by Ashley Jade
“You're always touching me,” she whispers. “Why?”
“Why do you think?” I graze my thumb over her bottom lip and my dick twitches when her mouth parts and the tip of her tongue hits it. “Say the word and I'll stop.”
I look around and make sure no one is looking at us. Then I coast my hand along her chest, my fingers tracing the soft skin just above the swell of her breasts and whisper, “But I make no promises about not envisioning pulling up that sports bra and licking those perky tits of yours before I slide my dick between them.”
Her pulse jumps under my palm and I lick the shell of her ear. “Tell me to stop touching you, Lou-Lou. Say the word and I'll end this.”
I skim down the side of her abdomen and she looks up at me through thick, dark lashes that frame those doe eyes and moans just low enough that only I can hear.
My fingers dip into the waistband of her yoga pants and she arches her back against me. When she lets out another soft moan, I cup her between her legs and circle the wetness I find there with my thumb. “Make a sound and I'll stop.”
I slide my other hand into her tank top, then slip inside her bra and pinch her nipple. She jerks against me and I grind my erection into her. “Either speak up now, or scream my name in front of these men.”
I do another quick look around and then I rub her swollen clit through the damp fabric again. My dick grinds against the metal of my zipper when her mouth forms an 'o' and her eyes roll in the back of her head.
Christ, I'm harder than a fucking rock and my self-control is almost depleted, and I know once I stick my fingers inside her, I'll be reaching for my gun next.
Because I'll be taking her right fucking then. And considering we're currently out in public and not locked up inside the mansion where it's safe, that's a bad idea.
I quickly grab her hand and place it over her pussy. “Or better yet, you're gonna make yourself come and I'm gonna watch, but you can't make a sound or everyone will see what's for my eyes only...and you know what that will result in.”
Her eyes flicker with both rage and arousal. I pull my suit jacket off and drape it over her lap. “Touch your pussy for me, baby.”
I roll her nipple between my two fingers. “You're so close to coming, let me watch you.”
Her hand disappears inside her yoga pants and she winds herself against me.
“That's it, baby, “ I coax as her eyes flutter closed. “I want to see you let go.” My teeth nip at her earlobe. “Don't stop until you're dripping all over me.”
When she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and whimpers, I can't help but smirk. I know how much Lou-Lou loves my dirty mouth, and right now she's putty in my hands. Exactly the way I like it.
“I want to see a wet spot on my pants from your juices, baby.”
I can practically feel her pussy pulse around me, I know she's on the brink and I want to give her that push. “That's it, mark me with your come, Lou-Lou.”
She spasms against me and I rest my head on the seat and let out a groan when I feel her climax all over my lap.
And that's when she swiftly yanks her hand out and shoves her fingertips into my mouth.
I lap at them, pulling and sucking on them like they're goddamn candy. “Jesus fucking Christ!” I yell, startling everyone.
“Is there a problem, Mr.DeLuca?” the driver inquires and everyone stares at me.
I look down at Lou-Lou. “No, no problem at all.”
Big problem...huge. I have a hard on the size of Alaska currently, one that won't be satisfied until I'm buried to the damn hilt inside her.
“I see, well we should be arriving in approximately 20 minutes.”
She winks and turns back around in my lap, remaining silent for the rest of the drive...until we pull up and her eyes go wide. “Why would you bring me to the fight club?” Before I can answer her, she digs her elbow into my stomach. “I really hope you're not expecting me to be a ring girl again.”
“The fight club's closed.” The doors to the SUV open but I pull her back and cuff us both again. “However I'm sure I could get you to agree to be my personal ring girl if I really wanted you to.”
“Not a chance.” She tosses a fuck you smile back at me. “I'm in retirement.”
We walk into the club and I turn on a few lights. I have to pause for a moment and fight the way my chest swells whenever I'm near the cage. “That makes the both of us.”
“So why did you bring me here then?”
I reach for her wrist and unlock the cuff because I know she won't be going anywhere now. “You said you needed a friend.”
I place my hands on her shoulders and spin her around. “And here he is.”
Her hands fly to her face and she springs out of my arms.
And straight into Tyrone's.
She sobs softly as they hug one another and I swear I actually feel my damn heart smile.
“Tyrone,” she sobs and he hugs her even tighter. “God, I missed you and your bear hugs. I'm so happy you're okay.”
“I missed you too, Lou-Lou.” He pulls back and studies her. “And forget about me, it looks like Momma finally put a little meat on them bones. About damn time.”
She elbows him in the chest and he laughs. “Looks like I need to teach you some actual moves.” He nods in my direction. “Provided it's okay with coach over there.”
I raise my hands and back away. “Pretend like I'm not even here.”
Lou-Lou mumbles something under her breath that I don't catch but Tyrone must because he laughs hysterically. “Dang, it's good to see you again. Missed that feisty attitude of yours.”
He looks at me. “Especially when it's used to put that one in his place.”
I follow them down the hallway leading to the gym, but sit down on the bench across from them when we enter, giving them their space.
