Hero: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance

by Lara Swann

  We had a lovely afternoon chatting and learning each others’ lives, and she told me about all the work she used to do as a major events manager - impressing me with stories about the insane ways she’d filled ‘unique’ requests, and making me feel like we’d missed a trick not hiring her for my parents wedding. She said she still dabbled in it now, and it worked well as it was flexible and largely geography independent, but most of her focus these days was on her children and those skills came out more often for charity.

  It didn’t quite shaken the unease or the questions about myself that she’d prompted, but it gave me some distraction for her information to settle.

  I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to deal with it. But as I watched Seth playing and joking with the kids, saw the way his eyes sought and met mine every so often, my heart felt like it was expanding moment by moment, swelling with the depths of everything I felt for him.

  I might not know the answer, but I wanted to find out. I wanted to try.

  It was simply that I couldn’t picture letting him go.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Seth

  “So?”

  I had Bella pressed up against my truck, my hands lingering on her hips as my mouth nuzzled against hers. I’d been longing to do just that all day, and now that I had us away from Becky and the kids, I wanted to do all sorts of wicked, inappropriate things. Spending a whole day around her without having sex had been a cruel and unusual occurrence, as far as I was concerned.

  “So what?”

  She was a little breathless against me and I smiled.

  “I was going to ask what you thought. But I see I wasn’t the only one thinking of other things.”

  My thigh nudged her legs apart and she pressed against it instinctively, moaning as my hands covered her gorgeous tits, thumbs teasing her already hard nipples through the light bra she wore. Her eyes darted around with a slight alarm, but there was no one around. Didn’t stop her cheeks from heating.

  “You expected me to watch you working hard, all muscle and sweat, for the whole day without thinking of those things?”

  My laugh had a pleasant hum to it and I took the kiss I’d been teasing at, pressing her whole body back against the truck and making her feel every inch of those hard muscles she loved so much. Her arms came around me, settling against the waistband of the thick work jeans, fingers trailing to my ass. I clenched it under her and she moaned again, shaking her head.

  “If you don’t stop now…we’re not stopping.”

  Well, there was an invitation worth obliging.

  But we were in the middle of the street.

  And if we had public sex right outside her house, Becky might try to skin me alive. For all I knew, her kids were on their way out yelling with scooters and bikes and things.

  That was an image that calmed me down a little.

  “I can’t tell which of those you’re actually asking for, baby.”

  But I shifted away, letting her down to catch her breath and withdrawing with a last deep kiss. Her eyes were still a little glazed as I went around to the driver’s side of the truck, and she shook her head as she got in. It was always nice to see the effect I had, and I grinned as I started the engine and started maneuvering us out of the tight space.

  “So you never answered that question.”

  “Which one?”

  Her voice was idle as she looked over at me, one hand settling on my thigh and her fingers drifting towards something that was very eager to meet her. I shifted in the seat and shook my head. Damned girl had taken too many tips from me.

  “What you thought of today.”

  “I don’t think you ever actually asked it…”

  Her voice was amused, but her gaze shifted to look out of the window as she considered the answer. That didn’t surprise me - I had a good idea what they’d talked about. I hadn’t quite expected Becky to bring it up the first time she met Bella but…she’d had this conversation several times before, and she knew how to pick her timing. And it wasn’t like things between Bella and I weren’t intense as hell - she ought to know what she was getting into before we took this too far. Especially with the wedding imminent.

  It was the sort of thing that was obvious, that required no explanation…but until you saw it, you couldn’t get it. I was in the military, and not even any branch, the SEALs - we leave for months or years at a time, we fight things we can never talk about and we risk our lives almost every day we’re out there. Waiting at home for that…it wasn’t a fate I’d wish on anyone. It wasn’t something you could expect anyone to do for you.

  Even if you really wanted them to.

  My heart clenched hard in my chest as I wondered how Bella had taken it. Her gaze shifted back to me, with a seriousness that meant she’d understood the importance.

  “You were right - Becky’s a great woman and I liked her a lot.”

  I didn’t push for more, happy to sit in silence while she thought. I didn’t expect her to have any answers - I wasn’t even sure she could.

  “About the rest of it…I need to think about it, Seth. I didn’t quite realize…but then you knew that, right?”

  Her head was tilted and I nodded, trying to lighten my touch on the steering wheel.

  “Yeah. Even if I’d told you all the details, until you see it for yourself…it’s not the same. It’s alright, you know. I don’t - I know the chances.”

  I shrugged. It was something that had been eating at me recently, but it was part of my life and I could deal with it. I’d come to terms with it when I joined the SEALs, and however difficult it made this, it was as much a part of who I was now as anything else.

  Her hand brushed against mine, but I didn’t turn to meet her eyes.

  “Just let me think, okay?”

  I nodded and didn’t say anymore, letting the silence hold for a little bit until she started talking about Becky again. The casual conversation made the thick air easier, and I tried to turn my mind away from all the questions that didn’t have answers yet. This was why I hadn’t wanted to show her - hadn’t wanted to get involved.

