by Shanna Bell
Remember where that got you…
Right into Franco’s web.
Nope. She couldn’t rely on Sy, no matter if she was attracted to him, no matter if he felt like a safe haven.
A brief expression of disappointment flashed on Sy’s face. Then he turned his back on her and walked away. There had been a challenge in his eyes, and for some reason, she felt like she had failed.
After taking a long, hot shower, she rummaged her room for pj’s. All she found was a bunch of see-through, silk negligees with the tags still on. Not having any other option, she put on a black, lace teddy, all the while cursing Vince. The man seemed determined to turn her into his mistress. But that was a battle for another day. Right now, she had a more pressing issue on her mind. Luckily, the negligee came with a matching thigh-high robe. After putting a knot around her waist, she walked over to Sy’s room. He didn’t call her in when she knocked on the door. Her second knock was ignored as well, making her anxious. What if…
Not wasting another second, she burst inside and stared right into the barrel of a gun.
When Sy saw it was her, he cursed and put the piece back on the nightstand. “Never storm inside like that again,” he growled.
“I’m sorry.”
He perked up. “Then again, dressed like that, come inside anytime you want.”
She planted her butt in the recliner next to his bed. “As I said, you might have a concussion. I’ll stay with you while you sleep and wake you every hour.”
He put his arms behind his head and smiled. “In that chair? All night long?”
“Yes.” She tried to find a soft spot. Unfortunately, it felt as if she sat on a rock.
“Looks pretty uncomfortable to me.”
“It isn’t,” she lied.
He held up his side of the comforter. “Are you sure you don’t want to sleep next to me? I could use the extra body heat. You know, with all the blood that has left my body.”
“Nice try.” Not that it would sway her. “I’m good.” She picked up a magazine from the table. “I’ll just be reading all night.”
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy Guns n Ammo, special edition. If you’re intent on staying a scared little girl, sit in that chair all night, for all I care. Should you decide to woman up, let me know.”
His words stung, but she didn’t move from her spot. Not until he started to snore lightly. By then, her ass had almost lost all feeling. She decided to do some stretching exercises.
When the time came that she had to wake him, she gave up and hopped into the bed. Little by little, she inched closer to him. His body heat was like a beacon calling out to her. He smelled so nice, like pine needles and fresh air. It was an irresistible combination.
She snuggled up to him, and put her head on his chest.
Sy was capable of breaking her into two with his bare hands. Nevertheless, she didn’t believe he would ever physically harm her.
He had made it clear what he wanted from her. Neither of them were looking for a permanent thing. So why not just enjoy the time they had together? Wasn’t she allowed to want something for herself, just once, without thinking about the consequences? Just seize the day.
Her phone alarm went off a few minutes later. She woke him, and checked his pupils. He didn’t seem surprised she was in bed with him. Neither did he make a move, which she was glad for. She didn’t know how she would have handled it if he had.
There was one thing she knew for certain though. Never before had she felt so safe.
She was in so much trouble.
CHAPTER 12
SY
Sy decided he was going to heaven after all. Feeling Carmen’s sweet ass against his stomach and keeping his hands off of her? Only a saint could do that. Of course, he wasn’t a saint, not even close. What he was, was horny as hell. But at least being horny made him forget the radiating pain in his arm.
He looked at his phone; still half an hour before Carmen’s would go off again. It was cute she believed he could actually sleep with her lying next to him, practically naked. Each time, right before her alarm went off, he closed his eyes and evened his breath, so she could “wake him up.”
Usually, he was all about telling her as it was, but he’d changed his mind on this one. Telling her he was in a constant state of arousal, and unable to sleep because of her cute little ass, would probably make her jump out of bed.
The dim streetlights cast a shadow across her face. That flimsy thing she was wearing did nothing to hide her large breasts; instead, their form taunted him.
As if he wasn’t suffering enough, she made a little sigh, turned over, and somehow draped herself all over his rock-hard dick. It screamed for him to take action. To take off that sheer thing she was wearing, to expose her creamy body, and lick and taste her.
If he didn’t wake her, he was going to do something he might regret later. Nah, that wasn’t right. No way would he regret feasting on her curves. She, on the other hand, might have mixed feelings about being molested in her sleep. He untangled her limbs, and gently pushed her off of him.
The second she lost his body heat, a crease appeared between her brows and her hand reached out to him. Like a snuggle bunny, she moved closer again. This time, she lay on her side, facing him. He followed her pose, feasting his eyes on a nipple that had freed itself from its confinement. That little piece of silk she was wearing was no protection at all. He had to remember to thank Vince for that. His friend had eye for detail and liked to splurge on their subs.
As if on its own, his hand went to her bare shoulder and slid down to her breast. It would only take a small move for him to suck that nipple into his mouth. What the hell, he was going to the fiery pits of Kingdom Come anyway.
He lowered his head and wet her nipple with his tongue. Damn, she tasted like vanilla. Never before had he found vanilla enticing, but on Carmen, it tasted like desire. Hot, wet, desire, and he wanted more. He couldn’t stop himself. He grabbed her breast and sucked the little bud as deep as he could. Her flesh was soft and round in the palm of his hand. She tasted so good. Just that tiny, hard bud wasn’t enough. He doubted anything would be enough other than getting deep inside her hot, wet core. He nibbled some more on the pink pebble, then lavished the rest of her breast with his tongue.
