Burn for Me (Chaotic Love)

24. Twenty-four

Twenty-four

9-3-2024

The things we do for the ones we love.

-Sam

Based on all the information I’ve gathered, I should be able to prevent our intel from spreading and narrow down the list of people with the details.

“Sam?”

That sweet voice calls my name, but I’m busy downing a glass of whisky by the island. Tonight has to go well.

“Yes, Little Devil?” I call out, and the sound of clacking heels echoes off the elegant interior of the room, but I don’t get a response.

“Come on now, Darlin’, we're going to be–” I turn towards the noise, and my breath is knocked from my lungs.

She is a fuckin’ vision. A maroon silk dress fits her perfectly, highlighting her shape in a way that’s both classy and a bit sexy. She may say I'm not allowed around her arse right now, but there's no way in hell she's going to be stopping me later. Especially since when she turns, it reveals a daring slit that trails up to her thigh, hinting at the lace I can only imagine she’s wearing underneath.

“I can’t zip it.” Jasmine murmurs, but I’m frozen, swallowing against the dryness that has suddenly settled in my throat. She’s not wearing much makeup; it’s minimal, with a thin black line on her eyelids and her eyelashes curled over a subtle dark shadow. She huffs at my silence, and I focus on her red-painted lips, parting with the sound.

“You're just as bad as Sharkie and Moe.” She grumbles.

I scowl as I realize Moe saw her in this before I did.

“Turn around,” I mutter. She complies, revealing the length of her bare back to my gaze. I trace my finger down her skin, noting the slight irritation along her spine where a red line lingers.

“You can breathe, you know.” She teases, and I grin.

“Fire feeds off oxygen. I’m worried you might erupt into flames with how hot you look.”

Slowly, I slide the zipper to the top and clasp the little hook things. Her laugh vibrates through her shoulders, causing a little shake, and I fight back a grin.

That laugh is for me. That blush is for me. She is for me.

Slowly, she turns, pulling my tie between her fingers and gliding one end over the other. Even though she's focused on her task, I'm captivated by how her lashes brush against her cheeks and the little scrunch of her nose. Now that I know I have a heart, I should probably get it checked—it's racing faster than ever.

“I gathered all our things. We’ll go home after the party,” I murmur, feeling the need to say something. Her expression briefly falters, but then she beams brightly again, and my brows furrow as I try to decipher the worry lines creasing her forehead.

“Right. Home.” She whispers to herself more than me while smoothing my tie against my chest. Just like that, she turns and gathers her things into her purse. It's funny since I’ve already packed everything she needs in there myself. Well, almost everything.

Walking to the fireplace, I drag my hand along the mantle, and my fingers brush against the red gem-encrusted half-mask. It features two small horns raised at the sides and a thick black band designed to fit around her head. Figuring out how to keep it from messing up her hair was challenging, but there was no way in hell I was listening to her complain about it, so I took my time. There’s even a tiny microphone attached underneath the bridge of the nose, allowing Tide to hear her without any interference. I had to do the same on my mask, but I won’t mention that to her. She seemed proud of her work, and I didn’t want her to think that I had altered it in any way.

"I guess I have everything. You need to stop packing for me."

I chuckle softly and turn to watch her step closer. That dress is going to be my bloody death.

"Seriously, I feel so helpless."

"You're anything but, darlin'."

She smiles, and I can't help but offer a hint of a smile in return as I thread the band through her hair, adjusting the mask on her nose. This woman wears my ring, my last name, my mask, and she holds my heart. Sure, things aren't perfect, but they will be.

“Come on, Little Devil,” I mutter, kissing her head as she nods.

I don’t take long to grab and toss our duffle bags onto a baggage cart, so I don’t ruffle my suit by carrying them. Jasmine stays close by my side, chin held high, looking like a goddess as she walks ahead of me to the elevator. Not once does her composure waver, and she never trips over her heels, which is a miracle considering they look like they could break her ankle with a tiny misstep.

“I’ll be in the car in a moment; I just need to return our keys,” I call out. Jasmine comes to a sudden halt, slowly turning her head back to look at me. Holy shit, if looks could kill, I’d be in dancing with my demons right now.

