Misled: A Bad Boy Mafia Romantic Suspense

by Penelope Marshall

  God, this woman.

  "I'm gonna keep you safe."

  She turned to face me, her demeanor changing as she dangled her legs off the side of the bed. "I know you will."

  She smiled, and as she did a dimple appeared in the middle of her cheek. She was so beautiful—so perfect, but I couldn't touch her the way nature demanded of me. I wouldn't cross that line with her. No matter how much I wanted to.

  "Tell me why they let you go."

  "It's not amazing, by any means. It was a split second decision that I've regretted every day since then."

  "If you hadn't done it, would you still be in?"

  I nodded.

  "Then as awful as it sounds, I'm glad you did it. Otherwise, I'd be dead in some dumpster right about now."

  I didn't want to admit it, but I wasn't completely regretting my decision at the moment either. Clearing my throat, I began to recount my story to the very first person I'd ever told.

  Twirling a pen between my fingers, I scanned the room, wondering why no one else thought the op was crazy. So I decided to be the martyr and ask the most important question. "What do you mean we have to raid the town?"

  The commander paused midsentence and set down the black file folder he was reading from. "I'm not understanding your question."

  "There are no insurgents there. It's just a bunch of villagers."

  "This is from the top. Intel has already given their report. We're just the boots. You know this."

  Unable to hold in the shock from the callous response, I shot up from my chair as all eyes in the briefing room focused in on me. "I'm not putting innocent women and kids in danger for any fuckin' bullshit reason."

  The anger in the commander's eyes set the room ablaze. "Sit the fuck down, and shut up."

  "Fuck this shit." I slammed my hand down on the desk, before walking out into the hot afternoon sun.

  I pulled my cover from my pocket and secured it on my head before proceeding to my car. Before hitting the parking lot, I was met by two burly MP's standing between me and my vehicle.

  "So, that was it. No chances?"

  Lifting my head from against the wall, I chuckled at her naivety. "The military is not known for their second chances."

  She smiled. "Yeah, I guess they aren't."

  I peered down at my watch. "It's getting pretty late. We should eat and get some sleep. Tomorrow we can get outta here and hit the road."

  "Oh, we don't need to wait here forever?"

  "No. As long as we stay off the grid, we should be fine."

  "What's there to eat?" she asked, pushing herself off the cot.

  "Beans, beans, oh, and did I say beans?"

  She browsed the shelf, pulling a can off to read the label. "Well, I guess I could warm some up. Do you have a stove, or whatever bunkers use?"

  "I have a hotplate."

  "Um—"

  I smiled, taking the can from her—our fingers grazing just slightly. "I'll—um—I'll take care of it."

  She gazed into my eyes, and I into hers, and I wanted nothing more than to throw caution to the wind and eat her for dinner instead. I stepped closer, towering over her like a man should. The sweet smell of vanilla in her hair reminded me of my childhood—of my mother in the kitchen, baking me a cake for my birthday.

  "I've just never—"

  "Never what?" she asked, resting her hand on my chest.

  I pulled away. "Never had to cook down here, so I hope everything still works."

  Her gaze fell to the ground. "Oh."

  I'm a fuckin' dick.

  Turning to the small side table which held the hot plate and extra dishes, I began to prepare the meager meal, trying my best to distract myself from the goddess standing behind me.

  MELLISSA

  What's wrong with me?

  I practically threw myself at him, and he wanted nothing to do with me. I don't think I'd ever had a man turn me down before. It was a rather humbling experience, but one I didn't want to have again. I picked up a book off the stack leaning against the wall and sat down on the cot.

  The smell of refried beans began to waft from the hotplate, and my stomach rumbled in response. I didn't realize how hungry I was, not having eaten since dinner the night before.

  "It's almost done. Do you want a lot or a little? I never know how much food you women eat."

  "You women?"

  "You know. You eat like rabbits, trying to keep lean or whatever."

  "Oh, really? Is that what you think about us?"

  "I didn't mean that. I just asked how much you wanted."

