Ties That Bind Us

by Nicole Knight

I padded down the hallway to what I presumed was the guest room and saw a soft light peeking out from under the door. He had gone to bed hours ago; could he still be awake?

  I opened the door softly without knocking, and was surprised to see Nick sitting up in the bed, completely awake, with his laptop on his lap. He looked up at me with a frown still on his face, but a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there earlier.

  “You’re awake,” I said, stuttering over the words.

  “As are you,” Nick said flatly, staring at me as if he expected me to make the first move.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” I whispered, tiptoeing into the room.

  Nick shifted a little bit on the bed, and set his laptop to the side. “Neither could I.” A small smile tugged at his lips as he patted a spot next to him on the bed. I hurried over before he could change his mind, and sat down next to him. We sat in silence for a few minutes.

  “I’m sorry,” we both said at the same time.

  Nick smiled and reached for my hand. “I overreacted. I’ve known Jimmy as a dealer for a long time, and when I saw you together tonight, it all came together for me. He was your supplier, wasn’t he?’

  I nodded. “And my ex-boyfriend.”

  “I figured as much.” Nick frowned. “Seeing you with him threw me into a jealous rage even before knowing you’d dated him, and it made me break the promise I made to you about never hurting you or treating you the way your father did. I didn’t like what you were doing, but I should have handled it better, and in the future I will. You have my word.”

  I bit my lip, hardly believing that a guy like Nick really existed. He was amazing and it made me even more upset to have hurt him.

  “Thank you for saying that, but I’m the one who needs to apologize. What happened tonight is exactly the kind of thing that got me in so much trouble, and I don’t want to go down that road again. I just am used to doing this on my own, you know? I don’t trust people easily and have a really terrible habit of pushing even harder when someone tries to control me. I know you’re not like my dad, you’re nothing like him. But that’s all I’m used to, so it’s going to take a little time for me to adjust.”

  Nick put his arm around me, pulling me closer into him. I nestled in beside him, laying my head on his chest. “I’ll give you all the time you need. As long as you promise to give me some time to adjust too. I’m used to giving orders and people bending over backward to follow them. I don’t want that to be our relationship.”

  “Neither do I,” I agreed.

  “Good.” Nick kissed the top of my head.

  “Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?”

  Nick chuckled a little. “I wasn’t as mad as I was disappointed. You have to understand that as my fiancé, and eventually my wife, your safety and well being are my top concern, and tonight, you took both of those for granted. I need to know that you’re going to take care of yourself and not put yourself in bad positions when I’m not here. I mean, Jesus Christ, Jimmy Bradford? The guy is a walking danger zone. Especially when he was your supplier and you’re recovering from drug addiction.”

  “I get it.” I blushed. Nick’s tone was serious, as if he was reprimanding me. It wasn’t condescending but much more professional than his usual banter.

  “Do you?” He turned to me suddenly. “Ava, I know you’re an adult and you’re going to make your own choices, but you have to consider there are bigger things at play now. I’m not just talking about you partying. When you put yourself in situations like that, you’re vulnerable to all kinds of attacks. We have enemies on both sides, and I would rather die than see you hurt.”

  “I know.” I nodded, taking his words to heart. I could see how much Nick genuinely cared about me, which only made me more emotional. “I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t need to say you’re sorry anymore. I just want you to see it from my perspective. I’m not trying to control you, but I am trying to keep you safe.”

  “How did I wind up with a guy like you?”

  A wicked grin blanketed his face. “Let me refresh your memory a little bit.”

  He slipped his hand behind the nape of my neck, pulling me into him. His rough lips crashed possessively into mine, covering every inch of them. I moaned into the kiss, letting its warmth extend throughout my body.

  In one smooth move, Nick laid me down on the bed and hovered over me. I tilted my head to the side, inviting him to the sensitive skin of my neck. He was more than willing to oblige, peppering my neck and collarbone with primal, possessive kisses. He moved meticulously, not leaving an inch of my skin unkissed. My need for him was insatiable. I couldn’t take it any longer, I needed to feel his skin against mine, his lips drinking in my skin. I craved what he had given me the night we met, and I was determined to get it again.

