Chapter Three
MONIQUE
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Her friends smiled as she approached them. She continued swaying her hips from left to right because she knew Sin was watching her from behind. She stopped in front of where her friends were seated and placed her hand on her hip, posing. Shoulders back, chin high, Monique made her announcement.
“I’m going to get laid tonight!”
“You’re going to do what?” Meka asked.
“Do it!” Toya encouraged. “Do it all night long. And a few rounds in the morning, too. Do it until you can’t do it anymore. Do it until your body begs you to stop doing it. Just do it.”
Monique smiled at her friends. Excitement flowed through her veins. Or maybe that was the alcohol. No matter what it was, it felt good. She felt good. And she was ready to feel even better.
“Toya!” Meka cried. “We can’t encourage her to run off with the first guy she meets. Even if that guy is one of the Cattaneos.”
Monique’s eyes widened. “One of the who? The Cattaneos? You mean, the family who owns this casino and every other Cattaneos Casino and Resort along the Gulf Coast?”
“And they’ve expanded to other states,” Toya informed her. “Look at you, diva. You bagged a rich hottie on your first girls’ night out. We raised you well, young padawan.”
Monique chuckled at the Star Wars reference as she tossed her hair over her shoulder, acknowledging that she was indeed still a baddie. Or whatever the new generation was calling it these days. Maybe it was thot. No, it wasn’t thot. She was pretty sure it was baddie.
“Wait, guys,” Meka spoke up. “Let’s think about this for a second. The crime rate in this state has gone up. Women are being snatched up left and right these days. It’s dangerous out here in these streets, especially for black women. If you go missing, you won’t get any screentime on the news. They’ll sweep your disappearance under the rug. And this isn’t me being overdramatic. I’m for real.”
Monique’s smile faded. Meka was right. Perhaps Monique was being too na?ve to think she could just safely go out and have a one-night stand.
“You’re right,” Monique agreed, surprised at the amount of disappointment she was feeling. “I don’t know this man. I don’t even have any condoms. What if he doesn’t have condoms? What if he gets me to his room and won’t let me leave? What if he’s a serial killer? And here goes my silly ass, offering myself up to be victim thirty-two!”
“Victim thirty-two? Well, that escalated fast,” Toya drawled. “Look, you’ve got nothing to worry about. I took a picture of the two of you at the bar talking. I have proof that he was the last person you were seen with. Therefore, if you die, we’ll get justice for you.”
“But I don’t want to die,” Monique explained.
“Right!” Meka added. “Ain’t no dick worth dying over.”
“She’s not going to die. Meka, stop being overdramatic and scaring Monique. Listen, Monique, you’re in safe hands with this man. This particular Cattaneo is Orazio Cattaneo , the oldest brother in the Cattaneo family, who runs this casino. And the sexiest, if you ask me. Unlike his other brother, he doesn’t have any scandals. He does have an older cousin, who is fine, too, but he has a few scandals. But we’re not here to talk about him. We’re talking about the oh, so fine Orazio. And look at how he’s staring at you,” Toya said, staring past Monique. “He looks like he’s undressing you from across the room. Even I feel naked now.”
Monique glanced over her shoulder. Her gaze connected with Sin... no, that wasn’t his name. His name was Orazio Cattaneo. He raised his glass to his lips and took a sip. When he lowered it, he licked his lips, gaze never straying from hers.
“Girllll!” Toya drawled. “If you don’t fuck him, I will. Shiiiit. I volunteer as tribute.”
Monique smiled, imagining his sexy lips on her body. A shiver raced down her spine, cupped her ass, and tickled her most sensitive flesh.
“He’s mine,” she told her friends.
Arousal . That’s what she was experiencing. She was aroused by a stare. What would she do when he actually put his hands and mouth on her? More than likely, she’d end up begging for more. If she did, she’d lose the bet. Monique faced her friends.
“Have you changed your mind about leaving with him?” Meka asked. “If so, we can go home now and...”
