Born into Sin: An Age Gap Dark Mafia Romance (Devils Will Rise: Melnikov Legacy Book 1)

12. Natalya

When I wake a few hours later, the first thing I notice is the ache between my legs. I roll over to lie on my back and groan at the twinge of pain that hits me. My god, it feels like I’ve been fucked by a battering ram. I knew Dominic was big, but nothing could have prepared me for this. My cheeks heat up at the memory, and even though I’m sore, I wouldn’t change a second of what we shared. After the initial shock of his size, he’d made sure I was feeling too much pleasure to notice the pain. I’d had no idea anything could feel like that. It had felt like we’d become one person, like we’d joined ourselves to each other in a way that can’t ever be severed.

Sitting up and looking around, I notice that the man I now consider my other half is nowhere to be seen. Doubts start to creep into the edges of my mind, and as much as I try not to, I can’t help but worry that maybe this had meant more to me than him. I have no idea how he is with other women. He said being with me was different, but maybe he says that to everyone. I don’t have any experience with this, and it’s not like I can call my mom and ask her if this is normal. God, just the thought of my parents finding out about us has me breaking out in a light sweat. They’re going to find out, but I can’t bring myself to think about it right now. That’s a worry for another day.

Scooting out of bed, I slowly make my way to the bathroom. I’m scared to death that peeing is going to burn, but it doesn’t hurt like I thought it would, so I’m guessing I’m just really tender but not torn. I go ahead and brush my teeth to freshen up and run a brush through my hair before pulling on one of his T-shirts. I love wearing his clothes, and I can’t resist holding the fabric to my nose and breathing in the scent of him.

I step out of the bathroom right as he opens the door and walks in. The sight of him stuns me, stealing my breath and freezing me in place. Gone is the Armani suit and perfectly polished look, and in its place is Dominic in a pair of jeans, black boots, and a tight, black T-shirt that hugs his broad chest and toned biceps, and if that wasn’t sexy enough, he’s wearing a baseball cap that’s pulled low and worn in so it fits him perfectly.

“Wow,” I whisper.

He gives me a big smile, the kind I’ve only ever seen on his face when he’s looking at me, and drops the bags I hadn’t even noticed onto the dresser. It takes a second for the smell to hit me, but when it does, my mouth starts to water. I know that delicious smell, the mix of herbs and red sauce.

“You didn’t,” I start to say, looking from him to the bag that has Mama Sofia’s written across it.

His brown eyes meet mine as he lets out a soft laugh. Lifting his cap, he runs a hand through his hair, and if it was anyone else, I’d swear he was nervous. He tosses the ball cap onto the bed and starts to walk towards me.

“I’ve never seen you in anything so casual.”

He gives me another smile and shrugs his broad shoulders. Standing in front of me, he towers over me even more than usual with his boots on.

“I had to make sure no one would recognize me. The don of the Alessi Mafia can’t be seen walking into Mama Sofia’s. Plus, Lucia would kill me, so you’d better not ever breathe a word of it. I had to sneak into my own home with those bags, so you better eat every damn bite.”

I smile up at him. “You’re such a food snob. Mama Sofia’s is a nice place. Just because you don’t have to be a millionaire to walk through the doors doesn’t mean it’s not a good place to eat.”

He holds up his hands. “I never said that. I just find it hard to believe that you can get really good authentic Italian food in a place that uses plastic cutlery.”

I laugh and shake my head. “You are so going to be eating your words in just a few minutes. I’ll be expecting your heartfelt apology before the meal is over.”

He cups my face and tilts my head up. His hand is hot on my skin, and just that small amount of contact is enough to make my heart start racing. He leans down, putting his face close to mine. His thumb drags along my bottom lip, sending a warmth all through me.

“I’ll try my best to think of a proper apology, principessa.” His eyes run down my body, stopping when he sees the way my nipples are already straining against my shirt. “I love it when you wear my clothes. It’s another reminder that you’re mine and that you belong to me.”

