"Among other things," I ranted and walked toward the bar. The club was filling up fast, which was good. I hoped to get lost somewhere on the dance floor after toking up on a few shots. If I was going to pretend to have a good time while my heart ached over Erik, the least I could do was get drunk enough to pull it off.
"Hi, pretty girl. What can I get for you tonight?" The bartender wasn't one I'd seen before.
"I'll take two shots of whiskey and a Bud Light." I tapped the bar and smiled at him as he winked and walked off.
"You starting without me?" Jenna was a little winded as she sat down on the barstool next to me.
"I feel out of place." I glanced around.
"Why? You look incredible, and tonight is about us, right?"
"I guess." I turned back and handed the bartender my card. "You can start a tab for the two of us."
"No, it's on the house." He pulled up his phone and showed us the text from Nate that he'd pick up our drinks.
"Such a good guy." Jenna laughed and turned, blowing a kiss up toward him.
I wanted what they had. If Jenna could pull off dating a bad boy and having her father be the DA of New York, why couldn't I? My Mom and Dad barely interacted with Thomas and me anymore. It's not like they were my hang-up. What was?
Right. Erik not wanting anything more than what we had, which was nothing.
"Hey. You're getting in your head. Take the two shots and let's go dance. No worrying or being sad tonight about anything. Got it?" Jenna picked up her beer and leaned it toward me. "It's girl's night."
I downed the first shot, letting it burn down my chest and deep into my belly. "Okay." I picked up my beer, hit it against hers and took the other shot. "I'm going to be drunk before too long."
"Good. I'm not going to get sloppy, so you just let your hair down and have fun. I'll be here to take you home when it's over."
"Don't let me go home with anyone but you or Erik, okay?" I turned and grabbed her wrist, heading for the dance floor.
"Is Erik coming?" She moved up beside me, tucking herself against my arm.
"I don't know. I doubt it. I didn't say anything to him, but it's not like I could if I wanted to. He has an unlisted number." I hiccupped and turned, pulling her toward me and wrapping an arm around her shoulder as I danced seductively.
"Feels like college again." She gripped my hip and smiled. "Well, when you were in college with me."
"I don't miss it a bit." I took another sip of my beer. "Where is Nate?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "No clue. I gotta pee."
"Leave me here. I'll be fine." I turned and danced into the middle of the floor as the liquor worked its magic. All tension and worry dissipated inside of me and nothing mattered but the deep pumping of the base. It left me needy and horny. I wished Erik were there.
"Hey there." A deep voice resounded behind me, and strong hands slid over my hips. "You good for a dance?"
I spun around to find one of Thomas's old frat brothers in front of me. He'd graduated a few years back but still looked like he was in his early twenties.
"Jerry Black. How are you?" I laughed and lifted up to hug him. He wrapped his strong arms around me and leaned down, kissing my cheek.
"Much better now. I was back in town for the weekend and thought-"
A scream left me as he was jerked back and chucked half-way off the club floor. Erik.
"What do you think you're doing?" Erik whipped around and grabbed my wrist. "Done with me so soon, Kitten?"
"What? No."
Erik released me and turned, popping Jerry in the face as he stood up. Erik had four or five solid punches on my old friend before some of the bouncers pulled Jerry out and tossed him into the street.
Tears burned my eyes, and I turned to walk to the bathroom as bile rose in my throat.
"Not so fast." Erik grabbed my hand and pulled me backward. I lost my footing and crashed into him.
"What's the matter with you? He's an old friend."
He glanced down the length of my body. "What's the matter with me? You're dressed like you're looking for a man, Grace. Is that what you're up to tonight?"
"No." I pulled from his grasp only to have him wrap his arms around me and pin me against him. The anger and hate in his handsome face scared me. "Let me go."
"Not yet." He leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine. "And until I do, you mess with another guy, expect him not to wake up the next morning. I don't play with what I consider to be mine, Kitten. You should know this already."
"Where's the guy from the park?" I pushed against his chest. "I want him back."
"Go find him." He released me and turned, walking casually to the bar.
Go find him? What the fuck did that mean? I spun on my heel and walked to the bathroom as tears blurred my vision. I made it to a stall and dropped down fully clothed onto the toilet as the room spun. Why the hell had I listened to Jenna about getting blitzed and dressing up for a girl's night out?
Nothing ever worked out that way for me.
It took me a few minutes, but I finally gathered my wits enough to get up and walk back out into the bar. Erik stood with Jenna by the bar, his eyes locked onto me. He looked like a dark prince. My prince.
A handsome older guy with a great smile stood beside them, talking as I approached.
"Grace. Have you met Fredrick Carrington? He owns this place." Erik reached out and took my hand, pulling me to his side.
Jenna gave me a concerned glare but turned her attention back to Fredrick. "Are you married? I swear I’ve never seen you with a woman."
He chuckled. "No. Commitment isn't something my life allows too well."
"I would guess not." I glanced around and tried to still my racing heart. Having Erik so close to me was almost too much. Combined with the alcohol and the anger pumping through my system, I was ready to pounce on him.
