"What can I, indeed," Vlad's face erupts into a wide, charming smile. He knows he has an in through Lina and he's taking full advantage of it. "We were closer than siblings, weren't we, Marcello?" he raises an eyebrow.
"Was he as brooding then as he is now?" Lina is quick to ask, leaning over the table, her face full of curiosity.
"Oh, even more. I could barely coax a word out of him. Sometimes I had to ask a question and answer it too." Vlad laughs and everyone joins in, since Marcello is not the most talkative individual. "But he had a gift."
"A gift?" It's Venezia who asks.
Somehow Vlad's managed to entrance the entire table and make everyone invested in his story.
"Yes, a gift for art. Why, he's a wonderful sculptor. You should have seen his art pieces," Vlad shakes his head, pursing his lips and releasing a mournful sound. "Too bad he's given it up."
"Vlad, stop," Marcello's voice is low and I detect a tinge of threat.
"Art? Really? Oh, Marcello, you have to show me." Lina says excitedly.
"Maybe some other time," my brother mutters.
"Yes, he needs very specific materials," Vlad leans back in his seat, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"What do you mean?" Lina asks, a frown appearing on her face as she looks between Vlad and Marcello.
"Hmm, what indeed, Marcello?" he tilts his head to the side, pushing his chin up as if daring my brother to answer. "The tongue of a traitor, the skin of a deceiver, the d..."
"That's enough!" Marcello's hand hits the table, and everyone is suddenly quiet.
"Tongue of a traitor?" Claudia asks, her eyes wide.
"Vlad, so God help me, I will do what I promised," Marcello speaks, the threat unmistakable.
"See, this is what I'm talking about. You and your god..." Vlad shakes his head, sighing deeply, "is that who you left me for? See, I don't get this god business. Imaginary friends aren't as much fun as you'd think."
"There are children at this table, Vlad, censor yourself." Marcello tells him, Lina's touch the only tether to keep him from snapping.
"Children are children, until they are not," Vlad replies vaguely, his lips stained with red from the wine.
My eyes hone in on that, and I find it increasingly harder to pretend I don't know him, or that I'm not aware of his presence in this room. I only have to look at his broad shoulders, the way his throat contracts when he swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, or how the hollow of his neck makes me want to swirl my tongue around it, dripping wine inside and licking him clean.
Damn, why do I have to be so wanton?
I don't know what his game is, and why he's intentionally riling my brother up since it's clear he has a death wish. And looking at Marcello, I know it's just a matter of time before he snaps.
Vlad's gaze moves around the table until it settles on me.
"And how old is our birthday girl now?"
"Twenty-one." I answer, narrowing my eyes at him. He knows fully well how old I am.
"That means she can legally drink alcohol, can she not?" He stands up, taking the bottle and two glasses with him. He places one in front of me, filling it to the brim, before doing the same with his.
"Happy Birthday!" He clinks the glasses before taking a sip of his, his eyes never leaving mine.
I take my own glass, lifting it to my mouth. But just as the liquid is about to hit my lips, a hand stops me.
"You don't have to drink, Sisi," Marcello says, already asking Claudia and Venezia to go sit by Lina. "Vlad is leaving."
"She's legal now, Marcello. It's her prerogative to drink or not," he smirks, his tongue peeking out to lick his lips.
I swallow.
The devil.
He knows exactly what he's doing.
"You need to leave, Vlad," Marcello tells him. "I get that you're bored, and friendless, and whatever, but I won't tell you again. Stay away from my family." He grits his teeth, taking the glass from me and slapping it on the table, the liquid teetering on the edge and spilling on the white cloth covering the table.
"Damn, 'cello, you've gone all big bad wolf on me. Are you afraid I'm going to pluck this flower?" He lays his hand on my shoulder, and I hear someone gasp at the table.
Everything happens in slow motion.
A waiter is coming in, bringing a huge birthday cake on a trolley. The hand on my shoulder disappears just as Marcello twists Vlad around, flinging him from me, and punching him in the face.