I should probably be offended by his words, but I’m not. I love how possessive he is with me, and I want nothing more than to be his, just as much as he’s mine. It goes both ways, and I could never settle for anything less.

His other hand slides down between us until he slips it under the shirt I’m wearing. Instead of gripping me tightly, he drags the pads of two fingers along my sensitive folds in a featherlight touch that has me parting my lips on a soft moan.

“How sore are you?”

His fingers dance along my skin, making me wish I wasn’t still so tender. “Pretty sore,” I admit.

The smirk he gives me is equal parts sin and sexy. He drags one finger slowly up my slit before circling my clit. The touch is whisper-soft, and when he pulls his hand away, I grip his upper arms, not wanting him to leave.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, you’ll be coming again soon enough, but you need to eat and you need to rest.”

“I don’t need to rest, Dominic. I’m not sick. I just lost my virginity.”

He gives me a wink and lets out another deep laugh. “You need to rest so your body can heal. I want to fuck you again, principessa, but I refuse to do it when you’re still so tender.”

Heat flushes to every part of my body. He sees the blush that’s spread across my face and neck and gives another sexy wink before picking me up like I weigh nothing. I wrap my arms and legs around him, loving how easily we fit together. Resting one hand on his cheek, my thumb runs over the light beard he hasn’t bothered to shave yet.

“When I woke up alone, I was afraid that maybe you’d changed your mind,” I admit, watching his face soften and his brown eyes fill with a sadness that surprises me.

“I’m sorry you worried. I should have left you a note.”

Keeping one arm securely under my ass, he brings the other one up to cup the back of my head, threading his fingers through my hair and pulling me closer so our lips are almost touching.

“Me changing my mind about how I feel is not something you need to worry about, principessa. I’m not a fickle man. I don’t claim to have feelings only to change my mind a few hours later.”

When he presses his lips to mine, the kiss is slow and deep. Without words, he exposes himself to me, letting me see the truth of things. Even though he hasn’t said the words, I feel the love in his kiss, the longing and the need, and I give him the same in return. I don’t hide how I feel about him. I open my mouth and hold him tighter, because the truth is I’ve fallen just as hard for him as he has for me. There could never be anyone else. He’s completely ruined me for all other men. No one could ever compete with this man. With a groan, he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.

“Please don’t ever doubt me again. You’re mine just as much as I’m yours.”

“But what about other women?” I voice the one fear that refuses to completely leave. “You’ve been single your whole life, Dominic, and now you’re just going to give that up?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation.

“You’re going to turn away all the gorgeous women who probably line up on a daily basis for a chance to be with you?”

“Yes.” He says it again like it’s a no-brainer and he can’t understand my confusion. “Why would I want to be with them when I have you?”

I don’t even bother trying to answer that question, so he keeps talking.

“You’re all I want, and I don’t feel the faintest desire to be with anyone else. Why on earth would I risk losing you by cheating on you with some random woman that I care absolutely nothing about?”

He’s so sincere when he says it, and even though the man is forty-three and never been in a serious, monogamous relationship, I don’t doubt what he’s telling me. I can either spend every second I have with him worried and paranoid, or I can trust him at his word. I know what kind of life I want with him, and it doesn’t involve me second-guessing every damn word he says. Taking a breath, I push all my fears aside and bring my lips to his. I kiss him just as slowly as he’d kissed me, drawing it out and savoring the taste of him. His tongue slides along mine, but he doesn’t take over. He lets me be in charge, even though it goes against his natural instincts. Dominic isn’t a submissive man, but he submits for me. That kind of power goes straight to my head, and I can’t help but deepen the kiss and rock against him, drunk on the knowledge that the head of the Alessi Mafia is mine and only mine.

He groans against my mouth when I reach down and pull my shirt up so my bare pussy is flush against his T-shirt. I know I’m marking the black fabric, and knowing it has me growing wetter and grinding even harder.

