Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“We will get this all straightened out,” my dad adds, talking to Tullio, guiding him past us like Z didn’t just threaten to kill Sal. Smart—we don’t need Sal coming toward Z; they all should go in the other direction.
“I’ll see about smoothing a few things,” Mom adds, walking past too but pausing next to Z. “Breathe, honey, no one is going to hurt Cosima.” Z gives one small nod to Mom because she keeps walking, everyone else leaving the hallway too, but War, Tova, Z, and me.
"What happened?" War speaks once he's sure we're alone.
"He tried to corner her."
"Are you okay?" War asks me.
"Yeah, I'm good." Not sure I was cornered, but I’m not arguing that with Z. If that is how he sees it, then okay.
"Z, it's not smart to—"
"I don't give a fuck." Z cuts my brother off.
"If you—" War starts again, but this time it's his wife that cuts in.
"Everyone needs to take a break. We're not talking about this tonight." I smile over at Tova, not only because she's doing what is needed but also because I love how she is stepping up and taking control.
"You heard the lady of the house. Her house, her rules," I'm quick to add, keeping my tone playful, trying to lessen the rage I can still feel pulsing off Z.
"Go, I'll get Mom and Dad to head back to their place in the city tonight."
"Thank you," I tell War. He's letting me know that my parents won't come knocking tonight, and for me to calm Z down before morning. "Come on." I slip my hand into Z's.
"I'll kill him if he comes near her again." Holy shit. Z isn't fucking around.
A darker side of Z came out tonight.
“I know,” War tells him. That calms him enough for me to be able to start to tug on Z’s hand so that he comes with me. I lead him up the stairs with the intent to go to his room, but when we reach the top, Z scoops me up into his arms, carrying me toward my bedroom.
“We’re going to my room?” I wrap my arms tight around his neck, linking my fingers together.
“Yes.” My eyes search his face as he carries me down the long hallway. His expression is unreadable. As if there is nothing there, but his eyes say it all. I don’t think I have ever seen Z this pissed off before. That’s saying something since in the past I made it my goal to get a reaction from him.
Every step he takes is with intent. Z enters my room, kicking the door closed behind him before placing me onto the bed.
“Undress if you want to keep the dress,” he orders, going back toward the door. The clicking of the lock is loud in the room, a soft echo.
I'm too preoccupied observing him to follow his order. “Cosima,” Z warns, as if that will spark me into action. Z might have lost it downstairs and be worked up, but I’m not scared of him in the slightest. There isn’t anything in this world the man could do that would make me fear for myself. I don't care what anyone says, including Z himself. There’s no way he would ever do anything to hurt me. I mean, the man was beside himself when he found out what happened between us our first time together.
I let my heels fall off my feet as I scurry to my knees as Z makes his way back to the bed, undressing in the process. I had no idea how much I’d enjoy a strip show until this very moment. My eyes eat him up. I swear he looks like every inch of him was chiseled by hand.
“Z.” I lick my lips as I watch him come closer. He’s so damn hot, and he’s all mine. His fingers go to my hair, gripping a fistful and pulling my head all the way back to stare straight up at him. His breathing is heavy. I can see the rise and fall of his chest with every breath. “You—”
His mouth crashes down onto mine, Z’s tongue thrusts into my mouth, greedily taking what he wants. The intensity of it all shifts the world around us, everything else fading away.
Heat blooms in my chest, then radiates throughout my body. The passion and love he has for me is unmatched by anything in the world. It’s weaved into him and everything he does. It's a love I don't think many get to experience, and I'll do anything to protect it, and I know Z will do the same.
I gasp for air when his mouth breaks from mine, but it doesn’t leave my body. Z keeps kissing me down my jaw and then the column of my neck. A whimper escapes me when he rakes his teeth along my skin before he latches on and sucks. With each hard pull of suction on my neck, it pulses down to my clit.