29. Mika

29

MIKA

I could stay wrapped in Alfie’s arms forever, sheltered from the ugly world outside them. After the most terrifying experience of my life, this is the only place I feel safe, and he doesn’t seem at all inclined to give me space. I cling to him for a long time, trying to pull myself back together as I sob uncontrollably, tremors quaking through me in waves.

“You’re safe, Mika,” he says gently. “It’s over.” Soft lips brush across my temple, pressing warmth into the crown of my head as his fingers press into my skin like he might never let go.

I nod as another violent shudder racks my body, and his arms tighten around me in response. The heat of his skin and the calming scent of his spiced eucalyptus cologne soothes my tattered nerves. I suck in deep lungfuls of air, and my racing heart starts to calm. Slowly, my tears subside.

As my breathing steadies, Alfie leans back just enough to look me in the eyes. “Let’s get you inside.” His hand is as soft as his voice as he cups my cheek with his palm, wiping the tears from my face with soft strokes of his thumb.

“Javier and Hector—” My heart skips a beat as I realize they’re still in the alley. “I need to know if they’re alright. ”

Alfie seems reluctant to release me as I step toward the barn, but after a moment’s hesitation, he drops his arms. He’s still not willing to give me space, though, as he follows closely, keeping a stabilizing hand on the small of my back. I’m grateful for the steady touch, and—unlike before—I take comfort from his hovering presence as I rush forward when I spot the two grooms being helped to their feet. Both look thoroughly shaken, their tan complexions more pale than usual. They look at me with wide eyes, deep concern written across their features.

“Are you okay?” I ask, stopping in front of them.

“We’re fine,” Javi says, Hector nodding beside him.

Both look a little roughed up, like they fought back and earned a split lip and swollen cheek for it before they were tied up. But both are alive and relatively unharmed, and the intensity of my relief makes me sway dangerously on my feet.

Alfie’s arm snakes around my waist, one hand encircling my arm as he holds me up. He tries again to steer me toward the house, but the horses still need to be fed, and I want to make sure none of them are hurt before I leave. So while Alfie’s men come to remove the bodies of their fallen comrades, I help toss hay to each of the horses—Alfie shadowing my every step and helping despite the dust that collects on the sleeves of his fine Italian suit. Only after I’ve inspected each horse and can see them settling down with their breakfast do I finally take a breath.

“When they’re done eating, put them all out to pasture and take the rest of the day off,” Alfie instructs the two grooms when we’re done. “Tomorrow, we can discuss what to do next.”

I nod. He’s right. Even if I would like to know the horses are under careful supervision, Javier and Hector have done more than anyone could ask for, and the horses will survive until the grooms have had some time to recover.

“Get some rest. I’ll keep an eye on them,” I assure them, knowing both hands care about the animals as much as I do.

“No, you won’t. I’ll have the men patrol the perimeter. You are coming back to the house. Now,” Alfie states, putting his foot down .

My lips part as I turn to argue, and he grasps my chin, tilting my face up until I see the silent warning in his eyes. My stomach flutters nervously, my skin tingling beneath his fingers as my pulse quickens.

“I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you back if you say a single word,” he threatens, his voice low and dangerously soft.

Heart flip-flopping at the dark promise in his tone, my jaw snaps shut, and I swallow convulsively as my mouth goes dry. The nervous quiver in my stomach matches the sudden heat building between my thighs, and my cheeks flush as my body responds to his possessive dominance, even when we’re in public.

Javier chuckles, breaking the sudden, stifling tension, and Alfie releases my gaze as we both turn to look at the barn manager.

His cheeks color, and he clears his throat as he scratches the back of his neck, suddenly uncomfortable. “Sorry. I’ve just never seen Se?orita Mika concede before.”

Alfie smirks as a startled laugh bursts from my lips, and my chest swells with affection for the barn manager. My appreciation for him and Hector after everything we’ve gone through is beyond words. I don’t know what I would do without them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I promise, then my stomach knots as my statement makes me wonder if I will see him again or if he and Hector will choose to walk away after what’s happened. I couldn’t blame them if they did, but tears sting the back of my eyes as doubt rushes through my system.

“Bright and early,” Javier confirms with a kind smile.

I release a heavy breath, breaking into a grateful grin as Hector confirms he’s staying, too.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, Alfie steers me toward the house, and even though the day has only just begun, I let him, too emotionally taxed and physically exhausted to resist. He ushers me through the house and straight to the master bedroom, where he closes the door firmly behind us. We’re alone, and the silence that envelops us is heavy with tension. I brace myself for the scolding I deserve, sure I’m about to receive a punishment for sneaking out of the house when Alfie told me to stay inside .