“Fuck,” he growls, pulling back on a pant. “You’re damn hard to resist.” His eyes run over me, darkening when he watches me rock against him again. “I refuse to fuck you right now, not when you’re so sore and not when I’m barely hanging on to my sanity. I won’t risk tearing you to shreds, principessa, so stop fucking tempting me to.”

Dominic brings out a wild part of myself that I never knew existed, so instead of heeding his warning, I roll my hips in a slow rhythm, feeling the lines of his rock-hard abs beneath the now wet fabric of his shirt.

“Jesus Christ,” he groans, raising his eyes to mine. “I run one of the most powerful mafias in the world, and I’m being brought to my knees by a goddamn teenager.”

There’s no anger in his voice, more like he’s just completely stunned by it, and so am I. Ours is a love that shouldn’t be, but now that I’ve found him, I’ll be damned if I ever let him go.

I smile and give him a quick kiss. “I’m just as stunned by it as you are.”

He laughs, the deep carefree kind that I’m learning is just reserved for me, and carries me to a door in the corner that I had assumed lead to another closet. He opens it, revealing a gorgeous sunroom. Windows line the walls and there’s a set of comfy-looking chairs and a small table. There’s room for a lot more, but it looks like he doesn’t spend much time in here, which is a shame because even though it’s dark outside, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

“This is amazing,” I tell him.

He smiles and kisses my cheek. “Look up.”

I return his smile before tipping my head back and letting out a soft gasp. Right above us is a huge skylight that covers most of the room’s ceiling.

“Wow,” I whisper. “Turn out the light.”

I hear his soft laugh, but he gives me what I want. Still carrying me, he walks over and shuts off the light before standing in the middle of the room. We’re still in the city, but Dominic has enough space here to allow for an unobstructed view of the sky. It doesn’t look like the night sky at the farmhouse, but it’s still beautiful and giving me a view of the stars and the crescent moon that looks like it’s smiling down on us.

“This is amazing. Why was the door shut? Don’t you spend any time in here?”

“Not really,” he says.

I look back down at him. “But it’s gorgeous in here.” I look around at the nearly empty room. “You need one of those hammock chairs, though, so you can get comfy and watch the sky.”

The corner of his mouth lifts up in an easy smile. “This may come as a shock, but I’m kind of a workaholic, and I don’t really get comfy.”

He says the last two words like they’re completely foreign to him. I give him another quick kiss before he sets me down in one of the chairs.

“We’re going to need to work on that,” I tell him.

He just laughs and leaves to go grab the food. My mouth starts to water as soon as he comes back and the smell of lasagna and garlic bread hits me. He turns a lamp on in the corner so there’s enough light for us to eat with, but not so bright that I can’t still see the stars and moon above us.

Setting out the food, he hands me my plate and then lets out a deep sigh before holding out the plastic fork it came with.

I grab it and smile. “Don’t be such a snob.”

He raises a dark brow at me and grabs his own plastic fork. I reach over and put a large piece of garlic bread on his plate.

“That’s the best part.” Too excited to eat, I sit still and watch him. “Try it.”

He laughs at my enthusiasm and grabs the piece of bread. Looking at it, he gives it a sniff, and when I roll my eyes at him, he laughs again and finally takes a big bite. He chews slowly, and the second I see his eyes widen ever so slightly, I know I’ve won. I sit back and stab a piece of lasagna onto my fork.

“I’ll be expecting that apology soon.”

He keeps chewing, trying like hell to not show how much he’s enjoying the bread, but when he takes a bite of lasagna, there’s no denying the groan of appreciation. I laugh and take another bite of my own food.

“I don’t understand,” he says in between a few more bites. “How the hell is this so good and I never knew about it?”

“You were too busy dropping hundreds of dollars at your fancy-pants restaurant.” I reach for my drink and take a big sip. “Let me guess, they have valet and a gorgeous hostess that meets you at the door like you’re the most special guest in the whole damn restaurant, maybe she even has an Italian name to make it all seem more authentic?”

