In the Shadows (Barresi Book 2)

by Lux Miller

  His hand lands on my knee and he inches it underneath the fluffy skirt of my dress, his fingertips leaving a trail of chills. He chuckles as I shudder in response to his touch. Looking up at his face, I can see that his eyes have focused in on me. He licks his lips slowly and my eyes follow his tongue. “Emily, you and I both know that I’m not talking about popcorn, though I am hoping that I will be able to feast on an all I care to eat buffet…”

  I squeak softly as his hand pries my thighs apart and he runs a finger along the ridiculously thin fabric of my panties. My eyes flutter shut as his breath hitches in his throat, and he groans. “God, Emily… what have you been thinking about?”

  Squirming at the added warmth between my legs, I look up at him and narrow my eyes. “You know good and damn well what I’ve been thinking about, Luca!”

  He peers down at me with the most debonair grin that I’ve ever seen. This man is sexy and he knows it… and he’s using it against me to get what he wants. I reach between my legs and encircle my fingers around his wrist. “You wait just one damn minute, mister. You don’t get to just shove your hand under my skirt like a savage and then comment on how inappropriate I’m being… I can’t help it if my mind has wandered to the dirty thoughts you put there…”

  Luca smirks and strokes one hand over his chin. For a split second, his mannerisms remind me of his father and I have the urge to push him away from me. He pauses and looks down at me with one eyebrow raised. My sudden disgust must be written all over my face because he actually looks concerned.

  I reach out and pat his hand. “Quit looking at me like that. Let’s go inside. While fucking in your car has always been thrilling, I want to get and stay naked tonight… besides, I don’t think you really want them watching…”

  I flick my wrist at the front seat where both of the guards are sitting in silence, nervously shifting. Neither has glanced once into the backseat, but it’s obvious they’ve heard every dirty word uttered on the drive home. Luca rolls his eyes and digs into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. He lobs a handful of cash into the front seat and states warningly, “I trust the both of you will exercise discretion regarding tonight?”

  One of the guards glances into the rearview mirror and catches my gaze briefly. As soon as our eyes meet, he looks away and clears his throat. “Yes, Boss… as you wish.”

  Luca nods and opens the back door, then climbs out into the cold night air of the rare, but welcome cold snap. He reaches back inside the car and grabs my hand, helping me out like we’re arriving at a fancy function. The fire in his eyes is unmistakable though as he watches me step out slowly.

  As soon as both feet hit the ground, I feel the Earth fall out from underneath me as I’m lifted into the air and unceremoniously tossed over his shoulder. He wraps one arm around the backs of my thighs and tightens it so that I won’t fall, but I still feel insanely exposed as I dangle precariously over his shoulder.

  He stomps into the house, kicking the door behind him. I can’t reach much from the position Luca is holding me in, but I manage to untuck his shirt in the back and sneak one cold hand up underneath it. He yelps like a puppy that’s been kicked as I flatten my palm against his warm skin. “Shit woman, your hands are cold!”

  I chuckle as he takes the stairs two at a time and squeal as he almost drops me. “Luca! Don’t drop me… I’d like to NOT get a concussion for Christmas…”

  He shakes his head as he rearranges me. “Don’t worry, Emily… I have no plans to bang your head around in any way tonight…” He stops in front of his bedroom door and sets me down on my feet with my back against the door. I’m barely able to open my mouth before his lips cover mine in a desperately needy kiss.

  His body traps mine against the solid wood door as he presses himself against me so hard that I can feel every ridge of his muscles against the soft squishy parts of my stomach. Including the very prominent erection that invades the space between my breasts and belly button like it’s his for the taking.

  “Somebody is happy to be home,” I murmur as he tears his mouth from mine.

  He chuckles and nods as he brings his hands to my face, holding my cheeks in a gesture that’s almost comforting. But the fire burning deep inside his eyes tells me that he plans to do anything but make love tonight. Once he gets me inside of that room, I have no doubts that this dress is going to be destroyed as he rips my clothing off piece by piece and devours me.

  Leaning his face down to my neck, he scrubs his beard over the delicate skin there, eliciting a sharp gasp from my lips. “Luca… for fuck’s sake, haven’t you done enough teasing tonight?”

  He grunts as he wraps a strong arm underneath my thigh and lifts my leg up around his waist. He pushes against me harder and the door bites into my back. I can barely breathe, much less move. He growls as he pushes his hand between our bodies, flicking aside the sorry excuse for underwear. He wastes no time in plunging two fingers inside of me.

  I squeal like a stuck pig at the sudden intrusion, biting down on my lip to attempt to stifle the loud moan that tumbles out of my lips as I throw my head back. He grunts and pumps his fingers into my wetness, circling my clit with his thumb.

  Everything tightens inside of me as he flicks his thumb against the sensitive nub of flesh. Sensations of pleasure skyrocket through my body as he grinds his thumbnail against it, eliciting sharp yelps of painful pleasure.

  He grins and yanks his hands free of me, bringing his fingers up to his lips and watching me over the tips as he swirls his tongue around them. Shuddering, I lean forward and flick my own tongue along the length of his middle finger. He groans as I push off the door and sink my lips down over his finger, slurping my taste off before he can.