"It's one of a kind." Fredrick nodded. "Enjoy your evening and let me know if you need anything. I'm happy to take care of it personally."
I watched him walk off as my stomach cramped. "I don't feel so good."
"Too much to drink?" Jenna reached out and touched the side of my face.
"Let's get you home." Erik tightened his grip on my hand and half-pulled me through the club, leaving Jenna standing at the bar.
I waved at her over my shoulder and gave her the best apologetic look I could. By the time we walked into the street, I was hot.
"Erik." I jerked my hand from him. "What the fuck are you doing? I came with Jenna tonight. It was supposed to be a g-"
He pulled me flush against him and leaned down, pressing his soft lips to mine and opening me up as he tongue fucked me on the street beside the club.
I moaned and reached up to run my fingers through the back of his hair. He tasted like cinnamon and sugar and felt like heaven. My body woke up, almost purring for his attention.
"Don't talk to me like that again. I'm in charge, Kitten. Not you." He nipped at my lips, and I nodded, completely breathless. "Let's get you home."
"Take me home with you." I wrapped myself around his side as we walked out into the parking lot and got into a black Porsche.
"No. I can't." He started the car and reached over, running his hand up my thigh and squeezing softly. "This shit between us has to stop."
"I'm scared." I wrapped my arms around myself. "Something is happening with my brother and this fucking cop you know won't leave me alone, and-"
"Cole's bothering you?" His voice dropped low.
"Just that once, but it's more than I'm used to." I reached up and touched my lips. "I'm going to be sick."
"Not in the car, baby." He jerked over to the side of the road, reached over me and pushed the door open as I stumbled out and knelt down to throw up. He was beside me before the first wave of sickness splashed over me.
I started to cry in the middle of it. I'd always hated throwing up. Something about it seemed so insanely violent, like I was going to hack up an internal o
rgan or something.
"Shh... it's okay. I'm right here." His voice was soft, loving.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled and stood on shaky legs.
He reached for me before my knees gave out, and I leaned against him. "Lightweight."
"Cheap date." I gave him a weary smile and snuggled against him as he picked me up and carried me back to the car.
"Lay back and relax. I'll take you to my place for the night, but tomorrow morning you have to leave, Grace. This thing between us has gone too far."
"Okay," I whispered and swallowed a thousand regrets. I needed to have him just take me back to my place. I didn't need another night with him to remember when he finally followed through with his threats.
I turned to face him and watched him until the world faded around me and darkness crept in to take me under. I could have sworn I heard him say that he was falling in love with me before I passed out, but maybe it was part of the fantasy I lived in my head.
Shit like that only happened in books.
Chapter 19
Erik
"Come here, Kitten. Wrap your arms around me, okay?" I reached down and got her out of the car, ignoring how fucking good she looked in her tight silky top and short skirt. What the hell had she been thinking going out to the club like that?
There was no way in hell a million men weren't going to hit on her, and it wasn't the one that offered her a drink that bothered me so much. It was the bastard waiting in the dark to snatch her up and use her sweet body all night for his pleasure.
I ignored the fact that I was very much that bastard in most aspects.
"Almost there." I turned and bent my knees to type the code into the panel on the front door before pushing the door open and walking into my place.
Grace felt good in my arms, right. She curled up and snuggled against me, making a soft sound of satisfaction.
I walked to the back bedroom and laid her down, taking off her boots and socks and tucking her into my sheets. It took everything inside of me to walk to the door and not strip her down and wake her up. I wanted to make love. To feel what the fuck it felt like. Just once in my life. Was it different from fucking?
It had to be. It was in the books.
I walked out into the living room and ran my hands through my hair as my insides ached. My father was right about her. She was a good woman. The best.
After making myself a quick sandwich, I dropped down on my couch and leaned back, letting the conversation with Cole and Nate run through my head. The bastard was only watching out for me. Both of them were. Fuck, all of them were.
"What choice did I have?" Cole leaned toward me menacingly.
"You better back up, mother fucker." I took the last step between us, pressing my chest to his and growling.
"Hey, guys. Fuck. Come on." Nate pulled us apart. "Cole wanted in and now he's in. You know as well as I do that being part of this shit doesn't mean he listens to you or me. He belongs to your old man like the rest of us do."
"Why would my father have you watching me like I'm a goddamn fifteen-year-old kid?" I barked and put my finger in Cole's chest.
"Because you're acting like one." He swatted my hand away and narrowed his eyes. "Grow the fuck up. Women come and they go. This one is no different unless you make it this way."
"This is none of your goddamn business, cop."
"Erik." Nate moved in front of me. "You're not a hired hand, dude. You're not a disposable asset that can be replaced. You're the next Don after your father. The old man protects his shit like no one I've ever seen. Why the hell wouldn't he protect you?"
He had a point, and yet being a grown man and having another man trail me left me on edge.
"Stay outta my shit." I pointed to Cole and turned to walk back toward the club. Grace was inside, and even if it was my last night with her, I was getting in her panties one more time.
"Grow up and I will."
Bastard. He was lucky he had my father's protection. I reached for my gun and laid it on the couch beside me. The sound of Grace crying out had me on my feet. I jogged to the bedroom to find her on her back, her beautiful face contorted.
