by Bethany-Kris
But it hurt, too.
“Fuck me,” Melina begged. “God, please.”
There was no order to her words, not a demand in her tone. She was weak under his hands and Mac took that in like a drug.
“It’ll be my pleasure, doll.”
Kissing her until he couldn’t breathe and his cock was harder than steel, Mac ground his pelvis into her wet center. He could feel her arousal dampening the fabric of his boxer-briefs and leaving her mark behind. The heels of Melina’s shoes bit into the backs of his thighs while her fingernails scored lines over his shoulders.
Mac let Melina drop to the floor on shaky legs. “Arm of the couch, now.”
Melina’s hooded gaze fell down to where Mac’s cock was straining inside the underwear he wore. “Jesus.”
“Now,” he repeated darkly.
She didn’t need to be told again. Mac watched Melina’s ass sway back and forth as she crossed the space from the entrance to the couch. At the arm, she placed her hands to the supple butternut-colored leather and bent over. All over again, her wet, pink flesh of her sex peeked out at him.
Promising.
Begging.
Needing.
Mac shoved his boxer-briefs down and grabbed ahold of his cock. Melina watched him over her shoulder and sucked on her bottom lip as he stroked his member. Then he tore open the foil pack and sheathed his length in latex. He quickly closed the space between them until he was behind Melina and running his palms over the sexy swell of her ass. Mac let his erection rest on her backside. It gave him just enough friction to keep his body awake but not nearly the amount that he craved.
A single snap of his hand cracked against her ass. The sound bounced off the walls. Melina backed into his palm, moaning.
“Like that, do you?” he asked huskily.
Melina’s head dipped down, her hair hiding her face. “I just want to fuck.”
“You want me to fuck you.”
“Yes.”
Grabbing the base of his cock, Mac dragged the tip down the crack of her ass and through her fleshy lips. At the entrance of her sex, he pushed in just enough to stretch her open like he had before with his fingers. With his hand pressing down on the small of her back, forcing her to stay bent over the arm of the couch, she couldn’t move or back into him.
“We’ll do this again,” Mac promised.
Melina sighed shakily. “Will we?”
“Oh, yes. Because tonight is going to be fast, hard, and dirty. Next time, we’ll take a little more time. You don’t mind that, do you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Mac let go of his cock and slid home with one hard thrust. The grip Melina had on the arm of the couch let go from the force of Mac entering her. Keeping his one hand on her back, he used his other to fist her hair and pull it aside. He wanted to see her face when he fucked her. He wanted to know what she looked like when a man was owning her like this.
She didn’t disappoint.
With her teeth biting hard into her bottom lip, and her eyes wide open, Melina was the sexiest sight Mac had ever seen. She struggled for a grip on the couch as he pounded into her from behind. Her rolling cries seared into his mind, promising to stay there long after the night was over. She backed into his cock, meeting every crack of his hips. Mac could see how wet she was when he looked down, and he was lost watching the view of his cock disappearing into her supple, pink pussy.
Skin on skin.
Perspiration dotted down her spine. Pleasure licked up his.
He could still fucking taste her in his mouth.
Her scent was all over him.
Mac’s fingers ached from holding her so tight.
“Harder,” Melina pleaded.
Mac tugged on her hair, forcing her head back until her teeth bared for him and the muscles in her neck strained. His pace was punishingly hard and so fucking brutal. The sounds of slapping skin mixed in with Melina’s sweet music beautifully.
“Come,” he growled.
Melina whined.
“Come on, doll, I want you to milk me fucking dry.”
She broke under him all over again. He pushed her deeper into the couch and fucked her harder.
This was going to be a long night.
Mac was just getting started.
Melina stretched and rolled right into a hard body. Her eyes opened wide.
“Morning, doll.”
Melina groaned as the events of last night came rushing back to her. She’d had sex with Mac, and not just a hot meeting of fumbling bodies. No, it had been a great deal more than just sex. Mac had taken her body to heights of pleasure she’d never experienced before, and no doubt, heights she would never find again.
“Melina?”
His hand captured her chin and forced her to face him. They lay side by side, gazes meeting.
“Yes?” she asked.
“What are you thinking about?”
In usual Melina fashion, her defenses climbed higher to keep from allowing her thoughts and feelings from being known. “Look, just because we had sex does not mean I’m going to be sharing my deepest, darkest secrets with you.”
“Why not? You already shared something else pretty significant with me.”
Melina punched Mac in his arm. “You did not just say that!”
He caught her fist and held it before pulling her closer to him. A half-grin tilted the corners of his mouth up, making his usual strong, sexy features even more boyishly handsome in the morning light. His eyes were soft and unguarded in a way she’d never seen him before.
“I most certainly did. I think after a man spends half the damn night with his face between a woman’s thighs, that qualifies him to say whatever the fuck he wants to.”
Melina frowned at him. “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“I never said I was a gentleman, doll.”
“Indeed, you didn’t.”
