Chapter 20
Gia
Castor bustles out of the swinging door of Trattoria Mangia in his apron and rolled up dress shirt, carrying two plates of chicken francese. I’m in awe of how good the calamari appetizer he made me was. Not chewy at all. It’s like he’s been hiding these secret talents his whole life, because I don’t remember him ever making lunch when Marco invited him over.
When the hell does he ever have the time? He runs a whole damn crew.
I’d be lying if I wasn’t falling all over this man right about now.
His bicep veins peek out of his shirt from the way he’s holding the plates, and the bulge in his pants keeps dragging my eyes down.
I take a sip of my drink to block my vision from focusing only on that. Don’t be rude, Gia. This is how guys must feel when they see a hot server. I smirk as he places the plate down in front of me. The lemon and butter sauce looks better than anything Bangos ever put together, and the parsley sprinkled on top is a nice touch.
He flings the apron off, fixes his shirt, and takes his seat across from me, waiting patiently for my comments on his presentation.
I say nothing, keeping him in suspense as I pick up my utensils to test the dish. He’s still a bit frazzled, which I can’t get enough of. I’m going to bask in this moment.
Cutting the chicken slowly is torture for him – his micro-grunts under his breath tell me so. I take my time dipping the piece in his meticulously prepared golden-brown sauce. When I bite into the juicy splash of lemon and butter, my eyes widen for a fraction of a second. It’s official, he cooks as good as he fucks.
“Well?” he growls.
I look at him with stars in my eyes. All is forgiven.
“Amazing.” I cover my mouth so he can’t see me chewing.
“You’re just saying that.” He’s still tense.
I shake my head and close my eyes, then when I’m done chewing, lean over the table with my lips puckered.
With that, he finally relaxes, meeting me halfway.
God, I missed his lips. He tastes like mint mixed with a touch of Johnnie Blue. It takes everything not to jump over the table and seduce him where he sits. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
I fall back into my seat. “Tell me everything, Castor. How the heck did you get this all prepped for me?”
He grins while taking a bite for himself. “Hey, I did pretty good!”
“Told you I wasn’t kidding.”
“This is my friend Arturo’s restaurant. He grew up with me and your brother, but never wanted in on the underground life. We remained close, and as long as I don’t cause a ruckus for his customers, my crew always has a private room to talk business and eat. This… was a bigger favor.”
“Oh?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Yeah.” He points. “I had him redecorate the place. Those chandeliers are brand new. So is the carpet. Called in a three-person cleaning crew and told the chef the fresh ingredients I needed for the night. The list goes on.”
I nearly choke on my food. “You did all that?”
He did all that, for me?
He tilts his head, giving me a look that says it all. He’s a high-ranking captain of the Valentino crime family. Enough said.
“He asked me who the special lady was.” Castor stabs at his chicken.
I use my hands to frame my glistening, disheveled face.
Castor chuckles at that. “I told him to fuck off as politely as possible.”
“He wouldn’t tell—”
“Unless he wanted his head served on a platter next,” he growls, then immediately softens when he sees my face. “Sorry, too soon.”
I want to laugh. His delivery was kind of funny, but the realness of it sucks the life out of me all over again. “Castor.” I frown.
“What? I said I’m sorry. Just kidding around.”
“Yeah, I know, but—” I shake my head and stare down at my food.
“Say it, Gia.”
“This is an amazing date. I don’t want our bliss to be short-lived because of your lifestyle. But I’m scared it will be.”
He drops his utensils as if he didn’t just ask for this.
I tilt my head at him with wide eyes, and he throws his hands up innocently for me to continue. “Just a few days ago I was vowing up and down never to see you again. And even though I’m here, I stand by that ideal. I hate my brother’s ways, and refuse to talk to him because of it. He’s beaten and killed innocent people over bullshit.”
“First of all, I am not your brother.” He tenses, then relaxes. “Listen, kid.” He reaches for my hand, igniting another fire with his touch. “I don’t know too much about being serious with a woman, but I do know compromise plays a part.”
For a second, I thought he was going to lecture me on the ways he has to operate. This is a welcome surprise. I rub his hand with my thumb, telling him to keep going.
“You’re it for me, Gia. I mean it.” His eyes hold mine. “I’d do anything to protect you, to make you happy. But you have to meet me halfway. You know what I am… what I do. Tell me how we can make it work.”