Lina's hands are on Claudia's eyes, while Venezia looks oddly intrigued.
Vlad doesn't even react, or fight back as he accepts the punch, his body being flung back and into my cake.
My mouth opens on a silent sound as I see half of Vlad's face land on the cake, ruining everything.
Marcello has a smug expression as he looks at Vlad, and for the first time, I've had it with them both.
"Stop!" I stand up, putting myself between them before the conflict escalates. "This is my birthday dinner, and you are both ruining it," I speak, my voice serious. "You, stop hitting people," I point at Marcello. "And you," I turn to Vlad, "stop asking to be hit!"
"Me? Asking to be hit?" Vlad rights himself, the upper part of his suit full of cake as more falls from his cheek.
"Stop!" Both Marcello and I speak at the same time.
I can barely contain a smile as I see the cream on Vlad's face, and I just shake my head at him.
"Here's how this is going to go," I say, looking at everyone. "You are going to calm down," I address Marcello, "and you are going to come with me to clean up. After that, everyone will behave, and we'll eat what's left of the cake in peace. Think you can do this?"
I'm almost at my wits' end and there's only one reason for it.
"You're not going anywhere with him," Marcello stops me. I turn to him, giving him my most no nonsense expression.
"I'll be fine," I say, "if he tries anything I'll just give him more cake," my lips twitch, "seems to shut him up just fine."
"Hey, I'm here," he interjects, but before he can insult my brother further, I grab him by the arm and take him to the bathroom, locking the door behind us so we're undisturbed.
"What is wrong with you?" I hiss at him when we're finally alone.
"You stood me up," he answers quietly, hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean?" I frown.
"We were supposed to meet. An hour ago to be more exact," he says, showing me his phone and the messages he's sent me—quite a lot of them.
"I don't have my phone with me, and we never planned anything."
He mutters something under his breath that I can't understand, but with his half caked face, I can't even take him seriously.
"Is that why you came here so ready to wage war?" I ask, swiping my finger over his face and tasting some of the cream.
"You stood me up," is all he says. Like a sullen boy, he pouts, looking anywhere but at me.
"I didn't stand you up. I didn't even know we were supposed to meet," I breathe out, a little exasperated with current circumstances.
Why does he have to be so reckless? He could have blown the entire thing, and I have no doubt that Marcello would have killed him—and me.
"Fine..." he agrees, but he doesn't seem any happier.
Shaking my head at him, I tug him to the sink, wetting a napkin and cleaning the cake from his face and clothes. All the while he's watching me with an odd expression on his face, as if he can't quite understand me.
His lips are slightly parted, his breath labored as I swipe the cloth over his face. My own skin is covered in goosebumps, awareness of his presence—so close by—prickling from head to toe. My cheeks feel heated, my palms sweaty.
Out of nowhere, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist, lowering it. Still holding my gaze, he backs me into a corner, his body crowding me until he's fitted to my front.
He's hard.
It's the first thing I feel when he presses himself into me, my own thighs clenching in response.
"You don't stand me up," he rasps, his breath on my lips.
"I don't?" I blink twice, the change in his behavior throwing me off. One moment he looks like a lost puppy, the next he's throwing me against the wall ready to ravish me.
"You're mine, hell girl. That means you're only mine." His lips trail over my jaw. "You promised me," he says, his thumb moving up over my lips, parting them.
"I did." I answer, the intensity in his eyes hypnotizing me.
"Say it," he whispers, lightly kissing me on the lips. "Say it."
"I'm yours," I say and he lets out a big breath, as if relieved.
"I'm never letting you go," he rasps, the sound barely audible.
"Did you really have to be so mean with Marcello?" I raise my hand to palm his cheek, my annoyance with him already melting away.
"You're mine." He repeats, leaning down to deepen the kiss before suddenly turning me around, making me brace my hands on the wall.
"Vlad?" I ask, uncertain of what he's about to do.
