Crowned In Blood

Chapter 17

17

Marco

R ed filled my vision. Knowing that Catalina cared so much about me was all I'd ever wanted, but not like this. I didn't want to see her crying over the thought of losing me, and I never, ever wanted her to think about working with someone else.

"I tried to be patient," I growled.

Catalina's eyes widened. "What?"

"I tried to be patient with you. I tried to give you time, to not pressure you, or ask you for more than you were willing to give. Clearly, I must have gone wrong somewhere if you really thought I'd ever let you go."

She sank against the wall. "Marco, please."

"The only time I want to hear those words come out of your pretty mouth is when you're moaning them for me. Now, we're going to settle this, and then, I'm going to make you come three times before I fuck you so hard you won't be able to move without feeling me inside you."

She gasped, opening her beautiful mouth to say something, but I grasped her chin, squeezing her jaw to silence her. I pushed against her, pinning her to the wall, and the softness of her body gave way to mine.

Her warmth and scent enveloped me, and every cell in my body came to life. I was lost to her, and when she squeezed her leg around my waist, pulling my hips harder against hers, I knew she felt the same.

I smirked grinding my cock against her. She tried to fight it, to hold back on the sound I wanted to hear from her, but she couldn't—she moaned.

"See? Your body knows exactly who you belong to, no matter how much you try to fight it." I slipped my hand to her throat, trailing my fingers over her neck, squeezing the sides hard, and she moaned once more.

"You see this? What's between us? It's never going to be over," I whispered huskily into her ear, and when she shivered, it filled me with delight.

"Marco—" she tried, but I flexed my hand around her neck.

"The moment I laid eyes on you, this was always going to be the outcome. It didn't matter how long it took, what you needed or wanted. Whatever it was, whatever you demanded of me, I'd give it to you immediately. Because having you is worth any cost."

She bit her lip, her gaze sliding away from mine. I dragged my fingers along her neck, and her pulse raced as her skin flushed from her chest up to her face.

"Do you want to know what I get out of this alliance, Catalina? What I want so badly?" I growled.

Her eyes darted back to mine, burning with a dark, insatiable hunger that made my cock twitch.

She looked so beautiful like this, desperate and greedy for me.

I slid my fingers lower, following the curve of her breasts, grazing her hard nipple, looping around to the other, before slipping down her stomach, over her hip to her thigh.

She bit her lip and whimpered, nodding quickly.

"You," I hissed. "You were going to give me three weeks. No interruptions, no hesitations, just us. So I could show you how good we are together."

I stroked her clit through her underwear. She jumped at the first caress, but I kept going. "See? Your body wants me. You're so wet for me that I can feel it through your panties, and I've barely touched you."

She tried to close her legs, but I slid my finger under the tiny scrap of lace and circled her clit.

"I—" she moaned. "Marco?—"

"Yes, my vicious little queen? Tell me what you want."

"What about"—another sweet moan—"my familia?" She panted. "D-don't you want that too?"

I pinched her clit, and she gasped.

"I'm a businessman, Catalina. Combining our families would be good for both of us. But no, I don't want you for your familia. If you had no power, no money, nothing to your name, even if you were homeless, I'd still want you ."

Her eyes glistened from unshed tears as she pursed her lips.

"There will never be anyone else for me. Nor for you. It was always meant to be and will always be me. And you can't tell me you want me, show me you care about me this much—which has been my only dream for over a year—then try to throw me away."

Her shoulders sank. "Marco, I just don't want you to get hurt. I want to protect you?—"

"So your answer was to leave me, and get in an alliance with another man, knowing damn well he's going to screw you over every chance he gets? No."

"Marco—"

"No. If you tell me one more time that you'll side with any man that isn't me, I will kill every mafia leader in a thousand-mile radius and personally deliver their heads to you in a box."

I touched her again, using the pad of my thumb to rub and caress her clit.

Her breaths became short and fast. She shook, tightening her leg around my hip to keep me close, and it was the most glorious thing I'd ever seen. Every moan from her felt like a blessing.

I wanted her lost in pleasure for me, obeying my every command, giving me her complete submission. I yearned for it, not just from her body, but her mind. I never wanted her to ever say she’d leave me again. I needed her to know, to accept me entirely .

