by Ravenna Tate
“Do you really want to know?” She could hardly blame him for sounding skeptical.
“Sure.” She’d listened to her father talk about worse all her life.
“Well, I prefer to make things look like an accident. No cops investigating that way.”
Her pulse raced as the snippet of dinner conversation from two weeks ago came back to her. “You mean like people falling in the tub?”
When he averted his gaze for a second, she knew her suspicions about that incident were true. “Yeah, well, that was a special circumstance.”
“That you did have something to do with it.”
Emotions crossed his face in rapid-fire succession, from indecision to resignation. She understood the degree of trust necessary for him to admit it, especially considering he’d obviously lied to her father that evening.
“Never mind,” she said. “You don’t have to answer me.”
“I want to.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But you need to understand something, Emmi. I made a pact—a vow—never to talk about it.”
“Well, don’t go back on that just for me.” Vows were too important. She didn’t want to be party to something that could get him killed.
He pulled her close and cupped her face, sending desire racing through her. Yeah. It was the sex, but not only that. The way he looked into her eyes wasn’t the way one looked at a woman he merely wanted to fuck and nothing more.
“Emmi, there isn’t anything I have that I wouldn’t share with you. Don’t you know that?”
She thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he released the embrace. “I don’t want dinner to be ruined.”
“Then let’s go and eat.”
Everything was perfect, and she’d have expected nothing less from him. He’d made all her favorites. Linguini with white clam sauce, roasted peppers, and a salad with fennel, arugula, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and celery hearts. There was bread which he admitted he’d bought from a nearby bakery that morning, and Frangelico for the espresso after dinner.
“And we have Bacione di Taormina for dessert.”
“Oh my God. I haven’t had that in ages.”
“I didn’t make that, either.”
She took a bite. “Oh. Wow. Talk about a mouth orgasm.”
He laughed. “I’m glad the food has seduced you.”
“Digger, everything you do and say seduces me.”
His gaze grew serious. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really. I can’t thank you enough for this dinner. It’s heavenly.”
“You’re heavenly. Having you here is heavenly.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes for long moments, and the spell was only broken when his cell rang.
He snatched it up and frowned. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I have to take this. Business.”
“Go on.”
He left the room and she couldn’t hear him speaking, which was fine with her. But now she wished she’d cultivated friendships inside her parents’ circle. Emmi had gone out of her way up until now to avoid getting close to anyone associated with her family or what they did. But right now, that’s exactly who she needed to confide in. Someone who had been there and would understand what she was feeling. Someone who could help her make sense of all this.
When Digger returned, she asked him if everything was okay.
“It’s fine.” He ate while she watched him for a few seconds, debating how far to push this.
“How old were you when you first killed someone?”
He didn’t even flinch, merely put down his fork. Another nasty shiver ran down Emmi’s back. “Sixteen.”
Holy shit. “Tell me about it.”
“Why?”
“Digger, if you want us to be together, I need to understand this from your point of view.”
“Your father has killed people. You’ve always known that.”
“That’s different. He’s my father. I wasn’t given a choice to hear about it. What my father does is also the reason I’m going to law school. It’s the reason I haven’t gone to work in his organization, even though he’s offered. It’s the reason I defied him and my mother for twelve years with Sam.”
Saying that last part out loud hit home in a way it never had before. Her relationship with Sam had been one of rebellion to begin with, love later on. But it had started out as something she knew they disapproved of, and she hadn’t cared. In defying them, she’d taken another step away from everything they stood for.
As it had the day in the restaurant, she couldn’t help wondering if the real reason she’d stayed so long with Sam was because she wanted to change her life completely from the one she’d been born into. So why, then, hadn’t she gone to California with him? She could have finished law school there.
“You loved Sam.”
“How do you know? You barely saw me once I graduated from high school.”
“I saw you often enough to know what you felt for him was real.”
He might be saying that to make her feel better, or it night be true.
“I don’t love him now.”
A bittersweet smile graced his handsome face. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Would you rather we not talk about this?”
“If you need to, I want to talk to about it.”
“Digger, I’m so confused about things.” It didn’t seem odd to be sharing this with him, which surprised her, but also comforted her. “I started off seeing Sam knowing they didn’t like him. I kept seeing him because of that.”
“Do you think he was part of your rebellion over the entire lifestyle?”
She nodded.
“And now you’re feeling guilty over that?”
“Yes and no. Guilty because whatever I was doing with him to spite my parents, or to try to break free of who I was born to be, has spilled over into this. Into us.”
This time, his smile was filled with relief. “And you don’t like that now, do you?”
She had to swallow hard as tears threatened. “No. I don’t.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it in a sweet, old-fashioned gesture that reminded her of her parents. “Told you.”
“Told me what?”
“You’d come around.”
Emmi couldn’t help returning the smile. “And you were right. But I still want to hear about the first person you killed.”
