by Lisa Cardiff
Dropping my hands to her waist, I claimed her mouth. Her breath caught, and her back arched. I loved the way she melted into me every damn time I touched her. It was exhilarating. Intoxicating. Addictive.
A yelp tumbled from her mouth when I lifted her up in the air, cradling her in my arms. Her fingers clawed at my shoulders, clinging to me as I set her on the top of the dresser.
I unknotted my tie and yanked on one end, the sound cutting through the air like a knife. The silky material dangled from my calloused fingertips.
“Do you trust me?”
She stared at me, her eyes simmering with lust and a hundred unspoken emotions. Uneven breaths puffed from her mouth, and my attention dropped to her breasts, searching and finding her pebbled nipples beneath her flimsy nightie.
Fucking beautiful.
“Yes.”
I wrapped the tie around her eyes, knotting it at the back of her head. Her body coiled like a spring and a giant stream of air whooshed out of her lungs.
“What are you doing?” she rasped, her chin angling to the side, and her pink-tipped fingers clutching the square edge of the dresser.
“Shh.” One of my hands wound around her slim neck, not applying any pressure. I just wanted to establish I was in control and I would protect her. I pressed a finger to her lips. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”
I slid one strap of her nightie down her shoulder then the other. The silky material pooled around her waist, exposing her tight rose-colored buds. I cupped them in my hands, strumming my thumbs over the sensitive tips.
“I can’t.”
I dragged her panties down her mile-long legs, the petal-soft hush of lace against skin ringing my ears. Nothing had ever sounded so damn arousing.
“You can.”
I kissed and caressed every inch of her skin, and the tension gradually unfurled from her limbs. She bit her lower lip, and a ragged moan escaped her, and just like that, I knew I had her. She wouldn’t object. My fingers dipped between her legs, smearing her wetness around her clit, bringing her to the brink, again and again.
“Please, Gian.”
Her body arched like a pagan sacrifice. Her chest rose and fell in harmonized spurts. Her sunset-colored locks danced along her collarbone. Her pink lips were parted, and I couldn’t hold back for another second.
Groaning, I shoved my boxer briefs down my hips, and dragged the head of my cock through her folds. She pawed at me, kissing my face, my chest, my neck, and any body part within striking distance.
With one hard thrust of my hips, I shoved inside her. She was warm, wet, and perfect for me. I stalled momentarily to commit the feeling to memory, and her head drooped like it was too much work to keep it aloft. The tail of my tie drifted over her shoulder, dangling like a pendulum of a grandfather clock.
I pulled her forehead flush against mine, rocking against her. The urgency inside my chest swelled, crawling up my throat. I needed to be deeper, claiming everything she’d give me and more.
My heart thundered as I moved faster and harder inside of her like this moment was all we’d ever have. Like someone could snatch her away any second and I’d be left with nothing except regrets and memories.
Every time I thrust, she arched her pelvis to meet me. The dresser pounded against the drywall.
My lungs strained, my thighs burned, and sweat trickled down my back.
Little whimpers and mewls hummed low in her throat, and I leaned forward confiscating them with my mouth, not wanting any part of her to go unsampled. Pleasure built inside of me, hijacking my body and my thoughts.
Her mouth parted, her thighs trembled, and she clenched around me so tight I thought I’d found heaven.
Our actions choreographed, our heartbeats synchronized, and her body bowed and shuddered against mine. When the last twinge of pleasure rippled through her, Evie dropped her head to my shoulder, and I let go. Silence punctuated by our quickened breaths filled the air.
After a few beats, I removed the blindfold from her eyes, still deep inside of her. Her eyes fluttered, blinking away the darkness, and adjusting to the weak lighting of the room. Her hair was tangled, her eyes were glazed, her lips were bee-stung. I’d never seen anyone look more beautiful in my life. Possessiveness coiled around me like a snake, and I struggled to suck in a breath.
“You’re mine. Not your ex’s or any other man’s. Do you understand?” I choked out, too many emotions to name swelling inside of me.
She trailed her fingers down my chest. “And that makes you mine.”
I didn’t object, because it was true. She owned me. “You’re not meeting your ex tomorrow.”
“I know. I’ll text him tomorr—”
“It’s no longer your concern.” I scraped the hair away from her face so I could absorb every detail. “I’ll talk to him.”
Her breath hitched.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re not going to hurt him or…?”
“Or what?”
“Do what guys like you do when you want someone to disappear.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Guys like me?”
“I know that you’re involved—”
I covered her mouth. “Don’t say it, Evie. The less you know for sure, the better.”
She nodded, and I dropped my hand.
“Answer one question.”
I groaned. “What do you want to know?”
“Why did you choose this life?”
Shit. I didn’t want to go there with Evie. “Honestly, I’ve never given it much thought. It’s in my blood. My dad, my uncle, my grandfather. No one escapes it, and honestly, I didn’t want to.”