Carmen sighed and leaned closer to his touch, as if her body was telling her to surrender to him, even in her sleep. Her body molded into him and her knees somehow ended on his crotch, making him go from rock-hard to steel.
“Fuck.”
He let go of her and turned onto his back. She wasn’t his yet. If she had been, he would have been fucking her now happily, waiting for her to wake up, so they could continue together. A morning fuck was one of his favorite pastimes. Sadly, they weren’t there yet. They were fucking nowhere yet.
This couldn’t go on any longer. Gently, he shook her shoulder.
Her eyes blinked, looking hazy with sleep. He pointed at his groin.
“You woke up my dick, doll face. I thought I should return the favor.”
Another blink. He could almost feel her face heating up when she looked down at his groin.
“I’m sorry, I should—”
“Don’t be sorry.” In a swift move, he rolled on top of her, his legs between hers, spreading her thighs. He knew he was taking a risk, and was happy when she didn’t flinch or started screaming his ears off.
“Sy… I…”
He put a finger on her lips. “I’m a simple man, Carmen. I fuck when I’m horny, and fight when I’m angry. I’ll never lie to you. I might not always answer a question I don’t like, but I won’t fucking lie. I want you. Can’t say for how long. I don’t do relationship shit. But the time when I’m with you, my body will only be yours. Be brave, doll. Be brave, bold, and free. Yeah, I will push your limits, but nothing will happen that you don’t want.”
He gave her some more time to change her mind, but she seemed relaxed underneath him. Soft, warm, lush—everything he desired in
a woman. Top it off with beautiful eyes that seemed to look straight into his soul, and he was barely keeping him from burying himself deep inside her.
Shit. He couldn’t think like that. She was just a fuck. Just like any other woman. That didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy each other though.
When her hands went to his shoulders, slowly caressing them, he started kissing her neck. Then her lips, slipping her his tongue. It was obvious she didn’t have much experience in the kissing department and for some reason, he found that endearing. Her big, hazel eyes looked up at him in wonder and trust. A tiny voice in the back of his mind screamed at him in warning. It told him he might be starting something he could not finish. That Carmen Rossi was a keeper, and he had no intention of ever keeping a woman. Thrusting his tongue deeper inside her mouth, he ignored the voice. Life was short. They were both adults and he was going to give her the fucking time of her life.
He wondered if she knew her hips were moving closer to him. That she was grinding into his dick, looking for friction.
“I’ve got you. Don’t intend on dying before tasting this pussy,” he ground out.
“Um… I don’t think…” She swallowed. “Maybe we should wait and…”
Hell, she was going to kill him. He dropped his head onto her shoulder, but his fingers kept playing with her breast. He couldn’t stop fondling the delicious, creamy peaks.
“Go with your gut, Carmen. What does your body tell you?”
Her fingers drew lazy circles on his biceps. He doubted she was aware she was driving him crazy.
“It tells me… that I want you.”
He kissed her on the lips, silently telling her that her honest answer pleased him.
When he spread her legs wide and went down, her hands flew to his head.
“Sy?”
Ignoring her, he started kissing her creamy, inner thighs.
“How is it that you smell like vanilla all over your body?”
She giggled. “Must be because I like to bake.”
He didn’t care if she bathed in vanilla foam. All he knew was that he wanted to taste her on his lips. Now.
He speared his tongue inside her core, making her cry out. Once again, her hands went to his head, clawing in his hair.
“Sy…” This time, her voice was more of a moan.
He rubbed her pussy, then gave a tap to her clit. “That’s right, baby. Get soaking wet. Give me something to eat.”
He switched the slow rubs and taps to outright slaps with the flat of his hand. Then, he dove right back in, making her back bounce off the mattress. He kept his gaze on her, needing to see every response to his touch. She began to whimper and tremble, but he didn’t let up.
Carmen screamed and her eyes flew open. “Oh. My. God.”
She looked so shocked that Sy had a feeling he knew the reason. “It was your first orgasm, wasn’t it?”
She blinked, still looking out of it. “I had no idea it felt like that. It’s amazing. It’s…”
When she struggled for words, he kissed her delicious lips, giving her his tongue until she started moaning again.
“There’s a lot more where that came from.” He pushed his middle finger inside her heat, adjusting her to his thick finger. She was so damn tight. He gave her another finger, and a third one to stretch her. If he dove in the way he wanted to, he would hurt her.
“Please…”
He pulled out his fingers. Let it never be said that he denied a woman begging for his cock.
Then the bedroom door burst open. A seething Vince was standing in the doorway.
Carmen stiffened against him. Sy rolled over and leaned back against the headboard, grinning. Yeah, he got cock-blocked bigtime, but at least—with Vince finally in the game—things were getting interesting.
CHAPTER 13
VINCE
Seeing Carmen lying flushed, in Sy’s bed, made him instantly go rock hard. Knowing that Sy was responsible for those pink-colored cheeks made it even better. Wasn’t this what he’d been planning all along?
