by Piper Stone
He closed his eyes, trying to curtail his anger before heading down the stairs. She truly had no understanding of who or what he was. Even if she thought he’d been the one contracted to kill Stephen, she could have no idea what kind of people he was working for. He was rattled as fuck, angry with her and with himself for allowing his guard to fall.
Her entire body tensed as if detecting a presence. A split second later, she was on her feet, dashing several feet away then moving to a fighter’s stance. “Pierre. You scared me half to death.”
“Well, you’re obviously well trained for intruders or assailants,” he growled then took long strides toward her. “Why didn’t you obey me? Why?”
“I’m sitting on the beach. I didn’t leave.” She narrowed her eyes. “You’re really angry.”
“Furious! You went against my orders. I gave you explicit instructions not to leave the house without me. Can’t you follow orders?” Wrath barked, his blood pressure rising. “Was I not clear enough for you?”
“Whoa,” she huffed. “I’m sorry. Jesus. Christ. Who the hell are you afraid of? Who’s after you? Are you running away from the law? Is that why you’re here? I can try and protect you, but you’re going to have to tell me everything.”
Hearing her throw out the offer, he stopped short, still glaring down at her. “This isn’t about you protecting me. This is about you following the rules. My rules. Don’t you understand that? You could have gotten yourself killed.”
“Talk to me. Why and how? Who are you, Pierre? That’s not even your name. Is it?” She shook her head.
Everything about her demeanor infuriated him. Grabbing her wrists, he yanked her closer, the force dragging her against his chest. “You don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t. I want to. Allow me in.”
“This isn’t a game, Ashley. You were careless. Now, get inside.”
She struggled until she was able to free herself, tumbling backwards and rubbing her wrists. “I’m not a child, Pierre. I’m a grown woman. Unless you’re prepared to tell me who the fuck you are, then take me to my hotel. I’m not doing this crap with you.”
“This isn’t crap,” he snarled and took two long strides toward her.
She backed away again, shaking her head. “I’m dead serious.”
“And so am I.” Wrath jerked her closer once again, his mind reeling with the various possibilities of what could have happened. As he scanned the entire beach, he realized that this was never going to work. He had a distinct choice to make and there was no turning back. His life had been built around a world that she would never fit in and he would never ask her to share. She deserved a much better man than he could ever be.
Crushing his mouth over hers, the hardest thing about letting her go was that she somehow managed to bring out the best in him. What he’d shared with her had been the most honest moments of his life. Even though she would never know the truth about the man who’d become her lover, he had opened up more with her than anyone else in his life.
She beat her hands against his chest, flailing in an effort to get away from him. Her cries were strangled as she kicked out, almost wrenching out of his hold.
He yanked her leg, holding her thigh as the kiss became brutal, his tongue wrangling with hers, the desire building to the point there was no way to stop the beast from bursting to the surface.
As her whimpers became moans of passion, her body relaxing, she melted into his arms.
Breaking the embrace, he brushed his open mouth to her cheek, taking several deep breaths. There was no time to talk, nothing else on his mind but taking her, stripping away both of their masks one last time. Lifting her into his arms, he bounded up the stairs two at a time, moving into the kitchen. He dropped her onto her feet, yanking the robe, his chest heaving from the hard thumping of his heart.
“I want you,” she whispered, struggling to unfasten his jeans.
He was having none of it, turning and tossing her over the island at the waist. “You will learn to obey one way or the other.” He instantly peppered her bottom with hard spanks, slapping both ass cheeks, one coming after the other in rapid succession.
“Oh, God. That hurts.” She flailed her arms, knocking off everything on the counter. She moaned as he continued, pushing up from the island.
“Be quiet, sweetheart, and take your punishment like a good little girl.” Wrath was burning with fire, every cell and muscle tingling as he spanked her. He pressed her down, keeping her in position, his breath skipping.
She whimpered, twisting her head from side to side until finally she relaxed, resting her face on the cool granite.
The heat in his hand built at the same rate as his hunger, his cock aching to the point he was sweating. He was almost blinded from desire, unable to think clearly. The fear remained, the kind of trepidation that could cost them both their lives. Only when her skin held a deep crimson did he stop, leaning over her and licking down the back of her neck.
Sophia clawed the edge of the island, taking deep breaths as he dragged his tongue all the way down the length of her spine.
He licked down the crack of her ass, using both hands to open her rosy cheeks as he lifted her into the air. He plunged his tongue inside her pussy, growling as his mouth was filled with her cream.
“Oh, yes... God, I...” Her entire body quivered and she stretched out her arms, purring.
Wrath stood, quickly turning her onto her back and lifting her legs. Wasting no time, he engulfed her pussy, moving his mouth and tongue in a perfect unison. He swirled his tongue around her clit as he watched her expression. The sublime look on her face made his balls swell, and his cock throb even more.
She wiggled, undulating her hips, making soft mewling noises.
“Pinch your nipples for me,” he commanded then blew hot air across her stomach.
She obeyed instantly, sliding her hands to her breasts, flicking her fingers back and forth.
