Page 105 of Bleed with Me

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Dorian

Ispent the last few days and half of the party on pins and needles. Pretending not to know anything was torture. Only Aryna kept me from barging into Nina’s apartment and demanding a fucking explanation.

But it didn’t align with my plan. Nina deserved a little punishment, a pinch of fear when she discovered I knew. And seeing her now, in the quiet hall, her beautiful eyes blown wide with panic, I was proud of my flawless delivery.

Still, I felt no satisfaction because I wasn’t angry at her. The emotions swirling in my chest were difficult to explain, but one thing was crystal clear.

She was mine.

Obsessed and dangerous, with a high probability of planning revenge on my family, but still mine.

Zyon is going to have a heart attack, the demon sang in my head, but I ignored him.

The voice plagued me for the past few days, impersonating my deepest fears so greatly that I started to think about taking meds. I hated the fucking drugs that numbed my senses and abilities, but the anxiety was eating me alive. Until now. Every terrible feeling that haunted me vanished without a trace at the sight of her.

“Leaving so soon?” I broke the silence that stretched torturously long, unable to look away from her gorgeous face.

Fuck, she was beautiful.

While I had noticed her before, I never focused on the little things. Like her adorable nose, turned slightly upward. Or a thin scar above her left eyebrow that made her feel real under all the danger and elegance. Still, my biggest weakness was those crazy long nails. Just a memory of her scratching me woke up my desires.

“Running away, to be honest,” she replied boldly, but her eyes were betraying her. Fear reflected in her brown irises; her pupils dilated.

“Why?” I asked innocently, like my little piano stunt wasn’t the reason she almost broke her legs a few minutes ago.

“You know,” was all she said. No pleading. No reasoning. Nothing but two simple words that explain everything.

We stared at each other for another moment. I wanted to say so much. An hour ago, I had so many questions, but they didn’t seem to matter anymore. All I cared about was that I finally knew who stole my sleep and almost my sanity. And the most terrifying part was how quickly I accepted her.

Fuck! I accepted her long ago. Her identity be damned.

You’re in looove, the demon mocked, and I couldn’t argue.

Was I?

The door slammed behind me, making us both jump. Nina’s gaze drifted to the incoming guests, the Italian language reaching my ears. I turned toward the two women, one of whom certainly belonged to the Santangelo family. She cast Nina a strange look as they passed us.

“Let’s go.” I nodded toward the back entrance, refusing to be disturbed by the party.

“Where?” Nina asked in a firm voice.

“My house.”

“Secluded area with no cameras?” She raised a brow, and I involuntarily chuckled. “A great place for murder.”

“If I wanted you dead, ma vilaine,” I erased the distance between us, her breath hitching slightly, “I would’ve ended this days ago.”

As if my hand had a mind of its own, it moved up, and my fingertips gently touched her cheek. Slowly traveling down, I cupped her chin, tilting her head up. Her delicious lips parted, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss them. But Zyon had no idea about this, and if he accidentally saw us… Well, it wouldn’t be pretty.

“Let’s go,” I repeated, fighting every instinct to claim her mouth right away. I let go of her chin, my fingers gently brushing her arm, down to her elbow, until they encircled her wrist.

“What are you planning to do with me?” she whispered, not moving an inch.

“I won’t hurt you,” I promised, but her suspicious face told me she didn't believe me. That stung. A pang of hurt stabbed my chest, and the demon in my head snickered.

Who is the big bad villain now? He laughed, and I almost rolled my eyes at the annoying voice. I shoved him into the deepest corner of my brain, hoping he’d never climb up.