by Piper Stone
He returned, wrapping his arms around me and once again cupping my breasts. Only this time, he squeezed both before flicking his fingers across my nipples.
“My bad little girl.”
There was no reason for the level of ecstasy the statement took me to, but I was giddy, unable to think clearly. He’d allowed the woman inside to be free, opening up like a flower needing the nourishment of sun and water.
“Yes,” I whispered, as if he needed affirmation. He knew me better than I knew myself, at least in the ways of carnal desires.
A deep chuckle floated around me as he pinched my nipples, once again grinding his hips, telling me exactly what he was going to do to me. The pain was exquisite, every part of me on fire. He was taking his time, forcing me to wait until he was ready.
A man with absolute control.
A man who expected total surrender.
Matteo nipped my earlobe, the words a continuation of the dream. “If anyone dares to try and take you away from me, they will face my wrath. They will suffer.”
I was enthralled, goosebumps popping along my arms and legs, my pussy clenching and releasing.
“Tell me what you see, sweet Winter,” he commanded before biting down on my neck.
My legs threatened to slide to the floor, and I made my grip on the railing tighter as I looked at the ocean. “Life.”
“Tell me what you want.”
I hesitated until he twisted my nipples, growling into my ear.
“You,” I whispered.
Whether or not he was surprised, I was unable to tell but he released his hold, dragging his fingers back over my shoulders. Everything was sensual, provocative, and filthy. I was floating in air as he raked his nails down my spine, tapping my bottom before kicking my legs apart.
“Then you will have me,” he answered, fisting my hair with one hand as he drove his fingers between my thighs, teasing my wetness.
I bucked my hips, a blatant beg for him to drive his fingers deep inside.
“Delicious things come to girls who wait.” He growled after saying the words, yanking my long strands until I was forced to arch my back. His chuckle was even more demonic, a man possessed with an all-consuming need.
There were no words to describe the sensations that tore through me as he slipped a single finger between my swollen folds, moving beseechingly slowly until he was able to flick it back and forth across my clit.
“Oh. Oh...” I couldn’t keep from whimpering as he swirled his finger around my tender tissue, pinching then releasing several times. Every muscle in my body was tense from anticipation, my breath skipping as I tried to blink.
He rubbed up and down my pussy before dipping his fingers into my wetness, flexing them open. “Wet and tight. I could feast on you for hours, driving you to an orgasm then pulling back.”
“Mmm... I could do the same.”
His laugh was genuine, free of the earlier strains of anger and worry. “Yes, you could. Then you know what you’d receive. Right?”
“Maybe,” I breathed, my mind cloudy as the sensations increased, shooting through me like a beautiful firecracker.
“Then I guess I’m going to have to remind you.” With a quick snap of his hand, he swatted my bottom several times. Only this wasn’t about punishment. This was about domination.
“Ouch,” I pressed, purring afterward.
“Yes, my sweet girl. I will enjoy spanking you later, but my desires are too great.”
I loved his deep baritone, the guttural breathing that I remembered from my dream. He knew how to keep me on edge, pulling me from my comfort zone. When he slipped his fingers back inside, pumping in a slow and easy fashion, I opened my legs wider, clamping my muscles around his beautiful long digits.
He twisted his hand, keeping the rhythm, bringing me so damn close to an orgasm. I heard my scattered breathing, knowing I couldn’t hold back for long. “Oh, yes. Yes.”
“That’s it, my baby girl. Relax. Enjoy. I want you to come for me. Come on my fingers.”
He thrust harder and faster, his fingers driving as deep inside as possible, the force shoving me against the railing. I could no longer feel my legs, whimpers continually floating from my mouth. Everything was a wonderful blur as the climax began to build, the warmth turning to red-hot sizzle even as I tried to hold it back. I wanted this to last, but my body refused to obey.
“Oh. Oh. Oh!” The orgasm was so powerful I couldn’t hold back a scream, every part of me shaking.
“Good girl, baby. Come again,” he whispered, thrusting brutally.
There was little I could do but obey, the wave crashing into my system, this time stealing my voice. I was all but shattered, stripped to the very core of me, tingling as if electrified.
“Excellent,” he whispered, waiting until my pussy had stopped clenching before removing his fingers.
I felt such an emptiness, the cry escaping my mouth barely audible. As he rolled his fingers along the crack of my ass, I could only smile.
“I love to fuck your tight little ass almost as much as your sweet pussy.” He slipped a single finger into my dark hole, sliding it just inside. “And I will do so every single day.”
While I stiffened at first, the wash of pain a jolt strumming through me, the feeling quickly shifted into pleasure. Even as he added a second and third finger, pumping deep inside, I was taken to that moment of bliss that kept me on edge. I became lost in the pleasure, uncertain how long he finger fucked me, but when he slipped the tip of his cock to my asshole, I undulated my hips.
Now I was begging.
“My baby girl is hungry, I see,” he growled and pushed another inch inside.
“Yes.”
“Tell me what you want.”