Mac’s fingertips ghosted over Melina’s skin, barely touching her as he traced the curves of her body. She pressed her thighs together, but it didn’t help. It only intensified the ache that was starting to build all over again.
“I can see your wheels spinning,” Mac murmured.
“So, you’re a mind reader now?”
“It doesn’t take a mind reader to know what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.”
“Well, since you have all the answers, pray tell what thoughts are rolling around my mind.”
Melina bit her lip as one of Mac’s fingers traced lazy circles on the top of her pubic bone. Her nipples turned to tight pebbles, and Melina didn’t have to wonder what was coming next. Mac’s eyes said it all.
“You’re thinking that you shouldn’t have let me fuck you. You’re afraid that because you opened yourself up to me, and showed me the raw and uninhibited side of you, it means you’ve lost your edge. When it comes to sex, you like to have the power because you figure if you’re in control, then you’re safe. It’s supposed to be just sex, feeding a desire, Melina, and nothing else. Last night was much more than just sex and you’re scared, but I’m not going to let you run away from me.”
Momentarily rendered speechless, Melina gasped when Mac’s hand found its way between her legs and began to stroke her. The pad of his thumb rubbed her clit slowly and methodically, while another finger dipped inside her. Mentally, Melina cursed herself. Her body was betraying her once again, and Mac was right, no matter how much she hated to admit it. Last night had been something entirely different from just a tumble in bed.
Mac had taken his time to please her in every way. To dominate her and take control. To show her his vulnerable side and put her needs above his own.
She hadn’t been expecting that. What she’d hoped for was a quick fuck that would prove Mac had more bark than bite, and that his less than stellar performance would do away with whatever feelings she might be harboring for him.
It hadn’t.
And now, as her body hummed to life benea
th the expert skill of his hand, she realized that she was about to be screwed again in more ways than one.
“Say something, doll. It’s not like you to be so tight-lipped. Looks like I need to give you some help.”
Before she realized his intentions, Mac forced her to her back and covered her body with his own. His fingers never stopped their slow torture between her thighs. Stroke after firm stroke of his fingers inside her wet sex; circle after slow circle of the pad of his thumb to her throbbing clit. Sparks of pleasure cascaded over her skin, promising release.
“You’re not playing fair,” she whispered.
Mac flashed a sinful smile. “I never do when it comes to something I want.”
He leaned down and kissed her hard. Her mouth opened and allowed his tongue inside. She savored the flavor of Mac’s mouth while his lips owned hers. Melina whimpered against his mouth as her body hovered on the precipice of another orgasm.
And then the phone rang.
“You’d better get that.” She somehow managed to groan out the words.
“Whoever it is, they can wait,” Mac growled.
His tongue warred with hers as the phone kept ringing. Mac’s fingers worked her clit in time to the phone’s rings and Melina came.
Hard and hot all over Mac’s hand.
“God.” She moaned, giving into Mac’s wants and her own wants.
“No, it’s Mac, sweetheart. Remember?”
A retort rolled off her tongue, but it was silenced by Mac’s phone ringing again. She wished she could catch her damn breath.
“You’d better get that this time,” she finally said.
He kissed her hard. “There’s something else I’d rather get.”
Melina bit her lip and smiled as Mac rolled off her and reached for his phone.
“Mac here.”
He sat up straight in the bed like someone had lit a fire under his back. Melina rolled onto her side to watch him, leaning up on her elbow. A furrow formed between his brows before his eyes opened wide.
“You’re fucking kidding me. Why?”
With one arm folded across his torso, Melina’s eyes were drawn to his defined muscles and his washboard abs. As much as she hated to admit it, the man had a beautiful body. A real work of art. Not to mention, a particular part that was standing proudly beneath the bed covers. Still watching him, Melina slid her hand under the covers and grabbed his cock with a firm grip. He was hard, hot and heavy in her hand. Mac’s eyes hooded with lust as she stroked him from base to tip. It was the only reaction he gave to her teasing.
“I see. I’ll make it happen.”
Mac ended the call and placed his phone on the bedside table. His eyes narrowed on Melina.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Melina asked.
“Because as much as I’d like to let you continue, we need to talk and I need to be focused in order to do that.”
Melina’s hand stilled. “Okay. Shoot. What was that call all about?”
“You’ve made waves, really big waves.”
“Meaning … what?”
“The boss wants to see us,” Mac explained.
“I’ve already made Guido’s acquaintance. I’m in no hurry for a repeat performance.”
Mac shook his head. “I’m not talking about Guido.”
Melina sat straight up clutching the sheet to her chest. “You can’t mean …”
“Yeah, I do. Luca Pivetti.”
Melina swallowed hard as Mac’s words sank in. The boss of the Pivetti family wanted to meet her. She didn’t know why, but she was pretty sure that whatever the reason was, it couldn’t be good.
“He wants me dead, doesn’t he?” she asked.
“No. If the boss wanted you dead, you would be already.”
“So what does he want then?”
Mac shrugged. “That, I don’t know.”
Mac opened his arms and she moved into them, leaning against his chest.
