by Kiera Silver
Instead, he frowned, the first hint of uncertainty showing. “You’re a virgin?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, suddenly frightened that her bargaining chip had turned into a stumbling block instead. “Yes, but if that’s a problem, I could take care of it before our arrangement starts.”
His mouth tightened, and he looked angrily. “What do you mean, take care of it? You said there was no loser in the picture.”
She wasn’t sure if she was trying to entice him or just make a straightforward proposal to eliminate an obstacle when she said, “I’m certain I could buy a vibrator and deal with the physical unpleasantness of removing my virginity myself.”
His hand tightened on her thigh and she could see the anger plainly on his face. “Don’t even think about doing something like that. I’ll be the only one claiming that prize, Lily.”
Her heart pounded as she faced the reality of what she was doing. They were on the cusp of making an agreement, and though her physical body was certainly far more than she had planned to give, at least now she could ensure her brother was safe.
If he agreed, it would allow her to experience what it would be like to be fucked by a man like Dante Moretti, a facet of the deal that appealed to her dark side, the one that everyone had, even virginal twenty-three-year-old nurses. “Yes, sir.”
His eyes were dark with passion, and his mouth crept closer to hers, but he didn’t kiss her. “Since we’re going to be so intimately acquainted, you can call me Dante.”
“Yes, once we have an agreement. In writing,” she added.
Dante’s eyes widened. “You really want to put this kind of arrangement in writing, where it could fall into the wrong hands?”
She nodded. “Let’s just say I’d feel better about the whole thing if I have the security of knowing there’s proof somewhere documenting our deal.”
“Fine. Give me your address, and I’ll come to you tomorrow with paperwork in hand. After your name is on the line beside mine, our deal is in effect. There’ll be no backing out once the pen hits that paper, Lily,” he said with a hint of warning.
She licked her lips and nodded. “As long as Shawn is safe, you have my word. If this is what’s required to do that, then I’ll sign whatever you bring me.”
“You can’t safeguard your brother from his own stupidity, but in this instance, you’re right. I’m willing to accept something far more valuable in exchange for leniency.”
Suddenly, despite her words about no samples, Dante’s mouth was on hers in a hungry, possessive kiss. His tongue surged into her mouth before she could even think of protesting, and he seemed to be both tasting and branding her at the same time. When he lifted his head a moment later, fire burned through her, and her pussy throbbed. She had the unseemly urge to finger herself right there, certain he would appreciate the show, but also knowing it would lead to far more intimate actions. Events she couldn’t allow to happen until they had an agreement in place, and her brother was far away and safe.
“Definitely far more valuable. You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to ruining your chastity.”
She shivered, temporarily overwhelmed with fear by the intensity in his gaze. She had no doubt that Dante would strip every vestige of innocence and naïveté from her, and she had no idea what kind of person he would leave in his wake. She was frightened to find out, but also oddly fascinated by him and whatever he planned to do to her.
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Sneak Peek: ACQUISITION
Katie fell hard for Armo when he literally swept her off her feet and is happy with him until she learns the truth. Her boyfriend is a mob boss. After witnessing him commit a murder, she runs to protect herself and the tiny life inside her. When Armo finds her a year later, he acquires her again with ease, with plans to make her pay for her betrayal and for stealing his son from him.
She can’t accept his lifestyle no matter how much her heart yearns for him, and she vows not to give in to Armo’s seduction this time—but resisting Armo isn’t as easy as that, especially since she still loves him. When the most vulnerable Moretti becomes the target of someone bent on revenge, she has to put her trust in Armo and embrace the darkness in which he lives to save everyone she loves.
CHAPTER ONE
“Happy anniversary, Katie,” said Armo as he reached into his pocket.
She watched from across an intimate table in the high-end restaurant where they were celebrating their sixth-month anniversary of the day Armo had literally swept her off her feet. She’d been running late for classes and had jaywalked illegally right in front of his car. Of course he’d tried to stop, but had ended up bumping her lightly and sending her flying.
When he had come to her side, he’d lifted her into his arms as though she weighed nothing and placed her in the back of his car, insisting on a trip to the emergency room. Nothing had been broken, but by the time the doctor had cleared her to go, with Armo at her side the entire time, she’d lost her heart.
Now, she tensed with anticipation as his long fingers drew out a velvet box. Disappointment surged in her chest a moment later when she realized it couldn’t possibly be short enough to hold an engagement ring. She managed to hide any sense of disappointment, knowing it was silly to feel that way. After all, it had only been six months, and while she was absolutely certain she was head-over-heels in love with Armo, and she was pretty certain he felt the same way, neither one of them had even said the “L” word yet.
She held back for fear of spooking him, and she hoped he held back simply because he didn’t want to rush things. She would prefer he know his own feelings before he verbalized anything of the sort, and perhaps he knew that about her. He seemed to know her really well.