  “Emily… fuck…”

  I nod as I let his finger slide out of my mouth with a pop. “That was what I was hoping for… and right now, I don’t care how you manage it, but if I don’t get a release of this pent up sexual need, I’m going to explode…”

  His eyes flash with desire as he cocks his head to the side. “Is that so?”

  I nod, blowing out an irritated breath. “Yes, Luca… you have created an intense carnal need in me that nothing but being with you can satisfy. And trust me, I’ve tried… there’s just something about the way you play my body that makes it sing.”

  Luca growls and flattens one hand against my stomach as he drops to his knees in front of me. “I’m going to make you eat those words, woman…”

  He pushes the hand against my stomach into me hard to keep me pinned in place. Then he pulls my ankle over his shoulder and shoves the skirt of my dress up with his other hand. His head disappears beneath the voluminous fabric and seconds later, my knees turn to jelly as he runs his tongue along the length of my slit, over the flimsy black lace thong that Royce demanded I wear.

  I gasp as I feel his teeth nibble along my pussy lips before clenching around the strip of soaked fabric between my legs. He tugs with a grunt and I whimper as the lace slips down off my hips. He continues to tug on it until his head reappears from underneath the skirt with my thong perched between his lips. He smirks and spits it out, but doesn’t bother to acknowledge me before he dives right back underneath the skirt. Before I can say anything, he buries his face between my thighs and the unmistakable sensation of his tongue on my clit overwhelms me.

  I bite down hard on my bottom lip as he flicks his tongue over it, swirling it deftly around me just enough to invoke an electrical current that makes my knees buckle. He pulls the sensitive piece of flesh at the apex of my opening between his teeth and nibbles. My eyes roll back into my head before they flutter closed as a guttural moan echoes through the hallway.

  I reach down and pull my skirt up over his head so that I can thread my fingers into his hair to keep him there as he lavishes my clit with the attention it has been begging for all night. He pushes both of the fingers he was using before inside my opening and pumps furiously as sparks fly behind my eyelids.

  My breathing gr
ows ragged as he brings me closer and closer to release. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff and it’s only going to take a single pluck of my strings to throw me over. I pry my eyes open and look down at the top of his head as it bobs between my legs.

  As if sensing me watching him, Luca pulls back slightly, focusing his stormy grey eyes on mine as he continues to suck on my clit. He smirks against me and curls his fingers inside of me, assaulting the spot that pushes me over as stars burst in front of my eyes.

  Instead of letting up as I fall, he intensifies his motions until I’m screaming his name with complete abandon. I can feel the muscles inside of my pussy clenching tightly around his fingers and still he forces them in as hard and deep as he can. Despite my body mounting its defenses against his assault, he’s breaking through every attempt and the pleasure is electrifying.

  Every expletive in the English language flies out of my mouth as he yanks his fingers from inside of me. He chuckles against my clit and slides his tongue over it slowly. He then places a single kiss against my swollen center and climbs back up to his feet with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  “Fuck you, Luca Barresi... “

  The corner of his lip curls into a dangerous smirk as he leans over me. “With pleasure, my little vixen. But I think perhaps we should do so inside the bedroom…”

  He reaches around me and twists the doorknob to his bedroom. I stumble backwards into the room as the door swings open. He’s smirking like a damn Cheshire cat as he slams the bedroom door and stalks into the room after me.

  I roll my eyes and kick off my gorgeous glass slippers and I’m suddenly face to face with his tie. I silently curse myself for being so short, but realize this affords me the perfect opportunity at payback. With a grunt, I put both of my hands on his chest and shove as hard as I can manage.

  Caught off guard, he trips backwards and lands against the bedroom door with a thud. I smirk and close the gap between us, shaking my head at him as he attempts to push off the door. He watches me in silent curiosity as my hands travel down his body to his belt.

  I quickly loosen it and immediately unfasten his trousers without giving him a chance to protest. I shove my hand into his boxer briefs and wrap my fingers around his length, squeezing tightly as I murmur, “My turn…”

  He chews his lip as he watches my face for any indication of what I plan to do. It’s a silly game though as both of us know exactly what’s about to happen. “Emily… you don’t…”

  His voice trails off as I kneel down in front of him. Pushing his boxer briefs down, I grin when his cock flops out, bobbing freely back against his still-clothed stomach.

  “I know,” I purr as I wrap my hand tightly around the base of his dick and wrap my lips around the crown. His body tenses at the intimate contact, but before he can say anything else, I push my tongue into the bottom of my mouth and devour him until my lips crash into my hand.

  He thrusts his hand into my hair and instantly twists it so he’s holding onto a fistful of hair. He balls the other hand into a fist and slams it against the door, the angry sound loud among the silence of the night. I grin around him and bob my head up and down along his length, letting the crown of his dick brush against the back of my throat.

  I open my eyes and stare up at him as I take his cock into my mouth over and over again, and it’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. His eyes lock onto mine, and he stares at me as my cheeks puff with the effort of keeping all of erection inside my mouth.

  “Fucking hell… oh God, yes… I want you to swallow my fucking dick...”