“I can handle that,” she replies, her tone a little too sweet for my liking, but I’ll let her have this one. I’m not afraid of many things, but I’ve realized that Jasmine knows how to intimidate without trying.

With elegant grace, she strides to my side and slips her fingers into my jacket while placing a kiss on my cheek. I let out a gruff huff and roll my eyes with a grin. It’s clear to me now—she’s always been jealous and territorial. I’m just still trying to adjust to the fact that she doesn’t try to hide it.

“Leave the girl alone,” I warn, and she smiles brightly.

Shaking my head, I carefully tuck everything into our vehicle's trunk, ensuring it’s all safe and snug in a little compartment. That way, if any of those fuckers get curious while we’re inside, all they'll find is my underwear and those fluffy robes Jasmine stole.

Leaning against the car, I tap my foot on the pavement and glance at my watch again. It hasn’t been long, but I’m worried she might have lost her cool and ruined the dress I’m so eager to rip off her later. What fun will it be if it’s already torn?

Thankfully, Jasmine walks out the door right on time, giggling when she notices my annoyed expression. Everything seems to be in order, but she continues to give me a curious tilt of her head the longer I stare at her.

With a huff, she rolls her eyes and says, “I was nice. Can we go now?”

I don’t respond verbally but walk around the car to open her door. Once she’s buckled and I'm settled, I start the car, but the stiffness in her shoulders catches my attention.

“Jasmine?” Brushing my fingers through her hair, I loosen some of the strands from the black band beneath.

“This is my fault.”

Letting out a sigh, I rub the back of my neck as I shift away and dig into my pocket to pull out my mask. I should have known this would weigh on her for a while.

“I found most of what I was looking for: the fire at your family home and your father's 'business.'” I clear my throat and put my mask in place, prompting her to look away. “But I want you to tell me—why did you do it?”

She twirls her fingers and gnaws on her bottom lip, so reaching over, I pull the flesh back from between her teeth.

“Come on, darlin',” I whisper, and she nods.

“I was sick, so I stayed home one night during one of the Bravetti balls. I don't know how long I was asleep, but I woke up to a horrid smell and was sweating through my clothes.”

Letting her have her moment, I try to act as if I’m solely focused on reversing the car, but I’m already categorizing this moment in my mind.

“I was trapped, and I couldn’t find a way out. A new beam fell everywhere I turned, and the staircases gave out. I was convinced I had died and gone to hell.” Her breathing quickens, so I slide my palm against her thigh to keep her in the moment. I don't want her slipping away to battle demons on her own again.

“This is why you hate fire, isn’t it?” I ask, showing that I’m paying attention, and she nods as I turn onto the road.

“Eventually, I jumped out of the window. My parents showed up not long after. My father's business was going under, and he couldn't figure out why. We knew he owed favors to various mobs, but we didn’t know which one was responsible. My mother blamed the Bravetti and decided…” She whispers but cuts off her statement, changing it to another.

“It was easier for them to send me away to gather intel to support their interests and maintain our family name in good standing. I didn’t want to do it, but—” She trails off, and I feel a rush of concern that she might cry, so I tense my shoulders.

“Hey…” I gently hook my finger under her chin and turn her attention toward me, trying to balance my focus between the road and the glimmer in her eyes.

“I have a little sister.”

I already knew most of what she was saying. It all appeared in the headlines about the tragic burning of the O’Hansons’ mansion. With her notes, I had pieced together the connections between her father's security system business, the exposure of elected officials, and his ties to various mob groups.

I felt helpless while scanning my screen, trying to piece everything together. No matter how many times I replayed the scenarios in my head, thinking about what I would have done differently in her situation, I couldn’t.

The things we do for the ones we love.

I take a deep breath and brush my thumb over her cheek. “She’s safe. Although I wish you had told me sooner, I understand. Now it's time for me to help fix this, okay?”

I grin, though she can’t see it. She exhales and nods against my hand, so I shift my thumb to the corner of her mask where the switch for her earpiece is.

