Chapter 16
sixteen
KITANIA
Something was going down. The signs were everywhere—hushed conversations that stopped when I entered a room, the increased security around the penthouse, and the way my mates kept exchanging those loaded glances they thought I didn’t notice. If I had a million dollars, I’d bet every last dime it had something to do with Rocco.
Whatever it was, my mates were being tight-lipped about it, despite how many times I’d asked them what was going on. All I knew was that Dimitri had set an elaborate trap, all in favor of rooting out the mole and taking out the threats against us.
I was worried, but all four of my mates kept promising me things would be different this time. Apparently, their plans were ‘hush-hush’ and ‘need to know,’ but as much as I appreciated their protection, I hated being in the dark.
It was strange. The Omega part of me was happy to let them handle it while the stronger woman I was becoming wanted to assert herself and demand details.
Dimitri’s hand clasped protectively around mine as we rode in the back of his sleek black SUV.
“You’re quiet.” His brown eyes, which were usually sharp and cutting when he looked at others, were soft when he looked at me.
“Just thinking.” I turned to look out the window, watching the city blur past us as we headed... somewhere. Dimitri hadn’t told me where we were going, just that he wanted to take me out for the afternoon. A date, he’d called it, with that rare half-smile that never failed to make my heart skip.
But I wasn’t fooled. Not entirely. “This is a distraction, isn’t it?”
His fingers tightened around mine. “What makes you say that?”
“Because I’m not stupid, D.” I sighed, turning back to face him. “I know something’s happening today. I just don’t know what …”
Dimitri sighed and scratched at the dark scruff of his beard. “Kit—”
“Please. Just tell me something .” I cut in, my voice smaller than I’d intended. “You promised none of you would get hurt. How can you keep that promise if we’re not there to help your brothers with whatever you’ve got planned?”
His tattooed hand gave mine a squeeze of reassurance. “And I meant it. We all did. Now that we know what we’re dealing with, we’re a step ahead instead of a step behind.” He sighed, then relented. “You know we have a mole in the organization. We’ve planted a number of false leads to the men we suspect could be double-crossing us. One of those is going down today. If Rocco makes a move, we’ll know who our mole is. We’re prepared for every outcome. And that’s why you’re with me today, away from any potential danger. We’ve planned everything down to the minute. Trust me, Kitten.”
My anxiety eased at his words, at the steadiness of his gaze. His confidence was contagious, and for better or worse, I nodded.
“Thank you,” I whispered on an exhale. “But I swear to God, Dimitri, everyone better stay safe.”
His lips brushed against my forehead, sending tingles across my skin. “Don’t worry. We’ll all be together again tonight, I promise. I’ll even have the guys give us updates throughout the day.”
That did make me feel better.
“In the meantime, can we enjoy the special day I’ve got planned? I may have had a motive to get you out of the penthouse for the day, but I did actually plan something fun, and I want to take you out, Kitania. I want to date you… properly .”
God. This man. “Yes. I’d like that. Love it, actually.”
The SUV slowed, turning onto what looked like an abandoned stretch of concrete and patchy grass. I frowned, peering out the window. There was nothing around for miles except…
“Is that a hangar?” I pressed my face closer to the glass, spotting a massive building in the distance.
Dimitri’s smile widened, an almost boyish excitement replacing his usual stoic expression. “It is.”
The SUV pulled to a stop, and before I could ask another question, Dimitri was out of the car and opening my door, extending his hand. I took it, allowing him to help me out, the breeze immediately whipping my hair around my face.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, trying to tame my wild strands back behind my ears as I stared up at the enormous structure.
Dimitri’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me close to his side as we walked toward the building. “Giving you an experience you’ll never forget.”
He led me around the building instead, and I stopped in my tracks at what I saw—a sleek black helicopter, its blades still and silent, just waiting to take off.
My mouth gaped open. “Are we... Are you taking me on a helicopter ride ?”