I watch as Tyrone instructs her and she takes a few jabs at the punching bag. When she barely manages to move it, he cracks a few jokes, she makes a few sarcastic comebacks; and they both laugh before she tries again.
Although I'm glad Tyrone is having a good time...I can't seem to keep my eyes off her. And not just because I'm waiting for her to escape, but because of how happy she looks right now.
The girl is gorgeous, there's not a hot-blooded male who could deny that.
But it's so much more than her physical appearance. There's something magical and hypnotic about seeing her look so carefree and at peace. But these moments where she's genuinely happy are so rare—it's a tragedy that damn near takes my breath away.
There's a light within Lou-Lou—one that people could easily miss, given both her attitude and how that light in her is buried in the dark—but once you experience it—once that light wraps you in it's warmth and you feel it? You can never forget it.
That light within her is like the light at the end of a very dark tunnel...a glimpse of sunshine after the darkest storm...a reward after surviving something terrible.
That light in her is both my salvation and my damnation.
My eyes shift to Tyrone and my chest tightens. Because I'll do anything to preserve and protect it.
Including the unthinkable.
The tightness in my chest begins to expand and I swallow the thickness in my throat. I don't want to lose Tyrone and Jackson.
Mob boss or not...spawn of Satan or not...blood or not. They're my brothers and I will find a way to protect them.
My eyes cut to Lou-Lou and my chest contracts.
But it will be her that I choose in the end. Because my heart will always bleed for her...only her.
My fucked up thoughts are interrupted when I hear the sound of cheering and look up just in time to see Lou-Lou throw her arms around his neck.
Tyrone grins and points at her. “You were right, brother. Girl's got a mean right hook.”
Lou-Lou beams and I can't help but smile. She stares at me for a second too long and I watch her chest rise and fall before she turns to face Tyrone again. “Can
we go in the cage?”
Tyrone's about to answer but she clamps a hand over her mouth and her eyes fill with remorse. “Shit—I'm such an as—”
He rolls his eyes. “Of course we can.” He gestures to me. “As long as boss man doesn't mind giving me and the chair a lift.”
I stand up and walk over to them. “Not at all.” I look at Lou-Lou. “On one condition.”
She raises an eyebrow. “What?”
I toss my jacket on the bench and pick up a pair of focus mitts. “You have to earn it.”
Confusion sweeps over her face until I walk over to the mat and assume the stance.
“Ah, shit,” Tyrone says. “He wants you to hit the mitts.”
She makes her way over to me and I hold the mitts up. “Come on and hit me.”
Hesitation crosses over her features and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “I don't—”
“There's a world of difference between a bag and a body.”
She opens her mouth to make what I'm sure is a sarcastic joke but I cut her off. “And if you want to fight Tyrone, you need to know the difference.”
She rests her boxing gloves on her hips and looks around the gym. “You know I'm not actually a fighter, right? You don't need to train me. I thought this was all just for fun.”
I fight the urge to laugh because she's a fighter if there ever was one.
“It is.” I take a step back and look into her eyes. “But I know you're angry, Lou-Lou. Hit me.”
The words are barely even out of my mouth before her tiny body's coming at me. She doesn't have the muscle or the training to make me budge, but she wasn't kidding about that anger. I feel it behind every punch she throws.
I feel it even more when her eyes connect with mine and she throws the next jab.
“Harder, Lou-Lou,” I urge. “Hit me harder...make me pay.”
And she does. Her next punch, while not professional in the least, packs a shit-ton of power behind it.
“I hate you,” she says before she deals her next punch.
“I know you do. So hit me even harder, baby.”
This time, she tries to bypass the mitts entirely, so I pull them off and drop my fists.
Tyrone opens his mouth but I shoot him a look. She needs this. She needs to get it out. And even though we don't outright talk about it...because it hurts too damn much...I know I deserve it.
When that right hook goes sailing straight into my throat and I cough, I have to clench my fists at my sides, and I remember why I asked Tyrone to help her train instead of me.
Every instinct in my body has me on edge and my blood is pumping with need, ready to fight back.
This is the very definition of torture for me—I've never dropped my fists for anyone before.
When her next punch lands on my chin and she quickly follows it up with another, I bite my lip until I taste copper.
She slams her fist into my chest next and I automatically surge forward.
I need in that cage. I need to rip someone to pieces. I need to—
I need to put a stop to this.
I back away. “That's enough for right now. If you want more you can go in the cage with Tyrone.”
She frowns and opens her mouth to say something but Tyrone waves a hand and says, “Follow me.”
We leave the gym and I turn a few more lights on when we enter the room where the cage is.
Then all three of us stop and stare at it for a moment.
Despite not being used in over 4 months, it looks just as good as I remember. Both the black padding and the black steel illuminating under the spotlight, beckon me.
“Damn,” Tyrone says. “It's crazy what one cage can mean to all of us. How many things have happened either in that cage or because of that cage. How it connects all of us together in one way or another.”
It's true, I never thought about it that way, but this cage; although more evil than good...brought everyone together.
“Too bad Jackson's not here right now,” Tyrone says with a shrug.
