Chapter 8

Michael

I couldn't make sense of my feelings. I've known this man for two minutes and he was holding me hostage and enslaving my brother on my account, yet here I was, flirting with the enemy, while Ryan was going through who knew what kinds of dangers.

All my scruples crumbled the moment he kissed me. I'm pretty sure I initiated it with my insinuating questions, but the second I reciprocated, and my hand reached out to him, he leaned forward, grabbing it by my wrist and pinning it over my head as his body spread over mine. "What do you want, Michael?" he asked, brushing my ear with his lips.

A chill ran down my spine as all my senses were suddenly on guard. "I don't know what I want, Vincent." I whispered.

He looked at me for a second, still holding me in place, while his other hand slowly slid down my body, making me tremble. The moment I felt his erection pressing against mine, I reached for his lips, a little embarrassed and unable to maintain eye contact. Vincent returned it with hunger; one hand grabbing my hip, the other the back of my neck. Against my every rational thought, all I could do was kiss him back with the same intensity he was showing, pulling the jacket off his shoulders as he eagerly took off my t-shirt.

"Do you want me to give you pleasure?" He muttered in my ear, running his tongue over my collarbone.

"You said it was not up to you…." I reminded him.

Vincent lifted his weight, moving the blanket aside and stripping me of my boxers without breaking eye contact. "Call it a leap of faith," he ended the sentence, nipping kisses along my earlobe, before he pinned me again by both hands, making his way from the dip of my neck to my stomach; nibbling and slowly lapping at the creases between my legs, before the tip of his tongue brushed one of my balls.

I gasped and arched my back, trying to navigate my conflicting emotions that brought sudden tears to my eyes. Vincent must've felt it too.

"Relax, Michael. You might be confused about me; you might even hate me now, but your body wants this, so let me give it to you." When I didn't respond, he stopped everything abruptly. "I can stop, Michael; I will leave if that's what you want."

Yes, stop…. What am I doing?

I wanted him to go. But then, why did I hold on to his hand, kissing his fingers and craving his touch and his care? Why did the idea of him leaving the room suddenly scare me so much?

"No, please stay." I whispered, feeling a pressure in my chest. "I want this…."

A gentle smile crossed his face and, for the first time, he seemed just like a man. A beautiful man…. Not the almighty Vincent Salvatore, but a man. And he was willing to please someone like me.

I closed my eyes as Vincent's tongue ran along my shaft, circling my gland and lapping at the pre-cum drops on my belly, before his lips wrapped around my cock, swallowing it whole with one big gulp. I almost screamed at the incredible sensation. Oh, my God, please don't stop, don't stop…. I held on to Vincent, holding my urge to thrust into his mouth. Grabbing onto my hips, he launched himself forward, deep throating my cock, over and over, until I was gasping for air, digging my fingers in those shoulder muscles I couldn't see.

The moment he fastened the speed, his head bobbing up and down, as his throat muscles massaged my dick with every stroke, I felt my body about to explode. "I'm gonna cum, Vincent…."

Rather than slowing down, Vincent continued to swallow my cock eagerly. Is it okay to come in his mouth? It shouldn't be ok…. He lifted my hips in response to my silent question and, arching my back, I launched forward, reaching the back of his throat once more and feeling myself come undone with the most intense orgasm I've felt in my life. Vincent didn't stop immediately, swallowing every drop of my release and gently sucking me clean as I moaned in response, overly sensitive and emotionally wrecked.

Vincent laid down next to me, propped up on one arm and trying to decipher my thoughts. Overwhelmed by my feelings and grateful for the attention he had just given me, I kissed him tenderly once more. Our eyes met, and I held his sight at a loss for words. "Vincent, that was…. I can't…."

"So, don't." Vincent took a finger to my lips. "This changes nothing, Michael. Our circumstances are still what they are."

What they are…. I nodded, not sure of what they really were.

—-----------------------

The next morning, I woke up to an unexpected gift.

My door opened and, instead of my usual visitor, I saw my brother come in. For a second, I thought I was still dreaming. "Michael!" He ran to me as I sprang up, suddenly wide awake.

"Ryan, it's you!" I threw my arms at him, overtaken by emotion. "It's really you!"

"I'm here, Michael." He hugged me tight. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…. But how about you?" I pulled away to look at him and then I noticed. The dark circles under his eyes, the bruises and a slight cut on his cheek. "My God…. What happened to you?" Fear filled my heart instantly as I looked at the broken shadow of my brother.

"It's nothing, Michael. I had a minor problem with one of my deliveries, that's all, but it's the only one like that. The rest were safe, I swear!" He shook it off. "How're you being treated? Are they hurting you?"

My brother's concern brought me a huge sense of guilt. "No one's hurting me, Ryan. Vincent has been very good to me."

" Vincent ?" Ryan gave a puzzled look.

"Salvatore," I corrected myself. "He's kind and… caring with me."

Ryan frowned, suspicious. "Is he forcing you to say that?"

"No, he's not; he's-"

"There's nothing kind or caring about that man, Michael. Don't let 'im manipulate you into thinking he is. I'm glad he's not hurting you, but keep your guard up, you hear me?" He held me by my shoulders, looking right at me.

I wanted to tell him he was wrong, and that there was more to Vincent than he knew, but the way Ryan was looking at me, told me to stay quiet.

"What's happening, Ryan? Why did he let you see me today?" I finally whispered, fearing the answer.

Ryan pulled out a folded envelope from his back pocket. "Salvatore gave me a new assignment and…. I don't know how it's gonna go." Ryan tried sounding casual, his broken voice betraying him. "I'm sure it's gonna be fine but, if you don't hear from me in a few days, I want you to open this, ok?"

"What is it?" I took the envelope with suspicion.

"It's your ticket out, Michael. In writing."

My heart sank in my chest. "What d'ya mean? What kind of job is it?" Vincent wouldn't give him anything dangerous, would he? Not now after-

"Don't worry about it, okay?" He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before smiling at me. "I do this last job and we're free!"

"Free…. We owe him a lot!" I reminded him, skeptical.

"He told me himself." His eyes lit up.

He didn't tell me… Why wouldn't he give me the news? Unless…. Unless it was bad news .

"How's that possible? We owe him so much…."

"It doesn't matter. Just trust me, ok?" He hugged me tight. "I'm gonna get you out, brother…. I'm gonna get you out." Playfully ruffling my hair, Ryan pulled away.

I tried smiling through the pain in my chest. "I know you will."

Ryan walked away, stopping at the door. "Remember, Mike, I'm gonna get you out." He smiled back with a shrug. "Have I ever let you down?"

I shook my head with a tearful laugh. Have you ever….?