"Hey. It's just a dream." I dropped down beside her and wrapped my arms around her.
She blinked a few times, lost in a haze from what I could tell. Her bottom lip poked out, and my heart broke in half. I was in love with her.
"It was horrible," she cried.
"What was, baby?" I pressed my chest to hers and kissed the side of her neck, taking in the sweet smell of her perfume as my body hardened.
"We were finally married, but you didn't want me anymore." A sob lifted out of her, and I hated myself. "You didn't love me anymore."
I squeezed her tightly and kissed her ear. "It's just a dream. Let it go."
"Don't leave me. Please." She gripped the back of my t-shirt and continued to cry against my neck.
After she calmed down a little, I shifted and laid down in the bed with her. She curled up against my chest as we laid on our sides and fell back to sleep.
I laid there for hours, running my fingers through her hair, memorizing the sweet curve of her hip, the long line of her thigh, the way she whimpered when she slept.
Fuck me for wanting a normal life. The only way to get it was to kill my father, which wasn't happening. I loved the old man and still respected him. He was all I had left of my mom and Delaney. Grace would find another man. One worthy of her time, her attention, her body.
****
I woke in a cold sweat, Grace having turned from me sometime during the night and curled up. I was pressed to her back; my erection tucked between the soft curve of her ass. She'd taken off her clothes sometime during the night… or I had.
"Shit," I mumbled and reached down to run my hand down her side until I found the soft junction between her thighs. "You awake, Kitten?"
She mumbled and rolled her hips, waking me up farther. "Erik?"
"Yeah, baby." I reached down and gripped my cock, lifting a little to press into her silky opening. My body lit on fire as I worked myself deep inside of her. The flood of lubrication that dripped down my shaft and covered the bed below us had me panting with need.
"Make love to me," she whispered and lifted her top leg as she groaned with each slow thrust.
"I don't know how." I reached up and brushed her hair out of the way before leaning over and kissing the back of her neck as I rocked in and out of her tightness. I kept my hand between her legs, rubbing her swollen clit in rhythm with my thrusts.
"I'm gonna come." She arched her back and cried out, but I kept my speed steady, my fingers pressed tightly to her as she rode out her release.
"I can feel you contracting, your body milking mine, Grace. Such a bad girl." I licked up the long line of her neck and tugged on her clit carefully. "Come again for me."
"I want to."
Rolling her onto her stomach, I crawled on top of her and sat up, straddling the back of her thighs as I ran my dick down her ass and pressed back into her heat. She groaned loudly, and I collapsed against her, wanting to feel her skin pressed tightly to mine.
I wedged my fingers between her and the bed, locking onto her hips and using my grasp to pull myself in deeper. She lifted her ass a little, and I bumped against her, fully tucked in her tightness.
"Fuck, baby." I ran one hand up her side and reached up to move her hair again before pressing my teeth into the top of her shoulder as I fucked her with long, hard strokes. The feeling of her soft ass bouncing against my stomach caused my nuts to tighten. I needed to get a rubber, but I wasn't fucking moving an inch away from her.
"I love the way you fuck me." She tensed and came again, pulling and tugging at my dick so hard that I had no choice but to fly over the edge with her.
I moaned against the back of her neck and wrapped her in a tight hug from behind, my hands touching every place I could until my high wound down.
"God, you're perfect." I kissed her again and rolled onto my back, pa
nting loudly. "I gotta head down to the city soon. I have a hit this morning."
"A hit?" She rolled onto her side and pushed her hair back. I'd never seen anything so fucking beautiful before.
"I murder people for a living, remember?" I reached out and brushed my thumb by her lips as she shivered.
"Don't talk about it so casually. Please?" She reached out and ran her hand over my chest before stroking my cock. "I like to think you're a bad boy with a mystery job."
I chuckled and gripped her hand. "I'm a killer. You know this."
She nodded and moved to get up. "Did I throw up last night?"
"You sure did, Kitten." I stretched my arms above my head and watched her walk to the bathroom, her ass beyond enticing. "You ever been fucked in the ass, Grace?"
"What?" She turned and gave me an odd look. "I was a virgin before we met."
"Yeah, that doesn't mean much." I sat up and laughed as she flipped me off and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door.
How the hell was I ever going to give her up?
I waited until the sound of the shower filled the room to sneak into the bathroom and join her.
"Hi." She turned and smiled. "Don't you look like heaven."
"Do I?" I reached for the soap, running my hands over it as she wrapped me in a hug and pulled me down for a long kiss. I'd never been intimate with a woman beyond a quick fuck in the bed or a car. This almost felt a little too much like love.
I was supposed to be walking away, and yet I was dreaming of houses and kids together, letting her sleep in my bed and holding her hair while she vomited. Something had to give, but for the first time in my long life, I wasn't able to force myself to do anything.
Maybe Cole was a Godsend. Maybe he would scare her away from me.
She grabbed the soap from me and moved to her knees as I reached up and adjusted the head of the shower, forcing it to pour hot water down my chest.
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