“Ama, is it now?” Enda teased his older half-brother, but then his smile faded. “That sounds just like Jackson though. He always got what he wanted, didn’t matter how.”
Olivier sighed. “I know, but this is a person we’re talking about. If - and when – she does something he doesn’t like…Enda, he has addictions. Cocaine, for one. And this thing with Ama…he’s obsessed with her. I’m worried.”
Enda looked away from his brother’s gaze. “What can I do?”
“Stick around ‘Frisco for a few months. Help me keep Jackson on a steady keel. See how the land lies.”
Enda closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose and Olivier could see his internal struggle. Enda hated Jackson with the fury of a thousand suns, but he didn’t owe Amalia Rai anything. He didn’t even know her.
“I’m thinking about Dad in this too. If Jackson were to do something rash, or worse, Dad wouldn’t survive it. I’m not saying you owe him anything either, but for me, maybe.” Olivier’s voice was low and Enda nodded.
“I will stay. I can oversee the business from here. We have been thinking of opening an office here…maybe it’s time. I’ll talk to Raffaelo in the morning.”
Jackson Gallo was frustrated. It had been a month since the wedding and Ama had barely spoken to him, let alone touched him. She attended functions with him, behaved impeccably, but he couldn’t bust through those walls of hers. Her bedroom door remained locked and barred…if it wasn't for the fact that his father slept in the same house, and that their staff also were there at night, he would have busted down that door and taken her.
But he knew she would leave him if he forced himself on her. So, to sate his aching balls, he had started fucking other women almost immediately after the wedding. If Ama guessed, she didn’t seem to care, and it drove him mad.
It had been particularly galling that since the wedding, Gajendra Rai’s business had flourished, being linked to the Gallo name. And Amalia’s sister, Selima had settled into her new life as a student in Los Angeles. It seemed to Jackson that Amalia had reaped the rewards of their union, while he still hadn’t.
He sat in his office now and decided to call her. She picked up the phone eventually, sounding harassed. “What do you want, Jackson?”
He rankled. “Well, for one, I’d like you to speak to me with respect.”
Amalia sighed. “I’m busy, Jackson, what do you want?” There was no noticeable shift in her tone.
“I would like to take you out to dinner tonight.”
“Fine.”
“Be ready at eight.”
“Fine.” The phone clicked in his ear. So much for sweet nothings. Jackson put his phone down and smiled to himself. He’d actually arranged to have dinner with his brothers that night – but he couldn’t resist bringing Ama and showing her off to them. Look at my glorious wife, look how beautiful she is.
Suddenly an idea struck him, and he laughed to himself. Flicking through his contacts on his phone, he made the call, smiling to himself.
Ama saw Enda as soon as they entered the restaurant and knew Jackson had set this up on purpose. “I didn’t know we were having dinner with your brothers.”
Jackson smiled. “Family time.”
Ugh. More like bragging time. She was being trotted out like a prize horse. But at the moment, she could think of nothing else but Enda Gallo’s eyes on her. God, she’d forgotten just how gloriously good-looking he was. Olivier stood and kissed her cheek, and then she was in front of Enda. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Bella.”
That voice – deep, mellifluous, accented…dripping with sex. She wondered if he could see the blatant longing in her eyes.
She was mostly silent through dinner, ignoring Jackson as much as she could, to Enda and Olivier’s obvious amusement. Olivier distracted them all with jokes, and Enda, too, she found was fun to be around. He and Olivier were obviously close, and both busted Jackson’s chops, which was fine by her. For once, she saw Jackson as he really was, the baby of the family. Despite his bragging, he was still just a little kid. Olivier and Enda were men. She couldn’t help but compare them. Jackson, his dark blonde hair slicked back; Oliver, neatly trimmed beard and dark brown eyes, so beautifully dressed. Then there was Enda – his looks had a wildness to them, a devil-may-care look. He oozed easy sex appeal. God, I want you, Ama thought then pushed the thought away. He was off-limits. At least, now he was.
