I didn’t close my eyes, though.
I watched her expression as our lips collided. I watched the way her brow furrowed. I felt the way her hand trembled as she slid it through my hair. But, I also watched the way her nose wrinkled. I felt the way her tongue quickly darted away from mine every time I sought it out. I cupped her cheeks with my hands, trapping her face against my own just to see what would happen. And just as I suspected, she leaned away from me.
Almost recoiling at my touch.
I felt my gut clench as I quickly pulled away. And while I should have expected Charlotte to follow my every move, she backed up as well. I watched as her eyes stayed closed, her brow slowly unfurrowing as her shoulders squared themselves off. She rolled them back, putting on an act of strength before her eyes opened.
But, when her hand went to reach for mine, I took another step back.
“Teo?” she asked.
Why does she not trust me anymore? “I’ll have a fresh plate of breakfast sent up to you.”
“Teo? What’s wrong?”
I felt my eyes fall flat into a blank stare. “Have a nice rest of your day, Miss Pettigrew.”
“But, Teo--wait! Hold on!”
I straightened my back and slid my hands into my pockets. Then, I held tightly to the fabric against my thighs. Because if my hands decided to get out of control, I’d choke the truth out of that woman’s fucking neck. I knew something happened last night. Something that had everyone spooked. And now, Miss Pettigrew was cringing at my touch?
Her trust for me had died in some way. And my gut told me it was related to last night.
Time for me to figure out why.
3
Mateo
No one was talking. Not my bodyguards. Not my staff. And my security footage revealed absolutely nothing. No one had come onto or escaped from the premises last night, yet everyone was acting as if I’d put out rusty nails for them to walk on. And Miss Pettigrew? Well, she was of no help, either. She kept acting as if nothing were wrong, but she was the most transparent of them all.
So, I had to get creative.
Knock, knock, knock. “Miss Pettigrew?”
I heard her scrambling behind the door before it ripped open. “Teo! Hey there. I wasn't sure if I’d see you today or not.”
I grinned. “Miss me?”
Her eyes fell to the bag in my hand. “What’s that?”
I raised it up. “I come bearing gifts.”
“Oh, out on a shopping spree, I see. I take it there’s more lingerie in there?”
I handed her the bag. “Why don’t you open them up and see?”
She peered inside. “Awww, you even wrapped them up all nice. Which one should I open first?”
“Whichever one you prefer. But, for each gift you open, you have to do a favor for me.”
Her eyes slowly slid up to mine and I felt my cock stiffening against my pants. I lowered the bag and hung it in front of me, covering my growing erection as a cloud of indecision dropped over her gaze. For an attorney that worked with the likes of her mother, she was terrible with putting on faces. Her eyes gave her away every single time.
Like my damn cock.
“What kind of favors?” she asked.
I shrugged. “The kind I ask for. But, so long as you hold up your end of the bargain, I’ll hold up mine. Lyle!”
I whistled through my teeth and the bodyguard I had assigned to her protection came out of the woodworks with six more massive bags hanging from his hands. They were full to the brim with wrapped presents, all for Charlotte if she wanted to behave accordingly. I watched her eyes widen before she ran her stare all the way down my body, and I saw her clock the bag still hanging in front of my dick.
“Favors, huh?” she asked sultrily.
I nodded. “So, where would you like your new things?”
She ushered me into the room and I nodded at Lyle to follow me. I needed her to willingly play this game. I needed her to willingly let me in. And when she told Lyle where to put the bags, I waved him away with my hand. Giving us enough privacy to play a little game that would surely get Charlotte to open back up to me.
And, hopefully, get her back in my good graces.
After all, it would be a waste to kill such talent.
“Which one should I open first?” she asked.
I sat on the edge of her bed. “Anyone you choose. Pick, and start unwrapping.”
“Don’t I get to know what the favor is first?”
I shook my head. “You open, then the favor comes. Ready?”
She winked. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Wonderful. Take your pick.”
I watched her search the bags until she found the biggest present wrapped up in royal blue and silver wrapping paper. I watched as her trembling fingertips carefully unwrapped the package, revealing an entire outfit for our next date night. Complete with matching jewelry and heels.
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
“On your knees,” I commanded.
Her eyes whipped to mine and I pointed to the floor. And without debate, she sank to her knees. I reached out and slid my fingers through her soft tendrils, watching as her eyes fluttered closed.
Then, I gripped hold of her hair tightly and slid her between my legs.
“That’s more like it,” I murmured.
“Is it time for another gift?” she asked breathlessly.
I slid my thumb along her cheek. “If you want to open another one, then go ahead.”
She moved away from my grip and grabbed a smaller present wrapped in yellow wrapping paper. It had a white bow on top, signaling to me what was beneath it, and I buried my conniving grin as she began to unwrap it. Slowly, and deftly, she removed the paper. Taking great care not to rip it before she set it off to the side.
And as I watched her eyes widen at the sight of the new pair of Jimmy Choo’s, I started unbuckling my belt.
“Wh-wh-what--what are you doing?” Charlotte asked.
I unbuttoned my pants. “You opened another gift. Therefore, you owe me another favor.”