Fuck. He threw it back on me.
The minimum requirements to be okay with dating a mobster? They don’t teach that in school. “Um.” My heart flutters as I register his words. That’s two times in a row he’s confessing that I’m his one and only. On the one hand, it hasn’t been long enough to make such grand confessions. On the other… it’s been a damn eternity.
I’ve been infatuated with this man since the day Marco brought him over on a random Thursday fifteen years ago. Now in this secret sort of way like I’m a kid again, I get my shot with him. Our chemistry, our laughs, our pitfalls. It’s true. He’s everything. I only want him.
I take a strong inhale. “Whatever it takes so Russians aren’t at my doorstep with sniper rifles, and they’re not pointed at you either.”
He licks his teeth and goes in for another bite of chicken. His cheek twitches. “This thing tomorrow.”
I bite my lip. I know what’s coming. At least be honest with me.
“I have to do it.”
My heart cracks inside my chest. Honesty didn’t help.
“All the wheels are in motion. When you’re coordinating a crew-wide job, you can’t back away.” He puts down his fork to grab my other hand. “But once this is over, I’ll be more careful. How about that? No more big expansions or risky plays. I’ll run my gold business, and my underground business, in a way that won’t garner enemies for you, your brother, and me. How’s that sound for a proposal?”
My heart skips a beat at that last word.
I imagine a whole life with him. A wedding day that I thought was so far away might actually be closer than I expected… if only I can get over the part where he’s a sadistic murderer.
Listen to him, Gia. He’s a boss, bending the knee for you.
I swallow hard.
“I love you,” he says, sealing his proposal with a dangerous kiss. It’s only been a few months of on and off dating. But… if truth be told, this is more than infatuation. I dream of him. I worry about him. I want him and need him at all times.
“I love you too,” I give in.
Just as the words slip out of his mouth, he extends his arm over the table and wipes it clean of everything.
Crshh!
Plates break into pieces, our drink glasses shatter, and my mouth is open in shock. He tugs me by the arm so my lips meet his, and all that sweetness he injected into my heart melts into fiery passion.
“I’m disgusting.” I smile through a kiss.
“You’re real,” he barks back, pulling me onto the table and grabbing at my legs so they’re hanging off the edge right in front of him. He sniffs my neck, making me coy. “Don’t cower. I like you like this.”
It’s gross because I’m un-showered. Nine hour shift on my feet the whole day, and he’s grabbing me like I’m the most beautiful thing in the world. I’d be lying if I wasn’t even more turned on. He’s less human than animal.
He licks my neck which must be all salty grime, and moans into a strong kiss against my skin. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. My body wilts into his seduction. Every pulse of my heart sends a tongue of fire through my limbs, coaxing me to tear at his rock-hard body.
One pull at my Bango’s outfit sends buttons flying all over the restaurant, and a strong tug at my bra leaves my breasts exposed for his face to bury into. He licks the sweat and inhales in between. I’m about to ask him why he’s so feral today, but he’s smart to slither two fingers over my clit.
I open my legs a little wider, internally saying: Deeper, Castor. I beg of you.
His tongue lassos around my nipple, making it hard, and I snake my hand up the back of his head, pulling at his hair. When his fingers slip into my slit, I imagine it as a priming for that massive bulge caged in his slacks.
He moves away from my breasts, down my stomach, planting a hungry kiss all the way down.
“Castor, don’t. Let me go freshen up.” I tense my legs, but his massive hands squeeze them to tell me no. “Please.”
“This is all I ever wanted.” He shoves my legs open, making me gasp with pleasure.
I’m vulnerable in a different sort of way. Usually I make sure I’m a presentation, like a dessert meant to be eaten. Here, I’m… raw.
“There’s something you should know about me,” he purrs as his tongue dangles over my clit. “I’m into fetishes.”
I squeeze my legs around his head as he dives in as deep as his tongue will let him. I throw my head back, looking at the new chandelier above me without seeing it. It’s all pleasure. Sick, sick pleasure. I’m self-conscious about my scent, but he’s never been this riled with me.
