Imprisoned by Desire

by Steffie Scott

  Bonnini was no longer smiling but he didn’t look worried.

  “So.” Bonnini cocked his head to the side. “What are your plans? We appear to be equally matched in strength, but your vulnerabilities are easy to hit.”

  Behind me, I heard Tonio gasp in pain, but I couldn’t turn to see what the bastard had done to him. I remained focused on Bonnini, searching for his weakness.

  “Whatever it is, you’d better work fast, because my other men will be investigating soon. Your brothers are a little worse for wear. They won’t be hard to kill. Don’t worry about Sara. I won’t harm her. She’s too valuable.” Bonnini looked over my shoulder. “I’ll make you a deal, niece. Come with me now, and I’ll let your boys live.”

  I opened my mouth, but Sara beat me to the punch. “How do I know you’ll keep your end of the bargain?”

  “Sara,” I growled, “don’t even think—”

  “I’ll let them leave first,” Bonnini said.

  I sensed Sara moving behind me, getting closer. “No! Gods be damned, Sara—”

  “He’ll kill you, Cass.” Her voice sounded steady in my ear, but I knew Bonnini would attack if I looked away. “I don’t want to live with your blood on my hands. And he won’t hurt me. Will you, uncle?”

  She moved in front of me and, in my peripheral vision, I saw the gun she’d stuffed in the back of her shorts. I started to pray.

  Blessed Goddess, I beseech your aid. Keep her safe. Please, Goddess, keep her safe.

  Sara stood before her uncle, both hands reaching out to him, palms up. “Let them go. Now. And I’ll leave with you.”

  Goddess, don’t let her reach for the gun too soon.

  “Cass.” She didn’t look back. “Leave. Take your brothers and get out.”

  Then Bonnini, in his arrogance, made the mistake Sara must have been waiting for.

  He smirked at me, taking his attention away from Sara.

  She shot Bonnini at close range in the stomach with what was probably the bodyguard’s gun. Bonnini’s anger quickly turned to bemused pain as Sara backed straight into my arms.

  I watched the man clutch at his stomach, watched him fall to the ground as blood poured from the wound. I wanted to make sure the bastard bled out and died but the safety of my brothers and Sara came first. I released the spell I’d been working to keep Bonnini’s spells off them.

  Turning Sara in my arms so her front pressed against me, I bent and opened my mouth over the pulse beating at the side of her neck. Despite all the fear and anger she must be feeling, she responded to my touch. She moaned, and her body heated, the arus in her blood rising up to meet my own. I eagerly drew on the erotic surge of power between us.

  I let it build for a second before I worked the spell to transport my family back to my home.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Sara

  I felt a weird sense of displacement before realizing we’d left the cabin and stood in Cass’s living room.

  His arms circled my waist and they tightened for a few seconds before releasing me as he slowly slid to the ground, unconscious.

  “Oh God, Cass.”

  The first thing I noticed was the blood on his hands. I fell to the ground beside him, my hands grabbing his t-shirt and pulling it up as I looked for wounds. I only saw more blood.

  “No, no, no.” That one word kept spilling out of my mouth as fear landed on my chest like a thousand-pound weight.

  “Sara. It’s not his blood.”

  I heard Tonio behind me, but the words didn’t make sense. How could that not be Cass’s blood? It was all over him—

  I looked down and realized my t-shirt was covered with blood, as were my hands and arms.

  My stomach rolled. I tore the t-shirt over my head, uncaring that it left my chest naked, and dropped it. That was my uncle’s blood.

  “Here, hon, put this on.” Tonio had walked to the couch to set down Leo and was coming back to me and Cass. He pulled his t-shirt over his head and held it out. I quickly covered myself, trying not to get more blood on my hands and arms, but it was pretty much a lost cause.

  Tonio knelt on the other side of Cass, feeling for a pulse at his neck and his wrist. “He’s fine. He’s just drained. Getting all of us out of there took a lot of energy.”

  Cass looked so pale, too pale, but at least he wasn’t bleeding.

