I set the gun on the bedside table and gently touched her shoulder. Another cry tore from her chest, and I withdrew my hand so fast it was like the touch of her skin burnt me.
“Princess, talk to me,” I whispered into the dark. My mind raced, trying to figure out what was happening and how to help. “Did you hear something? Are you hurt?”
“No, no, Cas, it’s fine. Go back to sleep,” she finally choked out, waving her hand in my direction like she wanted me to turn around and forget this ever happened. Yeah, that was not fucking happening.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Leona.”
The tears lessened as she took some unsteady breaths. “I have nightmares about my dad. I watch him die all over again like I’m right there again. Then Max chases me through the house and kills you, too. It happens every night.”
I let out a shaky breath. She’d been having nightmares every single night? How did I not know?
“Oh, princess, come here,” I said as I opened my arms. She looked at me for a second before she slammed into my chest and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“I’m sorry, Cas,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I ran my hand up and down her back. Slowly, some of the tension bled from her shoulders.
“I just see him—every night when I try to sleep. I see the blood. I hear screaming. I watch Max kill us all, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
I tightened my arms around her. “I wish I could take the pain away. I’m so sorry.”
She inhaled deeply, and her nose nuzzled against my neck. I drew her even closer to me, so close she had to feel the intensethump, thump, thumpof my heartbeat. I drank in deep breaths of her as she let her breathing slow to match the pace of mine.
Finally, she relaxed.
“Cas,” she murmured against my skin. Her fingers came up the back of my neck. Was I fucking crazy to think she was pressing into me?
My hand slowly trailed down her side until it came to rest on her hip. My thumb drew circles against the softness of her skin where her shirt had ridden up, willing her to pull solace from me. She pushed against me even harder, practically folding herself onto my lap.
I froze but held her steady. She was just searching for some comfort. That had to be it. She had no idea what she was doing right now. It was just emotions from her dream. That’s all.
“Leona?” I whispered, terrified that I’d break the spell if I spoke too loud. Her body felt so good, so right, pressed against mine. I kissed the top of her hair, just at the hairline of her forehead.
She pulled back slightly, yet her arms still circled my neck. Our noses practically touched, and her heavy breaths tickled against my cheeks. I wasn’t sure if she knew what she was doing, but her tongue peeked out of her lips to lightly trail against her bottom lip. The movement had me entranced. Timidly, justbarely, she shifted her hips and clenched her thighs together.
Was she… turned on?
God, I wanted to lean in, capture those lips, and show her exactly what she meant to me. I wanted to press her against the bed and slip inside her tight pussy, bringing her to climax over and over. I wanted her to know what it felt like to be loved, wholly and completely. I wanted to take away her pain and leave only the immeasurable love I felt for her in its place.
But right now, she wasn’t in her right mind. I couldn’t take advantage of her, knowing she was hurting. She didn’t wantme; she just wanted to take her mind off all the pain she’s been through.
With a sigh, I cradled the back of her neck and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek.
“Come on, princess, let’s get you back to sleep.”
She swallowed, eyes still glazed, before she finally nodded and lay down. But she didn’t let go of my hand. As she lay on her side, she pulled my hand over her stomach so I had to spoon her. And God fucking damn, did it feel like the greatest thing in the world.
There was no way in hell she couldn’t feel my dick pressing into her ass. But she said nothing. She just cuddled her back into my chest and kept her hand firmly squeezing mine. Within a few minutes, her breath evened out, and she relaxed.
Hours passed. I didn’t fall back asleep until I had memorized the complete feel of her body tucked against mine.
17
WYNN
Ispent the entire day thinking about her. Leona Vero. The mafia princess on the run for her life, who still followed a woman into a trafficking den. The one who stared down the barrel of my gun then made me promise to find her later.
She had invaded my brain and set up residence within less than twenty-four hours. It wasn’t just her beauty. It was the look in her eye when she realized where these women had come from. It was her statement that she’d never let it happen again.Thatwas what had me entirely intrigued.
