CHAPTER 27
I Am Yours
Gabriela
Before the renovations and grand opening of Club Azul, this old establishment was once dilapidated, far from boasting its current swanky interior, and used primarily for mob business amongst Vance Remington’s close circle.
When I was a little girl, Papà would often bring me along if Mamma or Nonna couldn’t watch over me.
If Josh was here as well, we’d play with my dolls or his toy cars in the hallways while meetings were being conducted in the main offices.
Sometimes we’d even play hide-and-seek. We often giggled like naughty children when the bodyguards tasked with watching over us went absolutely insane if they couldn’t find us for long stretches.
All to say, I grew up here and knew this building’s structure like the back of my hand, including most of the guards present tonight.
Taciturn types, they observed us mildly as we mounted up the stairwell leading to the second floor.
It was off-limits for patrons, but not for us.
Some of them sent me nods of acknowledgements.
Others sized up Hunter. These mob men had long memories and short tempers.
They were always on the lookout for threats.
I had to give it to Hunter; he didn’t cower under their hostility. Cool, collected, and composed, he even chin-nodded in salute to those who cast him menacing glances.
“Don’t mind them,” I said once we reached the landing of the second floor.
It was dimly illuminated with the same blue-light fountain walls from downstairs.
The music still echoed above, but it was more of a faint thump.
“They didn’t frisk you, which means they’re trusting Josh’s and my judgement and trying not to be overly rude. ”
None of the guards wanted to upset us because that would inevitably piss off Papà and Vance.
“Well, even if they did, I’ve got no weapons on me, so we’re in the clear.” A sly gleam entered his eyes. “Though it just occurred to me, now that I’m dating a mob princess, I should probably learn how to wield a gun.”
“I heard nothing beyond you calling me a princess.” I curled my arms around his neck and kissed his lips. “Say it again.”
“Nah. I’ll say it again when you’ve earned it.” He slapped my ass and kneaded the flesh with greedy hands. I gasped. “Preferably on your back with your tight little pussy full of me.”
My thong dampened. It never stood a chance around this dirty-talking man. “You’re no fun.”
“Oh, baby.” He nipped my bottom lip and soothed the sting with a lick. “I have the rest of the night to show you just how fun I can be.”
“I’m counting on it.” I winked at him and dragged him down the hallway. There was a spare room at the end that I recalled rarely being occupied. I hoped Josh and Cade hadn’t gotten rid of it during the renovations.
On our way there, we passed the door for the main office where the Remingtons discussed their dealings and, quite audibly, heard Josh’s gruff voice on the other side, pleading, “Come home. Just come home to me.”
I ached, feeling for both of my friends. Hunter pretended not to hear it too. It wasn’t our place to say anything. Josh and Layla needed to wade through their emotions together without any external intervention.
Thankfully, the door of the spare room was unlocked—otherwise, I’d have used my bobby pin—and gave way with a single twist of my wrist. Inside, everything was as I last remembered it.
An old leather couch, a coffee table housing an ancient ashtray, and a wooden desk and chair chucked in front of the large window with dark curtains.
Hunter followed after me and closed the door, then engaged the lock with a prominent click. I moseyed over to the window and pushed open the curtains even further, allowing moonlight to bathe every available expanse of the room in a beautiful silvery hue.
When I looked over my shoulder, Hunter watched me with hunger. Even his blue eyes appeared sterling from here. His barrel chest bowed with a deep inhale and exhale, his attention on me with riveting intensity. “Have a drink with me?”
My feet carried me back towards Hunter before he finished his request. If he was in my orbit, my natural instinct was always to go towards him. “Yes.”
He popped open the champagne and curved an arm around my back, tugging me deeper into his warmth.
Wordlessly, he tilted the bottle at an angle for me to receive the first sip and I let the bubbly flow through my parted lips, its taste—sweet, crisp, and citrus—dancing on my palate.
A stray drop trickled down my chin and neck.
Before I could wipe it, Hunter leaned down and licked it with the flat of his tongue.
A tremor wracked through my body at the impish act. He traced the trail back to my lips and kissed me passionately with a satisfying hum. It was so hot. My mind spun, my blood heated, and by the time he pulled away and rasped a “Delicious,” against my wet mouth, I was weak in the knees.
