by Mara McQueen
"This reeks of Clan." Patrice grimaced. Too cold-blooded and senseless for anyone else, even those civilians that liked to pretend they knew everything and ran the world.
"Yes." Enzo locked eyes with her. "Question is…"
"Which one," Patrice whispered. Which Clan was insane enough to want to target The Syndicate and Brotherhood? And why? If they fell, the world would devolve into chaos. "Whoever it is, they have a lot of money."
She stared back at her beakers in disgust. "The toxin has a plant extract, but I can't even identify its genus, let alone its species. I think it's a really well-crafted hybrid. Untraceable. So far."
"That takes resources very few in the Underworld have."
And patience, which was even rarer. Clan people tended to strike first, ask questions never.
"Can't be the Serpents," she said.
Enzo nodded. "They lost that waste of an heir of theirs at the wedding."
"Nobody else is as strong as the Brotherhood and Syndicate," Patrice said after a few tense moments of silence.
There it was. The inescapable truth. It lingered between them, making the air stuffy and tense.
"I trust my Clan," they both said at the same time.
"Then who the hell are we up against?" Patrice threw her arms in the air. All the frustration from the past week was bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
"We'll find out and destroy them." A corner of Enzo's mouth ticked up. Patrice's gaze instantly honed in on his lips. "We make a pretty good team."
Yeah, they weirdly did. Patrice could barely believe it. Less than a month ago, the very idea of Lorenzo Caputo made her gag.
Now all she wanted to do was kiss the devil out of him. But should she?
She'd already done it once, swept up in the adrenaline and Paris and him. It had felt like innocent fun back then.
But now, any move felt...important. Like a barrier they could only cross once and then never go back.
Should she risk it?
Patrice sighed in frustration. She was tired and tense and way too turned on at the moment. All Enzo had to do was breathe in her general direction and Patrice instantly wanted to climb on top of him.
"You need a break," Enzo said.
"I need a miracle." She yanked off her lab coat and threw it onto the table. She was done for the day.
She didn't miss the way his eyes followed her as she walked past him. Good. Let him yearn after her, too.
She stopped by the door, giving him what she hoped was a sexy, alluring smile. "See you at dinner?"
His eyes roamed all over her. "I'm already starving."
Chapter Fourteen
ENZO
The whole house smelled like her, and Enzo loved it.
He woke up with Patrice's intoxicating scent all around him, except for his bed, the one place he wanted every inch of her to linger.
There was fire between them. Tension. That unmistakable crack in the air.
It was driving Enzo insane.
He still remembered that fiery kiss in Paris. They'd both been high off adrenaline, but he knew it would be just as fantastic if they did it again. From the way Patrice's eyes wandered to his lips when she thought he wasn't looking, she knew it, too.
So when he headed out into the backyard late one evening, intent on swimming the frustration away, but saw the inground pool was already taken by Patrice, he thanked the universe.
She floated near the edge of the pool, silky hair braided around her head like a halo, drink in hand, bathing suit barely covering her shoulders.
Enzo sauntered up behind her, grin growing as he watched Patrice negotiate with the cat. Tried to negotiate, at least.
"You can't chirp and flick your tail at every bird you see." She crossed her hands on top of the coppery tiles and rested her chin on them. The lights hidden in the honeysuckle canopy above made her wet skin shine.
Enzo's mouth watered.
"I'm serious, stop it," Patrice went on. Oscar was watching a corner of the canopy very intently. "You let those birds sleep. Am I making myself clear?"
Oscar turned to her with wide eyes, the perfect picture of innocence, and let out a pitiful meow, as if asking for permission to cause trouble.
Patrice pointed her finger at him. "I said no. We don't hunt."
Oscar flicked his tail at her and headed inside the house with grumbled meows, like a scolded teenager that had been grounded to their room.
"To be fair, we hunt," Enzo said.