“Fuck me. Please just fuck me.”
He was hot, his skin scorching mine as he gripped my hips, driving the remainder of his cock inside, instantly issuing his own strangled moan.
There was nothing so spectacular as the electricity soaring between us, the jolts of current becoming a tidal wave of pleasure.
His body shaking, he pulled out until just the tip was inside, driving into me again, his guttural sounds matching the slapping of skin.
I kept my back arched as I struggled to breathe. His cock throbbed, my muscles straining to accept all of him.
“So fucking good,” he murmured then wrapped his body around mine, forcing our fingers together. As he thrust in and out, every plunge harder than the one before, I was pushed closer to ecstasy. Even the way the ocean waves crashed against the shore was in perfect unison to his savage actions.
The experience was primal, two creatures mating in the night. I felt dirty and luxurious, my body aching for more. And he gave it to me, fucking me long and hard.
There was no telling time, no way of knowing how long the glorious experience lasted, but I could tell he was close to coming, his breathing coming in short pants. Once again, I glanced up at the sky, the stars twinkling even more brightly and wondered if perhaps that very wish could come true.
Only time would tell.
Smiling, I became the disobedient girl all over again as I squeezed, clamping my muscles until I heard his barbaric roar.
“Fuck!”
As he erupted, filling me with his seed, I only hoped we could find our way back to this one day.
He continued pumping for a full minute, finally allowing his body to rest against mine. The closeness was more than I could have asked for, his words nothing that I would have expected.
“I’m falling in love with you, Winter. There is no denying the way I feel.” There was so much hesitation in the way he’d issued the words, as if fearful that in doing so, he would destroy what we had.
Seconds later, he pulled away, moving until he was able to grab the drink. I watched him as he took a sip, drawing one of the melting ice cubes into his mouth. He yanked me into his arms, lowering his head and capturing my mouth, the action more intimate than so many others. I could feel my bod
y tensing, the reaction so unexpected I moaned into the kiss. As he forced the cube into my mouth, I wrapped my hand around his hair, holding him close.
He chuckled as he pulled away, pushing the hair away from my shoulders. “You don’t trust me yet.”
“I do.”
“Don’t lie to me. I always know.” There was no harshness in his tone, merely the same hint of sadness as before.
“I...” The words wouldn’t come easily.
As the sound of a cell phone ringing floated from within the house, Matteo snapped his head in the direction, his growl indicating his obvious displeasure. He took a step back, his chest heaving before handing me the glass. “I’ll be right back. Stay right here.”
“Yes, sir.”
I studied him as he walked inside, his body language entirely different. When he grabbed the phone, heading away from the door, I debated following his orders. There were still too many questions on the table so I crept closer until I was able to hear his voice.
“Who the fuck is this?” he demanded.
Even from where I stood, I could sense his increasing anger. Whoever was on the other line wasn’t expected nor were they welcome.
“Let me make myself very clear. If you attempt to threaten me again, I will hunt you down and I will kill you.”
I expected him to end the call and flew back toward the railing. When he didn’t come right away and there was no sound, I turned back toward the door, able to see he was in the same position, the phone still placed against his ear.
What in the hell was happening?
When he finally returned, he stood in the doorway for a full minute staring at me.
“What’s wrong?” I had to ask, knowing I wasn’t going to get an answer.
He walked closer, taking the glass and draining the contents. As he turned to face me, the look on his face indicated one thing.
Retaliation.
“The beginning of the end.”
Chapter Fourteen
Matteo
Threats.
I’d grown accustomed to them during the time working with my brother’s company. I knew how to dole them out and enjoyed the process of issuing them when necessary.
Maybe my father had been able to shield me from the bullshit he’d likely endured with his company as well. As did the others in the sect. Our way of life had been threatened by reporters several times, the last nearly getting Christian and his wife killed. Then we’d laid down the law, making certain our community was tighter than ever and that every rule was followed.
No talking to the press.
No sharing information about our practices with any outsiders.
No deals made without Council approval.
Maybe the tight reins were part of the reason the old rituals still held a special place. At last things had been much calmer, allowing sect members’ lives to return to some kind of normalcy. The quiet that had ensued had been welcoming, at least for a few months, but I’d always suspected it had been the calm before the storm.
“You and your people are going down, Mr. Capodanno. You have no say and you won’t know when it’s coming. You can no longer hide behind the façade of pretending you’re good and righteous people. There are those who know the truth.”
The words remained in the forefront of my mind. The bastard had taken his time in making his statement, no emotion in his voice. Meanwhile, I’d fought to keep from reaching through the phone. This call had been blatant, leaving me enraged to the point I still had no game plan.
Other than to hunt the motherfucker down and kill him. Or them. Hell, if I had to guess, this was bigger than the Taglionis. I even had a thought that a deal had been entered into with the crime syndicate.
The list of possibilities of who’d initiated the threat was a mile wide.
And every one of them damning.
I seethed as I dialed my brother’s number, uncertain how much I should tell him until my return. Christian could go off halfcocked and we needed to focus in order to beat this motherfucker at his own game.