  My fingers found the hem of his shirt and I slid it up over his head, exposing his chest. Elaborate and colorful tattoos were painted on his skin, and his bulging muscles were sculpted to perfection. I bit my lip trying to stifle a moan as I dragged my fingers down his chest and stomach, stopping just above the band of his boxers.

  He gripped my fingers tightly, stopping me from pulling them down, a husky smile on his face. “If we keep going, I am not going to be able to stop myself.”

  I ran my tongue along my lips, unable to tear my eyes away from his piercing stare. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

  Without another word, Nick slipped an arm behind my back and lifted my body effortlessly and repositioned me underneath him His eyes drifted over my entire body as he ripped the T-shirt over my head and drank in every detail of me. There was no hiding behind a fake identity tonight. Nick knew exactly who I was, and while that was a little nerve-racking, he quickly squashed any apprehension I still had.

  “I wanted this to be more romantic,” Nick breathed against my ear, fumbling with his boxers. “But I’ve got to fucking have you.”

  His words only turned me on even more. He wanted this as much as I did.

  He worked efficiently, but continued kissing every part of me, paying special attention to my inner thighs. I yelped as his teeth dragged across the sensitive skin and Nick leaned back, smirking.

  The feeling of his fingers between my legs was intoxicating, even better than I remembered.

  “You’re already so wet for me.” A look of satisfaction spread across his face as he pumped his fingers faster and faster, alternating between rough and tender strokes.

  “Nick . . .” I moaned , arching my back under his magic touch. I wouldn’t be able to take much more without exploding.

  “Not yet,” he warned, pulling his fingers out abruptly. I gasped, searching desperately for breath.

  “Let me see you.” Nick eased my knees apart, and his hands traveled over every inch of my bare skin, never once taking his eyes off of me. The look in his eyes was almost animalistic.

  Nick tore open a condom, slipped it on quickly and planted his hands on either side of me, pinning me against the bed. He leaned forward, pressing his tip into me—gently at first, and then steadily until he was fully inside.

  I closed my eyes in pleasure, feeling the fullness of him inside me. He stroked my cheek gently and began moving his hips back and forth against mine. “Keep your eyes on me, baby. I want to see you.”

  I opened them, locking on his gaze.

  “There’s my girl.” He began to move quicker, friction building between us. He thrust into me over and over, each plunge harder and deeper than the last, as I hooked my legs around his waist, drawing him farther into me.

  I clawed at his back, on the very edge of climax. My mind clouded, and all I could think about was his body wrapped around mine.

  “Nick!” I hissed, when I reached the point of not being able to stand it anymore.

  “Fuck,” Nick echoed, latching onto me as we both fell as we fell away from each other, convulsing with pleasure.

  Our breathing matched, bot
h of us searching for air, as we lay tangled together.

  “That was . . .”

  “You are so fucking amazing.” Nick leaned over and kissed my cheek gently, settling in next to me.

  I wasn’t sure how long we lay there before we drifted off to sleep. I had never felt as safe and loved as I did lying in Nick’s arms. Somehow, this was turning out to be exactly what I needed.

  Chapter 14

  Nick

  It was amazing how much I had started to miss Ava when I didn’t see her. We usually only went a few days at most without seeing each other, but I was missing her like it had been weeks. We’d both been busy—her with school and me trying to get a handle on how my life was about to change. We talked every day, and as much as I loved the sound of her sweet voice, I was craving the feeling of her in my arms. Hopefully, I could convince her to move in with me soon so that we could see more of each other. The wedding planning was moving along, and we had a date on the books. As soon as Ava was comfortable, I wanted her here with me full time.

