Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

A leksander

Her luscious dark hair smelled of sunshine and strawberries, the realization keeping me far too stimulated.

When a man was this hard, to a painful point, it often became very difficult to maintain any stamina. But with her, a true mafia princess, I could last for hours.

She was blushing all over again, the pale pink color turning a vibrant rose as it traveled from her cheeks across her jaw to her neck.

I fisted her hair with one hand, using a single finger to slide and trace it around her collarbone. Even the tip of my finger was seared from the explosive heat of her skin. Or maybe it was my libido heating up to the point of combustion.

"You are one very naughty girl." The term was repetitive, but I wanted her to fully understand what would occur every time she misbehaved. Seeing the way the muscles of her lovely, lithe throat constricted was far too enticing.

"I'm not." Whether she was faking it or not, her lower lip was quivering and there was a flash of fear and defiance in her stunning eyes. The combination was irresistible.

"Oh, yes, you are." I fucked her even harder, the action thumping the headboard into the wall. It had been so long since I'd been with a woman that I was gritting my teeth from excitement. The girl seemed so vulnerable, so fragile in some sense of the word that I was shocked when she managed with no trouble at all to flip us over. She even had the nerve to pull one of my arms over my head then the other.

I was momentarily stunned, enough so she truly believed she was in control. She was also quite the seductress, the way she tossed her hair in my face keeping my cock at full length.

"What are you going to do about it?" she cooed.

All I could do was laugh at that point. "Are you kidding me?"

She licked her lips before repeating the move, now bucking against me as she intertwined our fingers together. The filthy thought of driving my big, thick cock into her tight asshole as punishment suddenly erupted into my mind. Her pussy clenched around my cock, enough so it was difficult to keep from erupting deep inside of her. I wasn't ready, determined to maintain my level of control.

But she was a damn good temptress, alternating her movements between fast and slow. Her slickness had covered not only my cock but my thighs and, in my mind, seeing her on her knees servicing me had been the best thing in the world.

She squeezed her hands, giving me a wicked look. However, she'd yet to figure out her actions were kitten-like while mine were that of a true predator, a lion in wait. We fucked each other long and hard for the next few minutes. She was so wet, so hot her face appeared pained from the ecstasy already starting to roll through her.

"Are you ready to come for me, princess?"

"I can't come on command. I rarely come at all." Her admittance was breathless.

And disturbing.

Had a single man not taken the time to get to know her body, to provide the kind of joy and passion she so deserved? I made it my mission at that moment to give her the ultimate rapture.

Which was why I flipped her over once again, our fingers still entwined. She laughed softly, her lilt as adorable as the way her nose wrinkled. I ground my hips into her and the way her pussy muscles continued to constrict helped me discover exactly what her body needed.

"Relax. Breathe," I told her.

She had a sly smile on her face but began to move more in sync with me. As soon as she pressed her knees against my hips, I was certain she was close. I picked up the pace, keeping it in a perfect rhythm. She finally dug her fingers into mine and her back arched, every muscle tensing.

"Come for me, baby. Come hard and fast."

She opened her mouth as if to object before her eyes rolled into the back of her head. I could feel the rush as she climaxed, my cock completely coated with her juice. I could easily get drunk off her scent, my mind spinning from how electric our connection truly was. Everything about her ragged moans and the expression on her face expressed true ecstasy.

It surprised me that I was enthralled by her reaction, unable to take my eyes off her. Just the way she arched her back, getting closer was enough to keep me in awe. I couldn't remember the last time any woman had me wondrous from delight.

Raphaella was a budding flower, awakening on a summer morning to the first hint of sun. And I planned on nurturing and cultivating her needs, exploring passion she'd yet to experience in her life.

Her reaction also told me I'd need to take it slow. So much of me wanted to be rough. Very rough. But she was still fragile. I had to keep reminding myself of that.

But right now, nothing mattered but this moment. Her mouth was still open, tiny bubbles on her lips and I wanted nothing more than to lick them off.

So I did.