However, the threat the asshole had made regarding Winter had sealed the asshole’s death warrant.
“That lovely woman you’re beginning to appreciate isn’t who you think she is. I’d be careful making the same mistake.”
The same mistake. What the fuck was he talking about?
It was time for Christian to come clean. Maybe it was time to make deals of our own.
While Winter hadn’t asked a single question about the call, I knew it was only a matter of time before she did. Her tenacity and perseverance would refuse to let this alone.
What disturbed me the most was that the caller was calm, merely stating exactly what was going to happen. There were no concrete threats or demands, just... a statement.
Information regarding the Sacred Sect, including several incriminating documents was poised to be given to the special prosecutor hired by Senator Bellows as well as to other law enforcement officers and the press. While there’d been no specifics, I had a feeling that included names of outsiders we’d done business with over the years.
I wasn’t a fool by any means. I gathered the caller was hoping to put me on edge, perhaps enough to confront the senator. That was too clean. Too easy. My gut told me he’d been dropped into this pit of hell as well. This would need to be played very well.
“It’s time for you to come clean, Christian,” I said without inflection.
“Hello to you, brother,” Christian said, half laughing.
This wasn’t a laughing matter. “I received a threat last night, one indicating the Sacred Sect would be blown wide open.”
“I already told you that was a possibility. What did they want?”
“To lay out their cards.”
Sighing, Christian hesitated. “Does that include anything about the past?”
I thought about the call again. I’d been prepared for indications that the secret regarding Father McGivney would be mentioned. There’d been so such indication. “None.”
“Do you have any idea who the hell called you?”
“There is no way of knowing. The voice was unrecognizable, disguised.”
Christian hissed. “That’s not something the Taglionis would do.”
“No, they don’t bother making threats. They simply dictate actions.”
“Then it’s the senator.”
I rubbed my jaw, watching as she darted from one shop to another. I wanted nothing more than to be with her, enjoying the beautiful afternoon, but there were too many things to think about, plans that had to be made. “No. While Senator Bellows has an itch to scratch, including taking Capodanno Enterprises to task, I don’t think he has the brains to carry off what the asshole indicated.”
“He’s well connected, plus, he has some indication that Father McGivney was... troublesome. Brother, need I remind you that there is no proof of the father’s claim.”
“Not that we are aware of. That doesn’t mean there isn’t any.”
“Fine. I don’t think you should fixate on that. What would it matter that you are...” Christian stopped short before saying the words, forever worried the phones were bugged.
“That is a good question and my guess one you can find the answer to.” I’d always believed there was more hiding in the Council’s sacred chambers than Christian had told me about. Unless he’d been kept in the dark.
He snorted. “What the fuck are you trying to say to me?”
“Nothing that I haven’t said to you before,” I stated flatly.
“If his accusations were proven to be true, would that create some difficulties within the sect? Absolutely. Some would fear your power. Is that what you want to hear?”
Yes. The firstborn son of the father himself. Maybe that meant I could have the ultimate power. I laughed at the thought. There were still too many secrets being kept within the hallowed grounds of the Council.
“What I want to hear is the truth. However, I wouldn’t place all t
he cards on the good senator’s total involvement. I have enough on him that his world wouldn’t be able to recover, no matter if he takes us down or not. Keep in mind, the person or people behind this have no idea what kind of information we keep.” I inhaled as Winter left one of the stores, a package in her hand, still chatting with the owner of the shop. I couldn’t get out of my mind why this pairing was so damn important. “I think we should go at this another way.”
“The truth is complex as you well know but I’m listening. What are you suggesting?” he asked, the lilt in his voice changing.
“Playing hardball.” As I explained what I was thinking, I could hear almost glee in his voice. When I was finished, he burst into laughter.
“Brother, I think that’s an excellent plan, although we have to be careful.”
“That I’m aware of,” I answered.
“I’ll get started from this end.”
As I ended the call, she finally walked toward me, her eyes finding and locking onto mine. Soon, I would have to tell her the truth.
Or risk losing the woman I loved.
She sauntered closer, giving me a sly smile, swinging the bag in front of her like a prize.
“Should I not have given you a wad of cash?”
“You didn’t know I can be a dangerous shopper. Did you?” Winter laughed, her face finally falling. “Did I give you enough privacy to make whatever call you needed to make? And did it alleviate your fears?”
I couldn’t help but smile. She was prepared to launch into another group of questions. “I think that whatever you purchased you believe gives you power. Need I remind you that I am the one in charge?”
She rolled her eyes. “Not tonight.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Let’s go. We have one more stop to make before we return to our glorious abode.”
I cocked my head, studying her. The night before had been far too amazing, the simple task of having dinner more powerful than almost anything that had occurred between us. Almost. Warmth spread through me, settling into my stomach. I grabbed her hand, pulling her against me even though I continued to scan the perimeter. While I honestly didn’t believe anyone had followed or found us, I refused to take any chances.