“Wait!” she gasps, grabbing my hand. “I need to tell them.”

I huff and shake her hand off mine, not out of anger but stress. She doesn’t need to come clean. I can handle that part myself, but it will mean another fight with Tide to keep her by my side. I’m not ready for that argument yet. I want her to show him what I’ve known all along—that she’s smart and a valuable asset to the team, even if she can be a bit treacherous and reckless.

“We can deal with that later; you focus on this. Got it?” Without waiting for her response, I flick the small switch below the brim and then turn mine on.

It will be a minute before they get the notification to respond, so I take my time admiring the lights flashing on the business empire buildings and the people casually walking along the sides of the street. The stars aren’t as bright as they usually are, but I’ve learned that when we're so close to the ground in the middle of such a big city, they’re hard to see anyway.

“Alright. Who's ready to get this shit done?”

My brows furrow as I hear Moe's voice come through, and I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“I swear I can’t stand that damn mouth of yours,” Caspian crackles, his voice fading in and out.

“Where do you think he got it from?” Now it's Sharkie's turn, her voice slightly clearer as if they're adjusting the communication devices. I growl in frustration, and Jasmine's hand on my thigh does little to ease the spinning in my head from all the voices trying to blend at once.

“Shouldn’t you be flirting with Laura or something?”

There’s a brief silence after Caspian's statement, and my shoulders relax at the moment of peace.

“Nah, it’s not fun anymore. I’m tired of trying to hit on someone only to have them flirt back because they know you’re my brother or brush me off for the same reason.” Moe’s voice is more stern and irritable now, and I groan. I need them to slow down and focus. As if reading my mind, Jasmine traces her thumb gently on my thigh and speaks up to intervene.

“We’re on our way. I’m sure it’ll be minimal contact, but we’ll try to be in and out.”

Caspian and Moe continue to bicker, but it sounds like they’ve backed away from their mic.

“Sounds good. Your friends won’t be there tonight but are ready if backup is needed. By the way Jas’ you look fucking hot!” Sharkie continues, but I don’t pay much attention since Jasmine's hand works wonders at calming the storm inside. My knuckles flex around the steering column when she trails a little too high, and my hips buck.

“I thought they were supposed to be there, though. Isn’t that going to raise alarms?”

“That’s the point, Darlin’,” I say through clenched teeth when her hand grazes over the front of my slacks. The little devil is doing it on purpose.

“Don’t worry. This is their job. It takes eyes off you two and focuses them elsewhere.” Sharkie says nonchalantly.

“Sounds dangerous.”

What’s dangerous is if you keep pushing your hand like that. I think this, but I’d rather not deal with Sharkie prodding if I say the words, so I send Jasmine a warning glare, to which she responds with a smile.

My breathing becomes heavy through my balaclava, so I push the bottom up to the bridge of my nose.

“That’s Greenport for you. They thrive off the danger. I heard they were the only faction to fight against Chaos and win.” Sharkie says, almost as if she's in awe of the idea.

“They won by default. Carlisle just didn’t want to deal with their stubbornness.” I bite out.

“Oh my god! Wait, is that how you know Jonathan?” Jasmine whispers, and I clear my throat, hoping to silence her question. Some ears don't need to hear his name.

The son of a bitch gave up a damn good fight, but before I could show him who would come out on top, he stopped and backed away like it was nothing with a laugh. The old fucker has no clue how easily I could’ve destroyed him. Getting lost in my thoughts, I’m instantly pulled back out to cool fingers brushing against my heated cock, and my head snaps down to where Jasmine has unbuttoned my slacks and pulled it out.

“Well, he’s a good ally to have. Hopefully, when we get this situated, the smaller factions will be just as cooperative in our changes.”

“They will. Depth and Bay have always been at the top; as long as they’re not threatened, they seem to do well.” I bite out, trying to distract myself from Jasmine, slowly stroking from my base up to my tip.

