6. Delilah

6

DELILAH

I think the best way to get to know someone is torturing and killing together. You get to judge their technique and gain a deep perspective of how their mind works. Vincenzo's technique is perfect. He practices what my dad likes to call the low-and-slow method—when you start smaller and ramp the intensity up until they're begging for you to end their life. It's my favorite, closely followed by a swift, painful beatdown.

He's also sadistic as fuck. He dug silver pins under Benito's fingernails and beat him with a silver-dipped bat. He felt everything agonizing minute of his torture because the silver handcuffs we restrained him with blocked his magic. Watching the charismatic, funny man I've come to know over the past few hours let go and fuck someone up with reckless abandon was… hot . The malicious, evil grin on his face as he made Benito beg and cry for mercy made me weak in the knees. I was so turned on I almost dropped to my knees on the basement's concrete floor.

After Vincenzo finished, I gave him a pair of earplugs and killed our captive with my wail. He had never seen a banshee in action before and seemed in awe of how I used my voice to murder people.

We gained some valuable information in between torture methods, including the names of all ten people who turned their backs on Vincenzo. We also gleaned that the Furrocious werewolf clan said they'd even consider becoming our ally if Mario could successfully take over. Needless to say, an alliance will not happen. The first thing I want to do after we take care of Mario and find my mom is hunt down their leader and make him pay.

"Thanks for letting me redo our date," he says as he hefts Benito's body into a bin for disposal in the morning. He zones in on the dried blood splattered on my dress. "We need showers."

"Yeah, I have something sticky in my hair and it wasn't like this an hour ago," I say, internally cringing. Despite enjoying torture, I'm not a huge fan of bodily fluids unless I'm feeding.

He leads me up to the top floor with his hand on the small of my back. The protective, possessive gesture stokes my earlier lust back to life. I want to know what his hands would feel like against my bare skin. How hard they could grip me in the throes of passion.

He leads me to his room and gives me towels, a pair of boxer briefs, and a tee shirt. "Benito never got you clothes, so this is what I have that fits you. You can shower in my guest suite next door…or you can join me," Vincenzo suggests, raising a brow.

Heat flares in his dark, cold eyes. He strips down to his boxer briefs, and I take everything in. His thick thighs, defined chest, and the smattering of hair on his chest. The colorful tattoos on his right arm jump out at me. He's everything I find attractive rolled into the perfect specimen of a man.

So why am I scared to take this to the next level? I've done more with men I know less…

"Enjoy your shower," I say, unsure of why I'm hesitating.

"Okay, but if you change your mind, come on in." He turns around and drops his boxer briefs before he goes into the bathroom.

I get a full view of his firm ass and strong calves. His back is carved from pure muscle and covered in a mosaic of tattoos—skulls, flowers, daggers, blood, and geometric designs interlace to create a tapestry of art. I'm desperate to run my fingers over every inch, explore his body until I know it by heart. But wouldn't it be weird to sleep with him? I just met him, yet it feels like I've known this man my entire life.

He leaves the door cracked open, and I can see his reflection in the mirror. His strong hands work soap over his pecs, down his abs. Then onto his arms. His muscles bunch and flex with every movement, and I'm dying to feel them for myself. Before I know what happened, I'm right at the door, peering through the gap like a stage five stalker.

He invited me in…

I can easily slip in there if I change my mind. Is it really too soon if he's my fated mate? I waited my whole life to meet the man who was perfect for me—cosmically matched to me by fate Herself—before going beyond a casual hook up. Now he's here and I'm not sure why I'm hesitating.

I hear a throat clear and look up. He's staring at me, waiting for me to make a decision. I think back to what my mom always told me.

"You need to let yourself live. Experience the world!"

Meeting my mate is akin to the world being dropped right into my hands. He's everything I'll need—a romantic partner, best friend, and the perfect man for me. He makes me feel alive, and I should experience him.

I unzip my dress, pushing the sleeves off and letting it pool at my feet. Then I step out of my heels so I'm naked. There's nothing to hide behind or shield myself with. His gaze rakes over me, and he takes himself in hand with firm, slow strokes. His cock is long, thick, and slightly curved. I want to taste it, feel it hit the back of my throat.

After entering the bathroom, I open the glass shower door and step under the showerhead. Water pours down on me, and he pushes my wet hair away from my face.

"You're so fucking beautiful," he rasps as he takes my hand and pulls me closer. "My beautiful, deadly girl."

Vincenzo threads his finger through my hair, tilting my head up and taking my mouth in a passionate kiss that shakes me to my core. It feels as if all the stars are aligning. Like everything is coming together, and suddenly the world seems right. His tongue explores my mouth in a claiming way, running over each of my fangs. He backs me into the shower wall without breaking our kiss. His thumbs rub over my hard nipples, pinching them just hard enough to make me moan. I wrap my legs around his waist, grinding my sex into his hard cock and gasping when it hits my clit.

"Yes, beautiful, take what you want. Get yourself off," he growls as he grabs my ass and thrusts the tip of his dick, creating a friction that makes me moan.

" Fuck ," I whine. "Oh fuck, Vin, please ," I cry, so close to the edge. So desperate for more so I can free fall into pleasure.

He pops his fingers into his mouth and covers them with spit before gliding them over my clit in fast, furious circles.

"Fuck, I wanna get inside your hot, tight cunt so bad," he groans into my ear. "I'm gonna fuck you, beautiful. I'm gonna claim you and seal that mate bond."

