Rocco Parked the car, stepped out and stormed into the house without sparing Pippa a glance.
She followed,her heart pounding with both confusion and rising anger. He had ignored her the entire drive, and it was driving her insane.
"Get in your room,we leave tomorrow"
"And I should obey that?"She snapped. " I'm sure whatever you guys discussed has to do about me..... or your dead wife"
"Shut up" he growled
"Why?am I now annoying?" She moved closer to him,fist clenched.
"Are you suddenly realizing that you're supposed to kill me? what was I again?...,oh right,a dead witch "
Rocco's eyes turned dark red,glowing a deep dangerous red.
"I'm not scared" Pippa said "Do you think you can just scare me into running to my room? You're wrong!!"
She shoved him,her small hand striking his chest. "You owe me answers!"
"Pippa...his voice was low
"Why can't you just tell me?!!" She yelled, tears brimming in her eyes
Rocco turned from her abruptly, running a hand through his hair as a low groan escaped him.
But it wasn't a normal groan. It was feral,painful. Like a wounded beast.
Pippa's anger faltered "Are.....are you okay?"She asked softly
"Leave" he murmured
But she didn't. She stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his face. His skin was hot to the touch.
"Are you in pain? do you need help?"
Their gaze met and held.
There was something about his look that haven't been there before,an emotion Pippa never noticed.
She didn't know what came over her, but she leaned in and kissed him. Softll, full of trembling emotion.
Then she pulled back just as quickly. "I'm sorry. I lost control. I didn't mean to...."
Before she could finish, his mouth was on hers ....hot, hungry, and urgent. There was no hesitation in the way he pulled her close, crushing her against him as if he'd been starved of her.
His hand slipped under her hoodie, sliding across her bare skin, and she gasped against his lips. Her fingers tangled in his hair, gripping like her life depended on it. He deepened the kiss, lips bruising, hands demanding.
He lifted her effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, bodies locked together.
Rocco carried her into the bedroom and tossed her gently on the bed. He stood over her, shirt off, chest rising and falling rapidly....,eyes glowing with something inhuman.
Lust. Conflict. Pain.
And something more.
He crawled over her, claiming her mouth again as his hands toreher dress off. Skin met skin, and she arched into him, her breath catching as he kissed down her neck, then lower...,leaving a trail of fire and possessive marks.
She moaned when he found the sweet spot below her collarbone, and he bit down gently, enough to make her shiver.
"Rocco…" she breathed, eyes half-lidded.
He didn't speak. He watched her, lips parted, gaze filled with a hunger that wasn't just physical,it was elemental. Like claiming her wasn't just about desire, but survival.
Their bodies moved together in rhythm, frantic and tender all at once.
When he entered her, it was slow. A stretch. A gasp.
Her nails dug into his back as he rocked into her, over and over, like he was trying to forget everything else. They moved like fire and ice clashing—fierce, desperate, addictive.
He kissed her like a sinner begging for redemption.
She kissed him like a girl falling through the stars.
And just before they both tipped over the edge, his eyes flared crimson.
"Pippa…"he whispered like a prayer, then bit over her heart,not just a love bite, but something more.
She gasped in pain, then pleasure, then something else entirely.
A burn.
Not from teeth.
From magic.
It felt like a brand, searing into her soul. She cried out, clutching him as waves crashed through her.
And in that moment, he marked her.
Not just with his body,but with something ancient. Something irreversible.
When it ended, he didn't speak. He just held her tightly against his chest, breathing hard.
Pippa felt it even as she drifted to sleep.his hand wrapped protectively around her waist.
And the symbol on her chest pulsed once.
Alive.
*****
Pippa blinked awake slowly.
The other side of the bed was cold and empty.
She sat up, confusion giving way to pain as she checked herself in the mirror, she noticed the hickeys across her chest and thighs,marks of possession. But there was one mark that wasn't from teeth or lips.