I let go of the wheel and smack at her hand, but she just grips me tighter, making me grunt. Her delicate fingers feel fucking fantastic. Each time they brush over a vein, her hold tightens, and when she hits the tip, her fingers smooth over the mushroom shape, smearing my pre-come. She’s lucky I can’t ruin her right now, and I’m not one for having my colleagues hear what I do in private, or I'd be filling her pretty little mouth right now.

Jasmine says something, but I tilt my head back against the headrest, too lost in the way she starts stroking me faster. Without realizing my foot goes down on the gas a little harder as I fuck up into her hand. There’s no way I'm letting her out of this car until I’m done and she’s licking off her palm. She wants to play this game? Fine, but she’s going to go into this ball with my taste on her tongue and my come as lipstick.

I growl when she stops and ease my foot off the gas to slow our vehicle.

“You shouldn’t have scared me earlier. It wasn’t nice.” Jasmine purrs and my head snaps in her direction. My tongue darts out to wet my bottom lip, and I pull it between my teeth.

I’m not fucking apologizing. She loves being scared and proved it by how hard she squirted.

“I made up for it,” I mutter, and she tilts her head, glancing at her hand. I can't focus on the taunting when her tits look that good wrapped in the red encrusted fabric, and her hair looks soft enough that I know it'd feel amazing wrapped between my fingers right now... Blowing out a harsh breath through my nose, I’m throbbing against her palm, but she won’t fucking move.

“Say sorry?” She says innocently.

I return my attention to the road and bite harder into my lip. I’m not apologizing. I’m not. I’m not. I’m—

Her hand moves, and I quickly grab it forcing her fingers back around my dick. My heart is beating fast enough that I can feel it in my throat, and my balls are too tight for me to walk properly if I’d get out right now.

“Sorry,” I grumble and instantly resent apologizing for something I don’t regret. I hiss as she starts stroking again, applying more pressure and twisting her wrist in a way that has my eyes threatening to roll to the back of my head.

“As I was saying. Thank you for not watching the cameras in our room.” Jasmine laughs, and Sharkie repays the favor, then they continue with their conversation like I’m not getting the best fucking handjob I’ve ever received in my goddamn life.

Even if my focus is on the road, it’s fuzzy and uneven. Reaching down, I curl my hand around hers and pull it off to bring it to my mouth and spit in her palm. I don’t have to look at her to know the look of shock she’s wearing, but I don’t give a damn. Especially as her soft skin wraps back around mine, and I guide her motions to the exact pace and pressure I want.

The city lights dim to only streetlights, and a bright beam shines above the trees in the distance.

I suck in a deep breath as I feel my abdomen tightening, and I push against the wheel, willing myself to stay quiet as my climax quickly approaches. All noise around me feels muted, and my mind is calm, as it always is when she’s touching or talking to me.

I quickly yank her hand to cup over my tip, making sure she catches every fucking drop. My teeth dig into my flesh hard enough that I start to taste copper, and I raise my foot off the gas, knowing I’d slam into it right now if I could.

“Fuck…” I whisper after a moment of slow panting, and I shiver in overstimulation as she tries to pull away, but I wrap my hand around her wrist, refusing to let her.

“What’s wrong?”

How long has Caspian been talking? I look at Jasmine as she stares at her palm with a deep blush.

“Nothing.” I clear my throat, “I spilled my drink. Will you clean it up for me, Darlin’?”

Her eyes narrow behind her mask, lips pulling into a tight line. I’ve coated her throat. This isn’t any different. Slowly I pull through two large metal gates, thankful we don’t have to deal with that valet shit here, and park in the furthest parking spot I can find.

“We will try to stay quiet. Let’s get this over fast, but not too fast.” Caspian murmurs in his authoritative voice.

Jasmine finally caves in and drags her tongue up her palm and then over again, putting on a hell of a show that I'm sure will forever be engraved into my memory. Damn it, if she keeps doing that, I’m going to have another problem to deal with. Once she’s done, I smear what’s left over on the corner of her mouth along her lips, breaking into a full-blown smile at the shine.

“Asshole.”

“Wait, who said that?” Sharkie gasps, and I smile wider, pulling my mask back into place.

My wife did.