by Stone, Piper
“Not me.”
A chuckle slipped past my lips from the thought. I was certainly no longer afraid of Michael. After all, he was my hero, ridding the world of the most horrible kind of evil.
I took a deep breath, holding the delicate scent of the ocean and the most incredible fragrances of food in my nostrils for several seconds. There was something so magical about South Beach. From the neon-infused lighting highlighting colorful buildings to the vibrant music coming from dozens of local establishments to the swelling waves crashing against the shore, I could see why the area was so popular.
The suite was exquisite, luxurious in every manner, room service already providing a feast of the most delectable food, although I’d found it difficult to eat.
But I remained hungry.
The thought gave me a series of lurid visions, unabashed longing that seemed to be overwhelming. Michael had that effect on me.
My grip was firm on the railing, yet I stood on my tiptoes leaning over, risking the possibility of falling. After everything that had occurred, I was no longer afraid of much.
Except for one thing.
Losing what was left of my heart to the man I’d fallen desperately in love with. I’d tried to rationalize that I couldn’t care for a man as dangerous and closed off as Michael, but the moment he’d rescued me, I knew I could no longer lie to myself.
I took another deep breath, tangling my fingers in my windswept hair, trying to fall into a place of peace. I knew I was safe, the hotel Michael had taken me to surrounded by a dozen or more soldiers, but I also realized that whatever war his family was fighting wasn’t over.
When I felt his presence behind me, a burst of heat rushed into every inch of me, crisscrossing and cascading, searing every nerve ending as electricity swept through me. He remained directly behind me, a man normally full of such anger far too quiet. He’d left me alone, making several phone calls, but I’d felt his heated gaze since the moment he carried me into the room. He’d taken care of me, babying me as if I was a fragile flower.
His little flower.
He’d even hired a doctor to ensure that I had no permanent damage.
“Stop worrying,” I said quietly without turning around. “I’m going to be okay.”
“I’m not worried. As I told you before, you’re a very strong woman.” Michael moved closer, handing me a glass of wine.
“How’re Carlo and the others? And Elle? I’ve been so worried about her.”
He chuckled under his breath. “The tranquilizers used were debilitating but not deadly and my men will be just fine. Elle will be okay. She’s tough like you. I heard she tried to protect you.”
“She’s amazing. I adore her. If anything would have happened to her, I would have killed the bastard myself.” I laughed after issuing the words, realizing it felt good to make the brutal comments. Funny thing was that I meant them.
“I believe you,” he said, giving me a slight smile. A moment of quiet settled in, but not tense as before, peaceful in the fact we were together. “Your brother is going to be just fine. He has two cracked ribs, but no internal damage, just a hell of a lot of bruises.”
I took a deep breath before accepting the glass. “Thank you for caring for him.”
“He has a lot to answer for, but I know how much he means to you.” When he leaned over the railing, he gave me a single glance.
“He didn’t set me up, Michael. He’s also a victim.”
“I know that’s what you want to believe.”
“No, it’s what the asshole said who believed he owned me.” I snorted after saying the words, my hand shaking as I tried to take a sip of the wine. When I did, for some crazy reason the bold and rich flavor helped calm my nerves.
“Well, let’s hope he can provide some information.”
“Why, Michael? What’s going to happen now?” I turned to face him and in the both the light coming from the room through the French doors and the bright moon, I could tell how pensive he remained.
He took a sip of his drink, giving me a longing look before turning his attention toward the ocean. “I’m not going to lie to you, Daniella, nor will I do so ever again. There are two drug cartels who are interested in taking over a portion of a territory that doesn’t belong to them.”
“Drugs. This is all about drugs.”
A chuckle left his lips. “Don’t be naïve, Daniella. Even before you met me, you were aware that our family is involved in several operations, the majority legal. However, some of the old ways, the ones established from my father and grandfather still stand. Has it provided our family significant wealth? Yes, it has. Do I grow weary of the constant battles, the worry that a war might erupt? Absolutely. Every single one of my brothers, myself included, is attempting to pull our family business away from illegal activities but it’s going to take some time. In that process, there will always be enemies attempting to take what belongs to us.”
I had no real thoughts, only continued sadness for the burden he carried every day. “I’m sorry, Michael.”
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I should be the one apologizing to you for putting your life in danger.”
“Whatever my brother has done, it’s obvious he’s the one who really put my life in peril.”
“At minimum, his connection to you allowed for a grand plan to be developed. I don’t necessarily think you were the intended target, just a perk for the Santiago Cartel.”
“But why?”
“Because I killed a prominent member of the cartel, the son of the leader. I had my reasons, Daniella, but I’m not going to try and give excuses.”
“Flesh for flesh.”
“An interesting observation.”
“That’s what the scarred man told me that I was.”
He shifted his full attention in my direction. “Scarred man.” I sensed his growing anger and watched as he bristled.
“I was wrong about the assassin you killed at the chalet. One of the men responsible for kidnapping me was without a doubt the man from the school.”
The news riled him, although he maintained a calm exterior, although I could see fury in his eyes.
“You thought he was dead.”