Lou-Lou tilts her head in his direction. “Where is he?”
“I think he's with Alyssa shopping for—”
Panic rises in my throat but it's quickly replaced by relief when the sound of Tyrone's phone cuts him off.
He puts the phone up to his ear. “Oh, hey, Jackson. Funny we were just talking about you. If you're done shopping for b—” He stops mid sentence and his eyebrows crash together. “Okay, give me a second.”
He cups the phone. “I'll be back guys.”
It's on the tip of my tongue to question him, but then I remember that I'm in front of Lou-Lou and I can't.
She turns around to face me. “Sorry for what I did back there. I took it too far.”
I take a step closer to her. “Not at all, I brought you here for exactly that reason.”
“I enjoyed it actually.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean don't get me wrong, I'm no professional or anything. But it felt good.”
She looks at the door and smiles. “And seeing Tyrone—” Her eyes brim with tears. “It was so good to see him. I'm so happy he's okay. I'm so happy he doesn't hate me.”
“He knows it wasn't your fault.”
“Doesn't matter. I'll always feel responsible for it.”
She looks up at me and I brush her tears off her cheekbone. “I wish you wouldn't.”
She pulls away and looks at the cage again. “When was the last time you were here?”
“Yesterday morning with Tyrone.”
“Before that?”
“4 months, 9 days.” I stare at my watch. “22 minutes.”
She grabs my hand and starts walking. “Come on.”
When I don't move, she grins back at me. “Let me hit you a few more times so I can feel better.”
“No.” I back away. “I'm not going in there with you.”
She scrunches her face. “Why.”
“Because I don't trust myself in there...not with you.”
“But you miss it,” she argues. “Ricardo, I've never seen you look at anything the way you look at that cage.”
I pull her back to me and cup her face. “Well then you're not looking hard enough.”
Her chest rises and falls on a deep breath and for the first time, she's the one inching closer to me. “Please step inside the cage with me.” She rises on her tiptoes and folds her hands around my neck. “Ricky loved that cage.”
I lean my forehead against hers. “He loves something even more.”
She presses her body against mine and I stroke my thumb along her jaw. “He loves something so much that he would do anything to protect it.”
Even give up everything else he loves.
Confusion swirls in her eyes, but I slide my hands under her neck, focusing on her lips. It's been so long since I've kissed her...too damn long.
When I dip my head, she parts her mouth for me and I lean in closer.
Until she whispers, “Why are you keeping me hostage, Ricky?” And I back away.
I won't kiss her when she thinks I'm keeping her prisoner...even though by technical standards that's exactly what I'm doing.
I told her I'd never take something from her that she didn't give me. So until she gives herself to me like she used to—because she's choosing to and not feeling forced to—I'm not taking her.
Hell, I never should have entertained the thought in the first place. That was my royal fuck up.
Because she'll be free again once I figure out a way to kill her father without putting Jackson and Tyrone's lives on the line...and without the council going after her because I went against their orders.
“You already know why,” I bark and she frowns.
“Because you're upset I went on a date with a cowboy?”
“He attacked you, Lou-Lou.”
“Yeah and you said Atticus was dead now—” Lou-Lou starts to say, but Tyrone comes in and snatches his workout bag forcefully.
He glares at
me and opens his mouth, but then looks at Lou-Lou and blows out a breath instead.
I have no idea what Jackson told him during his phone call but he's obviously angry.
Lou-Lou walks over to him. “You're leaving? I thought you were going to teach me more stuff? What happened?”
He narrows his eyes at me but they soften when he looks at her. “I'm sorry, Lou-Lou, but Shelby just had a meltdown at the bakery while picking out the cake for the engagement party and I need to go meet her.”
Not the best lie, but better than nothing.
“Oh—okay. Yeah, that sounds pretty serious. Um, rain check?”
He nods and hugs her, his eyes back to glaring daggers at me over her shoulder.
When they pull away, I go to help him to the door but he throws up a hand and yells, “I got it,” before he speeds up and slams the door behind him.
With my stomach in knots now, I decide to pick up my phone and text him.
Ricardo: What the fuck is your problem?
Tyrone: I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. Surprised you didn't get another phone call about it before it hit the news again.
Shit.
I go to use the search engine on my phone but feel her eyes on me, looking over my shoulder.
I pull the hand cuffs out of my pocket, swiftly lock hers in place, and call my men to meet us out front.
When we get in the car, I toss her on my lap, not even registering that I'm holding her so tight until she starts to wince. “Ricardo, what—”
“Shut up, Lou-Lou.”
I don't want to be so mean to her, but I can't think right now and I'm liable to snap at any moment.
Less than 24 hours after Gaffney's dead and already the vice-mayor ends up in the same predicament.
The council's making moves quicker than they're supposed to...or rather, quicker than I thought they would.
My heart pounds like a drum. A drum that beats the same searing rhythm over and over again.
I'm. Running. Out. Of. Time.
I drag in a deep breath, trying to come up with something that will pacify Jackson and Tyrone for the time being so they don't hate me. Because I have to keep the lines of communication open with them.