His tongue explores, making its way to the juncture between my thighs. His skills with his mouth have fast become one of the many things I thoroughly enjoy about his lovemaking skills. Thaddaeus gets a few licks in when delicate white snowflakes begin to flutter down from the sky. It’s chilly, but at the same time warm. The night’s quiet but the music vibrates loudly from the car. The sky’s black, with a million stars and white snowflakes thrown in.
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and it’s special because it’s with him. The night’s serene and being in his arms only makes me fall helplessly for him, offering up anything he wishes to take.
It seems like merely a flash before he has my body humming from my first orgasm. Without hesitation, he’s climbing over my frame. Pushing his jeans down his thighs, he exposes himself to the cool evening air. It does nothing to deter his hardness. He’s long and demands attention just like the rest of him. I only catch a brief glance before his lips are on mine again, my taste coating his tongue.
Thaddaeus’ drive is powerful, as the radio screams about ‘making me a believer.’ He enters me on one hard swoop, forcing me to moan into his mouth. I didn’t see him put on a condom, and we need to wear one. I’m out of birth control at the moment. I’d run out yesterday and my doctor couldn’t squeeze me in for another week. I never imagined I’d need it though or I’d have refilled it sooner. I don’t go out randomly having sex with gorgeous men. Thaddaeus was very unexpected and the only time we had sex, I was taking the tablets each morning like clockwork.
“Wait,” I whisper, not wanting him to really stop. I turn my head to the side so I can speak. He lets me, passionately kissing down my neck and sending little goose bumps all over my body as the frosty air follows in his wake. “We-we need a condom, Thaddaeus.” It comes out in a blissful groan as he drills into me again, full of hunger.
“No,” he objects, rasping against my throat, trailing his lips over my chest until he reaches my breast where he nibbles, while pivoting his hips deliciously. The movements make me delirious with desire for him.
“Yes. We have to; my birth control ran out. We have to stop.” My protest is there even though it’s weak. I know I can’t afford to get pregnant. Especially by a man who I’ve not known for long, no matter how attracted to him I am or how much my feelings grow with each day that passes us.
“I said no, Bella Grace. You’re mine, sweetheart.”
“Thaddaeus, I can’t. I can’t afford to be pregnant.” Not cost wise, but in general, my heart would never make it if I ended up having to do it all alone. Some people are strong enough to handle being a single parent; I’m not one of them. I have to think rationally, no matter how strongly the passion chases the thoughts away.
“Shh,” he mutters against my skin, rotating his hips until I begin to see sparks.
“God,” I call out again as my orgasm starts to tumble through me, blurring any previous worries I’d had.
“Yes, baby, feel me,” he orders, seating himself inside me fully, bringing his mouth to my jaw. He peppers tiny kisses along it and it’s just the small dose of sweetness I need to send my body spiraling into pure madness.
The amazing feelings erase the prior warnings of caution I had and I grab his ass, wrapping my legs around his hips and pull him into me deeply, riding the tide of pleasure. My sighs of satisfaction and excitement tip him over, and he follows my moments of bliss with his own.
Luckily, he’s smart enough to pull himself out of me right as he comes to empty himself on top of my stomach. Watching his ember irises flash with each stroke of his hand as he expels every last drop onto my skin has to be one of the most erotically satisfying things I’ve witnessed from a man—from him. He doesn’t hide himself from me in these moments, showcasing each emotion cascading through him as he stares intently into my eyes. They say that they’re the windows to your soul; if that’s true, I saw myself rooted in his.
“That was for you. Next time, I won’t stop,” he declares and I clench wantonly. I know it was for me. His blistering gaze told me so.
Fuck. I want it too—him filling me, giving me everything. Some day.
He finds a package of tissues in the car to clean me up with and helps me get dressed again. The only thing I don’t understand is that he’s kept the radio blaring this music that he doesn’t normally listen to. I’m not complaining; it’s all just a bit odd.
“Now what?” Her eyes twinkle, sated from the lovemaking.
“Now,” I reply, smiling, digging out the gas can from the behind the driver’s seat and some long fireplace matches. “We torch it.”
She sputters. “Excuse me?”
The laugh in my chest bursts free. “Yep, you heard me Bella.” She makes me feel lighter, happier than I have in many years.
I start pouring the gasoline all over the car, including the inside. The liquid coats the surfaces, sinking into the creases of the smooth leather seats. Thankfully, she never tried to turn the radio down or she could’ve heard Franco. I caught the idiot climbing into his car in the parking garage after his meeting. He should’ve learned that to be a player in this game, you never go anywhere alone. I learned that long ago—the hard way. Now he can too.
Dillion and I tried getting information out of him but he wasn’t too cooperative so we stuffed him in his own trunk and I got to go for a joyride. I needed to see Grace, so I just knocked out two birds with one stone. Never mind that she has no idea of what we’re really doing here—disposing a body.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s so lovely. It must’ve cost a fortune.”
I shrug “I don’t know, but you’re probably right.”
“Wait, you didn’t buy it?”
My eyes meet hers and I shake my head. I won’t lie to her. Ever.