"Y-you can't…" she panted, couldn't even finish her sentence. Her moans were more frequent, higher in pitch. She was getting close.

"I can, and I will. I'll personally see it as a challenge." I pinched her clit once more. "You like when I'm violent, don't you?"

She moaned, grinding herself against my finger.

"You like knowing I'll fight for you, bleed for you. Kill for you. Don't you, my vicious little queen?"

She moaned louder, tried to close her eyes, to hide from me, but I slapped her pussy.

She gasped and jerked, pushing her breasts against my chest. I couldn't wait to see them, touch them, pull them into my mouth.

"Tell me you like it," I whispered against her lips. "Tell me you're mine."

"Yes." She struggled against my hold on her wrists, trying to pull her hands free, but I wouldn't let her. Not until she came for me.

"Say. The. Words. Catalina," I bit out, rubbing her faster.

"I do, f-fuck I do." She trembled.

I smirked. "And?" I matched the rhythm of her hips, keeping in sync with her. I tested the pressure on her clit, rubbing harder, until she backed her hips away just slightly, showing me what she liked, what was going to get her there, but I held back.

I wanted to hear the truth, to know that she couldn't deny me any longer.

"I'm yours. I'm yours, Marco! I'm yours! "

"Good girl," I growled. "That's my good girl." Applying the pressure she wanted, I watched her completely shatter apart.

She gasped. A mixture of pure, unfiltered pleasure and surprise lit her face. She's never come before…

I continued to rub her clit, as she bucked her hips against my hand.

She was confused, unfocused, but her body knew what it wanted. It was so beautiful to see her lost in her pleasure, completely at my mercy. The sounds of her whimpers and moans were music to my ears.

When she came for me again, she cried out my name. Arching her back, she pressed her breasts against my chest. Her eyes fell shut, and I gave her just a second to catch her breath before I crashed my lips to hers.

She moaned into the kiss, tugged at her hands, and I finally let them go.

If she tried to fight me now, I'd hunt her down. She was my prey and as her predator, I'd never let her get away from me.

But she didn't. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders like I was her lifeline, the only thing keeping her grounded on this earth. She held me as if she lived for me in the same way I did for her, breathed for me, just as I breathed for her.

The feeling of her acceptance was intoxicating. But the way her body melted into mine was a type of euphoria I simply couldn't define. Like a poor man who found a chest full of gold, or a homeless man that had tasted a five-star meal for the first time.

She'd told me I'd won. But it wasn't until this moment that I tasted victory. I'd found my purpose, fulfilled my soul's mission, every time she brushed her lips against mine.

Catalina tangled her hands in my hair, keeping me close. I tilted her head, kissing her deeper, more passionately, licking the seam of her lips and she opened for me.

I explored her, tasted her sweetness, rubbed and swirled my tongue against hers, before sucking it into my mouth.

She moaned as I gathered her dress in my hands, sliding my hands along her skin, lifting it above her ass. She stiffened, just slightly, and I pulled back to look down at her. Her eyes were half closed, but I could see the nervousness there.

"I remember," I whispered to her softly. "I remember what you said, that you didn't know how to do this. It's my job to teach you, and right now, I just want you to feel. Can you do that for me?"

She bit the inside of her lip, then slowly nodded.

I tipped her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze fully. "I need your words, your consent. Your acceptance of me gets me so fucking hard, Catalina. Won't you give that to me?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes," she said again, more firmly.

Fuck. If I wasn't careful, I'd have a permanent imprint of my zipper on my dick. Knowing her, she'd find it hilarious and laugh at me until I was balls deep inside her.

I stared into her eyes, raising her dress over her ass. "Don't look away from me. I want to make sure you're here, experiencing every second of this with me."

"Okay." She said the word so quietly I barely heard it. I knew I was pushing her, but she needed to know that this was where I wanted to be, wrapped in her arms, with her body against mine.

I didn't want any more barriers between us or unspoken words. I refused to allow them, and shedding her clothes was like breaking through the last wall she could use to push me away.

I raised her dress slowly, wanting to kiss and lick every freckle, mole, or mark, but I knew if I looked away, even for a second, she would shy away from me. So I resisted the urge, no matter how hard it was. But I couldn't stop myself from touching her.