“No,” Monique interrupted her. “I’m definitely doing him tonight.”
Meka sighed. Toya did a little happy dance.
“The thing is,” Monique started. “We sort of made a bet.”
“You won,” Meka told her. “Consider your dare completed. Now, let’s go.”
“I’m not talking about our dare. Not the dare the three of us made. I’m talking about Sin and me, I mean, Orazio. The two of us made a bet.”
That got her friends’ attention.
“What kind of bet?” Meka asked as she stared past Monique to side-eye Orazio.
“I hope it’s the naughty kind,” Toya told her. “Look at her blushing. It must be the naughty kind. Hurry, tell us. Make it quick. He’s walking this way.”
Her entire body tensed. He’s coming this way! Why? Monique started to turn her head to see for herself.
“No, don’t look back,” Toya stopped her. “You don’t want to appear too anxious. Now, tell us about the bet.”
“Well.” Monique swallowed. She was growing nervous now just thinking about it. “He said that he could make me beg...”
“For your life?” Meka finished for her. “Sounds like a human trafficker,” Meka pointed out.
“Girl, bye,” Toya waved off Meka’s words. “So, Orazio promised he could make you beg. Then what happened, Monique?”
“Then, I told him, I don’t beg anyone for anything.”
“Ooh. That’s good. I like that. Great job, Mo,” Toya praised.
“I have to admit, that was a good comeback,” Meka agreed.
“Wait, there’s more. I didn’t only deny that I wouldn’t beg. I started feeling myself and told him that I bet he couldn’t make me beg.”
“Girl, why did you make that bet? You’re sooo going to beg,” Toya told her. “He walks with BDE. Big dick energy . He’s got, make her beg , written all over him.”
“He does look like he could blow your back out, repair it, then blow it out again,” Meka observed. “I’m ninety-seven percent sure you’re going to beg.”
Monique bit her lower lip. “Wait... there’s more.”
“More?!” Meka and Toya exclaimed in unison.
Biting her lower lip, Monique nodded. “I got a little cocky and issued another bet.”
“What?” her friends asked, speaking at the same time again.
“I bet that I could make him beg.”
Her friends’ mouths dropped open. For a split second, they appeared to be in a state of shock. Then, they both burst out laughing. Well, that was rude!
“Hey!” Monique exclaimed. “It’s not funny. I can make him beg. I can.”
“I hope so,” Meka said, still chuckling. “Because he’s almost here.”
Damn it. Monique smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles in her dress and tried to pull herself together.
“I’ve got one word of advice for you, and then you’re on your own,” Toya told her. “Actually, it’s three words. Suck his dick.”
Monique gasped. “What?”
Why was she questioning it? She’d planned to do that anyway. Still, hearing it said out loud sounded kind of dirty.
“Stop acting all innocent and listen,” Toya told her. “Suck his dick and spit on it.”
“And tap it against your tongue,” Meka instructed her. “That always works.”
“Oh, and use your hands to pump it while you suck it,” Toya told her. “That’ll keep you from getting locked jaw.”
“Yes.” Meka nodded. “Using your hands keeps your mouth from doing all the work. Now, turn around. He’s here.”
Monique plastered a smile on her face and turned around. There he was, looking good enough to lick and suck. Damn, he was big, tall, and sexy. It was Monique’s turn to lick her lips. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. She was ready. Ready, willing, and wet.
A triple threat.
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***
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ORAZIO
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Seeing her leave was torture. But watching her ass sway from left to right as she walked away was pure delight. Leaning against the bar, Orazio Cattaneo watched the woman of his dreams walk over to her friends.
She was indeed that, the woman of his dreams. He’d dreamed of her nearly every night since the first time he saw her seated at the bar in his casino. When he’d found out she was married to his former consigliere, he’d felt like strangling someone.
