by Cala Riley
Unlike Lo who has been leading me on a roller-coaster ride since the day we met.
“I’m sure.” I tug the back of the dress down a bit before we walk up to the club. Ivory is Bash’s club here in Brooklyn. It’s also the club Sofia insisted on when we told her our plan.
“Did Bash put us on the list?”
“Not exactly.” She casts Izzy a look.
Izzy sighs. “Bash didn’t want to be a part of whatever ‘trouble you girls are causing.’” She air quotes it. “So, I had to call in a favor I’m sure to regret.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Who did you call?”
“Giovanni.” She doesn’t meet my eyes.
“No, Izzy. You hate him. You shouldn’t have called him.”
She turns and grabs my shoulders. “It’s nothing, babe. I love you. You need this. It’ll be fine.”
“What did he demand in return?”
She drops her hands from my shoulders. “He just wants a conversation. One conversation. I can do it for you, Mia.”
I realize the sacrifice she made. It might appear insignificant. One conversation isn’t a lot, but the conversation is with the man who shattered her heart at eighteen. She’s never fully gotten over the heartbreak. She rarely talks about it, but when she does, I can see how shattered she still is. I only hope this conversation doesn’t cause any more damage.
“You shouldn’t have, but I love you too. Let’s go. I’m freezing.” A shiver runs through my body to make my point. Sofia hooks her arm in with mine as she leads me to the door. This time, Sofia gives them our names. Instead of us simply being let in, we also receive an escort to the VIP lounge along with the wrist bands. We have come up in the world.
We’re led to a table where a server is already waiting.
“Good evening, ladies,” she says over the loud music. “What can I get you to drink this evening? Drinks are on the house.”
Of course, they are. I give Izzy a pointed look.
“What do you think the conversation is going to cost you?” I hint back to a similar conversation we had when I brought them to Crimson and Lo paid for our drinks.
She frowns but turns to the server. “I will have a seven and seven.”
“Whiskey and Coke for me. Jameson,” Sofia says.
“Vodka cranberry, please.”
The server leaves, and Sofia turns to me. “I thought you liked bahama mamas.”
I chuckle. “I was feeling adventurous last time. I know we don’t drink often, but I always have vodka cranberry at your house.”
“Yeah, but I thought it was because you didn’t know how to make a bahama mama.”
The server returns then with our drinks, and I take a healthy gulp of mine before looking around. Tonight, is different than the last time. Last time, the VIP area had been roped off with only us and the guys up here. Tonight, the VIP area is packed with people. Some obviously mafia, while others sorely overly rich.
I look back to the girls. “Iz, you never told us how your date went last night with Ted.”
“I should have never agreed to that bet. He seemed excited about the date, but never showed. I guess I’m not as irresistible as you think.”
I nod to a group of guys staring at us. “I bet one of those guys would disagree.”
She shakes her head but sends a coy smile their way.
“So, what’s the next part of your brilliant plan?” Sofia asks as she settles into the couch in our area.
Izzy smiles. “He’s walking this way.”
My heart seizes. Could Lorenzo already be here? I don’t turn around until I feel a tap on my shoulder. When I whirl around, my heart drops.
“Hello there. My name is Jeff. What’s your name?”
He is one of the ridiculously rich men I noted earlier. He’s not bad looking. He’s not tall like Lo, standing at five foot seven. He has broad shoulders and shaggy blond hair. His eyes reflect the color of the sky. I usually find all these attributes attractive.
He’s not Lorenzo.
I give him a small smile. “Mia. Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand.
I know what Izzy wants. She wants me to make Lo jealous. Putting it plainly, I don’t know if it will work. Hell, Lo’s not even here.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I hold up my half-full glass. “I’m good for now.”
He laughs as he rubs his hand down his face. “I suppose you are. Listen, I don’t want to bother you. I think you’re gorgeous. I was hoping we could get to know each other a little better.”
“Is that your best pickup line?” I arch a brow.
