Chapter 4
Gia
T he music pulses through Nonna's, the air thick with excitement and the scent of expensive cologne. It's Tony Rivera's birthday, and the Lord of Little Italy’s family has spared no expense for his bash. And I haven’t even seen him show up. Why would he? He’s known for being the grumpiest, scariest boss of them all. So the who's who of New York's underworld is here, along with plenty of socialites and wannabes eager for a taste of danger.
I'm here with Sofia and Luca, nursing a glass of champagne and trying to look interested in the conversations swirling around me. That's when I see him.
Dominic Esposito. Here again. He's standing across the room, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored suit that accentuates his broad shoulders. Our eyes meet, and I feel a jolt of electricity that has nothing to do with hatred.
I've had a few drinks, just enough to make me feel bold and reckless. Excusing myself from Sofia's side, I make my way to the bar as I see him weaving through the crowd.
"Well, well," I say as he sidles up next to me at the bar. "If it isn't the big bad wolf himself. Hunting for little red riding hoods, Esposito?"
He turns, his eyes raking over me in a way that makes my skin tingle. "Careful, Red. I might just eat you up."
I laugh, the sound both nervous and excited. "Please. You couldn't handle me if you tried."
"Is that a challenge?" he asks, his voice low and dangerous.
"You wish," I retort, but I can feel my pulse quickening.
We fall into a rhythm of witty barbs and loaded comments, each sentence dripping with both animosity and undeniable attraction.
"You know, for a Romano, you clean up surprisingly well," Dominic says, his eyes lingering on the neckline of my dress.
I smirk, leaning in slightly. "And for an Esposito, you're surprisingly articulate. Did you have to practice those big words in the mirror?"
He chuckles, a rich sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Oh, sweetheart, my tongue is skilled at many things. Want a demonstration?"
The tension between us is palpable, a living thing that seems to grow with each passing moment. Finally, I can't take it anymore.
"Look," I say, leaning in close under the guise of speaking over the music. "I have a proposition for you."
Dominic's eyes darken, his voice low when he responds. "I'm listening."
"This... whatever this is between us. It's just physical, right? So why don't we... get it out of our systems? No strings attached, just two people who are attracted to each other enjoying a release. Tomorrow, we can go back to being enemies."
For a moment, I think he's going to refuse. But then he nods, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "Lead the way, Red."
We make our way through the crowded restaurant, careful not to draw attention. The bathroom is too risky – too many people coming and going. Instead, I lead Dominic to the back office, locking the door behind us.
For a heartbeat, we just stare at each other, the reality of what we're about to do sinking in. Then Dominic moves, pressing me against the desk as his lips crash down on mine.
The kiss is electric, sending shockwaves through my entire body. His hands are everywhere, and mine aren't far behind, tugging at clothes and exploring newly exposed skin.
Dominic’s hands grip my hips tightly, spinning me around with a roughness that sends a thrill through me. He presses my front against the cool wood of the desk, his hard body flush against mine. His heat, his presence—everything about him consumes me.
"You want this as bad as I do," he growls low in my ear, his voice thick with lust. I can feel his breath against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
"Maybe, but you’ll have to work for it," I shoot back, breathless, pushing back against him, feeling the length of his arousal pressed against me.
He doesn't respond with words, just with action. His hands slide up my sides, finding the zipper of my dress. With a swift motion, he tugs it down, the fabric slipping down to my waist. His hands are on my breasts, pulling down the lace of my bra to expose my hardened nipples. He cups them, his rough fingers tweaking the sensitive buds, making me gasp. My back arches into him, craving more, and my mind goes blissfully blank as his mouth latches onto my neck, biting and sucking in a way that makes my knees weak.
"You feel so damn good," he mutters against my neck before his lips find my skin again. His mouth trails hot, open-mouthed kisses along the curve of my throat, nipping at the sensitive spots as his fingers knead my breasts, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.
His other hand slides down, lifting the hem of my dress, and I hear the unmistakable sound of his zipper. I suck in a breath, anticipation pooling low in my belly.
He shoves my thong down, his fingers slipping between my legs. He finds me wet, ready for him, and I can’t suppress the moan that escapes my lips.