Patrice whirled around. As soon as she caught sight of him, her pupils dilated. Her eyes roamed all over Enzo, lingering on his abs. She licked her lips.
Perfect opportunity.
Enzo dove into the pool. The balmy water did nothing to cool him down. Three strokes later, he emerged to the surface right next to her.
"Setting a bad example for your Mr. Oscar, aren't you?" he asked, loving the way her cheeks flushed.
And he definitely loved that red bikini on her. She looked good in red. She looked good in anything.
"We hunt shitty people, not innocent birds and insects," she said and downed her lemonade, as if stalling. She set it down on the edge of the pool, avoiding Enzo's eyes.
That tension rose between them again. Enzo could almost taste it.
He pushed the glass farther away from the edge. "We have a rule about glasses near the pool, ever since Zio Rossi got hammered last Christmas and broke a wine bottle. We cleaned the shards for two days and one of them still ended up in Toni's right foot. She screamed bloody murder. Hates the sight of blood, that one."
"Any other weird rules I should know about?" Patrice asked, eyes glued on the stars shining through the canopy.
She was stalling. Avoiding. Ignoring. Enzo would let her, at least for a little while.
Who would've thought the famed Viper got all jittery when she was turned on? No venomous replies, no steely gaze.
Enzo wanted her to relax around him. They were so great together when they had their clothes on, he knew they'd be amazing with them off.
But she had to see it, too.
"Ella is no longer allowed to fish while she's here." He leaned against the edge of the pool, resting his hands on top of it. Patrice took one look at the way his biceps bunched and gulped. "Almost took out Nat's eye out once. I love Ella, but she has shit aim."
"I hear the she-devil's quite fearsome. Axton's already smitten with her, though he'd never, ever admit it."
Enzo understood. He didn't want to admit he was smitten with Patrice, did he? He woke up thinking about her, he sought her out all the time, and his fantasies were getting physically painful.
"Ava has a thing for your Raiden, too. Why, I have no idea, but it's her life."
After what Ava had been through, she was entitled to every decision she wanted, good and bad.
"Raiden's obsessed with her, so that's going to work out fine," Patrice said, still avoiding Enzo's eyes. But she didn't move away from him. If anything, she was slowly, slowly leaning toward him. He wasn't sure she was even aware she was doing it.
Like her body had a mind of its own, but that formidable brain of hers hadn't gotten the news. Or was avoiding it.
Enough was enough. They could keep dancing around each other, but it would only prolong their misery.
"You can look at me. Promise I won't bite," Enzo said, voice low. "Or maybe I will, if you're into that."
Patrice's cheeks went even redder. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Yes."
She worked her jaw, opening and closing her mouth too many times. Enzo would give his entire fortune for a glimpse inside her mind right now.
"Fine." She raised her hands in the air, drops of water flicking everywhere. She finally turned to Enzo, with a determined look on her face. "You want me."
He'd never wanted anyone more. "Yes."
"And I want you. There, I said it," she went on, all prim and proper. "I want you so much it's scary."
Enzo frowned. He'd never met a
woman who wanted him, but didn't want to want him. What was this madness? "Why?"
"Because you're you and I'm me."
"Yes, that definitely clears it up." He trailed a finger on her shoulder, up her neck, into her pulse point. Patrice shivered.
"You're Syndicate. I'm Brotherhood," she whispered, eyelids fluttering.
"We're engaged."
"Because our Clans got into trouble. Not because we met, fell in love, and decided to spend our lives together." She exhaled noisily. "We wouldn't be in a pool together otherwise."
Ah. Doubts. Quick to fester, hard to dissipate. "I think we would have."
Patrice scoffed.
"We're attracted to each other. We get along great. I don't remember our marriage contract stating that. What's the real issue?"
"Aren't you worried that we get too close—"
"I'm actually hoping to do just that."
"—and we endanger our Clans? I'm already keeping a huge secret from my Brothers and Sisters." She gestured toward him.