Melina’s eyes closed as his lips pressed to her forehead. She was tired and deep down she was scared. It was one thing to deal with cops. It was something else entirely to be on the radar of a mob boss the police were trying to take down.
“What happened?”
Melina tensed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.”
“What happened to you?” she asked turning in his arms to face him.
“We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. I know opening up is not easy, but sometimes it helps to get it out.”
Melina was silent. He was right. The burden of everything she was dealing with weighed on her like an elephant sitting on her chest, crushing her vital organs. In a perfect world, there would be somebody she could tell her secrets to; someone that she could trust, no matter what. Mac seemed to want to be that person, but people seemed to be a lot of things until the going got tough.
“Not today, Mac.”
Before he could stop her, Melina was out of bed and hurriedly dressing.
“You’re running away now?”
“I’m not running. I just need time.”
“Time for what, Melina?”
“To know just how much I can trust you.” She faced Mac. A muscle moved in his jaw and his eyes grew dark. “Okay?”
“I see.”
“Nothing personal. I just …”
“You have to protect yourself. I get it.”
Melina nodded. “Good. I’m going home.”
“I’ll be in touch. Until we find out what’s going on, we need to keep up appearances.”
“That won’t be a problem. No one is better at keeping up appearances than me.”
With a smile, Melina turned on her heel and was gone. Mac was getting too close, too fast. There were too many changes in her life now. She couldn’t afford another.
Especially when her heart was involved.
For so long, the vault to her feelings had been closed. Anger had become her way of life, the way in which she coped with one disappointment after another. She wasn’t ready to give Mac a chance to become yet another disappointment, no matter how much her heart might want otherwise.
This shit had to stop.
It had been two weeks since Melina had killed Tip, and she was being followed.
Again.
Fresh anger burned like lava in her throat. Hadn’t she been harassed enough during lock up? Now they were upping their game by following her everywhere she went. They thought they were so smart in their unmarked cars, but Melina was smarter. She could spot a cop a mile away. The air stunk with their stench.
She’d tried to get back to her life. The only problem was that she didn’t know what that was anymore. Escorting as a way to make her money was out of the question. Even if the cops weren’t watching her, Dulcea had told her she was done working with Melina. The attention from the official side of things made her boss run scared.
Once again, Melina was on her own. No job and no one to lean on. She’d thought going down and hanging out with the kids at the center would make her feel better, and it had … for a little while.
Now she just felt empty inside.
“Yo, Morgan. No tricks today?”
Melina kept walking, ignoring the voice that mocked her.
They were pigs. Every last single one of them.
“Hey, Morgan, how much for something quick? I’m looking for a good time.”
She stopped walking, and turned to face the unmarked car that had pulled up beside her. Melina recognized the two detectives that had interrogated her, Parks and Keaton.
“A whore doesn’t have options. A lady does. Learn the difference, assholes.”
Melina started to walk away.
“A whore with a smart mouth. That’s a new one.”
She’d had enough. The constant surveillance she could deal with. After all, a man watching her was something she’d long ago gotten used to. But the comments, they were too much. Melina blinked back tears that were threatening to f
all. Turning back to face her tormentors, a red haze was the only thing she saw.
“They’re not worth it, doll.”
Mac.
Even though she wished she didn’t feel so goddamned relieved at his voice, she was.
It seemed once again that he’d come to her rescue.
Right on time.
Tossing a glare at the plain-clothed cops in the unmarked car, Mac slipped his hand into Melina’s before he leaned close and planted a searing kiss on her lips.
“Hey!” Mac heard one of the detectives bark.
Mac ignored the asshole. “Seriously, doll, don’t ruin your day by letting fools that have nothing better to do than harass an innocent woman get you upset.”
Her posture softened and a tiny smile edged the corners of her lips upwards.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Melina said quietly.
Mac couldn’t resist letting the very tips of his fingers ghost over her jaw. The flicker of lust darkening Melina’s gaze said that his touch had affected her deeply.
“Hey, James,” one of the detectives said. “Don’t you have your hired fuck on speed dial like the rest of her clients?”
Mac didn’t grace that insult with a response. He also let the fact that they used his given name slide. Instead, he took note of the way Melina’s smile dropped slightly. She hid her hurt well enough, but he could tell the man’s words affected her.
“Don’t let them do that to you, Melina,” Mac said too low for the pigs to hear.
Melina’s gaze cut to Mac’s in an instant. “That’s easy for you to say. It’s not you who is being called a whore every time you turn around. It’s not you being followed by these idiots, Mac.”
“Maybe not, but you’re still giving them the power to hurt you when you react. It doesn’t matter if your reaction is in anger or pain—you’re still giving them what they want. Don’t do that. They’re not worth the fucking spit from your beautiful mouth.”
Melina stood straighter at those words. “Yeah, you’re right. Not worth it.”
“Good.” Mac held out a hand. “Care to spend the afternoon with me?”
“Doing what, exactly?”
“Whatever you want, doll. We’ll say the day is my treat to clear your mind of stress.”