  It wasn’t just our parents - hell, the only reason I cared about that was because it would hurt her to defy her father.

  It was who I was. What being with me meant.

  I never thought I’d ask someone to deal with that. And now that I had, it was damn hard to sit and wait, when I’d finally acknowledged just how much this meant to me.

  “It’s inspiring, you know - some of the things she’s done. She’s got that way about her, don’t you think? The kind of woman who could conquer the world if she could put her mind to it.”

  I smiled a little at her, lingering on the way her own emerald eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and passion, the way the strength of her spirit made it impossible to think her small, even with that gorgeous petite form. The consideration and compassion she gave anything and everything.

  “She’s got that, no doubt about it. But I think you’ve more of a way about you.”

  Her startled expression made me laugh.

  “Babe, if it wasn’t sad, it would be sweet. You really have no clue, do you?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You. You’re the most passionate, intelligent woman I’ve ever met. Fiery and indomitable too - no one’s ever fought toe-to-toe with me the way you have. If you wanted to conquer the world, I’d pity the SEAL team sent to stop you. And you don’t even realize.”

  She gaped at me, and I shook my head. It was impossible. I gave her a gentle push, and then let my hand wander down her side, stroking her thigh for a moment.

  “You really need to get over yourself and stop holding that potential back, babe.”

  She just sat there in silence for a few moments, looking at me and I wished I could do something to ease the disbelief on her face.

  It was some fucking joke the universe liked playing that a woman like her was so unaware of the effect she had on everything and everyone.

/>   “You really mean that? All that stuff you just said?”

  She looked at me with just a little bit of suspicion and I gave her my most arrogant smile.

  “Babe, if it wasn’t true, you wouldn’t deserve me.”

  * * *

  By the time we got back to the house, that conversation and the day of teasing and tempting each other were too much to be contained. We barely avoided our parents seeing us dragging each other up the stairs, and I don’t think I’ve ever balcony-hopped quite that quickly.

  Then we were all over each other again, trying to hush each other as we laughed and moaned and tore at each others’ clothes. We ended up on the bed in a half-naked heap, kissing and writhing together as our bodies and tongues twined together. Once we finally had that, we slowed down a little, letting the kisses and touches develop as the urgency became something sweeter. She was looking at me with a wonder that made this feel more special than the quick relief we’d been going for.

  I pushed her down against the bed, holding myself on top of her as I kept her there with my body and let my mouth and tongue take over teasing her. I took my slow, gentle time until she was moaning under me, my warm breath stroking her bare skin before my mouth and tongue tasted every part of her.

  “Seth…”

  Her voice had that longing tone to it that always made me hard as a rock, the evidence of her pure desire and need enough to have me ready to fulfill it at any moment. My large hands cupped her tits, playing and stroking as my mouth devoured hers, her hips pressing up into the thick muscle of my thigh as she clearly wanted more. I grinned and nibbled at one of her soft, full lips.

  “Not yet, baby. I want you ready for me.”

  “I am ready, damn you.”

  The heat in her tone only had me laughing, my blood pumping hard within me as I continued playing, teasing all across that wonderful body of hers. My mouth moved lower, nuzzling and sucking and nibbling at her breasts, following the path my hands had taken until I got to her warm, waiting entrance. My hands spread her legs and held her hard as they would have spasmed against me while I breathed gently over her core, inhaling the heady scent of her feminine musk.

  God damn, but this never got old.

  I took my time, working my tongue slowly as I explored her those sweet, soft folds while she moaned and clutched hard at the covers. My tongue alternated between those gentle strokes and a couple of firm flicks against her clit, her body flushing with desire and need as I started the heat building in her stomach. My slow, teasing pace increased after a few minutes, my tongue slipping between those sensitive lips and stroking firmly within her waiting pussy. She shuddered under me and I fought back a grin as I continued, every stroke taking her closer to that edge where she’d let go of everything but me. The way I felt inside her. The things I was doing to her.

  As her breathing grew labored and her body was writhing even under my firm grip, I narrowed my focus and started fucking her with my tongue in truth. There was nothing teasing now as I circled her clit, playing with the sensitive bud as she struggled not to cry out too loudly. The intensity was roaring through her, and as I sensed her on the edge, I flicked my tongue hard against her clit and pushed a couple of fingers inside her, feeling her pussy shudder then clench around me as she moaned continuously with the uncontrollable climax.

  I stayed with her, riding the aftershocks as I sent her up again and again, making her breathless and weak by the time I finally shifted myself back on top of her. The look in her eyes was wild and needy as she saw me, coming up immediately for a kiss and letting me share that sweet taste with her. I groaned against her, holding her tightly to me as her body still shifted under me, the strength of her climax just making me hotter and harder.

  “Okay baby, now you’re ready for me.”

