Chapter 30
Thirty
“In this mobster life, peace is a luxury, and she’s the only thing I ever wanted that didn’t bleed.” – Cyan MacBrady.
As the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Pullman rolls to a smooth stop in front of J spitting fire instead of freezing me out. I tip my head back against the seat, considering her, amused at the way she clutches her fist like she’s debating swinging at me. The idea makes my blood run hotter.
“Look, lass, I’ve got an itch for a bit of chit-chat, so do me a favor and answer the question.” It’s a clear taunt on my part. Her nostrils flare. She’s barely holding her temper at bay, and I fucking love it. “Maybe you’ve forgotten who has the upper hand here.”
Aria adjusts her glasses instead of slapping me, which is disappointing.
She never wears them outside of work. She’s hiding behind them now, using the frames like a deterrent, as if dulling her edges could make her less tempting to me.
It only makes me want to break that shield, to prove how useless it is.
I make a mental note that when I finally fuck her, I’m going to make her keep them on while she sucks me off.
She digs her nails into the back of her opposite hand before speaking through gritted teeth.
“Simon is telling everyone who will listen that I’m fucking you to get a promotion or his job. ”
I raise an eyebrow. “Now that’s interesting.”
She rolls her eyes, frustration evident. “Little does that fucktard know, I have no say in anything.”
I bark out a laugh, a genuine one. Her fire is the best fucking thing that’s happened all week. “Tell Simon he’s welcome to take it up with me,” I say, still grinning. “If he doesn’t like the changes, I’ll be happy to... rearrange his priorities.”
A slow, mischievous smile spreads across her face. “That might make Simon shit himself.”
I lean in, my tone dropping into a threatening lilt. “Is he still bothering you?”
“No, not at all. He’s just an asshole, and I can only handle one of you idiots in my life at a time.”
“And who’s the other?” I ask dryly.
She shoots me a pointed look. “You know I’m talking about you, Cyan.
Sarcasm does not suit you.” She pauses, adjusting her reading glasses again; the motion too sharp to be habit, but this time her fingers tremble, the frames slipping before she steadies them.
The impatience she’s been biting back cracks through her mask.
Her foot taps once against the floor, sharp, irritated, and her breath leaves her in a frustrated exhale she can’t hide.
When she speaks, the sarcasm is gone. “Please, Cyan. How is my gran?” There it is.
The way she says my name. The “please” that tugs at something deep inside me.
I retrieve my phone, unlock it, and swipe to the images sent to me earlier today.
I hand her the device, watching her eyes take in the photos of her grandmother sitting in a sun-dappled park, smiling, and safe.
Aria exhales slowly, relief flickering across her features before she hands me back the phone. “Can I see her?”
“Hmmm—” I tilt my head, watching her as her eyes move back to the window. I wait, expecting the snap, the bite, the fight.
Instead, she surprises me. “Thank you for ensuring my Nonna got some fresh air,” she says quietly. “I want you to know I’m grateful.”
A dangerous warmth unfurls in my chest. I lean in. “No thanks necessary, Aria, I’ll always take care of family.”
Her eyes swing back to me, her glare ablaze. “My Nonna isn’t your family.”
“You’re mine,” I counter easily. “So, by default, she is.”
Her breath stutters, and she points at the bracelet arm stiff, eyes sharp enough to cut flesh. “Has this always been your MO? The overbearing overlord act, watching every move of a woman you’re interested in?”
I sigh, glance at the bracelet, the shackle she keeps calling it.
“I’ve never cared enough for another woman to do this.
” Her lips part. Then her glare sharpens again, irritation flickering through her movement, fingers tapping against her skirt.
A memory of Leonardo’s filthy hands on her flashes before me, and my fingers flex, the darkness rising fast. I have to lean back before it consumes the entire damn car.
“Besides,” I add, voice dropping into something darker, “I wouldn’t have found you in time without the tracker in your bracelet.”
Her posture locks, she goes still, and her gaze slices toward the window, the storm in her eyes flashing before she can hide it. I tug at my beard. “Look, lass, I don’t want a repeat of the last time we were together.”
She smooths her hands down her red pencil skirt, once, twice, again a movement too deliberate to be anything but nerves clawing for control.
My mind instantly conjures the image of bending her over my desk, those glasses slipping down her nose, her lips parting with soft little gasps while I drive into her from behind.
I need to stop this train of thought, or I’ll end up jacking off right in front of her.
Her fingers flick the small hoop of her earring, agitated, restless.
Another tell. I’ve memorized every page of her.
I’ve watched hours of video of her. Dove doesn’t realize how much her body betrays her thoughts.
She’s an open book I’ve been devouring page by page since we met.
She smooths her hands down the front of her skirt again.
I watch, imagining those same hands on my skin, gripping my cock as I. .. fuck… I need to focus.