Sliding my palms up her soft skin to her sides, I followed each rib until I'd gotten to her chest. For a moment, neither of us moved. It was my silent request to continue. And when she lifted her arms, I had my answer.

The moment the dress hit the floor, I scanned her body. I memorized every bump, even the smallest scar. I took them all in, all the things that made up the woman I loved. They were a map of her, the owner of my heart, my perfect vicious little queen.

Gathering her into my arms, I kissed her again. Kissed her with every bit of my elation and the deepest depths of my desires. I poured everything that I had, that I was, into that kiss.

She moaned, my blood rejoicing at the sound. I slid my hands down her back to her bra and undid the closure. Then I slipped it off, groaning when her bare breasts pressed against my chest.

I closed my hand around her throat, choking her, her loud moan music to my ears.

I stroked her skin, then coasted down, plucking her hard nipple. She gasped, and I shared my air with her, kissing her once more while I kneaded her breast in my hand. She writhed against me, shifting her hips, and I smiled into our kiss.

"Tell me what you want, Catalina."

"Keep doing that."

"This?" I pinched her nipple, and she moaned.

"Yes, please."

I trailed kisses down her neck, biting the junction at her throat, and she tilted her head back and to the side, giving me as much access as I wanted. The softness of her skin on my lips and her moans were the sweetest form of sin.

"What else do you want, my vicious little queen?"

Catalina whimpered, and I grabbed her breast, squeezing it hard. She arched her back, pressing her hips against mine. "Make me come again… please."

I would have done it regardless, but my queen knew I liked it when she begged. I pulled her panties down and she kicked them and her heels off. Then I lifted her in my arms, and she wrapped her arms and legs around me.

Cupping her pussy, I rubbed her clit with my thumb. "I want you to be vocal with me, Catalina. I want to know every little thing you like, and you will tell me, with your mouth." I kissed down her chest to her breasts, her breathing growing more rushed. "With your moans." I licked her nipple, and she gasped. "And with your body." I rubbed her clit harder, faster, as she convulsed against me. "That's it, just like that. You're such a good girl. So perfect for me."

She shuddered at the praise and I took her nipple into my mouth, biting it. She jerked, moaning for me. Then I licked the bite, and she whimpered. Again and again I alternated, giving her both pain and pleasure. She responded to them so beautifully. She trusted me to appreciate and worship her body the way she deserved, and it was the greatest honor I'd ever received.

I moved to her other breast, sucking her nipple into my mouth. Her head fell back against the wall, her eyes half closed, mouth parted as I tore every moan I could from her. They were mine—all that she was, every breath, every inch, every heartbeat—and I reveled in them.

I slid my finger down to her core, slipping just the tip inside, testing her. I searched her face for any sense of discomfort, but found nothing but pure pleasure, so I pushed deeper, rubbing her clit while I sucked on her nipple, and her moans grew louder.

She fisted my hair, clung to my shoulders as I slid my finger out, then back in. Out. In. I fucked her with it. And when I slid another finger inside of her; she cried out.

Slowly, I moved them within her, thrusting all the way to my palm, preparing her to take my cock. "You're soaking my hand, Catalina. Does it feel that good to you?"

"Y-yes," she moaned.

Her body trembled, and I fucked her faster, harder with my fingers. I wanted her to come all over them. I wanted to taste it. I wouldn't survive the night without burying my face between her silky thighs.

I curled them, and knew exactly when I hit the right spot because her mouth formed a perfect "O".

She shattered.

She bucked against my hand as I fucked her with my fingers. I refused to stop. Her orgasm was so glorious I simply needed to see it again.

She clung to me, moaning my name over and over, and then she came so hard a guttural growl tore from within her.

Pride filled my chest.

Catalina pushed against me, panting. "N-no m-more?—"

"You can say no to a lot of things, but orgasms aren't one of them, and I'm not done with giving them to you."

I pulled her back from the wall just slightly, grabbed her ass, and lifted her until her legs were spread over my shoulders.

She gasped. "W-what?—"

I licked her pussy.

She shuddered so hard her tremors vibrated on my tongue. She tried to push my head away, but I pushed her back against the wall, keeping her pinned between it and my mouth. Then I licked her again.