  “He’ll be fine in a few hours,” Tonio continued. “He just needs to sleep it off. How about you? Are you okay, Sara?”

  Lifting my gaze for a brief second to meet his, I nodded, though I wasn’t at all sure I was telling the truth. I’d shot my uncle…

  All the blood.

  My hands started to shake then my arms and shoulders. My whole body shuddered in reaction.

  I’d killed him. I had to have killed my uncle.

  My eyes landed on Cass, on his pale face. He’d just risked his life for me. Now I had to be strong for him. I wouldn’t think about or even try to work through what I’d done right now. Soon, but not now.

  “Is Leo okay?”

  Tonio nodded, still staring at me closely as if he expected me to fall apart at any moment.

  “Can you help me get Cass into bed?”

  Tonio nodded again. “Sure.”

  Between the two of us, we managed to move Cass through the house and up into his bedroom. There, we stripped off his soiled clothes. I barely heard Tonio say he was going to take Leo to a safe house to recuperate and would bring Cass’s car back later.

  “You sure you’re going to be okay?” Tonio stopped at the door with Leo in his arms.

  I nodded. “I’ll be fine. I just need a shower and some sleep.” I wasn’t worried about my uncle finding me. Judging from the amount of blood on my clothes, he had to be dead. I wanted to feel something, anything about that fact. I didn’t feel a damn thing.

  Then again, when I looked at Cass, my heart hurt, and I could barely breathe. I wanted to shake him until he opened his eyes so I could talk to him and make sure he was all right—which would be a stupid thing to do. He needed to rest.

  Instead, I dragged myself to the bathroom and took the quickest shower ever. Wrapped in a towel, I wet a washcloth and brought it back to the bedroom so I could get some of the blood off Cass.

  As I stroked the cloth over his naked body, he didn’t move. At least he was still breathing.

  If he died… If anything happened to him… My heart wouldn’t survive.

  I loved him. Amazingly. Completely. No reservations.

  But here he lay, unconscious. When I was finished, I dropped the towel and washcloth beside the bed, crawled in beside him and pulled the covers over us.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Cass

  I woke with a nasty headache and a warm, soft body pressed against my side.

  I dismissed the headache and pulled the body closer, sighing as Sara snuggled against me. I took a deep breath, smelling my shampoo and soap on her.

  Stretching, I recognized the feel of my own bed. Bright light tried to peek around the edges of the window shade. I must’ve been out for hours—probably a good thing, because if I’d woken any sooner, I still might’ve been pissed. Sara had risked her life for me. What would I have done if something had happened to her? What if I hadn’t been able to transport us back to my place?

  Unaccustomed to the fear tightening my chest, I muttered a spell to light the candle on the bedside table. The light burnished her blonde hair, tangled but otherwise stick straight, and outlined the pale gleam of her arm across my chest.

  The rest of her was covered by the sheet. I’d do something about that in a minute, but first I’d lie here and hold her, listen to her breathe, draw her scent into my lungs.

  I still couldn’t believe she’d shot her uncle. She’d saved us all.

  I had to go back to the cabin and clean up. Had to make sure Bonnini was dead. And if he wasn’t, I needed to make sure Sara was safe.

  Dread settled in my heart with icy fingers. How would Sara hand
le what she’d done? Would she blame herself? Or would she blame me?

  I’d gladly take the blame, take anything she’d throw at me—because if she ever put herself in that much danger again, I would tie her to my bed and never let her out of my sight.

  Hell yes, that sounded barbaric. I didn’t give a shit. My arms tightened around her body. I couldn’t live through anything like that again.

  “I can practically hear you thinking, Cassian Graziano. Stop.”

  Her voice husky with sleep, Sara shifted against me, rubbing her bare leg against mine. They could talk later.

  Then she propped herself up on her elbow and stared down at me, pretty green eyes shadowed. “How do you feel?”

  I stopped myself before automatically saying I was fine and took stock. My head hurt, and my joints ached from the amount of power I’d channeled to get the four of us back here. But I’d live—and if my thickening cock had any say in the matter, I’d do more than just live.

