1. Aria
Chapter one
Aria
One Week Before The Corporate Gala
In my world, there are two groups of people. The ones who abide by the law and the others who do not. Within ten seconds of seeing him, I know which category he belongs to.
Elio Donatelli. A reputable businessman at the top of his game. Everybody knows the name of the man who owns major establishments in New York. But that’s not what draws me to him.
It’s the way he carries himself… the way he commands every room he steps in with his unmistakably strong presence, and without the need to even say a single word. And it’s the way his dark eyes, hot and intense, contrast strikingly against his grey suit. I can tell his muscles are ripped from how they flex under the expensive material.
I don’t know him on a personal level, but his face is all over social media. The country’s most sought after bachelor and businessman.
Now that I am seeing him in person, I realize their comments haven’t been an exaggeration. I’m trying hard not to stare, but from what I’ve seen, there are flecks of grey in his cropped, black hair and goatee beard. I remember, according to the news, he’s forty-five years old.
How the hell is such a strikingly attractive man in his forties?
I shake my head and revert my attention away from him. All my life, the only thing that mattered to me above all else was the law. I live and breathe it.
When you have a father like mine, you become exposed to how cruel the world can get if there is no authority to keep it in check. Then, when you have your brother mysteriously murdered, it becomes your drive to serve justice to the culprit.
This means I have no time for men. But this man, in all his god-like glory in front of me, seems different. I just know it. Suddenly, I find myself imagining how his huge hands would feel around my neck—choking me while he whispers sweet nothings to me.
Fuck! This is not like me at all. I’ve spent all my twenty-two years avoiding the distraction that men are and focusing on my quest for justice. All these years of celibacy might be getting to me.
“Anymore staring and you’re going to be shooting lasers from your eyes.”
I turn and see my father, champagne in hand. I’ve only just come in time for the award ceremony and haven’t had the chance to talk with him yet. He totally seemed to be enjoying himself as he was doing a subtle dance in collaboration with the classical music emerging from the orchestra when I walked in.
“I was just lost in thought.” I clear my throat and break my lips in a smile, hoping he doesn’t see past my facade. Honestly, for someone in his late fifties, he quickly catches on. Maybe I owe this one to shamelessly staring at the subject of my imagination; either that or Dad just usually seeing through my bullshit.
“Is it work?” He follows my line of sight. “Though I think that’s not the case.”
Touché .
“Congratulations on your promotion,” I ignore his question and try to distract him, taking his arm and leading him away from the sinful distraction that’s only a couple of feet away from me. “Deputy Chief.”
Thankfully, the distraction works...for both of us.
The sides of his mouth pull into his familiar bright smile, and the corners of his eyes crinkle. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that title.” His words come out in a breath as he stares at me.
Tilting my head, I want to joke about how he’s humbly bragging when I see the glimmer of doubt in his eyes.
“Dad,” I start tentatively, furrowing my brows but still keeping my smile so that it doesn’t feel confrontational. “Why?... I mean, if anyone is deserving of that position, it’s you.”
“I know.” He puts his now empty glass on the tray of a waiter walking by and takes a filled one. “A promotion is always good, Aria, but I don’t know if I can stop participating actively in investigations. It’s what I’m used to. All that administrative work sounds boring.”
Oh... so that’s what this is about. I run my hands through my dark, mid-length hair, which I left to flow freely down my back for this event.
“You can deal with anything, Dad. I’m sure they’ll still let you oversee a couple of cases.” My feet carry me a step closer to him, and I bring my hand to his free one, folding it into a fist before wrapping mine around it. His hand feels warm, as usual, as I bring our entwined fists between us.
He holds my gaze for a brief moment, then nods. “It’s…it’s just…there’s a lot of criminals to purge from our society, especially with the growing activities of the mafia. This is no time to sit back and mull over some paperwork.”
“Of course, you can—”
“Deputy Chief,” one of his former colleagues interrupts. “Mr. Michael would like a word with you before the toast.”
“Aria…” he trails, glancing between me and his colleague.
“Go ahead, it’s your night. I’ll be here.”
He nods again, patting my cheek softly. The smile on my face doesn’t waver as I watch him leave. I’m left alone, and suddenly, like a recorded impulse, my gaze drifts back to the man under the chandelier. Except this time, his eyes are already on me.
