SEAN: A Mafia Romance (The Callahans Book 3)

by Glenna Sinclair

***

  With shaking hands she untied the twine and tore off the paper. A plain pink pastry box stared back from the counter, mocking her, daring her to open the top. Laura hesitated. What would be waiting for her this time?

  She quickly flipped the lid and shut her eyes. When snakes didn’t fly out to attack her, she peeked at the contents. Something white and fluffy was coiled up inside the box. She reached in to remove the article, surprised at how soft the gift was.

  With a squeal she tossed the fur back on the counter. A face with beady black eyes and tiny pointed teeth stared back at her. Someone had sent her a dead, boneless animal. What was it supposed to mean?

  With shaking hands and tears in her eyes she tore the flap of the envelope, removing the paper inside. She gasped when she realized she had a handful of photos.

  Each one was of her. Some were of her sleeping; another was of her lying on her couch. With each photo she flipped through, the images became more and more scandalous. The second to last one was of her walking naked through her bedroom, and the last was a silhouette of her naked body through her shaded bathroom window. That one had been taken from the street what looked like the night before.

  To be sure, she scanned the scene in front of her, her worst fears confirmed. The neighborhood kids had a birthday party the weekend before and sprayed silly string all over the trees. Without any rain that week, the pink tendrils were still hanging from the branches the night before. There it was in the picture.

  Laura lost herself in thought. She yelped and scrambled to hide the mess on her counter in a cabinet when her cell phone chimed. A text from Mason let her know he was almost on her floor. She wiped away any tears with the hem of her shirt and hurried to the door. Mason’s smiling face was looking back at her through the peephole. She was so relieved she nearly cried again.

  Laura threw open the door and leapt at Mason. She couldn’t think of another time she had been so happy to see him.

  “Hello there, darling. I missed you too.” Mason wound his arms around her waist and stroked her back. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes.” Laura sniffed back tears. “I’m fine. I’ve just felt shitty all day. I’m so happy you’re home.” She yanked him over the threshold and released the door with a slam as she kissed him with the hunger of a person starved for food.

  Mason kissed her back with equal fervor. He almost allowed himself to be consumed with wanting her, but stopped and pulled away. Something didn’t feel right. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, I am. Why?”

  Mason’s instincts were screaming at him something was wrong. Laura was hiding something. She had been stressed and scrambled the last several days, but he could just tell something was up. “You’ve just been acting weird all week. That’s all.”

  Laura’s skin prickled. He knows! “I’ve just been super nervous about this trip. It’s going to be a long time away, just the two of us. I’m worried we might kill each other before we get back.” She told him part of the truth, anyway. She actually felt much better for at least getting that bit off of her chest.

  Mason wasn’t totally convinced that was all, but he wasn’t going to push her. “We already spend nearly every night with each other anyway. How will doing it in Zurich be any different?”

  Laura had to admit he had a point, but she didn’t want to freak him out by bringing up her marriage fears. “I know, but it’s been so long since we’ve been alone alone. Especially without having those real life responsibilities to break the day up.”

  “Go sit down on the couch,” Mason commanded. Laura obeyed and perched herself on the smashed leather arm.

  “Are you feeling better?” Mason asked as he advanced on her.

  Laura nodded. She licked her upper lip. The way he approached her was positively predatory. “Yes. I’m feeling better. So much better now that you’re here.”

  “Let’s do something to help you relax.” Mason looked her up and down. He smirked when he noticed she was wearing his t-shirt. “You do look fantastic in my clothes, but I’m going to need you to take that shirt off.”

  Laura peeled the shirt over her head. She hadn’t bothered with a bra, so she was left only in white cotton bikini underwear with her hair piled on top of her head.

  Mason closed the gap between them and tilted her chin up. He wanted her eyes to meet his. He could tell she was definitely hiding something. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. He was gentle, and coaxed her mouth to participate with his own.

  Mason withdrew and left Laura breathless. Emotion hit her in the chest, a wave of love and tenderness for this sweet man in front of her. “Let’s leave tomorrow,” she murmured.