  “I’m okay. A few aches and pains. What about you?”

  “Still shaky. You scared the crap out of me.”

  My mouth dropped open in shock. “You’re kidding, right? Vaffanculo, your uncle could have killed you. You took decades off my life.”

  She shrugged as if her life didn’t mean everything to me. “He would’ve killed you, Cass. You and your brothers. I couldn’t let him do that.” Tears gathered in her eyes, the restraint she’d been holding over her emotions starting to crack. “I had to do it. I had to make him pay for killing my parents. If you had done it, you would’ve worried that I’d blame you.”

  Damn it, she was right. Still, she shouldn’t have been the one to pull the trigger.

  I sat up so I could pull her onto my lap. I needed to hold her. As her arms wrapped around my waist, her tears began to fall, drenching my chest. Her silent sobs tore at my heart more than loud weeping ever would have. I felt helpless, not sure what to say, what to do. I’ve never been good with words, so I tightened my arms and let her cry.

  After several minutes, her sobs started to lessen.

  “Sara.”

  She sniffed. “What?”

  “Look at me.”

  She shook her head, her hair brushing against my chin. “Need a tissue.”

  Her demand made me smile in relief and I looked around for a substitute, so I wouldn’t have to get up. I leaned over the side of the bed and snagged the towel lying there. She took it and wiped her face without looking at me.

  I put a finger under her chin and lifted it. She resisted me for two seconds before she looked up, almost defiantly. Her eyes were bloodshot, her skin blotchy and her nose fire-engine red.

  I’d never seen anyone more beautiful.

  “Sara. Sweetheart, talk to me.”

  She sighed. “I feel so stupid, Cass. And so betrayed. I lived with him for years and never suspected what he was capable of.”

  I slid my hand up to cup her cheek, stroking my fingers over her soft, warm skin. “Why would you, hon? You’re not anything like him. He had everyone fooled.”

  Her nose crinkled. “Not you.”

  “Only because he got arrogant. This isn’t your fault, Sara.”

  “It feels like it is.” She sighed again then her eyes closed as she let her head nestle against my shoulder. “Do you think he’s dead?”

  I certainly hoped Bonnini was dead. Otherwise there’d be more trouble down the line. “I’m not sure. I need to go back to the cabin, check things out. Tonio and I will have to do some investigating. But he will never hurt you again. I won’t let me.”

  Sara placed her hand over my chest, resting it above my heart. “Does that mean you’re going to be sticking around for a while?”

  My breath caught in my throat. Was that hope I heard in her tone?

  I considered begging her to keep me around but figured why bother. I’d tell her I was staying and let her deal with it. She’d handled me pretty well up until now. “Yeah, it does. I’m not going anywhere, Sara.”

  She tilted back her head to look at me, a small smile kicking up the corners of her mouth, her gaze blazing hot. “That’s good, because I have plans for you, Cassian Graziano.”

  I swallowed and my body reacted instinctively. Okay, now I had a full-blown erection, egged on by the circular motion of Sara’s fingers on my chest. They made tiny teasing circles, arousing and maddening.

  “Are these plans long-term?” I asked. My heart thudded at breakneck pace.

  Her fingers hesitated for a brief millisecond and her gaze burned a little brighter. “They can be.”

  “Do they involve a commitment?” I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

  She blinked. “Only if you want them to.”

  Relief spread through my veins like adrenaline, making my cock throb and my chest ache. “Will it scare the hell out of you if I tell you I don’t want you to leave, ever? And if you try to leave, I’ll follow you everywhere, everyday, until you take me back? I want to be blood-bound to you, Sara.” My eyes burned into hers, trying to express my love for her.

  Her smile was the brightest thing in the room and she lifted her hand to stroke my chin. “I’d consider it an insult if you didn’t… But what does blood-bound mean?”

  “It means we tie our souls together for eternity by mingling blood during sex.” When her eyes widened, I rushed ahead. “It’s just something to think about—”

  “And you’ll always be mine? Forever?” Her tone held so much hope.