Dimitri’s chuckle vibrated through me where our bodies pressed together. “I am. I thought you might like a change of scenery, a break from the penthouse, and all the renovation planning.” He turned me to face him, his hands warm on my shoulders. “What do you think?”
A thrill shot through me at the thought of flying above the city, seeing the world from a perspective I’d never experienced before.
“I’ve never been in a helicopter. Hell, I’ve never even been on a plane ,” I admitted. My nerves mingled with my excitement.
“I know.” Dimitri’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “That’s what makes it special.”
A man in a crisp uniform approached us, nodding respectfully to Dimitri. “Mr. Cristenello, we’re ready when you are.”
“Thank you, Hayes.” Dimitri glanced down at me. “Ready for an adventure, Kit?”
My heart thundered in my chest, but I nodded, allowing Dimitri to lead me toward the helicopter and help me inside. He climbed in after me, then made sure my seatbelt was secure before settling at my side. The pilot handed us headsets, explaining they would protect our ears from the noise and allow us to talk to each other on our own private channel.
The blades started spinning, and though the sound was muffled, it was still loud. I reached for Dimitri’s hand, gripping it tightly. His thumb stroked soothingly over my knuckles as the helicopter began to rise, my stomach dropping.
“Oh!” I gasped as we lifted higher, the ground falling away beneath us. “This is... wow .”
My mate’s deep laugh came through the headset. “Just wait until we’re over the city.”
The helicopter banked gently, heading toward the skyline in the distance. As we approached, the buildings that had always seemed so tall from the ground now looked like toy models. Streets cut in straight lines between structures, cars reduced to tiny specks moving along them like ants.
“That’s the penthouse,” Dimitri said, pointing to a familiar skyscraper. From this height, I could see the rooftop terrace, the pool a small rectangle of blue. “And over there is The Raven.”
I followed his gesture to the nightclub they owned, my eyes widening at how different everything looked from above.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, pressing my face to the window. The city spread out beneath us, filled with life and energy.
“I used to hate this city,” D said unexpectedly. “When I was a kid, all I saw were the dangers, the dark corners where my father did business, the places where I learned to fight and kill.”
I turned to him, surprised by this glimpse into a part of him he’d never let anyone see before. My Alpha seldom spoke about his childhood.
“That building there,” he continued, pointing to an old brick structure, “that’s where my father took me for my first lesson in hand-to-hand combat. I was ten.” His lips quirked in a humorless smile. “And that park is where Gio broke his arm climbing a tree when he was seven. I thought my father would kill me for not watching him closely enough.”
“What happened?” I asked, captivated by these pieces of him I’d never seen before.
“He made me take care of Gio instead. Said if I couldn’t prevent an injury, I’d better know how to tend one.” Dimitri huffed a laugh. “I learned to splint bones before I learned algebra.”
As we continued over the city, Dimitri pointed out more landmarks, each with a story—the restaurant where they celebrated Tommy’s sixteenth birthday, the street corner where Marco got into his first fight, the harbor where their father taught them to swim by tossing them into the deep water.
Deep down, I knew Emilio cared for his children, but his parenting style seemed harsh to me. He operated with a sink or swim mentality, pushing his children to be independent beyond their years, teaching them responsibility before they could even say the word.
Don’t get me wrong, it was better than anything I’d grown up with, but it was clear the hard, dangerous parts of Emilio’s job had bled over into his family life. But instead of making ‘made men,’ he’d been raising his kids.
It made me want to love them deeper and show them a different kind of life.
Dimitri kept giving me a tour of his city from above, telling me more about the streets that raised him and his brothers. I soaked up everything I could about his youth. I wanted to understand what had shaped and molded him into who he was today.
Up here, with the world small beneath us and the sky vast above, there were no walls or boundaries. He shared freely, and with each story, I felt myself falling deeper for this complex, dangerous man.
“Thank you for this,” I murmured, leaning my head against his shoulder as we flew beyond the city. “I needed it more than I realized.”