  Mason’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh? Why?” he asked in surprise.

  “There’s no point in waiting until Monday. You said we would be flying private. Is there a way to move the flight up?”

  Mason trailed his hand down Laura’s neck and around her shoulder, leaving goose bumps in his wake. He circled his thumb around her nipple. “Do you think it’s that easy?” he asked quietly.

  Laura shuddered and went damp between her legs. His light touches had melted all of her worries away. “I certainly hope so.”

  Mason put his face next to hers. Laura could feel his warm breath on her ear and his five o’clock shadow grazing her skin. The barely there touches made her legs squeeze together as little thrills passed through her body.

  “I could.” Mason dragged the fingertips of his free hand up her inner thigh, lightly brushing over the crotch of her underwear. “Tell me why,” he ordered before catching her earlobe in his teeth.

  Laura gasped as Mason nibbled over her earlobe and gently stroked her through the thin cotton fabric. “I need the time away. I need to be with you.” Her words came out gasping and broken. “Oh, fuck.”

  Mason ran the tip of his tongue over the sensitive skin where her neck met her shoulder, making her squirm in her seat.

  “Is that all?” he asked, his voice becoming husky.

  Laura tipped her head back to let Mason feed on her skin. “Yes,” she sighed. The light touches and kisses were becoming torture. Laura knew Mason was plying her, but she didn’t care. She would have sold out her own mother at that point.

  “Lovely.” Mason continued to pet her through her panties. Laura was almost uncomfortably wet now. “I’ll look into it later. I’ll move the flight date for you if I’m able.” Mason dropped to his knees. “I’ll do whatever you’d like,” he declared before drawing her nipple into his mouth.

  Laura moaned and ran her fingers through his thick dark hair. She had gone stupid with lust. Mason sucked on first one nipple then the other; no part of her breast was neglected as he worked her with his mouth. She writhed and gripped his head, sighing as the pleasure grew. She thought she would come with just the nipple stimulation. She didn’t think that was even possible.

  Suddenly, Mason stopped. “Hands behind your head. Get on your knees.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  “Are you questioning me?” Mason cocked an eyebrow; his hands froze on his belt buckle. The gleam in his eye told Laura she had better answer correctly.

  “No, sir.” She dropped to her knees and clasped her hands behind her head. The position pushed her aching breasts forward. Mason un-tucked his shirt and slowly began to open the buttons, all the while watching Laura to make sure she behaved.

  She was enjoying the show. The way his body looked in clothes turned her on. He was off the charts sexy when naked. He was lean, without being heavily muscled, and had a nice covering of dark hair across his chest she loved to run her fingers through. That is, when she wasn’t being forced to keep her hands to herself.

  Mason shrugged his shirt off and tossed it over her wingback chair. Laura was practically drooling with anticipation as he slowly undid his belt, button, and fly. “I know you’ve been distracted lately. I’m going to fuck your mind back where it belongs…on me,” he declared with a grin. />
  Laura answered with a breathy, “Please do.” She was so ready to be done with her real life and get into her fantasy bubble with Mason.

  He took a few steps closer and closed his hand over her breast. “I’m going to fuck your mouth first. Keep your hands on your head, and don’t you dare move. If you disobey me, I’m going to punish you. Do you understand?”

  Laura nodded with excitement. His words alone caressed all of her most intimate places. She was afraid she would come with a draft.

  Mason ran his thumb over Laura’s bottom lip. “Open your mouth,” he directed. Like a good girl, she obeyed and opened wide to take him in. He gripped her ponytail and guided himself, slowly in and out. He sucked air through his teeth as Laura flicked her tongue over the sensitive head.

  It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep her hands away. Her palms itched to touch him, to play with his balls, or run her hands over his tight ass. To hell with it! He had driven her so crazy she didn’t care if she got punished for being defiant. She cupped his balls in both hands as he used her mouth.

