“Ian,” she muttered his name against his lips, need threaded into the notes of lust.
As long as she felt something for him, he’d take it.
“Hm?” He kissed a trail down her neck, exploring the flesh right up to the V of her shirt.
Taylor clawed at his shirt, pulling it up his back and over his head.
He sat up, tossing the garment onto the floor.
She stretched her hands up over her head, her curvy body on display. He could imagine every inch of her, the swell of her breasts, her soft stomach, the flare of her hips. They were all familiar to him, and should be considering how much time he’d spent getting acquainted.
He pushed her shirt up and kissed her belly, above her navel, below it.
If this was all they had, he wanted to make it count.
They were never promised another second, one more memory, which was why each time had to matter.
He slipped the button of her jeans through the hole and spread them back. A couple inches of white cotton hid the rest of her from view.
“Ian.” She shifted against the bed.
“Hm?”
“You take too long.”
“You’re always in such a hurry. Maybe I want to look my fill, hm?” He grinned at her, but she didn’t seem to appreciate it.
Ian hooked his fingers in her jeans and dragged them down her hips, catching her underwear along the way. He stripped both down her legs and dropped the clothes off the side of the bed. Taylor sat up, reaching for him.
She’d never be someone to lay back and let things happen.
Oh, the reasons why she made him crazy.
Taylor had his jeans open and her hand down his shorts faster than he could stop her. He groaned at the feel of her tight grip.
“Did you bring your bag in?” she asked.
“Yeah. Fuck.”
He fisted her hair, hauling her closer until he could kiss her mouth.
He’d become used to her tricks, what she liked. He wasn’t falling for that, but she didn’t have to know.
Taylor pushed him away first, scrambling to yank off her shirt and bra.
He stood, nearly tripping on his bag.
Ian stripped off his jeans then snagged a condom from the depths of his bag. A lot of his things had been left behind in their quick exodus but rubbers weren’t one of them. Granted, the way they’d gone through them he’d made sure to stash a handful here and there.
Taylor went up on her knees, hooking her arm around his neck. He dipped his head, bending her backward. She slid her hands down his chest then around his cock, her eager little noises urging him on.
He had to prove to her that they were good for more than just sex, but it started here, where they connected.
She pulled the condom from his fingers, freeing his hand to explore her breasts and tease her tight nipples. He swallowed her gasps and moans, eager for more. The foil packet rustled and tore.
They weren’t ready for that, yet.
He cupped her mound, pressing his fingers into her folds.
Shit.
Maybe they were.
Taylor groaned words he didn’t understand, her hips working, urging him deeper.
She pulled back and glared at the packet, her lips glossy even in the semi-darkness. She ripped it open, plucked the condom out, and reached for him. There was no hesitation in her movements, no shyness. She was a woman who knew what she wanted in this moment. He just had to figure out how to keep her wanting him all the time.
“I want to feel you inside of me.” She palmed his cock, then rolled the condom on.
He’d chase the shadows from her eyes the best he could.
Taylor let go of him and sat back on her heels. She flashed him a smile and turned, presenting him with the most alluring vision of her heart-shaped ass.
God damn, she was something else.
He crawled up onto the bed after her, grasping her by her hips. She pitched forward onto her hands, then dropped to her elbows.
Ian grasped his cock and guided himself through her folds, feeling the heat of her, her slickness. She pushed back, ever the eager one to get on with it.
He held his breath as he slipped into her, her tight muscles contracting around the head of his cock.
Fuck, she felt so good wrapped around him like this.
She sank onto him, his penetration eased by how slick she was. He watched her, his mind filling in what he couldn’t see in the growing darkness, how pink her skin was, the way it glistened with arousal.
If he let her, she’d ride him to the fastest orgasm of his life.
Ian planted his hand against her lower back and leaned over her, pressing her down to the mattress, her ass nestled against his hips, his cock buried inside of her. She turned her head, peering up at him. He nuzzled the side of her face and kissed her cheek.
He’d make her forget the here and now, but it’d be on his terms. They weren’t in a hurry.
Ian pushed her hair over her shoulder and kissed her shoulder, up the nape of her neck. She shifted under him, trying to move, but he had her pinned.
“Ian.” The way she said his name, mixed with frustration and lust, was a heady drug.
“Hm?” He twisted some of her hair around his fingers and tugged.
She lifted her chin off the pillows. He pulled out and kissed her, swallowing her groan. She whimpered when he flexed his hips, pushing back in.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Fuck me.”
“Like this?” He watched her face closely.
“Harder.”
“No.”
She tried to push up, but he didn’t let her move.
He wanted to drive her crazy, to make her feel what he felt.
She wiggled her knees up, just enough to thrust her bottom against him. He wrapped his hands around hers, fisting the sheets between her fingers and his.
He kissed her shoulder, her neck, to keep from saying the words he wanted to lay out there for her. It was crazy, probably a little stupid, but why fight it? He wanted Taylor in his life and he was willing to fight for her, with her, to make that happen.