His arm came around me, pulling me closer. “I want to give you everything, Kitten. Not just helicopters and penthouses, but experiences. A life without fear.” He paused, something vulnerable flickering in his gaze. “I want to take you traveling. Show you places you’ve never seen. Paris, Rome, Tokyo...”
My heart squeezed at his earnestness. “I’d like that. I’d like to experience everything with you.”
“We should do as much traveling as we can before we have kids of our own,” he continued, tone dropping lower, more intimate, “though I think a lot of practice is in order while we show you the world.”
I giggled, then sobered, biting my lip as I considered voicing a fear I’d never shared with anyone else. “I don’t know if I’d be a good mother,” I admitted, my voice barely audible over the helicopter’s hum. “I barely had one. What if I don’t know what to do?”
Dimitri’s fingers gently tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known, Kit. After everything you’ve endured, you still care so deeply. You’ll be an amazing mother.” His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “But only if and when you’re ready. We have time.”
Tears pricked at my eyes, and I blinked them back. “I love you, Dimitri.”
“Fuck, Kitten. I love you, too.” The vulnerability in his expression struck me deeply. This powerful Alpha, laying himself bare. It was a gift greater than any helicopter ride or fancy date could ever be.
“With me—with us —you’ll have everything,” he promised.
I reacted instinctively, bridging the space between us, stealing a kiss. His mouth was warm and firm against mine, his short beard scratching lightly against my skin. Sandalwood and honey notes surrounded me—earthy and woodsy, with a hint of sweetness. His signature was manly, rich, and familiar, and all I could think about was rubbing against him, marking myself with it so I could smell him on my clothes. On my skin.
His warm palm landed on my thigh, and the touch sent a jolt of electricity through me. I gasped, pulling back just enough to see into his dark eyes. Slowly, he reached up and tugged off our headsets, setting them aside.
The air shifted, charged with primal, hungry energy. The corner of his mouth lifted in that subtle, sinful smile that made me squeeze my thighs together.
“D?” I breathed, suddenly aware that we weren’t fully alone. The cockpit was separated from the cabin of the luxury helicopter, but wasn’t the guy wearing a headset? Could he hear us?
Dimitri leaned closer, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “The headsets are on different channels and the noise of the rotors will drown out the rest. Hayes can’t hear us unless we use the intercom.”
His hand slid higher on my thigh, the heat of his palm burning through the thin material of my skirt. A rush of slick dampened my panties, filling the cabin with my perfume. Nostrils flaring, he hummed his approval, then changed course, journeying beneath the cotton to find bare skin.
The lightest brush of his fingertips ghosted along my hip, flirting with the edge of my underwear like he had all the time in the world. My breath hitched, anticipation crackling through me like static. Teasing me, toying with me, his fingers skimmed just beneath the fabric—light enough to make me squirm, deliberate enough to make me ache.
I should have protested. We were in a helicopter, for God’s sake, with a stranger on the other side of the partition. We had as much privacy as we would in a motel with thin walls that let the sound through. Except this wasn’t a motel. It was a luxury helicopter, complete with plush leather seats, wood paneling, custom lighting—the works.
We were technically ‘in public,’ which only added to the danger.
Then again, who was going to tell on us? The birds?
I nearly snorted, but the molten blaze in Dimitri’s eyes as he unbuckled and dropped to his knees before me had the mirthful sound dying in my throat. He undid my harness, grabbed my hips, and tugged me toward the edge of the seat. With slow, sure movements, he dragged my panties off, shoved them in his pocket, and ran his hands up my bare legs, bunching my skirt to my waist.
My breathing grew heavier, and my pussy clenched around nothing.
He traced lazy patterns over my lower lips, purposely grazing over my clit now and then to keep me on edge as he built my anticipation. I bit my lip to stifle a gasp, my hands gripping the armrests when he finally dipped inside my slit to explore, using my slickness to circle my entrance.
“Look at the city, Kitten,” he commanded softly, nodding toward the window beside me.
