by Soraya Naomi
“I don’t want to shower now.” But she still places her small hand in mine.
I tug her up and pull her flush against me, burying my nose in her sweet-smelling hair. “Then just keep me company in the bathroom.” And I trace the tip of my nose up her throat, over her chin.
I’m such a pussy when it comes to her because I just want her close to me. All. The. Fucking. Time. I’m an addict who’s missed his fix for too long.
She looks at me through her eyelashes and sighs as I brush our noses together ever so softly, making the hairs on my neck rise in anticipation. I graze my lips over hers while her arms hook around my waist, and I grin when she almost imperceptibly grinds against me, so I push my leg between hers and wind both hands in her hair, tilting her head back as her eyes fall shut.
“Don’t close them,” I order with a groan.
She stares at me with half-lidded eyes as I press my mouth to the corner of her lips then ghost over them to kiss the other corner. Seductively, she starts to rub herself on my thigh, and I fist her hair harshly, making her gasp through her lazy smile.
“Tell me you want me,” I say tenderly, but she’s quiet as she pushes her breasts against my chest.
I can feel the tips of her hardening nipples through my dress shirt, and I crush our mouths together. Her nails dig into my back, and I plunge my tongue inside, tasting and licking every part of her warm, sweet mouth. I smirk when I taste sugar or some kind of cake icing. She loves to eat cake while watching her favorite TV show. Another low groan escapes as one hand travels down her back, over the curve of her ass, and I palm her cheek to press her against my growing hard-on. Then I pull her bottom lip between my teeth and release it slowly, causing her to moan and arch into me.
“I thought you were going to shower,” she whispers.
Smiling, I bend down to press a kiss against the swell of her breasts. “Come.”
She follows behind me as I strip my suit on the way to her bathroom where I step out of my boxer briefs and into the shower.
Fallon leans against the sink, touching her kiss swollen lips, and studies me through the glass doors, so I challenge her and stroke myself twice in my already semi-hard state while I return her lust-filled gaze.
I open the shower door and lean against it with one shoulder as I raise a brow.
Is she joining me, or do I have to yank her in?
She and I are completely in tune because she answers my silent question. “No! You’re going to make me wet.”
“I was hoping for that, yes,” I point out with a wink and take one step out of the shower to snare her wrist, swiveling her around so that her back hits my naked chest and letting my fingers wander down the curves of her body.
I drop my hand to her neckline and delve inside her thin lace bra until my grip possessively covers her breast. Then I hurriedly pull the shirt over her head and tug her inside the shower.
She shrieks but bows into my touch, and I smile against her ear as I unclasp her bra and slide her sweatpants and panties down together. They drop in a wet heap, and I kick them into the corner of the stall as the steam of the hot water gathers around us.
“Now I have you how I want you: naked and wet.” I tilt her head back, letting the warm water rinse her dark strands of hair as I massage her scalp and press my lips against her exposed throat, grinding my hardening length against her ass.
“Hmmm...that feels so good.” She dreamily closes her eyes.
Guiding Fallon to bend forward in the shower, I brace her hands against the tiles, coax her legs wider apart, and watch the hot water run down her ass while I palm the softness of her skin.
Her loud, sensual moan almost has me shoving myself into her, but I’m going to tease her first. Let her make the first move for sex. I need to hear her say how much she wants me. I want that wall she’s erected around herself to shatter as she gives herself to me completely. I want her to desire me just as much as I’ve craved her for so many months, and I can wait. But I do need to relieve myself because seeing her bent over has me almost shooting my load all over her lower back.
Spreading her cheeks open, I groan and rub my hard-on up and down, making her body arch exquisitely, but I don’t drive into her. Instead, I run my hands down her smooth skin while we grind into each other. And she coos sweetly, spurring me on. She’s a perfect little package I want to lick all over. Growling, I fist myself and press my cock against her core, stretching her a little without thrusting inside. Fallon looks back at me over her shoulders, and I pray that the day to reclaim her will come soon. I should get a fucking medal for holding myself back.