She exhales, shoulders rising. “How long?”
I raise a brow. “How long, what?”
“How long do you intend to keep me?” Aria’s impatience is unmistakable now–the tight jaw, the tapping fingers, the barely masked tremor in her voice.
I already know my answer, and I thought she knew it as well.
“I’ll never give you up, in this life.” Her breath hitches as I lean closer.
“Only my death can separate us, and even then, I’ll escape the bowels of hell to find you, or I’ll find you in the next life; either way, we’ll never be parted.
” She goes utterly still. Her fingers grip her skirt, knuckles whitening, grounding herself on something, anything that isn’t me.
I slide my hand across the leather between us, but I don’t touch her.
I don’t need to; my presence closes the distance for me, wrapping around her like a claim.
“Why?” she whispers. “I don’t understand... How can you want someone who doesn’t want you?”
I chuckle. “Your body wants me.” My eyes drop to her parted lips. “Remember at the lookout, it was you who started things between us. Now, it’s just you fighting it.”
Aria shakes her head. “That was a mistake.” I watch as she bites her bottom lip, as her gaze skitters away from mine. “I wasn’t thinking clearly; it shouldn’t have happened.”
My control fractures, and my hand shoots forward, gripping her chin, forcing her to look at me. “You’re a shit liar.” Her body jolts, a full-body shiver racing through her. My voice turns deadly soft. “Say that again, Dove. Say it like you believe it.”
“I–I…” Her mouth opens, closes. She can’t. She won’t. I let the moment stretch out before releasing her, rolling my shoulders.
“Stop telling me you came all over my fingers, soaking my hand, dripping for me, was a mistake.”
Color floods her cheeks. She swipes her chin where my hand had been, then glances toward Salvo. My driver keeps his eyes forward, stone-faced, professional. Pretending he can’t hear a goddamn thing.
Aria swallows hard. “I... I know you think that means something, but in today’s world, people can be sexually physical without it leading to anything.”
The restraint it takes not to react is unbearable.
I inhale through my nose, forcing my body to stay still because if I move, I will break my promise to her.
She’s not saying this to me. She’s saying it to herself, clinging to some lie she hopes will save her from the truth burning under her skin.
I brush my thumb over the faint crescent-shaped marks on the back of her hand, the ones she dug into herself earlier.
Her breath stutters. A soft, startled gasp slips out before she can stop it.
The sound hits something deep inside me, a place I didn’t even know existed anymore.
She pulls her hand, but not before I notice her fingers tremble.
I lean back into the plush leather, a smile tugging at my mouth.
My gaze drifts from her hand to her face.
.. down her body to her legs. Stockings today, the sheer, flimsy fabric hugging what belongs to me, and I despise that they get to touch her all fucking day.
I let out a low chuckle. “You know how fucking jealous I am of those stockings?”
Her lips part, and she looks at the roof of the car for a beat, avoiding me, avoiding herself. Before her gaze flicks out the window, searching for an escape that isn’t there. “They’ve been brushing between your thighs all day… so close to your pussy.”
She inhales, and it’s a beautiful, betraying sound.
Aria leans back in her seat, crosses her arms, tries to hide it–but she shifts in her seat too fast, too stiff, and those legs of hers press together like she’s holding herself in place.
I see everything. “I’m jealous of your bra too,” I add, voice slow enough she can feel it crawl across her skin.
“Because I remember how you reacted when I sucked your nipples. Your bra gets to rub against them all day, doesn’t it? ”
She uncrosses her arms, her thighs pressing together.
It’s a tiny movement, but I don’t miss it.
I know her body better than she does. I know she’s wet.
My lips curl wickedly. “I bet your pussy is showing you how much it wants my touch.” She crosses her legs then, her toes swinging as she digs for self-control.
“Dove, if you allow it, I’ll bow at the altar of your pussy right now and worship you with my tongue.
I’ll lick, suck, and devour that sweet heat.
I’ll have you dripping down my chin, begging for more. ”
Aria uncrosses her arms, palms flattening against her skirt like she needs something, anything, to ground herself.
“You’re picturing it, aren’t you?” Still nothing.
But her body answers for her. Her chest rises a little too high, falls a little too slow.
“You’re punishing yourself, punishing us both.
” She curls her fingers tighter at her wrist, self-control fraying one trembling breath at a time.
We’re close now. I can feel the car slowing as the turnoff approaches.
Her knuckles go white. I shift, leaning in.
“Keep fighting it, Aria. We both know how this ends.”
Her jaw hardens. A spark of pure defiance flares in her eyes. “And how does this end, Cyan?”
I grin. “With you finally admitting what we both already know… and me fucking you.”
For the first time since I stole her into my world, there is only heat flickering in her gaze. The car turns off onto an uneven side road. We’ve arrived. But this battle between us? It’s only getting started.