My shoulders tense as he turns me to face him, his eyes burning with a heat that melts me into a puddle. Then, without a word, he pulls me against his warm, solid chest, leaning in to kiss me with a passion that electrifies my core. Heat radiates through my body, chasing away the frigid chill of my shock. His hands explore me gently, tracing the curve of my neck, massaging and kneading my arms, my shoulders, my back—as if he needs to reassure himself that I’m actually here. His tongue is soft but adamant as it strokes between my lips, tangling with mine.

Weak with relief as the last of my adrenaline wears off, I sag against Alfie, grateful for his strong arms and broad, muscular chest. “You came for me,” I breathe, pulling back as I consider just how close I came to dying. “How did you know?”

“Marco told me you weren’t in your room, and none of my men guarding the barn called to inform me you were there. That meant something was wrong, and I won’t take chances—not with you.” His voice is soft as he trails kisses down my neck, never pausing. His hands slide beneath my shirt, his fingers splaying as they roam up the curve of my waist and along my spine.

Warmth builds in my core, awakening my senses as he excites me with the lightest touch. I’m not used to such a tender caress—especially from Alfie—and it makes my stomach quiver.

“You’re not mad that I snuck out?” I breathe.

He guides my shirt up over my breasts, and I lift my arms so he can remove it completely. He tosses it aside before capturing my face between his palms. “I’m furious,” he says, trapping me with his possessive gaze. But the emotion I find there doesn’t match his words, and his voice is so soft it makes my heart squeeze. “You will never do anything that reckless again, do you understand?”

I nod. I might not like the rules and restrictions, but after today, I can see why they’re necessary, and I’m not interested in repeating what just happened.

“Good.” Alfie’s lips curve into a soft smirk. “Because if you get yourself killed, I’ll find a way to bring you back just so I can punish you to within an inch of your life,” he warns, but his tone is playful, and before I can respond, he’s kissing me again.

Laughter bubbles up in my chest—giddy and almost hysterical as all the stress rushes from my body at once. The fragility of life has never felt more real than it does right now, and that makes my connection with Alfie so much more raw and intense. No one can guarantee which moment will be our last, and while the violence still terrifies me, I’m not sure I want to run anymore—even if Alfie would let me. What I feel when I’m with him is more meaningful than the grand sum of the empty nights I spent alone before he came bursting into my life.

Being close to Alfie is dangerous, but living without him suddenly feels so much scarier. He’s proven time and again that he can protect me. He’s removed me from harm, even after I walked straight into it without thinking. Despite the risks of staying with him, I wonder if I might not be safest by his side.

Scooping me up, Alfie wraps my legs around his waist, never breaking our sealed lips as he carries me to the bed. He lays me down gently, trailing a searing path of kisses down my throat and between my breasts on his way to the waist of my jeans. My back arches at the soft brush of his lips, the way his hands explore me slowly, inch by inch. Excitement pools in my belly, making my pulse race, and my anticipation builds as he undoes my pants, dragging them down my legs. I know what’s coming, and I want it desperately, but I’m intoxicated by the way he’s touching me, like he intends to worship my body.

When I’m lying naked before him, Alfie leans back, his eyes taking me in as he unbuttons his shirt. Sitting up, I grasp his belt to help him. He strips every scrap of clothing, and when he settles on top of me once more, the friction of our bare skin lights my body on fire. His arms snake around me, holding me close as he claims my lips with possessive hunger.

I wrap my arms around his neck, savoring the way our bodies align so perfectly. My clit throbs as his thick cock presses rigidly against me, silently signaling how much he wants me. It doesn’t matter how many times Alfie we’ve been together. When I’m trapped beneath his powerful body, my needs are insatiable. When he holds me, it feels like he’s breathing life into my soul.

He reaches between us to grasp his hard length, and I gasp as his swollen tip sinks between my slick folds. My thighs quiver as he aligns with my hot, throbbing entrance, and my head falls back, my lips parting as he presses inside of me.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he groans, nipping at my throat as his arousal grows.

Our lips meet in an explosion of electric chemistry, igniting a burning excitement in my belly. My tight nipples throb with the sensation of his soft chest hair brushing across them as he rolls his hips, penetrating deep into my depths.