Michael sighed. “It would seem he has several clones. He’s known as the Ghost, a man rarely seen but extremely deadly. He wasn’t found at the warehouse.”
“Which means he’s still after me?” Another jab of fear created goosebumps.
He moved closer, brushing the backs of his fingers across my cheek. “He won’t be able to get to you, but I doubt he’s going to risk taking you again. He has other business to attend to in the next couple of days.”
“You mean your business.”
“As I told you before, I will not lie. Yes, I still have business in Florida, and it could be dangerous.”
I wasn’t prepared for another round of emotions but as tears formed once again, I pressed my hand against his chest. “I don’t want to lose you. I just… I don’t understand your world, Michael. I don’t want to know details, but when I was taken, all I could think about was how happy I’d been with you and how much I prayed you would save me.” Hearing his words of love earlier had meant more to me than I could ever have believed. And I knew in my heart that he’d changed me forever.
He continued caressing my face, his breathing scattered. “I can’t live without you, Daniella. I’m not a good man, but you’ve shown me that brutality and darkness, guilt and remorse is no way to live.”
When he tilted my head, I leaned into him, inhaling the only scent that mattered. Him. The man I loved. So dangerous and savage, yet he filled every dream, had fulfilled almost every fantasy. “Make love to me, Michael.”
His nostrils flaring, he dug his fingers into my skin as he lowered his head. “I plan on devouring you.” When he pressed his lips against mine, he used more control than I’d seen in him before, taking his time to brush his lips back and forth before parting mine.
I shudder
ed when he slipped his tongue inside, fisting his shirt as I attempted to hold onto the glass. The taste of him was delicious, sending a shower of sensations dancing through every muscle.
A slight growl permeated the air around us as he slowly swirled his tongue against mine. Passion reeked in every molecule, every touch of his fingers. As I clung to him, my nipples aching and my pussy already dampening my panties, all I could think about was lying beside him. I wanted to bask in the afterglow of our desires, molded against his massive frame. Every craving I’d had seemed amplified tonight, my body jazzed, my hunger intense.
He seemed to sense my need, breaking the kiss long enough to remove the glasses from our hands, but when he walked into the room, I remained frozen, uncertain whether I should follow. But I watched him as he placed the beverage beside the massive king-size bed, raking his hands down the comforter and sheets, a man on a mission.
When he returned, his chest rising and falling, he took long strides in my direction, pulling me into his arms. “You belong to me, little flower. You always will.”
There was nothing like being in his arms. While there would always be a part of me questioning my decision to remain or care about such a… monster, I knew we’d never be able to live without each other.
As he gently placed me on my feet beside the bed, there was a significant change in his expression. While there was no doubt that he was going to ravage me, I also felt even more of a connection than we’d had before. His eyes reflected a combination of possession as well as deep and powerful love.
There was no brutality in his actions as he eased the straps from the dress past my shoulders, the one he’d purchased after bringing me to safety. The dance of his fingertips against my skin was breathtaking, the light breeze filtering in through the open doors tickling my senses. Everything about the moment was perfect. Even the scents of the ocean and other indulgences flowing between us added to the sheer joy of being together.
Every action deliberate, he allowed his gaze to fall, inhaling as the fabric dropped below my naked breasts. When gravity took it to the floor, the material pooling around my feet, he issued a series of low, husky, and seductive growls.
“God, I want you,” he whispered, lightly dancing his fingertips up and down the length of my arms.
Reaching out, I tugged at his shirt, dragging it from the confines of his trousers. “Then take me.” I kicked the dress to the side, trying to control my breathing as my excitement increased, pulling me into the same beautiful bubble of yearning that I’d always experienced with him.
His impatience growing, he yanked the shirt over his head, tossing it away, immediately reaching for his belt. And as he undressed, his eyes never left me.
He was such a magnificent specimen of a man, but tonight he was more than just a brutal dictator who’d made a claim. He was my lover, my protector, and the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
When he was fully undressed, he cupped both sides of my face, aimlessly rubbing my cheeks, a wry smile forming on his face. “Be careful what you ask for, little flower.”
“I’m not asking. I’m demanding.”
I didn’t expect the bright smile or the rush of hot air pulsed across my face. There was such joy in his actions, the need desperate yet controlled. He wanted to take his time and enjoy the moments we shared.
Michael tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer and forcing me to tilt my head, exposing my neck.
A whimper escaped my mouth as he leaned forward, nipping the flesh on my neck then swirling his tongue in circle after circle. It was as if all time stood still and nothing else mattered but the two of us. As I pressed my palms against his chest, the rapid beating of his heart only fueled the fire crackling deep within me. I closed my eyes, unable to stop a series of moans from erupting as he continued licking and kissing my neck.
As he shifted one hand to my breast, teasing me relentlessly, flicking his finger back and forth across my aching nipple, I shuddered violently. I could no longer feel my legs, the hammering of my heart echoing in my ears. He continued seducing me, crouching over until he was able to take my nipple into his mouth.