“What are you smiling at?” Jackson demanded of her, suddenly, and Ama jumped slightly. Jackson’s arm had been along the back of her chair, possessively, and her back ached from sitting forward to avoid him touching her.
“Just marveling how different you are from your brothers.” She said coolly. You don’t snap at me like that. Ever, her eyes said, and Jackson backed off. “If you’ll excuse me, I must go freshen up.”
In the bathroom, she splashed some water on her face and tried to stop thinking about Enda. When she finally got up her courage to go back to the table, she exited the bathroom. She gave a little cry of surprise as two hands gripped her waist from behind and pulled her back into the dark alcove. She turned and saw Enda smiling down at her. “Hello again.”
His voice sent thrills through her body, and when he kissed her, she couldn’t help give a little moan of desire. They were hidden from sight, and when Enda slid his hands under her skirt, Amalie’s body reacted, curving into his. “I want you so badly,” she whispered, and Enda grinned, his lips rough against hers.
“If it wouldn’t get us arrested, cara mia, I would fuck you right here. Sadly, I think my brother’s suspicions would be aroused.”
“I’m not sleeping with him. I don’t know why it’s important to me that you know that, but it is.”
Enda stroked her cheek. “I know, Bella. Listen…I must see you again. Can I come to your office?”
She nodded and gave him the address. “I know this is wrong but…”
His lips silenced hers, and she could feel his erection through his pants. God, she wanted him so badly, her skin felt like it was on fire.
She went back to the table a few moments before Enda, but couldn’t help but feel that their lust for each other was obvious. Jackson seemed not to notice, though, and when Enda returned, there was nothing in Jackson or Olivier’s glances that gave anything away.
Ama felt sick with excitement. He wanted her…what the hell was she supposed to do? She barely knew him, but she knew, without a doubt, that she was falling for Enda Gallo…
To be continued..
This story will be completed and published by mid-June
Unspoken A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance
By Michelle Love
Noor wasn’t the kind of woman who spooked easily. At twenty-eight, and resolutely single, she owned her own home and her own business and didn’t take any crap from anybody.
But, now, in this minute, she was afraid. No, not afraid …terrified.
“What do you want from me?” She whispered, then shivered as he ran his finger down her cheek. She couldn’t push him away; the ties that bound her wrists behind her back bit into her tender flesh. Right now, looking into his dark eyes, she couldn’t tell if he wanted to make love to her or if she had made the biggest mistake of her life …
…and willingly given herself over to the man who wanted to kill her …
Three months earlier…
Noor Tamblyn lay on her stomach, annoyed and about to blow her top. She pummeled her legs against her mattress, then yelled as loudly as she could. “Greg! For the love of GOD. It’s three a.m.!”
The music from the living room shut off, and a few moments later, a very sheepish Greg stuck his head around Noor’s bedroom door. “Sorry, honey. I get carried away when I write.”
“You think?” Noor was still grumpy, and she pushed back the comforter and climbed out of bed. She went to the bathroom to pee, glaring at Greg when he followed her. “Dude, please.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Noor gritted her
teeth, and as she washed her hands afterward, she glanced in the mirror. Why are you so damn moody lately? She asked herself, but then shook her head. Her usually warm, honey-colored skin was wan and dark circles were under her eyes. She hadn’t slept for days, and it wasn’t entirely Greg’s fault. Actually, it wasn’t Greg’s fault at all. She was the only one to blame here.
Her roommate in college, Greg, had moved back to their home town on the little island off the Oregon coast three months ago and she’d offered him her spare room. So far, they’d gotten along fine, but lately, he’d been on her last nerve. It isn’t his fault, she reminded herself again. And it wasn’t. Her moodiness had been a reaction to the strange man who had been coming into her little coffee house …and what had happened between them a few weeks ago. Something so out of character for her that it had rattled her deep in her bones.