He smacked her inner thigh, forcing her to jump. “You truly don’t know how to obey.”
“I’m trying,” she whispered then, using her thumbs and forefingers, she pinched her nipples, her mouth opening as she whimpered.
“Harder. I want to hear you cry.” He resumed his feast, taking his time licking every inch of her pussy. He slid two fingers inside, pumping in hard and fast motions.
“Jesus. I...” She licked her lips, trying hard to obey as she twisted her hardened buds.
He adored the shimmer covering her face, the way her lower lip quivered. She was even more beautiful in the throes of passion. Adding a third then fourth finger, he flexed them open, slowing the pace as her muscles clamped around the thick invasion, trying to draw him in even deeper.
Tossing her head back and forth, she bucked her hips as he sucked on her clit, taking the tender flesh between his teeth. “God!” Her squeal floated between them. She lifted her legs until her feet rested on the counter, spreading wide open.
He rubbed the inside of her leg, caressing as he worked his mouth and tongue up and down. While he wanted to eat her for hours, making her come several times, his own needs pushed at his sinful mind. Every dark need burst through the surface, forcing him to thrust his fingers in harder and faster.
“Oh... I’m going to...”
Growling, he moved both hands up to her breasts, cupping and squeezing as he buried his face, shaking his head back and forth.
She jerked up, her mouth wide open in a silent scream as her entire body began to shake. As she erupted, filling his mouth with her succulent juice, he closed his eyes, savoring the sweet moment. Sadness crept in beside his excitement, his heart racing. Letting her go was going to be the roughest decision he’d ever made.
“Fuck, I...” A smile crossed her face as another climax hit her hard, her face turning the same shade as her well spanked bottom.
Wrath finally stood, gazing down at her as he unfastened his jeans, removing them slowly. She opened her eyes, her pupils dilated yet she watched his e
very move, her mouth pursed.
When she finally stopped shaking, he dragged her off the island, carrying her close and yanking a chair from the kitchen table. He sat down with a hard thud and pulled her on top, impaling her pussy in one thrust. They both exclaimed, her fingers gripping his shoulders. He adored the way she clung to him, her nails scratching as she tried to hold on.
Sophia purred as she began to rock him, lifting up on her toes as she moved forward and backward. Her smile was laced with a touch of evil, as if she was the one regaining control.
He cupped her bottom, keeping a firm hold, grinning as she moaned from the friction. “You’ll always be my bad little girl.”
“Mmm... I hope so.” She bit her lip then lowered her head, nipping his earlobe.
Tingles rushed down his back, shifting to his legs and he was electrified by the combined heat, his nerve endings on fire. He ran his hand up along her spine, allowing his fingers to dance across her skin. This was the woman he could fall in love with.
“Mmm... You feel so good,” she whispered, her head lolling forward.
“We’re not finished,” he breathed and lifted her all the way off, turning her to face the other direction and holding her aloft.
“You’re so bad.”
“You have no idea, my sweet girl.” Chuckling darkly, he wiggled his cock between the cleft of her ass, sliding the tip just inside her dark hole. “Every hole belongs to me.” He pulled her down slowly at first, spreading her muscles as she whimpered. Then he yanked her the rest of the way, the hard thud of her bruised bottom hitting his legs like the finest music.
“Fuck. Fuck!” She threw her arms back, her hands finding his thighs.
He took full control, moving her up and down in a ferocious manner, unforgiving in his needs. He was a crazed man, his hunger knowing no bounds. The second she squeezed her ass muscles, he almost lost it, his balls ready to release. “Shit... You are so tight.”
“Mmm...” She jerked his hands to cup her breasts, her fingers intertwining with his. “You feel so good.”
He held back, trying to keep the orgasm at bay, but after a few seconds, he was lost to the pleasure, throwing his head back and roaring, “Yes!” Nothing would matter to him as much as this moment. No amount of money. No power or influence. And no other concept of love.
Sophia Waters had managed to capture a piece of his heart, one he thought stone cold dead.
And he knew he could never see her again.
* * *
“The director wants to see us.”
Sophia had been expecting the requested meeting since finding out about Stephen’s murder. While she’d had nothing to do with the situation, she still had a certain level of guilt as well as an odd sense of sadness. The hit had been clean, from what she’d heard, and no one had seen anything. The contact hit had taken exactly nine minutes from start to finish, The Player’s trademark. The shockwaves of the kill had shot through the bureau in a flash. Every team was on high alert, concerned about their levels of security.
And they damn well should be given Stephen’s location was only known by operatives. They had to have a mole somewhere in their organization.
“Yeah, I know. I suspect the entire team is being chastised, skewered then tossed on a hot grill,” she said in a casual manner. She hadn’t slept well in the last week, but it had nothing to do with Stephen’s murder. She fingered the locket, brushing the tip of her finger across the front. She’d worn the necklace since Pierre had placed it around her neck, longing for the life the jewelry offered, even as fake as it was.
When Pierre had dropped her off at the hotel in Miami, she’d known instinctively that she’d never see him again. The thought brought a range of emotions from sadness to blinding anger. The man couldn’t find the guts to tell her that his dangerous business was far out of her element. He’d obviously found out her real identity, which mean they were on opposite sides of the law.