A symbol glowed faintly on her hip,
Intricate,Circular,etched into her skin like fire had kissed her. It pulsed once softly then dimmed.
What the hell is that?
She put on a hoodie and stormed out of the room.
"Rocco?" she called, but got no answer.
The front door opened. He entered.
"Where were you? I've been searching all over—"
"Prepare. We leave now."
Pippa scoffed. "Seriously? That's all you're going to say after last night?"
"Do you think it's okay to leave a woman alone in bed after you guys just made love?"
"Made love? It was just sex"
The word hit Pippa like a slap
She subconsciously took a step back.
"You're are right Rocco,I probably threw myself on you like an idiot "
She blinked back tears. "Just so you know… you were my first. So if you're still clinging to your dead wife, don't worry,I'll bring her back for you."
"I didn't ask for that "He said coldly
"I don't need your permission" She snapped
"I'm a witch right ?then I will do it,I can bring her back"
"You'll get yourself killed "
"Oh, now you care?"
His eyes narrowed"Don't be reckless "
"I know why you hate witches,why you won't let go, It's because it was your fault "
His expression shattered
Before he could answer, Pippa turned and grabbed the spellbook from the shelf. She clutched it to her chest.
"You aren't leaving dressed like that" Rocco said, voice low
"What's wrong with the dress?"Pippa asked bitterly
"There's no underwear"
Pippa laughed dryly "Easy for you to say,after a night if mere sex"
"I'll drive you back to your hostel and I don't want you looking like....just dress up nicely"
"Say it"She sneered "Like a bitch?a slut?or a one night stand whore. Guess what? I want people to think that, I want to have fun"
Pippa walked outside while he followed
*****
The drive was quiet. Pippa could feel the storm in him, but she didn't say a word.
Her fingers gripped the spellbook in her lap. Something tugged at her chest—a pull she couldn't explain. A heaviness that wasn't hers alone.
Pippa didn't say anything, but her heart screamed with a single question
Why am I feeling his emotions?
The thought echoed in her mind. Her heart beat faster as she looked at him from the corner of her eye.
Could he feel me too?
*****
The car came to a slow stop in front of her hostel. Pippa didn't wait for him to say anything. She opened the door and stepped out, holding onto her dignity with the little strength she had left.
She didn't look back.
*****
She knocked on the door. Dora opened it,eyes widening in surprise.
"Pippa? come on in,what happened?"
Pippa stepped inside silently, her body moving on autopilot. The door closed behind her, and she sank to the floor, her back against the wall.
Dora knelt in front of her. "Where are you coming from? And why do you look like the world just fell apart?"
Pippa's voice trembled as the tears started falling again. "I'm… I'm an idiot."
"No, you're not. Don't say that." Dora gently cupped her face.
"I am. There's no bigger idiot than me."
"Does this have anything to do with Rocco?"
"I don't want to hear his name," Pippa whispered, her voice cracking. But then she met Dora's eyes. "How did you know?"
" Everyone knows you left with him "
Pippa noded slowly
"I love him, I'm sure of it....., But I was angry..., angry that he wasn't over his ex wife. I lost control and I ended up promising to bring her back " Pippa sniffled
"Ex wife?"Dora blinked "Wait,he was married?"
"Do you care about her too?" Pippa asked bitterly
"I didn't even know he had a wife or ex wife to be precise"
Pippa let out a broken laugh. "Well, she is. And I thought if I could bring her back, maybe he'd stop looking at me like I'm just a mistake."
"Look Pippa,Pippa… love isn't about holding onto someone who doesn't want to be held. If he still loves someone else, the kindest thing you can do for both of you .....,is let him go"
"I....,I just want to be enough for him "Pippa said
"You are," Dora whispered. "But sometimes, being enough doesn't mean you're right for someone. That doesn't make you less. It just means they can't see what they're losing."
Pippa broke again,her sobs muffled in Dora's arms.
Now this is getting interesting,innit?
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