Leaning my head back against the sofa, I weigh the two options. I will do about anything for my brothers, and this is the first girl Zev has cared about since he was a teenager. But I have to keep Victoria safe, too. Maybe she could handle Noah on her own.
“Alright. We’ll give it a little more time to see if Victoria can get something on Noah. The FBI is on me bad. We have to do something soon, so talk to Noah in the meantime. Convince him that Tara isn’t worth losing this deal.”
***
Victoria enters her condo, and I turn on the lamp next to me, startling her. “Fuck, Adrian, you can’t keep doing this. You’re going to blow my cover.”
“You obviously feel you can do whatever the hell you want, so why shouldn’t I?”
Her shoulders slouch as she lets her purse fall to the floor. “Dammit, Xavier told, didn’t he?”
“It seems you are due for a punishment. Another session of being bound is in your future, so you will remember that you can trust me.”
“If you didn’t become raging jealous and trusted me, I would be able to share things with you.” Her hand is on her hip, and she’s giving me her sassy attitude. God, it only makes me want to fuck her harder.
“You haven’t witnessed raging jealousy. I warned you in the beginning that the trait doesn’t set well with me.”
“I’m seeing that.”
“Now, back to your punishment …”
Victoria’s eyes are anchored to mine, and I watch as she breathes in the oxygen feeding the fire of lust between us, her chest rising and falling faster.
“Come.” I bend my finger for her to approach me. She begins to move leisurely, her short, black skirt lifting with each sensual step. Her eyes stay imprisoned to mine as she creeps toward me.
That’s right, baby. Remember who your master is.
Once Victoria has reached me, I turn her to face sideways. My hand breezes up the back of her thighs and lifts her skirt. Fuck, she’s wearing a black garter belt and thong.
It’s connected to her sheer thigh highs. There is a sexy bow at the top of each, and her bare ass is right there, waiting for my hand to turn it red.
This will be the ultimate test to see how much Victoria truly approves of me commanding her. We’ve come so far. Hell, she’s come so far. She’s a sensual being now, retiring her jeans for confident, sensual clothing. I loved who she was when I met her, but now, I worship her.
“Bend over and grasp your ankles.” I hear the hiss as air rushes into her lungs.
“Yes, Sir.” Slowly, she bends over, her fingers wrapping around her ankles. I shift my cock as it strains in my jeans.
“I’m going to spank you, Victoria, until your ass is crimson. From now on, you’re going to tell me what the hell you’re doing beforehand, and we’ll figure it out together. I will also work on my temper.”
“Shit, yes, Sir.” Her legs begin to tremble, and I could come right now from the sight of her. I stand and brace her by gripping her hip. Holding my other hand up, I connect it with her bare ass.
She jumps and tips forward a bit. I keep her from falling and rub her ass before I spank her again. Her control is better, and I’m itching to find out if she’s wet. I trace the lace strip of her thong that lines the crack of her ass.
Damn, I want to fuck her there, and eventually I will. Hell, maybe she’ll misbehave again, and I’ll have a damn good reason to do it.
My fingers slip inside the fabric and into her. Her legs naturally want to open for me, and she moans.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Damn, you’re fucking sexy and so wet for me. Who knew you would like to be spanked? You’ve come a long way, baby.”
“I could only trust you to do it, Sir.”
I spank Victoria three more times, massaging her ass between each strike. She whimpers with each rub, but it’s not from pain. It’s from her longing. She wants me to fuck her, and I’m about to.
Stepping behind her, I pull her garter belt and thong down her thighs. I kick her legs apart and hold her hip as I use my other hand to free my aching shaft. Perfect. She’s just tall enough for this to work.
I thrust into her hard and fast. She begins to fall forward again as she gasps. “Yes, fuck me.”
“Shit, woman, I love you.” Gripping her hips, I pound into her slick pussy. She’s at my mercy, her body shaking below me. “What will you do if …,” I catch my breath as she strokes my dick, “if another man tries to touch you?”
“I’ll break his arm, Sir.”
“Good–answer,” I say raggedly as blood is shared between my cock and dizzying head. My pulse drums in my ear as I explode with pleasure deep inside of her. I move slowly in and out as I come down from the rush.
Slipping out of her, I brace Victoria with an arm wrapped around her waist. My fingers circle her clit until she’s crying my name and quivering, her weight falling onto me.
Like the other sexual experiences with her, this one will be burned into my brain for eternity. Lifting her up, I shift and sit in the chair, pulling her down on top of me. Her head falls back onto my shoulder, and she’s panting for air.
Nuzzling my face in her hair, I savor the comforting scent of it. “I love you, Victoria.”
“I love you, too, and that was amazing.”
“You’re amazing. I’m going to be a wreck while Noah is here. After talking to Zev, I have an idea of how you can bait Sanders to work with you.”
“Let me hear it.” I fill her in on what Zev said about Noah holding out on the drug deal for a night with Tara. We then revise our plan.