"Do it. Bite me," I beg him as he gets me off. "I want it, please."

"You're mine, Delilah, and I'm yours. For the rest of time."

His words push me over the edge and I come so hard my ears ring. My vision blurs for a few moments before I take a deep breath. I've never come so hard in my life. He wastes no time pushing the tip of his length inside me, sinking into me slowly inch by inch. He kisses my lips, working his way down my neck to my collar bone. All the sensations meld together.

"Do you want me to fuck you slow and deep? Or fast?" he asks me as he starts to move in a slow, steady rhythm. "What does my beautiful girl want?"

"I want to come again," I admit as I grip his hair and pull his lips down to my neck again.

His rich laughter fills the shower stall, floating away with the steam. "My greedy little mate can come as many times as she wants."

His thrusts slow down but he goes deeper each time, hitting that special spot inside me. My body goes numb with a blissful pleasure I didn't know existed. I squeeze my thighs around his hips and wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him so I don't fall.

"Yes, yes, fuck me. More." I'm so lost in him that I'm babbling.

He works my clit again, picking up the pace until every thrust drives my back up the wall. His teeth sink into the side of my neck and a burning euphoria courses through my body, lighting me up like a live wire. The mate bond is immediate, and I gain an awareness of him. I feel his pleasure. His desire for me. His passion and possessiveness. It's all so overwhelming that I come a second time.

He follows me over the edge, and I sink my fangs into his neck, sealing the bond between us. He stays inside me as we catch our breath. A few minutes later, he pulls out, then drops to his knees.

"My cum is running down your leg, marking you." He gathers it with his fingers and pushes it back in. Then he pops his fingers into his mouth and moans. "Fuck, we taste so good," he rasps, licking his lips. "Next time I want to eat your pussy until you squirt in my face."

I love how filthy and possessive he is without being a total asshole. He's the best of every quality rolled into the perfect man.

We clean off, then get ready for bed. The red shirt and boxers he picked for me are comfortable, made from soft, expensive fabric. Without second guessing myself, I climb into his bed and fluff up my pillow.

"If you chose anywhere else to sleep, I would have gone with you. Mates sleep together," he says around a laugh as he lays down on the other side.

"Mates…it's crazy, isn't it?" I ask him.

"Yes. It's crazy lucky that a man like me found a woman like you." He kisses my forehead, then claps to turn the lights out. "Time for bed. We have a big day tomorrow."

He wraps his arm and leg around me, holding me tight against him. As I nuzzle my face into his chest hair, I smile to myself. Tomorrow I'm going to complete my hit, find my mom, and then have my happily ever after with my fated mate.

Dad: Hey, how is looking for mom going? You didn't check in yesterday.

Oh, shoot. I never texted my dad and he's probably worried sick. I type out a quick text, updating him on what happened as concisely as I can. Dad hates it when I spare him details, but I don't have a ton of time to tell him everything .

Me: Hey Dad 3 I have a good lead on Mom, and I am close to eliminating my target. I met my fated mate, and he's amazing. Will introduce you soon. Love you, will call as soon as I can.

That'll have to do.

I take one last look in the mirror. My makeup is natural, except a bold red lip. My hair is done into a chic, low bun with loose tendrils of hair framing my face. The dress Vin had delivered from his designer connection is perfect–a white lace A-line with an off the shoulders neckline and long, sheer lace sleeves. The only requirement I gave him is that I wanted it to have sleeves, but he knocked it out of the park.

There's a swift knock on the door. "Beautiful, are you almost ready?" Vin asks excitedly. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," I call back.

He walks in, wearing a bespoke black tuxedo that matches my dress perfectly.

"You beautiful woman. You look perfect. The groom isn't supposed to see the bride, but I had to see you," he admits as he takes my hand and kisses the back of it.

"Well, yeah. You're driving us there, so eventually you'd have to see me," I say around a laugh. "Tradition isn't really my thing, so I don't mind us seeing each other before our fake wedding."

" Fake ?" he asks in a confused tone. "This isn't fake. I have a real officiant meeting us at the mausoleum."

"Wait, we're actually getting married? I thought this was a fake wedding, so you could lead the mafia and force your uncle to ambush us?"

He squeezes my hand, then reaches into his pocket. "No, it's real. I told you I'd plan a secret wedding. Never said it would be fake, though." He pulls out a small, black box and opens it to reveal a huge blood-red ruby stone set in yellow gold. It's surrounded by tiny diamonds that match the diamonds on the band. There's also a thin gold band under it. "I bought a ring set for you."

"Oh gods, it's beautiful," I say through tears.

He hands me a handkerchief and I cry even harder. I would be fated to the kind of guy who still uses them. I feel like I hit the jackpot. He holds me in his arms, and rubs my upper back, right over the cutout in the dress. His cold skin is weirdly soothing.

"If you want a bigger wedding later with your folks and family, we can do that. But even with my uncle dead, I still want to marry you—whether it's required or not. I want you by my side."

"I want to be by your side, but I'm in this assassin's guild thing and I still want to work for my parents. They're both non negotiable." Mostly because the guild is for life. I don't think I can leave, and I don't want to.

"I would never make you stop doing something you loved. However, I may ask to use your services for free. Your banshee wail is the coolest way to kill someone."

"I'm sure we can work out a deal." The clock on the wall chimes eleven. "We're going to be late."

He lets go of me, then takes my hand again, gesturing to the door with his free hand. "After you, future wife."

"Thanks, future husband," I say around a laugh as he follows me out the door.