His hands are skirting around the hem of my dress as he drags it up over my ass.
"We don't have time." I whisper, even though all I want is for him to go on. "He'll come looking for us."
"Just a moment." he says, his voice low and anguished. "I need to know you're mine."
His hand moves past the band of my underwear and between my legs, his fingers dipping low between my lips as he circles my clit. My breath catches in my throat, my eyes closing as I focus on the sensations he's wringing from my body.
"You're so wet, hell girl. And all for me," he rasps, his mouth nibbling at my ear.
"Yes," I reply, grinding myself against his hand.
He starts moving faster, his fingers working their magic on my pussy while his mouth is slowly massaging the column of my neck, alternating between sucking, licking and teasing.
In no time, I'm coming, barely holding back my voice as I push my ass into his erection. I sag against him, my body turning to jelly as I ride the last of the orgasm.
"Happy birthday," he whispers.
Turning, I steady myself against the wall, watching as he takes his fingers and licks them clean.
"Better than the cake." His voice sends shivers down my spine, his black eyes holding me captive.
I'm barely aware of what's happening as he shoves his hands in his pockets, removing a small box and thrusting it in my face.
"What's this?" I ask, taking it in my hand.
"Your present," he says, suddenly not meeting my gaze.
Curious, and a little surprised he'd gotten me something, I open the box to find a necklace with my name, diamonds encrusted in the letters.
"For me?" I stare at the beautiful object, unable to believe he'd gotten it for me.
"Let me," he says, taking it out of the box and placing it around my neck.
"Beautiful jewelry for a beautiful lady." He remarks, and as I look into the mirror, feeling the cold metal against my skin, I can't help but sigh in satisfaction.
"Thank you," I tug him closer, giving him a resounding kiss. "It's amazing."
For the first time, I see a genuine smile on his face as he nuzzles his cheek into the crook of my neck.
Finishing up in the bathroom, we return to the table.
Marcello looks between the two of us suspiciously.
"Took you long enough," he mutters.
"I didn't know he was afraid of water," I shrug, taking a seat.
"I am not!" Vlad protests, grabbing the chair next to me. With Claudia and Venezia seated next to Lina, he can finally sit closer to me.
"Sure." I shrug, amused, "that's why he kept saying he was going to melt if water touched his skin."
"What can I say," he bats his eyes innocently at everyone, "it's not my fault I'm related to the wicked witch. We can't choose our parents," he says, turning his attention to Marcello, "you of all should know."
Marcello doesn't reply, but the tension in his jaw tells me the jab is personal.
"Anyone want cake?" I ask out loud, already tired of playing pacifier.
"Yes!" Claudia replies
"Me too," Venezia responds too.
Cake is served, and for the first time, no one wants to kill anyone. And to reward Vlad for his behavior, I grab his hand under the table.
He looks mildly surprised, but he squeezes it, holding tight.
I guess this is what it feels like to have a family...
Getting out of bed, I walk sleepily to the bathroom, quickly taking a shower and brushing my teeth. I'm still so tired I can barely see straight.
Wrapping a towel over my body, I head back to bed. Checking my phone, though, I realize what time it is.
Fuck!
"Wake up!" I push at Vlad's shoulders, trying to shake him awake. "It's late, you need to leave." I tell him, but he doesn't seem to hear anything as he mumbles something in his sleep.
"Vlad!" I continue shaking him. Out of nowhere, his eyes snap open, and he's staring intently at me. "You need to leave before the guards do their rounds," I soften my voice.
His gaze is still on me, his hand grabbing on to my towel, unraveling it. "Vlad!" I exclaim, scandalized.
He's quick to turn me on my back, looming over me as he breathes in my scent.
"Not yet," he whispers against my skin, his lips brushing over one nipple.
"What..." I drift off when he wraps his lips around it, sucking it in his mouth. My legs automatically fall open, inviting him to nestle inside.
He's still wearing his underwear, but I can feel the unmistakable hardness of his erection as he grinds it against me.
