by J. L. Beck
Sweat forms against my palms as I take in the room. Antonio has all the items I use for torture, but I won’t be using any of them today. I’ve got my gun slid into the back of my slacks for a reason and one reason only.
“Everything is ready boss.” Antonio eyes me with worry in his eyes.
I don’t tell him he should be worried, or that he’s next to have his death certificate signed. “Did you think you could steal from me? That I wouldn’t know.” I pause waiting to hear his response, and instead I’m greeted with complete silence. By the time I lift my eyes to Antonio’s face again he’s white as a ghost.
“Tell me…” I snap, releasing Riley’s hand, far too afraid that I may hurt her with my grip if I don’t.
Antonio shakes his head, taking a step back in the opposite direction from me, his body reacting to the darkness and rage begging to be set free.
“I… I wasn’t stealing boss. Just… I have to pay them back. I don’t have a choice. They’ve got—”
“I don’t care what they fucking have.” I hiss, cutting him off. Sorrow and guilt reflects back at me through his eyes.
“What are you going to do to me? Take a hand, a finger?”
His shaking fear set my body on fire, feeding the demon inside, the man that begs for blood and mayhem. The man that Riley doesn’t think exists.
I shook my head, a tight smirk pulling at my lips, “Nope. When someone as close to me as you’re betrays me they don’t get the chance to live, because that gives them a chance to squeak or steal again, and as you know…” I pulled the gun from the back of my slacks. “I don’t offer second chances.”
“I didn’t do anything boss. I swear. I didn’t steal anything.” Antonio pointed at me. “Riley stole the jewel.”
Behind me, Riley gasped. “I’m not my father. I’m loyal. Nico. Please believe me.” Riley pleads as if she has a real reason to fear me.
“She’s a slut. A user just like her father. She doesn’t want a criminal. She just wants what you have.”
“That’s not true. I love you, Nico”
I long suspected that Antonio was in with my enemies, stealing, and doing deals with them behind my back. I just never expected him to try and take something right out from under my nose, turn the love of my life against me, and in front of my woman nonetheless.
“Attempting to steal is the same as following through with the plan. The thoughts are the same, the intention still the same. Had you found what you’re looking for you would’ve taken it.” I growled, a shudder running through me as I feel Riley’s tiny hand against my shoulder. I turn around my gaze catching on hers and holding for a second too long.
Antonio slams into my back and I lurch forward.
Then he has her, has Riley in his grips with a gun to her beautiful golden head, her angelic head. “I’m walking out of here. I’ll let you know where you can pick her up when I’m safe.”
I raised my gun, pausing to take in the moment and the promise I made to her. She’s afraid of what I’ll do, but she also understands, she understands me. She knows what must be done in order for both of us to remain safe.
“Please Nico… Please…” Antonio barters with me, but the man I knew, the man I thought I saw in him is gone. He’s nothing but a shell of the friend I once had, his only intention of paying off his own debts, and taking what I have.
“You know begging does you no good, you know using my woman as leverage will only seal your fate.” I take aim, the gun pointing it right at his forehead and my finger slides against the trigger. For a moment I wonder if killing Antonio will change the way Riley sees me.
It’s in the passage of time, where I second guess myself, Antonio runs, dragging her along. He took one step, then two, and before I told him to stop I pulled the trigger.
The bullet shot from the gun, slamming into his back, piercing straight through to his heart, just as his betrayal has done to me.
Riley’s gasp met my ears right as Antonio hit the floor, his body going limp a few feet from where she’s standing, bracing her precious frame against the block wall.
Adrenaline courses through my veins like lava ready to erupt out of a volcano. I needed Riley. I needed her soft body, her tight pussy, and her caressing words that tempt me to believe I’m good enough to deserve her. I needed her fucking safe in my arms no matter what the cost.
I needed the goodness only she can offer me.
The gun fell from my hand and tears pricked at my eyes. I’d never showed emotion when killing someone, not even those I’d known for years but Antonio was like a brother to me, and his death stung.
It stung as badly as his betrayal.
“I need you.” I gasped into her hair, my fingers threading into the sunshine colored locks. She’s my everything, my all.
“I need you too.” She cried out. “I could have died.”
I took her up in my arms, our lips crashing into each other’s as I guided us out of the dungeon and up another set of stairs. I knew we wouldn’t make it to the bedroom, not with the way she’s pulling at my shirt, and the way my body is shaking with need.
“I won’t be gentle Riley. I can’t be. I’ve got too much rage, too much anger flowing through my veins. I need you hard, and fast, impossibly fucking hard.” I nipped at her earlobe and relished in the mew of need that ripped from her throat. She’s so hot and ready for me. I could feel the pleasure rolling off of her already.
“I don’t want you gentle Nico. I want you as you are. My protector, my king.”
