by Kylie Parker
The door opened, and a magnificent woman dressed in a shimmering gown glided in. Her smile was radiant, and she glowed, nodding to the rest of the group. She made her way to the head of the table and kissed the man there on both cheeks. “Don.” She said lovingly. Then she glided to the other end of the table, sat down, spread her arms wide and said, “Let’s eat.”
As she spoke invisible doors opened, and an army of wait staff carried out plates of food. Each dish looking richer and smelling more delicious than the previous. Lawrence piled food on Selena’s plate until she covered it with her hands, begging him to stop, stating that she could not possibly eat another bite.
“You will need your energy for when I get you alone.” He whispered to her.
She giggled and the man across from her, Antony looked over. “Seriously, brother. How did you find a nice piece of ass like that? And rumor has it she agreed to your kinky shit, even signed a contract. What is your trick?”
Lawrence shot him a death glare and the woman at the end of the table spoke up. “Antony we will not speak that way at the table. Have some respect for yourself and everyone else and apologize to this young lady.”
“Sorry.” He mumbled, and Selena smiled in reply. She felt really out of her element now. She had no idea where she was or who these people were and yet they all seemed to know her. It was a nerve-wracking feeling.
Lawrence held her hand, and it calmed her a little bit. Around her, small conversations were picking up about the food, the day’s events and a war. She looked at Lawrence for some explanation, and he whispered they would talk later.
The meal lasted hours and Selena felt like she was about to explode from all the food and wine people insisted she had to taste. After the meal the men left the table first and went into an adjoining sitting room where the oldest man, Don, lit a cigar. Many of the others followed suit and they sat close talking quietly.
“I am Lucia.” The soft voice of the woman who had entered so gracefully surprised her. Selena looked up and saw that she had held out her hand towards her.
Accepting it, Selena stood and followed her to another room where the women were milling about admiring each other’s dresses and talking amongst one another. They fell silent when she entered and once again she felt out of her element.
“What is she doing here? She is the one that caused all of the grief today.” A woman in a black dress with black eyes glared at her.
“Hush now Maria,” Lucia said. “That vehicle was hijacked before any of us, or them knew she was in there. None of this is her fault.”
Selena looked at her gratefully, and Lucia continued, this time speaking directly to her. “Now I may not agree with all of my son’s activities but with you signing a contract, that makes a lot of this easier. Makes it much easier to trust you. So welcome to the Santoro family. We have no idea how much you know but trust that it is all under contract, and you will say nothing.”
“Oh. I don’t know anything, and I will not say anything. Are you his mom? And don’t you mean Scriva family?” Selena was passed confused, and she didn’t like being left in the dark.
The rest of the women laughed, and Selena looked at the ground. This might be worse than being stuck with either group of men yesterday. The glares she was receiving from most of the women were making her very uncomfortable.
“Well dear, yes I am his mother. And the other question is a bit of a loaded one. I am afraid you will have to take that up with Lawrence.” She replied.
“Yeah if you can keep your clothes on long enough to talk to him.” Another woman spoke from a nearby armchair. “Most girls find out about a man’s family before sleeping with him.”
Looking around the room once more she turned red. All the women were staring at her like she should defend herself. Instead, she leaned closer to Lucia and asked quietly,
“Is there somewhere I can go to freshen up?”
“Yes dear, out the door, turn left, second door on your right,” Lucia answered and then muttered quietly as Selena left the room. “Behave. I brought you up to be better than that. And the rest of you, act like ladies.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Back in the room, Selena began to breathe more easily. She had been brought back to her room when Lucia told the women it was time for bed. It was a relief to finally be alone. She hadn’t seen Lawrence since he had disappeared after supper. After stripping out of her dress, she ran a hot bath and then entered the kitchen, looking for some wine to take with her. Stretching out the tension of the day, she turned the stereo on low and swayed to the music. Finding wine in the fridge, she poured herself a full glass and went back to the bathroom to soak in the tub,
When the water cooled, and her wine was empty, she got out of the tub, wrapped herself in a towel and paced. Things were getting muddled, confusing. She hoped Lawrence would be back soon because she needed to talk to him, really talk. As she paced, she got more and more wound up had more questions and wondered what she had gotten herself into or more importantly what had gotten into her. Still, without her phone, she could not contact anyone nor look up any information on the Santoro family which frustrated her because she knew there was something.