“The food is good there,” he says, refusing to admit it might be subpar.

“But not as good as this,” I say, holding up my fork, the plastic tines stuffed with lasagna. “I dare you to deny it with a straight face.”

He tries, I’ll give him that. His sexy mouth tries like hell to not lift, but when I don’t back down from the stare-off, he finally relents with a big smile and a soft laugh.

“Yeah, it’s pretty damn good and better than Mangia Bene.” He points a finger at me and adds, “But I won’t say it’s better than Lucia’s cooking.”

“I would never ask you to,” I tell him, secretly loving his loyalty to the woman who’s been cooking for him since he was a kid. “And I’m not sure it’s better than hers anyway, but it’s a close second.”

He takes another big bite and closes his eyes in appreciation.

“A hidden gem.”

He opens his eyes just enough to give me a quick wink before he goes back to savoring the meal he was convinced wouldn’t satisfy his Italian tastebuds. We eat in a comfortable silence, and I can’t take my eyes off him. There’s something about seeing him so casual that makes my heart fill with affection for him. This man consumes me when he’s near. He takes over all my senses, pushing everything else aside until I’m left with only him.

Sensing me staring at him, he smiles and turns his brown eyes to mine. “You’re gloating, principessa.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I am not. I knew I was right all along, so there’s really no reason to gloat.”

“So modest,” he teases before finishing off the last of his garlic bread.

I use my stuffed fork to point at him. “I like you like this. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the Armani suits, and you look sexy as hell in them, but I like this too.”

He gives me one of his full smiles. “Sexy as hell, huh?”

“Yes, you know you are, Dominic. You’ve probably been told that since birth.”

“Those were the first words I remember my mother saying to me.”

I laugh and shake my head at him. “Tell me about your family.”

He sighs and grabs the whiskey he’d poured for himself earlier. “Not much to tell. My mom died a few years before Isabella was murdered. My sister was my dad’s favorite, and her death nearly killed him. I don’t have any other siblings, and I’ve put everything I have into the family business.”

He’s quiet as he takes another drink, but then he reaches out and rests one of his large hands on my bare thigh, giving it a soft squeeze.

“I’ve lived a very empty personal life, Natalya, but I was content with it. I kept myself isolated and never let anyone in.” His eyes run over me as his thumb softly strokes my skin. “I can’t imagine doing that with you.”

“Good,” I whisper, resting my hand on top of his and interlacing our fingers. “I don’t ever want you to hide yourself from me.”

“You may not like everything you see, principessa. You look at me like I’m not a monster, but there are many people who would disagree with you. I’ve done so many bad things, killed so many people, and I’ve never lost a second of sleep over it. I am who I am, and there’s no changing it. I can’t walk away from this life.”

“I would never ask you to.”

I get up and close the short distance between us, climbing into his lap so I’m straddling him. He groans and slides his hands up my thighs and under my shirt so he can cup my bare ass.

“I know who you are, Dominic, and in case you’ve forgotten, I know what this lifestyle is like. I would never ask you to leave what you’ve worked so damn hard for.”

“I know how much you hate having bodyguards and your lack of freedom. If you think that’s going to change when you’re with me, you’re very wrong. I’m going to be worse than your dad.”

I start to laugh, but he just raises a brow at me. “I’m being serious, principessa.”

“I know you are,” I tell him while patting his chest.

He looks down at the placating chest pat I’m giving him and then quirks a brow at me. “God, you’re going to be a handful, aren’t you?”

“Possibly, but I’ll try not to be,” I say with a laugh.

He smiles and shakes his head. “Of all the women in the world, I had to fall for a smartass Russian.”

“I’m half American,” I remind him.

“Your dad is Russian enough to counteract that.”

At the mention of my dad, I feel a quick twinge of guilt. Dominic notices and gives my ass a soft squeeze. “Look at me, Natalya.”