She moaned, squirmed, and I kept licking her. I growled at her taste. She was decadent, divine, and I was enslaved to her. She was my mistress, my queen, my goddess, and I worshipped her.

I ate her like a starving man. Thrust my tongue inside her, felt her walls contract as more of her wetness gushed into my mouth. The moment she lost her shyness and ground against my face nearly made me come.

I gripped her ass, kneading her cheeks as I fucked her with my tongue. I rolled it, slid it in and out of her, until she cried out. Then I licked from her pussy to her clit and bit it.

She jerked her hips, and I bit her clit once more, before sucking it into my mouth. I swirled my tongue over it, and she went wild, fisting my hair, trying to bury my face into her pussy.

Shifting her weight to one of my arms, I used my other hand to slide two fingers into her cunt while I sucked and licked her.

She'd completely surrendered to her pleasure, but I wanted more. I wanted to own her every sense, every thought. I wanted her to be enraptured in this, in me.

I pulled my head back. "Cross your ankles behind my head."

"W-why?"

"Because I want you to use me."

"B-but you won't be able to b-breathe that way."

"If suffocation by your pussy is how I'm going to go, it'll be a damn good death."

"Marco!"

I kissed her thigh, and she shivered against me. "Just trust me, Lina."

She finally did as I asked, and I smirked.

"Good girl. Now, whatever you need, I want you to take it."

"What—"

I licked her pussy again, folded my tongue, and slid it in and out of her wildly. She arched her back, and now that her ankles were crossed behind my head, and I had her pinned against the wall, I could grab her breasts.

She cried out, bucking against my face as I squeezed her breasts, rolling her nipples between my fingers.

Her hips jerked as she moved faster, riding my tongue. The way she showed me what she liked, took control of her own pleasure, had pre-cum leaking from the tip of my cock. It was pure perfection.

I kept fucking her with my tongue, over and over, faster, as I used my nose to rub her clit. Her body trembled, legs shook, and then she came, screaming for me.

It was the sweetest sound, and I growled as her taste flooded my face, covering my lips. Her wetness leaked down her thighs and under my chin as she squirted for me, and I couldn't wait anymore.

I shifted her in my arms, and she adjusted immediately, wrapping her arms and legs around me as I lowered her, then kissed her.

She didn't care that I was covered in her come. If anything, it only seemed to drive her wilder.

I walked to her desk and shoved everything off. Something crashed and broke, but I didn't care. I'd buy her a new one.

I laid her back, and she watched me undo each button of my shirt, tearing it off my body. She looked me up and down from my chest, to my stomach, then back up and over each arm.

I unbuckled my pants. "See something you like?"

Her eyes were glazed over with lust. "Your tattoos. I always wondered what they looked like," she breathed. Catalina traced from the wing of the phoenix at the base of my throat, down its body over my arm.

I shuddered at her touch. "Just my tattoos?"

Her lips tilted up at the edge, slowly, seductively, and my cock swelled. "No, all of you."

I held still as her fingers danced over my skin. Her touch was so light, as if she were in awe of me. She slid her fingers back up, over my chest, to the claw of my wolf tattoo. Then she gently brushed the back of her hand on my nipple.

Electricity shot to my dick.

I wanted to tease her, to hear more of what she'd imagined, to know if she fantasized about me in the same way I did about her. But each stroke of her fingers and nails, as she slowly scratched down my chest to my stomach, was a heavenly type of torture. And when she reached my pants and looked up at me with a shy, yet desperate expression, I was done.

I pulled my zipper down, kicked off my shoes, then shoved my pants and boxers off. When I stood up, her eyes zeroed in on my cock and went wide. Her jaw dropped open, and I smirked.

"Marco," she panted.

"Yes, Catalina?" I grabbed her by her ankles, pulled her to the edge of the desk, then spread her legs.

"I don't think that's going to fit."

I chuckled, angling my hips with hers. "It will. You were made to be mine."

I paused, scanning her face, wanting to make sure she wasn't scared or uncomfortable. My Catalina had been through so much already, and I didn't want to accidentally trigger a horrible memory for her by not paying attention.

There was something there, mixed with the same nervousness I'd seen when I first tried to kiss her. It wasn't just inexperience or timidity, but a question she wasn't sure if she should ask.

