Stealing Iris: A Dark Mafia Romance (Blood Ties Book 1)

Home > Other > Stealing Iris: A Dark Mafia Romance (Blood Ties Book 1) > Page 11
Stealing Iris: A Dark Mafia Romance (Blood Ties Book 1) Page 11

by Sahara Roberts


  The warmth of his body mingles with mine. His hands are at the small of my back, covering my skin then sliding lower. One quick shift of his hips, and I realize I’m not the only one affected.

  We break apart, just long enough for a breath then kiss again. Just like that I want him.

  Dante pulls away. “I missed you so damn much.”

  I let out a harsh breath, relieved I misread him. “For a second, I thought you might be put off.”

  “You didn’t want to be kissed in public,” he points out. “And we have a lot more people around this time.” True. And though he didn’t say it, I’m thinking he means Conny, too.

  “Well, I hoped you’d show me an office.” I glance up at him through my dense lashes. “Where I can ask you for a private word.” The half smile tells me he remembers the phrase he used at the store.

  “In that case, let me show you the upstairs.” He puts an arm around my waist and leads me to the end of the patio. Several strategically placed stepping stones lead to the wall beneath the second-floor balcony. The last stone ends at a staircase cleverly hidden by thick ivy covering this side of the house.

  After urging me on, he stops me at the first step with two firm hands on my hips. Moving behind me, he presses close, his breath whispering along my neck. The weight of his hands settles on me, his thumbs slipping inside the material, pulling my blouse open to cup my breasts.

  “I’ve been thinking about doing this all night,” he murmurs next to my ear, sending shivers down my body. His hard length is jutting against my bottom. If I wasn’t wet before…

  “You feel so good.” It’s all I can do to keep from grinding against him and taking his cock where I’m standing. I’m shocked, a little scared, and a lot excited. Never in my life would I have imagined wanting someone so much I’d be willing to be this daring.

  His fingers spread around me as if he can’t help himself now that he has the freedom to touch me. My nipples are so hard, his touch sends electricity shooting through me.

  “We need to get upstairs,” he warns in a thick voice. “Before I end up pounding you into the handrail.”

  A whimper escapes me and my body begs for him to do just that, and damn the consequences.

  We stumble up the rest of the stairs, my blouse hanging open. The patio light catches my attention, and I cover myself with my arm. Dante comes around me and punches numbers into a keypad to open the door. Two steps inside, and we’re on each other again. He turns me around then pushes me over something solid as he comes in behind me to drag my shorts off.

  I’m on his desk. No. My insides rebel. I can’t do this. “No. Not the desk.”

  “Okay.” He pulls back, his breath showing his effort to keep it together. “Are you—”

  I stand, kissing him as I press against him until his back hits the wall. All I want is the mindlessness of being with him, of giving in to my body’s needs. His hands are on my breasts again, caressing every curve as I kiss his jaw, his neck, and any part of him I can reach. Then he focuses on my nipples. Dear God. How had I gone my entire life without knowing this surge of need and pleasure?

  I push the coat off his shoulders, but he takes over, brushing my breast with the fabric, causing a whole other shower of sensation. He tosses it away, maneuvering us so my back is now against the wall. I’m working the buttons on his shirt; he’s dragging down my shorts, leaving me in skimpy underwear and the heels. He’s much quicker than my unsteady fingers so before I can touch his chest, he takes possession of my breasts. His fingers cover every inch of my skin, pressing the outer edge to bring them together so he can give my cleavage a long, hot lick before taking a nipple. The firm tug has my body curling around him.

  Gripping my leg behind the knee, he opens me wide, running his fingertips over my hypersensitive folds. My hips buck, and he works two fingers into my wet channel. My head lolls back. I’m biting my lip while he’s taking his time with me. He’s at my temple. “I want to take off the edge.”

  I clutch his shoulder, trying to keep up with him.

  “Give you an orgasm before you ride my cock.”

  His fingers run along my inner lips, and I know I won’t last long. But this isn’t what I want. “If you’re going to give me something”—I shift my hips—“Give me your cock.” The rumble, deep in his throat tells me he likes my uninhibited demand. He lowers his chin, his hold tightening on me as if he’s barely able to contain himself. I quiver as a surge of excitement shoots through me. Watching his reactions fills me with a sense of power I’ve never felt before. I like it.

