Chapter 24
Blake is waiting for me at the end of my classes. He looks so damn hot, oozing male strength and raw beauty. My heart flutters, and he tucks me to his side, planting a kiss on my forehead.
Yes, he’s mine. We didn’t label it, but it feels like a relationship.
“Are you still mad at me?” he asks, being so damn adorable. I love him with all of me.
“A bit…”
He offers a pensive nod, only for a mischievous grin to tug at the corners of his lips. “Let’s see if you’re still mad after I have my way with you.”
“You won’t get away with everything just because you can make me forget my own damn name.”
“Fuck, baby, now I’m hard.”
I smile, loving the effect I have on him.
My phone vibrates, and I pluck out mine and see him do the same. There’s a message from Cassandra in our group chat.
I expect you at six p.m. at the estate.
“What if she doesn’t accept our plan?”
“She has to. It’s the only way, and Kaden will back us up.”
When we reach our house, we rush to the living room, where the group has gathered.
“It’s our way or no way,” Kaden says.
We all nod , and the sense of unity infuses me with strength. This is all I have ever wanted—a place to belong, a family of my own. And my friends are that family.
“This is our legacy. We won’t hide behind our names and the influence of the Family,” he adds, and then we head outside to the cars.
Blake’s grip on me tightens as I move to go with the girls.
“See you there,” I say and kiss him.
“I don’t like being separated from you.”
I sigh dreamingly and lift onto my toes to kiss him again. But, being him, he deepens the kiss, making me dizzy on my feet. With a slap on my ass, he lets me go, and I can’t stop giggling.
When I hop into the backseat of Abi’s car, she grins at me from the rearview mirror.
“So are you happy?” Celine asks.
“He’s everything I have ever dreamed of and more.”
“We know,” Bailey says, going back to her phone. “But I am happy he finally allowed himself to be happy.”
“You really think so?” I ask, chewing my lip.
“Come on, the way he looks at you says everything,” Celine says.
“Yes, he can’t keep his eyes and lips off of you.” Abi winks at me.
“I just want this over with,” I sigh.
“We all do,” Celine says, and the car falls silent until we reach the compound.
Samuel lets us in at the estate, and we walk down the long hallway until we reach the matriarch’s office. Cassandra is at her desk with her poker face on.
Kaden steps in front of the group and says, “Did you make the calls, Ma’am?”
“I did, but that doesn’t mean I like your plan.” She stands up. “If we do this, we open ourselves to alliances that our founding fathers never wanted. The Family’s credo has been to live in the shadows.”
“Felix and Caleb changed that. We have to adapt,” I say, and Cassandra looks at me and nods.
“Who’s going to represent the Family in the underground?” she urges.
“I will,” Blake says without even thinking about it.
“Anyone have a problem with that?”
“No, Blake can and will do it,” Kaden says.
We all nod while I swallow the lump of worry. We’re inviting danger, but Blake needs that as well. There’s a dark side of him, and while I hope I can light it up, letting it out whenever he needs to protect the Family will help him more. I don’t care as long as he stays here, and we can build our legacy.
“Okay. Well, only Blake will attend the meetings.”
“What?” I blurt.
“No,” Kaden says.
“That was not the plan,” Hunter says.
“I understand, but this isn’t your role—it’s his. You appointed him for a reason. The underground will know only his face and speak only to him. You need to think about your future roles. Now, if we come to an agreement, we’ll have the Syndicate on our side. Their power is astounding. Cooperating with them will ensure no one attacks us. But that will come at a price; whoever betrays them ends up dead. Plus, it’s known that they like to control the organizations that collaborate with them. Do not give them anything they can hold over our heads.”
“Do we need them, then? I don’t fucking like that,” Dane says.
“Times change. And before my time as a matriarch ends, I want you to have strong alliances set in place, not trying to put out fires everywhere. It will be challenging enough to stay on top. The most powerful criminal organization is the Syndicate. They are reputable businessmen by day and kings of the criminal world by night. While we will not, under any circumstance, let it be known that we’re working with the Syndicate, we will do business with their legitimate fronts.”
I understand her reasoning, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Knowing Blake will have no one to back him up has my stomach in knots. What if something goes wrong? This fear of losing him debilitates me. Inhaling deeply, I remind myself who my man is: a fighter and a survivor. That thought immediately eases a bit of my anxiety.
After dinner, we return to the house, congregating in the living room.