“What do you really know about him?” Her sister’s words of concern flooded back to her suddenly, and she had to forcibly push away the memory of the conversation she’d had with her older sister a couple of weeks ago, when Haley had grilled her once again about Armo. For whatever reason, Haley had taken a dislike to him and was suspicious of anything to do with her boyfriend. She found it irksome, but Haley was often an exacting, almost nitpicky person, while Katie was more easygoing.
When he set the box in front of her, she forced aside all thoughts that weren’t positive or happy as she opened the clamshell lid to reveal a gold, diamond-encrusted Cartier watch inside. She gasped slightly and ran her finger over the intricate design. “My gosh, it’s beautiful. Thank you, Armo.” Her fingers trembled slightly when she slid it from the box and wrapped it around her wrist, fastening the antitheft clasp with some assistance from the man across from her.
He winked at her. “Now you have no excuse for being late.”
She flushed slightly, though she knew he was just teasing her. She was still sensitive about that failing. No matter how hard she tried, she seemed to be late everywhere she went.
Something teased the back of her mind, and it brought a sharp spike of anxiety along with it, but before she could hold on to the idea germinating, it was gone. She shunted it aside as the waiter returned with their desserts, losing herself in the sensual pleasure of exquisite chocolate crème brûlée and the sexy man seated across the table.
Later that night, after an evening at the theater, they returned to Armo’s condo. Technically, Katie still had a room at the dorm, but she hadn’t been there besides quick trips to drop off books or pick up other articles for at least the last two months. Unofficially, she lived with Armo, though he hadn’t invited her explicitly to move in. He had simply started keeping her overnight, and at one point, he’d given her a key and the code to his apartment complex’s entrance.
It was a fancy place with high security, so the day he had given her the codes, she had known she was something special to him. When she’d told her sister that, Haley had called her a naïve fool and reminded her Armo could change the codes at any time, but she’d sniffed at her sister and walked out, not want
ing to engage in more debate about the man with whom she was involved.
Now, she followed him up the wraparound stairs to the second floor, which was more of a loft, containing only the master bedroom and a large en suite bathroom, along with a small sitting area where they could watch TV or read a book, if they chose. Tonight, they bypassed the sitting area in mutual unspoken agreement and entered their bedroom.
As soon as the door closed behind them, she was unsurprised when Armo took her into his arms, his mouth devouring hers in a possessive, deep kiss. His tongue pressed through the seam of her lips, and she offered no resistance. A second later, he was tasting her as he drew her closer to him.
Katie wrapped her arms around him for a moment, holding Armo tightly, before her hands started to roam over the hard planes and angles of his body. She helped him shed his dinner jacket and tie, and then her nimble fingers worked on the buttons of his Oxford shirt. She stripped it from him less than a minute later and buried her face against his chest.
Katie moaned as she inhaled his scent, finding it as intoxicating as ever. He was pure male, with a sharp tang of clove from his cologne. His aroma was unique to him, and it never failed to make her heart rate increase.
A laugh rumbled through his chest as his fingers went to the zipper of her dress, pulling it down to mid-back before he started divesting her of the red garment. “I see you’re still smelling me.”
She giggled, though she was a little embarrassed by his teasing. “I remain unapologetic. You smell good, and I like to savor that.”
As the dress pooled around her feet, he put his hand under her chin and angled her head upward again, claiming her mouth for another deep kiss before he spoke again. “I’m not complaining, believe me. I’d rather you like my scent than run away screaming or ask me to take a shower every time we’re near each other.”
“I don’t mind if you want to take a shower whenever we’re together—as long as you let me join you in the stall.” She waggled her brows suggestively. “I could wash your back and your front too, if you want?”
He bit back a groan of desire, his expression betraying his indecision for a moment. Finally, he sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t have the patience for that tonight, though I do love the special attention you give me in the shower.”
She spent a moment peeling off her bra in what she hoped was a sexy fashion before replying. “I enjoy the attention you give me as well, love…r.” She’d almost said love, tacking on the “R” at the last moment. She didn’t think a casual endearment like that would send him running, but she was trying to be cautious. She didn’t want to jinx the relationship or rush Armo into something for which he wasn’t ready. She knew theirs was the longest relationship he’d ever had, so she felt it prudent to proceed delicately.
Haley, on the other hand, would have steamrolled her way through the relationship by now, establishing all future outcomes and forcing him to pick a path. Since that wasn’t Katie’s style, her sister accused her of being weak-minded. Haley didn’t understand how strong she had to be to withstand the temptation to throw herself into his arms and confess her deepest feelings. Her sister could never appreciate that subtlety sometimes required an inner core of steel to maintain, and that waiting to know the outcome was torturous, requiring all her determination.
She shook her head, trying to force Haley from her thoughts, and returned her focus to her lover. He had removed her panties by now, but left the thigh-high stockings behind. The garter belt was gone too, leaving her only in stockings and high heels.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the bed. “This brings back memories,” he quipped.
She laughed, holding tightly to him as he laid her on the bed, forcing him to come down with her, though she suspected he had planned to anyway. “You do like to sweep me off my feet.”
