19. Isabella

I wake wrappedin Priest's arms.

My whole body tingles with a sensation I've never felt before. Even before I open my eyes, a big grin spreads across my face.

I'm no longer a virgin.

I let Priest fuck me into the wee hours of the morning and I moaned like a dirty little whore. I also loved every minute of it, even if I am sore between my legs and my body is pulsing with a need that I've never felt before.

Is this what being in love feels like?

Did Priest tell me he loves me back, just because I told him first?

I don't know, but what I do know is the man I'm crazy about is wrapped around me, sound asleep, and I couldn't be happier about that fact. I bask in the nakedness of our bodies pressed together and how protected he makes me feel. How slow and patient he was with me; cleaning me up in the shower with a wash cloth between my legs. Then taking his mouth to my pussy and laving my clit until I was screaming his name. He likes it when I talk dirty and say crude things. It makes me want him all the more.

And I wasn't just being kind about this dick; it really is a monster. I can feel it now, pressed against my ass cheeks and my tailbone. I want nothing more than to turn around and grip it. Wake him up with a hand job… But in the light of day, I'm shy.

Things are different in the dark.

He stirs and I keep still, pretending I'm still asleep. A few moments later, he presses a kiss to the back of my head and then whispers, "I know you're awake."

I feel the buzz in my lower belly. Now I've had Priest, I can't seem to get enough of him.

I smile wider. "How do you know that?"

"Your breathing changes. It's not so slow."

Oh.

"That's very observant."

He chuckles. "Oh, I'm very observant when it comes to you and this hot little body."

I'm elated he hasn't chastised himself about what we did or how guilty he feels. I'd feel like shit if he tried to palm it off as a lack of judgment, or something to be ashamed of. I've never felt more whole in my entire life. Like a piece of me has been missing.

"Speak for yourself. Though, nothing about you is little."

He bumps me with his hips. "Are you sore?" He snuggles his face into the side of my neck. Inhaling his scent is like an aphrodisiac in itself.He smells like home. Like all the good things I crave. Like Priest.

"A little." He's so warm. I don't know if this crazy afterglow is normal, but as long as Priest has his arms around me, I'll take every ounce of warmth he's offering.

"I'm sorry about that."

I snort. "Are you?"

He kisses my pulse point. "Yes. I'd never hurt you, not intentionally."

"It's a good pain," I say. "I feel… different."

"In a good way?"

I snuggle back further into his arms. "Of course in a good way. I just don't know how we're ever going to leave this bedroom."

"Well, I've nothing I need to get done urgently."

"Except coffee."

"Always coffee." We lie there for a few more minutes, neither of us saying anything. His finger runs over the ring on my middle finger. "This is pretty."

I smile. "It was my mother's." As broke as I am, I'd never even consider selling it. It's the one thing that holds me to her. I don't know if the stone inside is a real Ruby — I've not dared to find out. I'd rather sell my soul than sell anything of my mother's.

Even a damn bus ticket isn't that important to me, not if it means I lose the only thing that holds me close to her. "I've had it for a long time."

"It must've been hard, losing her at a young age."

I close my eyes. "You've no idea. I miss her so much."

He kisses my hair again. "Maybe someday you could meet my dad. He's a good guy. Not somebody I'd ever imagine having a relationship with, not after all the years we never knew about one another."

"I'm so sorry about that."

He runs his pointer finger down my arm, sending goosebumps over my skin. "It's water under the bridge now. I guess my mom never wanted me to know him for her own selfish reasons. And in my head, I had all these fucked up notions about him that weren't ever true."

"At least you can make up for lost time now," I say. "It's better than never knowing him at all."

"Do you ever wish you could go back in time? Do things differently?"

I take a long, deep breath. "Yes. I think about the night I ran away all the time."

"Isabella?"

Uh, oh. He never uses my real name. I swallow hard. "Yes?"

"Are you related to the Carusos?"

I close my eyes.

So he found me out. I knew I'd said too much last night, and that he'd put two and two together. I knew there were motorcycles there that night, that it was possible Priest could be involved somehow. But I didn't want to think about it.

"If I said I was, would it change things?"

He pulls me tighter against him. "No."

"Then why does it matter?"

"You know why. First, your uncle is the mob boss of New Orleans, and if that's the case, then I need to let my club know."

"Why do they need to know?"

"Because you're with me now, and that means you're under the club"s protection. Once your family finds out you're still alive, then what?"

I knew this was coming. I knew that it couldn't go on like this forever. That I'd be free of them and that would be it. If I'd just left town… Never come back, things might be different. Maybe in my heart of hearts I know that I've a score to settle and no amount of bad blood or tyranny can make me change my mind. Maybe I want Carlo to suffer, just as I have suffered all these years. Maybe my father being killed isn't enough.

"They were never going to find out. I was leaving town…"

"Except you're still here."

"But Rueben foiled my plans," I whisper. "You know that."

"Did you stay because you want to see what plays out with your family, now that there's a war brewing?"

My heart races. "A war brewing?"

"You know the MC was there, Bella. That night."