Her confession staked me, making me feel like I’m a real man, the one man that she truly deserved.
Within seconds I was stripping her bare, my fingers gripping her panties, and ripping them down her sleek legs. I pushed her back against the counter, forcing her to lie on her back. A cold shiver darted through her at the contact of her warm skin against the marble. But I didn’t worry. Soon she’d be sweating so much she’d beg me for a cool down.
I tore off my slacks and shirt all at once, buttons, and fabric flying every direction as a frenzy for more contact zipped through me, taking over the rational side of me.
Riley smiled up at me as I took my length into my hand, stroking the beast over and over again as I prepared myself to claim the woman I love, and to make for a minute all that’s wrong in the world right.
“Take me.” She ordered, her voice cracking as she spread her legs, her heels wrapping around my backside, and pulling me into her center.
“You want me just as badly as I want you, don’t you?” I slipped a finger between her folds taking note of how wet she was for me. Maybe death and mayhem turned her on. Either way, I didn’t care. Whatever made my woman want me to fuck her relentlessly didn’t concern me.
All that mattered was her. Pleasing her, calming her after the threat of death.
“I’m soaked Nico. Drowning in need. Please take me, fill me with your cock. I want to come with you.”
Riley’s husky voice was all I needed to hear to follow through. Without thought, reason, or even care, I slipped deep inside her tight cunt, the warmth of her body causing a tremble of pleasure to trickle down my spine.
Riley moaned as I grunted, my cock hitting the very back of her channel. “It’s like fucking heaven every time I’m inside you. It’s like I’m invincible Riley. Invincible, and because of you.”
My panting shook me. I dug my fingers into her hips hard enough to leave bruises, and still I continued to thrust inside her, owning and possessing her body in a way only I knew how. Something inside me possessed my soul, and pushed me forward.
“Nico… Oh God, Nico…” Riley cried out.
I laid claim to her body, her cunt tightening around me, but I wasn’t ready to let her come yet. “Do you want to come sweet girl?” I hissed, bending over Riley, and cupping her by the back of the head, bringing both our heads together. Our foreheads rested against each other’s, and our breaths mingled together.
Riley nodded her head yes, “Yes, Nico.
Please let me come, please…” Her plead ate away at my resolve, and I pulled her up off the counter, and into my arms, sliding her up and down my length with ease as she thrashed back and forth in my arms, her release right on the edge.
“Say you love me…” I growled, nipping at her ear lobe, before peppering her chest with kisses.
“I love you. I fucking love you. You own me Nico. You own me. Heart. Mind. Body. Soul. I’m yours.”
I smirked like an asshole, as I let her fall against my cock once more, the pleasure hitting her hard as she went limp in my arms, her pussy clenching my cock so hard it almost hurt.
I released her, holding her steady as she swayed on her legs unsteadily, her cheeks pink and glowing with every aftershock of pleasure.
“What are you doing, you didn’t come yet?” Her eyebrows puckered in confusion.
“I want to come in your mouth little one. It’s been a dream of mine forever, and now I’m finally going to make that dream come true.”
Riley’s eyes lit up, as I brought the tip of my cock to her mouth.
Eagerly she took my length into her mouth, the head scraping against the back of her throat as she deep throated me with no help.
Elation filled my chest as I watched the woman I loved suck off her own juices from my cock. “You look hot as fuck with my cock in your mouth sweetness.” I thrust my hips forward.
Riley made a gaging sound but righted herself, her tongue slipping across the head and flicking against the slit of my penis.
Desire soared and I couldn’t stop myself if I tried from doing what I did next. Weaving my fingers through her hair, I held her in place, fucking her mouth like a ravaged man. My cock slammed into the back of her throat, and she let out a soft moan, the moan vibrating through my cock and up my body.
A slow burn filled my balls and I knew I was close, my entire body tingling as I moved in and out of her tiny mouth, drool, and semen slipping out the side of her mouth as I owned her, proving to her that I could and would take control.
“Fuck, I’m going to come little one. I’m going to come straight down your throat, and you’re going to swallow every drop…” I ordered, knowing I would spank her ass until it was bright red if she didn’t.
When she nodded her head yes, and our eyes met I came, my body trembling and my toes curling into my shoes. I was floating, transforming into a fucking angel above the love of my life, and for a second I wondered if this was what it felt like to die.
And just like I had ordered her, Riley swallowed every last drop of my release. When I opened my eyes again a second later, she was still on her knees before me, her tongue teasing the slit of my cock again.
“I love you Nico.” She mumbled around my length causing my heart to beat harder in my chest. She had no idea how much I cherished those words. There was nothing like the woman you loved, loving the good and bad inside you. Loving the soft man, and the dark calloused man you could be.
“I love you little one, and I have since the very first day I saw you.” I rasped, pulling her from the floor, and locking my lips on hers, the taste of my own cum mixing in that kiss.