Her eyes grow a little fearful, but I see the underlying bit of excitement as well. The thrill of doing something out of the norm spikes her adrenaline and if I hadn’t just poured gas all over everything, I’d fuck her again.
“Is it even yours?”
“No, Grace, it’s not. It belonged to a corrupt man, so I’m getting rid of it.” Tossing the empty gas can inside. I push her backward a few steps so she’s safely out of the way.
She chews on her bottom lip, watching me light matches and toss them inside. Once I’m finished and stride back over to her, she pulls me in tight. Tearful, she gazes up at me, drawing my face to hers so she can whisper sadly, “But you’ll go to jail and I’ll miss you. I’ve barely found you.”
“Baby.” I draw her into my chest. “I won’t go anywhere. I promise you.” Her words are endearing, she’s come to mean so much to me as well. Maybe she’ll be open to moving in with me now that some time has passed and we’ve gotten to know each other some more.
“You can’t promise someone that.”
“I can. I don’t do time. Ever.”
“The google articles; they were true then. You did those things and got away with it.”
I tip her chin up so she can see that I’m serious. Licking my bottom lip, nervous that for once I don’t feel so proud of the shit I’ve done, I confirm. “Yes. Most of them are true.”
I can hear Franco making noise, so I pull her farther away while holding her head to my chest so she can’t hear him. I think she’s too upset to pay attention now anyhow. I’m merely offering her comfort in her eyes. Pity, I’m covering up a crime so she doesn’t have nightmares later from the burning body left inside.
She’s read the articles about me, she knows who I am. She just refused to believe it. I’m not a good man and when it comes to her, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe. It’s not all about me and money anymore; she’s much too precious.
“I don’t want you frightened of me.” I haven’t really come out in the past and said those words; if anything, I wanted the opposite. I wanted her scared, but now I can’t imagine the pain I’d feel if she looked at me with true fear in h
er eyes.
“I’m not, really. You don’t seem that way to me, I guess that’s why I blew the warnings off. The only thing I’m scared of now, is them catching you and me not being able to see you anymore.”
“It’s amazing how life can change so quickly, no?” I press a soft kiss to the top of her head and signal for Dillion. I can see the sedan parked a short way down the road we came from. He followed us and has been patiently waiting for me to dispose of the car. He likes doing it himself when we get a chance to destroy evidence, but I wanted to take Grace for a ride so he backed off.
The Mercedes lights come to life and he makes his way over.
“Who’s that? Oh God, I hope it’s not a cop.” She clutches me tighter and I chuckle.
“It’s Dillion. He’s giving us a ride home.”
“Did he … you know?” She trails off and I smirk.
“Probably had a good show while he was waiting.”
“Ohmygawd.” It comes out as one word and I laugh at her again.
“No need to be embarrassed, he didn’t mind, I’m sure of it.”
He stops in front of us and I open the door. Grace ducks in, not looking at him and I want to laugh even more. The feelings that this woman give me are like no other.
“Home?” D asks.
“Yes, thanks.”
“Wait, we’re going to your house or mine?” Grace asks, resting her cheek against my chest.
“Mine, cuore mio.”
Blood makes you related.Loyalty makes you familia.
Out of all the times we’ve been fortunate to spend time together, he’s never brought me to his place. I think I’d be more excited about it if we hadn’t just lit a car on fire. Is this the sort of thing I should start to expect from him? Sure, we’re in the ‘new’ faze with each other, but we should start moving into different territory now where we find out a bit more about the other.
That thought has me curious and a bit nervous about what will be exposed. Thaddaeus’ life is no doubt very different than mine. I’m just hoping that we can find a middle ground and compromise when needed. I could tell he enjoyed lighting the car on fire; hopefully, he doesn’t do too much more of it in the future though. I feel as if he’s barely come into my life, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that for us.
We ride along for a while and pull up to an estate. I knew he had money, but this is more than what I was expecting.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Not exactly. Dillion, Cage, and Maximillian live here as well, along with a few household staff.”
I don’t know how this subject was never brought up prior to this moment, but I’m kicking myself. “They’re all here, now?” My voice is shriller than usual, but Maximillian freaks me out and the guys are so intimidating when they’re all together. It’s like a group of bears just waiting to be poked.
“D, is everyone home?” Thaddaeus directs toward the front.
“I think they will be. They were a tad curious with you bringing Grace home for the first time.”
Fuck my life. We should’ve just gone back to my place. But how did they know I’d be here for the first time? Did he plan this already? He must have, and knowing that he’s spoken about it to his friends is a bit thrilling. I wonder what they said about it. I’m hoping they don’t mind me being in their space, since they’re all supposed to be home.
Ah, to be a fly on the wall during the conversation they had about me; would’ve been surreal no doubt.
I send out a quick text to Kaleigh just in case she was going to stop by my apartment in the morning. She does that sometimes to see if I want to go to yoga with her or eat donuts.
Me: I’m staying at Thaddaeus’ house tonight, so I won’t be at my place if you stop by tomorrow.
Kaleigh: OMG he invited you over? Are you freaking out?
A chuckle comes from over my shoulder as he reads our conversation. I shoot him a small smile then type out my reply.