His fingers pump in and out of me, hitting just the right spot with every thrust. My breath hitches, and my legs shake, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of admitting how badly I want this. I bite my lip, trying to stifle a moan, but it’s no use. His thumb finds my clit, rubbing slow, torturous circles that make me buck against his hand.
“Still think I can’t handle you?” he taunts, his lips grazing my ear as he continues his assault on my body.
“I’m still waiting for you to prove it,” I manage, breathless and on the edge.
His growl is low, primal, as he withdraws his fingers, leaving me empty and wanting. My legs tremble, and I grip the desk to steady myself, but I don’t have time to complain before he’s behind me again, positioning himself at my entrance. I can feel him, hard and ready, pressing against me, and the anticipation is enough to make my heart race.
He leans down, his mouth brushing against my ear. “You ready for this?”
Before I can even nod, he slams into me in one powerful thrust. I cry out, my hands gripping the edge of the desk as he fills me completely. The sensation is overwhelming—he stretches me in ways that make my head spin, my body pulsing with the delicious mixture of pain and pleasure.
“Fuck,” he groans, pulling back before slamming into me again, harder this time. His hands grip my hips like a vice, holding me in place as he sets a punishing rhythm. Each thrust sends waves of pleasure through me, and I can’t suppress the moans that spill from my lips.
“Is this what you wanted, Red?” His voice is rough, ragged, as he leans down, his teeth grazing my neck.
I bite my lip, trying to hold on to some semblance of control, but I can’t. Not with him buried deep inside me, not with the way he’s driving into me like he owns me. “Yes,” I gasp, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“Good,” he growls. “Because I’m not stopping until I’ve made you come twice.”
The promise in his words sends a jolt through me, and I feel my body clench around him as he continues to thrust into me, deeper, harder, faster. His hand slips between my legs again, his fingers finding my clit as he keeps pounding into me, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through my entire body.
I’m close, so close I can hardly breathe. My legs tremble, my vision blurs, and with one last thrust, he sends me over the edge. I cry out, my body convulsing as my orgasm rips through me, wave after wave of pleasure crashing down until I can hardly stand.
But Dominic doesn’t stop. He slows for just a moment, letting me catch my breath, before picking up the pace again. His hands grip my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh as he drives into me with a new intensity, chasing his own release. I feel the pressure building again, even more intense than before, and I know I’m about to come again.
“Say my name,” he demands, his voice rough with desire. “Say it.”
I bite my lip, holding back, refusing to give him the satisfaction, but then he thrusts into me harder, deeper, hitting that perfect spot that makes me see stars. I can’t hold it back anymore. “Dominic,” I moan, my voice breaking as the second wave of pleasure crashes over me.
That’s all it takes. He lets out a guttural groan, his body tensing as he slams into me one last time, burying himself deep inside me as he finds his release. I feel him pulse, filling me completely, and the sensation sends one last tremor of pleasure through me, leaving me breathless and spent.
For a moment, neither of us moves. The only sound in the room is our ragged breathing. Slowly, Dominic pulls out, and I collapse against the desk, my legs trembling, my body still buzzing from the aftershocks.
He leans down, pressing a possessive kiss to my shoulder before stepping back, adjusting his pants. “So am I out of your system now, Red? Or you want some more?”
I manage to push myself up, turning to face him with a smirk, my dress still halfway down my body. “Don’t get too cocky, Esposito. This wasn’t that great.” It’s a lie and we both know it.
His dark eyes gleam as he tugs at the hem of his shirt, his grin still in place. “We’ll see about that, Red. You can say whatever you want, but your body says something else entirely.”
I straighten my dress, running a hand through my mussed hair. "See you around. Or not."
Before he can respond, I unlock the door and slip out, leaving him standing there in the office. As I make my way back to the party, I can still feel the ghost of his touch on my skin.
Sofia finds me almost immediately, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Where have you been? And why do you look like that?"
I force a laugh, taking a large sip of champagne. "Like what? I just needed some air, that's all."
She doesn't look convinced, but thankfully, she doesn't press the issue. As we rejoin the party, my eyes scan the crowd, looking for Dominic despite myself. When I spot him across the room, our eyes lock. For a moment, I see a flash of something in his gaze – what it is, I'm not sure. Then he turns away, engaging in conversation with one of Rivera's men.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. What have I done? And more importantly, how am I going to pretend it never happened?