“He was just some punk who hadn’t paid Donny’s boss at the time. Donny was with me when I made my bones. He’s ten years older than me and had already made his. I guess you could say he was my mentor.”
“So it was a Mob hit.”
“Yeah. Single gunshot to the back of the head. Neat and clean.”
“There’s nothing neat or clean about a gunshot wound.”
“The hit was clean.”
“Only because no one ever finds out who does those kinds of hits.”
“Sometimes they do, if the person is sloppy.”
“How did you end up going out on your own?”
He frowned and took another sip of his espresso before answering. “I had some trouble with Roberto di Stefano over a job I pulled for him. Donny had to get involved. After that, I decided I didn’t want to be aligned with any families in particular. I only did the job in the first place as a favor to your father.”
“He used to be friends with that family, but he no longer is.”
“I know.”
While she sipped her espresso, Emmi gave him a quick glance, debating whether to ask again. She might as well. There was nothing to lose at this point. “Is that why you and Jimmy Vaccaro killed di Stefano?”
“We didn’t kill him. He and his girlfriend fell in the bathtub. Tragic accident.”
“Bullshit.”
“Why does it matter to you?”
“I told you. I’m trying to understand this from your point of view.”
“You also told me not to go back on that vow just for you.”
Touché. But now her curiosity had been piqued. “Why would y
ou make a pact over an accidental fall in a bathtub?”
“If we did it, it certainly wasn’t because of something he did to me fifteen years ago.”
“What was it for, then?”
“You know he put out a hit on Donny, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a good enough reason, isn’t it?”
“He’s had a lot of people killed.”
“And he’s had attempts on his life before.”
“This one didn’t fail, and it has your MO all over it.”
“I take care of my family.”
“We’re your family, too.”
“But Donny is blood. He and Jimmy are the only blood relatives I have left. Your family isn’t blood. Not yet anyway.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Not until we have children.”
“What will you tell them when they ask what you do for a living?”
“The same thing your father told you, Emmi.” His voice was gentle, and it finally hit home. The pieces fell into place. He was part of their family, and she had accepted everything her father did without question. If she was to give this a fair shot, she had to accept what Digger did, too. It made no sense not to.
When he kissed her again, fireworks went off inside her head. It was real. All of it. The sex, the confusion over her feelings for him, and the things she wanted to do with him. The way in which she wanted to get to know him better. It hadn’t only been the circumstances of the blizzard. She was drawn to this guy. She could fall in love with him if she let it happen. And right now, Emmi no longer thought that was such a terrible idea. Not at all.
Chapter Fourteen
Digger picked Emmi up in his arms and carried her into the hallway and toward the stairs.
“The dishes…”
“Fuck the dishes. They can wait.”
“They’ll be a mess. That food will never come off.”
“Then I’ll fucking buy new ones.”
She laughed as he climbed the stairs. He’d left his bedroom door open earlier and now was glad he had, because he didn’t want to put her down until he placed her on the bed. Once he did, he crawled on top of her and kissed her again, slowly, one hand on either side of her beautiful face.
Her lush body underneath him fed his desire, until he swore he could feel the flames of it inside his veins. Digger sat back on his heels and brushed his hands over her tits. “This is a really pretty dress. Take it off.”
“Kinda hard to do when you’re on top of me.”
He lifted the hem and she sat up, then together they eased it over her head, and he tossed it on the floor. She wore matching blue bra and panties, with lace and little flowers all over them. They were so damn sexy he hated to take them off, but he wanted her naked so he could lick every square inch of her body.
While she removed her underwear and shoes, he practically tore off his clothes until they both were in their birthday suits. “That’s better.” He crawled on top of her again. “Now, where were we?”
He would never get enough of her mouth. Digger lingered there, enjoying her passionate kisses. She knew how to use her tongue. When he finally released the kiss, he trailed his tongue down to her tits, which were the most magnificent ones he’d ever seen, and he’d seen his share. But this was his Emmi. Nothing about her was less than perfect.
She writhed underneath him and moaned as he licked and sucked her dusky nipples. His dick was ready to burst, so he moved further down her curves and spread her legs to lick her sweet, wet pussy.
Her orgasm was powerful, and he felt like he could do no wrong watching her come. This was truly heaven. She was here with him, fucking him. It hadn’t only been the fact that he’d been stuck at her parents’ house during a blizzard. She’d come here tonight to have dinner, and now she was in his bed, her skin flushed from climax and her eyes all soft and filled with lust.
Digger brushed his hands up her body. “I want to fuck your gorgeous ass.” He’d been dreaming about it for a week straight.
“Okay.”
“Is there anything you don’t like to do in bed?” She was so willing!
“Um, well, I’m not into extreme pain or being tied up.”
“Fine with me.” Digger turned her over and brushed his hands over the mounds of flesh. “You have the sexiest ass I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Get on your hands and knees.”
After she did, he reached into the nightstand drawer and took out a box of condoms and a large bottle of lube. She eyed both and laughed. “Plan on using all of that?”