  Then I said the stupidest thing possible, "I'm not hungry."

  "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Okay, more for me then." He spooned the beans onto a plate, then leaned his shoulder against a wall as he began to devour his dinner.

  I wanted to claw his eyes out and rip his plate from him, but I was going to stand my ground. I'd made my bed, and I was gonna lie in it. Hungry and all. Looking away, I proceeded to skim the book I'd grabbed, but paying attention was another matter. All I could think about was the rumbling taking place in my stomach.

  "Are you sure you don't wanna eat?"

  "I'm going to bed," I growled, throwing the book on the floor.

  "Okay, I'm gonna shower."

  "Whatever."

  He set his plate on the table and disappeared into the bathroom. I sat up, waiting for the water to start running, and as soon as it did, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the table, looking for any leftovers.

  Spooning a heap of beans into my mouth, I chewed as fast as I could, hoping he wouldn't come out before I finished. Swallowing the mouthful, I could hear the water still running, so I knew I had time for another bite. I scooped another pile onto the spoon and shoved it into my mouth just as the sound of the shower disappeared.

  I jumped back into bed and closed my eyes, quietly forcing the food down my throat. The door opened and closed as the smell of fresh soap filtered through the room. Peeking through one eyelid, I took in the chiseled body of a Greek god. His stomach was complete with ridges and valleys, working together to form an eight pack which disappeared into the towel wrapped around his waist. The beading water cascading down his muscular chest was enough to make my panties wet.

  Fuck me. He's gorgeous.

  I knew he was handsome, but nothing could've prepared me for the specimen standing in the middle of the room. As he neared, I shut my eyes, hoping he hadn't seen me stealing a glimpse. Suddenly, a soft touch trailed against the corner of my mouth.

  "Not hungry, huh?"

  I opened my eyes to the evidence of my dinner—a small crumb of bean attached to his finger. Letting out a hearty laugh, I grabbed my pillow and flung it at him. Smiling, he twisted his body, trying to shield himself from my attack. He picked the pillow up and tossed it back to me before walking back into the bathroom.

  "Don't eat it all," he taunted before closing the door behind him.

  I shook my head, still chuckling to myself. I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed so freely. He made me a different person without even trying.

  ISAIAH

  Unwrapping my towel from around me, I slid on a new pair of jeans and a white V-neck tee shirt, which I kept stocked in the bunker for emergencies. The SEAL in me was distracted, pondering escape plan after escape plan. But the virile man in me couldn't stop thinking about the woman lying only a few feet from where I stood.

  I'd never wanted to touch anyone as much as I wanted to touch her. I'd just never wanted to—until now. She set everything about the world I knew upside down and inside out, and I was okay with it. Change wasn't something I dealt with easily, but with her, I welcomed it.

  Could she be the one? The one I'd been waiting for? The one my mom never got to meet?

  BEAR WITNESS

  "Wake up."

  She rolled over. "But it's too early."

  "We're leaving today."

  Instantly, she jumped up from bed. "Where are
we going?"

  "I need to get a hold of Sloane. He'll wire me some money, and we can disappear for a while."

  "We?" she asked, looking curiously into my eyes.

  "You—I mean I'll take you somewhere, and then I'll lead them away from you."

  "Oh."

  "What is it?"

  "But what if they find me? Don't you think you should stay a while longer—you know—just to make sure?"

  "Did you want me to stay longer?"

  She broke her hard stare and twirled the sheet around her finger. "I mean—your choice."

  "I'm asking you." I waited for her answer, hoping she would ask me to stay.

  She glanced over to the bathroom. "I have to shower before we go."

  Her answer hurt my feelings—feelings I didn't even know I had.

  I stepped back. "Okay. We'll leave when you're done."

  She slid off the bed and quietly made her way to the bathroom without a reply.

  Shit.

  Why did I have to put myself out there like that? The shower flipped on, and my mind could only think of one fucking thing—the naked beauty showering only steps away. It seemed like we were always separated by something—both real and imagined.