It’s not the rough, dominant way he’s fucked me before, but it feels more possessive somehow, more intimate as he takes his time, awakening every last nerve in my body as he sends tingling pleasure out to the tips of my fingers and toes. I whimper, my clit fluttering as he grinds against me, stretching me with his thick girth at the same time.

Lifting my head off the bed, I trap his full lower lips between my teeth, and he groans. The deep, carnal sound sends a shiver racing up my spine, and goosebumps rise across my flesh. Alfie’s pace quickens, his thrusts growing more adamant, and his hands never stop exploring me, kneading my back, roaming over the curve of my ass. One hand grips my thigh, the other arm wrapping around my waist, and he rolls until I’m on top of him, knees bent, straddling his lap.

Sitting up, he maintains control as he holds me close, rocking upward with his hips in a tantalizing rhythm. I move with him, riding his cock as I arch my back and roll my hips. The heat of our feverish skin brushing together only intensifies the intimacy of the moment, and this time, the sex feels different. This time, it isn’t just intense and passionate. It feels dangerously close to making love.

“You’re so fucking perfect, Mika,” Alfie rasps against my lips.

The sensual fire in his voice makes my walls clench, my clit fluttering deliciously, and I’m teetering on the edge of release .

“I’m going to come,” I gasp as a flood of excitement rushes like lava through my core.

Alfie hums, the sound low and inviting as it vibrates deep in his chest. He reaches between us, pinching my clit between his thumb and finger, and rolls lightly, releasing a jolt of pain-laced pleasure. My hips jerk forward as I cry out, clamping down around his hard length as I launch over the edge into oblivion.

Clinging to his broad shoulders for dear life, I pant, riding the waves of ecstasy that ripple out through my body as I milk his cock. I can barely breathe, let alone move, as my relief sends bone-deep satisfaction rushing through my body, leaving me weak.

Rolling back on top of me, Alfie continues to cock inside my depths, grinding against my clit as he wrings every last drop of pleasure from my body. Knees shaking, I arch into his chest, desperate to maintain the closeness, and as the last rippling shocks of my orgasm subside, I’m amazed by the spark of fresh arousal that ignites deep inside me.

“Tell me you’re mine,” he commands softly.

“I’m yours, only yours,” I breathe, and this time, when I say it, I know it’s true. I’m done fighting this attraction, done running from all my fears. I want Alfie. I need Alfie. I’m not sure I could live without him anymore.

He releases a low growl of approval and doesn’t let up for even a second as he thrusts deep inside me again and again, growing in intensity as his desire climbs. Our sweat-slicked skin slides together more freely now, and I run my hands up the back of his neck, my nails brushing lightly across his scalp as I comb my fingers into his dark, silky hair. His lips curve into a smile against mine, and his tongue delves deeper into my mouth as I hold him close. I am his, and he is mine, and I don’t want to let go.

“Come with me, vitale ,” he murmurs, rocking inside me adamantly.

He’s not wearing a condom, and the thought unleashes butterflies in my stomach as I consider the meaning of his words. It’s not a request, and as I realize he intends to come inside me, a dizzying burst of excitement explodes through my body, a nervous thrill racing up my spine. I’m so turned on by the thought of it that I’m on the brink of coming in an instant. I gasp, shocked by my visceral response and overwhelmed by the deep, instinctual need that consumes me. I’m not sure I’m ready for the repercussions, but I don’t have the willpower to tell him no.

My pussy clenches, gripping him like a vise, and he groans, slamming deep inside me. I cry out as my walls ripple along his throbbing length, urging him deeper inside me as he finds his release. Hot cum floods into me in bursts as he fills me up. Nerves flutter to life deep in my core when I think about what this means. Alfie’s the first man who’s ever come inside me, and it feels primal, a way of claiming me so completely no man will ever dare touch me again.

My orgasm makes the revelation that much more earth-shattering, and the relief that unravels the tension from every muscle in my body fills me with a contentment I’ve never known. Breaths ragged, I try to make sense of the overwhelming emotion. Tightening my arms around Alfie’s neck, I bury my face against his hot, salty skin and inhale deeply. Everything about him lights a consuming fire in me. He brings my world into such sharp focus, heightens my senses, and intensifies each experience until it feels like I’m seeing the world through new eyes. I’m so tired of holding back, of putting up walls to keep people out so they won’t hurt me when they leave. I’ve lived in such a safe, sheltered haven with my horses and my routine. I love my life and the animals that fill my time. But for the first time in a long time, I feel excited about the unknown future I could have with Alfie.

I’m still terrified, but right now, wrapped in his arms, our bodies so intertwined we feel like one person, I feel safe.