She worked her hips in time with his, giving into his slow, sensual assault of her body.
Taylor turned her head, seeking his mouth. He cupped her cheek drinking her in. If he could fill her up with him, would that make her stay? Would she want him as badly as he wanted her?
“A little harder,” she said between gasps.
He pulled out and thrust, giving her what she asked for. Taylor groaned and buried her face in the sheets. He knew those noises. She was close. He braced his hands on the bed, undulating against her, pumping deep.
Ian kept his lips on her skin. He nipped her neck, kissed her shoulder.
“Oh, oh—Ian...” Her voice hitched up at the end.
She pushed her hips up as her muscles constricted, pulling him deeper.
His vision blurred, her orgasm spurring his on in a sudden rush of pleasure. He wrapped his arms around her, pushing deeper until they were joined as completely as possible.
“Fuckin’—Taylor. Fuck, God, I love you.”
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the smell of her, the warmth of her body.
“W-what did you say?” Taylor twisted away from him, her eyes wide.
“Huh?”
“What did you say?” she said, a dangerous edge in her voice.
He hadn’t said that out loud, had he?
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Ian eased out of her and sat up. Taylor scrambled off the bed and into the bathroom without a single glance over her shoulder. He winced at the door banging shut.
19.
Julia applied a bit more lipstick and pursed her lips at her reflection.
If Danny wanted to wine and dine Vito, fine. There were bigger fish to fry.
The bosses and their underlings these days failed to follow the old code. There was no universal silent understanding a
bout how things operated. These days, the wise guys snapped Instagram pictures from outside their boss’ houses, behind the wheel of the cars. A smart lady could learn a lot about the men in her world, if she just kept her eyes open.
A year ago, Julia had a guy worked over for slapping his girlfriend around. It wasn’t because Julia had any ideals about how a man should treat his wife. In Julia’s mind, the girl shouldn’t have been stupid enough to be with a man like that. The point was that the girl was the daughter of an ambitious underboss in a rival family.
That same underboss had been promoted to boss when his predecessor met an untimely end.
The young lady was the faithful type, always looking to repay Julia for the act of so-called kindness.
Us ladies have to stick together, or some such bullshit.
Tonight, that single act was paying off in a big way.
The girl had verified that her father and the other four bosses were convening a session of the council in her apartment. An apartment Julia had helped furnish as a gift.
If the men running their world forgot one very important thing, it was that their world was built on the backs of the women who kept their houses, washed their clothes, and filled their bellies. There were no deals to be done, if those very simple things weren’t taken care of. They wanted to look down on her? Fine. See what happened at home. At work. Those silent business partners they liked to call wives and secretaries would change their minds.
The side entrance to the building opened and a woman in a wrap dress with dark hair stepped out. She glanced left, then right.
Julia slid out of the driver’s seat. These days she didn’t often drive herself, but tonight was an exception. She was about to do something ill advised, but history did not reward the meek. She hadn’t gotten this far by playing by the men’s rules.
If her own boss wanted her dead and hadn’t issued the kill order, there had to be a reason why. Something working in her favor, and she was going to find out what it was. Make her own case. Once they saw what an asset she was, someone would surely change their mind. Or she’d make them.
“They just walked in there like they own the place.” The young woman glared at the ceiling.
“I’ll take care of it. Find somewhere else to be. Go get a coffee or your hair done.” Julia nudged the young woman out the door. The less she saw, the better. If things went south, Julia wanted as few witnesses as possible.
“Call me when you’re done? We can get a late dinner.”
“Sure thing, kid.”
Yeah right, as soon as Julia was done here, she had a husband to put in his rightful place: six feet under.
Julia marched up the stairs, mentally running through her monologue, all the reasons why they should trust her more, not less. And if they didn’t like words, well, she’d packed a gun, too.
The bosses were required to attend these things alone and unarmed, which gave her the upper hand on all accounts.
She reached the floor and walked down the hall, counting the apartment numbers in her head.
Danny would be sorry he’d gone to Vito instead of her.
Julia wrapped her hand around the doorknob and sucked in a deep breath.
This was her moment. She’d make her case. They’d see how valuable she could be.
She pushed the door open and pasted a cool smile on her lips.
The men’s voices died down.
She bumped the door shut with her hip as her gaze met each of the five pair of eyes looking her way.
“Evening, gentlemen,” she said.
“Julia, what the hell are you doing here?” The Colombo boss had a cigar between his teeth and a plume of smoke rising above him.
“I had a business proposition to present to you.” She slowly reached into her purse.
“You ain’t supposed to be here,” the oldest one of the bunch peered at her from under bushy eyebrows.
“Maybe not, but well-behaved women rarely make history.” She presented the tablet to them screen first. “Hear me out?”
“What’s this? You can’t control your own people?” Bushy leaned toward the Colombo boss, gesturing at her like she hadn’t even spoken.