He was tall and olive-skinned, with dark hair and the most beautiful green eyes she’d ever seen. But something about him haunted her—the way he looked at her, watched her. He had a dark, brooding look about him that was both sensual and unsettling.
Noor’s fellow barista, Farah, had teased her a couple of days ago. “You have an admirer, girl. A really sexy one too.”
Noor had rolled her eyes. “That’s the last thing on my mind, Farah. You know that.”
“God, girl, you need to loosen up …you never used to be this uptight.”
Farah’s offhand remark had stung Noor deeply, and she’d turned away from her friend so she couldn’t see the tears in her eyes.
Later, as Noor was cashing out her register, Farah waved goodbye, and Noor was left alone in the coffee house. That’s what she had thought, until she had turned and seen the man walking toward her. Her stomach had given a fearful lurch and her heart had begun to thump wildly against her ribs. She had no protection against an attack here. God …
“We’re just closing …can I get you anything else?”
His dark eyes had fixed on hers and he shook his head, still not speaking. God, he was gorgeous, but still, he’d had that dangerous look in his eye which made Noor tremble. He stepped closer to her, and Noor had realized with a shock that he was going to kiss her. What the hell?
But as soon as his lips had touched hers, she had been lost. His mouth had been firm on hers and yet there had been a tenderness she hadn’t expected. Her arms had curled around his neck automatically and his own arms had slid around her waist and pulled her close. Noor had closed her eyes and sunk into the kiss …he tasted wonderful, and she had breathed in his heady scent of soap and cologne. Her fingers had tangled in his dark curls.
This is insane …stop this …
But Farah’s comment had struck Noor deeply, and there, in that man’s arms, she had decided to prove her friend wrong. His hands had slid under her skirt, and when he had begun to caress her through her panties, Noor had given a sigh of pleasure. How long had it been?
And, certainly, it had never been that erotically charged with anyone else. She had reached down and cupped his cock through his pants, appreciating the hot, thick length of him.
He had smiled at last—and it was as if the sun had come out. He had taken her breath away. She couldn’t help but smile back, their eyes locked on each other. Her skin had felt like it was on fire and as he ripped her panties from her and lifted her into his arms, Noor had thought she might combust from longing. He had carried her into the back room of the coffeehouse and laid her down on the couch there, quickly stripping off his own clothes. Noor had slid out of her dress and bra and opened her arms to him. God, his cock had been so big and thick, and when he thrust into her, Noor couldn’t help the moan that had escaped her. His body was broad and muscled; he dwarfed her petite frame. He had locked his eyes onto hers as he fucked her harder and deeper with every thrust. Noor had locked her legs around him, urging him deeper. His kiss had been rougher then, as if he had wanted to devourer her.
He still hadn’t spoken a word, but as the tension between them built, he had murmured her name, and his deep, mellifluous voice had an accent she hadn’t been able to place, but damn, it had made her shiver. She had come hard, her back arching and her belly against his. He had gathered her to him, burying his face in her neck as he groaned, pumping thick semen deep into her belly.
As they caught their breath, he had kissed her again—her lips, her throat, and down to her breasts, where he had taken each nipple into his mouth in turn. He had trailed his lips down to her belly, tracing the circle of her navel with his tongue, before burying his face in her sex, sucking gently at her clit and biting down with his teeth in a way that made her yelp. His tongue had brought her to another orgasm, and before she could even recover, his cock had been plowing deep into her cunt again, thrusting harder and harder until she could barely take it anymore.
After her fourth orgasm, she had held up her hands. “Please, I need to breathe at some point this evening.”
Her lover had smiled. “An unexpected day.” That –accent—Italian? He had pulled her into his arm and cradled her as she caught her breath.
“I don’t usually do this kind of thing.” She had flushed slightly, and he kissed her forehead.
“Would you believe it if I said, nor do I?”
She had studied him, then grinned. “No. Not at all.”
He laughed. “I would surprise you if you knew me.”
“Who are you?”
His smile had faded. “I cannot tell you, lovely Noor. If I did …it could put you in danger.”
