Chapter 26: NO MORE DOUBTS

Arianna

His jaw clenched at my words, the muscles bunching beneath his skin.

“You’re the only woman I could ever marry,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You know that I’m not normal, not a good guy. You know me better than anyone else, Arianna. You should know by now that there are things about me that I do not share with others. And you are part of them. The fact that you think otherwise…”

The sentence trailed off, unfinished, but the implication hung heavy in the air. He was hurt. Wounded by my lack of faith, by my inability to trust the twisted, unconventional love he offered.

“I’m sorry, okay? I was hurt and upset. When I saw you sitting there with another woman… I felt betrayed,” I confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush.

His fingers, calloused and strong, traced the line of my jaw, tilting my face upwards until our noses were almost touching. “She’s absolutely nothing to me. Just my superior, who thinks she can use her status to exploit my knowledge in some way to benefit her if I mess with some of the cases. I despise the woman, and we have a strictly professional relationship. I would never lie to you, Arianna. I might be your stalker, a man who kills for you, but I’m only faithful to you. I would never allow someone else to touch me,” he growled, the words a possessive promise.

And then he kissed me.

The kiss started soft and tender, a gentle exploration of my lips that sent shivers dancing down my spine. But as his own desire ignited, the kiss deepened, becoming more forceful, more demanding. He pressed me back against the cool tile of the tub, his body a hard, unyielding presence against mine. He kissed me as if he hadn’t seen me in hours, instead of days, as if he were trying to pour all the turbulent emotions swirling within him into this single, desperate act. He was trying to convince me, no, make me believe in him.

I kissed back fiercely, matching his passion, his intensity, my own doubts and fears momentarily forgotten in the all-consuming fire that raged between us. His tongue invaded my mouth, a possessive claim, and I met him stroke for stroke, surrendering to the intoxicating dance of dominance and submission.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulled away, leaving me breathless and trembling. He gave me a slow, predatory grin, a flicker of triumph in his golden eyes.

“There’s my girl,” he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

The praise sent another wave of heat rushing to my face, and he chuckled, relishing my reaction. He turned his attention back to my wounds, finishing the task with the same meticulous care he’d shown from the beginning.

How could this man look so impossibly beautiful while tending to my injuries? It was a paradox that both fascinated and frustrated me.

If I weren’t so sore, I would let him take me again. Right here, right now. Maybe later… if I was lucky.

“Okay, beautiful girl. Done,” he announced, standing up and brushing the dust from his pants. He watched as I pushed myself to my feet, my legs still shaky from our earlier encounter.

“I should shower,” I commented, the words feeling inadequate to express the jumbled mess of emotions swirling within me. He nodded in agreement, his eyes dark with understanding.

As I reached for the bathroom door, it burst inward, Millie practically falling inside from her frantic scratching. She’d been patiently waiting for us just outside, her big, green eyes filled with concern. I laughed, the sound light and airy in the charged atmosphere, as my adorable kitten launched herself into my arms.

“Of course, she missed her mommy,” Vincent said, a genuine smile softening his features. He watched as Millie began to lick my face affectionately, rubbing her soft nose against mine.

She purred, a loud, rumbling vibration, as I cradled her close, my heart swelling with affection.

“Come on. Daddy will take you while she showers,” Vincent said, reaching out to take Millie from me. To my surprise, she readily went to him, nuzzling into the crook of his neck with a contented sigh.

“She really likes you. I’m still in shock,” I admitted with a chuckle, watching the unlikely pair.

He winked, the gesture both cocky and endearing. “Of course, she does. She loves both of her parents,” he said matter-of-factly.

The scent of Vincent lingered in the room, a strange mix of citrus and something feral. Millie, that fluffy traitor, was practically vibrating with contentment from his attention.

I watched the closed door, a knot tightening in my stomach. It wasn’t jealousy, not exactly. It was… observation. An analytical dissection of the power dynamics at play. He pet her, she purred. Simple equation.

I didn’t even bother with the door. I carefully started to strip, wanting a quick shower, a desperate attempt to wash away the day’s grime and the lingering scent of our lovemaking.

But I immediately stopped, the bandages a stark reminder. Water would ruin them, and I couldn’t risk infection. Not now.

It was as I stood there, half-naked and debating the merits of a shower, that I heard footsteps approaching. I froze, completely exposed, when Vincent stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door behind him. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

“Need some help?” His voice, laced with amusement, filled the silent space. A flush crept up my chest like a shameful secret, staining my skin crimson. I nodded quickly, desperate to hide the embarrassment that threatened to consume me.

He moved with a predatory grace, those long strides eating up the distance between us. He stopped behind me, and I felt the heat radiating from his body, a palpable force. Then, gently, he pulled me back against his chest. The contact was electric, shocking. His fingers brushed against my breasts, sending a jolt of pure sensation through me. They traced a path across my nipples, and I gasped, a tiny, involuntary sound that seemed to amplify in the small space.

“I will join you,” he whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. The words were simple, yet they carried a weight of promise, of something dangerous and intoxicating.

He stepped back then, releasing me, and began to undress himself.