Her eyes opened wide, obviously surprised I could be playful with her. Granted, I never was with anyone else, but everything was different and easy with her. I continued pumping into her slowly, waiting as she tried to relax once again, catching her breath. But it was obvious I'd caught her off guard, her fingers still digging into mine. As her body shivered uncontrollably, another orgasm powering through her, I finally closed my eyes.

And released deep inside, marveling in the softness and warmth. The moment had been close to perfect.

As soon as we both came down from the rapturous moment, she relaxed her hands, slowly turning her head to the side. I collapsed over her, trying to catch my breath.

I eased beside her only moments later, both of us staring up at the ceiling. Being able to remain quiet around her was also special. It was almost like we'd developed a kinship. I closed my eyes, scrubbing my jaw. Next, I'd be singing campfire songs if I wasn't careful.

She turned onto her side, rising onto her elbow. Just staring at me.

When she didn't say anything for a full minute, I gave her a look. "What?"

"What now?"

"Metaphorically or for our future?"

She lifted both eyebrows, not blinking at all.

"Let's see," I said and turned onto my side. "Tomorrow is hopefully the final day of court. You will be there assisting me."

"Are you prepared for O'Hare?"

"He's a pompous jerk trying to move up the ranks, which won't happen unless I say it will." I did enjoy my position, which allowed me to have influence in several of the elite firms. People knew better than to cross me.

Raphaella snickered. "The big, bad wolf."

"Let's just say my firm has a lot of clout in the city."

"I read that before I started working there. What if the trial is concluded?"

"Then I'm taking some time away from the firm. My partner can handle the workload."

I could tell she had more questions, most having nothing to do with work, yet she thought of one more.

"What are we going to tell the other employees?"

Exhaling, I brushed my thumb from one side of her jaw to the other. "Nothing. They shouldn't have any idea."

"And if they do?"

"Then we'll deal with it. For now, don't worry about it. Why don't I get some wine? You just relax."

"What about the wedding? Is there going to be one, or are we just heading to the justice of the peace?"

She seemed genuinely concerned. "I hadn't thought that far ahead. This all came on very quickly. Why don't you think about it and let me know what you'd prefer."

"You didn't want this arrangement either."

"Let's just say as of this time last week, it never would be on my radar." There was no reason not to be honest with her.

"Thank you for telling me that. I know what my father would prefer." She half laughed but the sound remained bitter.

"And I couldn't care less about your father's wants or needs. This will be your wedding."

"Yeah. My first. And our wedding. Remember?" She looked away and her comment bothered me. The contract was only for a year, but I honestly hadn't thought that through either.

"You're right. That doesn't mean the event shouldn't be special." I shifted to the edge of the bed.

"You mean glow and show for the press."

I threw a look over my shoulder as she thumped back on the comforter. "It doesn't need to be that way, at least not in our world. Plus, I don't like putting an additional target on your head."

"Our world. You make it sound like all of this is easy, the adjustment something I can do with the snap of my fingers. I'm not that way."

"I don't expect you to be, princess. I might be demanding but I can only imagine what you're feeling. Now, red or white?"

"Red. Always."

"Red it is. Just relax."

Her laugh didn't sound bitter any longer, just hollow. She'd been given more than just a raw deal and I couldn't wait to find an excuse to ruin, maim, or slit the man's throat.

I grabbed my phone, not bothering to slide into my trousers. Right now, sweatpants would do. I'd thought of her as pampered but now, every thought rolling through my head was entirely different.

I grabbed a pair from my dresser, struggling to slide into them, my skin clammy from the rousing session of fucking. By the time I made it to the bottom of the stairs, my phone rang.

"Boss," Ivan said as soon as I answered it.

"You have that voice."

"Yeah, because we might have a confirmed issue. I'm right outside the door. Can I come in?"

I wanted to laugh but if the usually stoic man sounded almost frantic, I knew I needed to hear whatever he had to say. I didn't answer, choosing instead to unlock the door myself. His eyes opened wide as I'd expected, studying my naked chest.

"I'm interrupting," he said and closed the door behind himself.

"Yes, but business is business. Follow me into the den." I had an extensive wine collection that I'd nurtured over the years, which was funny on several levels since it had also been a long time since I'd opened a bottle.