Her brows pinched together, and twin lines dented the skin over the bridge of her nose. “Why not?”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
Groaning inwardly, I scrambled for and explanation an outsider would understand. “When I was a kid, my dad’s power mesmerized me. He could double or triple park his car, and nobody would do anything. People gave our family shit for free. We were treated like royalty everywhere we went. I didn’t see the ugly side until much later, and by then, it was too late. Once you’re in, you’re in for life. Death is the only way out.”
She opened her mouth, and I pressed a finger to her lips. “That’s all you need to know. Okay?”
“Okay.” She swallowed. “So what are you going to do to Kevin?”
“I’m going to talk to him until he understands my point of view.”
“That’s it?”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to worry about it. He’s not going to disappear.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Evangeline
Ring.
I flipped over my phone, and a thread of panic wove through my gut. It was my mom, and other than Kevin, she was the last person I wanted to talk to right now. I’d successfully avoided her since I moved in with Gian, but she wouldn’t let it continue much longer.
Ring.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Well, thank God, I was beginning to think you were dead.”
I slumped against the kitchen counter, the sharp edge digging into my lower back. “Not dead, just busy.”
“So how are things going?”
“Good. Good.” I traced the rim of my coffee mug. “I started dancing again.”
“Really? How is your ankle holding up?”
I glanced out the window above the kitchen sink. The sun had started to come up, and it was an impressive mixture of reds and oranges competing for attention with the crowded skyline. Sometimes I missed the sunrises and sunsets of my hometown. They stretched as far as I could see, uninterrupted by buildings and smog. They were swirls of color, dancing above the swaying cornfields.
I swiped a hand down the side of my face. “It hasn’t been bothering me much at all. During the first couple of minutes of my routine, it feels a little tight, but other than that, it’s good as new, and my physical therapi
st released me from rehab yesterday. I guess taking the year off wasn’t such a bad thing after all.”
Gian padded into the kitchen, sidling up next me and opening an upper cabinet for a mug. My mom’s words blurred together, and all I could see and hear was him.
A lopsided grin spilt his face when he caught me staring at him. “Who are you talking to?”
I cupped my hand over the lower half of my phone. “My mom.”
He lifted the carafe and poured coffee into his mug. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”
I shrugged. “A little of both, but I couldn’t avoid her forever, or she might hop on a plane and come looking for me.”
His hands framed the sides of my face, and he studied me carefully. “You look stressed.”
“I haven’t told her I moved in with you.” I swallowed. “She thinks I’m living with Carmela.”
“Ah.” He kissed the top of my head. “You don’t have to say anything.”
My mom’s shrill voice echoed through the phone, drawing my attention back to her.
“Evangeline, are you listening to me? Did you hear a word of what I said?”
I pulled my hand away from the speaker and grabbed my cup of coffee off the counter. “No. Sorry. The reception sucks here.”
She blew out a breath that conveyed her frustration better than words ever could. “I said your dad contacted me yesterday.”
“What?” My heart lurched into my throat, and the mug slipped from my hands, exploding on the hardwood.
I stared at the blue shards mixed with liquid on the floor for several breaths. I didn’t know how to respond. He had disappeared from our life so long ago, I barely thought about him anymore. He seemed more like a myth than a real person.
“I talked to your dad,” she repeated.
“He called you? Why? I don’t get it. He hasn’t bothered with any of us in over a decade.” She didn’t answer me. “Hello, Mom? Are you still there?”
“He calls now and then. Not regularly, but he hasn’t disappeared.”
I lifted my head, and my eyes met Gian’s. His brows were scrunched together, and his mouth was pressed into a tight line. “Are you okay?” he mouthed.
I nodded, and he crouched down to pick up the broken shards of ceramic.
“Why didn’t you tell me you still talked to him?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. It didn’t seem important.”
Anger and frustration bubbled inside my chest. “What the fuck, Mom? That makes no sense. Of course, it’s important. He’s my dad. What are you hiding?”
“Look, Evangeline, I can’t get into this over the phone. He couldn’t be a part of our lives. That’s the end of the story.”
“Seriously? That’s your explanation for lying to me about my father for the majority of my life?”
“It’s what he wanted.”
“Great. Just fucking great.” I slashed my hand through the air, nearly hitting Gian in the chest. He snagged my wrist, and his strong arms curled around me, pulling me against his chest. I melted into his embrace, my heartbeat slowing fractionally and my legs weak. Like a vampire, I drank in his warmth, and I breathed in his unequaled scent.
He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I’m here.”
“I can’t talk about this right now, Mom. I’ll call you later.”
“Wait,” my mom said, her voice high-pitched.
“What?”
“He wants to meet with you.”
“Why the hell would he care about seeing me now? He hasn’t made any effort to see me for years.”
“He checks in on you from time to time to make sure you’re doing okay.”
“In New York?”
“Yes. He lives near the city.”
“Great. My father stalks me rather than talking to me. That’s exactly what every girl wants to hear.”
“Evieee…” She drew out my name. “I know this sounds strange—”
“Strange doesn’t begin to describe what you’re telling me. None of this makes sense. You kind of blindsided me here.”
“I know. I know. He’s got it into his head that you’re hanging around the wrong kind of people. He wouldn’t go into the details, so I can’t really offer you any more than that.”
