13. Blake
13
BLAKE
A fter Angelo hangs up, I notice him looking at me strangely. Almost…sadly. But I have no idea why.
“What did your brother have to say?” I ask, setting the pan in the sink. “Any news?”
“He’s working on it,” he tells me. “There’s this guy—Archer—and he’s on it. If anyone can dig up the truth, it’s him.”
I sit down and reach for my fork, beyond hungry. “Who’s Archer? A friend?”
“Sort of. He’s more like an informant.”
“Can you trust him?”
“He hasn’t screwed us over yet, if that’s what you’re asking. Miceli trusts him because when his wife Alessia was kidnapped, Archer called and told him who had her and where she was being held.”
I nod and take a bite of mac and cheese, chewing thoughtfully. It comes naturally for me not to believe people, especially ones I don’t know. But if this guy has helped the Rossi family out before then I suppose I feel a little better about it.
“In the meantime,” Angelo continues, “Miceli said to stay up here a little longer. No one is going to find out where we are.”
I’m not sure how long we’ll be safe here and that worries me, but I don’t say so. For the time being, we’re okay. Dinner passes smoothly and I keep thinking back to when Angelo scooped me up onto the counter and nearly gave me an orgasm. He would have, too, if we hadn’t been interrupted. I can’t say I thought it was possible for that to happen while still fully dressed. That just tells me how much Angelo is affecting me. It’s a lot unnerving and I’m trying not to freak out.
I’m not sure how long this little getaway of ours is going to last, but I tell myself not to worry or stress. Right now, I have no control over the situation happening down in New York. All I can do is control what’s happening here between Angelo and myself. So why not relax and enjoy it?
I come to this conclusion while we’re doing the dishes. I’m going to enjoy this little bit of time we have together and explore these feelings that Angelo is stirring up inside of me. I never let myself play. It’s always been work first. Well, it’s time to be free and allow my walls to come down. At least a little bit.
I’ve never been smitten in my life, but Angelo is making me feel so alive and appreciated. Even though I know it can’t last between us, I’m going to embrace the present and create memories that I can hold onto and cherish. So when I’m once again by myself, I can look back on this amazing time spent with this wonderful man. Maybe then I won’t feel quite as lonely.
The idea of letting Angelo go doesn’t sit right with me, though. Not at all. Pushing that thought aside, I turn to him and smile. “Want to go for a walk?” I ask.
It’s a beautiful summer day out and I keep looking out the window at the lake. It’s so big and blue, also very peaceful looking. Every so often I see a duck land on its placid surface and I have the urge to go for a swim. Of course, I don’t have a swimsuit so that might lead to some delicious shenanigans if Angelo decides to join me. My belly flip-flops. Maybe later, though. Right now I feel like exploring the property and getting to know the lay of the land. I’m the kind of girl who always needs to know where her exits are located and where potential threats may lurk. I think I missed my calling with the military.
“Sure, let’s go. I’ll give you a tour.” Angelo playfully links his arm through mine and leads me outside.
The property surrounding the log cabin is stunning. The woods are endless and Angelo tells me it’s full of trails.
“What drew you to Maine?” I ask as we walk along the edge of the lake.
“I came up here years ago and sort of fell in love with its ruggedness. We should take a drive over to the coastline with its cliffs high above the ocean, and I’ll show you the lighthouses. There’s just a wildness and solitude about this place that draws me.”
“It is beautiful. I can see why you love it.”
“Plus, sometimes I just want to get away from the city and the millions of people, you know? It can get tiring and suck the energy right out of me.”
“I definitely get that. I never get out of there, though.” Sometimes, it’s enough to make me feel trapped.
“Why not? You must make good money bounty-hunting,” he teases.
I chuckle. “I do, but…”
“But what?” he presses.
“I don’t know. I just squirrel it all away.”
“Saving for a rainy day?”
“No. Not really.”
He reaches for my hand, tangling his fingers through mine, and he tugs me closer. “Talk to me, la mia farfalla. I want to get to know you.”
“I think because of the way I grew up—without anything—I have this weird need to accumulate wealth, but not actually touch it. I just need to know it’s there in case I need it.”
“The point of having money is to spend it, though.”
“I know. I just have trouble doing that.” Clearly, Angelo has no trouble blowing money since he owns a helicopter and a second home here. But, for me, it’s not so easy. There’s this fear deep inside me that one day it could be all gone again, so I do my best not to be careless or frivolous.
Angelo stops and turns to face me. “You’re never going to be that scared, little girl again. I promise.”
I look up into his brown eyes, now bright with sunshine, and pretend I don’t understand what he’s saying. That he’s referring to my personal safety, not my financial net. “You don’t know that. Everything I’ve worked so hard for…it could be gone in the blink of an eye, if I’m not careful.”
“I’m not talking about money, Blake,” he says softly, forcing me to acknowledge his words. “I’m talking about you and that from this point forward, you will be protected. I’m going to make sure of it.”
“You’re sweet, Angelo, but these are very dangerous people after us.”
“You clearly haven’t met my brothers yet,” he states with a wry grin. “Or, my father. The men in my family protect what’s theirs.”
His words hit me hard.
“But I’m not yours,” I say softly.