“I guess not. I’ll let you ladies get on with your night.” He turns to go as Izzy nudges my back.
“Want to sit with us?” I choke out.
He turns back, and a smile lights up his face. “I would love to.” He gestures to the couch, and I take a seat next to Sofia. Jeff sits next to me as Izzy sits on the other side of Sof.
“What do you do for a living, Jeff?” Izzy calls out.
He chuckles. “I’m an investment banker, nothing too exciting. What about you, ladies?”
I smirk. “We’re all waitresses.”
His eyes widen. I bet he’s wondering how we ended up in the VIP area. “Anywhere I might know?”
I hesitate. I don’t want him knowing where I work.
“Bello Italiano,” Izzy answers for me.
I glare at her, and she gives me a “what?” look.
“Never heard of it, which is a damn shame. They have some of the most beautiful waitresses there.”
I give him a tense smile and look to the girls. Izzy appears to be comfortable, but Sofia shares a similar look as mine. She’s not sure about this guy either.
“What brought you all the way out here to Brooklyn?” I say, changing the subject.
“I used to live out here. I still come for this club. Ivory’s honestly one of the best.”
“It is.” I look around the room as I answer him. I’m partial to Ivory. It’s a nice club that usually only attracts people from Brooklyn. It helps that it’s one of the safest clubs—even more so for me now with Sofia shacked up with Bash. I bet we have guards watching us right now.
“Do you want to dance?” Jeff asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“Yeah, go dance, Mia. We can watch your drink.”
Izzy gives me a knowing look, while Sofia looks as if she wants to stop me.
“Sure,” I hesitantly say.
We stand, but before I make it too far, Sofia grabs my arm. “Are you sure about this? This game you’re playing can be complicated. Is this truly the road you want to take, or is this the one you feel forced into?” she whispers to me.
I pull back and look at her. Sofia’s truly worried about me, and it touches my heart. Before Izzy and Sofia, I had been closed off. Cold. I didn’t have the normal warm and fuzzy childhood most had. Instead, I had a criminal father and a mother who answered his beck and call. I honestly think I was an accident. They say I wasn’t, but their lack of nurturing says different.
“I know what I’m doing, Sof, but I appreciate your concern.” My voice rings with conviction I wish I actually possessed. Honestly, I have a feeling this might blow up in my face, but I won’t know until I try.
Her face transforms as I watch a mask fall into place. “Have fun, babe.”
I look back and find Jeff a few steps ahead, waiting for me. “Sorry. Let’s dance.”
He leads me out onto the dance floor below and immediately pulls my back into his front. I feel uncomfortable with the closeness, but Izzy gives me an approving nod as I look up to the VIP section. I guess this is going the way she planned. Having his paws all over me isn’t exactly part of my plan.
I dance with him anyway. Every time his hands try to slip off my hips, I put them back. When he leans in to kiss me neck, I pull away, but his hands tighten on my hips almost painfully, holding me in place.
“Come on, baby. You know you like it.”
/> “I don’t. Let me go!”
I struggle a minute more before his weight behind me disappears. I turn around and find him being dragged away by a security guard.
“You okay?” someone whispers in my ear, and a chill rolls down my body.
I nod as I turn to face him.
Lorenzo.
I didn’t actually expect him to be here. I can’t help but wonder if he’s been here long or just showed up.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. I could handle it myself.”
He lets out a humorless laugh. “Sure.”
I don’t miss the sarcastic his tone. I punch him in his chest. “You’re such a jerk.”
His hand reaches out and grabs my hip. “If you want to dance with a man who is going to run his hands all over your body, then pick someone of a higher class.”
I step into his embrace. Feeling bold, I run my hand down his chest. I don’t miss the change in his breathing. “Someone like who? You?”
He gulps. “No. Not me.”
Disappointment fills me, and I look away. I knew this wouldn’t work. He doesn’t think of me the same way I do him.