  My father had already begun training me for when I took over after the marriage was official. Until now, I hadn’t fully comprehended all he was responsible for, and that was just with our family. After Ava and I were married, the Moretti group would be partly my responsibility as well, and the pressure would double. I’d also have to figure out a way to deal with the Asnikovs that would send the right message to all of our enemies. Since word of our merger with Moretti had gotten out, this would be my first opportunity to show the Mafia world the type of leader I was going to be, and it couldn’t be taken lightly. I was certainly feeling the pressure.

  My dad usually didn’t venture to the warehouse unless it was a special circumstance, so when I got there and his car was parked outside, I was a little concerned. Hurrying inside, I made my way to the upstairs office. He was already in there with Leo, Zane, and another one of the council members. I could see smiles on their faces and could tell they were laughing, which was a good sign, but it still made me a little uneasy that they were all here first thing in the morning.

  “Hey,” I said shutting the door behind me. “Everything okay?”

  “For the time being, yes,” Zane said. “But we’ve got a little problem.”

  “What kind of problem?” I growled, throwing my bag into the corner. This wasn’t exactly how I wanted to start my day.

  “The kind that smokes cheap cigars and has a shitty accent,” Leo scoffed confidently.

  My dad rolled his eyes. “As your brother so eloquently put it, Asnikov is making moves. One of our clients out of Miami called me this morning to cancel a shipment. Apparently he’s getting the same guns, just cheaper, from Alek.”

  “Are you fucking serious? How?” I rubbed my temples. This was the most inopportune time for the Russians to start poaching our accounts. The merger had already created some rumblings with our clients, and it seemed Asnikov was taking advantage of the vulnerability.

  “We aren’t sure,” Zane spewed. He didn’t like having a problem he couldn’t solve. “But they need to be dealt with before we lose anything else.”

  “The timing of this is too coincidental, this has to be about the announcement of the engagement.” I shook my head as I took a seat behind the desk.

  “That’s what we’re thinking too,” my dad agreed. “But we can’t expect it to end here. They’re toying with us, but who knows when it could escalate.”

  “Does Ava need protection?” I furrowed my brow. The thought of her in any kind of danger was debilitating.

  “She’s not in any danger right now. No sense in worrying her over nothing,” my dad assured me.

  “What do we need to do, then?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. I had a hunch where this was heading, but I didn’t like it.

  “They had a guy named Vic seal the deal. He needs to be eliminated,” Leo said plainly. He was right. I hated that he was right, mostly because it was my job to make sure that happened. While I knew that was my role in the organization right now, it really wore on me.

  Andrew had been the first person I had shot, and perhaps that was why each kill was hard for me. I always thought about him, and that day, and everything leading up to it, whenever I had to carry out a hit. I thought about our friendship, and how badly his family had been hurt, and because of that, it got harder and harder for me to separate. My father used to say I had too much of a heart to be in the Mafia, and for a long time I tried to prove him wrong. I hid how I felt about killing so that no one knew how much it bothered me. I would deal with it at night, on my own, where only God would see.

  Something was different about this time, though. Maybe it was the responsibility I felt about taking over the group, or maybe it was that I finally had someone else I cared about whom I needed to protect. I was suddenly hyperaware of the feel of the gun tucked into the back of my pants and my itch to use it. Where Ava was concerned, I knew I would stop at nothing to make sure she was safe.

  “Nick, I know that you don’t particularly like—” My father began to reason with me.

  “I’ll do it,” I cut him off sharply. “But it’s the last time.”

  Everyone looked at me in surprise, but my father nodded knowingly. He knew my compliance came from a place of concern for my future family. For my fiancé.

  “Quick and quiet,” he instructed. “No one sees you come, no one sees you go. They have a safe house he’s holed up in, but he leaves every day at five. If you go now, you should be able to catch him.”

  “I’m supposed to meet Ava at the restaurant at six.”

  Leo nodded. “I’ll be there. I’ll let her know you’re running a little late.”

