Beautifully Brutal (Southern Boy Mafia #1)

by Nicole Edwards

  “You taste so fucking good.” Max continued to eat her, devouring her with his tongue, fucking into her and circling her clit before sucking it into his mouth.

  Courtney’s hands clutched his head, her fingers pulling his hair as she pulled him closer, fucking his face as intently as he was thrusting into her. He continued, relentlessly bringing her as much pleasure as he could right there in the empty club. If he had any patience whatsoever, he’d have stopped long enough to find some booze to pour over her, just so he could lap it up from between her thighs.

  But he didn’t. Rather than waste a second, he fucked her with his tongue, thrusting it into her over and over as she bucked her hips against him, her fingers tightening in his hair as she yanked his head closer.

  “Max,” she said breathlessly. “Fuck yes. I’m gonna come. Don’t stop. Never stop. Oh, God!”

  Courtney’s release was his only goal; making her come against his mouth was the only thing he could think about.

  He held out, teasing her slow, then fast, repeating over and over until she was begging, pleading for him to make her come. Only then did he give in, focusing all of his attention on her needy little clit until she was screaming loudly enough to surely alert the men who were standing guard around all the entrances.

  Not that he cared.

  This woman… She was all that mattered. Her pleasure, her love, her very soul was all that he needed, and now that he had it, Max knew that their lives were just beginning.

  And he was looking forward to the ride.

  Courtney hopped down from the bar, nearly toppling him when she practically fell on him. “I think it’s time you take me up to the penthouse,” she whispered. “And since you’ve got nothing else to do tonight—except for me—I think we should start with a bath.”

  “And then?” he inquired, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her when her lips glided against his.

  “And then … we’ll just take it one step at a time.”

  “Have I told you that I love you lately?” he asked.

  Courtney smiled. “Yes, but I’m happy to hear you say it over and over again…” Her smile widened. “While you’re buried to the hilt inside me.”

  “I can do that,” he told her. “I can certainly do that.”

  That’s exactly what Max did.

  Until the sun came up.

  And then he started all over again.

  One step at a time, just like Courtney said.

  Epilogue

  Beautifully brutal … even then there’s a happy ending.

  One month later

  Courtney sat at the table in the dimly lit Italian restaurant beside Max while they waited for her parents to arrive.

  “Nervous?” Max inquired, smiling over at her.

  “Me? I’m married to a mob boss. Why on earth would I be nervous?”

  Max laughed, a full, hearty sound that made her body tingle.

  For the past few weeks, they’d been getting through one day at a time, moving forward, figuring out how this thing between them worked.

  Was it easy?

  Hardly.

  But that didn’t mean she wasn’t happy, because she was. At least as far as her love life was concerned.

  She and Max had gotten married in a very simple ceremony. In Vegas. Where the only witnesses had been Dane and Leyton. They hadn’t told anyone else about it, but that was something they’d both wanted. As far as Courtney was concerned, marriage was a piece of paper that did little to reflect what their relationship truly meant. They’d been to hell and back, suffered for so long that getting to this point had seemed nearly impossible at one point.

  Yet they’d made it.

  The only obstacle left to hurdle was the one that had put a strain on her relationship with her family. As much as Courtney wished she could shrug it off and pretend it didn’t gut her from the inside out, she couldn’t. And making amends with them was important. Even Max had recognized that, and that was the very reason they were at a restaurant, preparing to have dinner with her parents.

  When her father and mother arrived, Courtney’s heart fluttered in her chest. She was so happy to see them, even if the feeling might not be mutual.

  The second her mother met her gaze, Courtney saw relief, and in turn, she released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  Once they approached the table, Max stood, offering his hand to Casper. Courtney’s father glared down at it but finally returned the gesture. Courtney’s mother leaned down and hugged her tightly, sending another surge of emotion through her.

  “Thanks for coming,” Courtney told them.

  “Did you doubt we would?” Casper inquired, glancing between her and Max.

  Courtney shrugged.

  Casper sighed.

  “I’m sorry,” Casper told her directly. “I know I’ve been a little difficult to get along with lately, but I hope you understand my position. It’s not every day that I find out my only daughter has run off and gotten married. Without telling anyone.”

  Casper glared at Max.

  “It wasn’t his fault,” Courtney explained. “Fact was, I didn’t want anyone there. We’ve…” Courtney glanced at Max briefly. “We’ve been through a lot in the last few months. And we know, no matter how we slice it up, there will always be a difference between what you do and what he does. I’m no longer questioning that. It’s just the way it is now.”

  “Don’t feel bad,” Max said roughly, “my sisters weren’t too thrilled, either.”

  Liz chuckled. “Her brothers had a few choice words to say as well. Not to mention Marissa.”

  “I really wanted y’all to come tonight so we could…” Courtney wasn’t quite sure how to phrase it, but she needed to change the subject.

  “Call a truce?” Casper asked when she didn’t finish her statement.

  “Yes,” she said with a smile. “That works. Can we call a truce?”

  Casper looked at Max, then back at her. “I think it’s possible. Under one condition.”

