ChiaraI close my eyes and try my best to keep still as Alessio's lips reach past my navel, his breath warm and almost flammable against my skin. I know very well that he's enjoying watching me squirm and I hate that, but I can't help myself from feeling all sorts of pleasures coursing through my veins. The slight brush of his breath against the slope of my core is enough to make me brace myself for the release he just promised.If I tell him I want him.That should be easy, because I do want him. Not just now that he's driving me crazy with desire. I just do, and I know that I could just say it, but it being true seems more difficult to admit.So I just clamp my thighs together in the hopes that he will move away.But he doesn't move away. Instead he grabs my knees and pries my legs apart, baring my wet slit before him.I gasp and open my mouth in preparation for a protest, but my voice disappears when I see him grinning up at me like a devil."Alessio, I can't do this," I nearly pa

AlessioThe first thing that strikes me from this short exchange is the fact that Chiara has been wandering in the forest all on her own. For some reason, that clouded everything in my head. “Did something happen? Are you alright?”I expect her to break down in my arms but to my surprise, she just looks me dead in the eye and starts laughing. “Nothing happened and I’m okay! Relax.”She pinches my arm and tries to get me to smile, but I can’t bring myself to. Perhaps I’ve gone a little paranoid, but I really don’t like the idea of her going out on her own. I look at her giggling now and my heart constricts.I want to protect her at all costs, even though I know that the biggest danger around her is me.When she notices that I’m just staring at her, she immediately stops laughing and loops her arm around mine instead. It’s a bit of an effort since I’m more than a foot taller than her, but she does it anyway.“Hey,” she says in a small voice, “Are you still mad at me?”I shake my head. “

Chiara“No!” Juliet yells, raising her hands to block my attack.With an awful slashing sound, the tip of my sword rips open the palms of her hands. Blood gushes out, splattering on my face and immediately crashing me back down into reality. I step back in horror, looking at mess I just did, dropping my sword when all strength leaves my body.Juliet stares at me, then at her hands. Tears brim her eyes as some of the other trainees rush to help her. Nero and Alessio both wheel around on us, and Nero immediately comes to Juliet’s aid. Alessio remains in his spot with his bright golden eyes wide with shock, staring at the scene with an unreadable expression.What have I done?“Juliet,” I mutter through numb lips, finally finding my voice, as weak and as wobbly as it sounds right now. “Juliet, I’m so sorry. . . .”I brace myself for when she screams at me, but even with her blood dripping everywhere, she smiles at me. “Chiara, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. We were both carried awa

Chiara“What did you say?” Alessio asks with a small confused smile. “Date?”“Well . . . yeah,” I lie. “Tomorrow. Would you want to go on a date?”He grins even wider, his eyes shining with so much joy that I start to feel myself withering inside. Still, I keep up the awkward smile on my face to let him know that hey, everything is fine and it’s just little old me asking him on a date.But in reality, it’s me being utterly puzzled at the word that popped into my head out of nowhere.Mate. What does that even mean?“Of course I want to go,” Alessio says to me and pulls me out of my reverie. “I have to say, it is a bit strange that we haven’t gone on a date yet.”“I mean, we’ve been hunted and almost killed many times,” I say shakily. “And I got trafficked.”I let out a loud awkward laugh and he starts to stare at me with narrowed eyes as if wondering if I’m okay, but then his expression softens as he reaches out and tucks a lock of my wet hair behind my ear. “You’re beautiful.”My face

ChiaraI melt right against Alessio, rubbing my body on his and smiling as I feel his hardness poking under his slacks. I slide my hand between us and I touch it, watching in satisfaction as he closes his eyes and thrusts against me.“I need you to make me yours.” I kiss up his neck and his ear, slipping my hand under his pants and closing my fist around his throbbing length. “I need this inside me right now.”Alessio’s eyes darken with lust as soon as the words leave my mouth. I smirk at him, and something about his gaze changes. His expression goes from warm to burning hot, and I can sense the urgency and purpose emanating from him as he lifts me in his arms and captures my lips again.This time, I can only taste hunger. The kind of need that nearly translates into devastating starvation. He grabs my behind and hikes up my skirt, spinning me and pressing me against the wall while prying my legs apart and pushing his body between them.I arch my back, meeting his sudden thrust. There