That wouldn't work for me. I wanted her to bare her soul to me.

I kissed her palm and her eyes softened. "I'm right here. Whatever you need or want. Your every desire. You can say it to me. It's not going to drive me away."

She licked her lips. "I-I've only..." She swallowed hard. "Should we use a condom?"

My eyebrows nearly shot off my head. Then a slow smile spread across my face. I took her hands and pinned them over her head. "Are you telling me no one has ever come in that sweet pussy of yours, Catalina?"

She bit her lip, then shook her head. "No, and today was my first time…" her gaze flickered down, then slowly back up to my eyes, "coming. I’ve never done that before. Only with you."

Fuck!

I squeezed the head of my cock hard. I'd need every inch of patience for this.

"After I fuck you, tell me the name of the man who touched you. If he's still alive, he won't be by the time I'm done with him."

She whimpered softly, squirming under me.

"I love how much my brutality turns you on." I stroked my dick between her slit, coating it in her wetness. Then I slowly slid the tip inside.

We both gasped. The feeling of her pussy was incredible. She was so hot and wet. Nothing could be better than this. Nothing.

I waited for her to relax, grow used to the intrusion. Then I moved deeper, so achingly slow, giving her inch by inch. She tried to pull her hips back, but I grabbed onto them, holding her in place, pushing in while listening to her whimpering moans.

"There are only two reasons a man uses a condom," I bit out, then moaned loudly as I finally slid balls deep inside of her. "If his woman asks him for one, or if he's nothing more than a little boy with no intentions for the woman he's fucking."

Slowly, I pulled out. Catalina wiggled beneath me, trying to make me move faster, but I refused. She huffed, her eyes blazing into mine.

I smirked, leaned over her, and thrust back inside. "I'm a man, Catalina, and I have serious." Thrust. " Permanent ." Thrust. "Intentions." Thrust . "For you." Thrust.

I grasped the desk with one hand while I rammed inside of her. "Do you want me to use a condom, Lina?"

She shook her head rapidly, wrapping her arms and legs around me as if she could burrow into my skin. "No… please… Just like this."

I grabbed onto her thigh, slamming inside of her again. "Regardless of the consequences?"

"Yes. Yes! "

My eyes nearly rolled back into my head.

Good. I'm dying to fucking breed you.

Her acknowledgment, her permission to come inside of her drove me crazy.

I fucked her. Hard .

Rammed into her over and over, driven by her moans, her body, the way her pussy gripped me like a sleeve. The way she whimpered every time I left it, and moaned every time I thrust back in. She welcomed me inside of her, wanted me inside of her.

She'd surrendered to me fully, and I was going to take everything that she was, everything she had to give and more until I'd claimed the deepest corners of her soul.

"Fuck, look at how good you take me," I growled.

I thrust into her so hard her heavy wooden desk scraped against the floor. I didn't care; I kept ramming into her like a madman. The desk moved. I stepped closer, rammed harder, and it moved again like a game, until it hit the wall.

Then I braced my hands around her head, laid down, and pounded inside of her. I kissed her neck, bit it, wanting to leave my mark. Wanted to brand her so everyone would know she was taken. That she was mine .

I wrapped my hand around her throat and she cried out, digging her nails into my skin so hard she might have drawn blood, and then she came. Her pussy spasmed around me. Her toes curled against my ass. She coated my cock in her wet come and I kept going.

I wanted to feel it one more time. Wanted to drive her to ecstasy the way she deserved.

I knelt on the desk, tilted her hips, and barreled into her. She cried out from each thrust, her eyes filling with tears, and I smiled as she called out my name.

"That's it, baby. Let everyone know who's fucking you." I ground into her, rubbing her clit, and she bucked beneath me.

The room filled with the scent of our sweat and sex. Our moans, the wet sound of me slipping in and out of her pussy, echoed around us. I sucked her nipple, worked my thumb over her clit and she grabbed my hair, twisting, gripping it in her fist as she silently pleaded for me not to stop.

I couldn't. I wouldn't .

I was so lost, so enraptured by her, that the entire world fell away until there was only us wrapped in our carnal pleasure. She came once more and I couldn't hold back anymore.

My balls tightened, my hips jerked, and I came. I pulled her hips hard against mine, pushed into her as deep as I could, filling her with every ounce of my come. Stream after stream left me as I shuddered above her.

