Sebastian - Risking Forever: Vol 4 (The Forever Series): new adult college romance

by TARA GALLINA

  "Aw," I say like I'm talking to a baby. "Is my favorite employee going to miss me?"

  "Now you sound like a big ole pervy boss," she teases back.

  I laugh. "A big ole pervy boss would say, don't make me spank you." Let's see how she handles a comment like this.

  She giggles and I'm certain her cheeks are flame red. "Someone is in a good mood."

  As usual, not the reaction I expect from her. I doubt she'd be open to a spanking. Since she doesn't seem repulsed, maybe she'd be open to a slap. What am I thinking? I need to stop. "My father leaves today, so yes, I'm in a great mood. But seriously, no stripping tonight. No matter how hot you get, keep the clothes on and leave your red bra at home."

  "Got it. No bra tonight."

  Her flirty reply earns a salute from my cock. Despite the grin on my face, I'm one hundred percent serious when I say, "If you show up with no bra, I'll have you ushered to my bedroom and locked inside until I can get there."

  "Too bad you won't be there to find out." Her voice is softer, huskier.

  Christ. She likes this and by my tightening pants my dick loves it. "You forget I have cameras. I don't have to be there to know what you're up to."

  Her breathing changes, blowing in shallow spurts that have me growing even harder.

  The way she reacts to me gets better and better. If she continues this behavior around me, my resolve will break, and I will have my way with her. Whatever she'll give me, I'll take.

  Laughter from the family room draws my attention. I tense, nervous in a way I haven't been in years. I'm talking to a girl on the phone who I can't fuck, and I have a raging hard-on. If I didn't know better, I'd think they were laughing at me.

  "Ainsley, I have to go, but remember you’re working on Sunday. I'll be at the apartment at eight to get you. Okay?"

  "Yep. I'll be ready."

  "See you then." I end the call and take the back stairwell to the second floor to get to my room. If Nathan sees me like this after just a call, I'll never hear the end of it. I can hardly believe it myself. When it comes to Ainsley, my dick has a mind of its own.

  Chapter 16

  I stroll past the glass doors that lead to the pool deck area, headed for my father's office, and freeze.

  Is that Veronica laying out by the pool? She's supposed to leave for the private jet with my father in an hour. Fuck. This isn't good.

  The office doors are open. Sergio is closing up the bag my father uses to carry his MacBook. "What's going on?" I ask.

  He glances up. "What are you doing here? Mr. Gianni isn't expecting you."

  "No. He isn't. Why is Veronica out back?"

  My father strolls in through the side door, dressed in his usual dark suit. He twists the platinum ring on his pinky finger. "She's staying until I return."

  "Return?" I don't hide my disappointment.

  A cynical grin forms on his face. The man loves fucking with me. "I'm coming back in a few days, maybe a week, but no longer than that."

  "What for?" My hands clench into fists at my sides.

  My father gazes at them and walks over to stand in front of me. "Looking for a fight, son?"

  "Looking to get your ass kicked?" I throw out, hoping he'll bite. For too long I've been walking around with pent up frustration. I could use a good release.

  My father's grin turns pleased. He cups the back of my neck, his grip tight, and pulls my forehead to his. "If only I had the time, son. I'd gladly take you up on your offer. A rematch is long-overdue."

  "Hold the jet," I counter, muscles taut and ready to go.

  He releases me with a dark laugh. "You are more like me than you know. You'll do well in your new position, so long as you remove that righteous stick from your ass." He turns and takes his bag from Sergio's extended hand.

  "And if I don't?"

  He tugs down the cuffs of his sleeves. "It will be dislodged the moment you complete the initiation ritual. A man doesn't come back from that the same." He slides me a cold grin before exiting the office.

  I wait until he's out of earshot before pounding my fist into the stationary office door with an animalistic groan. The wood framing cracks and breaks from its stopper, swinging open and slamming the wall. Glass panes shatter onto the floor.

  Fuck. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I lower my hand, barely noticing the pain in my knuckles. I'll have to get the door replaced before my father returns. Fucking bastard. Why in the hell is he coming back? That isn't part of the arrangement.