  His mouth is on mine, only this time I have a goal, so I can’t let him distract me. Even when I drag free of his kiss, he’s unrelenting in his pursuit, his lips at my neck. I focus on pulling open his belt, reaching down to palm his length through the expensive fabric of his pants before I go for the zipper. His heavy cock fills my palm, and I grasp him gently, relishing the fact my fingertips don’t meet. I remember what it’s like to take that ride with him, and I want it again—now.

  A firm knock at the door brings us both crashing into reality. We’re breathing hard, looking at each other to see what the other wants to do. The knock comes again, and his forehead goes to the wall. “Damn it.”

  I close my eyes, resigned to putting everything on pause. Damn, why did I make him stop?

  “Come home with me.” His voice is rough in my ear, but my blood runs cold. I loosen my hold on him, careful not to get too close with these nails.

  “No. Conny…” How do I begin to explain? Helpless, I shake my head. “I can’t.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  DANTE

  Iris slips in my grasp as my limbs lose all strength. She said no, or, more to the point, she chose Conrado. Numb, I slowly release my hand, setting her leg on the floor. Stepping back, I yank my clothes into place. This time I stare at her face, ignoring the body that had held me so enthralled. Oh yeah, despite avoiding eye contact, her body language says she knows she fucked up.

  “Dante…” She licks her lips, a white-knuckled hold on her top.

  Another solid knock at the door stops whatever she’s about to say. Turning on a heel, I go around the desk, a strange mix of hurt and anger growing inside me with every step.

  “Dante.” She calls out my name again, with an edge of desperation. “Wait.” Whatever she has to say, I don’t want to hear it. I lift my hand to silence her without losing a step.

  Wrenching open the door, I find Tino on the other side. His fixed stare and deadly calm tell me something’s gone down. My stomach roils. I don’t need this right now. “We have a problem,” he confirms. Of course we do. “It’s your guest.” The muscles along my neck and shoulder blades tense to the point of shooting pain down my back. “He was trying to work a deal outside the auction.”

  Why the hell did I get involved with that goddamn son of a bitch?

  A whimper comes from behind me. She heard, and she knows they’re busted. Swallowing down the bitter pill of reality, I set my jaw and take stock. That’s why she dragged me away. Why else the sudden interest in being with me when her last words had been don’t come back? Maybe I should fuck her anyway, take out this anger on her. After all, it’s what she was offering, a distraction fuck so Conrado could strike a deal.

  Nobody has to tell me I got taken for a fool. I know I’m a fucking idiot. “Get her home,” I spit out through clenched teeth, shaking my head in her direction.

  “Dante, please…” I shoulder past him, ignoring her pleas because right now I can’t even look Tino in the eye without feeling like a pendejo. My footfalls echo down the hall. The guests I pass have enough sense to move as I plow through, blind to those around me who aren’t Conrado.

  My anger expands with every step, but it should all be self-directed. I should have kept focus on the job. When had working on my future ever steered me wrong? No, it had to be a woman to screw with me. I let her drag me around by my dick, and all she wanted was to get her partner in the door. I n
eed her gone—both of them gone from my house, from my life, and from my memory.

  My nostrils flare. It should be enough I arranged for her to get home safely. As for her companion, we’ll see. I might end up dumping him in the river later tonight. For now, I just need to find the asshole.

  A cluster of my men move along the far wall. They’re taking Conrado away from the crowd. Away from anybody who can give any sort of detail on what happened here. Good. I clench my fist because I’m going to beat that piece of crap until I can’t swing my arm anymore.

  “Dante.” Montoya’s voice comes from somewhere behind me, but I don’t bother to slow down.

  “Not now,” I toss over my shoulder, continuing on with single-minded purpose.

  Montoya hooks an arm through mine, using his body weight to change my direction mid-step.

  Glaring at him, I cock an arm to let him know how I feel about getting sidelined.