In fact, he had strangled someone – her now ex-husband. The bastard had been stealing from them. Orazio’s brother had given Trevor a chance to pay the money back. Each time the money was due, Trevor came up with an excuse.
With every excuse he uttered, the interest on the money increased until it reached a number the man would never have been able to afford. Instead of owning up to his crime and taking his punishment like a man, the bastard had tried to barter, using his wife as collateral.
The Cattaneo family didn’t deal in human trafficking, nor would they agree to Trevor having Monique killed to collect the insurance money and pay them with it. Orazio had been okay with just killing Trevor and counting the owed money as a loss.
Then he’d seen Trevor’s wife, Monique Rose. Her presence, her eyes, her smile, her curves, everything that made her who she was, had changed the entire situation. Orazio had wanted her for himself.
But he hadn’t wanted a widow who would forever mourn the death of her husband. So, his desire to kill Trevor had been pushed to the back burner – out of sight, but not out of mind. Instead, he needed the man to stay alive and reveal his true colors to Monique.
He’d made a deal with Trevor. To prevent Trevor from going through with his plan to have Monique murdered to collect the insurance money and then run off with his portion of it and his mistress, Orazio had agreed to pay the money Trevor owed to his brother.
All Trevor had to do was divorce his wife. But before that, he had to get her to sign a contract. Trevor had done as Orazio suggested. He’d tricked his wife into signing a contract that she still didn’t know she’d signed.
Come morning, she would know. And by morning, she’d belong to him. Orazio chuckled. Who was he kidding? She became his the moment he first laid eyes on her. He would’ve gone after her sooner if problems hadn’t arisen within his family.
Problems that had required his immediate attention. Problems that had taken more time and energy than he’d anticipated. Because of those problems, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t go near her until he’d handled the issues currently plaguing his family.
He should’ve just watched her from the cameras when his security guard had checked in to let him know she’d entered the casino. Instead, he’d been drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Technically, he’d kept his promise to himself.
He hadn’t gone looking for her. The woman he craved had come to him. And it was taking all the strength he had to keep from hurrying her along. He was eager to get her alone. He was ready to get her undressed and claim her body. He ached to possess her, ached to be buried deep inside her.
Orazio raised his glass to his lips as the woman he craved glanced over her shoulder at him. Their gazes connected. A jolt of arousal surged through his body. Hand tightening around his glass, Orazio licked his lips.
He needed his mouth on this woman right now. He couldn’t wait any longer. She returned her attention to her friends. He wanted her eyes on him. He wanted her hands on him. He wanted her mouth on him.
Orazio placed his glass on the counter. It was time to say goodbye to all distractions. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Orazio started across the room. He told himself to be patient. Don’t just grab her up and carry her out.
He wasn’t a damn caveman. He had to be a gentleman. No matter how eager he was to have her pussy in his mouth, he couldn’t let it show. When he reached her, she turned and faced him. From her smile, he could tell she was still a bit nervous. He knew how to calm her nerves.
Orazio bent down to whisper in her ear, “I’m ready to taste you, beautiful Rose.”
He moved to lean back, wanting to see her reaction. He was shocked when she grabbed his collar and tugged, pulling him back down to her. The words she whispered further surprised him.
Her breath caressed his ear when she seductively told him, “From the tent in your pants, I can tell you’re ready. So am I. But first, you’ve got to say, please.”
Orazio couldn’t hold in his grin. Damn, he had to be careful with this woman. She wasn’t nervous at all. She was ready. Their game had already begun. And it seemed he would be the first to beg. Touché, Monique Rose. Touché. But he wasn’t going to cave that easily.
“Say goodbye to your friends first,” he told her.
She faced her two friends, one of which was grinning from ear to ear. The other was staring him up and down with a glare that would’ve made a lesser man nervous.
“See you tomorrow,” his Rose told her friends.
No, you won’t, Orazio thought.