“Me or the champagne?” I asked coquettishly, my finger tugging his bottom lip, silently letting him know I wanted more of his kiss. More of his debauchery. More of him.
He smiled rakishly, his black brow arching. “What do you think, Gabriela?”
Me.
Always me.
I was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted.
Without breaking eye contact, he took a sip of the champagne straight from the bottle, his lids growing half-mast. I watched in sheer fascination as his Adam’s apple rifled up and down in that corded neck with his hearty swallow.
Beautiful. Such a beautiful, suave, and rugged man.
If I could sink my claws into him and never let go, I would.
Another wave of jealousy, this one stronger than the one that burned downstairs when his ex touched him, ignited inside of me like an inferno.
No other woman would have him.
Ever.
Only me.
The tension in the room ratcheted up.
The scorching look in his eyes was enough to set my skin aflame.
There was a tingling sensation running through my body, like he had touched me everywhere with a single glance. Each lungful of air was ribboned with his addictive scent, the champagne, and something utterly sexual.
“Now that you’ve brought me to your dark corner,” he drawled, “what would you like to do?”
I backed away from him slowly, grazing my nails down his chest suggestively. “Play a game with me?”
“What game?”
I crossed over to the dartboard hanging on the wall and plucked the handful of darts resting on the floating shelf just underneath. “This,” I said. “Have you played before?”
Hunter walked over to the wooden desk facing the dartboard. “I have.”
I gave him a saucy look. “I’m thinking we add some stakes.”
Hunter smirked and perched his big body on the desk. He spread his muscular legs and took a swig of the champagne in an indulgent manner, appearing like a dark warlord finally retiring to his chambers after a long day, ready to spend the night with his lover. “What are these so-called stakes?”
My God, he had this natural charm that made him look so incredibly sexy without even trying.
It was his aura. The way he was the right amount of confident and playful, and yet still so in touch with his vulnerable side.
And with the moonlight streaming through the window, highlighting the edges of his frame, I couldn’t help but run my gaze over him in appreciation for the tenth time tonight.
His black hair was left loose and tousled, the ends brushing those broad shoulders.
His powerful body was poured in all black—shoes, pants, and dress shirt, with the top three buttons undone to reveal the silver chain around his neck and the sleeves rolled up his forearm, showing his watch and the snake tattoo wrapped over his tan skin.
The cherry on top of the cake was his expression.
It dripped with sinful promises.
And I was the promisee on the receiving end of them all.
“We’ll play seven rounds. If your dart lands on double, triple, or bullseye, you get to ask a question. Anything is fair game,” I started. “And we have to answer truthfully. However, if your dart lands on a single, you don’t get to ask a question. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good, but you should know”—Hunter’s smirk turned arrogant and his blue eyes flashed mischievously—“I have excellent aim and I plan on coaxing all your secrets, Gabby.”
“Maybe I’ll coax all your secrets instead,” I challenged.
He placed the bottle next to him on the desk and reclined back on his palm. “Maybe.” He patted his muscular thigh in a beckoning motion. “Now come here, doll.”
With the darts in my hand, I sashayed towards him.
I loved the way his features darkened as he took in my high heels, the bare skin of my legs, the sway of my hips, and ended his journey at the neckline of my halter dress, lingering a little too long on the curve of my breasts and the diamond necklace trickling in the valley.
Hunter hissed in a low breath when I sat on his lap, the thickness of my ass meeting his bulge. To tease him, I pretended to adjust my position like I was trying to get comfortable. Then I peered up at him innocently. “You want to go first, mio principe?”
“Call me that again.”
“Only when you’ve earned it.” I drew a ruby nail along his bristly cheek before squeezing his jaw and bringing his face down to mine, our lips a scant inch from each other. “Preferably on your knees with your face buried between my thighs.”
“You don’t want to play this game with me, Gabby,” he warned, his breath washing over my skin like a caress.
“Oh, but I do.” I flicked my tongue over his bottom lip. He moaned, parting his lips and waiting for me to deepen the kiss. Except I proceeded to pat his cheek almost condescendingly, biting back my smile. “Take your turn, Hunt.”
Shaking his head like he was planning on making me pay later, he picked up a dart from the pile. Weighed it in his hands. And shot it nonchalantly.
It cut through the air swiftly and landed on a double bullseye.
I gaped, dumbfounded. “Excuse me, what?”