3. ~ Chapter Three ~
~ Chapter Three ~
T revor
Holy. Shit.
“And here I thought only the men were dangerous in your family, Ms. Russo. I think you know how to be just as wicked and cunning as they are.”
I discreetly moved so I could adjust myself after that little comment. Usually women didn’t get to me, didn’t get under my skin or make me hard. Flirting with them wasn’t in my nature, but there was something about this beauty that stood before me that caused my insides to twist, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Especially given that she was the daughter of my rival.
I don’t think her dad would like all the very naughty thoughts I had of throwing her over my shoulder, finding a dark corner, and having my wicked way with her.
Though, with her teasing and flirty nature, I wonder if she would have a problem with it.
“Why, Mr. Doyle, please don’t tell me that the women in your own family aren’t meant to be feared. After all, any woman is told to be silent, but we aren’t told not to listen.”
“Does your father know how devious you are?”
She grinned as she gave me a wink. “He has a vague idea. But I do state out of his way. I came back into town after helping my brother out with his daughters.”
“You don’t live here?”
“No. Atlanta is my home, but I tend to live in a country estate about two hours north of here. I don’t usually like mixing in my dad’s business.”
“Smart and beautiful, Lucia, what a combo.”
“I know about the city limits, I know what you both do, but I just choose not to get involved. Doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two about it.”
I grabbed her empty glass and put hers and mine on an empty tray passing by.
“Let’s dance,” I told her, taking her hand, not giving room to object. I didn’t think she would, not by the signals she was giving.
Was it to annoy her dad? Not sure.
Did I honestly care? Nope, not really.
For once, I wasn’t thinking about a benefit or pissing someone off. For the moment, I wanted to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman while I twirled her around the dance floor.
“You assumed I knew how to dance,” she muttered as I wrapped my arm around her waist and swept her off her feet.
“I do. Because you were brought up in this world, like I was, and I’m going to go out on a limb that your grandparents were as old fashioned as mine and made you learn.”
“My mom.”
“Even worse. Was she always horrible?”
“Yes, but loving in her own way. What about your parents?”
“My mom is still around. Actually lives back in her village in Ireland. She’s happy there. When my dad passed away a few years back, she didn’t want to be in the States anymore, even though she lived most of her life here. Believe it or not, my parents had an arranged marriage. They loved each other, though. Even in this dark world, it showed me how I wanted marriage to be.”
“Oh, thought about marriage? Surprised as the head of a family you hadn’t been suited off.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, pulling her a little closer to my body.
Damn, she fit so perfectly against me. In fact, with her body there, it was close to feeling like a second skin. One I wasn’t sure I wanted to let go of.
“Many have tried. But it takes a strong woman to hold their own in my family and my life.”
“As it would in any mafia family, I’m sure.”
I paused in the middle of the dance floor as I stared at her.
Lucia
My words weren’t profound, but they held understanding. My dad had sworn he wouldn’t marry any of us off, that we would be free to find love on our own. But the compromise was that he would have to approve.
Not just for the overall sake of the family and the business. After all, he couldn’t just allow anyone with our hearts and our lives.
So, I wasn’t sure why Trevor staring at me caused the flapping in my stomach to go even faster. Or why was he even staring to begin with.
Which led to the one thing slipping from my mouth. “What?”
“In all my years, I don’t think I’ve had a woman who understood just what it takes to be in my world. You’re right, it’s the same in any family. But few very rarely understand.”
I ducked my head, trying to hide the red tinge on my cheeks.
I wasn’t looking for praise, but it did feel good.
“You see and understand things, Lucia, that others don’t.”
“I try, Trevor.”
“I think I like that.”
I watched as his tongue traced his lower lip while his gaze landed on my own lips.
Holy Sweet Jezebel!
What did this man do to me? He wasn’t playing fair.
He was turning my head with his sweet words, causing butterflies to fly around in my stomach, and his stare, his hard intense look, was causing goosebumps to break out. Let’s not forget to mention that I might have soaked my panties a time or two already.
And all of this was new to me. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
What could I say?
I liked it. A lot. I wasn’t sure I wanted it to go away.
The scary part about that? He was the rival, and I wasn’t supposed to be feeling like this at all about this man, or anyone in his family.
“Can I share something, Lucia?”
“By all means.”
“I want to kiss you. I don’t think I’ve had such an urge before. And definitely not with a woman I just met.”
“We can’t kiss on an open floor. My dad would kill you.”
“What open floor?”
I finally tore my gaze away from his face to glance around us, picking up on the fact that he had managed to sneak us into a dark corner. I wasn’t sure how he did, but I wasn’t going to think about that now.
Without thought, and without giving him time to think, I stood on my toes and pressed my lips to his as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
The moment our lips touched, the butterflies took off even faster in my stomach, causing my breath to catch and my knees to give out.
His strong arms encircled my waist and hauled my body against his, making us flush. And Lord have mercy, I don’t think anything had ever felt so right before.
Not only did he own everything from that moment, but he also owned everything moving forward.
He wasn’t my first kiss, but the perfect feel of his lips, the scent of him wrapping around me, the way he felt so right against me, was making me lose every thought to him and him alone.
And I had no problem with that, now or forever.