  Great. Leave it to her father to make this into some sort of business arrangement.

  Liz touched Casper’s arm, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “What’s that?” Courtney asked, not sure she wanted to hear it.

  “I need you to help out at Sniper 1,” he told her.

  Courtney instantly shook her head. “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Hear him out.” Those words, out of Max’s mouth, surprised her.

  “I’m not askin’ you to babysit anyone, but you’re a valuable part of the company. Your expertise, your skill… They don’t come along every day. You can call the shots on what you help with. I’m not askin’ you to make a choice here. I know what your choice is. I’m just not ready to let you go from my life completely.”

  Tears clouded her vision as she listened to her father’s heartfelt words. He was saying so much more than his words did. And she loved him for that. Didn’t mean she’d take him up on the offer, but she would definitely consider it.

  “So, from this moment forward, let’s start over. We’re always gonna be your parents, and we’re always gonna worry about you and question your choices.” Casper grinned slyly. “But we also know that we raised a smart woman. And just because we don’t necessarily agree with all your decisions, we understand why you made them.”

  “What your father’s having a hard time saying,” Liz interrupted, “is that we love you. That’ll never change. In the long run, we only want to make sure you’re happy and safe.”

  Max’s arm came around her shoulder. “Thank you,” she told them, relief swamping her.

  Casper’s gaze darted over to Max’s once again. “Don’t thank me yet. You’ve yet to join us for a family dinner.”

  Max laughed. “Don’t worry, when that time comes, I’ll be sure to double my security.”

  Casper’s grin widened. “You do that. Just remember, you’re up against the best in the business.”

  Courtney
looked at Max, grinning when he peered down at her. “Trust me,” Max said with a smile, “that’s not something I’ll ever forget.”

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  I hope you enjoyed Max and Courtney’s story. Beautifully Brutal is the first book in the Southern Boy Mafia series, which is a spin-off from the Sniper 1 Security series. You can read more about Courtney’s family (the good guys) here.

  Want to see some fun stuff related to the Southern Boy Mafia series, you can find extras on my website. Or how about what’s coming next? I keep my website updated with the books I’m working on, including the writing progression of what’s coming up for the Southern Boy Mafia series.

  If you’re interested in keeping up to date on the Adorites as well as receiving updates on all that I’m working on, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter.

  Want a simple, fast way to get updates on new releases? You can also sign up for text messaging. I promise not to spam your phone. This is just my way of letting you know what’s happening because I know you’re busy, but if you’re anything like me, you always have your phone on you.

  And last but certainly not least, if you want to see what’s going on with me each week, sign up for my weekly Hot Sheet! It’s a short, entertaining weekly update of things going on in my life and that of the team that supports me. We’re a little crazy at times and this is a firsthand account of our antics.

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  Keep reading for a preview of

  WITHOUT REGRET

  (Devil’s Playground #1)

  Nicole Edwards

  Copyright © Nicole Edwards, 2015

  Release Date: July 7, 2015

  1

  The dark interior of the casino called his name but Isaiah Fontenot doubted the voices were saying the same things to him that they were saying to most of the people surrounding him.

  Hit me!

  Stand!

  Come on six!

  No, those weren’t the same voices he was hearing. Not today anyway.

  Isaiah wasn’t drawn to the flashing lights of the slot machines or the cheers coming from the blackjack tables. Nor did he find any interest in the chaos that surrounded the craps tables.

  Then again, he wasn’t a gambler—at least not when it came to casino games. Other things in life, sure.

  So, it only made sense that he wasn’t hearing those voices in his head as he snaked his way through the various slot machines, past the line of blackjack tables teaming with people. Unlike most of the people in the place, he wasn’t seeking a way to discard some of his hard earned money in minutes. No, Isaiah was actually looking for someone.

  A woman.

  More accurately, a beautiful woman. One who had found herself in a shit ton of trouble as of late and had somehow ended up as Isaiah’s problem.

  Being that he was from Las Vegas, lived and worked on the Vegas strip—in the very casino he currently traversed, in fact—Isaiah didn’t have much interest in the tourist hot spot, didn’t find intrigue in the sights and sounds of money being spent hand over fist in an effort to hit the big one, all with enormous hopes of coming out a winner. However, he did see the merits of using the place as a hideout, as the woman seemed to be doing.

  With a cautious eye on his surroundings, Isaiah continued toward the bar.

  Nope, nothing.

  No spark of excitement in his gut, no antsy fingers ready to hit or stand. In fact, Isaiah was certain he’d been desensitized to it over the years. Although he wasn’t opposed to gambling as a whole, he simply tended to lean toward a different type of risk, something a little less … controlled.

  Not to mention, the family he worked for wouldn’t take too kindly to him gambling on the job. He’d been sent on this particular mission in order to locate a specific person, who, according to his boss, wouldn’t be too keen on going with him once he did finally locate her, but that was a challenge Isaiah was up for.