For one long beat, I stared at him before obeying. I turned my head, forcing my gaze to the sprawling landscape beyond the glass. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the buildings, making them appear like golden sentinels trying to reach the sky. It was breathtaking—almost as breathtaking as Dimitri’s fingers slipping inside me.
“Oh,” I breathed, the sound barely audible as he thrust them deep. My hips shifted involuntarily, seeking more of his touch.
“So responsive,” he praised in a husky whisper. “Always so perfect for me.”
His skillful fingers stroked in and out, leaving entirely sometimes to play with my clit, building a pleasure that had me fighting to keep my voice down. I was terrified the pilot would figure out what we were up to back here. The danger of discovery only heightened the sensation, sending my pulse racing wildly.
“D,” His name turned into a plea as the tension coiled tighter.
Being the unrelenting, controlled tease he was, he bent his head and flicked my clit with his tongue a few times before sucking it into his mouth to say a proper hello.
But it lasted far too briefly…
“I want you on my lap,” he murmured, withdrawing his hand in a way that made me whimper at the loss—those fingers curled into my g-spot, dragging against the sensitive flesh on the way out.
He reclaimed his seat, and I immediately reached over to unbutton his pants, needing more. Being this forward was out of my comfort zone, but I knew what I wanted—him. Here. Now. Already, he had me on a knife’s edge of release.
“Face front.”
“Front? Are you sure?” I’d never been in that position before.
Dimitri’s eyes were full of challenge and authority. “Trust me, little Omega.”
Those words undid me every time.
Before I could overthink it, I nodded, letting him guide me. He helped me shift from my seat to straddle his lap, my back to his chest, facing outward. I had a perfect view of the city below, the cocktail of metal and glass glittering like precious stone.
“Perfect,” Dimitri breathed against my neck, his hands sliding up my thighs, bunching my skirt around my waist. The leather seat creaked softly as he adjusted our position, but the sound was swallowed by the steady thrum of the helicopter’s rotors.
I felt him freeing himself behind me, the hard length of him pressing against my core. My heart hammered so loudly I was certain it would give us away, even over the noise of the helicopter.
“Lift up, just a little,” he instructed, gripping my hips.
I rose slightly on my knees, biting back a moan when he guided me back down, filling me completely. The sensation was overwhelming—the stretch, the fullness, the knowledge that we were doing this hundreds of feet in the air over the city he ruled.
“Oh, Kitten. You feel so damn good. So tight. So fuckin’ wet for me.” I could hear the growl edging every word as he settled me fully in his lap, trying to maintain his carefully honed control. “Keep looking at the view.”
I forced my eyes open, not realizing I’d closed them in pleasure, but it was hard to focus on anything but the way he made me feel. Dimitri’s hands guided my hips in subtle circles, the angle allowing him to hit spots inside me that had stars dancing at the fringes of my vision.
“This is—” I struggled to find words, my mind completely distracted and deliciously hazy.
“Ours,” Dimitri finished, one hand splaying across my stomach to hold me against him while the other dipped lower, finding the bundle of nerves that had me biting my lip to keep silent. “This moment. This view. This feeling. All ours, Kitten.”
I leaned my head back against his shoulder, fighting to keep my breathing even as the bliss built. Every slight movement, every subtle rock of his hips beneath mine, sent shockwaves through my body. The dual stimulation of him filling me and his fingers circling my most sensitive spot had me climbing rapidly toward release.
My pussy fluttered around his thickness as he thrust faster, deeper. A moan slipped past my lips, and I tipped my head back, resting it on his shoulder while he pistoned into me.
“I feel you Kitten. But you’re not allowed to come. Not yet.”
“Please,” I whimpered, my insides clenching around him as he continued to thrust. “I need to—”
“Not yet.” His teeth grazed my neck, biting down just enough to tease, to preview what it would be like during my heat when they claimed me.
But I didn’t want to wait.
“Please, Dimitri. Bite me!”
“Fuck, Kitten.” He clamped his teeth down harder, not enough to break the skin but enough to bruise. To mark me, at least in some small way. “Soon, my little Omega. So goddamn soon.”