I bring my gaze back to his, and as soon as our eyes meet, I know I’d do anything to be with this man. I don’t want to hurt my dad, but I can’t let Dominic go. I refuse to.

“We’ll find a way to make this work.”

He studies me, making sure I believe him, and when I give him a small smile and nod my head, he relaxes and pulls me closer. I’m still not wearing panties, and my tender skin rubs against his jeans, making me wince and moan at the same time. He lets out a soft laugh and massages my ass in a way that makes me want to arch my back and purr like a damn cat.

“I was wrong about Mama Sofia’s, and I believe I said I’d try to think of a way to apologize.”

“You did say that, yes.”

He keeps massaging me, and right when I’m convinced his apology is going to be the world’s best ass rub, he picks me up and sets me back down on the large, leather chair. He puts me sideways so I’m lying down with my legs hanging over the padded arm. It gives me the perfect view of the skylight above us. His hands run up my legs to grip my thighs and spread me wider. Reaching down I grab the bottom of my shirt and lift it higher, exposing myself to him.

“So fucking beautiful,” he groans, running his eyes over me. He kisses his way up my inner thigh as he whispers, “I’m going to kiss your pussy better, principessa. I’m going to lick and suck every inch of your tender flesh until all you feel is pleasure, and then I’m going to do it again and again and again.”

I moan his name when he runs his tongue up the crease of my inner thigh, so close to where I need him. His light beard tickles my skin, and I can’t help but arch up for more. His hungry mouth laps at my skin, kissing and sucking and marking a slow path to my center.

“Watch the stars while I eat your pretty pussy. Let’s see how many times I can make you come before you pass out.”

At first I think he’s joking, but when I lift my head to see him, the intense look in his eyes makes it clear he’s not. I watch in fascination as he reaches over and grabs his whiskey. He takes another long drink, but when he sets the glass back down, he’s holding a piece of ice between his teeth.

The feral look in his eyes has me lifting up even more, but before I can scurry away, he grabs my hips, using his tattooed forearms to press against my thighs and hold me firmly in place.

“Mm-mm,” he murmurs, shaking his head to let me know I won’t be moving anytime soon.

Ducking his head, he pushes the ice back so all I feel are his cold lips as he very slowly kisses a line up my tender slit.

“Fuck,” I moan, dropping my head back again. The coolness feels amazing against my sore pussy as he kisses every inch of me, soothing my aching body in a way I hadn’t been expecting. I gasp when he circles my clit with the ice, chasing the motion with a soft suck of his cool lips. The sensations are dizzying, fluctuating between cold ice and the heat of his mouth, and all I can do is thread my fingers into his thick hair and let him do whatever the hell he wants as I look up at the stars shining down on us.

He acts like we have all the time in the world, like there’s nowhere else on earth he’d rather be than right here between my legs, and when the first orgasm hits me, I scream his name and rock against his talented mouth, completely and utterly lost to him. He keeps going, working me through the orgasm only to throw me right into another one. He’s relentless in his pursuit of my pleasure, and I’m taken aback by it. This is all about me, about making me feel good, and he’s putting his heart and soul into it and giving me everything he has.

I lose track of the orgasms. They run together, creating an endless wave of ecstasy that I happily drown in. Stars dot my vision, and I can’t tell if they’re real or caused by my erratic breathing. The last thing I remember is a heavy warmth falling over me, seeping into every part of my body and the sound of his deep laugh that seems so very, very far away.

When I wake, I’m back in his bed and I notice two things immediately—I’m naked and Dominic’s a cuddler. His large body is curled around mine, arm draped across my chest in a tight hug with his head resting above mine on the pillow. I can tell by his breathing that he’s asleep, so I keep still, not wanting to wake him.