  Her eyes widened as she looked up at me, and I grinned, knowing just how sensitive she must be and wanting to share it, wanting to drive her crazy until she was screaming under me as I took her again. She whimpered a little into my mouth as I settled myself into place, looking into her eyes with a burning need of my own.

  “Ohh, Seth…”

  But her voice was full of a desire that matched my own, no matter that she’d just come. She wanted this. She wanted me.

  And there was no way I was ever going to hold that back from her.

  She was crying out lightly and trying to keep quiet from the first time I entered her.

  My cock slid in as easily as it always had, with her pussy already shivering and shuddering around it. The way that felt was simply divine, and I was done with teasing - either her or myself. My hips were already moving, thrusting hard inside her and feeling that delicious tightness around me as she clamped down, wanting to feel more, to take more. I was breathing hard now, my own need coiling up in my balls and oh-so-ready to explode within her.

  But I wanted more. I wanted her to be right there with me. So I slowed and worked her back up to it, teasing her mouth and neck and tits again as my relentless cock filled her and gave her everything she was looking for.

  The way she moaned my name was just perfect, and I could tell instantly when her breathing changed, when it was obvious she was starting to ramp up that uncontrollable desire again. My arms clutched her tight to me as she explored my chest, my shoulders, my back, running her hands over my muscles with the same awe she always had.

  They’d always been good for attracting chicks, but I’d only been truly grateful for the depth of military training after meeting Bella.

  “God, Seth…”

  “I know baby, I know…”

  The same thing driving her crazy was there inside me, ready and waiting to be unleashed, and I didn’t want to hold back anymore. I ramped it up again, moving harder and faster inside her as I started to drive us towards that perfect finish. My mouth was hard against hers now, and we kissed as deeply as I took her, every nerve and fiber intent and focused on what we were doing together. I felt her breath hitch, her pussy shudder over my cock, and then she was crying out, screaming into my mouth as it took the noise I wanted so badly to hear. Her center clenched around me, milking my cock hard, and that was everything I needed to explode within her, roaring over the edge of my own climax as my cock pulsed.

  It took us a long few moments to come down, caught like that with breath ragged and bodies shuddering with need and relief and everything we’d ever wanted. When I finally did collapse to the side, I dragged her with me, curling her against my side and pillowing her head on my chest. I ran my hand through her hair as we were both silent for a long moment.

  Eventually, she looked up at me, her eyes still bright with pleasure, and something so much more. I smiled to see it, leaning down to kiss softly before she propped herself up against me.

  “Seth, I…”

  I brought her lips to mine and kissed her again, but her eyes didn’t lose that strong, emotional glow and she reached down to run her finger down my cheek, cupping my face as she leaned forward.

  “I love you, Seth.”

  It was a murmur, but no less powerful for that.

  My eyes widened, but the only thing on her face was the kind of blissful happiness I thought you only got in movies. The words shot through me, making me shudder with the strength of it as I crushed her to me, kissing her again, deeply, intently.

  To my surprise, and no surprise at all, I found the mirror of her feelings deep inside myself, welling up at her words in a way that wanted to explode and shout and proclaim for all to hear.

  I’d never even thought about it, but…every protective, possessive instinct responded with what I’d known all along.

  Mine.

  What else could these feelings be?

  “God. I love you too, Bella. Mine. My Belle.”

  The eyes that I didn’t think could possibly get more bright intensified, and she leaned down to kiss me again, every part of me melting against that one true fact.

  I loved her.

  God help me, I loved her. />
  Bella rose again, but she wasn’t quite done.

  “All of you, Seth. What we spoke about before, I can do it. I want to do it.”

  My body tightened, wanting to believe, but I shook my head.

  “You said you needed time, baby girl. I get that, you don’t have to—”

  Her fingers spread across my lips and for once in my life I shut up.

  “I didn’t need time for the question, Seth. I was never going to let you go. I just needed time for the answer…to know how…but that doesn’t matter anymore. I love you.”

  To my surprise, I felt tears prick my eyes. I didn’t cry.

  I was a fucking badass Navy SEAL.

  But her words ripped through me, promised me things I never thought I’d have.

  Never thought I wanted, or needed, until she came into my life.

  Fuck.

  “God-damn it, Bella…”

  I kissed her again, overwhelmed and emotional and feeling like a complete idiot. But it didn’t matter. With her, I could be an idiot.

  She’d love me anyway.

  “We’ll work it out together, baby. How to make it work. We’ll do it together.”

  And that was all either of us needed to know.

  Chapter Twenty

  Bella

  My fingernails drumming on the seat next to me, I checked my hair subtly in the taxi driver’s mirror, but the still night hadn’t disrupted it.

  At least I hadn’t had to spend hours deciding what to wear - Seth had asked me to come in the same gown I wore to the charity ball. I hadn’t been a huge fan of bringing back the associations I had with that night, but I couldn’t resist when he told me he’d been thinking of the way it swirled around my curves all night, and he wanted a chance to get to know it more intimately.

  Sometimes, for a rough Navy SEAL, he had a way with words. Certain words, anyway.