It’s impossible to look away, not when his presence demands to be felt. My throat constricts, and I can’t tell if it’s from the intensity of the gaze or from how he starts to walk…towards me. His strides are long and powerful as he covers the distance between us.
At that moment, a waiter passes, and I quickly turn around, stop him, and grab a glass of champagne. Without hesitation, I bring it to my lips, chugging down the liquid to calm my jittery nerves. My throat tickles as the crisp sensation bites down.
“See something you like?” he asks when I finally turn back to see him standing before me. He has a light smirk as he takes the empty glass from my hand. “Looks like you might drop it.”
His voice is thick and husky, like velvet wrapped in smoke. It surprisingly curls around my stomach, pulling at something I thought was dormant.
“No,” my voice comes out bold and sharp even through my constricted throat, surprising the both of us. “I think I was holding it just fine.”
If he’s shocked he doesn’t say. “Congratulations to your old man on his promotion, Aria. You must be so damn proud.”
There’s an easy smile on his face and I know without a doubt that it’s the one the women fall for because it’s having the same magnetic effect on me. Or maybe it’s how smoothly my name drizzles from his lips. He must have heard Dad calling me, and that’s why he knows my name.
His cropped raven-hair sits atop his head in luscious waves, framing his chiseled face. The sharp angles of his jawline were highlighted by the subtle play of light from the chandeliers, drawing my gaze irresistibly to his lips.
As he turns to face me, his dark eyes lock onto my brown ones, and I feel the air vibrate with palpable attraction.
“Thank you.” I quickly turn to look at where my dad is talking with a group of police officers. “He’s worked very hard these past years. It’s good to see him getting his accolades.”
“Hmm.. hmm,” he lets out a throaty hum that tickles my spine. “He looks happy, but you, on the other hand, seem…nervous.” His words compel me to turn around, and when I do, I’m met with a scrutinizing gaze. I shift slightly on my feet, the stampede in my stomach growing worse.
I’m usually not like this…
“The stress from work must be getting to me. I was supposed to go straight home from work, but I wouldn’t miss his party for the world.”
He leans in slightly with a small smile, which causes me to hold my breath. “Such a dedicated daughter. I’d say your father is the lucky one.”
I shake my head, struggling to curtail the warzone of butterflies in my stomach. “If anything, I’m the one who should be grateful for having a father that’s devoted to making the society a better place. Even when it gets tough, he pushes through and does not let the danger he encounters deter him.”
“A life of fighting crimes.” He finally leans back, but his tone isn’t that mocking tone most strangers use when they learn of my father’s occupation. “There’s nothing more noble.”
That pulls a smile from me. “Indeed. There’s nothing more satisfying than putting criminals behind bars where they belong. I especially…find it satisfying.”
The silence that comes after that makes me want to snap my own neck. Why have I been ranting about law and order to a businessman? But then, we’re at the Deputy Chief’s party. What else should be the subject?
I run my eyes over the soaring ceilings and majestic columns which make up this elegant hall in order to distract myself. When he clears his throat, I have no choice but to restart the conversation.
“Which reminds me,” I quickly chirp in, “since you seem as interested as I am in fighting crime, my father is testifying in court at the end of this month. I can talk to his attorney to let you sit in. It’s a sensitive case, so it’s not open to the public. I know you’re busy and…”
“I’ll be there. Here’s my card.” He pulls it out from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and hands it over to me.
“Alright, I’ll text you the date, time, and courtroom number.”
He hums again. “Are you a lawyer?”
I shake my head. “Intern…at the District Attorney’s office.”
His gaze doesn’t waver, and somehow, it feels like it becomes intense. My heart rate spikes, but before it can morph into any…unstable feelings, he continues.
“I hear that lawyers at the DA’s office don’t get a lot of freedom.” He tilts his head, his voice maintaining a casual cadence, but I don’t miss the curiosity in his eyes. “Always chasing deadlines, overwhelmed with cases.”
I blink, unsure how to respond. Well, he isn’t entirely wrong. “Intern,” I correct, and he shrugs.
“But being a businessman must be equally as stressful,” I continue.
He chuckles, a deep rumbling sound that almost leaves my knees weak. Fuck! I don’t know for the life of me why this man has such an effect on me.
