“I get it. I have my own trust issues.”
“Yeah, but my trust issues have gotten people hurt. Killed.” His voice is tight as he stares at the espresso machine, toying with the parts. He leans forward on the counter in my direction, rubbing a hand down the front of his face. “The people who put the hit on my father…they were family. Blood. The closest confidantes. But none of us saw it. None of us knew what was happening behind our backs. But my brother Cristian and I found them in Monaco and took care of them. Made sure that we avenged his murder. Those dumb fucks didn’t think we’d figure it out. They thought they were gonna steal everything right out from under us, as if they hadn’t taken enough already. But the betrayal…that was the hardest pill to swallow. And I missed it.”
“You can’t go on blaming yourself for that, Diego,” I say in a soft voice, my hand covering his. “It sounds like you were working against some really deceitful people, and the others in your family missed the signs, too.”
“Yeah,” he says, switching on the espresso machine and holding up a cup to receive the scalding hot liquid. “But I could have stopped the hit from happening. I let myself get sidetracked, and I missed the meeting where my dad was gunned down.”
“Sidetracked by what? By work?”
He looks at me, a pained expression in his eyes. “By a woman. She wanted to advance in my organization. Or so she said. And I believed her. But it turns out she was working with the people who wanted to eliminate my father.” He puts down the cup and rakes a hand through his hair. “I could have stopped it. I could have saved him. Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what might have happened if I’d made it to that meeting. It was supposed to be a quick meeting to contract with a local farmer who agreed to become a supplier for our family’s specialty foods company. But the truckloads of money my father promised the farmer wasn’t enough and he sold out my family with one phone call. The woman was just meant to be bait for me, enough of a distraction where they could get to my father with no opposition. Gianna had been with him. She could have been killed, too,” he says, his voice cracking slightly.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. I bite down on my lower lip and hesitate before walking around the kitchen counter and putting my arms around him. I try to ignore how delicious he smells, how his muscles ripple as he pulls me against his broad chest, and how my heart gallops like a wild stallion when his fingertips dance up and down my back.
I think I could stand here forever and be perfectly happy, wrapped in Diego’s powerful embrace. I wonder how those fingertips would feel on so many other parts of my body, how I can have these insane feelings about a man so quickly.
Is it because of my situation?
Or is it more?
He pulls away slightly and our foreheads touch. A part of me is afraid to open my eyes. I don’t want to acknowledge the reality that people are trying to kill me, that they may have already killed my father, and that I can’t stay here forever, much as I’d love to.
Romance should be the last thing on my mind right now. I shouldn’t be fantasizing about the man who is trying to protect me. I should be strategizing about my future…and yes, dammit! There will be a future for me!
The fantasies bubble back up into my conscious.
Is it really so bad that I want Diego in it?
But does he even want to be in it?
Or is this all part of Papa’s plan to keep me safe? Is Diego just playing his part?
The heat in his gaze tells me he’s not, that he has a very different one in mind.
A shiver runs through me.
God, I hope I’m not making things up in my head.
I want to be right about this. About him.
“I think you could use a jolt right about now.”
I recoil, my eyes popping open wide. “What?”
The corners of his lips curl up slightly. “The espresso. Your caffeine. You will be cockblocked no more.”
“Oh, um, yeah,” I say, picking up the cup. Heat floods my cheeks. I really am a novice at this stuff, much as I want to convince myself otherwise. I mean, really? He’s just unleashed a mess of emotions and stresses that have obviously been plaguing him for a long time. And here I am, wondering how it would feel to have his hard, naked body plastered against mine while the threat of death looms over me like a dark, ominous cloud.
I am sick.
And twisted.
I’d sure like to be twisted with him, though.
Argh!
I’m blaming this all on the fact that my mental capabilities are challenged right now due to a caffeine shortage.
Yes, that’s where all this stems from. Caffeine withdrawals.
I grab the cup and take a gulp after blowing on it a few times. The sooner I get this into my system, the faster I’ll be able to get my mind working.