"I need one last taste," he rasps against my skin, his mouth open over my stomach as he trails his tongue down, "to last me until later."
"It's late." I try one last excuse, but as he catches my clit between his lips, biting and sucking, I forget why he needs to leave.
Hands in his hair, I urge him on, his masterful tongue doing wonderful things to my pussy and making me moan in pleasure.
"Sisi?" I hear Lina's voice outside my door as she knocks softly.
My eyes widen, and out of pure instinct I throw the blanket over Vlad, covering myself to my chin.
"Be quiet," I whisper, but he doesn't reply. No, he continues to assault me with his tongue, my toes curling as I try to pretend I'm not having the best time of my life with my secret lover.
"Yes?" I cough to clear my voice.
"Sorry to come in so early, but I was thinking that we could have an afternoon to ourselves?" She asks, a smile on her face.
"Of course!" I immediately agree, one hand in Vlad's hair as he doesn't seem to be able to stop himself. It takes everything in me not to react to his devilish tongue, or the way he's pushing it inside me, fucking me with it.
Lina beams at my response, enumerating a few activities she has in mind. I listen with half an ear, nodding until she makes to leave.
God!
A small sound escapes my lips as Vlad inserts two fingers inside me, his tongue back to sucking on my clit.
"Are you... ok?" Lina stops, turning to ask.
"Yeah, of course." My voice comes out weird, and I have the hardest time schooling my features to not show the way my eyes want to roll in the back of my head, my climax imminent.
"You look a little red. And sweaty. Aren't you hot?" She points to the thick blanket on top of my body.
"No, no. I'm very cold at night." I lie, and just at that moment Vlad increases the speed of his fingers. I bite my lip. Hard. It's all that's keeping me from not screaming out loud. My legs are quivering, my entire body racked by small tremors as he wrings an orgasm out of me.
"If you're sure..." she's still in the doorway, looking unconvinced.
"Yes," I breathe out roughly. "I'll see you later," I say, sweat coursing all over my body.
She eventually nods, finally leaving the room.
I yank the covers to see Vlad's mischievous smile as he gives me yet another long lick of his tongue.
"You're wicked," I accuse, shaking my head at him.
Why is it that he's becoming more and more reckless by the day? This is proof enough that he doesn't seem to care that we might get caught at some point.
Where I once decided to distance myself from him for fear I may get my heart broken, it seems it's easier said than done. No, make that a hell of a lot harder to do.
After he'd popped in uninvited at my birthday party, he'd become relentless, finding a reason to spend time with me every day. Since he was unstoppable in his resolve, I'd started letting him sleep over, thinking that this way I'd get my rest, and he'd get his fill of me. Of course, I'd get my fill of him too, since there's hardly a day when I don't want him by my side. After all, him pursuing me with such ardor had only made me realize that I want anything he can give me.
So what if he doesn't have emotions? I don't believe that he doesn't care for me. And as long as I'm his, and he is mine, that is enough for me.
For now...
"What if we get caught? You know what Marcello thinks of you even being in the same room as me," I tell him, pursing my lips.
After the birthday debacle, Marcello had taken me aside and had warned me against Vlad, telling me he might seem charming, but that it's nothing but a facade. Of course, he'd gone on to name all of Vlad's flaws, not counting on my finding them appealing.
I'd nodded, feigned understanding, and we'd closed that discussion.
"He won't be able to do anything when I marry you," he whispers against my throat as he takes me into his arms.
"I don't remember you proposing," I retort.
It's not the first time he's said that he will marry me, and while I'd accept it in the blink of an eye, I want him to work for it. I won't settle for anything less than the perfect proposal. Besides, he should hurry if he ever wants to have sex, since for some purely idiotic reason, he'd gotten it into his head that he's only going to sleep with me when we're married.
"It's what you deserve," he'd try to convince me, even when his cock was one thrust away from claiming me.
Morally Ambiguous: A Dark Mafia Romance (Morally Questionable Book 4) Page 29