Once I feel better about her upcoming meeting, I nuzzle against her again and inhale the scent of roses and sex. I’m overcome with emotion. I’ll kill the man if he hurts her. I’ll fucking kill him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Simon
Sadie pads out of her bedroom at around nine a.m. Her head turns to me as I sit on her sofa.
“Simon. I see you borrowed my key again last night.” She rubs her eyes and smirks at me. “Why didn’t you come warm me up in bed?”
Strolling over, she climbs into my lap. Her arms wrap around my neck, so I can’t resist pulling her close. I don’t say a word.
Instead, I bury my face into her unruly chocolate waves and breathe in her alluring scent. I truly focus on how good she feels in my embrace. After a quiet few minutes, she pulls away and gazes at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t come to bed because I’m too nervous to sleep. I have to tell you some things, Sadie.” Climbing out of my lap, she sits on the couch facing me and crosses her legs. I get a glimpse of her satin, black panties before she tucks one of my t-shirts over her knees.
I smile, thinking about how much time I’ve spent here already. “Tell me.”
“It’s a long story, but here goes …” I proceed to tell Sadie everything about our business and how it began. We’d already discussed my father’s death, but she knew nothing about the illegal poker, drug deals and arms buying.
I stop whenever Sadie’s overwhelmed or her eyes well up with tears. Once she’s asked some questions, I finish and finally wait for her response.
“I told you from the beginning that I didn’t even care if you were in the Mafia, so I guess I can’t be angry. But you’re such a kind person, Simon, so I didn’t expect what you were doing to be this large-scale.”
I take her hand into mine. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to involve or worry you, so it’s why I haven’t told you. What we’ve been doing was only to fight the terrorists, and it’s going to stop.”
“Why are you telling me now?”
“Because you and I are getting serious. There is something else you need to know, but shit Sadie, I don’t want to hurt you.” Tapping my foot, I press my fingers to my forehead. Her hand squeezes mine.
“Tell me, Simon.”
“The FBI figured out what we’re doing. They are going to let us off the hook if we can bust Noah Sanders for major d
rug dealing.”
Her hand covers her chest, and she fists her t-shirt.
“And if you don’t make this happen?”
“My brothers and I will go to prison.” It’s as if a dam broke as tears rush into Sadie’s eyes, making the blue of them glow.
“How long have you known this?” Her tone is angry.
“Since before I met you.” Darting from the couch, she paces in front of me. Her fingernail goes to her mouth, and she won’t look at me.
“Sadie, doll, talk to me.”
“You knew you might have to leave me, yet you let me fall in love with you.”
“I believe we will get out of this mess.”
Whipping around to face me, her hands shove into her curls. “But you can’t promise me, right?”
I hang my head. “No, I can’t.”
“You selfish, prick. Get out!”
Standing, I charge toward her. “Sadie, it will work out. Please, forgive me for not telling you.”
“Get out of my apartment, Simon. You’ve known all along that my heart could be completely shattered.”
“I love you, and I’m not giving up on us. I’ll fix this bad situation I’m in.”
Sadie bursts into tears and hurries to her bedroom. Her sobs feel like stabs to my chest, her harsh breaths the twists of the knife.
I don’t know what else to do right now, so I leave her place. No matter what she says, she’s still mine to love, and I’ll remind her as many times as it takes.
Victoria
My phone rings as I’m dressing for a night at the Royal lounge. It’s Sadie, so I answer. “Sis, hi.”
“Did you know?” she asks between cries.
“What’s wrong, Sadie?”
“Did you know the Cassano brothers could be sent to prison?”
Shit. “I found out when Adrian and I broke up.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Sadie words are barely understandable, but her tone sends the message she is furious.
“It’s complicated, involves police business, and I didn’t feel it was my place to tell. I knew Simon would when he felt the timing was right.”
“I thought we were family, but I see where your loyalty lies.” My sister hangs up on me, so I pull the phone down to my side. I’m stunned. Was I disloyal to her? Should I have told her the truth once I knew?
***
Reluctantly, I have Noah following me from Hotel Submission to my condo. I threw the game again tonight, letting him win big at the table.
It wasn’t hard to do. My mind was distracted by my phone call today with Sadie. I’m feeling guilty, but she told me from the beginning she didn’t care what shady business Simon was into. She should’ve had the sense to know there are risks that come with that.
I’m reminded that Noah is behind me when I glance in my rearview mirror. I need to get my head straight before this meeting. Once I punch in the code to enter the condo complex, he follows me in and parks next to my BMW.
He makes chitchat about the oppressive heat as we approach my place. I open the door and invite him in. Checking things out, he wanders around my living room. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Bourbon if you have it.”
“Coming right up.” I stroll to the small bar as he takes a seat on the white, leather sofa.
“Pretty nice place you have here.”
“I’m soon purchasing a home much larger outside of the city. My realtor is looking for me.” I hand him the drink and take a seat in a chair diagonal to him.
We sit quietly, reading each other and sipping from our glasses. “I’ll admit, I’m a little hesitant having you here.”
His forehead scrunches, and he smirks.
“Why is that?”
“I heard through the grapevine that your father is Commissioner Sanders.”
His eyes avert to the tumbler in his hand.