  I whirl and pace on the Persian rug. Did I truly believe he'd hold up his end? He changes his mind as quickly as he changes his suits and yet he won't budge on the initiation date. Because his future remains fixed until I take my role as head of the businesses, so he can take my grandfather's place.

  Trapped. I'm so fucking trapped. My chest tightens, my lungs struggling for air, as my pulse pounds in my ears. I can't keep doing this. I can't. I don't want this life. I thought I could do it, give in and except my fate when the time comes, but I can't. I'd rather die than live this way.

  For once, I understand my mother's drive to leave my father at the risk of her own life. She was too young to see the evil and possession that lives in my father when they met. Then she had Francesca and me and stayed for us, until she decided we deserved better.

  Our cook back then, Miss Celia, used to tuck me into bed after my mother's death.

  "Piccolo, your mamma loved you very much. She wouldn't have done what she did, had she not. One day you will understand."

  My father overheard her say this to me one night and shipped her back to Italy the next day. I never saw her again, but I was happy for her that she was gone. She told me a lot more about my mother than what my father overheard that night. Stuff he would have killed her for had he known.

  Needing to release this anguish buzzing through my veins, I change into workout clothes and hit the gym my father had built in the boat house near the lake. Forty minutes of weights and beating a punching bag, and I'm still anxious, though not as bad as I was before.

  In my room, I shower and change. Two texts wait for me on my phone. Both are from Nathan.

  Party started. You coming later?

  Ainsley is here. Apparently, she wants to get laid. Are you coming now?

  I almost drop the phone. Ainsley wants to get laid? No way. He must have heard her wrong. She wouldn't give it up to a random guy at a party. He's confused.

  My thumb twitches with the urge to pull up the camera app and spy on her. I'm about to when the front gate to my father's house flashes an alert that someone is here. We don't get unscheduled visitors. I pull up the feed and scowl. Great.

  A black Mercedes SUV with Veronica's sister hanging out the open window is parked by the callbox. Veronica invited her here? An older brunette with breasts bigger than watermelons joins her, shouting something into the intercom.

  Roberto is going to have his hands full for the next few days, unless he was approved to hire help. Poor guy. The last thing I want is to stick around here, but I'm not in the right mood for a party, especially one with Ainsley. If I catch her flirting with another guy, I'll lose my shit. If I catch another guy flirting with her, I'll kill him.

  I unlock my phone and open the camera app, my thumb over the cameras to Nathan's house.

  Don't do it. Don't look.

  I tuck it in my pants pocket, my palm twitching to dig it back out and think of ways to distract myself.

  I could work. I could finish a paper I have due Tuesday. I could check the camera feed to make sure all is well at the house. Toga parties are often bigger than the usual ones. It would be smart. Safe.

  I free my phone and open the camera app. People dressed in sheets flash on every feed I bring up. Everything looks fine. Nothing out of the ordinary. I pass over the game room but go back when I notice the room appears foggy. Nathan is pretty lenient about drinking and smoking at the house as long as the smoking is done outside. He made that rule two years ago when one of the guests accidently s
et the couch on fire.

  At least now I have an outlet for my left over rage.

  I text Nathan.

  I'm on my way to the house. Some assholes are smoking in the game room. Text me when you get this.

  I don't remember driving to Nathan's or parking my car, just that I’m here, walking up the driveway. I check my phone. No text from Nathan yet. Shit.

  I pull up the camera feed and freeze. Is that Ainsley? What is she doing in the game room? Stunned, I watch as one of the guys who'd been smoking talks to her. Is she flirting with him?

  My grip tightens on my phone. This is what I didn't want to see? Now I want to toss him and his friends out of the house even more. I'm about to put my phone away, when Ainsley's posture stiffens. She backs up like she's scared and he grabs her arm.

  Oh, hell no. The fucker is dead. I race for the house, anger radiating through my bones.

  "Open the door Marcus," I shout as I approach the porch.

  He's on his feet in a second. "What is it?"