Me: Nope, just happy. I’ll call you Monday when I have a break at work.
Kaleigh: Okay, but if you don’t, I’m calling the police on your behalf.
My eyes automatically roll at her being overly dramatic. Although, after what I’ve realized tonight, maybe her fears aren’t so farfetched. I don’t believe anything bad would happen to me, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear of others disappearing.
Why doesn’t that bother me as badly as it should? Maybe because he keeps me away from it and keeps me safe? Who knows; I’m just glad he cares for me deep enough to share himself. While he may be ruthless where some are concerned, he’s changed my life and for the good.
Me: I’ll be having multiple orgasms, so don’t worry lol. xoxo
Kaleigh: Only you would fall for a gangster and get the decent side of him.
He snorts behind me. “She’s right, you know.”
I shrug. “As long as I get the good side; that’s all I care about.”
“Jesus Bella, how did I get so lucky with you?” His gaze softens and he presses his lips to my temple. My eyes close with his tender show of affection. I’m the fortunate one.
Kaleigh: Make him wrap it up or put a ring on that left finger. Remember the one year rule. XO
I shake my head and silently hope the gorgeous man next to me didn’t see that last part. She’s dishing out the same line I give her when she’s out on a date.
“Wrap it up, huh?” He sounds amused.
Shit. He did read it.
“Or put a ring on it? What does that mean exactly?”
“We have this thing about dating a guy. When she meets someone new, I always tell her to make sure he wraps his dick up and that he has a year to put a ring on her left hand. If the ring doesn’t come by month number twelve, then it’s time to go.”
“That’s not rushing? What if he’s the one, but needs a little longer than a year?”
Shrugging, I smile brightly. “Don’t worry; you’re only on month number one, eleven more to go before you get kicked to the side.” Winking, I stare up at him amused.
His head tips back as he laughs outright at me and drawing a surprised look from Dillion. I’m guessing they don’t hear him laugh like that? He smiles and laughs for me though…
“I’m not worried, baby; if anything, I’d expect you to be the stubborn one,” he says after he stops chuckling.
“If it’s right, then why waste time?” I can’t believe I answer him so honestly, but that’s how I feel with him—free and happy—like anything’s possible.
“My thoughts exactly, cara. You surprise me every day.”
“I hope that’s good?”
“You have no idea.”
The car stops in front of the massive home and we all get out. The large gray stone steps leading to the entryway make it appear even grander—there are only six, but it’s enough to do the job. I wish it were daytime so I could see everything better. There’s up lighting along the house and throughout the grounds, but I know it has to be far more striking in the daylight.
“This place is amazing,” I mutter, following them through the massive-sized front door. It looks like it belongs to a castle, all richly-stained wood with black decorative iron.
“Not nearly as stunning as you, my Bella.” Thaddaeus grabs my hand as we come to an impressive foyer.
The floors are made of white marble, confirming the notion that Thaddaeus is indeed wealthier than I’d originally imagined. No wonder he needs house staff; these floors would be hell to keep clean. The chandelier lighting up the area is magnificent with probably close to a thousand crystal shards reflecting the beams in every direction.
Dillion sends me a wink and takes off to the right down an expansive hallway. The walls are decorated with a few pieces of exquisitely painted art. It reminds me of something you’d see at an art gala or somewhere similar.
“Dillion’s not being rude. He just likes to eat at night. He has a habit of eating healthy al
l day then like five bowls of cereal before bed.”
A giggle escapes. I love knowing these menacing men can be somewhat normal at times. Dillion is by far the nicest one to me that I’ve met. “When we first saw each other, there was another guy with you. He’s not here? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him since that day.”
“You were observant as well, I see,” he remarks. “You’re right. He does a lot of traveling though, so he’s not home much. You caught us on a rare day when we were all out together.”
“Does he know about me too?”
“Of course, Grace. Everyone knows about you, Tyson included.”
His words fill me with sweet warmth. He’s told everyone about me. It’s no doubt one of the nicest things he could’ve said, knowing that I mean enough to him that he’d want to talk about me. I don’t feel so foolish now defending him to Keisha and Kaleigh. He does have a heart, a big one. He just keeps it well hidden from others. How I got fortunate enough for him to open it to me is baffling, but I’ll be sure to cherish it.
There’s laughing coming from the corridor to the left. Thaddaeus flashes a grin at me and then I’m faced with Maximillian’s striking gaze, along with Cage.
Max’s smirk’s contagious as he approaches us. “I see Joker was able to successfully capture you.” He winks and smiles wide. It’s a little freaky considering he’s normally quite cold toward me.
Fluttering my lashes at him, I glance to the floor and nod—not sure how to approach him. He normally doesn’t speak to me whenever he’s around.
His large hand grasps mine as he tsks. My gaze meets his again, “Grace, you’re looking exceptionally beautiful tonight.” My eyes widen when his compliment registers. This is literally the worst he’s seen me. I’m in lounge clothes, my hair’s a mess and I’m makeup free. This man confuses me each time he speaks, I swear it.
Thaddaeus clears his throat beside me and Cage steps forward breaking the spell Max briefly has over me. “Grace, good to see you again.”
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