  I leaned against the wall, waiting for her to come out so we could leave, while the memory of our lips touching the day before knocked around in my head.

  The bathroom doorknob rotated and out she walked—her hair wet, and face clear of any makeup.

  Damn, she doesn't even need makeup.

  Her eyes hooked me in a way that made me want to be a better man—a better man for her. I had to look away to keep her natural beauty from searing into my brain. If I couldn't have her for myself, then I certainly didn't want to have these random memories popping up out of nowhere during inopportune moments.

  "Are you ready?"

  "Can I make something to eat first?"

  "Hungry?"

  "I've been hungry." She smiled.

  "You could've eaten last night. I mean, you could've eaten more."

  "I'm stubborn."

  "I can see."

  She began to peruse the shelf, trailing her finger over the paper labels wrapped around the cans.

  "Here, let me." My fingers grazed hers as I leaned over to grab a can in the cramped space.

  And that's when it happened. The heat that'd been growing inside me since I first touched her lips blew up, and I couldn't keep the beast in me at bay any longer.

  I grabbed her by the waist and crashed her flush against me, her body melting into mine as a small moan escaped her lips. The sensations pulsating through my veins sent me into a veritable craze.

  I wanted her—I wanted to be in her.

  Pinning her slender body to the wall, I held the nape of her neck between my fingers, keeping her in place as I stared into her big brown eyes. I tried my best to hold back my ravenous desire, but she was too tempting not to taste. Maybe if she had resisted my advances—even just a little, I would've grown a conscience and stopped—but she didn't.

  "I want you," she whispered against my lips, sweeping her hands up my back.

  Her fingers clawed at my skin, driving me out of my damn mind, as she lifted my shirt up and over my head. I ground my teeth to hold back from bending her over the chair and taking her like I knew she wanted—like I knew I needed.

  Our connection set the air around us on fire, and I couldn't wait to slide inside her. My bottom lip grazed hers, sending pure electricity straight to the throbbing flesh between my legs. "So fuckin' beautiful," I exhaled.

  My cock began to hurt, it'd gotten so hard. I unbuckled my belt, uncaging the animal eager to ravage her. Taking one of her hands from around the back of my neck, I placed it on my cock to let her feel what she was did to me. She groaned as her skillful grasp rubbed up and down my length.

  I thrust into her, urging her to stroke harder. And with that, the wall of self-control I had broke, and I swiftly lifted her from her feet, cradling her in my arms as I made my way to the cot.

  Gently, I laid her down, kissing her neck as my fingers slid down the length of her arm, nearing her pussy.

  Fuck!

  I wanted her. I needed her.

  Everything in me wanted to feel her bare skin against mine. I kissed my way down her body, cinching her jeans down past her hips. Her legs were smooth, lean—her ass, full and firm. She gasped, letting out a long moan when she felt my tongue dig into her flesh. I growled against the warm skin of her stomach, licking my way down—down.

  Biting down once, then twice, relishing the sound of her gasps and groans when I did. Her hips moved in a sensual, seductive rhythm, telling me how much she loved it. The pressure of her hand on my cock increased—her stroking more purposeful.

  "Oh, God," she whispered, gasping for breath.

  I could feel her smooth legs open beneath me. The warmth of her pussy radiated against my dick, which began to fill with blood and pulsate at the thought of sucking her pussy. As she turned, exposing her slender neck, I opened my mouth and snuck a taste. The lingering scent of rose perfume greeted me while I continued to bite and kiss, painting her bare flesh with my hungry tongue. She let out a delicate moan with her palms pressed hard against my back, and her French-tipped fingernails dug into my skin.

  Hooking my fingers around the waistband of her lace panties, I pulled down, ripping them off with wild abandon—tossing them to the floor. My fingers found her hot—slick—ready. Tenderly, I stole small bites of the delicate skin covering her hip bone. She groaned, jerking her hips in time with my strokes across her clit.