She knew now without a doubt that Lawrence had been keeping things from her, big secrets. Feeling angry, ruffled and without comfort, she found a pair of flannel pajamas and crawled inside. She also found that the artwork hanging by her bed was also a television. She was probably being watched, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t going to give anyone a show. Flinging herself down on the bed after finding and snatching up the remote, she flicked through channels to see if she was missing anything; she watched the news to see if there was any information about the day’s events.
As her eyes were beginning to droop, the door slammed open, and Lawrence staggered through obviously very drunk.
“Well look at you!” She exclaimed getting up to steady him as he pressed his face into her chest. Laughing she dragged him to the bathroom, trying to strip him.
Stumbling he pawed at her and growled that he loved her. Smothering her with sloppy kisses, he let her pull his clothes off and then tried to do the same to her.
“No way, buddy. You need a shower.” She guided him into the shower, and he turned it on before she stepped away. Her pajamas were soaked, and she screamed in surprise. Lawrence howled with laughter and pulled her to him mushing into her flannel pajamas, drenching them further.
She pulled back and stripped giving him a little show as she watched him admiring her shifting body. It frustrated and turned her on how he could change her mind so quickly. How she could be so stoic and insistent on talking to him one moment and then putty in his arms as soon as he touched her or looked at her. It was downright shameful. After everything that happened, one touch of his naked skin erased it all, and it was just them, holding each other as water streamed down around him.
Waking up with the help of the water and her attentive touch he kissed her hard and tried to scoop her into his arms when he stumbled, she grabbed him around the waist and turned off the shower. Leading him out she wrapped him in a towel and pushed him down on the bed. Then, still naked and dripping all over the room she brought him a glass of water, first gulping one down herself.
“Drink.” She insisted as he pawed at her breasts.
“Okay.” He replied setting the cup on the table beside him, he pulled her on top of him and began sucking on her breasts.
Giggling and not resisting she called out, “No, you crazy man… The water.”
He pushed her onto the bed beside him and drank the water, then turned to look at her.
“You’re soggy. Getting my bed all wet.” He shook his finger, scolding her.
“Payback.” She winked. “You are constantly getting me wet even when you are hammered, and we have other, more important things to talk about.”
Lawrence grinned and put his hand between her legs. Moist and eager she arched into him and let out a moan, surprised by his agil
e, precise touch. Before she could argue, he moved downwards, bringing his face to where his hand was. She spread her legs, giving him more access and bit her lip as he thrust his tongue into her. Slowly he moved upwards leaving room for his fingers to get in on the action. Guided by her moans, gasps and thrusting he licked sucked and fingered her, quicker and with more intensity until the wave overtook her and she was sent over the edge. Grasping and clinging to the bed she cried out in orgasmic pleasure, breathing heavy and head swimming with thoughts of what else he might do with her. Crawling back up to her face, he pressed his erection into her.
“I want to tie you up.” He slurred his words. “But right now, I just need to be inside you.”
He climbed on top of her without another word. Selena bit her lip, feeling herself warm up from the inside out. It always felt best when he was inside her, and she spread her legs, taking him in easily. Her juices wet and slippery as he slid in with a groan. He pushed her hands above her and held her, looking at her with extreme need while he thrust into her. She moaned at his urgency and matched his rhythm. Holding her arms tight, his rough face scratched across her face. Reaching up to him she kissed him hard, and he released her arms just enough for her to wrap them around her and pull him in. Rolling to their sides they locked on to each other, becoming a single writhing edifice, desperate to ride out the passion within them. Faster and harder without letting go they rocked into each other until Lawrence cried out and then, completely done he flopped to his back.
