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Laurel nestled against hi to ht, like the monster under the bed, the skeleton in the cupboard She shuddered and Cristiano’s arhtened around her

‘It’s okay,’ he whispered ‘You’re safe here’

Even in the grip of her nightmare she knew she shouldn’t believe hiht now she needed someone to trust Someone to hold her and tell her she was safe So she burrowed deeper into the strong wall of Cristiano’s chest, closing her eyes and her heart to the memory of his cold, flat statements; to that awful, clinical look on his face in the mirror as he’d touched her body

Cristiano stroked her back, her hair, whispering soothing words in Italian It sounded like water rippling over stones, like music She closed her eyes and tried to ering on the edges of her mind It had all happened so quickly

After his assurances that they would all go upstairs for chane, that this was a fa else in the space of a second The door to the hotel suite had closed behind her and, before Laurel had soher, his mouth on hers, his hands on her body She’d frozen, unable to process as happening; then, when she’d felt Bavasso squeeze her breast, she’d started to fight, kicking and screaonised roar, and that had only spurred her on It had been make or break Life or death Eventually she’d h the door, with his hot breath on her neck, his curses renting the air

‘Laurel Laurel’ Cristiano’s hands cradled her face and Laurel realised she eeping, silent tears streaking down her face She tilted her face up to his as he gently wiped her tears aith his thuesture so tender and inti in her yearn

No one had ever touched her like this, yet this was Cristiano, aor compassion A man who seemed to think she was little better than a whore Aher with sweet fire, war her all at once And suddenly she wanted to be burned

The distant part in her brain that had been reerous, fell silent Her lips parted Cristiano’s co on her mouth The whole room seemed to shimmer

‘Laurel…’

She liked the way he said her name She liked it far better than bella When he said her name, she felt he knew her She felt known, and that felt wonderful Her body arched, just a little, towards his It was enough

Cristiano let out a tiny sigh and then he lowered his head, his hands still cradling her face, and brushed his lips against hers This kiss was entirely different from the calculated and passionate assault in the hallway This was a bal under his, her hands co up to clutch handfuls of his T-shirt Cristiano’s breath cary and yet still so achingly sweet She wanted to be kissed like this for ever—and yet already she wanted more

Cristiano’s breathing was harsh and ragged as he shifted on the bed, pulling her closer to hied, the press of his arousal against her stoh her, short-circuiting her thoughts Gone were reservations, regrets, resistance She slid her hands under his shirt, felt the tautsigh Cristiano drew his breath in sharply as she let her hands drift across his chest, revelling in the hot, hard feel of him

‘Laurel…’ This ti She didn’t like that quite as much

‘Please,’ she whispered, her eyes fluttering closed ‘Please touch me’

She wanted to be touched She needed to feel desired and treasured and loved, just for a little while She kneasn’t real; of course she did She wasn’t that naïve, that stupid But just for a few hours, a few moments, even, she wanted this Him She wanted pleasure and closeness and touch And she didn’t want to think about the consequences