“Yes, ma’am?”
“What day is it?”
“It’s the fourteenth, ma’am.”
“No, no. I mean, it’s Friday. Right?”
“Yes, it is.”
Fuck. “Can you pull over onto the side of the road, please?”
“Of course.”
He inched over onto the shoulder of the highway, about ten minutes from home. I leaned heavily against the seat and closed my eyes, trying to get my bearings on things. This was the day Israel was supposed to have lunch date with his ex. And if I went home to find it empty, I knew I’d spin out of control. I drew in a deep breath, trying to sober myself up. I tried to separate myself from my emotions because I knew I’d have to learn how to do that sooner rather than later.
“Ma’am?” Gary asked.
“All right, I’m ready. Thank you for that.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
I don’t know when the hell everyone went from calling me “miss” to calling me “ma’am,” but I enjoyed the jump. I gazed out the window as we drove the rest of the way home, and I quickly made my way inside. The bodyguards nodded at me. Some of them even smiled. And while it caught me off-guard, I didn’t let it stop me.
But, I did stop in my tracks when I found a note from Israel in the kitchen.
Bonnie,
Having drinks with Alice tonight. It should be quick. Much quicker than lunch, anyway. I’ll be at the bar on the corner if you need me.
Israel
I set down the note and chewed on the inside of my cheek. If that asshole thought I’d sit around and wait for him to come home from a damn date with his ex, he had another thing coming. I dropped my purse and stormed back down the hallway, throwing open the door of my bedroom. And as I made my way to my closet, a plan formed in my mind.
“Bingo,” I murmured.
I rifled through my clothes and pulled out the sexiest dress I owned. A tight, little black thing that stopped about midway down my thigh and fell off my shoulders. I rummaged around until I found the set of pearls my aunt had given me for my sixteenth birthday. A double string of pearls that sat perfectly in my cleavage as well as dangling pearl earrings that accentuated the length of my neck. I piled my hair high, allowing the curls to bounce in whatever direction they wanted to go. And after slipping into my knee-high stiletto boots, I smiled at myself in the mirror.
“Eat your heart out, Alice.”
After retrieving my purse from the kitchen, I made my way back downstairs. I was painfully aware of how the bodyguards were staring at me, and rightfully so. I didn’t usually toot my own horn, but I looked delectable tonight. I flagged down Gary and slipped into the back seat before directing him to the bar I knew Israel was at with that woman.
Then, I meandered up to the bar and ordered myself a drink.
“What’ll it be, ma’am?” the bartender asked.
I stole a glance at Israel and Alice over there in a darkened booth before I hopped up onto the barstool.
“I’ll have your honey-lavender martini as well as a small meat and cheese tray to munch on. Thank you.”
He nodded. “Coming right now.”
I slowly spun around, crossing my leg over my knee. I gazed over at the booth again to make sure to position myself right where Israel could see me. But, my movements must’ve caught Alice’s attention because her eyes sought me out first.
And the anger that rolled over her features made me want to wave at her.
So, I did.
“Eat your heart out, you bitch,” I murmured.
The bartender sat my martini in front of me, and I plucked it from the wooden bar. I swiveled back around, staring at the liquor bottles lit from the bottom up. I gazed at myself in the mirror behind the bartender’s head. My ruby-red lipstick really popped with this all-black outfit of mine. Actually, I kind of liked the vibe. I looked like someone of importance—like someone who belonged somewhere.
Maybe I’ll stick to all black.
The bartender caught my attention. “Your small plate will be up momentarily, ma’am. Can I get you anything else in the meantime?”
“Just a whiskey on the rocks for myself. You can put it on my tab.”
Israel’s voice sounded next to me, and it made me grin. Because I sure as hell didn’t hear Alice next to him placing an order, either.
“Israel,” I said.
He bellied up to the bar. “Bonnie. You’re looking rather breathtaking tonight.”
“Oh, this old thing? Didn’t notice.”
He chuckled. “Well, you do look very nice. Which will be the only positive thing to come out of this evening?”
“Rough date?”
The bartender sat down his drink, and Israel reached for it.
“Not necessarily. But, you did just manage to piss off my father. And I’m going to have to face the consequences of that.”
I shrugged. “I felt like getting a drink. Do you mean to tell me your father’s going to slit your neck over that?”
“You know damn good and well you came here to make sure my head didn’t turn Alice’s way. Not that you should’ve worried about that in the first place.”
My eyes fluttered over to him. “Well, I can’t say that I care much.”
His eyes met mine. “About which part?”
I shrugged. “All of it.”
I turned my eyes forward as the bartender sat my plate in front of me. I handed him my empty martini glass, and he got to making me another one. But, the entire time, I was painfully aware of how Israel stared at me. How his eyes fell down my body. How he licked his lips mindlessly as his eyes scaled along my exposed thighs, with my dress continuously rolling up.
“Black suits you,” he murmured.
I nodded. “Yes, it does.”
He groaned to himself. “We need to get home.”
I picked up a cracker. “I haven’t even begun to eat yet.”
He leaned his lips against my ear. “I’ve got plenty you can eat at home. Unless you want me to take you right now on top of this bar for everyone to see.”