  The simple fact that she’d consider it made my blood pressure soar. “Yes. I love you, Sara. I will love you forever, no matter what. But if we’re blood-bound, our souls will find each other in every one of our lives, no matter where we are.”

  “Then I think we’d better find a knife.” She looked at me trustingly, her expression almost solemn. It was a promise I couldn’t ignore.

  My heart sang with joy. “If you really mean it, my love, we’ll find a knife later. But first I have to have you.”

  I reversed our positions on the bed so fast she yelped before laughing when she found herself under me, legs spread, the tip of my cock already pressing against her wet sex.

  Looping her arms around my shoulders, she drew me closer then arched her back. My cock slid inside her just a few inches and I watched her eyes close as a moan slipped from her lips. I stopped moving and waited for her eyes to open again.

  “Not fair.” She looked up into my eyes as her hands smoothed down my back to rest on my ass. “You’re being bossy again.” She pressed against the taut muscles, trying to make my cock move closer to her pussy.

  “Sue me.” I thrust forward an inch. “I love you, Sara.” And another inch. “If you ever put me through that kind of horror again…” and another one, “I’ll lock you inside the bedroom and never let you out.”

  With a final push, I seated myself completely, the tightness of her sheath gripping me. Lust shot up my spine. Dropping my mouth over hers, I kissed her tenderly and she drew in another breath, probably to argue. I didn’t want to argue. I wanted to sink inside her body for as long as I could, make her come while she screamed my name, then do it all over again.

  “As long as you’re here with me, I won’t care.”

  She smiled up at me and I couldn’t wait.

  I took her hard and fast and she let me, wrapping her legs around my waist and urging me on with her hands on my ass. Her deep moans made my balls tighten in anticipation. She was as close to the edge as I was, spreading her legs even wider so that every time I thrust inside her, the base of my cock hit her clit.

  Snaking one arm around her waist, I tilted her hips higher and ground my groin against her. I wanted her to come first before I spilled into her. I needed to feel her, needed—

  Sara turned toward me, met my eyes and held my gaze. Then she whispered, “I love you, Cass.”

  That was exactly what I’d needed. I groaned as I felt her orgasm hit her. She tensed, sinking her fingernails into my skin as her sheath contracte
d around me, triggering my own release.

  I felt the magic course through us in a wave of heat, drawing out our joint climax. Sara must have felt it too, her shout filled with wonder, her eyes widening in awe. The moment was pure perfection, taking us higher and higher until sparks danced around our fused bodies.

  As I held Sara in my arms, calm washed over me. Still pulsing inside her, I lowered my head to kiss her lips.

  “I love you too, Sara.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “And you can boss me around whenever you want.”

  Wanna know which of the Graziano brothers finds their happily ever after next? Find out in SECRETS OF DESIRE!

  Glossary

  Aitás – Etruscan Underworld

  Arus – magical power of the Etruscans

  Enu – humans of magical Etruscan descent, including lucani and strega

  Etera (pl. eteri) – Etruscan for foreigner, used to describe humans with no magic

  Fata – elemental beings of magical Etruscan descent, including lauru, linchetto, salbinelli, folletti

  Folletti – Etruscan fairies, only female

  Lauru – Etruscan sprites who love to clean

  Linchetto – Etruscan night elf

  Lucani – Etruscan werewolves

  Involuti – Founding gods of the Etruscans, those from whom all other Etruscan deities were descended

  Malandante – Etruscan dark magic users

  Querciola – Etruscan succubus, only female, induces fierce sexual desire in men and feeds off that desire

  Salbinelli – Etruscan satyr

  Strega – Etruscan witches

  Versipellis (pl. versipelli) –shapeshifters including Etruscan Lucani (wolves), Norse Berkserkir (bears) and French loup garou (wolves)

  Fated Desires

  by Steffie Scott

  Reading order:

  Dreaming of Desire

  Shadows of Desire

  Imprisoned by Desire

  Secrets of Desire

  Enslaved by Desire

  Endangered by Desire