I turn in his arms. "I didn't…." His stern face zips my lips together swiftly. "Okay, I knew there was bad blood between clubs and the Irish, but I never knew your club was involved, Priest. I swear…"

"Your father was killed that night, in front of your eyes. The night you ran."

I blink. No tears form because I have no tears to shed for that bastard. "Your point?"

He slides one hand up my neck to cup my face. "Did you do this to get closer to me?"

I frown. "I didn't know you were involved, Priest. I didn't even know you were part of the MC until Casey told me. That's the truth. I found you by complete accident going to the Soup Kitchen."

"And when you found out I was part of NOLA Rebels, that didn't deter you? Even though you had a good idea that I was involved somehow."

I shake my head. "No. My father was an evil bastard and I feel absolutely no pain at all over his death. In fact, I feel relieved… Does that make me some kind of asshole? Some kind of uncaring, horrible person that the man who made my life a living hell for so many years got what he deserved?" I sit up, pulling the duvet with me so it sits under my armpits. "You know what else? I don't feel one ounce of guilt that he's gone. He took me to a gunfight, Priest. What does that say about my father in all of this?"

He watches me, unblinking. I've never seen him this intense. When he finally speaks, his tone is quiet in a way I haven't heard before. "I would never blame you for ever being glad you're rid of that asshole, not after what he did."

"He was a bad man."

"There are things that you may not know."

I frown. "Things?"

He shakes his head. "Of why your father was killed at point blank."

"I thought it was a drug deal gone wrong?"

He shakes his head. "The club doesn't deal drugs. We're legit. We teamed up with the Irish to put the mob back in their place and send them all back to fuckin' Houston, Texas, where they belong. Killing your father wasn't planned, but when my Prez found out he'd done what he did to two of my club brothers…"

My face pales. "What did he do?"

His eyebrows knit together. "Bella. He was your father… Surely… Did he never… touch you… inappropriately?"

I blink, trying to make sense of his words. "He used violence yes. He slapped me a few times… verbally abused me, but he never did anything more than that… He never…" I'm ashen as his insinuation. "Oh, God. What did he do?"

"It doesn't matter now. But he hurt children in the worst possible way. He's dead, that's all that matters. And you're a mafia princess who's supposed to be dead." He runs a hand over his face. "Jesus, Bella. I wish you'd come clean sooner."

He hurt children in the worst possible way?

Panic rises within me and I feel jittery. I want to scream but also cry. I want to be open with Priest but I've never been able to trust any of the men in my life. Not one. "I didn't want to burden you with any of this."

"Burden me?"

"I didn't want to give you any reason to leave. The people in my life are always leaving."

He strokes a thumb over my cheek bone. "I'm not goin' anywhere, but there can't be any more lies between us."

"In my defense, I have a hard time trusting anyone."

"I can certainly see why."

"And now I fear Leo's training to take my father's place as the new underboss. You've no idea what he's capable of."

He continues to stroke my cheek. "You won't have to worry about him."

"Why?"

"A war is brewing. I don't have to tell you that. Your uncle thinks he can control the French Quarter just like they used to thirty years ago, but things have changed."

"I know how to stop them."

His eyebrows pinch together once more. "You don't need to do anything."

My heart swells at his words. "I do, Priest. More people could die."

"You're not putting yourself into any situation where you're in danger, Bella. That isn't a warning, it's a promise."

I press my hand on his chest, over his cross tattoo and press it against his heart. "I should have told you the truth sooner."

"Yes, you should have."

"Does it change how you feel about me?"

"No but you runnin' around when you're supposed to be dead isn't exactly going to keep you safe, is it?"

I drop my eyes. "Will you turn me in?"

I feel his hand at my chin as he tilts it up so our eyes meet. "Don't hide from me. I don't like it when you do that. For the record, no, I'd never turn you in"

My voice is barely a whisper when I say, "It's a bad habit, one I haven't been able to shake."

"Well, things are different now. I'm never going to hurt you or put you in harm's way. I promise." His lips find mine. "Even if I am mad at you when you didn't exactly tell me the truth."

I take a long breath. "What was I supposed to say, Priest? Oh, and by the way I'm part of the Italian mafia and your club may have had a hand in killing my father? Not exactly the perfect icebreaker, is it?"

My stomach is still rolling over his earlier comments about my father and what he did. I always knew he was a violent, horrible man, but I never thought he was capable of sinister crimes against children. I want to puke. I want to do better, be a better person than he ever was.

"It doesn't matter. You know the heart of me, even after this short time. You know that no matter what you say to me I'll always be there for you. No matter what."

His words pierce my heart. My soul. This man can't be real. He just can't.

Tears start to well in my eyes and then they overflow and I can't stop them. I hide against Priest's shoulder as he wraps his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head.

"Don't cry," he tells me. "You don't need to shed any more tears."

"What about what my father did? What my uncle is still doing?"

He holds me tighter. "Do you have any knowledge of anything your father or uncle were up to before you left?"

I shake my head. "They kept me completely out of it."

"What about Leo? Did he say anything?"

