CHAPTER 7: BOUNDARIES AND BRUISES
1061 Words
Mia woke up entangled in the sheets, his scent still lingered. As she lay there trying to remember how everything changed, morning light warmed her bare shoulder. The teasing, drama, and romance had brought great tension. Having the night behind her now, she sensed the weight of everything. She sat up, tightening the sheet.
Shirtless and clad in dark trousers, Salvatore stood by the window. He did not turn to look at her.
His voice was scratchy from sleep as he spoke.
“Regretting it already?”
She responded, “I don't have regrets. Just consequences.”
He turned a little, with a little smile on his face.
“Sounds like someone is set to keep playing with fire.”
She replied, "I'm not afraid of fire."
He approached her, his motions sure.
"You should be afraid of me," he murmured, tucking a hair behind her ear.
The air between them tensed once more. But his touch was light, it caused her to forget why she needed a distance. She reached for her clothes and drew them back.
“I have to get ready.”
"You can stay," he remarked, his tone softer than usual.
“No one is questioning us.”
She chuckled softly as she slid on her dress.
"They are already questioning us."
He folded his arms. "Let them."
She met his stare in the mirror as she buttoned her blouse. "This relationship between us complicates everything."
"It is everything," he remarked.
“You feel it as well.”
“Maybe. But I will not let it cloud my judgment… Not when our lives depend on clarity,” she paused, her heart hammering.
He didn't dispute, their quietness spoke volumes.
She turned back at him with a briefcase in one hand and heels on.
"We both know this will end terribly."
Salvatore's gaze fixed on hers. “Perhaps not. But it will break us in every possible way even if it lasts.”
***
Mia stopped at the front acting as though yesterday night had not disturbed anything inside her... She turned, her fingers still wrapped around the polished brass handle.
"I have to keep control, Salvatore," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because the second I lose it… I lose everything."
He moved toward her slowly, every step deliberate, predatory. She did not fall back.
He asked, stopping just in front of her, "You think you had control last night?"
“You did not, Mia. Not when you were begging for more.”
Her cheeks warmed, but she maintained his eye.
“That wasn’t me losing control. That was my choice to experience something…. a one night.”
His hand lifted to rest just above her hip, fingertips brushing the exposed skin between the hem of her blouse and the waistline of her skirt.
"You think you could do this for just one night?" he asked, his voice confrontational.
“You believe I would let you act as though it means nothing?”
Mia's breath seized as he softly, gently kissed just below her ear. Her body betrayed her, craving more and leaning in.
She murmured, eyelids fluttering shut, "I can't afford to want you."
"Then don't want me," he whispered.
"But that won't stop you from needing me."
His lips brushed the line of her throat, and she turned to meet him fully, caught in the draw that had tormented her since their first meeting. Her hands rested on his chest, grounding herself rather than pushing him away.
"You will break me," she replied, the truth tumbling from her mouth before she could catch it.
Salvatore's look changed, deepened, softened.
"I'll shatter everything around you before I let anyone else do it first."
Words had no more room.
She kissed him, desperately, crushing, her grasp coming apart in his arms. He snared her, drew her against him, the heat of his bare chest seering through the flimsy silk of her top. As her legs went around his waist, his hands held her thighs and raised her practically.
Mia didn't care about its risk. She didn't care about its irresponsibility.
She only needed to sense him again… to lose herself in the chaos that only he could provide.
She was not running this time.
***
Bearing her to the wall, he pushed her back against the chilly marble as his mouth seized hers in a passionate, hungry kiss. Her fingers knotted in his dark hair, dragging him closer and anchoring herself into the dangerous guy who was fast becoming her greatest weakness.
Salvatore ended the kiss just to pull his mouth down her neck, over her collarbone, and lower. Her blouse got in his way, and he ripped it open with a sound of annoyance, buttons tumbling to the floor like delicate lies.
He snarled, a lip grazing the swell of her breast,
"You're not walking out that door."
"Not until I have reminded you who you belong to."
Mia gasped, her head falling back as his fingers brushed the other and his tongue spanned one n****e. She felt it strongly… raw, painful, indisputable. Every nerve in her body was tuned to his touch, every breath caught between defiance and surrender.
Salvatore fell to his knees before her like a man worshipping something dangerous and divine.
He slid her damaged panties down her thighs while lifting her skirt gently, eyes locked with hers. His stare scorched her as much as his lips would.
"Mia," he murmured, his voice a subdued promise.
"I will eat you."
He did.
His mouth savoured her with ruthless precision; his tongue flicking and circling until she was scratching at the wall behind, gasping his name like a prayer and a curse.
Holding her legs, he sank on her, strong and deft, constantly denying her the chance to heal.
Her whole body shuddered as she came apart on his tongue, shivering against him… his name a broken moan from her mouth.
Salvatore did not stop.
He got up, eyes blazing, and snatched her once more... this moment towards the bed.
"You are mine, Mia," he murmured against her throat.
“Say it.”
She did not. She was unable to.
But he had her say it with his lips, hands, every thrust following.
She whispered it... clinging to him, breathless, damaged... No room was left for denial.
Only desire.
Only them.
- Writer
