time to think about it as Paolo kissed me again. I sank against the mattress, wanting nothing more than to have all of him. As if he'd read my mind, Paolo worked his way down to my cock. His lips wrapped around it, the unforgettable feeling of his tongue lashing it, sending me into a frenzy. He worked his way down to my balls, sucking one and then the other into his mouth before he came up panting, saliva dripping down his sculpted chin.

"You wanna fuck me or I fuck you?" he asked.

My brain short-circuited. He asked that question so casually, as if we were deciding what movie to watch. My brain and body were pulled in two different directions. After he'd fucked me last night, I was craving more of it. He'd even refused me a condom, something that made me cum even harder. As much as I loved burying my dick deep inside his holes, I craved a round two. I had since my eyes opened and he was still passed out, naked, and snoring in my arms.

"Neither," I said.

"I see you made your choice."