I fell on my hands to keep my weight off of her, and she mewed in disappointment.

"I'm too heavy for you," I panted.

She shook her head and reached up for me.

How could I ever say no to her like this?

I kissed her stomach, in between her breasts, then laid on her, while she kissed my damp head.

My cock twitched inside her, shivers wracking my body as I tried to catch my breath. But when I did, I kissed her, softly.

I brushed her damp hair away from her forehead. Her eyes were half-closed, a small, relaxed smile playing on her lips, even while she was trying to catch her breath.

Her fingertips gently worked through my hair, over my neck, her legs trembling from her orgasm, but otherwise she was completely limp, glowing. Sated .

Tilting her chin, I kissed her again. There were so many things I wanted to tell her. That I loved her, that everything I was, was hers. I wanted to ask her to marry me, to chain her to me, and knew in this state, she might just say yes.

But that wasn't how I wanted her. She was agreeable now, but part of what I loved about her was the way she challenged me, kept me on my toes.

I loved her sarcasm, her humor, and when I got down on one knee, I wanted her to say yes when she was fully cognizant and felt the same way I did. When she no longer wanted to hide it. Couldn't if she even tried.

She was almost there. Her entire reasoning behind pushing me away told me that much, but it wasn't enough.

I wanted her to not be able to live without me, because that's how deeply I loved her. Nothing in this world would matter without her, and I'd throw it all away just for her to smile at me the way she was right now.

That was what I poured into our kiss. My affection. My loyalty, devotion, care. Love, desire, everything . I sucked her bottom lip, licked softly in her mouth, then kissed her once more tenderly before pulling back.

She stared into my eyes, searching for something, like she was trying to understand, but couldn't quite grasp what I was telling her.

I expected that. Catalina had never been loved by anyone, much less someone like me. It would take her time to realize she was worth that and so much more. And I'd give her as much time as she needed. But at least she knew there was something there, something more and that it was real .

I finally slipped out of her, lifted her up by her ass, and carried her to the couch as she kissed me softly. We didn't speak, simply shared gentle kisses and held one another.

It still felt like a dream, having her in my arms, feeling her body against mine.

She was so incredibly affectionate. For once, she didn't withhold any part of herself from me.

There was no doubt or suspicion. She was connected and present in this space with me. It felt as though she'd closed out the rest of the universe like I had, and I was honored to be allowed into her own world. To see and experience who she was when she felt free.

Minutes passed, and our kisses grew longer, deeper, more passionate. I gathered her hair in my fist and held onto her hip as she ground her wet pussy against my cock.

It was already hard, aching for her. It never took much from her, a single look, a breath, just the smallest bit of her attention.

She moaned as I rubbed the head against her clit, before sliding it down. She lifted her hips, and I aligned myself with her entrance. "That's it, baby, take my cock into its home."

She sunk down as I pushed up, thrusting into her. She groaned, and I pushed her down harder, impaling her on my cock.

Then she rode me. Bounced so beautifully on my dick.

I stared into her eyes, thrusting into her as she gasped and moaned, pressing her nails into my chest.

I took her ass in my hands, smacked and kneaded it, and she moaned louder, her head falling back.

"Eyes on me, Catalina. I want to make sure you know who's fucking you," I growled.

She looked at me, as if she could stare into my soul. "I know," she moaned. "It's you, Marco. Just you. Only you."

I lost my fucking mind.

Tilting her hips, I bent forward, and when she wrapped her arms around my neck, I pounded into her. Her head fell back again, and this time I didn't care.

I rammed into her hard, like the feral beast she'd reduced me to. Then I rubbed her clit. She shook, writhed, ground her hips against mine, then bucked and came crying out my name.

I turned, throwing her back onto the couch, slamming back into her. She cried out, bracing her hands against the arm of the couch to keep from hitting her head from the force of my thrusts.

I wrapped my hand around her throat, keeping her right where I wanted her while I fucked her hard and fast. I kept thrusting, her words repeating in my head.

"Just you. Only you."

Yes!

I was the only one who had ever seen her like this, the only one who ever would. If someone else tried, I'd kill them and fuck her while the blood oozed out of their body.