"One that doesn't impact them. At all." He floated closer to her.
"But what if the next does and I'll waver between you and my Clan?" She locked eyes with him. "What then?"
"Then we can figure something out." He circled his arms around her. "Together."
She took a great, big, gulp of air. Their chests touched. Neither moved away.
"I've never dated an Underworld guy before."
"Good." He grinned. "Pack of wicked men that bring nothing but trouble."
"You're more trouble than all of them put together." She trailed her palm over his tattoo, lingering. "I thought Syndicate members didn't do tattoos."
"I do." Good thing, too, because Patrice seemed kind of mesmerized by it. "Not a fan of tradition."
Patrice froze as she stared deep into his eyes. He could get lost in her gaze. Forever.
"You're right," she whispered, as if to herself. "You're Underworld, but you have your own rules and values. You don't play their ego games, because you'd win. Every time."
"And you're Underworld, but you have your own morals and ethics. You're efficient, not vicious. We're both a bit weird."
A beautiful smile bloomed on her face. "Maybe this can work out."
"Maybe…" He pulled her into him, lips so close, he could almost taste her. "We need to give us a chance."
"Yes," Patrice whispered, sounding dazed.
Before the word had even passed her lips, Enzo captured her mouth in a fiery kiss.
They were done waiting.
Chapter Fifteen
PATRICE
"Why do we always end up in a pool together?" Patrice gasped as Enzo found that spot on her neck, the one that made her toes curl in the most delicious way, and sucked. Hard.
This man had kissed her twice and he already knew how to drive her wilder than her ex had learned in five months of dating.
He turned her around, trapping her against the pool with his hot body. "Because I like getting you wet."
Fuck if that didn't send shivers down her spine. Enzo only had to blink and she wanted to jump his bones.
But in the pool? Out in the open?
"Charles?" She tangled her fingers through his hair, coiling her legs around him.
"I was hoping you'd scream out a different name." Enzo laughed against her skin when she gently pinched his shoulder. "He's gone to the village, needs to order something. We have three hours all to ourselves."
Good. Because Patrice didn't think she'd have the patience to wait for even two minutes while they ran into the first bed they saw.
But Enzo suddenly pulled away. "Condom."
"I'm on the pill." Patrice tightened her legs around him. "And I had a check-up as soon as I found out about this whole marriage thing."
"Want to know a secret?" He leaned down, as if sharing some grand conspiracy with her. "I did, too."
Damn it. Now they were thinking the same before they'd even met?
She gulped. "So we're doing this."
"I don't know what you mean by this," he said, serious all of a sudden. "Swimming? We've already done that."
Enzo gripped her thighs, nestling between them. Patrice arched her back as he ground into her, igniting every cell in her body.
"Kissing?" He placed a chaste peck on her lips, retreating when she opened her mouth for more. "Done that, too, and we're real good on that front."
"You're being smug, so I won't tell you just how good kissing you actually is." It was heavenly.
"You wound me." His wicked fingers raced up her back, pulling on her bikini straps. "Seeing each other naked? We haven't done that."
He slowly untangled the straps. Patrice felt her bathing suit top come undone, slowly floating to the surface. Enzo kept his intense gaze locked on Patrice's.
"But once we do?" He went on, voice now a low growl that enthralled her. "We won't be able to stop. We'll start slow…"
He grabbed her ass and pushed her up slowly, until her breasts showed above the surface.
Not breaking eye contact, he lowered his head, capturing her right nipple with his lips. He rolled his tongue around it until Patrice couldn't hold her moans in any longer.
"That's it. Let yourself enjoy this," Enzo whispered huskily. "But I don't think you'll like slow for too long."
His left hand traveled lower, past her belly button, down to her bikini bottoms. He gripped the fabric and yanked it off in one move.
Patrice was totally and utterly exposed.
Enzo's fingers gently dive lower still, while his gaze rooted her to the spot.