  Mason stopped and removed himself immediately. “Get on all fours,” he growled. Laura smiled and obeyed, leaning over so her ass was sticking up in the air. Mason marched into the bedroom and returned with a riding crop.

  “You deliberately disobeyed me, didn’t you?” He tested the crop against his open palm.

  The sound of leather on skin turned Laura liquid inside. “Yes, sir. I did.”

  “What did I tell you would happen if you didn’t keep your hands to yourself?” He cracked his palm again.

  Laura flinched at the sound. “That you would punish me.”

  Mason dragged the tip up and over her seam. It got him off to see her shudder with pleasure.

  The first blow caught Laura by surprise. She cried out as the crop came down on the sensitive flesh of her bottom the second time.

  “I’m thinking three more times ought to do it.” He teased the leather tongue against her clitoris; she bucked and strained for more pressure in response.

  The third lash snapped against the aching bundle of nerves, sending a shockwave through her. Laura didn’t understand how, but she was turned on almost to the point of pain. She thought if she didn’t come soon, she would drop dead for sure.

  The fourth strike landed across the back of her thighs. She wriggled her ass in the air and moaned. Only one more to go.

  Mason paused. He wanted the waiting to be her punishment. She clearly enjoyed the actual striking part, so he would get her with the anticipation. He watched as she rubbed her thighs together in frustration. When she slipped her hands between her legs was when he had a problem. “Stop right there, or you get five more. You do not touch yourself unless I say so, nor do you come until I tell you to.”

  Laura froze and whimpered. “Please, Mason. This is killing me!” Every nerve in her body was firing. She was begging to be touched and put out of her misery.

  With a smile he cracked one last lash against her clitoris.

  The sting nearly pushed her over the edge. She could feel the orgasm; she just needed one last nudge to make it happen. “Please, Mason. I need you.”

  Enough was enough for the punishment. He didn’t need her to beg or feel humiliated, and he’d toed that line pretty close. He sat on the edge of the couch, the cool leather sticking to the back of his legs, and pulled Laura in close to him on the floor. Without saying a word he pulled her up to kneeling and spread her legs. “Just a reminder that you do as I say.” He stroked a fingertip over her clitoris, culling mewls and moans from Laura’s mouth. “You’ve been a good girl. Now you get what you want.” He leaned back and allowed Laura to climb up onto his lap and straddle him.

  She lowered herself onto his cock and rocked her hips, grinding against his pelvis to finally get some relief. She was going to take what she wanted.

  Mason dug his fingers into her hips as she rocked and bucked, picking up the pace as she neared her peak. Laura closed her eyes and completely let go, letting the rhythm of her body take over.

  Mason watched on as Laura became primal, totally animal. The way her breasts bounced, the way her ass slapped against his thighs, and the look of complete abandon on her face were the most erotic sights he had ever experienced. He moaned and matched her thrust for thrust as she rode him.

  Laura gripped Mason’s shoulders as she came completely unglued. “Fuck, Mason!” she cried, moaning his name over and over as waves of pleasure washed over her.

  “Christ, you feel so good.” Laura’s muscles pulsed around his cock as she came and collapsed on top of him. Mason lifted his hips and held on to her limp body as he pounded into her. He cried out as he emptied himself inside of her.

  Neither of them moved for several minutes. Mason stayed buried inside of her as she nuzzled her face into his neck.

  “Mmm. You smell so good.” Laura nipped his earlobe.

  “Ah! That tickles, stop.” Mason wiped his ear against his shoulder. He traced lines gently up and down Laura’s spine, making her quiver around him. His cock twitched in response.

  “Laura, do you really want to leave tomorrow?”

  Laura scooted off of his lap and sat down on her ancient afghan. It could be washed later. “Yeah. I do. I think the time away will be good for us, and I’m cracking under the stress. We don’t have anything to do until Monday, so let’s just get out of dodge if we can.”

  Mason studied her for signs of something else. “Why don’t you go and get yourself cleaned up while I call the pilot? Okay?”

  “Definitely. I’ll go jump in the shower.” Laura kissed Mason on the cheek and headed into the bathroom.