He said nothing as he followed me, but his tension was evident by a different crackle of electricity. Even though I was fully aware I needed to maintain focus, all I could think about was how sweet her nectar had tasted on my tongue, how damn good it had felt to have my cock driven inside.

I moved to the bar. With whatever he was about to tell me, I knew I needed a bracer.

"Can I have one of those? Sir?" Ivan wasn't a timid man. Why he was acting that way now was beyond me.

After pouring two neat whiskeys, I studied him as I brought the glass. "What's going on?" I was equally surprised when he threw the entire amount into his throat. The vintage was something to be savored, not gulped.

He placed the glass on the bar, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I sent some of the men to the streets, asking nothing more than for them to keep their ears open."

"New York is a huge city, my friend. Where?"

"Little Italy. Don't worry. My guys are Italian and can easily fit in with the crew. They were having lunch at a pretty popular mafia joint, doing nothing more than chatting about sports when they overheard something that concerned them."

"Meaning?"

"There's going to be a hit."

"A hit? Can you be a little more specific?" People didn't realize that hits were assigned at least once a week. Were they always carried through? No. But certain old-style leaders of crime syndicates believed they could throw a tantrum, issue an enemy's death sentence, and their problems would be solved.

At least where the Big Apple had once seemed like the Wild West, more legal methods of handling issues had been used over the last two decades. That didn't mean someone like Luciano Bernardi didn't prefer sticking with the old ways.

"I wish I knew on who, but the guys just joked that it would be completely unexpected. Makes me nervous."

I didn't blame him. Correct information was vital to surviving the dark world.

"Okay. Any timeframe?" I asked after thinking about what little I'd heard.

"Next few days. It's like whoever is responsible is some ghost and people fear whoever it is. That's all we know. I'm putting more men on the streets and mentioned this to Vadim. I think he's going to have some feathers ruffled."

Vadim's style. "Well, just ensure he has enough security coverage and keep your ear to the ground." There'd been assassins who'd put the fear of God into men before. That was nothing new but the fact my Capo was full of anxiety meant the threat was credible.

"Already in the works."

"Is there something else troubling you?"

"Nothing I can't handle. I didn't want to keep what I heard from you," Ivan said.

"I'm glad you didn't. Now, unless something else occurs, the rest of the night is off limits."

At least the muscles in his face softened. He glanced down my chest and chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. I have two tails on the other girls."

"Good. Let's keep it that way."

"Yes, sir." He gave me a nod of respect and I sighed. There was so much protocol in the world of crime syndicates, old school or not. I'd learned early on respect was hard earned but once achieved, highly regarded and for a decent man, rewarded in kind.

Although some in the ranks would say I wasn't prepared to fully embrace being second in command, I couldn't care less. Maybe being one of the good guys, at least for the most part, wasn't in my best interest. As soon as he'd left, I took a deep breath. I should make contact with Vadim but at this point, I needed private time. It was rare that I allowed myself to take it.

Half laughing, I moved to the wine cabinet, selecting a perfect pinot noir. I took my time opening it while I thought about Ivan's reaction more than anything.

My enforcer wasn't telling me something, likely in a wayward attempt to provide some level of protection. He'd soon learn he didn't need to worry.

I could hold my own against anyone attempting to cut down my part of the empire.

Or my Pakhan's for that matter.

I grabbed two glasses, heading toward the stairs, locking the front door as I did so. As I walked up the long flight, I thought about Raphaella's obvious concern about a wedding. Wasn't the perfect white dress wedding every little girl's dream? I was certainly no Prince Charming, but I would do my best to give her what she desired.

As soon as I walked into the room, I was struck once against by her vulnerability and innocence. She'd crawled under the covers, bringing her bear to the bed.

Now she was sleeping, her long eyelashes floating across the shimmer of her cheeks.

I stood watching, realizing but not hating that I was still a predator.

And that she was my prey.

I'd captured my beautiful bird and planned on savoring every moment.

Even though my sinful actions would likely be the final nails in a coffin that would send me straight into hell.