The Enforcer (Vengeful Empire #3)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

V alencia

“What the lady wants, the lady gets.” His deep voice resonated like the strains of a bass guitar.

I knew he was serious, at least for now. Every inch of my body was on fire, aching from the rough treatment that I hoped would be repeated. I hadn’t planned on allowing him to touch me again, but the way he’d fucked me had awakened something dark and demented inside of me.

The hunger he’d expressed hadn’t surprised me. But the longing, the words he’d said to me had. We enjoyed pretending we were anyone else but who we were, as if that could make the circumstances more palatable. While I was no Cinderella just praying for a glass slipper to fall from the sky, up until tonight, he’d acted as if he was a king.

Not any longer. I’d had a taste of the real man, one with did have a soft side to him when I’d believed him all brawn and danger.

I closed my eyes as he rubbed his fingers down my spine. He had a way of keeping me tingling and feeling so alive. When I felt the same fingers touch my lips, I opened my mouth without him having to ask me to do so.

He pumped several of them inside and I swirled my tongue back and forth. He was slickening them, ensuring they were nice and wet. My mind was spinning with the thought of him taking me in the ass. How long had it been since I’d experienced something so damn naughty?

When he pulled his fingers free, the slight popping sound made him growl. He eased them between my ass cheeks, pushing first one inside.

The pain was mild, fleeing almost instantly, yet when he added a second and third finger, I let out a strangled moan. This was so intimate, so personal, and my feelings were all over the place. I wanted to be here, with him. I wanted to be lost in the moment and in the man. I longed to allow myself to care about him, but it was out of the question.

As he pushed past the tight ring of muscle, I shoved aside the doubts. For now. Morning would come too quickly.

I cinched my eyes closed once again. The moment he started thrusting hard and fast, I fell into a sweet lull. But seconds later, he drove his cock back inside my pussy and I wasn’t able to keep the slight scream from rocketing up toward the night sky.

The combination as he pumped his fingers into my ass and his shaft into my tight channel was like nothing I’d experienced before. I’d never felt so filled, and rocked with him as he developed a perfect rhythm. I wanted him to keep going, to fuck and fill me.

Every sound he made was deliciously guttural, a man turned into a beast fucking a woman. His woman to be exact. At least so he’d proclaimed.

Squirming, I met every rough thrust with one of my own, the action leaving me lightheaded. I felt the smile cross my face as he flexed his fingers open. This was as close to heaven as I knew I’d ever find myself in.

I was panting and perspiring, already covered in beads of the rugged man’s sweat. I didn’t mind. The thought of having his musky scent lingering on my body for hours was delicious and sinful.

When he slowed his actions, finally removing his fingers, I couldn’t help but look behind me. There was something almost magical about watching him prepare to fuck me. The way his face scrunched up, his brow furrowed, and he issued husky growls pushed me into a heightened level of desire.

His eyes were now locked onto mine as he pushed the tip of his cock against my dark hole. While I was stretched slightly, I knew his shaft was so large I would feel a slice of pain. And in truth, I was looking forward to it. He had a way of keeping me on the edge where agony and ecstasy were brought together in a powerful moment.

I held my breath as he pushed inside just a couple of inches.

Instantly, my muscles clenched tight on the thick invasion. His entire face was pensive as he gripped my hips, growling under his breath as he pushed inside. His actions were slow and gentle, yet the discomfort rushed into a moment of agony before backing down.

Within seconds, the blissful pleasure was all that mattered. I was filled with not only his thick cock, but a heightened level of warmth. It was like I was on fire and it felt damn good. So much so I rocked against him as I’d done before.

Nothing had prepared me for how I felt when I was with him. There were no playbooks to handle wanting so desperately to hate a man to make it easier to deal with your lust. He pulled out, driving into me again. When he finally developed a rhythm, I met every thrust.

Soon, we were rocking together, the momentum increasing like my pulse was doing. We were both panting, the animalistic sounds floating all around us. The noise was the best form of an aphrodisiac. I had a smile on my face, my mind torn in so many directions.

When he cracked his hand against my bottom, I was jerked back from the intense fantasy.

He pulled my legs together with his massive thighs, crowding over me as he continued thrusting hard and fast. When he draped his entire body over mine, the pressure and heat made me delirious.

“I could do this every day,” he whispered and I was about to tell him I wouldn’t mind.

I laughed instead, trying to keep control of my mind as the pleasure reached a plateau I’d never experienced before. Within seconds, I knew without a doubt he was finally ready to release, to stain me with his scent and fill me with his seed.

What was a bad girl to do?

I squeezed my muscles, smiling to myself as he started to roar. As he erupted deep inside, I knew returning to my life wouldn’t be easy.