One look at the mess on the floor, then at his groping hands… I’m irresistible to him. It makes me want him more. It’s not that outlandish; I’d do the same to him. I’d suck him dry even if he just climbed a mountain. Seeing him drenched in sweat the other day… if circumstances were different, I would’ve let him fuck me in any hole.
Yes. The shockwaves of pleasure rippling through me are incredible.
I’m giving in.
“Do whatever you want to me, Castor,” my voice is nothing but a whispered moan.
I regret my words when he pulls away.
“No! Anything but stopping.” I reach for his head to push him back down there, but he fights me on it.
I’m left there – pussy out – leaning with my elbows on the table trying to catch my breath. What the hell is he doing? I watch him reach into his suit jacket on the back of his chair and pull out a box.
“This isn’t the time to give me another golden gift, Castor. Fuck me.”
I don’t care. I start fingering myself if he won’t. He ignites a beast inside me. If he can lick my sweaty pussy, I can show him how I get off.
My eyes widen when he opens the case to a string of golden beads that get larger as they progress.
Another pulse of pleasure erupts from fear. Does he want to…?
“Anything?” He leans over me, work shirt all torn, abs peeking through.
How can I say no? “Anything.”
He flips me over on the table – making it teeter – and feel every inch of my breasts pressed against the warm wood. My finger scratches back down my belly, toward my clit. I’m surrendering all of my inhibitions. And I mean all of them.
The gold steel ball teases my second hole, making my eyes roll to the back of my head. I’ve never done anything like this before. Usually guys only want one thing.
Mmph. The first link is in. Feels like a pinky – it’s nice.
Then he starts pulling my flats off. What is he doing now?
The tickle of his tongue around my big toe almost makes me kick him in the face. Is he nuts? I giggle from the sensation, but when he wraps his whole mouth around it while sticking the second bead into my hole, I slap the table with my free hand.
Fuck.
So much pleasure. He’s playing my whole body like an instrument. And it’s an instrument that hasn’t been cleaned. “You’re a sick fuck.” I turn back to the image of him sucking on my toes.
He nods at me while unzipping his pants.
Yeah, I think I’m ready for that.
He releases my leg as I start to turn to get off the table. Castor reaches for the beads, but I slap his hand away. “Leave them in,” I say, and can almost measure how much harder he got from me playing along.
The table teeters again as I climb off, leaving my pending orgasm in reserve for the thick rod of roped veins waiting for my mouth. As I crawl on my knees, he grabs me again and flips me effortlessly so I’m upside down in his arms.
Does this man ever stop giving?
He’s a blue-eyed god.
As I start jerking him, he’s already face-deep into me. I’m passed the point of resistance, so I push my pelvis deeper into his face since that’s what he craves, all while I show him what I crave.
He wants it sloppy? Fine.
I slobber all over him, taking him as deep as humanly possible to a horrible gag. He grunts his pleasure, so I do it again. It’s fun not to be so cautious during sex. I’m liking this exploration at his lead. I was always told the balls are the most sensitive spot.
There’s no harm in trying something new. I place my hands firmly on his ass to drag myself a little bit lower. “Mmph,” I moan as my tongue reaches his sack, freeing one hand to jerk him while I work. He’s all lathered and ready now – and I’m nearly blacked out with pleasure from his endless rotation to my clit and flirting with the third bead up my second hole.
As I’m licking every part of him down there, he pulls away from my slit, letting a breeze tickle me. “Bite it,” he says.
I’m not sure I hear him right, so I continue what I’m doing.
“Do it, Gia. Use your teeth.”
My heart flutters – what the—?
I test the waters, swirling my tongue around the head before clenching my teeth delicately around the skin. It’s like biting into a fleshy rock. His legs shiver the more pressure I put, but I refuse to hurt him.
“Yes,” he growls, which makes me suck harder.
His cock pulses every time I moan, until finally, he flips me upright back onto my feet. We’re both in heat, breathing heavily, staring at one another.
He pulls me close, our bodies flat against one another, heat emanating everywhere. My heart stalls as he slows it all down for this eternal moment, like a race car stopped at a red light. He reaches in slow for a sensual kiss, which brings down the rest of the walls I didn’t know were still up.
My arms wrap around his neck as he lifts me back onto the table, and his cock spreading my lips, penetrating my walls, diving deep inside me, makes me want to freeze this moment and live in it forever.