“Touch yourself,” I say in a rough tone as I entwine our fingers and rub her between her legs while pumping my erection against her behind.
“Oh Luca, harder,” Fallon urges, bowing her back with both palms planted against the tiles.
I peak when she whimpers alluringly and stroke myself against her ass, coming in a few violent spurts and making sure that she climbs to release as well. I circle my fingers over her center until she screams my name as she rides the tide of pleasure.
Our heavy breathing cuts through the flow of water, and with my arm looped around her waist, I pull her back up to lean against the cold tiles, her hair plastered around her flushed face.
We’re both lost in our thoughts as the water cascades over our naked skin.
***
“Update on Ashton?” I ask Adriano while rummaging through the papers strewn on my desk at Security Simplicity.
Adriano’s mouth tilts down, and he shakes his head. “I’ve got nothing, and I’m starting to believe someone’s fucking with us.”
“Fat Sal?” I question.
“I’m not sure. What do you think?”
“Not Sal; I think he’s definitely in our corner. Most likely a member of the fight club. Maybe someone with intimate ties to Ashton?” I muse aloud.
“Could be...” He eases back in his chair. “By the way, are you coming with me to headquarters today?”
“Why are you going?”
“James has another cash deposit that we need to pump into Simplicity.”
“James is going to be there?” That amazes me.
“I’m not sure; Salvatore was vague as usual. However, I do think you should join me and show your face before they start to get wind of how often you’ve been absent lately. You know I don’t mind, and I’m more than happy to cover for you so that you can be with Fallon right now, but we have to be careful.”
I nod in agreement. “You’re right. James is already pissed with how many resources I’m utilizing to find Ashton, and he realizes it has more to do with Fallon than the fact that he waterboarded me. I want Ashton in order to settle the score for Fallon. And we still need to find out what James was doing alone at Club 7, but we can’t ask Fat Sal. No one can know about the issues James and I have because it would be used against us. And I’m not positive if he’s deliberately keeping us in the dark.”
“Neither am I, but where do we start?”
Opening the desk drawer, I file the papers and then turn the key. “We’ll discuss it later, and I’ll meet you at headquarters. Now I’m off to Fallon’s therapist. She has appointments twice a week but is curiously adamant about not letting me take her on Mondays. On Thursday, she loves it when I drop her off and pick her up, but every Monday, she declines. According to her, she doesn’t want to alienate her friends, so she lets Wade drop her off on Mondays, but she’s obviously lying. I just need to ensure that she’s all right.”
“How’s she been doing?”
“Surprisingly good. She mostly just cries at night, when we’re in bed. And I can’t figure out what else is bothering her. She’s opened up about her misery over losing her parents, but I have a distinct feeling that sometimes she wants to say more yet holds it in. The therapy is helping a lot because she always comes home in a positive mood after meeting with Sylvia. She writes down her emotions and has started yoga classes.”
“
And you two?”
Standing up, I take my jacket from the back of the chair and throw it on. “I don’t know. We avoid having the talk, and I’m not pushing while she’s still grieving. But at one point, I will let her know where we stand.”
Adriano perks his brow and grins. “Doesn’t she have a say in it?”
“Fallon’s not going to push me away. I can read her, and she’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that she still wants me – even though I’m the underboss of the Syndicate. Why do you think I haven’t allowed anyone to interfere with the investigation of her parents, or why I haven’t put any pressure on the Lake Forest Police Department? Because I don’t want anything to obstruct or affect the trust we’re rebuilding.” When Adriano opens his mouth to interrupt, I hurriedly add, “Yes, I’m aware that following her to the therapist isn’t helpful when trying to rebuild trust, but I can’t change that part of myself. I’m only giving her enough space to come to the same conclusion that I have: that we can’t be apart. There will come a time when she’ll ask for my help – I can sense the aggravation in her about how the case is being handled. She’s disappointed and mad but just hasn’t voiced it. I’d better hit the road if I want to arrive at Sylvia’s before Fallon does. See you later.”