Noor’s eyes had widened and the shock of what she had done, what they had done, hit her. She had shifted out of his arms and pulled her dress over her head. He had watched her, his eyes serious.
“Believe me when I say that I would like nothing more than to continue our assignations, but it is impossible. Tonight should not have happened, but I am weak when it comes to beautiful women.”
Ah, the kiss off. Noor had tried to smile at him. “Don’t worry about it. We’re both adults here. I know how this works. I really ought to finish closing up the coffeehouse.”
He had stood and quickly dressed. “Of course.”
At the door, he had kissed her again. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” She hated the way her heart had hurt at the thought of not seeing him again.
It wasn’t until after he’d disappeared into the night that she realized she hadn’t asked him his name.
In the few weeks that had passed since that night, Noor hadn’t been able to get him out of her head. She had been disappointed that she hadn’t seen him again. Chalk it up to a one night stand. But it had bugged her ever since. What had he meant by her being in danger if she knew him better? Was he some kind of freak? She had a million theories—had even Googled serial killers currently at large to see if he was one and she had just gotten lucky. Nothing.
Now, desperately tired, she just wanted to forget everything and get some sleep. She went back into her bedroom to find Greg sitting on her bed. Ignoring him, she crawled back under the covers.
“I am sorry, Norry.” Greg sounded genuinely contrite. “Look, I’m worried, honey. You haven’t been looking well these past few weeks.”
“I just need sleep,” she said grumpily, then relented. “Thanks, though. I swear I’m okay.”
Greg shot a look at the space beside her. “Wanna spoon?”
He grinned, but Noor knew he was half-serious. Greg had always carried a candle for her, even if it was unrequited on her part, but he’d never actually crossed the line. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Look, sleep in. I’ll open the coffeehouse for you.”
Noor finally gave him a smile. “You’re sweet, but we have a new girl starting with us and I need to be there.”
“If you change your mind …”
“I wish. See you in the morning.”
He bent down and kissed her forehead. “Night, Noor.”
She finally fell asleep, then, and slept right through her alarm clock.
“Don’t worry about it,” Farah told her with a grin as Noor finally pitched up at the coffeehouse around ten a.m. “It’s not rocket science. I handled it. Kate’s a quick learner.”
Noor relaxed a little and Farah studied her. “Greg’s right. You don’t look well.”
Noor rolled her eyes. “God, for someone who’s an orphan, I do have a lot of mothers.”
“Suck it up,” Farah grinned, then her face turned serious. “Seriously, though, go see a doctor. Please.”
The doctor frowned at her. “And you’re not pregnant?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, we’ll do some blood tests. Do you have nausea and dizziness?”
Noor nodded. “Some. It happens at night mostly, when I get home. Just the odd head-rush. But mainly, I’m just so tired. To the point that it’s affecting my mood.”
The doctor nodded kindly. “Noor, I’ve known you a while now …you know you can talk to me about anything, right? What is said in this room, stays in this room. Is your mood low at the moment, or have you noticed you are reacting in a more negative manner to minor annoyances than is normal?”
Noor hesitated. “Actually, yes. A little. I sometimes feel like my life is spinning away from me and I can’t control it.”
“Do you date?”
Noor drew in a short breath. “Not really.” She couldn’t help but think of her mysterious lover. “I mean …god, Doc, between you and me, I had a one-night stand recently. It was wonderful, but …I kind of feel wretched about it now. Like I acted like a slut or something.”
Dr. Sterling, a kind woman in her late fifties, nodded sympathetically. “With your past, Noor, it isn’t surprising you feel like that. With the assault …”
“That happened twelve years ago, Doc.” Noor closed her eyes, her mind automatically flashing back to the day in college when she had been attacked and raped by an unknown assailant. Her attacker had left her for dead in the college library, the victim of a savage knife attack. Noor had barely survived. Even now, she felt the usual terror creep into her soul. No. No. That is over. Done.
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