“Wow. I have never had drunk sex; that was that incredible.” He looked up at her in awe, a cross-eyed stupor clouding his usual demure look.
“You’re just full of surprises.” She said, leaning over to kiss him. “And just when you make me angry, or we need to talk you get me so turned on I can’t think straight.”
As she lectured him, she looked over and noticed Lawrence was snoring lightly fast asleep. Trying to be angry she saw a strand of hair fall over his eyes when he shifted with a snort. Smiling, she pushed it away and caressed his cheek. Shooting out an arm suddenly he pulled her around the waist, blanket and all into him, securely tucking her body into his.
“That’s because you’re mine, and you’ll stay mine. You fit me.” He muttered as if in a dream.
Selena’s heart raced as she settled into his arms. His warmth and his fierce protection lulled her to sleep. She dreamed they were in a faraway castle where they lived in luxury, the warm climate allowing them to be perpetually naked, feeding each other fruit and pleasuring each other everywhere. They had servants who were also naked, and Selena felt a familiar tingle building. Something outside her forced her to open her eyes, and she woke up feeling Lawrence’s hands on her body.
“No way mister. You fell asleep on me last night.” She said, scolding while wiggling into his touch.
“Don’t you mean Maestro?” He said with a growl and nipped at her neck.
“According to your mother you are a Santoro.” She said with a cocked eyebrow. At the mention of his mom, Lawrence pulled away slightly.
“Oh yeah, what else did she tell you.” He asked.
“Nothing. She just watched the other women make fun of me.” Selena pouted a bit, nervous to hear whatever might come out of Lawrence’s mouth next, so she kept talking. “She is your mother then? This is your family?”
“Come on, my girl; you are smarter than that.” He grinned, shrugged and looked playfully shocked.
Thinking for a minute, Selena shook her head. “Lawrence Santoro then…You don’t want your family associated with Scriva Industries…There is no background on you before Scriva…So that means…Santoro Family Mob!” Finally putting the pieces together, Selena’s jaw dropped.
“Now don’t let anyone around here hear you put those three words together,” Lawrence laughed and rolled onto his back. Leaning up on one elbow he touched the tip of her nose as she looked at him in shock. “Now listen carefully. The Santoro family are just trying to make our way in our business. Scriva Industries helps that. I used to be Louis Santoro. Now I am Lawrence Scriva. No one will ever connect those two men, and you are the only one I have ever spoken those words to. The family knows but I do not come around much. If you hadn’t gotten yourself kidnapped, I would have stayed away from this mess as well.”
Her eyes wide Selena looked at him, taking in everything he just said. Most of it made sense, but it also made her head spin. She leaned her head on his chest, hearing his breathing slow from his long rant. He felt more relaxed now she knew the whole truth or most of it. There were some things she would never know.
“Who are the men that took the car that took me?” Selena asked, wanting to fit all the pieces of the puzzles together, hoping to see what it all meant.
“Criminals,” Lawrence said simply, with satisfaction. “And they were made to pay.”
Selena went quiet once more and when she spoke she changed the subject completely. “And this is all covered in the contract right, so I don’t ever have to speak of it. Right?”
“Not only do you not speak of it; you do not have to think about it. It doesn’t exist. That is your acknowledgment of the matter, and you have no say, no comment. Nothing. What you don’t know can’t hurt you but if you do know…trouble.” Lawrence said pushing her hand away as she traced circles on his skin.
This is all so new, Selena thought, and she wondered if anyone else had known since it seemed common knowledge among everyone else here.
“I am so confused.” Was all she said.
“Shh. We will go home tomorrow and forget this whole mess ever happened.” Lawrence kissed her and held her tight.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Walking into her apartment, alone and exhausted, Selena felt like a different person. It seemed as though she had been gone for years and no longer fit in. The emptiness seemed eerie to her, and she hoped Beth would be home from work soon.