“This time, at least I didn’t hit you with a car first.”
She allowed a moment of seriousness, staring deep into his eyes for a second. “It wasn’t the best thing ever, but I can’t regret that you hit me with your car. It brought us together.”
“There’s my silver-lining Katie,” he said affectionately. “I love that core of optimism you have, and I find it refreshing, if a bit bewildering.”
She rolled her eyes. Armo claimed to be a pessimist, always prepared to see the worst in people, but she’d never seen that side of him. She liked to think maybe she brought out a different side, but it was just as likely that he was simply maintaining a front to fit in better with his brothers. Larenz, the oldest of the triplets, was severe and stern, and she could see both Armo and Dante tried to imitate their brother at different times, albeit unconsciously. She was certain they would be embarrassed if anyone pointed out how they oftentimes emulated their oldest brother.
Armo started with her mouth, kissing a line down her body as his tongue flicked out to trace her skin, and he paused to nibble on his favorite places. She squirmed when he took one plump nipple in his mouth, sucking hard enough to send a jolt through her, one almost tinged with pain. It didn’t detract from the pleasure, but it was a new reaction, one she attributed to how forcefully he had sucked on her flesh.
She soon forgot about it as electric sparks shot down her body, following in the wake of his tongue as he made his way to her pussy. He spent a few moments torturing her first, pressing kisses up and down her thighs, and even behind her knee once, before nibbling his way back up the ever-increasing sensitive flesh, until he was hovered over the heart of her, but still not touching. With a small sob, Katie buried her fingers in his hair and dragged his face closer to her slick folds, needing to feel his tongue inside her.
With a chuckle of satisfaction, he gave her what she was silently demanding as he let his mouth cover her flesh, his tongue slipping between her lips to explore her slit. She whimpered and thrust against his face as he began to lick his tongue up and down in maddeningly slow motions before slowly homing in on her clit, which he traced in slow and careful circles. She hovered on the edge of climax in no time, because he knew exactly which places drove her wild.
She let out a moan of protest when he brought her right to the edge, but lifted his head before she could go over. “You sadistic bastard.”
Armo laughed, looking unbothered by her words. “I love your pillow talk, baby.”
A second later, he shifted their positions to arrange them both so that his cock was angled against her opening. He rubbed the head against her wetness before he began to slide inside. A jolt of desire surged through her, and she marveled again at the sensation of skin against skin. It was a new experience for both of them, since they had only recently begun to eschew condoms, once she had started taking birth control pills the month before. Sex with Armo was amazing with a condom, but with no barriers between them, it was even more fantastic. She couldn’t explain why or how the absence of one thin latex barrier made such a difference, but it certainly did.
His pace started out slowly and carefully, but he soon grasped her hips and began to thrust more forcefully. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and clung to him, meeting each thrust with a rise of her hips, desperate to feel all of Armo inside her. It was always like this, whether they made love slowly or simply had a quick fuck. There was always a desperate need for each other. The heat and hunger between them never seemed completely satisfied, no matter how many orgasms they had. She hoped it would always be that way.
She cried out his name as she came, her sheath convulsing around the length of his shaft. A moment later, Armo’s cock twitched as he spilled his release inside her, and his fingers dug almost painfully into her hips for a moment as pleasure coursed through him.
They rocked together a couple of more times as her heart rate slowed, and blissful aftermath left her a limpid mass on the bed. He collapsed atop her, though careful to support his weight, before rolling over to lay beside her.
Their gazes locked for a moment, and she was awed by the tenderness she saw in his.
“Katie?”
“Yes?” She was strangely breathless for a moment as the mood seemed to change, going serious. For just a second, she was convinced he was on the verge of telling her his feelings, but she could see the moment when he changed his mind. His expression closed slightly, and though he sounded basically the same, there was a definite difference.
“I think I’m going to have that shower now. Do you want to join me?”
Disappointment filled her, which she struggled to hide as tears pressed against the back of her eyes. She refused to let them fall, especially with him watching. Instead, she shook her head. “I should, but I’m just too tired now. You wore me out.”
He winked at her as he rolled out of bed, and she moved just enough to cover herself with the sumptuous bedding. She would probably leave makeup on the pristine white pillowcase, and she felt a twinge of guilt for making extra work for the staff, but it wasn’t enough to motivate her to slide from the super-comfortable bed after his vigorous round of lovemaking.
She needed sleep, and she soon succumbed, even though she would have preferred to fall asleep in his arms. She knew that wouldn’t happen tonight, because he had made the effort to distance himself again. It was a frustrating cycle, but at least she was sure there would be less time between his next attempt to confess how he felt, going from his previous behavioral patterns. He would withdraw for a few hours or days, but then he’d warm up again, and eventually, he would hover on the edge of confession once more.
She would wait for him. She loved Armo, and she was even more convinced now that he loved her as well. She just had to be patient and allow him to find his way.