“Would you like me to?” He leaned over and gently bit her right ass cheek.
“That’s so sexy, Digger. You’re a lot of fun in bed. Very adventurous.”
If this was adventurous, he could only imagine how fucking boring her sex life with Sam had been, but decided not to say it. He was tired of dragging Sam into bed with them. Fuck Sam. He was in California, and Emmi was here. “I only want to make you happy.”
“You do make me happy.” She gazed at him over her shoulder with the tenderest look she’d given him yet, and he donned a condom rather than give into the urge to pump his fist in the air. That look was progress.
After wetting his fingers with a generous amount of lube, he eased them into her puckered hole. It was very tight. Too tight for her to be experienced at anal. He wanted to ask, but again, kept his mouth shut. “Are you okay with this?”
“Yes. It feels amazing. Sam tried once, but we didn’t use any lube and it was awful.”
“It is awful if you don’t use any. Much better this way.” Sam is a fucking idiot!
Digger removed his fingers and slid his cock into her asshole, moving as slowly as possible. He was ready to die. It was so fucking tight, and her soft moans made him insane with need.
Once he was finally in, he moved, but again he was cautious. Now that he knew, he wanted this to be an exciting experience for her so she’d be eager to repeat it. Digger moved one hand underneath to play with her clit, and that brought on louder moans and the added benefit of her pushing that perfect, round ass toward him. He wanted to gobble it up.
As he increased his speed, her moans turned into incomprehensible words. Her pussy was so wet his fingers against it made slurping noises. When she cried out, he slid two fingers inside her wet hole and smiled as the contractions from another climax milked his digits. Now he could come.
Digger thrust harder and deeper, grunting as his own orgasm drew near. It was so damn strong that spots danced before his eyes. When he finally finished, he pulled out and tossed the condom onto the floor. Then he gathered Emmi into his arms and held her close.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “That was amazing.”
“Everything with you is amazing.”
“I have a confession.”
He made a noise, struggling to stay awake. Fantastic fucking always made him sleepy.
“I thought I might have only fucked you because of the circumstances at my parents’ house. That’s why I agreed to come here tonight.”
That woke him up. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. But I was wrong. It’s just as wonderful tonight. Better, really, because I feel like I know you better now.”
“You mean because of all the questions you asked me?”
“Yes. That and seeing you in your place. Your home. You cook, you enjoy the same music I do, you have good taste, and you certainly know how to fuck.”
He propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down into her face. “We have more in common than you realize.”
“You’re right. We do. We share a lifestyle that most people are clueless about.”
Digger resisted the urge to pinch himself. Was this real? “What can I say to convince you we belong together?”
“It’s not a question of saying the right things, Digger.”
“Tell me what to do to help you get there.”
“Spending time with you is what I need. Away from my family.�
�
“I can do that.” His dick was hard again. No surprise there! Digger kissed her, moving her onto her back so he could slide his cock into her pussy. He took his time, and it was just as fucking amazing as banging her in the ass moments ago.
She still had to make up her mind, but that had been a done deal for him years ago.
It took a while to make her come, but once she did, he let go as well, and then gathered her into his arms again and drifted down into dreams. In them, Emmi lived here with him and they filled this massive condo with children and love.
****
Two days after the incredible dinner at Digger’s condo and the night they’d spent fucking each other’s brains out, Emmi was scrolling through her Facebook news feed and came across a picture that made her break out in a cold sweat.
A mutual friend she and Sam had once shared had posted a picture shared from Sam’s profile and tagged her in it. Sam had originally posted it one week after he left New York. Emmi hadn’t yet unfriended him, because other than the one text message she’d received, she had hoped he might contact her, and that included via Facebook. She’d been wrong about that, too.
And obviously she had missed this particular post early on, or she could have saved herself a lot of waiting.
The picture was of Sam, shirtless and obviously on the beach, with his arm around a skinny woman with long, blonde hair and wearing a bikini that left nothing to the imagination. The caption read, “Not missing home at all! And the reason is obvious.” Then he’d added a bunch of stupid emoji. The comments were even worse. They ranged from juvenile sexist remarks to questions about the band.
She stopped reading after a few moments, and sent a PM to the mutual friend, thanking her for the tag. The friend wrote back, asking if she’d seen the picture before today, and Emmi told her she had not.
“Then I’m glad I tagged you. You deserve to know he didn’t waste any time in missing you.”
A few weeks ago, this revelation would have devastated her. Emmi grinned until her face hurt to realize she didn’t give one fuck about the picture. She thanked the friend again and promptly blocked Sam. That should take care of that.
Obviously, she’d been right all along. He didn’t miss her, and he’d forgotten her as soon as the plane landed. Well, that was fine. Digger had been right. Sam was a boy. Whatever they had, it had never been love. It had never been the kind of passionate, mature commitment that Digger was ready to rush into with open arms.