  "Get Nathan and meet me in the game room." I don't stop as I pass him and charge into the house. I take the steps three at a time to the second-floor landing. A few more long strides and I'm rounding the corner to the hallway to the game room. Ainsley smacks into my chest.

  Her breath races, and her tiny body shakes. I grip her arms to steady her and keep her close. Her big green eyes lift to mine, fear and relief flickering within them.

  She softens, almost sags against me. It's all I can do not to carry her up to my room and hold her until she calms down.

  Movement behind her catches my gaze. Over her head, I lock eyes with the asshole who did this to her. My teeth mash so hard my jaw hurts. "Get the fuck out of this house before I tear your arms off." With a smile on my face.

  Seeming frozen, the guy focuses on Ainsley, studying her in my arms as if slowly piecing together what he sees, before lifting his gaze to me.

  "Look at her one more time, and I'll rip your eyes from their sockets," I add, hoping he does, so I can unleash the rage burning through my veins.

  Evan's dark skin pales, yet he has the balls to say, "Chill man. I didn't know she belonged to you. I’m sorry."

  "Get the fuck out." I repeat with a calm menace that should send him running. He doesn't move, but based on his trembling legs, he might be frozen by fear. I bend to Ainsley's ear. "Can you make it to my room?"

  She nods, but whispers, "I don't want to leave you."

  "Go. And wait for me," I say, my eyes on the immobilized asshat.

  She doesn't move.

  "Ainsley?" I work to keep my voice even. "If I have to drag you up there, I won't get to make sure this asshole leaves, and I really want to escort him from the house." So I can show him what it's like to be grabbed by someone stronger and listen to him beg for mercy.

  "Okay," she murmurs. Hesitant, she slips from my hands and disappears into the stairwell, closing the door behind.

  A cold grin slides over my face as I walk toward the still frozen guy. This is going to fun.

  I crack my knuckles.

  Footsteps clomp the wood floors behind me.

  I clutch the guys arm in case he suddenly gains control over his legs and tries to flee, before glancing over my shoulder.

  Nathan and Marcus stalk toward him.

  Nathan's eyes narrow on the guy. "Evan? What the fuck, man? I told you no smoking in the house." He gets in his face, his neck muscles bulging. "You couldn't fucking do it out back?"

  I put my hand on his chest. "I got this one. You get the others." I nod toward the game room. He and Marcus go inside, and I follow them, dragging Evan to the staircase on the side of the room that leads to the garage.

  Smoke clogs the air, the smell of pot heavy in the large space. When I open the door and shove Evan to go down the steps first, he tries to run but stumbles and almost falls. He doesn't because I grab him by the back of the neck.

  He squeals like a little girl. "That hurts."

  "This is nothing." I squeeze him harder and keep hold of him as we make our way to the garage.

  Marcus and Nathan's threats sound from up the stairwell. Soon, a ruckus breaks out filled with punches and pummels, I'm sure. Evan tenses and tries to glance behind him toward the action.

  "That's what happens when you resist," I tell him, certain Nathan and Marcus can handle themselves or else I'd be back up there helping. Those guys are too baked to put up a good fight.

  I stop at door in the garage that leads to the side of the house. "Open it."

  He raises his hands. "I-I've heard about what happens out here. I don't want any trouble."

  "You should have thought about that before you put your hands on Ainsley. Now open it."

  When he doesn't, I slam him against the door and repeat myself.

  "Fuck you," he spits, then he opens the door and bolts.

  Chapter 17

  I laugh not bothering to chase Evan. There's no place for him to go. The area is gated off with pad locks and the fence is tall and flat with no slats for climbing. If he can jump high enough to reach the top of the fence, it's so sharp he'd let go. And if by some miracle he doesn't, he'd have to pull the full weight of his body over before I reach I him.

  The smell of wet grass hits me, letting me know the sprinklers have recently gone off. I walk down the soggy path, light from a nearby window shining enough for me to see. Down a little, I spot Evan's skinny ass jumping for the fence. He must have found the locked gate. His hands touch the spikey top. He hisses and groans, falling onto his ass.

  "Get up," I grind out.

  "Fuck you, man."

  "Get. Up."

  "Where are my friends?"