I ground against her, rubbing her clit. Then I stopped, shoved a pillow under her hips, put her legs on my shoulders, and started fucking her all over again.

"That's it, Catalina. Take it all."

She cried out my name, moaning it over and over, then her spine went straight and she came once more, dragging me with her. I roared out my release, pulled her hips tight around me, and pushed into her, making sure she got every drop.

Even after I came, I couldn't stop thrusting into her. But this time, it was deep and slow.

I leaned down as she tried to catch her breath and kissed her. I kissed each tear rolling down her face, swiped them away from her eyes. Trailed kisses along her jaw, her neck.

I breathed her in, basking in the scent of her mixed with me, the saltiness of her sweat, and how she shook in my arms.

"Was I too rough with you?"

"No, but why did you get like that?" she whispered, running her fingers over my spine.

I kissed her neck, slipping my fingers into her hair, rubbing her scalp. "Because I'm territorial and possessive over you. You can't tell me I'm the only man who can fuck you and not expect me to lose control."

"Oh."

I chuckled and kissed up to her ear. "You're mine, Catalina, and I will not share you with anyone."

She nuzzled my neck, panting softly against my skin as I moved within her. "I don't want you to. I just want to be yours."

My cock hardened immediately.

She gasped. "Marco?—"

"Don't blame me. I told you I'm territorial and possessive."

The loud chime of her phone went off, breaking our serenity. And I watched as the weight of our world rushed back into her, and every relaxed muscle in her body tensed. Our moment of peace was gone.

I got off of her, and she turned, sitting up on the couch.

"Don't move."

I found her phone in her skirt and brought it to her.

She gave me a nod in thanks, then took the call while I went to the bathroom and cleaned up.

I wasn't mad at the intrusion. Eventually it would happen, but I was worried.

How would Catalina look at me now?

If she tried to put distance between us again, I wouldn't let her. Yes, we had other priorities, but she was my main one and I would not let her get away.

I grabbed a towel and dampened it, then went back to find her off the phone, trying to find her clothes while attempting to not let my come leak down her legs.

I sighed and picked her up.

"What are you doing?" she squealed.

"I told you not to move." I placed her down on the desk. "Spread your legs."

"Marco, we can't?—"

"As tempting as it is to fuck you again, and it really is." I took her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. "I know your familia needs you. But you also need aftercare. This is the least I can do for you before you leave. Now spread your legs before I take it as a challenge and clean you up with my tongue."

She flushed, finally doing as I'd ordered, looking away from me while I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

I slowly scanned her body, mapping out every place I'd bitten her, where I’d kissed and nibbled her skin. Her nipples were still hard, and I had to force myself not to suck them again.

My gaze slid lower, over her flat stomach, in between her luscious thighs. Her pussy was still wet, so filled with my cum that it had leaked and started to dry on her thighs and ass.

Fuck.

My cock twitched, and I took a deep breath. Later . It didn't matter when or where, I'd get back into her pussy if it killed me.

Gently, I touched the towel to her core. She jerked immediately, but I held her still by her hips and cleaned her. "Good girl."

She melted a little at the praise, then I gathered her clothes in one hand, and picked her up, bridal style.

She didn't object, even though she refused to look at me. I stepped into the bathroom and lowered her onto the toilet seat. "Don't rush to get up. Your body is going to need time. I know you have business to attend to, but you can't do so if you can't walk. I'm going to get dressed, and I'll bring you back some water and something to eat, okay?"

"Okay."

A zip of satisfaction flew through me, and I grinned. She was so agreeable and shy. Utterly adorable.

I cupped her head, drawing her eyes to me, then I kissed her.

She kissed me so sweetly, and when I pulled away, she whispered, "Thank you."

I kissed her forehead. "You're welcome."

When I returned with her sandwich and two bottles of water, she was fully dressed, with her back to the door. She shoved her phone into her purse, hard, and I sighed.

I placed the items on the table in front of her, then pulled her into my arms, and while her shoulders and spine relaxed slightly, she was far too tense for my liking.

I caressed her stomach. "I know you have a job to do, things which need to be handled, and people relying on you. I told you once before that I admired you and one of those reasons is your dedication." I kissed her shoulder. "You give one-hundred percent to anything you put your mind to, but I also know to do that you have to keep your guard up. It keeps you safe, and for that I'm thankful. You matter to me," I whispered.