Patrice gripped the back of his neck, holding on for dear life. He'd barely touched her and her hips were already swaying, wanting more of him.
His gentle caresses turned urgent, as his lips and teeth did wonderful, wonderful things to her neck.
His fingers delved lower, finding her center. Patrice rolled her hips shamelessly.
"Tired of slow?" Enzo whispered, biting down on her earlobe.
Patrice would never get tired of anything he did, but, God, she wanted him inside her. She nodded.
"Too bad," he said, and Patrice could hear the smugness in his voice. "We have three hours alone and I intend to spend each minute driving you wild. Then I'll fuck you hard and fast."
"You—" Patrice threw her head back, biting words forgotten, as Enzo's fingers dove inside her. "Don't stop," she moaned.
"So my little Viper can play nice." Enzo stole another maddening kiss from her. "Let's make this a night you'll never, ever forget."
God, yes.
That was the last coherent thought Patrice remembered before she and Enzo became a blur of kisses, licks, caresses, biting, and "right there, don't stop".
He didn't. He pumped his fingers inside her at a maddening pace, until Patrice soared higher and higher. Finally, when she felt like she couldn't take it anymore, Enzo bit down on her shoulder, and her insides coiled.
Her moan echoed around them, melting in with Enzo's low groans as her entire body trembled.
When she finally came back down to earth, Enzo kissed her again, slow and gentle this time, while her heart stopped galloping.
Damn this man. He'd already made her come once and he still wasn't completely naked.
"You liked that?" His voice had gone raspy and delicious.
Patrice nodded. Words were beyond her at this point.
"You'll like the next part even more," he whispered and finally—finally—freed himself. "I did promise you hard and fast, and I always keep my promises."
Their bathing suits drifted farther away from them as Enzo grabbed her hips and thrust inside her.
"Yes," Patrice hissed, digging her nails into his back.
They both stilled, adjusting to each other.
"You feel so good," he said, voice unhinged. Another kiss; this time he captured her lower lip between his teeth and sucked. "But that halo needs to go."
"What halo?" Patrice, barely recognizing her own smoky voice.
Enzo fingers made quick work of untangling her braid. Once it fell down onto her shoulder, he wrapped his fist around it, tugging her head back and arching her spine, completely at his mercy. Patrice wasn't going anywhere until he let her, and that turned her on even more.
He licked up her exposed throat and thrust inside her again. Hard.
Patrice let out a shameless moan, nails digging harder into his back. She was going to leave a mark, she knew, but Enzo groaned louder. He definitely liked that.
They moved against each other at a wild pace, as their moans melded together, breaking the stillness of the night.
Patrice felt that unmistakable fire light up inside her again as Enzo's lips left a blazing trail down her clavicle and breasts. Their breathing got harsher, their movements more urgent. Just when Patrice thought she couldn't take anymore, her body tightened again.
The second wave crashed over her, burning through every nerve ending. A scream passed her lips as Enzo growled and thrust inside her again and again and again.
They sagged against each other. Patrice rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. Enzo's arms tightened around her back, like he never wanted to let her leave his embrace.
It took Patrice a few good minutes for the haze of lust to evaporate enough to form coherent thoughts again.
"That...was amazing," she breathed out. That had been the best orgasm of her life.
"Very glad to hear that." Enzo laughed, tilting her chin up. He kissed her forehead. Her nose. Her cheeks. When he finally reached her lips, he stopped. "But I only counted two."
Before Patrice could even wrap her mind around what he was saying, Enzo leaned back and grabbed her ass. He lifted her higher and higher, until her body was floating on the surface.
He looped her limp legs around his neck, a devilish glint in his eyes.
"You better hold on tight to the edge of the pool." He winked at her. "Because we're not leaving here until I make you come again. Three's a lucky number."
"You're serious," she said, still disbelieving. She didn't know how and why the universe had decided to bring Enzo into her life, but she was damn lucky.
