Take Me Apart (Vitale Brothers Book 1)

My blood rushed, and pinpricks danced along my forearms and to my fingers wrapped around Tex’s throat.

I missed you.

His words wrapped around me like a snake does to its prey, squeezing me until I felt as if I couldn’t suck in air.

Why was he here? I knew the answer to that, and yet I refused to acknowledge it. Pain blossomed behind my eyes as a headache built. My fingers tightened around his throat out of reflex, and his eyes widened. Instantly my body responded, but I stayed still, refusing to give in to the constant pull between us.

My head tilted as my brows lifted. “What?”

Tex audibly swallowed his Adam’s apple, caressing my palm. “I missed you.”

It was too much going on for me to decipher what he truly meant. Was he lying? Did he miss me, or was there something else?

Tex attempted to get up and I slammed him back against the cabinet, daring him with my eyes to try again.

He went still. “What? So it’s okay for you to break into my place, but I can’t do the same?”

“No.”

Tex’s brows dipped. “That’s bullshit.”

He didn’t try and move or force my hand off his neck. It was a good call. I wasn’t sure what I’d be liable to do if he had.

“I make the rules.” I pressed my fingers against his flesh before loosening my hold once more. “Am I clear?”

Tex’s breathing was erratic and the closer I leaned toward him the better he smelled. I got lost for a moment in his blue eyes. I’d been right to compare them to glass because Tex was going to cut me.

“I never agreed to that,” Tex squeezed out.

“I don’t recall asking.”

We grew closer with every word that spilled between us. I doubted Tex even noticed he’d pushed himself away from the counter and was gravitating toward me. It was like we were magnets unable to fight the pull. The world had made us oil and fire, a combination that should never be mixed.

“Enzo.”

My name on his lips was like a freshly sharpened knife sliding through flesh. Why? I’d made sure not to get attached to anyone. One night with Tex, and I was hooked. Benito is going to be pissed off.

The thought of my brother was like ice-cold water in the face and I pulled back before our bodies fully touched.

“You shouldn’t have come,” I said.

“Thanks for missing me too.” Tex pouted.

Had I missed him? I knew he took up every thought in my head. Tex was a constant even in my dreams. I woke up wanting to touch him. Gin had called it; my obsession was dangerous.

I said nothing as I patted him down and took his phone and keys.

“Hey.”

“Don’t,” I ground out.

I tossed everything on the marble countertops. The keys slid into the sink, and I didn’t bother picking them up. I was too focused on Tex.

I took another step back as I tried to think of what to do. Asking him what he’d heard weighed heavy on my tongue, but the answer might result in me having to kill him. I pressed my lips together, refusing to ask the questions I needed to.

Tex fidgeted under my stare. “So that was your brother. I can kind of see the resemblance.” His gaze flickered over to the keys and phone before landing on me once more.

Don’t try it.

“We have different mothers.” I pinched the bridge of my nose as something close to irritation and confusion banged in my head.

Giancarlo had been seconds away from seeing Tex. If my brother had caught sight of him? I doubted I could have kept him from killing Tex. He would have known Tex had broken into my place, which meant we were compromised. There was only one course of action; kill the threat. Family first.

“I can just go. You said you wanted to be al—”

My hand shot out and wrapped around Tex’s throat once more and I tightened it.

“Or I can stay for a bit.”

My hand instinctively relaxed, and the tightness in my stomach eased. He’d stay. Tex wouldn’t end up causing a disaster, and my hand wouldn’t be forced. I met his big blue eyes and there was fear there but unlike before there was no arousal accompanying it.

I pulled my hand back and stepped away from him.

“Go sit down,” I ordered, pointing to the living room.

Tex moved around me, each step cautious.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Tex.”

I moved over to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of water. I poured both of us a glass and carried it into the living room just as Tex sat down. His back was ramrod straight, and his gaze kept moving toward the exit. I sighed as I sat the glasses on the coasters resting on the coffee table.

“Water.”

Text stared at it, and I sat down next to him. There was space left between us. “I told you already I prefer you to be aware.”

He nodded and reached for the glass. We sat there in silence, the tension rising with every second. My fingers tapped along the glass, and my toes wiggled in my socks. Everything felt off, and my world was upside down. Each breath felt like it was grating against my throat and I had the dangerous urge to scratch at the flesh on my neck. Maybe then the weird sensation every time I breathed would stop.

“You have a lot of books,” Tex said, popping the bubble around me.

He was probably talking at regular volume, but it sounded like he held a megaphone to my ears to speak. I flinched back and recovered quickly, straightening once more. The hum of all the appliances was getting louder, buzzing in my ears, and I held my glass tighter. The coolness did nothing to help with the heat attempting to bake me alive.

“Enzo?” Tex’s face appeared before me, and I blinked slowly, but It was all too much. My mouth stayed shut as I stared at him, mentally screaming at him to shut up and sit down.

I needed everything to be turned off.

He reached for me, and I kept still, although it was the last thing I wanted. Tex’s hand stopped just short of touching me and dropped. He looked around and picked up the bag of tools.

“Uh, want to put the shelves together?” he asked.

Why isn’t he running? Now would be the perfect time while I was trapped in my head. I reached out for the tool bag, making sure not to touch him.

“I’ll start on this one,” Tex said.

I nodded. It was the most I could do as I sat back in front of the bookcase I’d been working on earlier. Reading over the steps and following them soothed me. The noise around me quieted down and to my relief, Tex said nothing else. It was as if he was a piece of furniture in my apartment, and I didn’t have to give him a second thought.