Then she’d found the two dozen sterling silver roses already inside her home. The fucker had broken in, leaving his own personal calling card. What the hell was he trying to do to her? What had been the most terrifying aspect was that he’d confirmed in a bullshit romantic way the he knew her real identity.
Her next move? Getting a large ‘S’ for stupid tattooed on her ass.
His ass.
Her lover’s ass...
“Are you coming?” David asked, lifting a single eyebrow.
“Yes. Fine. Yes.” Goddamn, she remained rattled.
She followed David into the conference room, their team the last to arrive. The director certainly looked pissed; no doubt he’d been chastised by the upper echelon. The word stupid came to mind again.
Director Jeff Montgomery stood at the far end of the table, glaring at each one of them, his expression grim. “All right, ladies and gentlemen, I don’t need to tell you why we’re here. As you can imagine, even the President of the United States is pissed about this one. Stephen Wallace was ceremoniously taken out as if our people were amateurs.”
“Any idea who’s responsible?” one of the agents asked.
“The Player. This reeks of his method of killing, the fact he can gather information from some unknown source and be in and out within minutes,” Sophia answered. Almost every person in the room turned in her direction.
Director Montgomery nodded, although he didn’t seem too pleased that she’d been the one to answer. “That’s what everyone at the Pentagon believes; however, there appears to be more.” He flicked a control, popping up a visual on the main screen. There were eight men, all of them at a distance leaving some sort of building. “Meet the Rifugio Oscuro, or the Dark Haven.”
“A consortium,” Sophia whispered, more to herself but she drew the director’s attention.
“Yes, Agent Waters. I wasn’t at liberty to discuss this a few weeks ago. While this is unconfirmed, these eight men are believed to be some of the most powerful in the world, capable of bringing down governments. They are also well connected, well funded, and have the ability to crash any county’s economy within days.”
“What?” David managed, his face paling.
“Why isn’t this confirmed?” another agent asked.
“Well, Agent Brennan, they are also very elusive, their individual wealth affording them the kind of security that obviously we didn’t have in our effort to try and protect Mr. Wallace. An unconfirmed rumor is that Alessandro Comali is in charge of this Dark Haven.” The director smirked, allowing the information to settle in.
She’d heard the name before, but from where?
“Before you ask, Mr. Comali is considered head of one of the oldest crime syndicate families in all of Europe. During his reign of terror, he and his capos supposedly killed over two thousand men, women, and children.”
“I thought he disappeared,” Sophia offered, remembering some of the vague details from watching the History Channel.
Director Montgomery nodded, his tired eyes reflecting the long hours worked. “That is absolutely true. Dropped out of sight in the late eighties.”
“That would make him ancient now,” David joked.
“That doesn’t mean he’s dead, Agent Camden, but I assure you, if this consortium truly exists, none of the men serving handle any of their own dirty work. There are various government agencies that have been working on this for almost a year, but we have nothing concrete except rumors and limited information from overseas informants.”
“A group of assassins,” Sophia said under her breath, shaking her head as she tried to fathom the concept.
“What does this have to do with the hit on Wallace?” David asked.
Sophia twisted in her seat as the director switched the slide, moving from one to the other. She recognized government leaders, corporate CEOs, and several men who she honestly had no clue about.
“These are supposedly a growing list of men who have contracts on their lives. We believe the consortium has a plan, one that could involve breaking
down commerce and leadership throughout the world. Now, from what I’ve been told, this list also included some of the kingpins and drug cartel leaders.” The director looked around the room.
“They don’t want any competition,” an agent at the front said, laughing, others following suit.
Director Montgomery gave him a dirty look. “That is correct. As far as the man we protected, Stephen Wallace was capable of providing a security system that could have stopped their advances on the various computer systems.” Director Montgomery rubbed his eyes. “We believe the consortium has a group of hitmen, with one being the leader.”
“The Player,” Sophia said in a commanding tone. Her guesses were right.
“Exactly. What makes this situation particularly unique is that every assassin is supposedly a son of one of the members of the Dark Haven.”
“You’re shittin’ me!” David exclaimed.
“No, Agent Camden, I assure you that I am not shitting you.” The director furrowed his brow, obviously far too drained for bullshit.
“Any idea at all what this player looks like?” Agent Brennan asked quietly.
“There is no firm description but if any of these rumors are true, he is of Italian descent, likely in his early to mid-thirties, and given his family’s heritage, undoubtedly well-schooled and very capable of hiding his identity. This means he could pass for anyone at any time without question, but I assure you this squad of assassins is very dangerous, their skills unparalleled.”
Sophia eased back in her chair, her mind shifting to Pierre, a shiver skating down her back. He’d played her very well. What the hell was she saying? She’d allowed the man to get away. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’d known that Pierre was... She gripped the chair, trying to maintain a straight face. She’d spent time double checking Pierre’s identity, finding more affirmative corroboration. Was there any way she’d been this stupid?
“Is there something you’d like to add, Agent Waters?” the director asked.