I’ll be sharp once again and not so clouded by lust.
Lust is dangerous.
Lust can get a person killed.
It happens, I’m sure.
But it won’t happen to me. Not today, now that the brain juice is finally flowing.
“How is that?” he asks, nodding at my almost-empty cup.
“Terrible,” I say, holding out my cup. “I’m sending it back!”
He grins and grabs his own cup. “Woman is tough to please. I hope that doesn’t apply to everything in your life.”
My mouth drops open as his deeper meaning sinks into my now-racing mind. “I, um, I can’t really say it applies to everything…”
He lifts an eyebrow but says nothing.
“I told you, I haven’t really had…um, you know, the whole relationship thing…trust and all that, my father…makes it hard to…” I shrug and just stop talking since I sound like a complete idiot, and I’m certain those jumbled words made absolutely zero sense.
The bottom line is that I don’t know if I’m tough to please in all aspects of my life since there’s one key part that has yet to be explored.
I’d hoped it would have been thoroughly explored last night.
I back away from the counter, hoping that putting some space between us will clear the mess of conflicted thoughts inside of my head. And maybe it’ll even help me formulate a coherent response to his question.
But he moves closer, and the potential for logical thinking flies out the window.
My heart flutters like a crazed, caged butterfly that is desperate to spread its wings and soar. I clear my throat and flip my hair over my shoulder, but it doesn’t deter him from closing the space between us. His spicy scent wafts under my nose, and just like that, the lust is back like a thick cobweb.
And I’m caught right smack in the middle of it with no escape and no real desire for one.
“What are you afraid of?” he asks in a soft voice.
A dry chuckle tumbles from my lips. “Everything?” I rasp.
“I can’t imagine you being scared of anything. You’re fierce, Serena. A fighter. I can see it. I can feel it.” He reaches out a hand and sweeps it through my hair, instantly transforming my body into Jell-O. My limbs wiggle and wobble in response to his touch…and that’s just from having his fingertips tangle in my hair.
Oh, Lord…
I look up at him, my eyes drifting closed as his lips graze mine, gently at first. So warm, so soft, so much more incredible than yesterday. How is that even possible? It’s perfection, and in that second, he completely ruins me for the second time, satisfying something deep inside of me that I never knew was lacking.
I let out a tiny moan as he deepens the kiss, his tongue dipping between my lips. It coils with mine — hot, hungry, and intense. Thirsty with a desire only my mouth can seemingly quench.
His fingers navigate up to the back of my head, tangle in my hair, gently tugging it so that my head falls back farther. He nips at my bottom lip, whispering against my mouth. “I couldn’t wait to do that again.”
“I hope it was worth it.”
His eyes are hooded, heavy with lust
, desire swimming in the deep, dark depths. “You’re worth it,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.
I smile as his lips drift away from mine, on a very determined path down the slope of my neck. They make a pit stop behind my ear, which sends a delicious chill straight to my core. Another mewl slips out, and I silently berate myself. Jesus, it’s a kiss. How pathetic is it that I’m so turned on by something as simple as a kiss? Maybe because that’s really the only thing I’ve ever experienced.
But even as the thought passes through my mind, I know it’s not just a kiss.
He snakes an arm around my waist so I don’t slip out of his embrace as his mouth continues to taunt me, stroking my skin, electrifying every nerve ending, and rendering my body powerless against the sensations sizzling my insides.
Holy shit, I’ve been missing out on a lot…
“Diego.” I breathe his name, almost trying to convince myself that we’re really standing here, that this whole thing isn’t some crazy dream, that his arms are really wound tight around me, that he wants me as badly as I want him.
A chill whispers over my sensitized skin as his lips reach mine once again. “Serena,” he murmurs, his fingertips dancing down the side of my face.
It is real.
More real than anything I’ve ever felt.