  "Either on their way down or still getting their asses beat."

  Evan's breathing is wild. "She came on to me, man." He huffs. "She wanted it."

  My muscles clamp with boiling rage. "Get the fuck up. Now." I won't fight a man who's down, unlike my father.

  Evan rocks on the ground, possibly whimpering.

  "It's not so fun when you're the one who's weaker, is it? I'm sure Ainsley felt that way when you grabbed her and pulled her hair. Who knows what you would have done, had I not showed up."? I circle him. "Get up!"

  He curses and shifts to his knees before rising to his feet. His arm swings and something—a rock?—hits my neck. Then Evan charges me, football-style. His shoulder rams into my stomach and his arms lock around me.

  Caught off guard, I stumble backward a few steps before looping my arms around his skinny ass waist and lifting him off his feet. My muscles strain with his weight as I hold him upside down before giving him a hard squeeze.

  "Don't make me drop you on your head." I warn, struggling to keep balance as his long legs kick in the air. Before his shoe comes down on my back, I shove him away, tossing him to the ground versus dropping him on his head. I don't want to kill him.

  Sounding out of breath, he's slow to get back on his feet. Dammit. If the guy weren't as wasted as he is, I'd do a lot more. Not that he'd have a chance to take me sober, but like this, it's a joke.

  Marcus ushers two guys out of the open side door to the garage. "Turn left you pieces of shit," he says. "You're other left, asshole!"

  Three more guys follow behind him with Nathan bringing up the rear.

  "Hey!" Evan calls out. "I'm over here."

  Nathan looks over at us. "You coming, Sebastian? We're taking out the trash."

  "Yeah," I say. "I'll be there in a minute."

  They stop at the gate at the other end. Marcus undoes the lock and shoves open the wood door.

  Evan runs for it. I was expecting it though. I clutch his shirt. He springs forward, as the cotton stretches.

  "Where do you think you're going?" I ask and let go of the shirt.

  He falls forward, face first. Rising to his hands and knees, he spits dirt. "What the fuck is your problem?"

  "You know what my problem is. You have zero fucking respect." I put my foot on his back and force him
down to the muddy grass. "You smoked pot in our house after being told do it outside. You laid your filthy hands on a girl without her permission, and probably would have assaulted her had I not stopped you. And then, you threw a rock at me and tried to take me down, all because I told you to get up. You're lucky I'm not beating your ass to a pulp right now."

  He turns his head to the side. "I told you, man. She came on to me. In the kitchen before the game room. Then she met me upstairs when I asked her to. She came on her own. She wanted it."

  That's it. I grab him by the neck again, like he's a fucking baby animal, and force him to his feet. He turns and tries to swing at me. He's off by a foot. I almost laugh. Instead, I slam my fists into his stomach so hard he groans, and doubles over. Then I punch him in the eye. A reminder for later when he sobers.

  He staggers and lands against the fence, the only thing keeping him on his feet.

  "What lesson did you learn tonight?" I ask him

  With one hand over his eye, the other holding his stomach, he murmurs something.

  I cup my ear. "What was that?"

  "Don't fuck with you," he grates with sloppy words.

  "Wrong. Don't fuck with girls. Ever. And have respect for other people's property."

  He doesn't say anything.

  I get close, my face in his, and clutch his jaw. "Understand?"

  "Yes." He forces out.

  "Good." I smack his cheek the way my father does mine. "Now, get out and don't come back."

  Evan scampers away faster than I thought possible. At the open gate, I watch as he peers back at me and trips over his feet as he continues down the driveway. He reaches Marcus and Nathan, who are walking back up, and veers way out to the side to avoid them.

  Nathan laughs.

  When they almost reach me, they stop. "I’m going to clean up and get back to manning the door." Marcus sticks his thumb over his shoulder.

  "Thanks, man." Nathan pats him on the back.

  "Anytime, brother." Marcus nods at me and traipses toward the front entrance.

  Nathan joins me at the gate. "What was that about with Evan? You looked like you wanted to kill him upstairs, but you let him walk away, as in he could stand and operate his legs." He wipes his mouth and a small trail of blood at the corner.