“Well, don’t let that worry you. My father and I are nothing alike.”
“I figured that might be the case, seeing how you’re gambling illegally in Royal.”
“I guess you could call it payback for my childhood. I do anything and everything he wouldn’t want me to do. Those who appear the most honest and moral are often the most evil, and that man is evil.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe I told you that. I don’t usually discuss my personal business.”
“As long as I know you’re not working for the cops, I don’t care about your personal life. I want to discuss your other business. Your dealings.”
“So, you know what I do. What’s your story, Vicky?”
“I have my own couriers working mostly in the corporate world. I hear you mainly deal with college students. I was thinking we could join forces and grow this into something much larger.”
While examining me, he takes another swig of his drink.
“Why should I trust you? This all seems too convenient.”
“We have a mutual contact, Adrian Cassano.”
“Excuse me?”
“I will cut to the chase. I met Adrian when I was interviewed to be a member of Royal, so I’ve gotten to know him. He claims you’re holding out on a big deal, and frankly, he’s feeling out the water for someone new to work with.”
“I hadn’t heard,” Noah says, clearly pissed.
“So, instead of me stealing your business, maybe there is room for the both of us. What do you say?”
Zev
Once I’ve closed up Caged and the Royal lounge, I do what I’ve done several other days; I go to Tara’s in an early hour of the morning and crawl into bed with her.
I lie and watch her sleep. I told Simon and Adrian a week ago that I was going to sever ties with her, yet here I am once again in her bed.
She’s angelic and peaceful as I gaze at her, the complete opposite of me. I can’t continue this any longer. I’ve been selfish, spending time with her when I’ve known all along that I would ultimately let her go.
“Daisy,” I say softly while smoothing her hair down her back. She stirs awake and smiles.
“Good morning,” she says.
“Morning.”
Exhaling on a yawn, she glides her fingers through my hair. “I’ve missed you.” Without a thought, the same words flow right from my mouth back to her, and she lights up like the star Sirius.
“Good,” she exclaims. “I thought a lot about something last night, and I want to tell you.” Her half-lidded eyes stare off at her hand playing in my hair. “I’m falling in love with you.”
I feel paralyzed as I stare at her sincere face. The words sink in, and I abruptly sit up. Spinning around, I sit on the side of the bed, facing away from her, and bury my face in my hands. “Don’t say shit like that.”
Gentle fingers trail down my back, and I’m torn between wanting to flee and the desire to ravish her.
“Zev, I can’t help how I feel.”
“We were supposed to have a good time–nothing more.” I shift to face her, and she sits up, holding the sheet over her chest.
“How many parties did you expect us to have without feelings crashing one of them?” She’s giving me a stern look, and although her comment is witty, I can’t laugh. I’m about to crush her, and it’s killing me inside.
“You’re confined by your own walls,” she adds.
“You won’t like what you see if I take them down.”
“How do you know if you’ve never shared it with anyone? Have a little hope.”
“Tara, hope is a stranger to me. I only live in the present.”
“Do you? I think if you did, you would’ve kissed me already.”
I need to tell her at least part of why I won’t be with her. She deserves to know. “I have frequent bouts of depression. My mother is severely mentally ill and has been all my life. I refuse to share my pain with anyone. I won’t be a burden to someone else like she has been all these years to her family.”
Silently, Tara stares at me. Her hand cradles my cheek, but I p
ull it down. “I could be there for you during those difficult times.”
“You deserve more. A whole hell of a lot more.” Glancing away, her blue eyes fill with tears.
“OK.”
I gaze at her blankly. What does she mean?
“I’m not going to beg you, Xavier. If you don’t feel the same as I do, then there isn’t more to discuss.” Her fingers swiftly brush away the fallen tears on her cheeks.
She grants me one more of her breathtaking grins, and my heart caves in as I acknowledge it could be the last one I see.
“It’s been fun partying with you,” she says, choking back her tears and smiling even broader.
Fuck. What did you expect, jackass?
I kiss her forehead and whisper, “I’m sorry.” Shifting back to the side of the bed, I dress as fast as possible. I don’t feel her move. All I hear is her swallowing, battling not to shed another tear for me.
Fuck life.
Fuck heartache.
Piss on all of it.
I throw on my shoes and flee from her condo, leaving my heart behind.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tara
Combing over the internet, I let the coolness of my ice cream chill my mouth, hoping it will somehow chill my heart. I want to be pissed at Zev, but I only feel sorry for him. He never promised me shit, so do I have any right to be mad at him?
Even still, I can’t subject myself to seeing him day in and day out. I tag all the jobs that look to have potential and cry off and on as I update my resume. This is something I should’ve done months ago. It’s time I put my business degree to work.
Hours pass, and I’m still in my PJ’s. Once I’ve submitted my resume to at least a dozen places, I head to the shower. While I’m searching through my dresser, finding an outfit, something catches my eye by the bed. There are a set of keys laying on the floor.
I pick them up and study them. They are labeled with words like office, storage, and Caged. Shit, these must be keys Zev uses at Submission. They probably fell out of his pocket while he dressed as if he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
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