And so much more amazing than anything I’ve ever imagined.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, a half-grin lifting his so-so-bitable lips. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“I’m glad,” I rasp, my heart thumping so hard, I almost don’t hear my own words. “But why did you stop?”
“Because I don’t trust myself, and I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything.” He grins. “I got what you said before. Message received. And even though I want you, all of you, I’m not gonna force it. I’ve waited this long.” He shrugs. “A little longer won’t kill me.”
“It might kill me, though,” I say, pulling his head down to mine and crushing my lips against his. My tongue collides with his, swirling heat curling around it, eliciting a moan that makes my heart leap in my chest.
Thank you, God!
“I want this, Diego.” I nibble at his lower lip, stroking the back of his head, threading my fingers through his dark hair. “I want you.”
He presses his fingertips into my back, pushing me into him. I gasp against his mouth, his cock thickening against my leg. My knees almost give out as it lengthens and hardens.
Sweet Jesus, it’s…gulp…huge.
Excitement?
Panic?
I don’t know.
A lot of both?
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
He rubs himself against me, and thank God for these flimsy leggings because I can feel everything.
I pull away for a split second and yank off my shirt and sports bra. Jesus, I’m a total whore and I never even knew it!
He smiles, lifting me into his arms. “You sure aren’t acting like you’ve never done this before.”
“I know. I guess you bring it out of me.” I grin and then let out a yelp as his cock presses into me again. He circles my hips over his, turning me around so I’m sitting on the countertop. His hands run up and down my sides, sending tingles over my goose bump-pebbled skin in their wake. They work their way back up, grasping my breasts and kneading them as his mouth and teeth work the erect pink buds that are so hard they could quite possibly cut glass. They take turns nipping and suckling and swirling to the point where my brain short-circuits, and for a second, I can’t remember my name. I throw my head back, digging my fingernails into the fabric of his shirt, gasping like a fish who’s just leapt out of the water. My throat is so tight, only short, sharp breaths can get through. “Oh my God,” I whimper.
“Babe, trust me, you’re gonna scream a hell of a lot louder than that as soon as I get you out of the rest of these clothes.” Diego slips a hand into the back of my leggings, grasping my ass and giving it a little squeeze. “And it won’t be God’s name on your lips, either.”
“So much talking,” I murmur. “Not enough action.”
“A challenge.” His lips lift into a mischievous smirk. “I love it. And I hope you’re ready.”
He slides me off of the counter and his lips capture mine once again, his tongue thrusting forward into my mouth. My eyes are squeezed shut tight as I drink him in, tugging at his bottom lip with my teeth. We’re moving slowly and I need him to pick up the pace because if he doesn’t peel these leggings off of me, I might just spontaneously combust here in his arms.
I never did have much use for patience.
I’m all about instant gratification. I sense a hell of a lot of that in my future, and I can’t—
Crash!
“Ahh!”
Diego yells against my lips as he jumps to the side, slamming me into a nearby wall.
My eyes fly open to see his face pinched with pain. “What’s wrong?”
“I jammed my foot into one of Ava’s jumpy things. Argh! I just bought it for her. I hate that piece of crap! She doesn’t even like it.”
I let out a breathless giggle. Talk about watering down a moment. But I’ve gotta hand it to him. He never loosened his grip on me. I mean, yeah, I might have a concussion from impact, but at least he didn’t drop me.
“You’re not broken, are you?” I whisper, stroking the back of his neck. “I mean, if you are, I can try to fix you…”
“Even if I was broken, it wouldn’t stop me. Nothing could make me stop, do you get that?” His forehead grazes mine, his eyes blazing with need.
I nod, my voice caught in my throat. I couldn’t choke out a word if I wanted to.
And right now there’s only one thing I really want to do.
Diego limps down a hallway and kicks open a door with his good foot. Bright sunlight streams into the tall, clear windows of the solarium. Thick green foliage lines the perimeter, and in the center sits a spa pool surrounded by a decorative stone pathway. Lush cream-colored sofas are situated around the expansive space, big enough to be beds.