I slowly looked over at him. “Well, I do need your help with something. Might be a conversation we should have at home. Maybe… in the kitchen? On the island?”
His eyes darkened. “You’re coming with me. Now.”
His hand gripped my arm, but I wrenched away from it. The first thing that needed to change was this manhandling Israel thought he could do in public. I mean, I loved it. But, I loved it behind closed doors. I wasn’t his pawn now. I wasn’t his little woman to toss and boss around. I was the head of the Moretti family empire now. I had to hold myself to a higher regard in public now.
“Bonnie,” Israel glowered.
I slid down from the stool. “You can offer me your arm like a gentleman. Otherwise, we’ll walk out separately. Understood?”
His grin grew wild. “Understood.”
I nodded. “Wonderful. Now, where’s your arm?”
He chuckled as he turned his back to me and started for the door. And while any woman would have taken that as an insult, it made me smile.
I think I’m going to enjoy this new dynamic.
And I had every intention of playing it up as much as possible.
5
Bonnie
I followed Israel out into the parking lot, but when I slipped through the front doors, I felt someone grab my arm.
Without thinking, I turned my back to them and pressed my ass against their body before trying to flip them over my head. But an arm slipped around my throat. I threw back my head and reached for their hair, fisting it between my fingers for the grasp I needed to pull them over me and slam them onto the cement.
Until a familiar voice sounded in my ear, “My car, now,” Israel murmured.
I controlled my breathing as he tightened his arm around my throat. I nodded softly before he led me to his convertible. He had driven himself to this fucking date. He opened the back door and tossed me inside before he dipped
in himself. But, the second he sat down, I climbed into his lap.
Before fisting his hair and pulling his head back, I barked, “Don’t you ever come at me like that in public again. Understood?”
He smiled broadly. “And who are you to tell me what to do, huh?”
I leaned down so close I felt his breath pulsing against my lips. “I’m the head of the Moretti family, Mr. Rossi. And I’ll take you out without a second thought.”
My plan wasn’t to seduce Israel. It wasn’t to tease him, or compromise him, or even compromise myself. But, as I straddled his lap and held his head in my hand, I felt powerful. Important. Here I was, managing to seduce the most eligible bachelor in the city, with the chance to ride his cock in the back of his car before we went back to his luxury penthouse for what would probably be another round.
I couldn't resist it myself.
My lips crashed against his, and his arms cloaked my back. I felt his cock standing at attention as my dress rode up over my hips. He slid his hands down my back. He cupped my ass cheeks with his palms. Our tongues dueled as the windows began fogging up on us, telling everyone out there exactly what it was we were doing.
And I didn’t mind it one bit.
“Fucking hell,” he growled.
I ripped his belt out of their loops. “Don’t you make me wait, Mr. Rossi. Every moment wasted is another moment I get to plan your death.”
He wrapped his hand around my throat. “You already had your chance. You’ll never get the best of me.”
I winked. “Why don’t you choke me harder? I actually kind of like it.”
He growled as he dragged my face back to his and owned my mouth with his tongue. I pulled out his cock as he gripped my lacy thong, tearing the fabric effortlessly away from my body. I gasped at the sensation. The pain of the ripping thong against my skin had nothing on how wondrous it felt to feel Israel’s cock against my entrance once more. I wasted no time in rolling my hips. I wasted no time in allowing my pussy to swallow him down.
And when he filled me to the brim, I collapsed against him.
“I’ve got you, and I’ll always have you. Understood?” he growled.
I answered him with a bite to his neck as he thrust hard into my body. I bounced with his movements as his car rocked on its chassis, with neither of us giving a care in the world. I felt swallowed whole by this man—his sounds and his words and his growls and his commanding touch. His dick throbbed against my walls, seeking the same release I wanted as my juices dripped over his pelvis. I rocked against him. I threw back my head and bounced up and down on his thick girth. His palms pawed my clothed tits while my hands pressed against his chest, steadying myself as his tightly wound curls raked against my clit.
“That’s it.”
He growled. “There we go.”
“That’s it, Israel. That’s it. Don’t stop. Don’t fucking stop.”
He gripped my hair. “Under one condition.”
I gasped. “Name it.”
He pulled my ear to his lips. “You get back into my fucking bed at night, and you don’t move again.”
I nodded quickly. “Anything you want.”
He pounded into my body as the sounds of skin slapping skin filled the space around us. I groaned while he growled. I moaned while he grunted. His hands gripped my hips as he held me against him, rutting like a wild dog to find his release. I felt my back pull taut. My body collapsed against his. My walls pulsed wildly as my toes curled in my heels.
“I’m gonna come. I’m gonna come. Israel, please! Yes!”
“Fuck, I’m coming. Bonnie. Shit. What the fuck have you done to me?”
I choked out his name, “Is-ra-el. Shit.”
I collapsed against him as sweat trickled down the nape of my neck. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, making me feel like the most gorgeous woman in the world. I settled my forehead in the crook of his neck. I kissed him softly as his hands stroked up and down my spine. His cock stayed sheathed within my warmth as our intermingled juices dripped from between my thighs. And as I felt our hearts beating in time as one, I felt the last of my walls cave.