But somewhere inside, I knew the fairytale had to end.

It did.

Somehow.

Some way.

“Now boarding flight 729 to New York.”

Why should I reconsider what I’d already considered about three dozen times? Why was I even thinking about taking Christos up on his offer? Because I was a glutton for punishment. That’s why. No, maybe I was still lost in a haze of sex. My body was still aching even after a full day.

It was possible he’d changed me and altered my way of thinking forever just by the way he’d talked to me. And fucked me. Was that possible?

We’d spent the night talking and making love, drinking wine and eating cheese in bed. We’d lounged on the new couch, breaking it in, which had tickled him to death.

He’d insisted we go for a swim right before the sun crested over the horizon.

Then he’d made me breakfast before allowing me to borrow a tee shirt and shorts so I could return to the hotel in something other than the magnificent dress.

We’d said goodbye and I’d half expected him to show up last night. The honest truth was that I’d hoped that he would, begging me to reconsider what I’d told him at his villa.

But he hadn’t showed.

Had he been honoring my request that he allow me some space? I don’t know, but I’d hungered for him all night. Should I call him?

Should I miss him?

Should I simply forget him? I wasn’t certain of the right protocol or even what I felt. Except empty. I’d never felt so utterly empty in my entire life.

I felt movement next to me, but didn’t understand a thing the female voice was saying. Maybe because I was so lost in the haze, I couldn’t think straight about anything.

When something dropped right in front of me, I was so startled I had to slap my hand across my mouth to keep from yelping.

“Earth to my best friend. We’re boarding.” Emily had a strange little voice as she stared at me.

“What?”

“You know. We’re flying back to the States today. Remember?”

“I…” Wow. I had to scan the perimeter to realize she was telling me the truth. “Oh, shit. I was zoning off.”

“Oh, shit is right. Come on or we won’t make the flight. You told me like fifty times you wanted to return home.”

Yes, I had.

I remained right where I was. If I left, I was never coming back. I’d seen the look on Christos’ face when I’d flat out told him I was leaving. He’d been angry at first. But there had been sadness as well. He hadn’t attempted to talk me out of it. In fact, he’d said little as he drove me back to the hotel. But the kiss before I’d left his car had been the most telling statement.

He would find a way to capture me. We both knew it. I almost laughed and knew I was running out of time.

After that, I sensed I was being watched. Protected. Even on the drive here today, I knew a vehicle had followed us all the way to the airport. A significant part of me had wanted him to race into the terminal, begging me not to go.

But he wasn’t here.

“It’s him,” Em said.

“Yes.” Why deny it?

“You told me you’d made up your mind.”

I stood, hating the fact I was so uncertain. I’d never hesitated to this degree about anything in my life, especially important decisions. While staying for a couple of extra days wasn’t altering the remainder of my life, it could prove to be a catalyst that I couldn’t walk away from again.

“I had. Don’t say it. I know you’ve never seen me like this before.”

Emily grinned. “You mean head over heels in lust with someone?”

Thank God she hadn’t used the word love. I didn’t love him. I wasn’t that puppy dog sick or na?ve, but… I did care about him. “It’s ridiculous.”

She gripped my arm. “Since I’ve known you, I’ve never seen such light and life in your eyes. You should see yourself. It’s like you’ve been reborn. I know how much you love your job and the people you work with. I totally get how into Magnum you are as he’s a great dog, but you need someone special in your life.”

“This isn’t a forever kind of thing.”

“Maybe not, but if you get on that plane you’ll never know. You’ll ask yourself about a million times what could have happened had you gone to a wedding. And you’ll never forgive yourself for not finding out.”

“My luggage is already on the plane.”

She huffed. “You have a carryon that has most of your important essentials. Buy the rest. Treat yourself, for God’s sake. You don’t spend any money on yourself ever. Call this a needed vacation with a fabulous twist. The hospital can get along without you for a few days. A week. Hell, make it two.”

I wanted so much to break free from the armor that I’d used to both keep me protected and hold myself accountable for my wonderful career. I’d worked so hard to get where I was today. I just didn’t think I could risk everything for a fling that could blow up in my face.

I’d thought about the reasons things could go south. While anyone outside of the hospital’s purview wasn’t controlled, the board and the administrator were extremely conservative. The article had likely already done some damage. That was another reason to return to ensure I still had a job. They could make my life miserable if they knew I’d spent a single night with a mobster. A weekend would blow their minds.

“Last call for boarding for flight 729 to New York City.”

“It’s now or never, bestie. What’s it going to be?” Emily asked.

I allowed the sweet memories of the joy and passion I’d shared with Christos to flow through my mind before I knew what I needed to do. “Let’s go, Em. I need to get home.”