I felt her eyes on my face as I pulled out my cock. I stroked it longingly, my other hand reaching for her hair. I fisted her tendrils and brought her closer to me, catching a quick glimpse of her eyes before I hovered her lips over my leaking tip.
“And what would you like me to do, sir?” she asked cheekily.
I released my cock and patted her cheek. “Get cheeky, and I’ll choke you on it.”
She giggled. “That a promise?”
I answered her by pushing her down onto my cock and I felt her gag around me. I held her there, feeling her hands pressing against my thighs as her breathing came in ragged pants. I growled at the feeling of her clenched throat. The way her saliva dripped around me as she tried to force herself up.
“This is what you get for hiding things from me. Got it?” I growled.
I felt her nod quickly as my balls started hanging lower.
“Now, blow me. And you better do a damn good job of it.”
Her nails curled into my clothed thighs as I released the tension from the back of her head. Her lips slid all the way to my tip as she gasped for air, with sparkling tears sliding down her cheeks. It took her makeup with it, and the sight was too much for me to bear. I was almost ready to burst down her throat, and I had to turn my mind to other things to keep myself from spiraling down the rabbit hole.
I wanted to enjoy this moment.
I slowly slid my lips up and down his hardened dick and I tried my best not to enjoy it. I kept reminding myself that this man was married. Fucking around with his wife before forcing me to suck her right off it. But, the taste of him and the feel of his command was too much for me to bear. He overwhelmed my senses and kicked up a vulnerability inside me that I never let anyone see.
And all I wanted was to swallow him whole.
I bobbed my head up and down, following the pressure of his hand on the back of my head. I moaned arou
nd his girth and gagged against his length as I felt my throat expanding for him. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to regulate my breathing. I attempted to block out the incredible feeling of his hips bucking against my face.
But, I was a goner when he started grunting my name.
“Shit, Char.”
My lips quivered as I hollowed out my cheeks.
“Fucking hell, you’re fantastic.”
I wanted so badly for his words to be true.
“All right, all right, all right. That’s enough.”
I felt him fist my hair before he pulled me off him, and I watched a trail of spit connect his dick to my lower lip. His thumb swiped across my mouth, ridding me of the dribbling saliva that gave away just how weak I was toward him. I looked up into the Devil’s eyes and saw nothing but darkness. A cavern of nothingness attached to a smile that still managed to make my heart skip a beat.
Why do you have to be married?
“Would you like to open another gift?” he asked.
I knew I needed to stop. I needed to tell him and his gifts to kick rocks all the way to the ocean. But instead, I let my heart dictate my next move. I let the throbbing pulse of my pussy guide my actions as I reached for one of the bags and let my hand fall into the top of it.
Before pulling out a small gift wrapped in pale pink paper.
“Oh, that’s a good one. I’d prepare yourself for it,” Teo said.
My eyes fell to the paper and I unwrapped it softly. I was never one to rip the paper because unwrapping was half of the fun. I wanted to take my time with gifts, mostly because I never received many of them. Holidays weren’t a big thing with my family, and for the past few years we hadn’t even celebrated Christmas with gifts. The only gifts I got nowadays were from thankful clients, or something I purchased for myself.
But, when I saw the small velvet red box appear in the palm of my hand, I paused.
“Teo?” I asked.
“Go on. Open it.”
My trembling hand popped it open and revealed to me the most beautiful canary diamond ring I’d ever seen in my life. Ever. I’d only ever seen such glorious things on the internet whenever I plunged myself down a rabbit hole of jewelry I’d never be able to afford. My jaw dropped open as the rubies inlaid around the yellow diamond sparkled with delight. The white gold band called to me as tears rushed my eyes.
“Oh, Teo,” I whispered.
“What finger would you like to put it on?” he asked.
I hated him for that question. I wanted to rip his heart out with my own fucking teeth for that fucking question. I swallowed hard as I looked up at him, watching him watch me. What the hell was this? Was he waiting to see how I’d react? Was this some sort of test?
Does he know?
“My ring finger, I would assume,” I said.
He grinned. “Right, or left?”
I snickered. “Right, unless this gift comes with something to be said on your part.”
He stared at me for a long time. “Let me see it on you.”
“Why don’t I open another--?”
He quickly stood to his feet. “Put it on, Charlotte.”
I ripped the ring out of the box and slid it onto my right ring finger. My hands trembled with fear as I watched the ring sparkle against my skin. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever worn. And in another life--in another time--I would’ve put that ring on my left hand and sealed whatever fate it was my soul was really reaching for.
But, all it did was fuel the sadness I felt welling in my stomach.
“Teo, it’s--.”
His hand gripped my hair. “Up.”
I squealed. “Teo!”
“I said, ‘up’.”
I scrambled to my feet as he held tightly to me, bringing my body close to his. His lips captured mine and even though my knees buckled, I still couldn’t get over the fact that I was kissing a married man. It made me sick to my stomach.
And before I knew it, my stomach bounced against the mattress.
“Teo!” I exclaimed.
His growling voice sounded in my ear. “You’re mine, Char. Every ounce of you is mine. And so long as you’re with me, I’ll take care of all of you. Every inch.”