***
I park my car two blocks from Sylvia’s and walk to her office fifteen minutes before Fallon’s appointment. As I pass a children’s store, a familiar face hurries inside the building across the street. Ducking inside the store, I witness Fallon being dropped off by Wade five minutes later.
“Sir, can I help you?”
Turning around to a friendly old lady, I quickly answer, “No, thank you. Just looking for a gift.” Thankfully, she retreats, and I call Adriano. “Guess who I just saw?”
“Don’t keep me in suspense,” he retorts with an obviously full mouth. He’s always eating.
“A certain Italian beauty you have a weak spot for.”
His chewing stops immediately. “Cam?” he asks as if he can’t believe me.
“Unless there’s another Italian you’re crushing on?”
“She’s in the Loop?”
“Yes, and she’s in contact with Fallon,” I explain.
“You sound pretty calm, even though you just caught Fallon in a lie.”
“I’m trying to think ahead. I’m going to confront her because I’m pretty curious what the deal is with Cam and what these two women are up to. Honestly, I don’t believe Fallon is willingly lying to me.” I could be wrong, but I don’t reveal my doubts to him.
“I want to be there,” he comments.
“I don’t think that’s wise. Listen, let’s not do anything rash. We need something against James if it ever comes to that, and he wants Cam because of the bombing at the house.”
“You don’t know that was her.”
“Fine, but we suspect her—”
“Luca, don’t hurt Cam,” Adriano warns in his Capo tone.
“I’m not going to do anything. I’m going to let Cam leave, and then I’ll confront Fallon. After that, we’ll discuss our plan of action.”
“Call me after you’ve talked to Fallon.”
Ending the call, I look up and observe Cam exiting. Then I return to my car and park it in front of the building. Patiently, I wait for the end of Fallon’s session in the waiting area on the second floor.
When the door opens, I can tell from her slightly red eyes that it was a tough session. Instead of shock, she smiles when she spots me, so I hold open my arms while nodding to Sylvia, whom I’ve met several times when I picked Fallon up on Thursdays.
“This is a nice surprise,” she mutters against my chest and pulls back. “Couldn’t Wade come?”
Shit! I didn’t think of that.
“I don’t know, but he’s not here yet. Text him that he doesn’t need to come. Let’s get you home.” I circle the thick, white shawl around her neck twice. It’s cold outside and just started to snow again.
***
I fling the keys on the kitchen table inside Fallon’s apartment while she makes herself a cup of tea. This woman can live off tea.
The ride home was pleasantly silent, and I’m actually stunned that I’m not mad at all. Quite the contrary, I just want to hear her out first before jumping to any conclusions.
“Dolcezza, we need to talk.”
“Uh-oh.” She slams the cabinet shut. “That’s never good.” But she joins me on the sofa, and the swelling around her eyes has me incapable of being angry with her.
In the past, I’ve allowed our lies and deceit to break us up, but I’m not about to make that same mistake again and decide to just throw it out there.
“I was at the therapist’s office before your session began,” I start.
Her eyes widen, and I can see the tears building immediately. This emotional reaction is what I anticipated and calms me even more because I was right; she isn’t lying to me willingly.
“I saw you with Cam,” I add, yet her pale appearance softens me. “Talk to me.”
“She’s scared, Luca. I gave her money because she’s broke, and I’ve been trying to convince Cam to confide in you and Adriano.”
I believe her without any doubt, but I need to convey where I stand. “You should’ve told me.”
She sighs and breaks eye contact, so I place my finger under her chin to steer her gaze back on me.
“You’re right, but she’s really scared, and she also told me something about Adriano that confused me.”
Now a hint of annoyance starts to rise because there’s only one person in this world I trust irrefutably and that’s my best friend. “Don’t. Stop right there. Don’t you dare plant seeds of doubt in me about Adriano.”