While he sleeps, I try to work through my memories of last night. I remember the meal and the amazing oral sex under the skylight, but then it starts to grow fuzzy. I remember seeing stars and how everything started to fade away, but I don’t remember getting naked, and I don’t remember getting into bed. My body is still sore, but it’s not bad and it feels better than it did yesterday, so I know there’s no way we had sex. I’m still trying to puzzle it out when Dominic tightens his grip on me and tenses his body in a long stretch.

“Morning, principessa,” he murmurs against my neck before giving it a kiss.

“Morning.” I hug the tattooed arm that’s still firmly wrapped around me. “How did you know I was awake?”

“I could tell by your breathing, and you were tracing my octopus tattoo.”

“I was?” I look down at where I’d been absentmindedly stroking his skin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that. I was trying to not wake you.”

“Don’t apologize. If you’re awake, then I want to be awake.”

Scooting me closer so my ass is pressed up against him, my eyes widen when I feel what he’d been hiding from me. Damn. Yeah, I’d definitely know if we had sex last night. Your body doesn’t quickly forget a cock like that. A sexual encounter with Dominic is one you carry around for a few days.

I turn my head to face him, not at all surprised to find that he looks adorable minutes after waking up. Tousled hair, lazy grin, dark facial hair that’s even thicker, and a mischievous glint in his dark eyes that lets me know he’s thinking all kinds of sinful thoughts about me.

“You look way too damn good in the morning,” I mutter, making him laugh. “How did I get naked and how did we get back in bed?”

He smiles and rolls onto his back, lifting his arms in a stretch that gives me a mouthwatering view of his chest and abs and not even remotely embarrassed by the obscene way his erection is tenting the sheets.

“You passed out after I made you come multiple times, and I prefer you naked.”

I turn on my side and lift up onto my elbow so I can see him better. “You got me naked after I passed out?”

He smiles even bigger. “I did, yes.”

“And then what?”

He doesn’t even pretend to look guilty when he says, “Then I jerked off onto your perfect little body and carried you to bed.”

I let out a surprised laugh. “How the hell did I sleep through that?”

“You were very tired, sweetheart. You came so many times.” He yanks the sheet down and drags a finger up my thigh until he’s grazing the soft skin between my legs. “You were so wet, principessa, and I swallowed every drop you had to give. Do you feel better today? Did the ice help?”

My body flushes at the memory of how damn good that had felt. “Yes, it helped. I’m not as sore as I was yesterday.”

“Good.” He gives me a wink and runs his eyes over me. “I’m more than happy to do that anytime you need me to.”

Having a naked Dominic inches away from me is a temptation that’s impossible to resist. Leaning closer, I kiss along his sculpted bicep as he sighs and cups the back of my head.

“Where did you come on me?” I ask in between kisses.

I hear his soft laugh as I make my way up his shoulder.

“Everywhere,” he admits, laughing again. “I can’t fucking control myself around you. I came on your pussy and then on your stomach and then I covered your perfect tits in my cum.” He hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my face up so he can see me. “You look beautiful wearing my seed, principessa. If I had my way, it’s the only thing you’d ever wear.” He drags his finger back down my leg until he’s trailing it along the arch of my foot. “And maybe those sexy pink heels.”

“You really liked those.”

“I love them, and you’re going to wear them for me soon.”

“I am?”

“You are.”

He’s just about to close the distance between us when his phone buzzes on the nightstand. He groans and reaches over to grab it. When he sees who’s calling, he lets out a heavy sigh and looks over at me.

“I swear your dad has some sort of sixth sense.” He gives me a wink before he answers with an easygoing, “Hey, Lev. Any news?”

While he listens to what my dad is telling him, he wraps an arm under me and pulls me closer so my body is nestled up against his. His fingers run through my hair while I listen to half their conversation. At one point, I feel Dominic’s body tense before he says, “Are you sure about that? What if he’s lying? I still think this option is the safest.”

After a few more minutes, he says a quick bye and then tosses the phone aside.

“Is everything okay?”

I’m not ready for the answer when he gives it to me.

“He’s on his way to pick you up.”