“This is not how it was supposed to go,” Hunter grumbles.
“I know, but she’s right. It’s Blake’s role,” Kaden says. He then turns to Blake. “What will you do?”
“I will fly to Boston and meet with the Syndicate’s trio.”
“When will you leave?” Celine asks.
“Tomorrow.”
“Don’t get yourself killed, or I’ll kill you,” Abi says.
“I won’t. I have to come back,” he says, looking at me, and my stomach flutters.
“Ah, for fuck’s sake,” Hunter grumbles. Blake flips him the bird and scoops me up.
“We’ll be back tomorrow,” he says, leaving with me in his arms and ignoring the others’ disapproval.
In the car, he says, “Please be careful while I’m gone, okay? I need to know you’ll be safe.”
“I promise. And you promise you will come back to me?”
“I will.”
“How long do you think you’ll be away?”
“One day. I can’t be separated from you for longer.”
“We can do this,” I say, trying to infuse strength. Nothing will happen to him.
“Can we not talk about this for tonight? I just…”
A smile teases my lips. “I would love that. It’s a date then?”
“I am going to take you on a thousand dates after this is all over.”
“You better.”
“Silver, those guys in your books won’t compare.”
I love how determined he sounds.
“They raised the bar pretty high.”
“I’m going to raise it to the damn stratosphere.”
The moment we park, the forest lights up, revealing a blanket of bright bulbs draped across various trees, illuminating our path.
“Wow.”
Owls hoot in the night, and I can hear animals scurrying away in the brush. A thick layer of snow scrunches under our shoes. When we reach the lodge, I can see myself living here, growing old. It’s just so out of this world beautiful.
Moving to the fireplace, Blake piles a few white oak logs on top of each other and starts a fire. The atmosphere gets more homey and warmer in seconds as the fire crackles, glowing in fiery reds and oranges.
My stomach grumbles, and he says, “Let’s get my girl fed. I don’t intend on sleeping much tonight.”
A heat wave sweeps through me, giddy for what’s to come.
We move to the kitchen, and there is something so special about preparing dinner together—those small touches and fleeting glances accompanied by secretive grins. After we prepare the mac and cheese with a salad on the side, we move to the living room with the plates.
“Is there anything that you cook that isn’t delicious?” he asks, moaning, taking another spoonful.
“Delicious is my MO,” I say, beaming.
He rakes those hungry eyes over my body. “That you are.”
Now I am hungry for something else entirely.
When we put the empty plates down, he drags me onto his lap, caressing the sides of my waist.
“I could gaze at you all day long and still wouldn’t get enough.”
“I’m a sure thing, just so you know.”
He chuckles softly, but his expression is serious. “I won’t ever hold back with you again.” He says it like a vow that imprints itself on my cells. “Not a single day will pass without me showing you what you mean to me.”
Tears well up, emotions overwhelming me. I silently pray to whatever power is above not to take him from me now when I am finally living a dream that I never believed would turn into reality.
“Are you real at this moment?”
He leans into me, my lips tingling when his breath fans my mouth.
“Does this feel real?” he asks, kissing me with wild abandon and unadulterated passion. Tongues dancing, our lips nibble, pressing together. He deepens the kiss, making me feel breathless, but I dive in for another.
“Does this feel real?” he asks again, this time pulling at my sweater and unclasping my bra. Goose bumps erupt when I catch the desire flaming in his eyes. He tweaks my nipples before twisting them. I moan at the pinch of pain, but then he sucks them gently. I am already wet, but when he plays with my nipples, it always flames up my arousal.
“Does that feel real?” he asks, setting me down. He pulls down my leather skirt, then my tights and thong, discarding them on the floor.
I am fully naked while he’s dressed, yet I don’t feel vulnerable. On the contrary, I feel powerful knowing he wants me just as much. He traces a finger from my belly to my pussy.
“Spread your legs.”
I shiver at his command and do just that. A groan rumbles in his throat as he pushes one finger inside of me.
“So fucking wet, baby.” He sucks the digit into his mouth, humming in appreciation.
I descend on him, tearing at his shirt and then unbuckling his pants. Naked, he looks majestic––from his imposing stature and defined chest, rippling with muscles, to his washboard abdomen, trimmed waist, and that carved V-line and strong thighs. He’s physical perfection. I salivate, wanting to lick every inch of him.
“Fuck me, Blake. Now,” I say, not caring that I sound desperate.
