Chapter 18
Massimo
Duarte beams at Evelyn, and the sharp edge to his grin makes me tense with aggression. I want to snap at him not to look at her with that subtle threat in his black, shark’s eyes, but he’s my host. I can’t protect her if I get myself killed for insulting the notoriously mercurial drug lord.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Evelyn.” He addresses her warmly, as though he’s genuinely delighted to make her acquaintance. Then his cold eyes cut to me. “Massimo has been very…bold in choosing to bring you as his guest. I was under the impression that you’re engaged to someone else.”
She stiffens at my side, and I trace a soothing pattern on her lower back, trying to offer her quiet comfort.
I keep my own charming smile fixed in place.
“Do you see a ring on her finger?” I ask blandly.
Duarte lets out a soft hum. “Interesting. I must’ve been mistaken.”
Carmen steps close to him, and he drapes a possessive arm around her waist.
“Don’t interrogate them, darling.” She kisses his cheek. “Evelyn has chosen to be with Massimo.”
My heart skips a beat, and I look down at Evelyn. Her cheeks are flushed the prettiest shade of pink, and her eyes are downcast. I can’t quite read her reaction to Carmen’s declaration.
Is Duarte’s wife speaking the truth? What did they talk about in their private conversation?
The prospect that Evelyn has indeed chosen me makes my chest swell with pride. The stunning woman at my side has acknowledged my claim publicly. She bears my mark on her neck, and she doesn’t try to conceal it.
“I didn’t realize that the situation with her former fiancé had been handled,” Duarte says, a genial but incisive remark. “It’s good news if he’s no longer in the picture.”
He wants confirmation that Crawford is dead.
My smile twitches at the corners, but I quickly clear away the sign of strain. “Evelyn is my primary concern at the moment.”
I allow the weight of my loyalty to her to deepen my tone. She is my priority. Killing Crawford is an important secondary goal. She won’t be safe until he’s dead, so his days are numbered.
“But I value our friendship, Stefano,” I continue smoothly. “And I always keep my promises.”
He offers me a small nod of acknowledgement, but his displeasure is evident in his glittering black stare.
“Yes,” he agrees, “I hope our friendship lasts a lifetime.”
I hear the threat, loud and clear: my life won’t be very long if I don’t follow through on my promise and eliminate George Crawford.
“That’s settled, then,” Carmen announces, moving the conversation away from death threats—the epitome of a skilled hostess. “Aren’t you going to invite our new friend on our trip tomorrow, darling?” she prompts Duarte. “I’d hate for him to miss the opportunity to meet Adrián.”
Adrián Rodríguez is Duarte’s Colombian partner.
He works with the Mexican drug lord to move their product from Colombia into his territory in America.
My friendship with Duarte is important, but getting in with Rodríguez will secure my position here.
Gian, Enzo, and I will have a powerful friend in our corner when we finally make our move against our despotic boss back home.
“Where are we going?” I ask, accepting the invitation before Duarte can take it back.
“Colombia,” he replies, keeping me fixed in his sharp stare.
He still isn’t pleased by the situation with Crawford, but he isn’t ready to give up on our alliance over it. He has much to gain from our business deal too.
“We leave tomorrow morning.” He glances at Evelyn. “You are welcome to make yourself at home here while we’re away.”
“Evelyn goes where I go,” I say immediately, too sharply. I take a quick breath and calm my most savage urges. “I made a vow to protect her. I don’t want her out of my sight.”
Duarte’s dark brows rise. “And you think she won’t be safe in my home?”
“Like I said, I always keep my promises,” I reply coolly.
This isn’t up for negotiation. Crawford is still in Mexico City. I won’t leave Evelyn here without me to guard her.
And I won’t be able to focus on my important business in Colombia if I don’t have her with me.
I’d be consumed by thoughts of her. The depth of my obsession should alarm me, but with her slight body leaning into mine, I can’t bring myself to care.
She looks to me to shield her, and I’m addicted to her trust in me.
“Do you want to come with us?” Carmen addresses Evelyn, allowing her the choice.
Part of me appreciates that she’s offering Evelyn agency, but my irritation at the prospect of being parted from her far outweighs my flicker of respect. My delicate little butterfly isn’t leaving my side.
Before I insist that she’s going to accompany me, Evelyn says, “I want to stay with Massimo.”
Her soft declaration punches my heart like an arrow, and my feral desire for her surges.
Mine. She’s all mine, and she knows it. She chose me.
It might be out of fear, but that notion doesn’t bother me. She’s made it clear that being in Stefano’s home, the heart of his cartel, makes her anxious. She knows that I’ll keep her safe, and she doesn’t want to be parted from me.
That’s enough to satisfy me for now. Her devotion will grow with time.
“Excellent,” Carmen approves. “You’ll fly out on the jet tomorrow morning. Adrián is looking forward to meeting you, Massimo.”
“That sounds great,” I reply absently, my attention fixed on Evelyn.
Her gaze is still downcast, her eyes averted. And that lovely blush colors her cheeks.
Will her pert ass flush a matching shade beneath my hand? I crave to see it imprinted on her creamy flesh.
She responded to the pain of my bite. She’ll come to accept the more deviant things I need to do to her.
She’s innocent, and I crave to corrupt her. I’ll teach her to enjoy my darker sexual games. Evelyn will love being mine.