I think back. "He liked to brag a lot. He thinks he's tougher than he actually is, and he'd do anything to impress my uncle." I swallow hard, wiping my tears with the palm of my hand. "He will be a part of this war if it means cementing his place within the mob." Even as I speak the words, I shudder.

"It's okay. I promise you never have to go back there."

"I'm as good as dead if I do," I whisper. "My uncle would never forgive me for this."

"You never have to worry about that. Not ever. You're under my protection, and the NOLA Rebels. We protect our own."

"Those men don't even know me," I stammer.

He kisses my head again. "That doesn't matter. What matters is you're with me. And if you're with me, then the club is too. You just can't go running around New Orleans until we've dealt with the mob."

I close my eyes. "You mean kill them all?"

"I mean push them out back to Texas. Get them the fuck out of New Orleans. Then you'll be free."

Free.

I contemplate that for a second.

I know I've taken risks around the city, but it isn't as if anyone is out looking for me. They think I'm dead. Incinerated in the blast from the vehicle.

I wish I could truly believe Priest's words. But I don't feel like I'll ever truly be free of them.

"I want that," I tell him. "I want to start living my life without having to hide."

He tilts my chin once more, my eyes meeting his. His face is so sincere, his eyes softening as he takes me in. His thumbs brush against the wetness under my eyes as he sweeps the tears away. "And so you shall, baby girl. You've been living in the shadows your entire life. Very soon it'll be your turn to shine. You can have all the good things in life that you deserve. That you should have had."

I pull him closer to me. "I have all the things I need. I have you… If you still…" I fight hard not to drop my gaze. "If you still want me."

His lips twitch. "Of course I still want you, Bella. I can't get enough of you." He nuzzles his nose against mine and I shriek when I feel something brush my elbow. Looking down I see it's one of his cats brushing up against my skin as he purrs loudly.

"I think that's our cue to get up and feed the animals." I smile. "I'll put the coffee on."

He presses his lips against mine. "You're a woman after my own heart."

I can't help but smile, even though I can feel a perilous journey ahead for the two of us. I also know I'm a survivor. I can do this and get out the other end. I've done harder things. Laying low for a little while longer while I'm with Priest is not a hardship. In fact, I want to keep him here all damn day.

I reach between his legs and he growls. His dick is rock hard and I bite my lip as I squeeze him. "You're always up," I whisper, it's not a question. This man is insatiable.

"Around you? Can you blame me?"

I smile, squeezing and stroking as his eyes roll back and he closes his eyes, his throat bobbing as he spreads his legs, giving me better access.

"I think you need a little wake up call." I move and straddle over his lap, letting the duvet go as I sit on top of him. His hands cup my ass and he moves his mouth to suck one pebbled nipple into his mouth. I groan.

"I think you need my dick inside you."

His words are like molten fire in my belly. I rub against his dick, my pussy already slick as he suckles, squeezing my ass as I ride him without penetrating. God, he feels so good. His hands roam my body and when he moves his mouth over to my other begging nipple, I hold his head to my breast and I press against his dick harder.

"Priest," I groan.

He keeps moving my hips up and down his length. I gaze down between us and his dick pokes up like a rod of steel. Seeing it run through my pussy over and over turns me on so freaking bad that I start to spiral. I cry out, my clit on fire as I let go and throw my head back in a rush of ecstasy.

"Condom," he growls.

I reach for the box he left on the side table and grab one out.

"I don't know how?—"

He takes it out of my hand, rips the foil and pulls the thing out. "I'll show you." He places the thing over his head and then grabs my hand and helps me roll it down his long, hard dick.

"Glad they make this in double extra-large." I smile.

He grins, his eyes crinkling at the sides as he lifts me by the hips. Gripping him at the base, I sink down onto his dick. He fills me so full that I wince and he stops.

"I'm good," I tell him.

"Baby?"

"It just feels so full."

He presses his lips against mine. "Good. Then you'll never forget where I belong and how much you're needy for it, will you?"

I wrap my arms around his neck and ease off him, sliding off his cock as he groans, his eyes closing. Making him feel like this — along with the noises he makes — has me feeling like I'm Queen of the world. This is my power. Making him come undone.

"Never."

I slide back down, taking most of him when he suddenly grips my hips harder and tilts his pelvis, pushing the rest of the way in. I jolt and at the same time, a small cry leaves my throat.

"Fuck me." His words are my undoing and I do exactly that. Holding onto his shoulders I start to ride him, slowly at first. When he takes my nipple in his mouth and watches me as he sucks, I lose myself over and over. This man doesn't let up. He keeps pumping in. Up and down, in and out. I tilt my head back, enjoying the freedom.

His fingers pull on my nipples hard. I bring my eyes back to his and I bob up and down as he pulls my nipples then bends his head to suck each one back and forth over and over. It's so erotic. Nothing has ever felt this good. His fingers dig into my hips and it's so possessive in a way that I've never known. A way that I never thought I'd not only want, but crave. I crave everything to do with Priest.

Sex with him like this… It's so damn good and I spiral again and again, only coming up for air when he starts to pump up inside me, shouting his release as we both collapse on the bed in drunken love haze. One I hope I never come out of.

One that I want to last forever.