  Pushing myself up on my knees, I clutched onto her ankles, raising them above her head, letting the tip of my cock rub against her slick pussy before sliding in. She moaned as I filled her.

  "Are you okay?"

  She licked her lips before answering, "Keep going."

  "Are you sure?"

  Silently, she nodded.

  "That's my good girl."

  My erection—engorged with blood and rushing with intensity, slid effortlessly in and out of her. As I slipped in between the hairless lips of her pussy, her body tensed—her hips shifting, repositioning to better fit against me. I curled my strong fingers around her forearms as I pulled out my cock, leaving only the tip to tantalize her.

  "I want it all," she begged.

  I obliged with a hard, sharp thrust, making her cry out with pleasure as I drove inside her.

  Damn, her pussy felt so tight.

  "Yes," she moaned.

  Aroused by the hammering of my dick, she leaned her head forward, watching my cock go deeper and deeper. I couldn't help but peer down and be turned on at the sight of my cock pulling in and out, shining in the dark glow of the room—dripping from the wetness of her pussy.

  She separated her long, smooth legs wider to give me better access. I pumped in and out quickly, rolling my body, grinding in a quick rhythm she seemed to love. She yanked her arms away and dug her nails into my ass, squeezing—clawing at me.

  I felt a rush of pleasure overcome my body. I reached down and began to rub her clit in rhythm with my thrusts. Pounding into her all the pent up angst we'd both been feeling while every nerve ending in my body begged for more of what she had to offer. The coils in the cot squeaked under the weight of both our bodies jostling against each other.

  Linking her legs around my broad shoulders, she continued to hold onto my forearms—constricting her grip with every hard pass.

  "You like that, huh?"

  She nodded.

  "I want to hear you say it."

  "Yes, Isaiah! I love it!"

  She buried her face in my neck, moaning in complete pleasure. Her beauty causing me to slow and unlink her legs from my shoulders. I wanted this to be special, and it hadn't started out that way. I was treating her like I did every other woman, and she was far from that.

  Spreading her legs as far as I could, I rested my whole weight on her, sliding my dick to the hilt. She moaned and arched her
back, thrusting her hips forward—tightening her hold on my rigid flesh.

  Hair fell over her face as we bumped against one another, but I brushed it away as I slowly kissed the ridge of her cheek. Grazing my lips over hers, I taunted her with the most intimate of gestures—a sweet kiss from a man who never had the occasion to give one.

  "Tell me you want me to stay with you," I whispered—my mouth only inches from hers.

  I trembled a little as blood surged to my cock at the thought of breaking down a beautiful, confident woman like her. It wasn't difficult—I'd had enough practice.

  "I want you to stay and keep me safe, Isaiah."

  "No, not just to keep you safe, but for everything that comes with that."

  She cupped her palm to my jaw, caressing my bottom lip with her thumb. "Then stay with me for everything that comes with that," she breathed.

  I smiled and leaned in, crashing my lips against hers. Her chest pressed against mine—allowing me to feel the rapid beating of her heart. With my free hand, I skimmed the curves of her body the way my eyes had been doing all day. She was just as firm and disciplined as I thought she'd be, with just the right amount of lush fullness.

  This woman was mine now, and I wasn't going to let anyone, not even Salvatore Sabella and all his power, touch her.

  My fingers trailed down her neck and behind her shoulder, unclasping her bra with little effort. She pulled it off the rest of the way, tossing it onto the floor next to the cot. I lowered my head to the tender flesh of her tits, taking her in my mouth as I continued to hammer into her.

  I completely lost myself to the mindless fire raging inside me. Through the heat and sweat of our bodies, her moans seared through, giving me the push I needed to mark her as my own.

  "Fuck, I wanna keep you here forever," I said, thrusting my dick inside her warmth.

  Flames cracked through me as I slid in and out of her pussy. There were no words to describe the rush of pleasure overtaking my senses.

  Groaning, she reached for my arms as she lifted her hips to meet mine. Tightening and releasing her muscles around my cock in a rhythm that drove me fucking insane.