  There’s nothing romantic about our intimate acts, but neither of us cares. Carnal satisfaction is what’s on tap tonight. I swirl my tongue around his pulsing erection and let it trace along the vein that runs along the underside of him. A salty pearl of precum dribbles from his tip and I hungrily lick it off before hollowing out my cheeks as I suck on him.

  I slide my lips along his length until his dick slips out of my mouth with a pop. It bounces lazily back towards him. I grab hold of it with my hand and stroke him slowly as I watch his face. His eyes are closed and his mouth is pursed in an ‘O’ of pleasure. Smirking, I snake my other hand between his legs and grip his balls, my fingertips pressing against the patch of skin just behind. Then I hear a familiar buzzing interrupt the feral sounds of his enjoyment.

  His expression falters as he attempts to ignore it. After several seconds the sound stops, so I position my lips over his head and prepare to take him back into my mouth. Then it buzzes again. I raise one eyebrow as his eyes fly open. He looks down at me with a look of embarrassment on his face.

  “Ignore it… please… tonight is just you and me...”

  I nod and flick my tongue around the crown of his dick. And the blasted noise sounds again. Luca groans as he lets go of my hair. He shoves his hand into the pocket of his trousers and pulls out the dinosaur phone that I know he uses for business. Sighing, I sit back on my heels and look up at him as he answers the phone.

  “What? This better be real goddamned important… if it’s not, I will have your fucking head...”

  I raise one eyebrow at his irritation, but my amusement is fleeting. He snaps the phone closed as a thunderous look twists his handsome features into a snarl. I was so wrapped up in finding amusement at the situation, that I didn’t pay close enough attention to his lilting Italian to hear what else he said. He looks down at me with the most devastated look I’ve ever seen on his face.

  He brushes my hands off his body with a scowl. Then he yanks his underwear back up, tucking himself away. Despite him forcing it back into his pants, it’s obvious that his erection is painful and is not going to subside on its own anytime soon. “Luca… let me finish you off…”

  He shakes his head. “No time. Business. Might be connected to Dante’s attack. I have to go now… I have to catch them. They have to fucking pay.”

  I nod sadly and take his outstretched hand that he offers to me. He pulls me to my feet and murmurs in my ear, “I’m not anywhere near finished with you. We can finish when I get home. I am going to show you how badly my body craves you. I am going to claim every inch of your body until nobody in this God-forsaken world can question what I feel for you.”

  Shuddering, I wrap my arms around his neck and place a chaste kiss on his lips. “Fuck the world, Luca. I have no doubts.”

  He smiles and lifts me into his arms, cradling me as he carries me over to the bed. He sets me down on my feet next to it and sighs heavily as he eyes the green box. “Save that for when I get home. Why don’t you lay down and rest while I take care of this?”

  I shrug and reach around behind myself to let down the zipper of the gown. Once it’s loosened, I let the gown fall to a crumpled heap at my feet. I step out of it and kick it aside, standing before him fully naked. “So you want me to sleep in your bed?”

  Luca shrugs as his eyes remain laser-focused on my body. “You can sleep anywhere you want, but since I fully plan to drag you right back in here to fuck until daylight when I get home, it’d save us time if you take a nap in here…”

  I nod and sit down on the bed, stretching out like a cat lying in the sun. I yawn softly as I lay down, burying my head into the mass of pillows that he keeps on the bed.

  He makes an indignant noise as he watches me. “You have no idea how badly I want to stay and pound that pretty little pussy of yours. God, my dick is throbbing.”

  I shrug and wag a finger at him. “I offered to finish sucking you off and you declined.”

  He grunts and leans down over me to kiss my forehead, then tugs the covers down underneath me. As I scoot underneath them, he sighs. “Trust me when I say I’ll be hurrying, especially since I know that the most beautiful woman on this Earth is lying in my bed.”

  I nod and curl up into the pillows as he stomps around the room, muttering to himself for a moment. I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t hear anything else he says, whether it was to me or not,
as I drift off to the heady scent of Luca’s cologne and the scent of arousal that hangs over the room.

  FOUR

  My sleep is fitful and sparse as I try not to wallow in worry. Luca’s been gone for hours now and despite his assurance that it was routine business he had to attend, I have my doubts. He may be my boyfriend now, but he’s first and foremost a crime lord of the city of New Orleans and his city has called him. I know where I stand in relation to his duty, and I’m okay with it. I don’t have any other choice, but my acceptance of who and what he is doesn’t eat at me at night… at least most nights. Tonight is different.

  Business matters have always topped Luca’s list of priorities, but never before has he put the brakes on intimacy for work. Especially not when in the middle of receiving a blowjob. That alone would be cause enough to worry, but it’s Christmas. Anyone bold enough to make a move against the crime syndicate on Christmas has balls the size of Jupiter.

  Groaning, I sit up and wipe my hands over my face. I glance at the bedside table and squint at the neon green digital display of Luca’s alarm clock. It’s almost five in the morning. He took off over three hours ago and I haven’t heard anything from him. A tight knot of dread balls up inside my stomach as I scoot to the edge of the bed.