“Oh, God, D,” I gasped. “I’m so close!”
His fingers slowed, drawing deliberate circles that kept me suspended in pleasure without letting me tip over. “Not until I say so. I want you high on my scent, your slick dripping all over my knot, your pussy gripping me so hard I can barely fuck you properly. Then and only then will I let you come all over my cock.”
God. My mate’s words, his scent, his touch—it was all too much and not enough. My body wound tighter, struggling against his command not to come, but desperate to please him at the same time. I’d never felt so completely owned, so utterly possessed, and I loved every second of it.
“That’s it,” he praised as I shuddered, fighting my own pleasure. “My good girl.”
His hips rolled beneath me, each thrust measured and deliberate. I wound my arms up and around his neck, holding on as I watched the city pass beneath us through half-lidded eyes, caught between the spectacular view outside and the overwhelming sensations inside.
“I can’t—” I gasped, my voice breaking as his fingers picked up their pace against my clit. “D, please!”
With a growl, his restraint snapped. Holding onto my hips, he fucked me hard and fast, losing the carefully contained rhythm he’d had before. The man beneath me was wild and untamed, an Alpha on the edge of a rut.
“Now,” he growled against my ear, his voice darker than I’d ever heard it. “Come for me, Kitten.”
My orgasm crashed through me with a ferocity that had me crying out. His hand moved from my stomach to cover my mouth, muffling the sounds I couldn’t hold back as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over me. I shuddered against him, my inner walls clenching around his length, triggering his own release.
I felt rather than heard his groan, the vibration of it against my back as he buried his face in my neck. His knot teased at my entrance, thick and swollen, and I begged him for it, murmuring nonsensically about how much I needed to feel the stretch, to be claimed by him. Dimitri didn’t disappoint. Pulling my hips down to meet his powerful thrust, he pressed inside, making me cry out. His knot was so thick, it hit every incredible spot inside of me, sending me tumbling into another orgasm.
Dimitri held me tight against him as he came, his cock throbbing inside me, filling me to the brim.
“That’s it, Kitten. Squeeze my knot. Milk my cock for every last drop,” he panted against my ear, his breath hot on my skin.
His hips gave one final jerk before stilling. For several heartbeats, we remained frozen, joined as intimately as two people could be while he pressed kisses along my neck and jawline.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured against my ear, his breathing gradually returning to normal. “So perfect for me.”
My fingers played through the short hair at his nape while I melted back against him, boneless and satisfied, my body still occasionally shuddering with aftershocks. I shivered as his hands stroked up and down my sides, soothing and possessive. We stayed connected for a long time, savoring the intimacy.
Eventually, the helicopter circled to land, and I tensed.
D immediately purred for me. “Don’t worry, Kitten. I can have Hayes keep us in the air until we’re ready.”
Thankfully, a few minutes later, his knot subsided enough for him to slip free. I whimpered at the loss, feeling empty without him inside me, and yet I was grateful we had just enough time to clean ourselves up before the helicopter descended. Dimitri rearranged my skirt and settled me back into my own seat, buckling me in before securing himself.
“Are we still sightseeing?” I asked, trying to sound innocent despite my breathlessness and the tremors in my thighs. I didn’t recognize anything beyond the window.
“You didn’t think I was done with you yet, did you? I have other plans for us this afternoon.” I turned to find Dimitri watching me with a mixture of smugness and genuine affection. “We’re going to explore a vineyard and taste some wine before ending our evening with dinner and a return flight home.”
I couldn’t help the airy laugh that escaped me. How was this even my life? “You can distract me anytime if it’s going to be like this.”
The helicopter touched down with a gentle bump, the rotors beginning to slow as the pilot went through his shutdown procedures. Dimitri’s hand found mine, squeezing gently before he leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear one last time before we had to disembark.
“I promise you more distractions, my little Omega,” he murmured, his voice low and full of wicked promise. “More adventures. More experiences. More romance. More of me . Anytime you want.”