Page 38 of Damaged & Deadly
His expression once again turns serious, his eyes boring into mine. “If anything, tonight has only reaffirmed what I already knew.”
I swallow roughly before choking out in a whisper, “What’s that?”
“That you’re mine. That perhaps all the damage my father inflicted on me was to shape me so that, when slotted together, we’d make two halves of a whole. You are my darkness and my light. My damnation and my redemption. My ruination and rebirth.” His thumb brushes along my lower lip. “And maybe I can be all those things for you, too.”
***
“Whoa.” Enzo stares wide-eyed, surprise and amusement easy to read on his face as we step into the kitchen later that night. I’m wearing Dante’s jacket, zipped all the way up since he so kindly shredded my top. The fly of my shorts is hanging open since he ripped the button off them, and I’m splattered in blood. “Must have been one hell of a date.”
“It was,” Dante grunts, moving to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. He offers me one, but I shake my head.
“I need a shower.”
I can feel Enzo’s gaze on me as I leave the room, and his muttered, “What the hell happened?” before I’m out of earshot. I’m teetering somewhere halfway between my usual self and the Reaper. Removed enough not to be bothered that I’ve got someone else's blood crusted on my skin, though human enough that Dante’s words provide me with a warm glow and a grin as I head to our room to shower.
Freshly showered and wearing only Oliver’s t-shirt, I slip beneath the cool, crisp bedsheets, and before I can comprehend just how tired I am, I’m already asleep.
Light streams through the window when I wake the next morning and find Enzo beside me in the bed, reading a book. Lying there, I watch him for a bit. He’s so absorbed in whatever he’s reading that he doesn’t feel my eyes on him, and it’s only when I shift that he looks my way with a warm smile lifting his lips.
“Morning, Spitfire.”
“Morning,” I reply on a yawn while I stretch. When I don’t bump into Dante on my other side, I glance over my shoulder, finding the bed behind me empty and the sheets perfectly made. “Where is he?” I ask, focusing my attention on Enzo again.
“His father called.”
“What?” I exclaim, pushing to sit upright. “Why? You should have gone with him!”
“And leave you here alone?” He shakes his head. “Not a chance.”
I frown but don’t see the point in arguing. “What does his father want?”
“Probably an update on our plans for the Reaper Rejects.”
Panicked, I run my hand through my hair, pushing the long, cherry-red strands out of my face. “What will he say? We didn’t talk about this yesterday.”
“He’ll think of something.” Reaching out, he pulls me in against him, running his hand along my arm. “Don’t worry, baby girl. He’s used to telling his father half-lies, giving him just enough to keep him off our case. This is no different.”
My stomach is still twisted with nerves, his words only somewhat reassuring me. “Giovanni will only buy whatever excuse he gives for so long. If we have any hope of success, we need to make a move soon.”
Instead of answering, Enzo presses a kiss to my temple, his arms banding tighter around me.
“Do you think he’ll see Luc today?” My voice is laced with hope and despair.
“He’s hoping to.”
We fall into silence after that. Enzo goes back to reading his book while still holding me close, and I opt to watch him. It’s only when my stomach starts rumbling loud enough for both of us to hear that our morning of peace comes to an end. Closing the book, he sets it on the nightstand before turning to me. “Go shower. I’ll make breakfast before you decide to eat me instead.”
I bite down on my lower lip as I throw my leg over his, feeling his long length grow against my leg. “I can think of one part of you I’d happily eat for breakfast.”
He throws back his head and laughs. His hand latches around my thigh, holding me in place while he thrusts, before his palm slides up to cup the globes of my ass. “Tempting,” he murmurs against my lips. “But we both know it wouldn’t stop there, and you definitely need stamina for all the things I want to do to you.” With a spank on my ass, just hard enough to have me clenching my thighs, he growls out, “Now go shower before I change my mind and fuck you into the mattress.”
Despite his dominant words and the arousal pooling in his green eyes, he gets to his feet and leaves me to do exactly as he said.
An hour later, with my stomach happily full after a delicious breakfast of French-pressed coffee and omelets, I collapse onto the sofa, staring out at the dark gray clouds as they hover over a roiling sea with the promise of a storm before the day is out.
“Here.” Enzo shoves a book under my nose.
Shaking my head, I try to push it away. “I’m not really a book person. Besides, I’m too nervous to read.”