Page 89 of She Belongs to Me
“Because I do, little flower. You’re right in that I cut myself off on purpose, but I can tell you that it’s no way to live.”
“You seem to be doing just fine. You’re rich. You’re powerful. You tell people what to do. What more do you want?”
The list of what I wanted had never been allowed into the forefront of my mind. “A family.”
I could tell she was surprised at my admittance. “You have a family who adores you. Aunt Kim loves me in her way, but my cousin usually wants nothing to do with me. There is no one else.”
“You have me. I will protect you.”
“Protect. That’s not all that nourishes a body and soul. Just don’t. This is just me feeling emotional, which I’m allowed to do, but you hate. I appreciate everything you’ve done and I’ve already fallen in love with Sassy, but this isn’t my world. It never will be.” She was adamant, doing what she could to slip out from under me. When she managed a few seconds later, I rolled onto my elbow, trying to give her some space.
But the man inside of me, not just the one who hungered or hated to lose, but the one who genuinely cared about her more than anyone else, refused to allow her to walk away.
Before she had a chance to stand, I jerked her down to the ground. I forced her arms over her head to keep from hitting me or using them to her advantage.
“Just let me go. I don’t want this.” She was pushing so hard, but I knew better. The electricity was soaring.
“You don’t? Are you certain about that? I’ve seen your face light up more than once even after what you’ve been through. I can tell you’re more relaxed here than you thought you’d be. I also know you could run this house because that’s your personality.”
“What about you, Nico? I’m forbidden, just a fling. I can’t have that in my life. It’s too hard and caring for anyone isn’t what I ever wanted to do,” Alexandra spit out. There was fire in her eyes, but a hardness in her heart because of her own guilt.
“I want you in my life. That isn’t a question.”
“Well, you’re hot and cold and push me away every chance you get. I feel like a boomerang.” She was trying desperately to get out of my hold. “Just let me go so you can go back to your perfect yet cold life.”
The woman could frustrate me more than anyone I’d ever met in my life. Yet there was no one I wanted more than her, this beautiful girl with the doe eyes and the heart of gold. I ground my hips back and forth, issuing a stark growl. “Does that feel cold to you, sweetheart?”
“It’s just sex.”
I lowered my head, taking several deep breaths. Nothing I could say would make her feel any better. Actions were louder than words, but was our passion enough to keep her from falling through the cracks? Was I too selfish to provide what she needed? The answer terrified me.
And still, I crushed my lips against hers, refusing to allow her to escape either emotionally or physically. She didn’t respond at first, as if teaching me I truly was a cold fish. But her body couldn’t deny the level of attraction, the heat and need that we’d experienced the first time we’d laid eyes on each other after so many years.
She still pushed my shoulders with hers, even kicking out with her legs. I dug my fingers into her hands, my nails digging into her precious skin.
The kiss became manic, more about desperate need than anything else. Desire was one layer, but this was something else altogether.
A knowing.
An awakening.
A final destination for both of us.
Too poetic or pathetic? Maybe, but I was still going to take what belonged to me.
She finally pressed her bent knee against my side, no longer fighting. Her lips were so soft and I slowly eased my tongue inside. I wanted to be frantic, ripping off her clothes and driving my cock deep into her wetness. But both of us needed more. Much more.
We needed affirmation and an okay to allow another padlock to fall away.
My moment of being philosophical was done. I explored her mouth as I’d done so many times before, but this time, the sensual experience was different.
Not just more intense because of our physical desires, but because of emotions deep inside. I’d told people for years I had no concept of love. It was all a crock of shit.
She responded, her soft mews and moans into my mouth exciting the beast that dwelled inside of me. It was rare when a man was aroused to the point of blindness, but that was the case. She did that to me.
I shifted back and forth, making certain she knew in no uncertain terms how much I needed her by my side.
We were breathless, elongating the moment. I sensed rapture, a series of vibrations I usually didn’t have the opportunity to feel. She truly had awakened me.