  Good thing he knew how to make things happen, it was one of the reasons the family he worked for depended on him and his twin brother Micah to run the show in Las Vegas. They’d been in charge of one of Vegas’s swankiest nightclubs, Devil’s Playground, for the past five years and had, over time, established quite the reputation.

  As he eased up against the bar, Isaiah peered around, pretending to be looking for someone. It was partially true, he was looking for someone, someone he’d already located. In fact, he’d made eye contact with the copper-haired goddess, even offered a smile that reflected his feigned interest. Or he hoped it did anyway.

  Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  In an attempt to appear casual, Isaiah ordered a drink and then retrieved his cell phone from his pocket while he waited. Thumbing the screen, he pulled up his contact list. He didn’t have to scroll too far to find the information for Maximillian Adorite. Pulling the number up, he hit the button to send a text.

  Found her.

  Less than a minute later, he received a response back: report when you have more information.

  Knowing his boss didn’t need unnecessary pleasantries, Isaiah pocketed his phone as he retrieved his drink from the bartender. He sipped the top shelf, single malt scotch, allowing his gaze to once again roam the area. His mark hadn’t left from where she sat alone at a corner table. She looked nervous as hell and Isaiah couldn’t very well blame her. Despite the fact that he worked for the Texas family known as the Southern Boy Mafia, by far one of the most powerful and influential organized crime families in Texas, this girl … well, she’d inadvertently gotten in bed with some pretty nasty people and his boss had asked that he pull her into the fold in order to protect her.

  Strange that. Isaiah wasn’t used to tracking people, or saving them, as was the case here, but he didn’t defy orders—nor did he question them—when they came down.

  So here he was.

  Waiting.

  Max Adorite wasn’t known much for his kindness, but ever since Max married Courtney Kogan, he’d gotten a little soft. Not that Isaiah would ever let anyone hear him say that. After all, he didn’t have a death wish. Apparently, with this particular gig, Max was doing a favor for his wife. According to the information he’d been given, the mystery woman’s family had sought out the Sniper 1 Security team to help locate, and protect, the woman’s brother, and since Courtney’s family owned the business, and the incident was in Vegas, they’d leaned on her to help out because they knew Max had business there.

  And now Isaiah was involved.

  Micah should’ve been as well, but … he was MIA. As was usually the case during the daylight hours.

  For a brief moment, Isaiah allowed his gaze to slide over the mystery woman whose life he was about to save, although his methods would likely be questioned. Not that he gave a shit. He got things done and he knew just what the situation warranted.

  He’d known what she looked like thanks to the picture Max had provided, but the camera hadn’t done her justice. Her long hair looked like copper silk hanging over her slender shoulders and caressing the tops of her breasts. From his vantage point, he could also tell that she had a really, really nice rack—something that hadn’t been evident in her picture—hidden beneath a snug, black tank top.

  Her clear, sea green eyes glimmered in the dim lights shining over her as she peered out from beneath her lashes, pretending not to notice him watching her. With the way the lights shown down on her, her alabaster skin appeared soft and smooth, and despite his mission, and the notion that the woman would likely freak once he officially introduced himself, Isaiah couldn’t deny the instant attraction he felt for her.

  Not that he was looking for a woman. He had enough of those to deal with on a nightly basis, all types, all races, all shapes and sizes. He loved women, all of them, but he didn’t have to go searching for one. Being that he managed Devil’s Playground—Max’s Vegas nightclub, named the same as its sister locations in Dallas and New York—he had his pick of the litter on any give
n night. Being that the club was located in one of the ritziest hotels on the strip, Isaiah didn’t have to worry about relationships either, thanks to the tourists that strolled in and out of his world almost instantly. In this city, people were usually just visiting, merely a temporary distraction as far as he was concerned.

  But, tonight, before he went to work, Isaiah had another job. One that required him to move away from the bar and talk to this woman before she slipped away and he had to spend hours searching for her again.

  When she finished her drink, he decided to make his move. Taking his glass with him, he made his way over to her. Smiling, he decided to forego a cheesy line in the hopes that direct would be the better angle.

  “Mind if I buy you a drink?” he asked as he approached, watching the attractive woman intently.

  And for the first time in all of his thirty-eight years, Isaiah experienced something he’d never encountered before. The woman whose attention he was looking to attract took one look at him and … panicked.

  Yep, that was certainly new.

  Without Regret is available for preorder now!

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  About Nicole

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nicole Edwards lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, their three kids, and four rambunctious dogs. When she’s not writing about sexy alpha males, Nicole can often be found with her Kindle in hand or making an attempt to keep the dogs happy. You can find her hanging out on Facebook and interacting with her readers - even when she’s supposed to be writing.

  Nicole also writes contemporary/new adult romance as Timberlyn Scott.

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  www.NicoleEdwardsAuthor.com

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  Acknowledgments

  I have to thank my family first, for putting up with my craziness. From my sudden outbursts when I think of something that needs to be added or when I question why one of the characters did what they did, to the strange hours that I keep and the days on end when I’m MIA because I’m under deadline or just engrossed in a story… Y’all are incredibly tolerant of me and for that, I am forever grateful. I love you with all that I am.