He brings my chin up to look him in the face. “Mia, mio piccolo angelo. You’re of a way higher class than me. You deserve someone better. We both know I’m not a good person.”
The despair on his face stops my heart. Maybe there’s something there. Without thinking, I lean forward and press my lips to his. His hand tightens on my hip. I pull back slightly.
“Dance with me, Lo,” I demand rather than ask.
He moves to shake his head, but I cut him off.
“I trust you, Lo. I want to dance. Won’t you dance with me? Keep me safe?”
Manipulative, I know, but I know he won’t say no to keeping me safe. Whatever this is between us, I know no matter what, he will always keep me safe. This is what’s so hard about all of this. He keeps fighting this attraction because he believes it’s what’s best for me. I need to show him only I know what’s best for me.
And right now, it’s him.
∞∞∞
Lorenzo
“Dance with me, Lo.”
Fuck if it doesn’t excite me. I want to break out into a huge grin. I move to shake my head though. I can’t go there.
My men called me the moment they made it into the club. One even commented on how Mia dressed for the evening, but I didn’t believe it. I showed up and damn if I didn’t become instantly hard. I don’t know what had been going through her mind when she decided to come to a club dressed the way she is. She’s asking for trouble. Guys will be all over her the entire night. Only one thought ran through my mind.
I might have to kill someone tonight.
Now Mia stands before me in this dark purple dress only being held together by some ties in the back. With one wrong move, the hem of the dress will show me the parts of her body haunting my dreams. Her short legs look infinitely longer, accentuated by her tall silver heels. She’s almost to my shoulders in them. Let’s not get started on her breasts. I want to simultaneously pull the material up to cover her while pulling it down to capture each nipple in my mouth. Fuck, she’s a walking wet dream on any given day, but today…. I want to throw her over my shoulder and leave, take her away from prying eyes.
“I trust you, Lo. I want to dance. Won’t you dance with me? Keep me safe?”
Her voice brings me back to the present. Mia trusts me. She trusts me to keep her safe. For that reason alone, I should turn around and walk out of this club. If I had a stronger will, I would. This woman standing in front of me could bring even the strongest men to their knees though. She’s everything angelic and perfect. Mia’s the forbidden fruit you’re tempted to taste but know you shouldn’t. Lord knows I would take a million deaths in hell solely for one simple taste of her sweetness.
Fuck, I’m going to hell.
I pull her closer by her hips so she’s flush with me. When she wraps her arms around my neck, I savor the feeling it evokes in me. My cock grows inside my pants as she runs her hands through the hair at the nape of my neck. She tugs a little, and I barely resist the urge to nip the side of her neck.
I take a deep breath before I start to sway her hips in time to the music. She presses closer, and I know she can feel the evidence of what she does to me.
“This is nice,” she breathes into my ear.
I grunt in response.
We continue to dance together for a few more songs, neither one of us willing to let go. I run my hand from her hip down to her knee before wrapping it around my waist. I catch her gasp as I grind into her with the music. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but I can’t help myself.
You aren’t thinking, Lo. The voice of reason pops into my head, but I want to savor this for a few moments longer.
“Yes, Lo,” she gasps as she clings to me.
When I drop her leg, she starts to protest but quiets as I pull her from the dance floor and into one of the hallways on the side. I push her against the wall and kiss her. At first, I give a tentative kiss, but when she opens her mouth to mine, I lose all restraint. I kiss her with the full weight of my feelings for her.
I’ll give her credit; she keeps up with me, matching me tongue stroke for tongue stroke. She hikes her leg up over my hip, and my hand goes to hold it there. She arches into me, rubbing herself against my throbbing cock. My other hand trails up her body and grips her breast. I know I should be gentle, but it’s almost as if something else has taken over my body. My brain is telling me to stop, but with each moan from her throat, I cannot stop myself from taking what she’s offering.
I roughly pinch her nipples, and she pulls back, crying out. I pause for a moment, thinking I’ve hurt her, but instead she grinds against me harder.
