When She Unravels (The Fallen, #1)

by Gabrielle Sands

I shoot up to my feet. “You’re a pig.” He stands up and steps into my space. “No, I’m a wolf. And you’re a sheep that wandered into the wrong pasture.”

He’s staring down at me, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. “It means you drive me fucking crazy.” “By doing what?” “By merely existing.” “I don’t understand you.” “Maybe you’ll understand this.” He presses me against the wall and crashes his lips to mine.

“I don’t need a distraction right now, but my self-control is hanging on by a fucking thread,” he says, dragging his lips over my cheek. “If I see someone else’s hands on you, I’ll break them. If you come to the party, the only person who’ll touch you will be me.” It feels like someone’s dripping hot lava into my bloodstream. I’m burning up. “I don’t even know your first name,” I mumble like an idiot, still in shock at his revelation. “Damiano,” he says. “But don’t you dare say it back to me. If I hear my name just once on your lips, I know I’ll become addicted.”

“You will never put yourself in danger again,” he murmurs into my ear. “No one hurts what’s mine, not even you.”

He reaches for my hand. “But I don’t want you to leave. Stay with me, Vale. Stay with me, and you’ll never have to fight another battle again. I’ll fight them for you. I’ll protect you. I’ll avenge you.”

“Oh my God,” I sputter. He smirks. “He’s not here. I am.”

I nudge her chin up. “I don’t want a kept woman. I want a partner. An equal by my side. That’s you. If I’m about to become a king, you will be my queen.”