That realization seems to dawn on him, but he shakes his head. “We’ll see about that,” he says, voice low and possessive.
A little thrill kicks up inside my heart as I imagine what it would be like to have a family and a man like Angelo Rossi at my back, always there to protect me. It’s a luxury I’ve never had, but one I’ve wished for before on multiple stars many, many times.
Suddenly, the need to be closer to him overwhelms me. I turn, cup his stubbled face and push up onto my toes to kiss him. His lips meet mine halfway and when I open my mouth, his tongue sweeps inside.
My protector.
The idea of having this strong, beautiful man care about me when no one else ever has is enough to bring tears to my eyes. I push them back down, though, and focus on his mouth moving against mine…the way his arms wrap around me and pull me close…how his hardness presses into my belly.
With a soft moan, I pull back and reach down to grab the hem of my tank top. I pull it off and toss it onto the emerald green grass then bat my lashes at him. As I begin to shimmy out of my jeans, I can’t miss the hunger that flares to life in his eyes.
“Let’s go for a swim,” I say, then pause and glance around. “Where’s your nearest neighbor?”
His mouth edges up in a wicked smirk and he yanks his shirt off. “Miles away.”
“Okay, good,” I say and quickly discard my bra and panties. He pauses, his pants halfway down, and stares at me, letting his gaze rake down my nakedness.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he murmurs, eyes glowing with heat.
I can feel my body flush from head to toe and I give him a little smile before turning and heading straight for the water. “I’ve never been skinny dipping,” I tell him over my shoulder and step into the cool lake.
“I think you’re going to enjoy it, kitten,” I hear him say as I wade out further.
The water feels so cool and refreshing, and I’m hurrying to get deeper so I can dunk under and out of sight. Even though Angelo said no one is around, I don’t want to accidentally give anyone a show. Once I’m waist-deep, I drop down and begin to swim.
I don’t get very far before I feel a hand grab my ankle and tug me backwards. After a surprised squeal, I find myself being lifted up into Angelo’s arms and I wrap my legs around his waist, anchoring myself. It hits me that I’m setting myself up in a very precarious position, but I love it. So much that the moment our lips meet, I grind down on his hard cock. With no barrier between us, I realize this is the first time I can fully feel him and he’s magnificent.
Breaking the kiss, panting, he looks at me closely as I wrap my arms more tightly around his neck. “I don’t have protection,” he rasps.
“I know,” I whisper, slowly rubbing myself against him. “It should be fine and I want to feel you, all of you, with nothing between us.”
“Christ, I want that, too.” He drops his hand between our bodies and begins rubbing my clit until my hips buck and I’m as wet as this lake. “I’ve never not used a condom.”
He pulls back and his message is clear. This would both be our first time together bare with each other…and ever before.
“Me neither,” I say, and he chuckles.
“Are you sore? I don’t want to hurt you.” He slides a finger inside me and I drop my forehead against his shoulder and moan at the slow thrust. In and out. A second finger joins the first, probing, scissoring, and that thumb of his keeps circling and massaging my swollen clit.
I feel like I’m about to lose my mind and his teasing is pushing me straight to the edge.
“Please, Angelo,” I beg. “Fill me up.”
“If you want this cock, then it’s all yours,” he growls, adjusts my hips and thrusts up hard, sliding all the way in, right to the hilt. I cry out, my heels digging into his ass, and wedge myself down, amazed at how my body has learned to accept him. He’s so big and I feel so full, but it’s the best feeling in the world.
He begins to move and keeps strumming my clit as he plunges in and out. I’m half-floating in the water, half being held up, and somehow his cock slides deeper. My inner muscles are spasming already, clenching around him, and his strong hands grip my hips, guiding me up and down as he spears into my pussy over and over again.
“You feel so good, so tight and sweet, wrapped around my cock. Squeezing me like such a good girl.” He picks up his pace, pounding into me, gritting his teeth and holding back until I come.
And I’m so close.
“Oh, God!” Clamping tightly around his cock, I cry out through my release, rocking against him. I bite down on his shoulder, riding out the waves of pleasure. After several more hard thrusts, his entire body jerks with his powerful release, his hot seed flooding my core.
He groans and I can feel every pulse of his big cock as it spurts and spasms inside me, and I quickly realize I like this even better than before. I love being with him, nothing between us, but I’m not stupid. Getting pregnant isn’t on my current agenda, especially with a slew of bad guys chasing after me. But maybe someday…
I’ve never seriously thought about being a mother before. Probably because I wasn’t having sex. And I also never had a good mother figure growing up. But, Angelo has me considering things, looking at things with a new perspective. Growing up the way I did, I just never gave it much thought. I was always more focused on surviving. But, secretly, deep down, I’ve always wanted a family of my own.
Maybe, just maybe this man could give me that. Give us that.
“ La mia farfalla,” he whispers, softly kissing the sensitive area below my ear.
My whole body is humming and we’re still connected, his cock buried so deeply inside me. I want to stay like this forever and forget about the rest of the world. But I know it isn’t possible and, all too soon, he slowly slides out of my body. I immediately feel the loss, but then he’s kissing me. Long, drugging, sensual kisses and I have a feeling he’s gearing up for round two. And, I have absolutely no problem with that.
Skinny dipping in the lake just became my new favorite activity.