I swear in that second, my heart sings a little tune.
“This place is gorgeous.” I look around as he lowers me onto one of the sofas, his fingers looping into the waistband of my leggings and tugging them and my panties to my ankles. I smirk at him. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“I’ve had my share of near-disasters today. I’m not taking any chances that another one will derail me again.” He grins down at me, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it to the tile floor.
I lean up onto my elbows and fumble with his belt. My fingers work fast and furious to unbuckle it and rip it from the waist of his jeans. I toss it to a nearby sofa and then get to work on the button on his jeans. I try to appear like I have some game, although I have absolutely none.
Luckily, Diego is so focused on me that he doesn’t notice when I can’t get the damn button to slide through the hole. He covers my hands with his and frees himself. He rises to his feet only to slide the jeans and boxer briefs off of his muscular legs.
His cock springs to life.
And my mouth suddenly feels like a truckload of sand has just been shoveled into it.
Oh.My.God.
I’ve watched porn. I’ve tried to prepare myself for this moment.
I never wanted to go into this situation eyes wide shut. I needed to watch things, to figure out how stuff worked.
How it looked.
But never in my wildest dreams, or in the craziest porn videos, did I ever imagine that I’d one day be staring at this.
I mean, it gives new meaning to spicy Italian sausage.
A very erotic meaning, but oh the delicious possibilities that are in store for me…
I’m such a lucky girl.
Diego drags his fingers over the inside of my thighs, making me quiver and shudder under his touch. He dips his head down between my legs, his thick hair falling over his face as his warm breath hits my skin. As his lips edge closer to
my pussy, I feel my breathing become more and more labored. The anticipation is going to give me a heart attack!
He must know it, too, because he takes his sweet time navigating a path over my inner thighs, tasting every inch of me as he heads toward his very carnal destination. And when he arrives, when his lips and tongue claim the one place where no man has ever been before, my world goes black and then lights up like a Grucci fireworks show.
Electricity flows through me, exploding from my core, when his tongue plunges deep inside of me, then retreats, flicking my clit with an intensity that makes me lance the fabric cushions on either side of me. I clench tight, gripping the sides of his head as his tongue thrusts forward into my pussy and then draws back, each time making me more and more dizzy with need. I push my hips up, against his mouth, squealing as my movements get more frenzied. He grips my ass, bringing me closer to his lips to give himself leverage. His arms are looped through my legs, and I’m practically mid-air and loving it. He can completely levitate me for all I care, just as long as his mouth doesn’t stop its delicious assault on my body.
And only when I feel as if my entire body is as limp as an overcooked spaghetti noodle, do I let out a deep breath and fling an arm over my sweaty face.
Diego crawls on top of me, his hair hanging over his eyes and tickling my cheeks. “I didn’t hear you call my name.”
“I think I blacked out for a minute there.” I giggle. “And you completely zapped my brain. I might’ve even forgotten my own name.”
“That’s good…” Diego murmurs. “But not good enough. I need more. You need more.”
“Yes,” I murmur, still trying to catch my breath. “Please don’t make me wait.” I trail my fingertips down the side of his stubble-peppered face.
He nods, sliding an arm around me and lifting me slightly off the sofa. His biceps ripple as he grips me, his swollen lips enveloping mine, curling around my tongue as his thick cock grazes my slit. My body tenses as the head presses into me. I focus on his mouth, on the devious way he sucks my lower lips between his own, the crackle of carnal energy flowing between us, the heat coiling in my gut as he slowly fills me, inch by inch.
What had been so impressive only moments earlier is now tearing through my innocence, on an erotic mission to give me the type of pleasure that I’d recently thought was only an urban legend. He presses into me, slow and controlled, his mouth never leaving mine, never giving me a chance to focus on the fierce burning sensation coursing through me.
Wanted: A Dark Italian Mafia Romance (Men Of Mayhem Book 1) Page 14