In the shower, stretching her sore muscles, Selena was beginning to wake up. It had been a long day. Before coming home, she had to replace her lost (stolen?) phone and get the new one all set up. She had tried to touch base at work, and they all seemed to think she was taking a long weekend. No one questioned when she was not there; no one noticed she was missing. Nothing awry.
It felt odd. Considering what she had been through the past few days. Life had gone on, and no one knew. She slumped into position on the couch and flicked on the television. Then she got in touch with family and friends explaining she lost her phone and now was back in touch. Not one person was worried or wondered where she had been. Staring incredulously at her phone she laughed and realized how easy saying nothing would be.
At that very minute, Beth swooped into the apartment, kicking off her shoes and dropping her bags in a whirlwind of activity.
“Hey gorgeous, I thought you would still be with your man.” She winked. “It was a nice surprise getting a text from your ‘gorgeous boyfriend’ though. Did you get your phone issue sorted?”
“Yes. I got a new phone.” Selena said, pointing to it and pasting a smile on her face.
“Yeah, I was surprised to get a message from Lawrence but thought that it was so cute he let you use his phone, and then you are calling him your gorgeous boyfriend! Oh MY God! How did I not know you were official?” Beth kept going, not waiting for Selena to reply. “What am I going to wear tonight? I tried to leave early to buy something new but got caught up. We are having supper here, but it will be catered. How does that even work?”
This time, Selena laughed. “Slow down. It is just food. Wear something comfy. Is Ted coming?”
“Yeah, he’ll be here. I said he could spend the night, though, knew that would lure him into being on his best behavior. We don’t want to scare Lawrence off.” Getting excited, Beth pulled a chair up next to the couch, grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “I cannot believe I haven’t seen you since the party the other night. The pictures of you are AH-Mazing! You are drop-dead gorgeous and fit right in with Lawrence
and all those people. It’s crazy. You must feel like crap being stuck in this dump, after all, that.”
“Actually, it is cozy to be at home. Besides ‘those people’ are human. No different than the rest of us…And, more importantly, show me the pictures, I haven’t seen them yet.” Selena said.
“Give me a break Selena. You are acting like it is no big deal when your boyfriend is the richest man in the country.” Beth said, wagging her finger back and forth. “I can’t even imagine what his place looks like. It must be so luxurious. Tell me about it.” She was looking at Selena for answers.
“Well. Yeah, it is nice. It was hard to picture it without imagining being strapped down. “The bed is so soft you never want to leave.”
“You slut!” Beth joked.
Selena moved to get up. “Speaking of sluts, let’s go get sexy for our men. Why don’t you wear that black dress we bought last time we were together?”
“Oh, I don’t know. That is a club dress. Really short and really low cut in the back…Only if you wear the see-through dress.” Beth teased.
“No way.” Selena started, and then thought about Lawrence’s reaction. She had the perfect lace lingerie to go under it, and the sheer dress was completely transparent in places.
“Come on. Miss sex in the kitchen for all to see.” Beth said. “Let’s show your billionaire boyfriend, your assets.”
Selena blushed at the first comment and then laughed out loud, and relented. “Okay, but you might be getting carried away.”
“You started it.” Beth laughed, as they dashed off to get dressed.
“Eep, the caterer, will be here in 30 minutes,” Selena said, looking at the notification beeping on her phone.
The two girls rushed to get ready and Selena relished the comradery of being able to be sexually excited and enjoy arousing their partners. It was fun, and the anticipation was worth it. Both Ted and Lawrence’s mouths dropped when they entered, ironically enough at the same time. Beth and Selena played off each other, teasing their men as they helped the caterers arrange the meal. The food was sensuous and rich and filled with eager innuendos. Lawrence did a better job than Ted at keeping the conversation flowing while remaining flirty and attentive to Selena. She admired his charm once again but mostly wanted to get him alone. She craved him and fortunately very quickly after they had settled into the living room for some after dinner wine, Ted and Beth snuck off to her room, not being able to resist touching each other.