Time ticked by, and I lost myself in my movements. The fire in my brain eased, and the room came back into focus. The bookshelf was done, and I was already halfway through filling it up with books.

I glanced over at Tex. He stared at the books in his hand.

“That’s wrong.” I pointed at the books he was haphazardly putting on the shelf.

Tex sighed. “Don’t tell me you want them alphabetical?”

“No.” I moved to him and noticed how closely he was observing me. “Each author and the series by which one I enjoyed the most.”

He slowly blinked at me. “Wait, you’ve actually read all of these books?”

I nodded, grabbed the ones he had put on the shelf already, and moved them down to the bottom.

“Even the romance books?” His brows nearly kissed his hairline.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

He nodded. “You seem more like the historical fiction kind of guy.”

“I have a few.”

Tex made a face. “You know you come off nerdy and not at all dangerous, especially when you’re talking about books.”

I passed over a stack of books organized already. Our fingers brushed against each other, and tingles traveled down my arm and to my cock. “But you know that isn’t true.”

Tex stiffened as I placed the books in his waiting arms. Our eyes met, and I was no closer to making the decision I knew I needed to make. My stomach twisted in knots, making it uncomfortable to move around.

“I… um… Enzo—”

I shook my head. “Finish.” I forced my feet to move and went to complete the other bookshelf.

We worked in silence. Now that I was more aware, I kept feeling Tex’s eyes on me. I waited for him to do or say something, but he continued putting the books on the shelf. Another second passed before I was done with the silence between us.

I gave into the draw and moved while Tex was reading the back of a book. I twisted Tex around and shoved him down. “Fuck.” He lost balance, and I grabbed his hand to steady him.

I said the first thing that came to mind. Tex had acted out. It was my job to remind him he should have stayed in his place. “Do I need to remind you who makes the rules?”

Tex’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and I couldn’t contain the smirk on my face. I flicked open the button on my pants and lowered the zipper. Tex’s eyes followed every single movement. Instead of fighting me, he leaned closer.

Even now, when he should be running for the hills, he was at my mercy, reacting to everything I did to him. My cock twitched as need swirled in my lower abdomen.

Tex’s impressive chest was rising rapidly with his breaths. His tongue poked out and swiped over his tempting mouth. “Y-yes.”

I freed my cock. I didn’t have to say anything as Tex opened his mouth and swallowed me whole. A moan caught at the back of my throat as pleasure plowed through me like a bulldozer.

My fingers in his hair, I cupped the back of his head and pushed my cock down deeper as ecstasy coursed through me. My toes curled and a throaty moan resonated around us. It took me far too long to realize it had come from me. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. The way his lips stretched around my length or the way his gorgeous blue eyes watered.

I rocked forward, chasing the pleasure as it built higher and higher. Tex’s moans around my cock sent vibrations right to my balls, making them tingle.

I pressed my thumb on the corner of his mouth and worked a finger next to my cock making Tex’s mouth stretch wider. He stared up at me with an intoxicated look in his eyes.

My climax took me by surprise. I groaned, “Mine.” Fell from my lips in a whisper.

Tex moaned loudly, his eyes fluttering closed as I filled his mouth with cum. I didn’t have to instruct him to swallow. Tex’s throat worked as he swallowed every drop before opening his eyes.

His hot tongue ran over my softening cock, sending little shocks dancing along my flesh as he cleaned me off. “You’re tempting me to do it again.”

Tex’s lips quirked up in a devilish smirk. I wanted nothing more than to slam him down and take him apart. I thought he was my type, but Tex was more than that. He didn’t just meet the requirements physically but in every aspect.

I wasn’t the only dangerous one here.

He put my cock away, and I let him stand up. I didn’t want to kill him. This time when I cupped Tex’s face, I didn’t allow him to pull away. I hardly ever kissed, but it had been the only thing taking up residence in my mind after our last encounter.

Our lips pressed together and a slow warmth erupted from our mouths and blanketed my entire body. I pulled him closer and swiped my tongue over the seam of his lips. I wanted a taste. No, I needed it like I needed air.

Tex opened up for me, and I dove in without a drop of hesitation. I tasted myself on his tongue, but past that, it was all Tex. I drew him closer as our tongues tangled together. He attempted to dominate mine, but I bit his tongue. Tex moaned as he gave in.

Why can’t this be us? My eyes shut for only a brief second. I didn’t want to stop kissing him. I didn’t want to let him go just yet. A part of me screamed that Tex was mine. If I locked him away right now, he wouldn’t be able to hurt the family and then I wouldn’t be forced to end his life. I could play with him whenever I pleased, and I knew Tex would like it. He responded to me so beautifully.

My lungs burned with the need for air, and my head started to spin. I reluctantly pulled back. Tex sucked in a breath, his pupils blown and a hint of blush on his cheeks.

I let my emotions run rampant for another fleeting second before I shoved them all down in a box. I reached up and grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and yanked him back down on the ground. His knees clashed with the floor once more, and he grunted.

The outline of his dick was tempting, and I lifted my foot and pushed it down over his clothed cock. Tex’s eyes widened as he licked his kiss-swollen lips.

“Tex…” I leaned forward and nipped his ear while applying more pressure on his cock. A whimper blessed my ears, and I basked in the moment. “Come upstairs or get out.” My nails scraped over his scalp as I tightened my hold. “You leave…” I couldn’t bring myself to say it, but we both knew what would eventually have to happen. “If you do, don’t do anything stupid.” Please.

I released him and took a step away from him. I stared at Tex for another second before I headed toward the stairs.

Please don’t make me kill you.