As if that was not enough, he darts his tongue out to lick his bottom lip. “Walk with me?”
“Okay,” I breathe, suppressing any urge to say otherwise. Some fresh air wouldn’t be so bad, right?
The air outside is cold, and my short, sleeveless dress does nothing to shield me from it. Goosebumps and shivers start to wrack my body, although I’m not sure if it’s from the breeze or his stare.
The night is thick with unspoken silence as I rub both of my hands against my arms, pretending to stare at the view in front of me.
Well, admittedly, the garage filled with lots of expensive cars is quite the eye candy to stare at.
“Tell me, do you ever take a break?” His voice pierces through the night, above the receded music, and the next thing I know, I feel warmth, followed by a rich-smelling cologne engulfing me. The soft material of his suit jacket sinks into my shoulders as he throws it over me, and I instinctively cling to it.
When I turn to stare at him, my breath catches in my throat. The sleeves of his white long-sleeved shirt are rolled up to his elbows, and I see tattoos. Dark ink runs from his perfectly toned upper arms, spiraling through thick muscles down to his wrists. I briefly wonder how many more he has…and where else he has them.
“Not really,” my voice comes out a squeak, and I snatch the jacket tighter to my body.
He stares at me, his eyes seeming to be half open as they briefly take in my cleavage before he returns his eyes to mine.
A moment of silence passes as he swallows thickly, then shoves his hands into his pocket, his biceps bulging at the movement. “Why not?”
Something about this ambiance steeps my breathing and unleashes the dam between my legs. “Lawyers and our deadlines…remember?” I throw in an awkward chuckle to which he smiles.
“What about you?” I add.
He pauses and stares intensely for a moment. The type of stare that freezes me in my spot and leaves me anticipating something I’ve kept at bay for years.
“I just go with what’s…in front of me.” I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s an edge to his voice…drawing…taunting my sexual status…or lack of it. And maybe this is the reason I respond, despite knowing the possible consequences.
“And today? What’s in front of you today?” The words leave my lips in a breathy whisper.
His gaze darkens and he takes a step closer so that I feel his breath on my cheeks. “A fucking sexy lawyer I’d love to indulge in one night of freedom.”
Fuck! This man will be my undoing!
A sharp gasp escapes my lips as he raises a hand to tuck a stray tendril behind my ear.
Before I can think of anything, his arm snakes around my waist, pressing our bodies together as he dips his head and captures my lips.
It’s a soft, feathery movement at first, as if acquainting me to his lips, but suddenly I’m beyond the damn stage of acquaintanceship. I want those lips on mine and on every other part of me.
Aria! This is so out of character for you!
Frankly, at this moment, I couldn’t care less about character . This man makes me give up all my self-control.
He wastes no time in finding my tongue and sucking it as if it were his last meal. Heat surges through my being as he angles his head, pressing a hand to the back of my head to pull me closer. I dig my hands through his hair, yanking desperately for his lips to be everywhere.
My heart almost bursts out of my chest, racing incredibly fast when he groans through the kiss. I whimper, clutching the cloth on his shoulders as my knees seem to grow weak. He holds me tighter.
“Fuck! My car, Bella .” He pulls back to train a hooded gaze on me, his voice husky, eliciting another shiver from me. I can only manage a small nod before he carries me ?bridal style? in a blur to a black SUV.
I’m giddy like a schoolgirl who has never been kissed before. The thrill of being ravaged by this hot man I’ve known for barely an hour is so blinding.
He opens the back door and guides me into the huge SUV. “Lie on your back,” he commands gruffly, coming in after me, the size of him already taking up so much of the space.
We’re plunged into the dark when he closes the door, the tinted windows protecting us from the outside world.
It must be the enclosed space that gives me the courage to reach out and cup his face. His jawline is strong under my light touch, and before I can stroke it, he bends down and takes my lips in a demanding kiss.
The taste of sweet wine assaults my senses stronger than before as I melt completely into him. His hardened dick is pressed directly on my lower stomach.
I can’t believe I’m making out with Elio Donatelli in the backseat of his car.
He grabs my ass with one hand while the other threads through my hair, angling my head so he can have a better taste.
I pull his jacket away from my frame so his hands can freely explore my arms, causing goosebumps to appear as he trails his fingers along me. A loud moan escapes from my lips when he breaks the kiss to nip at the crevice of my neck.
