Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

Nia

I look back as Jake and I walk away, every set of Kincaid eyes staring back at me. It makes my face heat all over again.

The last half hour was…intense.

But the plan is solid. And by some miracle, I trust Jake to keep his promises. I can't believe that could be true.

Here I am, though. If I'm wrong…well, I'm wrong. But at least I tried. Really tried living and not just hiding. And I don't just mean from Toni.

Making choices based on fear is a different sort of fear-based living, and I've participated in that wholeheartedly.

"Can I ask you a question?" I say as we turn the corner and start up the stairs.

"Anything."

"What is your role at Kincaid Enterprises?"

"Security," he answers with a wink.

"Oh. That is helpful," I grip his fingers tighter as I move closer, pressing closer to his side .

"You know what Mason does. Roman runs the casinos, Leo the nightclubs, and Luke is in charge of the construction of the underground tunnel that will connect our various casinos with those of the families that partner with us. It's that project that began your father's demise because Mason intentionally left the Diamond out of the plans, devaluing the property."

I'd heard scraps of this in the house.

"Luke is in charge of that project? I had assumed it was Mason."

"His plan, he got all the permitting. But the actual building of the tunnel goes to Luke. He got a degree in engineering and everything."

My eyes widen in surprise. They really aren't the typical gangsters Vegas is filled with otherwise.

"And Mason?"

"Yeah. All the schooling at only the best," Jake says, as he slides my hand from his left to his right so that he can put his arm around me. "Dartmouth. Harvard Law School."

"And you?"

He shakes his head, but I see the grimace. "Old-school gangster, remember?"

"But how did you learn all the modern technology then?"

He squeezes my hip. "It's interesting so I studied it all myself. If I had it to do over, I'd get a formal degree, though. I'd develop technologies instead of just using them."

I cock my head. "Why not do it now?"

He raises his brows. "My share in Kincaid is worth over a billion dollars."

I nearly trip. "Wait. A billion?"

He stops in the hall. "Yeah, sweetheart. A billion. I was going to sell my shares. Open my own company. But with you joining us, I think I'll stay."

"Jake…"

He gives me a soft smile. "Don't think I'm giving something up. I've actually gained all the perspective I needed."

"You're sure? "

"Very. Which means whatever dreams you have after this is all over, are yours for the taking."

My mouth opens and closes. I lick my suddenly dry lips. "So, if I wanted to try my hand at singing?"

"I'll have Leo book you in our clubs. I'd say that you'd need to audition, but I've heard you. You'll bring the crowds for sure."

I blink at him. "Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"I think having a billion dollars means you get to do whatever you want. If you want to study, develop technology, you should. Mason's a smart guy, I bet you could sell him on the fact that it would be to his advantage."

His chin draws back as he stares down at me. "So you, at twenty, are going to work, and me, at thirty-five, is going to go to school?"

This might be the most normal and best conversation of my life. It's so wonderful that a giggle escapes my lips. Making plans, sharing dreams…

This is what I've been waiting for. This is where I wanted to go when I ran. "I could go to school too. I could get like a performing arts degree or something."

His brows shoot up. "Can we study together? There are all sorts of little nooks and crannies in the library."

Another laugh falls from my lips. "You are so bad, Daddy."

He rumbles out his appreciation a moment before his hands grab my ass, and he lifts me in his arms, carrying me the rest of the way down the hall.

I give a squeal, my arms wrapping about his neck when I hear one of the men, Leo I think, yell up the stairs. "Jake, don't even tell me your as loud as Mason. It's bad enough?—"

"Get ear plugs, you big fucking baby!" Jake yells back before his mouth captures mine.

The kiss isn't sweet, our mouths devour as our tongues tangle. I thread my fingers into his hair.

I don't even notice we've stepped into the room until he kicks the door closed, the resounding thud makes me pull back an inch or two to look down in his face. "I can be quiet. I think."

"Fuck that."

"It is strange not being alone. There were no people for miles when we were at the little house," I say with a wistful sigh, before he threads one of his hands into my hair, pulling my mouth back down to his.

"You pretend we're there, baby girl," he answers when our lips finally unlock. "And we can go for as long as you want for our honeymoon."

"You really want to get married?" I ask, nipping at my lip. "We don't have to."

"We're a lot alike. We both wanted to go it alone, didn't we?"

I nod. It's so true.

"I say we both commit to being in this together. All the way, for the rest of our lives."

Did I just suggest quiet? My legs wrap around his waist, my mouth dropping back to his.

His cock is grinding into me as I roll my hips. He squeezes my ass, pulling me even closer.

We're still standing in the middle of the room, my hands sliding up and down the bare skin of his back. Part of me wants to climb off him if only to strip down and feel more of his skin.

But part me doesn't want to move. This might be the most perfect embrace, and I'm not sure I want it to end.

A knock at the door makes the decision for me.

Jake growls into my mouth before he breaks the kiss. Still holding, he barks out. "What?"

"Nia's clothes are done," Roman calls. "Luke and I are going to the cabin to collect more of your things."

Jake sets me down, finally, and crosses the room, opening the door just enough to talk with Roman. "You interrupted me for laundry?"

Roman chuckles. "And to tell you that Mason and Leo are leaving. You'll have the house to yourself."

I slide over to the bed, kicking off the ridiculous shorts so that I'm in nothing but his T-shirt, as I lay down, propping up on my elbows, legs exposed, hair tumbling over one shoulder.

A moment later, he closes the door and turns back, stopping as he looks at me.

I slide one foot up my other calf. "We're going to be alone?"

"That's right, baby girl," he says in a growl, pulling at the button on his jeans. "Why don't you be a good girl and take off that shirt?"

I push up onto my knees, spreading them apart as I grab the hem and dance it up to my waist. "And if I want to be a bad girl?"

He yanks his pants down his hips, his cock springing out, already leaking a bit of precum.

My tongue darts out to lick my lips. "Shirt," he growls as he stalks toward me, the movement of his muscles holding me transfixed for a moment.

He reaches me and grabs the shirt himself, pulling it over my head, as my arms raise too.

The moment it's over my head, I pitch forward, flicking my tongue out to lick the pearl of liquid.

He makes a feral noise in the back of his throat as he threads his hand back into my hair, pulling me down.

My lips part, allowing his cock to sink into my mouth and slide against my tongue. "Fuck me," he rumbles as I sink all the way down, holding him in my mouth as he hits the back of my throat.

I choke a bit, but I don't let up. I like holding him in my mouth like this. The little bit of sacrifice only making me feel closer to him.

I look at up at him, his grey eyes so intense, that I can't look away as I slowly pull back, his cock now slick with my saliva.

"Jesus, Nia. You're killing me."

"How's that, Daddy?"

"I love you so much, sweetheart."

I blink the bit of water from my eyes. "I love you too."

"Which is why, I'm going to fuck you six ways to Sunday, tonight."

I look up at him for a minute, before I fall back onto the bed, my arms going over my head. "Fuck me, Daddy."