“You don’t scare me Nico. You make me feel safe, you make me feel as if no one can touch me.”
I rubbed a hand down her head. “And it’ll always be that way, forever, so long as I’m standing. I promised you I’d protect you and I always will, even from myself.” I kissed her again, this time sealing the words with a promise.
Riley would always be mine, and I would always protect her from the evil that lurked in this world.
51
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Riley
It had been six months since Nico took me, saving me from my father who was an abusive gambling addict. And though I didn’t care for my father, I missed my mother dearly. After weeks of asking, Nico set something up, making it possible for me to see my mom.
Which was perfect since I had a surprise of my own to share with both of them.
“If anything happens to you I will hate myself for the rest of my life.”
Nico’s voice filters into my ears and makes me smile. There is nothing as charming as a man who loves you with his whole heart, mind, body and soul. “Nothing will happen.” I assure him.
He grumbles.
“We’re going to see my mom. We’re not walking into a shootout. Calm down handsome.” I soothe him, watching as my mom takes a seat at the bench next to the fountain just like the paper instructed. She looks happy, and healthy and that makes me feel even better.
“Still you’re everything to me.”
His voice is edged with fear and the fact that he’s so vulnerable with me shows me even more that he cares. It also shows me that once he finds out I’m pregnant he will be ten times more protective.
“I know, now let’s go see my mom before she gets up and walks away.” I laugh, gripping onto the door handle. I open the door with ease, and hear the sigh just as I slip out of the blacked out SUV.
I wait on the passenger side for Nico, who takes my hand in his before guiding me in the direction of my mother. She’s eyeing the pond, and all the ducks that have made it their home.
As we get closer, she lifts her gaze to us, and I swear I see unshed tears in her eyes.
“Riley… Oh sweetheart.” She croaks, making my heartache
I release Nico’s hand and run over to her, wrapping my arms around her and taking in her floral scent. I sigh into her touch, realizing just how much I’ve truly missed her. “Mom. I’ve missed you so much.” I cry, tears slipping from my eyes as I pull away. Stupid emotions getting the best of me.
“I’ve missed you, too. I’m so glad to know Nico has taken excellent care of you.”
Nico’s hot gaze lands on me and as I shift in my mother’s arms, I beckon him forward.
He looks like a lost puppy, in need of some love, so I snake my arm around his waist. “Nico, this is my mom. Mom this is Nico.” I reintroduce them even though they’ve met previously.
“It’s nice to meet you under different terms than before.” Nico speaks first, his jaw dropping smirk tugging at his thin lips.
“That it is. Thank you for letting me see her. It means everything to me.”
I push down the emotions that are threatening to escape me, and instead direct Nico to sit on the other side of me while I scoot in between my mother and him.
He gives me a I-could-care-less look but does it anyway.
“I have something I want to share with both of you.” I mumble, nervous, and excited, and well overall afraid.
Nico and my mother both look up at me, their faces showing two different emotions. Nico’s is fear, and shock, while my mother’s is excitement, and eagerness.
“I’m pregnant.” I blurt, watching as my mother’s smile grows and Nico’s face pales. I knew it would be this way, so I’m not at all surprised by their reactions.
“Oh, I’m so excited for you Riley.” Mom squeezes me in a tight hug.
“Pregnant?” Nico tries the word aloud.
I pull out of my mother’s tight embrace. “Yes. We’re having a baby. I wanted to tell you together as my mother and you are the two most important people to me.” A smidge of fear fills my belly as I eye him, and the pain stricken look that seems to form on his features fades.
He blinks, and then swallows, the silence is deafening as I wait for him to speak again. “I’m… I’m happy Riley. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted. A beauty to call my queen. Now a family.”
His honesty only makes me weaker for him. Not only will he protect me, but I know he will protect the baby, too.
“You’ll make a beautiful mother.”
He slips off the bench and takes a knee in front of me and at my side my mother covers her gasp. Looking down at him the tattoo of my name peeks out of his collar reminding me I’m his. Still I ask, “What are you doing?”
“Remember that jewel Antonio spoke of?”
I nod, t
ears welling as he pulls a velvet box out from his jacket pocket.
“It was waiting for the right woman, the right hand.”
He opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring the size of Mississippi set in a platinum band and encircled by what looked like a golden halo. “
“Will you marry me, my Queen?”
Nico was my criminal, my punisher, my lover, and watcher, and best friend. He’d saved me more than once and I knew he’d value our family, our new little one growing deep inside me.
I slipped my arms around his neck and leaned over to kiss his lips hard, crawling up his body as happiness smothered us and made us forget our past enough to trade it in with a blooming future, a few spankings, a hard fuck every night, and so much more.
The End
About the Authors
J.L. Beck and C. Hallman are an international bestselling author duo who write contemporary and dark romance.
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