Pleasure floods my body when his hand tightens over my ass. I lift my hips and grind into the thickening length of his dick that I can feel through the fabric of his pants. It feels so good that I let out a short cry of joy.
He trails kisses from my neck down to the dip of my cleavage. He looks up at me through his thick lashes before using his teeth to pull the strap of my dress down, my nipples hardening when the cool evening breeze hits my bare skin.
“Fuck!” he breathes when he takes my nipple in his mouth. “You taste divine,” he mutters, sucking and biting down on the sensitive skin.
I grab the hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer to me.
“Spread for me, Bella .” His voice coats over my breast, and I bite back a moan, doing as he says.
His fingers trail feathery circles inside my thighs, teasing and stroking before going under my panties. I bite down on my lower lip when his thumb swipes down my clit.
“Good girl, you’re so wet for me.” He rubs in circles, my hold on his hair tightening. “I can’t wait to bury my cock inside you.” He kisses my mouth.
His hand moves from my ass and grabs my breast, kneading and sucking like he’s starving, and I’m all the food he needs.
Without warning, he slips his finger into my pussy. A jolt runs through my body, causing me to tremble with confusion. What is he doing to me? Should I let his finger continue to roam where it is right now?
Fuck, I wish I could ask him the millions of questions flooding my head right now, but despite the foreign feeling overwhelming me, I can’t deny that it feels heavenly. His finger is thick and moves in and out of me like it was made for that sole purpose.
“Fuck,” I squirm and cry out in bliss when he adds another finger. He growls, bringing a hand to my waist to steady me.
“Don’t cum,” he groans against my thighs. “I want to eat you out first.”
I nod, whimpering in protest when he pulls his fingers from my insides. He pushes me up the seat before kneeling on the floor of the spacious car.
His dark, hooded eyes hold mine as his teeth graze my waist before biting down on my underwear and pulling it down. I’ve never seen a man look so hot and unholy as he does in this moment.
I collapse on the seat when his tongue takes a swipe over my pussy before sucking down on my clit. “You taste divine indeed,” he purrs.
My hips jerk involuntarily towards his mouth, urging him to do more. Hell, I’m tempted to reach over and direct his tongue all over me if it were possible, but the truth is, I’m not sure what I can do or what I can’t.
I don’t even know what to say in response to the beautiful words he’s cooing at me.
His words vibrate against my already throbbing center, and the only thing I feel comfortable doing is holding my hands to his head, keeping it in place. He sucks and licks before slipping his fingers back in.
“God!” I scream.
“Leave the old man out of this.” He slaps my thigh before kneading my clit while increasing the pace of his tongue.
My fingers clutch at his hair as the feeling of a… climax building up, I believe, seizes me. My stomach tightens. I won’t last a second longer. So this is how it feels…
“I’m about to?,” I can’t even finish the sentence before I scream, the feeling intensifying when his free hand pinches my nipple.
“Scream my name, baby,” he rasps, his voice thick with desire.
I cry out when I finally explode and watch Elio drink all of my juices.
“Fuck. I could spend eternity in your wet pussy.” His words are throaty and a half groan.
Slowly, he rises and presses his clothed dick against my pussy. Then he lowers his mouth to my ears. “Can you feel how hard I am for you?” he rasps. I shiver, my heart fluttering wildly in my chest.
“Now I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll remember me every time you take a step.”
Wait—I couldn’t let that happen. There’s no way I’m losing my virginity to a stranger ? whom I just let suck me off ?in the backseat of a car.
“I don’t think we should. Uhm…I? I’ve never done this—” I trail off. It’s hard to make a coherent sentence with my pussy and chest bared to him like cake before a celebrant.
My hands reach out to push his barrel-like frame from the top of me. I pull up my underwear and adjust my dress. “I think we should call it a night.”
I expect him to try and coax me into having sex with him. But he says nothing and pulls back, only staring at me with a hint of surprise, maybe through hooded eyes, as I adjust my dress and open the door before scrambling out of the car.
He’d given me the best head of my life and all I’d given him in return was blue balls. But Elio is wrong. He doesn’t need to fuck me for me to think about him. Because I know I’ll be remembering the feeling of his fingers and tongue inside me for many nights to come.