“Oh…” The single word rushed past my lips and I was forced to grip his shoulders in order to keep from falling. There wasn’t a portion of my body that wasn’t on fire, every synapse exploding from the jolts of current. I’d never felt so alive, my blood pumping wildly from adrenaline. With every swipe of his tongue, every pinch of his fingers on my nipple, I was pushed further into utter bliss. I never wanted this to end.
He shifted to my other hardened bud, sucking on the point until the sensations were almost too much to bear. When he slowly lowered to his knees, pressing his face against my lace-covered mound, I let out a single wail. I was thrown by the pounding electricity soaring through me as he drove his tongue against my panties before sucking on them. The scent of my desire wafted between us and while a portion of me was embarrassed at just how wet I was, I felt free.
Free from fear of losing myself.
Free from shame for my raging hunger.
Free from the shackles I’d placed on myself years before.
Michael was the reason.
I laughed nervously as the sound of my panties being shredded by his teeth pulsed in my ears. When he plunged his tongue into my wetness, I almost lost it, dragged into an instant orgasm.
“Oh, yes. Oh. My…”
He ripped more of the material away, allowing him full access to my pussy. I swayed back and forth, realizing my fingernails had created strings of blood on his shoulders, but he didn’t seem to care. The second he jammed a single finger in beside his tongue, I couldn’t hold back, the climax rushing up from my shaking legs.
“Ahhh!” My scream was bedraggled, the guttural sounds he made creating vibrations deep in my core.
He gripped my legs, holding me in place as he continued feasting, but seconds later, there was no doubt he’d grown tired of the lace standing in his way. With a snap of his wrist, I was free of it. He opened my legs even further, sliding his hands around my hips, cupping and squeezing my buttocks.
I allowed myself to fall into a surreal state, closing my eyes and merely enjoying his actions. Within seconds, another orgasm pulsed through my muscles, one beautiful, giant wave cresting over me. I tossed my head back and forth, the scattered whimpers I managed to issue almost breathless.
He held me, thrusting at least two more fingers inside, keeping me on edge.
“Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh.” I felt delirious, jutting my hips forward with every hard drive of his fingers.
“You taste so sweet,” he murmured then pressed his lips against the inside of one thigh then the other before slowly inching his way up to my stomach. When he finally stood, towering over me as always, I could tell his patience no longer existed.
And I wanted nothing more than for him to fill me.
Take me.
Fuck me.
He dragged his tongue across his lips as he backed me toward the bed. I continued to shiver as I eased down, keeping one hand on his chest, darting my eyes back and forth. I wanted to experience every emotion he had as his armor began to crumble.
Very slowly he crawled onto the bed, nudging me until I was between the soft pillows. He remained hovering over me, drinking in my essence.
“You really do belong to me.” As he moved between my legs, he bent down until he was able to brush his lips across my jaw. “Now and forever. Don’t ever forget it.”
While his words were laced with the same domination as before, my reaction was entirely different. I wanted more. I wanted to share everything with him, all aspects of life. I wrapped my legs around his thighs, pulling him closer. When I ground my hips against him, he smirked, shaking his head back and forth.
“But you will never be in charge.” He yanked one arm over my head then the other, wrapping his fingers around my wrists.
I took several scattered breaths then nipped his lower lip, purring after lettin
g him go.
“Always a bad girl but now you’re my bad girl. I can’t wait to continue your training.”
Why did the words entice me, pulling me into an incredible vacuum?
His coy smile remaining, he slid his hand to his shaft, positioning the tip, pushing until his cockhead slipped between my swollen folds.
I clasped my feet together, using the strong muscles in my legs, pulling him forward. While he allowed the action, seconds later he pulled almost all the way out, teasing me for several seconds before plunging his cock all the way inside.
The force knocked the wind out of me, my scattered moans ragged. When he repeated the move, I clenched my pussy muscles. His ravenous laugh was my sweet reward. There was nothing like the feel of his rock-hard shaft buried deep inside of me, forcing my muscles to accept the thick invasion.
Within seconds, I no longer wanted control, but I did everything I could to meet every brutal thrust, arching my back and fighting to free my hands. He was having none of it, digging his fingers into my skin and holding me fast.
My skin was on fire as he drove his cock in and out, the force slamming the headboard against the wall, but we never lost eye contact. Beads of sweat formed across his brow, but he refused to stop.
Lights flashed in front of my eyes, vibrant colors that seemed to float on the wings of angels. There was no way of holding back as another orgasm rushed into me, this one even more powerful than before. He pounded harder, murmuring filthy words of all the vile and amazing things he wanted to do to me.
I bucked against him as another wave jetted into me, the ecstasy keeping the light dancing across my field of vision.
Michael slowed down as I continued shaking, pressing his lips against mine before pulling out completely.
“No!” The gasp left my mouth unexpectedly.
“Don’t worry, little flower. I’m not done with you yet.” Within seconds, he flipped me onto my stomach, closing both my legs and straddling them. When I felt pressure on one side of my bottom, I sucked in and held my breath.
Pain rushed into me as he slipped his cock into my asshole, but I knew within seconds the feeling would shift to the most intense round of bliss.