In a world full of high crime, honor and duty seem to fall suspiciously high on Natalia Rivera's list of needs. When she meets Prime Accardo, all of the pieces appear to fall in place.
TW- This book contains themes of torture and kidnapping/abducti...
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The conversations have drifted, but now we knew more about each other. After we'd finished eating we decided to go for a walk to continue our conversation.
At some point our hands found each other's, and we didn't let go.
"I don't know if this is really something you want to hear, but I've dated plenty of women in my life, and none of them have compared to you."
That was most definitely something I wanted to hear.
"Well, my dates have never gone past the first, but you've made a deep impression." I shivered a little bit, he let go of my hand and put his arm around me.
"So lots of one night stands then?" He laughed.
"No?" I giggled. He froze.
He stared at me, his face full of confusion.
"Virgin till marriage? It's one of the 'important' rules." It tried to make it into a joke but my voice faltered.
"You actually follow those rules?" He looked a little amused, mostly concerned and confused.
"Yeah? Is that a problem?" I stared straight ahead. I knew the night was going to well. I just had to ruin it.
"I mean, no, but those rules are so outdated. If you want to follow them that's fine, I'm just saying, why does it matter if you don't?"
"Well, who's going to want me if I'm used?" I looked up at him. "You might not mind, but not everyone thinks that way. It's a stupid way to limit my options."
"Sorry, used? Who the fuck told you that." Now he looked angry.
"My dad?" I shrugged.
"And you believed him?"
"Of course I did, he's my father. And he knows about what men want in a woman more than I do." Maybe this would make more sense if he had sisters.
"What about your brother? You said you two were really close." I stared at the ground.
"He isn't interested in anyone right now, and I don't like to talk about stuff like that with him." I tried to keep my voice even.
Prime raised an eyebrow.
We had just walked into an alley. It was just the two of us.
"I don't follow the rules, Natalia. He's not in any danger from me."
We stopped walking.
"How-"
"I hear the whispers too, Natalia. There's not enough proof to do anything about it, but there's enough to suspect."
"You won't hurt him?" Tears threatened to spill over my eyes.
"I won't mention him. His way of love just looks different, that doesn't matter to me. It shouldn't matter to anyone else either."
"You promise?" I stared at him.
"I swear on my life. I'll even try to clear the rumors."
Then I was crying. He wrapped us arms around me and pulled me into his chest. After a few moments he pulled away slightly and grabbed my chin, tilting it up so I was looking at him.
"You'll never be used. You're a person, but to answer your earlier question. Me. I'd want you, because it doesn't matter how many people had been lucky enough to be with you before me."
I was at a loss for words. Thankfully, that didn't matter, because before I could even open my mouth to gasp, his lips were on mine.
It only lasted a moment. I felt a little dazed. Somehow my left hand found it's way into his hair and my right was holding onto the collar of his shirt.
He pressed his forehead against mine. I was panting.
"You okay?" He smirked. I was still catching my breath.
"Oh." I whispered. I pulled by head back from his and wrapped my arms around his neck so I was hugging him.
"Uh, what's happening?" He put his arms back around me.
"I just had my first kiss in an alley, with the hottest guy I've ever met."
He practically snorted.
"So you've never done anything?"
"Nothing." My cheeks started to warm.
"Even to yourself?"
"It's not allowed." My entire face was suddenly hot.
"How would they know? Lock your bedroom door."
"They have keys."
"What's the worst case scenario?"
"Can we stop talking about this?"
"Sure." He pulled away from me and grabbed my hand. "What do you want to talk about?"
I suddenly felt very brave. "Maybe this is too forward, but will you take me home?"
He was staring up at the sky as he walked.
"Isn't that what we're doing?" He didn't move his eyes from the stars.
I stopped walking. "Not my home."
He turned to look at me. Hunger in his eyes. For the first time tonight he scanned over my body. His eyes moved so quickly I almost didn't notice it.
He looked into my eyes. Mischievous smirk on his face. "You sure?"
"Yes." ... 90% of the changes I make are just vocab changes.