“All right,” I said absently. “I don’t know where to go with that. I’ve known Carmela the entire time I lived here.”
“Maybe he’s talking about something else. Maybe he’s overacting. I don’t have a clue. Just put a little thought into moving home. Okay? I think you’d be safer here with me. We could expand the dance studio, offer more classes, maybe summer camps.”
“I have an audition in a couple of weeks, and if it doesn’t go well, I’ll start thinking about my next move, but I can’t promise anything. Even if I can’t make this work, it doesn’t mean I’ll move back to Nebraska.”
“Okay,” she said after a long moment of silence. “I’m sorry for pushing. I’m just worried about you. I’ve tried to give you space for the past few weeks so you can sort out your breakup and your future without interference. If you’re not ready, I’ll let it go for the time being. I understand.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you next week.” I disconnected the call, feeling way too tired for a person who woke up an hour ago. I buried my face in Gian’s shirt.
“Talk to me,” he said. “What happened?”
I closed my eyes momentarily. “I can’t. Not yet.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“Because…” I struggled to find adequate words to explain the emotions swirling in my gut with the force of a Cat-5 hurricane. “I don’t know where to start, but here it goes. Apparently, my dad never really dropped out of the picture, which means my mom spent the majority of my life lying to me. He lives in the New York area and keeps tabs on me. Oh, and he wants to meet with me because I’m hanging around bad people.”
I spun out of his hold and snagged my dance bag from the table. “I have to get going. I’m late, and I have less than two weeks to prepare for this audition.”
“Wait.” He clamped his hand around my wrist.
Sucking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a second. My life was a complete and total mess. I couldn’t fathom how far I’d fallen. How I had managed to make a string of bad decisions, and now my life was a virtual house of cards ready to collapse at any given second.
“I didn’t mean to lash out at you, but just when I’m getting my life in order, someone lobs another bomb in my direction. I can’t handle much more. I want it all to go away until I can get my head in the right place. My ankle. The implosion of my career. Kevin. My dad.” I sucked in a breath. “You.”
The second the word left my lips, I regretted it. He took two steps backward, his eyes carefully trained anywhere besides on me, his nostrils flaring, and his lips twisted. My stomach bottomed out. A hollow ache burrowed beneath my breastbone, and I wanted to kick my own ass. I didn’t want to fight with him. He meant too much to me. Somehow, he’d snuck into my life, and now I couldn’t picture living without him.
“Unbelievable.” He laughed, only it wasn’t kind. It was brittle. Dark. “I’m on the list of things you want to disappear. The same fucking list as your piece of shit ex?”
He grabbed his car keys off the countertop and stuffed them into his pocket. “After last night, I thought we had moved past this.” When I reached for him, he dodged my hand. “No. Fuck it. I can’t talk to you right now. We’re both late. I have a shitload of work today, and I have to deal with Kevin.”
“Gian, I didn’t mean it.” I cupped his face with my hands, desperate for him to look at me and see what was inside of my heart. “You’re right. You’re not on that list. Not even close. You’re the only thing good to come out of the last year. I’m being an idiot. I am an idiot.”
I untucked his shirt, and my hands dove underneath the starchy material, seeking out the now familiar connection that drew us together. My hands explored the hard planes of his chest, and I peppered his
pursed lips with kisses, whispering apologies.
“Gian, I’m sorry. I feel like an ass. What can I do to—?”
Groaning, he dipped his head, and his lips fastened onto the side of my neck, sucking hard on my skin. Without a doubt, I knew he’d left a mark, and I didn’t care. He licked a line along my collarbone, and the hair lifted on my arms. I arched my pelvis into him as his hands drifted up my ribcage, only stopping to cup my breasts. He pinched my nipples hard through my leotard, his teeth nipping my ear. Lust licked at my nerve endings.
“Sweetheart, you taste so good.”
“Mmm,” I hummed, rubbing my hand down his hard length.
With a sharp grunt, he thrust his hips against me. His hardness rubbed against my lower stomach. On fire and burning for him, I yanked on his belt buckle.
“Evie, we need to stop. We’re going to be late.” He dropped his hands to my hips and forced a few inches of space between us. “You matter to me. I meant it when I said it last night, and I mean it now. We’re in this together, so stop throwing shit in my face and questioning everything. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as we want. There aren’t any rules.”
“I like that.” Somewhere deep inside of my heart, the bitterness eating me up for the last month or so withered and died. “Do you mind giving me a ride to the studio?”
He brushed a kiss across my lips then knitted our fingers together. “C’mon. Let’s get going.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Gian
I opened the door to Kevin’s art studio, not bothering to knock. The dumb fucker needed to keep his doors locked, but it worked to my advantage, so I didn’t give a shit. My black leather loafers clacked over the gray polished concrete floors. I spun in a circle, taking in the floor to ceiling canvases that dotted the white walls.
I definitely wasn’t a fan of his work. The paintings looked like the bacteria I studied under a microscope in high school biology with a few arteries bisecting the blobs.
“Evangeline, come on back. I’m setting up our lunch.” He sounded chipper. Hopeful even, and it made my temper run hotter than before.