“He told Cam to disappear. Isn’t that strange?”
“He has feelings for her that go beyond friendship; he wanted to help her. There’s more at stake here than we are both aware of; I’m positive of that,” I defend my best friend and Capo with conviction.
“But what if Adriano—”
“Basta così!” Enough! “I told you once don’t go there, last warning.” Aggravated, I lean forward with my elbows on my knees in order to get the control back over my emotions and avoid a fight. This relationship we don’t dare to define is still too vulnerable.
“Cam planted a bomb at your headquarters,” she suddenly blurts out.
Craning my neck, I evenly demand, “Did you have anything to do with that?”
“No,” she answers in a fragile voice as the hurt over my question blisters to the surface. “Do you believe me?”
And it’s that hurt that moderates my temper instantly because she’s already been through enough with losing her parents, so I reel myself in and lean back against the sofa.
“Do you believe that I had nothing to do with it?” she repeats, resting her hand on my thigh.
“I do.”
The breath eases out of her, and she straddles my lap.
“I can’t handle fighting right now. Don’t be mad at me,” she requests apologetically.
Then she brings our foreheads together, and I rest my palms on her hips, stroking the curves, fingers splayed wide over the swell of her ass. I trace her nose with the tip of mine before our mouths meet. Only the lips caress at first, but when I open my mouth, she welcomes my tongue and bows into my touch as she writhes on my hardening length, and I delve my tongue hungrily inside. Her fingers weave into my hair, making me groan against her mouth while mine dig into her ass, but I pull back because we need to finish our talk.
We’re quiet as our breathing slows, and we gaze at one another with the same look we used to share when we first met: the look of pure lust.
Feeling remorseful over my outburst, I press my lips to hers one more time, gently, and adjust her position a little because my hard-on is straining in my dress slacks. “I’m not mad, dolcezza. Tell me everything.”
She fidgets with the top buttons of my blue dress shirt. “A couple of days before my parents d
ied, Cam came to my house. She was petrified because she found out the Capo crimine is looking for her. Luca, even we realize it can’t be a good sign when your boss – who must be a powerful man because you’re a rank lower and you’re already very influential – is trying to track down a person.”
I’m absolutely taken aback that she’s talking so openly about the Syndicate, which is the one subject we’ve been avoiding for weeks. Not wanting to disrupt her willingness to talk, I stay quiet but keep my hands on her to display that I’m not annoyed. I’m proud of her.
“Cam looked so different, and I was—” Abruptly, she stops and startles herself because her eyes round.
She’s clearly holding something back, so I urge, “Keep going. I’m not angry. I know you’ve been through hell since your parents died.”
Opening and closing her mouth, she hesitates and takes a deep breath before continuing, “She didn’t tell me about the bomb the day she came to my house. Cam’s also afraid of you and Adriano. She’s been hiding from the three of you: James, you, and Adriano. You and I weren’t really in contact then because it was after...you were done with me. Since the day my parents died, I’ve helped Cam by giving her money. She’s been visiting Sylvia’s office on Mondays for me to give her cash, and every time, I do my best to convince her to let us help her. I’ve told Cam how you and Adriano have been helping me.”
Her story is slightly confusing, so I’m trying to draw a timeline in my head as she relays the events. Cupping her head with one hand, I rub my thumb over her cheekbone.
“I believe you. I’m disappointed you didn’t tell me before, but I do understand. Don’t worry about that, okay?” She has enough on her plate while coping with the grief, so I shouldn’t judge her harshly. “What’s Cam’s plan, and where is she staying?”
“In a hotel. She doesn’t have a plan, and I can’t keep giving her money, but I feel obligated to help her since she helped me at your headquarters.”
Before we continue, I need to know for sure whether Fallon’s opinion about me has actually changed. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she answers without hesitation and keeps looking straight at me.