“Julia.” Her boss rose to his feet and stalked across the room toward her. “You can’t be here.”
“Well, I’m here. Hear me out. You won’t be sorry.” She shifted the tablet into her left hand.
The current Mr. Colombo was a big man with a mean streak a mile wide. Julia backed up a step, then another.
“You made a mistake coming here, Jules.” His voice rumbled low in his chest. The way he looked at her...
She slid her hand into her purse, gripped the gun in the interior pocket and pulled the trigger. The silencer and bag only muffled the shot so much.
Mr. Colombo cried out and went to the floor, hitting one knee before curling up on his side, clutching his leg.
“Holy shit.”
“What the fuck?”
“Julia, what did you do?”
The questions kept coming.
The other four men stood up.
Blood mixed with adrenaline pumped through her veins.
She dropped the bag and leveled the gun at each of the other four men.
“None of this would have happened if you’d just listened. Why can’t you listen? What’s wrong with a broad being at the table, huh?”
Busy Eyebrows pushed to his feet and took a step toward the door.
He thought he could just turn his back on her? That she’d go away?
These men had profited from her hard work, from her plans, her businesses, and they thought they could just hand it over to Vito? The kid couldn’t even pull the trigger.
Julia roared, squeezing off another round.
Two of the remaining men sat there, staring at her.
The third lunged toward her.
Julia swung her arm and squeezed off a shot.
She missed, hitting one of the bosses on the sofa before she fired another time, stopping her would-be attacker in his tracks.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” the remaining man on the sofa said.
Julia stared at the blood soaking into the carpet. The groans of pain, the gasping for breath felt so removed. Distant.
What had she done?
Mr. Colombo was a dangerous man.
She’d defended herself.
And then what?
“I had to do it.” She glanced up at the remaining boss staring at her, his face white as a sheet.
“I believe you.” He held up his hands.
“You’re going to tell people what I did.”
“No, really, I won’t. I’m—I—thank you. Really. These guys? They were a pain to deal with. You? You’re, uh...”
Lies.
These were lies.
The bosses had intended to kill her.
They would for sure, now, if they knew she was responsible.
She lifted her arm and pulled the trigger, emptying the clip.
Still numb, Julia took a moment to wipe the toe of her shoe and collect the remains of her purse before stumbling out the door.
A little boy and his mother stared at her.
She’d killed her other witnesses. She had no more bullets left. Which meant she needed to think.
To say something.
No one would believe she’d just killed the Commission.
She was a woman.
Alone.
Of course she was a victim.
“T-they burst in and shot the place up.” Julia pointed into the room. “Call 9-1-1! Someone, anyone, help. Please? Someone?”
She threw her head back and screamed.
The woman and child skittered down the hall and disappeared into the elevator nook.
Julia turned, quickstepping to the stairs.
She had a couple of hours before someone talked. The girl knew she’d come here. There’d be footage of her on the security cameras walking in. Always presume someone knew the truth. It was the be
st way to operate in this day and age.
The car was still waiting by the curb without even a parking ticket to scold her for illegally leaving the vehicle.
She got behind the wheel, her hands just now beginning to tremble. And why?
It wasn’t the first time she’d killed someone.
But she’d never put an end to powerful people.
There would be repercussions.
When the Commission was taken down by the FBI, it nearly started an all-out war for power.
Julia could put herself forward as the next face of the family, but she needed backing. She hadn’t exactly become a favorite with the other capos, much less the underbosses like Danny.
She started the car, pointing it toward home.
Tonight, she and Vito were supposed to go to Seattle to put an end to this Taylor nonsense. With Julia’s boss dead, Taylor didn’t matter as much. Unless someone like Danny took power.
Hardly fifteen minutes into her drive and her phone rang. She’d left it in the car so she wouldn’t be disturbed. Under normal circumstances, she’d answer, which meant she had to do so now.
“What is it?” she said by way of a greeting.
“Julia, it’s Marco.” A fellow capo and friend, Marco was one of the few she could count on to have her back. Normally. Unless others were at play.
“What?”
“You’re never gonna believe this.”
“What is it, Marco? I’m busy.”
“Someone just shot up half the Commission.”
“Half?” She’d put bullets in all of them.
“Yeah, word is, three were dead on the scene, the other two are in the hospital.”
She hadn’t exactly paused to check their pulses.
Mr. Colombo...
She’d stepped over him while he was clutching his leg.
Who else?
Julia had gone a bit blind back there.
Maybe she was in more trouble than she realized.
“You there, Jules?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Are you pulling my leg or something?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Keep me in the loop. This could be bad for us. Any idea who did it?”
“My bet is on Mara Salvatrucha.”
Julia swallowed.
She had regular dealings with the MS-13 leaders. It’d been a feather in her cap that she, unlike others, could work with them toward a common, profitable goal. If fingers pointed their way, they’d soon find Julia as well. There were more than a few who whispered about the understanding she had with the other gang.
Alpha Prince (Twisted Royals, #1) Page 18