  “Let us discuss this for a moment.” His utter calm sets my nerves on end. His gaze goes past me to the rest of the room. In my anger, I hadn’t stopped to consider every guest was also a witness who didn’t need to see what’s happening. Giving them a show is not part of the deal, something I’ve never had to remind myself before tonight.

  I let him lead me out to the patio, where I stood just moments before with Iris in my arms. Images flash through my mind until my head pounds. For the life of me, I can’t stand here, not where I’d been with her. Maybe he could have chosen a better place, but what the hell? I took her all around the great room, showed her every piece of art on display, and I’d at least imagined kissing her in every available spot, if not more.

  Montoya drapes his forearms over a nearby chair. “I see you decided to invite the infamous Conrado.”

  “He’s a guest,” I counter, trying to distract from my shame.

  “Your guest was inquiring about the virgin auction, inquiring about how much a woman would fetch for her innocence…”

  Fuck. That’s what he’d planned to do with Iris. I sag against the wall, letting my head fall back until I can see the stars in the distance. Why had I brought them here? Including Conrado was a decision I made on my own, without consulting my partner, and now I owe him half the hundred-thousand-dollar door charge. Considering the piece of shit tried doing business, after he’d been instructed not to, I likely owe the entire fee. The money doesn’t really matter. I have it many times over, but the reason I have to pay it does.

  “I was on my way to show him out,” I assure him, a migraine beating insistently behind my eyes.

  “Hmmm.” Any other time, Montoya’s noncommittal response would have annoyed me.

  The valet pulls Tino’s car to the front door. Iris will be at the door, ready to be taken home. That’s why he brought me outside. So she could go by quietly, and I wouldn’t make a bigger scene. My chest aches, creating a hollowness I’ve never felt before. It unravels the knot at my throat and takes over the rest of my body without me being able to put up any resistance.

  “Your lady friend,” Montoya says, rather than asks.

  I shove my hands into my pockets, stretching to loosen my shoulder muscles. “Iris.” I don’t offer more as I strain to hear the crunch of tires on the driveway, or the car door shutting with finality. A popular, upbeat song starts, and the crowd in the other room cheers, robbing me of the closure I need with unexpected desperation. She’ll be gone now, or they both will. And I still don’t know how I feel about it, which only burns even more. My shoulders slump, and I ask the question swimming around in my gut. “I’m guessing you threw Conrado in the car with her.”

  Montoya straightens, brushing some invisible dust off the sleeve of his designer suit. “No,” he replies, casually folding his arms. “I invited him to enjoy the harem.”

  “What?” Every muscle goes rigid again, shooting tension down my back and behind my eyes. I glare at my partner, wanting to rip his neck out. “What the fuck are you doing?” I ask straight out because trying to read him will get me the same answers as always—a big lot of absolutely nothing.

  Montoya cocks his head, the light spilling from the house, catching the white strands in his hair. “I don’t know yet.”

  I scoff, a shot of mad laughter escaping as I shake my head in disbelief. “The guy…is a miserable piece of—”

  “It’s not him I’m interested in,” Montoya cuts in. “Conrado himself is of no consequence. It’s what he holds that will be valuable in the end.”

  Experience tells me I shouldn’t bother asking how he knows. Because he won’t have an answer. Instead, I stare out into the distance, catching a glimpse of taillights between the branches. I stand frozen, watching as they disappear into the pitch black covering all the mesquite and bramble surrounding the lodge. I keep my attention there, mostly because the urge to pound my fists into something is growing stronger, and Montoya would be the only target in reach. I fucked up enough already, I don’t need to add any more random acts of stupidity to the night.

  “Trust me, Dante,” he assures me, putting a calming hand on my arm.

  I shake my head, letting some of the tension drain away. What can I possibly say? My head is filled with the fact she betrayed me, and I let her.

  “I have to get the hell out of here.” I spin around, leaving him, and a house full of guests I personally vetted, without a second thought.

  *****

  IRIS

  “Are you okay?” Tino keeps asking, but I don’t know how to answer. A yes would be a lie, and a no might just make me fall apart where I sit. So I cradle my arm and keep my fingertips against my lips, fighting the urge to bite these gaudy nails as anxiety washes through me.