If only the image of her mangled, beaten body at the hands of Viking would disappear from his vision. It was all he could think of. He could protect her against obvious threats such as men gunning for her, but he couldn’t protect her when she stepped in front of a raging bull. He’d been up for hours, running around town, putting out fires. To think, all of that could have been for nothing, just because she didn’t hesitate to protect everyone around her. Even someone who was considered an enemy, and even if it meant she put herself in danger. It made him see red.
“You stepped in between fucking Elena Morelli and Viking?” he roared. “Are you insane? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?”
“I was perfectly safe,” she snubbed, pulling the comforter over her luscious body, as if protecting it from his sight. “And I don’t appreciate you yelling at me,” she added.
Vince felt his left eye twitch. “Don’t you now?” He was going to give her a fucking reason to yell. Twenty of them, to be exact.
Sy lazily rested against the headboard, sporting a grin. The bastard knew exactly what he was thinking and looking forward to it too. Of course, he wouldn’t have to be the one doling out punishment this time. He’d just had his fill tasting her, enjoying her body, making her come. After he’d saved her life, effectively positioning himself as her hero.
But that was Sy. He never expected anything to last, so he only showed the world the ice-cold killer or the sex-loving maniac that lived for today only. If it were any other woman they were dealing with, Vince could handle it. But not with Carmen. He couldn’t fail her twice.
She must have seen something in his face because she backtracked quickly. “Sy was with me the whole time.”
It was as he’d figured—she had no idea of the peril she’d been in. She could’ve easily gotten trampled between the hooves of a very pissed-off Viking. The man had two buttons only: relaxed and crazy or deranged and crazy. There was no fucking in between.
Vince kept staring at her. “Say what now?”
She waved a hand toward Sy. “Ask him. I was perfectly safe.”
Sy hummed. “I wouldn’t say perfectly.”
“What?”
Vince couldn’t help but smile at her squeak. She had yet to learn she couldn’t pit them against each other.
“I had to yank you away from my brother’s path of destruction,” Sy clarified. “Who knows what might have happened if I had been too slow.”
“I can’t believe you’re agreeing with him,” Carmen said, sending him a deadly glare.
“I’d say that calls for at least ten.” Sy exchanged a gaze with him.
Vince loosened his collar. “Way ahead of you.”
Carmen’s eyes flew between them. “What calls for what exactly?”
He didn’t deign that with an answer. Some things couldn’t be said with words, and some lessons were meant to be doled out the hard way.
Her mutinous look was speckled with worry now. She put her negligee and robe back on, tightening the belt around her waist. Like that was gonna do her any good. He could see the exact moment her body went into flight mode.
“Um… it’s been a long night. I mean, with me nearly being used as a human shield, dodging bullets and all, I’m really tired.” She yawned for good measure. “I’ve noticed my bedroom door doesn’t have a lock, by the way, which I find strange. What guest room doesn’t have a lock?”
When he neared the foot of the bed, she tried to bolt. Sy yanked her right back on the bed. He placed his arms around her, effectively boxing her in.
“Traitor!” She thrashed her body and tried to get away from him, but Sy wouldn’t budge.
“I’ve tried,” Vince said as he started to unbutton his cuffs. “I really did. Hoping you would see the danger you’re in without me having to show you. Without me having to punish you.”
“No, no, no! You bastard.” She struggled, trying to break free of Sy’s hold. “Let go of me,�
� she hissed.
“You’d better hold still, doll. The more you struggle, the more it will hurt.”
“I hate you!”
Sy sighed. “That was inevitable.”
Carmen was cursing now, close to hyperventilating. Vince didn’t like doing this to her, knowing she would hate him even more for it. What was worse though, was the fact she actually believed he would hurt her the way Franco had.
He dropped onto the bed and pulled her body over his lap.
She was sobbing now, cursing in both English and Italian. Her tears tugged at his heart, almost making him stop. But no. If he did, she would always defy him. This had to be done.
“I had no idea you could be so foul-mouthed. Guess the prim and proper English tutor has a more expanded vocabulary than I gave you credit for,” he taunted, taking a page from Sy’s book.
Then he gave her ten. He continued until her ass had turned a nice shade of pink and she cried all over the bed.
He bowed close to her.
“You are not allowed to put yourself in danger. You might not like to hear it, but there’s still a target on your back. Obviously, you don’t care, putting yourself in between explosive situations. If you don’t care about your gorgeous ass, Carmen, then why should anyone else?”
Those words made her stop squirming and after that, she took the remaining slaps in stride.
***
After leaving an exhausted Carmen in bed, Vince took a shower. Then he dropped onto the couch in the rec room. Sy was sitting there, watching Planet Earth or some other animal documentary.
He dialed his sister-in-law and a few moments later, he stared into her frown on the big screen.
“Vince. Do you know what time it is?” Tess was one of the best hackers in the world, but a morning person she was not.
“Of course,” he said, playing dumb. “It’s half past—”
“No, it’s too early,” she muttered. “I’m going to charge you with the double rate for this.”
“What happened to the family discount?”