  “And it might be time to consider moving the wedding up, Nick. I know you’re easing into this, but with their added pressure, the Russians might be moving along quicker than we expected,” my father cautioned.

  “Let’s just take care of this first and see where we are,” I said, grabbing my sniper rifle from our gun safe. Things were progressing really well but I didn’t think Ava would take too kindly to me pressuring her into changing things since we’d just barely gotten a date set. I had promised we would take this slow, and I had every intention of keeping that promise unless it was absolutely necessary not to.

  “Let me know when it’s done.” My dad nodded and headed out the door. Leo and Zane soon followed, leaving me to prepare for the hit alone. I needed to get in the right headspace and normally, I couldn’t do that in the company of others. I had to separate myself from the man behind the gun, almost as if it was a character I was playing.

  Ava

  I had been sitting at the bar waiting for Nick for thirty minutes now, and I was getting frustrated. Leo had let me know Nick was going to be late, and even kept me company for a while, but eventually he had to get back to work. It turned out he ran this restaurant, the same one I had come to with Rob the night I met Nick for the first time. I had come here right after class this afternoon, and had been trying my best to occupy myself.

  I knew Nick was busy, but he was supposed to take tonight off; that was the point of all this. We hadn’t seen each other for a few days and tonight was supposed to be only about us. Instead, I was sitting here nursing my second drink a half an hour after we were supposed to meet. I was about to leave when I saw him weaving through the crowd.

  “Is this seat taken?” He flashed me a charming smile as he appeared next to me. He was trying to hide it, but I could tell something was off.

  “By all means.” I smiled, gesturing to the chair. “I’m just waiting on my fiancé.”

  Nick sat down and waved down the bartender, who placed a cup in front of him without even taking an order. “Lucky guy, your fiancé.” He grinned, shooting me a devilish wink.

  “He is.” I smirked, pursing my lips. “But he’s late.”

  Nick cringed, downed the amber liquid, and pushed the cup toward the edge of the bar to be refilled. “I bet he’
s sorry.”

  “He better be.” I arched an eyebrow at him.

  “He is,” Nick agreed, leaning forward and giving me a harsh kiss. It had been too long since I had felt his lips against mine. “How was your day?”

  “It was good. I met Bella for lunch and had class. How was yours?” I sipped my drink.

  “Nothing unusual.” He sounded distant. I got the feeling something had happened at work, but it didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about it. Nick turned to me, putting his arm around the back of my chair and leaning in so his lips were only a few inches from my ear. “I was planning on having a nice dinner here with you, but seeing you in that dress, all I can think about is getting you back to my place. What do you say?”

  I blushed, trying to mask the fire his voice ignited inside of me. Honestly, that was the only thing on my mind, too, but I wanted to make him work for it a little bit. “I’m hungry,” I purred, twisting a piece of my hair between my fingers.

  “Oh, I’ll give you something to eat.” Nick smirked, resting his hand on my thigh.

  “You’re awful.” I rolled my eyes, batting at his shoulder.

  “Only for you, babe.” He offered me his hand and slapped a fifty-dollar bill down on the bar to cover our drinks. I followed him out of the restaurant, and he waved at Leo on our way out. Leo gave him a strange look but Nick didn’t seem to notice.

  Nick drove quickly and whipped his car into the garage of his building even quicker. The entire elevator ride to his penthouse, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. It wasn’t his usual gentle touch, but rougher and more urgent. Everything felt off, but I couldn’t place my finger on what exactly was going on.

  When we got into the apartment, he didn’t waste a single second before hoisting me onto the kitchen island and ripping my dress over my head. He stood between my legs, burying his face in my chest, kissing and nipping.

  “Nick.” I pulled away just slightly. “Take a breath.”

  “I need you, Ava,” he growled, his voice filled with emotion. He stroked his hands up and down my inner thighs, not taking his eyes off my chest. It looked like he was holding back tears. I had never seen him like this before, so detached and unhinged, almost like he was out of control. It was scaring me.