  Mason fished his phone out of his pants pocket and strolled into the kitchen for a drink. He listened to the ringing while he pulled ice out of the freezer and opened a cabinet for a glass.

  “Newport Jets. This is Marissa, how may I help you?”

  “Hello, Marissa. This is Mason Decker, and I have a flight scheduled for Monday at nine. Could you let the pilot know I will need to change that for tomorrow?”

  “I can check, but I’m not sure if that’s enough time to file a flight plan. What time did you need to leave?”

  Mason smacked the ice cube tray against the granite countertop, snagging the drawer pull with his little finger. Something inside caught his eye and he pulled it all the way open.

  “Mr. Decker? What time were you looking to take off?”

  Mason reached in and pulled out a handful of what looked like crushed flower petals. “As soon as possible, please.”

  “I’m going to put you on hold for a moment. I think the pilot for your flight is still in the building.”

  “Sure. I’ll hold.” A saxophone version of Lady in Red came on over the phone line. Mason winced at the cheesiness of the Muzak.

  After rummaging around another minute he pulled out a stack of paper. He turned the pile over and was stunned to find out they were all photos of Laura in various degrees of undress and the poems she had received.

  Mason’s heart sank. Roses, nude photos, what else was she hiding? He snuck into the bedroom and pressed his ear to the bathroom door. Good, the water was still running. He searched under cushions and in the coat closet. He rummaged through every nook and cranny of the apartment to find nothing. Finally, he performed a mad dash around the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets until he came to the pair under the sink.

  That’s where he found the pink box with the ermine stole. The shower knobs squeaked and the sound of running water stopped. Mason shoved everything back where he found it.

  “Thank you for holding, Mr. Decker. I just spoke to the pilot. He said he’d file his flight plan tonight so you should be able to leave by four or so tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Perfect. Thank you so much.” Mason hung up and slid is phone across the counter in a huff. What was he going to do? What did all this stuff mean? Did she have somebody else? Was that admirer back? This had to be why she was acting so
strange.

  “Did you get the flight changed?” Laura came out of the bathroom squeezing the water from her hair with a white bath towel. She hadn’t bothered to wrap her body in anything.

  “Yeah. Um, we take off tomorrow at four. Go ahead and start getting packed.” Mason couldn’t keep the hurt out of his voice.

  “Hey what happened? Are you all right?” Laura padded into the kitchen.

  Mason stared at the floor. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her.

  “Mase, what happened?” Laura felt him stiffen as she cupped his cheek.

  “What are you hiding from me?” Mason blurted out.

  “I’m sorry. What?” Laura felt her pulse pick up. Her palms were suddenly sweaty.

  “What are you hiding from me? There has to be something. I can feel it.” Please just tell me the truth!

  “I’m not hiding anything from you.” Liar! You’re a lying liar McLiarpants! Just tell him.

  “Why are you lying to me?” A tear slipped down his cheek. He couldn’t lose her again. His heart just couldn’t take it.

  “I’m not lying. I’m just not sure I want to talk about it.” Laura brushed her thumb over his cheek. “I promise, when I figure it out, I’ll tell you everything.”

  “Is there another man?” Mason’s temper ignited. He wouldn’t let her go without a fight.

  “No. Well, no. I don’t know. Something weird is going on and I have no idea what it is.” Laura turned on her heel and disappeared into the bedroom.

  She didn’t want to acknowledge out loud that she was being watched. It felt like if she just kept hiding the photos and paraphernalia then these things weren’t really happening to her. She didn’t want to drag Mason into her mess. Especially since she didn’t know exactly what her mess was.

  Mason appeared in the doorway and leaned against the frame. “I think someone is stalking you. We need to go to the police.”

  “Rationally, I will agree with you, but I’m kind of hoping that our little European jaunt will put the kibosh on this thing once and for all. I’ll be gone for a month, and he or she will have that time without me to follow around.” Her logic was flawed, but followed the principle of “if you ignore it, it will go away.”