I wanted his words to be true so badly. “Pretty sure this is going to require another gift before you do what you’re about to do.”
He shoved my nightgown up my legs. “I’ll let you open all of them in a bath I run for you after I’m done with you this morning.”
And when I felt his thick dick press against my sopping wet entrance, I caved to him.
To a man I’d fallen for, whether he was married or not.
4
Mateo
“Lyle, you’re with me. Dick, stay here with the car. I should only be a few minutes,” I said.
“Yes, sir,” the men said in unison.
All weekend, I hadn’t been able to get Miss Pettigrew off my mind. After taking what was mine and hearing her moan her praises for me with every pound of my cock into her body, I felt on top of the world. Our encounter had been two days ago, and I was still floating on a cloud I wasn’t sure existed in my world.
And while I hated to leave her side, there were things I needed to accomplish today.
“What’s the plan?” Lyle asked.
I reached for the door to the pharmacy. “We get in, we talk, we get out. And hopefully, they’ll have my money for me today.”
“If they don’t?”
I sighed. “I suppose things will get messy, then.”
“Understood.”
I ushered Lyle in before someone behind the desk ducked down. So, they knew I was coming in today. There were people walking up and down the aisles, shopping for things like Tylenol and juice pouches and shaving cream. I slid my hands into my pockets and walked straight up to the counter as Lyle leapt behind it.
And when he reached down for the associate who tried to conceal themselves from me, I smiled as they came into view.
“Hello, Piero.”
The young man swallowed hard. “Mr. Emiliano.”
“I take it you knew I was coming in today.”
He nodded quickly. “Y-Y-Yes--yes sir. I did.”
I leaned against the counter. “Did your employer leave something for me, then?”
Before the associate could answer me, a bullet went whizzing by my head. I felt the heat of it against my ear before I whipped around, quickly reaching for the gun at my side. I tore it from its holster and searched for the direction the bullet came from as Lyle rushed in front of me.
And as a shadow darted to my left, I took off running.
“Mr. Emiliano!” Lyle roared.
I was halfway down the aisle towards the back door before his voice even registered.
“Around back. Now!” I commanded.
I shoved myself through the door and followed the running shadow. Another bullet whizzed out of nowhere, grazing so close to my arm that it tore the suit of my coat straight open. The smell of burning silk filled my nostrils as I pivoted, charging after yet another shadow that managed to escape my presence.
But, when I heard gunfire out back, I found the nearest window and busted it open with my elbow.
“Ah, fuck!” Lyle exclaimed.
“Where the hell is he?” a voice asked.
I cocked my gun and aimed it out the window. “Right here, you son of a bitch.”
I fired two bullets at the man’s knees before he collapsed against the pavement. People started screaming and rushing around everywhere as a siren kicked on in the pharmacy. I heard police sirens blaring and fire trucks honking off in the distance and I knew we had to clear out sooner rather than later. Especially since Lyle was on the ground with a bloodied hand pressed against his side.
“Mr. Emiliano. Get down,” Lyle grunted.
In the blink of an eye, a blacked-out town car pulled up. Two men dressed in all black jumped out and scooped up the man I pegged in the knees. I growled to myself as
I went in search of the nearest door, shoving my way into the back parking lot.
But, just as I dropped to assess the damage done to Lyle, the tires of the car squealed away.
“Don’t let them go,” Lyle choked out.
I aimed my gun at the tires of the car and popped off two perfect shots. But, the fucking tires didn’t even deflate. And while that would’ve pissed most people off, it told me exactly who had come after me.
Lorenzo Fucking Lucchese.
Only that diva asshole would feel he was so important that he needed double-filled tires.
“Come on. We have to get you up,” I said.
Lyle groaned. “I think they pegged my--.”
I whistled at the top of my lungs. “We’ll let my doctor decide that. Dick!”
My car whizzed around the corner and came to a screeching halt. I heard the door unlock just as I reached for the handle to rip it open. I piled Lyle in the backseat before sliding in front, and as I buckled myself in a thought dawned on me.
That was much too risky of an attack.
“Where to?” Dick asked.
I pulled out my phone. “Back home. I’m getting in touch with Dr. Amenzo now. He’ll meet us there. Just go. Now.”
After shooting off a text to my doctor, I started to do a bit of research. I dug deep into some of my contacts whose pressure points I knew like the back of my hand. A little leaning on them, a few well-timed threats I was more than ready to make good on, and I had the answer staring at me in my email ten minutes later.
“A hit,” I murmured.
“Sir?” Dick asked.
I looked over at him. “Call me that one more time and you’re fired. Got it?”
He nodded. “Yes, Mr. Emiliano.”
“You concern yourself with getting us home. I’ll do the rest. And when you drop us off, you’re done for the day.”
“Of course.”
I looked back at Lyle and I saw his blood dripping over my leather seats. Fucking hell, he’d been pegged pretty badly. I drew in deep breaths to try and keep my anger abated as we raced up my driveway and came to a grinding halt just outside of my home.
Liar : An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance (Sold to The Don Book 2) Page 2