Crowned In Blood

Chapter 15

15

Catalina

M arco opened my car door, and I slid inside, then he handed me the leftover food from our lunch.

"I'll follow you home."

I peered up at him and tilted my head. "You don't have to do that."

He grinned and bent over my car door. "I don't do anything I don't want to, Catalina. And I'm always looking for an excuse to spend more time with you."

Heat flushed from my chest to my cheeks. I reached for my seatbelt, but Marco pulled it out of my hands. "What are you?—"

Slowly, he leaned over me, reached across my body, and buckled me into my car. Then—as if it was a completely normal reaction instead of something that made the blood rush through my veins faster—he pulled away.

"I've got to make sure my vicious little queen makes it home safe."

I was speechless.

He smirked. "Don't forget to start the car." Then he gently closed my door.

I sat there for a moment, completely frozen, before I finally pressed the start button. The air came on and I folded over the car seat, resting my head on it. "He's going to be the death of me."

By the time I settled, he was waiting for me, and we started the drive home.

He didn't need to follow me. But I liked being able to glance in the rear-view mirror and see his brown eyes staring back at me.

Maybe I liked it a little too much.

There was a spark of electricity every time our gazes met, and between that and the memory of his lips on my skin, I had to clench my legs together. But with each look, my desire grew until I became frustrated with myself.

I thought I was strong. I thought I could conquer anything, do anything I put my mind to. Yet, admitting I didn't know how to be intimate, how to please him—even though I wanted to—made me feel weak.

It wasn't normal, but nothing about this was. Nothing in my life had prepared me for this, and there was nowhere I could turn to get more information.

Sure, there was porn, but that was a fantasy. There wasn't anything I could practice on unless I did so with Marco. And while the thought sent another surge of heat down to my core, I wanted… I wanted to be good for him.

I wanted to make him feel good the same way he'd made me feel in my office. I wanted things to be perfect between us. I didn't want him to be disappointed with me.

But underneath all of that, there was something else, something deeper, darker. I don't want to lose him.

Marco saw through the mask I wore for everyone, through the walls I'd built, the distance I maintained, but he hadn't seen this version of me. The me who was scared of doing something wrong, of everything being my fault… of letting people down all the time.

I knew he liked me. But he didn't know that inside, I was broken.

I had moments where I'd get so wrapped up in my fears and past abuse that it spilled over. I'd erupt, shatter into pieces, and always had to pick them up by myself. I was damaged goods, and there was no fixing me.

There was no relying on someone to hold my hand and tell me it was all okay. I had too many people I had to be there for. I needed to be an impenetrable dam that could protect my familia from the dark waters of The Underground.

I couldn't show anyone who I was in the deepest parts of myself. Couldn't admit I didn't have all the answers, that some days I was barely holding it together. That I wanted so much to protect everyone while wishing, begging , someone would be there to protect me, too.

Marco may have felt that he couldn't have done anything to help me when Felipe showed up at my office, but that wasn't true. Knowing he was there gave me courage. Not being alone felt… good, like a dream come true.

But my courage was fleeting. At least, it was when it came to him. Because I still didn't know what he wanted.

I knew he wanted to fuck me, and some of the sweet words he'd whispered to me were his true feelings, but to what extent?

My subconscious said I was scared to trust him, because I was scared to trust myself. And that was true.

I'd been hurt so many times by those that should have loved me, and I didn't want to be hurt again. And if Marco left tomorrow, I would never be the same.

I would never let another man touch me, get close to me, integrate into any part of my life. My heart would forever be behind a cage. That was how much he meant to me.

If I took a chance and wasn't enough for Marco, I'd be devastated. My pride would be destroyed. And somehow, that was what I needed.

I couldn't keep going like this. At least if I tried now, opened up, let myself be vulnerable and he couldn't handle me, it would hurt less now than it would later.

I craved his presence, attention, time, affection, care, and devotion, but for right now, I could survive without him. I'd find a way. My familia could be my sole purpose again and that would be enough.

But if this continued? I'd reach a point where a life without him wouldn't be worth living. And every day I spent near him made me realize how dangerously close I was to that future.

I parked my car in the garage while Marco pulled in behind me. He helped me grab our leftovers and followed me into my house, then made his way to the kitchen to put everything away. Watching him do so, as though he'd been here multiple times and knew his way around, strengthened my resolve.

Marco walked back to the garage, then turned before he left. "I won't be able to see you for the next couple of days, but I'll be at the party."

I squeezed the doorknob as a burst of pain racked through me.

He's not leaving for good, it's okay. If he said he'll be back, he will.

"Is everything okay?"

He leaned against the door frame, which was far more attractive than it should have been. "Yes, just some pests I need to take care of, and I want to make sure it isn't tied to you."

He said the word like a curse, and I bit my lip. I wanted to ask who he was going after and what happened, but I truly didn't have any right to. A dark, heavy, nasty feeling settled in my gut.

This must have been how he felt when he couldn't get involved earlier.

"You don't have to protect me."

"I know, but I want to, always." He slid one finger under my chin, tilting my head up to his. "Now, aren't you going to tell me you'll miss me?"

I shifted my eyes from his penetrating gaze. Normally, I'd say no, that he was delusional for even asking. But I didn't want that to be our last interaction. Not after today. I wanted him to know the truth, just this once. "I will."