“Don’t stop, Lo. I need this.”
I take my hand from her breast and fist it in her hair. Drawing her head to the side, I latch onto her neck and sink my teeth in as her moans grow louder. I pull back and tongue the area I bit. She’ll wear my mark for days to come, and the caveman part of me rejoices. I claimed her for all others to bear witness. No other fuckwad will dare step toward her with my mark on her.
I nibble down her neck until I reach her breasts as I continue to rock my hips into hers, noting every time her moans become higher in pitch. I latch on to her nipple through her dress, nibbling and sucking as her nails dig into my shoulders.
“I’m there, Lo. God, I’m going to come. Don’t stop.”
I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. I rock into her harder and feel the familiar tingling at the base of my spine. I haven’t come in my pants since I was twelve. Fuck, this will be embarrassing, but I can’t stop now. She needs this, and I think I just might too.
Moments later, her teeth latch onto my shoulder as she starts to spasm. With the bite of pain, my own body jerks as I feel the moisture fill my boxers.
We each stay still for a moment, attempting to catch our breath.
“Fuck, Lo. That was... Fuck.” She giggles.
“I’m sorry, Mia. I shouldn’t have, especially not here.”
I look around and notice a couple of people in the hall, but their gazes are averted. I push my body closer, attempting to shield her from their view.
“I wanted to, Lo. It was hot.”
“I’m no better than the piece of shit who had his hands all over you out there. I took advantage of you.”
She pushes my chest as anger beams from her eyes. “You did no such thing. I didn’t want his hands on me. I wanted yours. I wanted this as much as you did.”
I nod as I look around and notice the hall has somewhat cleared out. “I should take you home.” I pull back and take off my suit jacket before wrapping it around her shoulders.
“I came with Sof and Izzy. I need to go tell them.” She goes to walk out ahead of me, but I pull her back.
“Hold on.” I take out my phone and send a text to one of my men, instructing them to bring the girls to the back entran
ce. “They’ll meet us at the back door, come on.”
“Seriously? What if I’m not done?” She raises her eyebrow.
I take a deep breath. “You mean you didn’t have enough? You need me to do more?”
Her face turns red, but she holds her ground. “There’s plenty more we could do, Lo.”
The way she licks her lips conjures up a myriad of thoughts in my head. Fuck if I don’t want to take her right here right now, but it’s not the place nor the time.
What are you thinking, Lo? You can’t take her anywhere at any time.
I shake my head and grab her arm. “Later, we need to get you home.”
“Such a fucking bully. I don’t regret what we did, Lo. Neither should you.”
Tell it to my conscience.
I grunt as I pull her toward the back entrance. Moments later, Matteo shows up with Sofia and Isabel.
“Time to go home, girls. Can you take Sofia home, Matteo?”
“Yes, sir.”
Matteo’s a good soldier. Always willing to follow a command no matter what. Even though feelings of anger at him yesterday overcame me, I still have to respect him—especially when he sought me out earlier to discuss last night’s events. I feel better knowing his interest in Mia is purely platonic. Honestly, Matteo’s become closer to me than any other another man who works for us, he’s become a friend. Even though he refuses to call me Lo.
“I will get these two ladies home safely. Text me when Sofia is home.”
“You can’t order us around, Lorenzo.” The way Isabel says my name doesn’t hide her contempt for me.
If only you knew what I did to your best friend.
She hasn’t been a fan of mine from the beginning. She isn’t wrong about me though. I wish I knew how to leave Mia alone. Then this would be a nonissue. Instead, I’m a masochist. I torture myself by constantly subjecting myself to this angel of a woman who gives me devilish thoughts.
“Stay if you want, Isabel. I can call Gio and have him come grab you later. Mia is going home though.”
Isabel gives me a dirty look before turning to Mia. “Do you want to go, Mia?”
Mia sighs. “I think I’m done for the night. Not because this brute is ordering me to, but I’m awfully sleepy all of a sudden.”