"For the last two hours, you had your guard down, which is one of the greatest honors you could ever give me. And all that I ask is that when you're in my arms, you let it slip. Talk to me. Tell me what's on your mind, honestly, without fear or worry. Keep your guard up for everyone else, but please, let me in Catalina, I won't hurt you." I breathed. "I'd take my life before I ever hurt you."

Catalina shuddered, but said nothing.

I nuzzled her neck. "Do I need to get on my knees and beg?"

She leaned back against me, allowing me to be her strength. "I should have known you'd be more cocky after we had sex."

"Of course. Nothing strokes a man's ego more than pleasing his woman and hearing her call out his name."

She huffed.

"Talk to me," I whispered.

"I need to figure out what I'm going to do about Felipe. The office was one thing, but this? He just declared war."

I nodded. "Especially after I explicitly warned him what the consequences would be if he so much as thought your name."

She whirled around in my arms. "What the fuck were you thinking, Marco? This is exactly why?—"

"I know. I know. You didn't want me involved. But I was going to be, regardless. He wasn't going to leave you alone. You know that as well as I do."

The fury left her eyes, and she closed them as if she was praying for patience.

"I'm in this. I was always going to be," I whispered, stroking her cheek.

She placed her hand over my heart, rubbing the spot with her thumb. "But that puts you in danger. I could have lost you, Marco."

"The man at the window?"

She nodded. "And that's not something I'd ever let slide. No one touches you ."

Pride filled me at the possessive and protectiveness in her tone.

She sighed. "What did you threaten Felipe with?"

"The locations of every single one of his businesses, which I promised to blow up along with him."

She hummed, her expression turning thoughtful.

"You don't just want him to die, do you?"

When she met my gaze, her eyes were the hottest of flames, yet beautifully chilling. "No, I want him to suffer. I want to take everything from him like he tried to do to me. I want him, his mind, heart, spirit, everything , until all that he can do is beg for death."

I grinned. "Your wish is my command, my vicious little queen. Once your rage is satisfied, Felipe Alvarez will die at your feet."

I walked up the steps to Catalina's house. It was quiet, dark, and she was probably asleep, but I had promised her I'd see her again later tonight.

I'd meant to stop by earlier, but things had taken longer than I planned.

That's what happens when you go to war .

I had to make sure our weapon inventories were stocked and buildings were secure. Then I briefed my men on our next moves, and now, finally, I was ready to sleep with my woman.

She'd repaired her keypad, but that wouldn't stop me. I'd watched and stalked her for over a year. I knew the codes she used and how frequently she changed them.

I entered her home, then locked the door quietly behind me. Kicking off my shoes, I placed them neatly on her rack, then made my way to her bedroom.

As I opened the door, I listened to her breathing. I knew what she sounded like when she was asleep, how soft and slow her breathing was, and right now she was wide awake and ready to fight if needed.

"It's me."

She sighed. "I almost stabbed you."

"I wouldn't have minded as long as you didn't hit a vital organ. You're cute when you play doctor."

She mumbled something under her breath, and I chuckled.

I folded my blazer on her chair, then undressed. "I can feel you watching me, you know."

"I'm trying to figure out what you're doing."

"Isn't it obvious?" I slid into bed next to her, then put my arm around her waist. "It's called cuddling."

"Is it called cuddling when you break into someone's house?" Despite her words, she snuggled back into my body and I held her tighter.

"Absolutely," I whispered in her ear, before kissing her neck softly. "I missed you, and I did promise I'd see you later tonight."

"I wasn't exactly imagining this when you said that."

"Oh?" I bit her earlobe, trailing my hand down her stomach. "And what were you imagining?"

A chill ran through her body. "That it would be when I was awake."

I chuckled again, and when she wiggled her body against mine, I slid my arm under her head for her to use as a pillow. "There is always the morning."

She hummed. "We'll see."

We fell silent, and I basked in this, her presence, her closeness. The way her body felt against mine, how she smelled and breathed.

"Marco?" she called in a sleepy voice.

My lips curled into her neck. "Yes, my vicious little queen?"

"I'm happy you came."

"Me too, Lina, me too."