Both friends stepped forward to hug her. Each whispered something in her ear. His impatience grew with each second that passed. The longer they talked to her, the longer he had to wait before he had her pussy on his tongue. He held himself still, forcing himself to let them have this moment.
Finally, they stepped away from her. But they didn’t leave. They watched them as Raz steered Monique toward their next destination. He could feel their gazes on his back as he walked away with their friend.
But his eyes were focused on his dessert. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. Walking side by side, Orazio and Monique headed toward the elevators. He slowed his pace, wanting to fall back to take in her form.
Sexy as fuck didn’t begin to describe this woman. She was all curves and beauty wrapped up in a skintight dress. Unwrapping that dress and feasting on the gift within was going to be the highlight of his night.
It would probably be the highlight of his week, considering the shitty week he’d had. He shoved outside thoughts aside. Tonight, he would place all of his attention on Monique Rose. Still walking slightly in front of him, she looked up at the sign that read: elevators .
When she veered in that direction, he placed his hand on the small of her back. She stopped walking. He felt her tremble. Or was that him? Connected by touch, he couldn’t tell. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Have you changed your mind?” she asked, staring up at him with those beautiful brown eyes that made him want to give her all his worldly possessions.
“No. My mind has been made up since the first second I saw you.”
How long had it been? Seven months. No, eight. Yeah, eight sounded about right. Her uncontested divorce had probably been the fastest in history. Raz had made sure of it. The corner of her lips lifted in a slight smile.
“If that’s true, why did you stop me?” she asked before her eyes dropped to where his hand was at the small of her back.
Orazio held back a groan. He wanted her to stare back at him like that while he was fucking her from behind.
Clearing his throat, he told her, “This isn’t our elevator. Ours is straight ahead.”
“But,” she started, looking back at the elevator sign. “The elevators are this way.”
“Those take you to the casino guest rooms. I’m not a guest. I own the casino.”
She looked back at him. “Oh, right. You still haven’t officially introduced yourself to me. In my head, I keep calling you...” she paused.
“What do you call me in your head?” Raz removed his hand from the small of her back to place it somewhere safer.
The urge to smack her ass and watch it jiggle had been plaguing him ever since he’d watched her walk over to chat with her friends. He grabbed her hand and steered her to the elevators only a select few could use. When they reached them, he pressed the letter T on the panel.
“What floor does T take us to?” Monique asked as the doors opened.
“After you,” he told her, reluctantly releasing her hand.
She swallowed before repeating her question. “Where does T take us?”
It was his turn to ask her, “Are you changing your mind?”
She shook her head. “I made my mind up the moment you told me you could handle having me sit all of this on your face.”
She placed her hand on her hip, drawing his gaze there. Raz swiped his hand over his face and prayed for patience. Her words had left him speechless. Gritting his teeth, he shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from shoving her against the wall and going to his knees in front of her.
The elevator doors opened. Smiling, Monique stepped into the elevator and strode to the back wall. He couldn’t help being mesmerized by her ass as she walked. Slowly, she turned to face him. His gaze drifted upward, taking in all her curves. A smile curved across her face.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
Was it his naughty mind, or did her words have a double meaning? She winked. Yes, yes, the fuck they did. The doors began to shut. He placed one foot forward, preventing them from closing.
As they eased open, he stepped into the elevator. He continued forward, eyes on her. She held his stare, gaze never wavering. With one hand at her side and the other clutching her purse, she continued to meet his stare.
As he neared her, she tried to take a step back. Her smile wavered when she realized there was nowhere for her to go. Back pressed against the wall, she lifted her chin. The challenge and defiance in her gaze only made him burn for her more.
He stopped once he was standing toe to toe with her. Behind them, the doors shut, closing them into the small space of the elevator. Finally, they were alone. Once the T floor was chosen, the doors wouldn’t open again until they’d reached his floor. He now had his rose all to himself. No one would dare disturb them tonight. Or tomorrow night. Or the next night.
Orazio Cattaneo finally had his Rose.