I’ll never love another man like I love you, Israel.
“Come on, let’s get you home,” he murmured.
I whimpered. “I don’t wanna.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure people are already staring, and I don’t want anyone catching you in this position.”
I leaned up. “Me? What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What if someone catches you like this?”
His eyes grew serious. “A male Don in this position is a position of power. A female Donne in the same position isn’t seen as kindly.”
It warmed my heart that he cared so much. “I appreciate that, thank you.”
He helped me off his pelvis. “Now, let’s get ourselves together and get home. I take it you used Gary to get here?”
“I did.”
“Good. I’ll know you’re safe heading home. I’ll see you there, okay?”
“Can’t I ride with you and we can just tell Gary to go home?”
He shook his head. “Just trust me. I’ll explain it once we get home. But, we need to drive separately.”
I have a lot to get used to. “Okay, okay. I’ll take the Town Car home.”
He kissed my temple. “Good girl.”
I shot him a look. “Call me Bonnie or something akin to a wonderful woman. I’m not a girl, Israel.”
His eyes found mine. “No, you’re not. I’ll find something else to call you.”
“Thank you.”
After getting myself presentable for the public, I slipped out of his car. It killed me to leave him, but part of me understood where he was coming from. We didn't know who might be watching and who might be taking notes. And I figured that was why I had to take Gary and the Town Car back to the penthouse. Granted, if someone were watching, then they already know what had happened between the two of us. But, maybe there was another reason I wasn’t thinking about that had Israel concerned.
Just get home, and you two can talk from there.
“Good evening, ma’am.”
I fell into the back of the car. “It’s a good evening indeed, Gary.”
He smiled. “Where to?”
“Home. I’m ready to head home.”
“Right away, ma’am.”
“Bonnie.”
“Hmmm?”
“You’re more than welcome to call me Bonnie, or Miss Bonnie if you’d like.”
He nodded. “It’s an honor, Miss Bonnie.”
I gazed out the window as we pulled away from the bar, and all I could think about was Israel. How powerful I felt riding him. How strong he felt as he pulled me against him. How great our bodies fit together during times of passion. I let my fingertips linger against my temple. The warmth of his kiss was still there, teasing me and taunting me like he always did. I trailed my fingertips along my lips, remembering the force of his kiss.
Until my driver’s voice pulled me from my trance.
“Miss Bonnie, get down!”
I smelled her in my car. I smelled her on my cock. As I fumbled my way into the front seat, I kept an eye on Gary’s car as they pulled out of the parking lot. I struck up the engine and didn’t bother with my seatbelt. I needed to catch up with them and tail them back to the penthouse. I had to talk with Bonnie about being careful when she went out in public. She was a prime target for a great deal of violence right now, more so than she had been. And I needed to make sure she got back safely before I pulled her into my bed and took her again like I wanted.
“Fucking hell, that woman,” I murmured.
I raced out of the parking lot and got myself within three cars of Gary and Bonnie. But it wasn’t enough. I needed to be closer. I needed to be closer to her. So, I merged into the farthest left-hand land and picked up the pace before I saw it.
“Bonnie! No!”
Just as they crossed
the intersection, I saw the truck come out of nowhere. I put the pedal to the metal and weaved in and out of cars, trying to see if I could intercept the damn thing. It was too late, though. I was too far back.
And just as I got to the intersection, I watched the truck slam right into Bonnie’s side of the car.
“No!” I roared.
The Town Car flipped over onto its side before the truck rammed it again, sending it flying through the air. Traffic came to a dead stop as I hopped up onto the curb, listening as fully grown adults screamed while running away. I threw open my door. I raced for the car. The truck started backing up again, ready to slam into the underside of Bonnie’s car.
But, I pulled my gun out and aimed directly for that damn thing. “Get away from her!” I roared.
I popped off a few shots, and it seemed to startle the driver. I continued slowly walking toward the truck, committing everything about it that I could to memory. I heard a door open before a man stumbled out onto the pavement. I aimed for his legs, ready to shoot them from underneath him and stop him in his tracks.
But, the smell of leaking gas pulled my eyes over to the Town Car.
Bonnie.
I didn’t know what to do. I had that little fucker right where I wanted him, and all I had to do was go after him. I heard sirens in the background already, and I knew emergency crews would be coming for them. So, I needed to go after this man, right?
But—but Bonnie.
I had to make a choice. I had to choose between pursuing the man that had caused this accident and saving the woman I cared for more than anyone else on this planet. I felt torn between two sides of me that had never come into conflict before, and I didn't know what to do. I didn’t know which way to step. But, I knew that if the police pulled up and I was holding this gun, I’d be in a hell of a lot of trouble.
So, I holstered it before dashing toward the Town Car.
“Bonnie!”
6
Bonnie
It hurt to open my eyes. The blinding lights above me made me wince, and the whole of my body felt as if it were ready to explode. Beeps sounded in the distance while the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. Damn it. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.
His Prize: An Arranged Dark Mafia Romance (Cruel King Book 3) Page 3