His green eyes intensify, burning for me. In one swift move, he has his hand wrapped around my neck.
“I will, but first let me take my fill of my fucking woman laid and spread open for me, shaking because she wants my cock so badly. That sweet cunt feels empty without my cock?”
“She does,” I say, but it comes out more of a moan.
“And like the greedy cunt she is, she wants to be stuffed full of my cock?”
A shiver rolls down my spine, and I arch into him, digging my nails into his round, muscled ass. The head of his cock glistens with pre-cum, and I get on my knees, licking him.
“Suck my cock, Mia. Show me how fucking much you want it to plow through your cunt.”
Good god, my arousal reaches a level that makes me feel lightheaded. I pepper kisses from the head along his thick shaft, licking the prominent vein. His hand fists in my hair, tugging my head back.
“Teasers get their throat fucked.”
And then he takes control. Flipping me over onto my back, my head rests on the armrest of the sofa, in line with his cock. He fucks my mouth, his cock sliding down my throat.
“Look at you…” he says, awe laced in his deep voice as he caresses the bulge in my throat. I am so wet and horny that I let out whimpers, sounding as needy as I am. The sounds of me choking on his cock and him groaning his pleasure echo around us in a carnal symphony.
“You take me so fucking well, but I want to come in your pussy.”
He pulls out, and I take my first full breath. I must look all puffy and flushed, but the way he looks at me like I am the most beautiful woman on this earth emboldens me.
“I am going to ravage you, my sweet girl.”
He traces his thumb along the contour of my lips, sliding it inside. He has a fascination with my mouth because he just finished fucking it, and he still hasn’t had enough.
I nibble at the tip. “Hmm, really, because you seem too busy teasing the both of us.”
“Such an impatient girl…”
“Please, Blake. Fuck me. I can’t take it anymore. I am aching…”
But no, the sweet torture continues as he says, “Scoot up and grip your ankles.”
I do just that and realize how exposed I am to him as he crouches down between my legs.
His finger slides down the crack of my ass. “I will own every inch and every hole of yours.”
A full-body shiver goes through me.
“That’s what you signed up for when you became mine.”
Then he buries his face in my pussy and eats me with savage hunger. He’s the one holding me in place because with every lick, suck, and nip, my muscles liquefy.
“I want you to count how many times you come tonight.”
It’s going to be a long night. Lucky me.
He’s unyielding as his proficient mouth and skilled fingers bring me higher and higher; the combination is too much for my body strung taut with pleasure. And when he dips his thumb in my asshole while he fucks my pussy with his tongue and fingers, I explode brighter than any fireworks lit in the world’s capitals on New Year’s Eve, crying out his name while he slaps my pussy. I swear my orgasm lasts even longer.
I whimper and moan as tears roll down my cheeks. He wipes them away, then licks my tears off his thumb, loving to make a mess out of me.
Then he pulls me down to his lap, and I end up straddling him. One hand rests on my ass cheek, and with the other, he caresses down my back. It’s so soothing and gentle after that intense experience that my shaking subsides. He brushes his lips against mine, peppering kisses over my face as I come back to earth.
“You did so good. I am so proud of you.”
I am one praise away from renouncing everything and just becoming his freaking sex slave.
“That was…” I can’t even find my words, and I pride myself on being an eloquent speaker because of all the books I’ve read.
He places me beside him, my back resting against the sofa as he moves between my legs. He jerks his cock up and down, pumping it leisurely.
“I need you to keep yourself spread open for me.” Then he gets on his knees and slides his cock up and down my slit.
“Yes, watch my cock. Watch us become one. Watch who you belong to. Watch the only man you’re going to know,” he says and thrusts inside of me. Never breaking eye contact, I dig my nails into the sofa, trying to anchor myself in the moment while he propels me to the land of unbound pleasure.
When he pulls out, I jump into his arms, not knowing what possessed me. Leaning back, I throw my legs around his hips and ride him. Grinding against his groin, I do eights on his cock and squeeze my walls around him, a primal instinct leading me.
Moving fast, then slow, he curses and bites into his bottom lip as he holds on to my waist.
“Fuck, Mia. Jesus Christ, you drive me insane.”
Good, because he does the same to me. And I am all for equality.
We come at the same time, and I fall on his chest, spent but satiated for now.
He gathers me and carries me upstairs while kissing my temple. “You owe me another one.”
“What if I fall asleep?”
“Baby, my cock will surely wake you up.”