His eyes widened, and he drew back, his surprise making me smile. It felt like I'd found my balance again.

Slowly, his lips spread into a grin. "Don't worry, I'll text and call you so much it'll feel like I never left."

Good . "So you'll annoy me to no end, hmm?"

"Well, I can't have my queen thinking I forgot about her." He twirled the ends of my hair around his finger, then sighed. "I'll see you soon, Lina."

He turned to leave, and I almost let him go, my courage and fear in a fierce battle. But watching him walk away gave me the strength I needed to try. "Marco?"

He turned back at the sound of my voice, and I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, stood on my tiptoes, pulled him down to me, and kissed him.

He didn't move, didn't blink, and when I realized what I'd done, I slammed the door in his face.

Marco

I jammed my foot between her door and its frame at the last minute. Catalina tried to push the door closed again, but I refused to budge.

She opened the door, confused, then looked down at my foot. Slowly, her eyes traveled back up my face and she shrank back.

I moved forward.

She stepped back.

Forward.

Back.

"Marco."

I stalked into her house and slammed the door shut behind me.

Our dance continued until she was pressed against a wall with nowhere to go. I braced my hand above her head, leaned down, and tilted her chin up. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and desire.

"Did you really think I was going to let you get away after you kissed me?" I growled.

"I—"

I gripped her chin harder. "Let me tell you what's going to happen, Catalina. I'm going to kiss you. I'm going to be gentle with you, teach you what a kiss between us feels like. And then, when you've learned, I'm going to devour that sweet little mouth of yours like the starving man you've reduced me to."

She gulped, then, in the sweetest surrender, her eyes drifted closed. She trusted me, and it was the most beautiful gift she'd ever given me—until I kissed her.

Her lips were soft, perfect. The way her mouth felt against mine was a type of divinity I didn't deserve.

I struggled not to get lost in her, to take her how I wanted to. But when I felt her gently, tentatively, move her lips against my own, it renewed my strength.

I pulled away and her eyes were half-lidded. I cupped her cheek and kissed her again and again.

I barely pressed my lips to hers, focusing on guiding her. She was killing me, but I'd happily sacrifice my life to something this glorious.

But I needed more, wanted more, and when she gripped my shirt, and her soft breaths grew faster, I knew she did too.

I traced her face with my hands, the only touch I allowed myself to have.

My body ached for her. My soul yearned for her, but I needed her to know that this wasn't just for today. Whether or not she meant it, this would be for the rest of our lives.

But then, she whispered, "Please."

The word went straight to my dick, and every noble thought I had went out the window.

I crushed my lips to hers and she gasped. I gave her a single second to breathe before I took her lips again.

Lifting her against the wall, I pinned her with my body, drinking her in.

I devoured her, nibbled her lips, bit, sucked, and she whimpered, crossing her legs behind my hips. I gathered her hair in my hand, fisting it at the back of her head, and her delectable moan made my cock throb.

Tilting my head, I deepened the kiss, pouring all of my want, my ache, my desperation for her into it. Her fingers went into my hair, nails biting into my scalp and neck, and I loved the pain. I hissed, and she made a soft noise of pleasure at the sound.

I kissed her again and again, slipped my tongue into her mouth and she was surprised, but she let me. I explored her, rubbed, teased, licked, and sucked her tongue all while she filled my ears with her delicious moans.

I kissed her until her lips were sensitive and swollen and even then I didn't want to stop. I wanted to rip her shirt off. Wanted her nipples in my mouth while I rammed my cock into her. I was damn near ready to come just from the thought of it.

This woman had me wrapped around her finger and she didn't even know it. I would fall to my knees at a single word, offer my life if it would bring a smile to her face. And that was exactly why I reined myself in.

I forced myself to stop, even as she whimpered, clinging to me, pressing her nails into my back, grinding her hips against my own. I softly, regrettably , broke the kiss.

I couldn't fuck her and leave, and I had to take care of Felipe Alvarez. He'd try to get revenge on Catalina the moment he could, instead of taking it out on her father, all because she bested him, had him literally by the balls.

I could protect her outside of her office or her familia's territory. But I had to act independently of her, because if I didn't, she'd try to take care of everything herself again. And I refused to let that happen.

I stared into her eyes, ran my fingers over her cheek, and whispered, "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

Her eyes softened, but not with joy. Instead, something close to heartache filled her eyes. "Why? What do you want from me, Marco?"

I knew what she was asking. Why did I form an alliance with her? What was the favor I'd ask for later? Why had I spent so much time with her?

But was she finally ready to hear the answer?

"I tell you every day, Catalina." I rubbed my thumb over her lips, mesmerized by them, by her. "Every single day. But you never listen."

Gently, she kissed my thumb, and I had to bite back a groan.

"And what if I was ready to listen now?"

Then you'd make me the happiest man alive.

I caressed the side of her neck. "After the party, save some time for me, and I'll tell you. I'll make sure that you know exactly what I want from you, without a shadow of a doubt. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

I kissed her forehead and pulled myself away, because if I didn't, we wouldn't leave her house for weeks and there wouldn't be a single surface in her home I hadn't fucked her on.