  The blanket of city lights in the distance is beautiful. It’s been years since I’ve been out of Laredo, even if this was just an outing to a ranch. The place is majestic, at least what I got to see. Is it his place or Mr. Montoya’s? Maybe both? The older gentleman has an unmistakable air of authority. I may never know now.

  I bite my lip to stop the trembling. He’d been so enthusiastic while he showed me around. My eyes burn, making me blink back the tears trying to escape. Why had I been so selfish? Why didn’t I follow him through the rest of the house? Maybe if I hadn’t practically jumped him as soon as I had the chance, we’d be having drinks right now instead of…having Tino drive me home.

  I need to get my mind away from what happened with Dante. I should worry about what happened to Conny. It would be too much to hope he would just disappear, and I’d never have to worry about him again. With my luck, all he’ll get is kicked to the curb, and somehow that will be my fault.

  “What did he do?” My voice comes out as a croak.

  “He broke the rules.” The ominous explanation doesn’t surprise me at all, but it still doesn’t give me the answer to the only relevant question.

  I sit back in the car’s plush seat, unseeing. So what should I expect now? As usual, Conny didn’t listen to what he was told. He ignored Tino’s instructions, despite him going over them several times before we got to the estate. What would I have to deal with tomorrow? Or maybe the day after, because likely he wouldn’t be in to work on Sunday. Not after taking off to God knows where and a dummy flight just to end up an hour or two outside of town. It’s all a fake-out, a lie so people don’t know where they are. Why? Because they’re up to something against the law. Yes, deep inside I knew, I just chose to ignore it.

  Minutes later we’re back in town, the lights going by in a blur as we take the loop.

  How can I tell him what happened? Conny is ready to turn me in at a moment’s notice. I’ll likely spend time in jail over something I didn’t do. Images flash through my mind, like the eternal second when you think your life’s coming to an end. My mother, thin and frail, being sick in a narrow, blue bucket. My father and I having a meal together at Bunny’s. Olga. The store. How much I wanted to go to school, to break away from my father’s expectations. It’s gone now—all of it. Yet none of that compares to
the way I feel right now. Raw and ragged, as if I took a beating, not physical, but a long, drawn-out emotional one.

  How did Dante become such a big part of my life so quickly? I constantly tried to distance myself from him—from men in general. They’d never been there for me, or my mom, when we needed them most. Not even my own father. So how could I expect Dante, someone I met a week ago, to be any different? My nearest and dearest example had shattered with my parents’ marriage. They included my mother dying practically alone, while the man who’d sworn to love her in front of God and family was in the guest room asleep, next to his girlfriend. A woman who had been ready to throw out my mother’s things by the time we got back from the burial. The topper was the huge fight only hours later because she wanted to move into the master bedroom. That’s when I really saw her for the first time, without the phony friendship and concern.

  I’m dumb to think things were different. Always seeing what I want instead of what’s actually there. What would this be to him? A quick hookup? And I’ve been foolish enough to miss him so much I’d been about to give myself to him without a second thought, only to have him turn on me.

  The door opens next to me. We’re in front of the house, and Tino’s standing by the door, his brows scrunched in a mask of concern. When did we get here? How long have I been lost in my own thoughts? I look around for my book bag, briefly forgetting we weren’t coming from the store like every other night. Heat runs up my cheeks as I step out of the car, taking, and actually needing, the hand he offered for support. Stress weighs down my legs, my entire body, making it a chore to drag myself out of the seat.

  “Will you be okay, Iris?”

  It’s more words than he’s ever said to me on his own. Though I heard the question many times, I still don’t know what to say. Holding my head high, I force out an answer. “I’ll be fine.” Hopefully that’ll be enough to let him leave in peace. I step forward, making my way up the driveway to the gate, teetering on the whorish heels Conny chose for me. Flipping the lock up, I turn my thumb sideways, fumbling over the tumblers with these ridiculous nails. Somehow, I make it inside without bothering to look back at Tino, though he has no fault in any of this. But when I make it into my room, I don’t bother turning on the lamp. I toss myself facedown on the narrow bed and do the one thing I haven’t done in months. I let myself cry, feeling sorry for the girl I’d been and the woman I’ll never have the chance to be.

 

‹ Prev