“You two should enjoy the party,” Carmen announces, a dismissal and a gift.
My hunger for Evelyn must be plain on my face, and the cartel queen is giving me permission to be alone with her.
“Thank you.” I manage a modicum of politeness before I steer Evelyn away from the powerful, dangerous couple.
She’s been quiet for most of the conversation, and she’s probably disconcerted by the interaction with Duarte. The man is intimidating, even though he plays the part of impeccable host.
“Dance with me,” I command, sweeping Evelyn into my arms.
She blinks up at me, slightly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
“I don’t want to go to Colombia,” she says, even as she begins to sway to the beat, allowing me to lead her.
“I’ll make sure you enjoy our little vacation,” I promise, firming my hand on her waist.
She submits to the confident way I handle her body even as her eyes glitter with frustration.
“It’s not a vacation,” she protests. “You can’t just take control of my life like this. I want to go home, not farther away from America.”
Your home is with me now. I keep the promise locked in my chest. She isn’t ready to hear it. Not yet.
“This meeting is crucial for our security,” I admit, persuasive.
I don’t want to tell her the details of my business, but she might be more amenable if I reason with her.
“I promised my friends I would take care of things with Duarte and Rodríguez. I mean it when I said I don’t break my promises, Evelyn.
I made a promise to Gian and Enzo, but I’ll make a vow to you too: I will do everything in my power to make you happy.
I will take care of you and give you everything you desire. ”
“What I desire is to return home to Albuquerque.” That defiant posture is back, her shoulders squared and her delicate chin tipped at an impertinent angle.
Surrendering to my darkest instincts, I cradle her nape and crush my lips to hers, trapping her in a fierce kiss.
She isn’t capable of talking about leaving me when I tame her tongue with mine.
I’ll drive her wild with mindless passion.
I want to make her addicted to my touch, just as I’m already addicted to her nearness.
The imbalance in my relationship with Evelyn makes me feral. I’m undeniably obsessed with her, and she’s still thinking of returning to her life in America. Without me.
Just the thought of losing her robs the air from my lungs, so I breathe her in instead, taking her oxygen as I kiss her in a ruthless claim. She softens in my arms, her tongue lashing mine in desperate strokes.
Her hips press tight to my thigh, and she shudders against me in need.
I’ve left my good girl waiting long enough. I edged her before the party, teasing her pussy and tormenting us both to ensure her compliance. She’s done so well. I’ll show her how much she pleases me.
I should probably stay longer to entertain Duarte, but I can’t hold back for another minute. The notorious hedonist will simply have to understand why I’m leaving early. My fiery bond with Evelyn is obvious to anyone watching our intense kiss.
I stake my claim in front of everyone, brazen in my desire for this stunning woman.
All mine.
I finally release her swollen lips, and she sways into me. I brace my arm around her waist and steer her off the dance floor, away from the party.
“Time for your reward, dolcezza.”
She’d been indignant about my promise of a reward for good behavior, but Evelyn has a sweet heart and a giving nature. And I’ve worked her into an erotic frenzy. It won’t be difficult to convince her to love being my good girl, to please me in every way I desire.
We step into the empty elevator that will carry us up to my suite.
As soon as the doors close, she throws herself at me like she’s starved for my lips.
Shock punches me, but I don’t hesitate to meet her hungry kiss with equal fervor.
She presses her hips against my thigh again, on the verge of rubbing herself against me to reach orgasm.
I slam my palm against the emergency stop button, and the elevator comes to a halt. She doesn’t seem to notice; she’s completely intent on kissing me, her fingernails biting into the back of my neck in an effort to pull me closer.
“You are a greedy girl.” My words are strangely slow and deep, like I’m drunk.
Everything about her is intoxicating, all-consuming.
I back her up against the mirrored wall and wedge my thigh between her legs.
“Go on,” I order. “Make yourself feel good, farfallina.”
She licks her lips, hesitating. She’s so innocent, and I find her shame delectable. I’ll find every wicked act that makes her blush and teach her to love it.
I lift my leg slightly, forcing her up onto her toes. I feel the heat of her pussy through my pants, and I wonder if she’ll come hard enough leave a wet spot on the expensive fabric.
The prospect makes my cock stiffen.
Fuck. I need her. I crave to drive into that wet heat and feel her tight cunt squeezing me as she comes undone.
I clench my jaw and shove down my most basic, animal urges.
I won’t rut into her like a mindless beast. Evelyn will welcome me to claim her sweet pussy.
She will beg me to fuck her. Until she’s ready to do that, I’ll control my darkest instincts by dominating her.
Controlling her pleasure helps me master myself too.
A heady rush of power pulses through me as she begins to rock against my thigh, stimulating herself at my command. Her eyes slide closed, as though she wants to hide from the shame that she’s feeling for behaving so wantonly.
My fingers tangle in her hair, tugging just sharply enough to capture her full attention. Her stunning eyes meet mine, glassy with lust. Using my grip on her hair, I direct her face toward the mirrored wall to our right.
“Watch yourself,” I rumble. “See how beautiful you are when you come undone for me.”
“Massimo…” She whispers my name, a soft plea for mercy that makes my cock ache.
But I have no mercy. She will witness her own carnal desperation, her full submission to my will. I’ve reduced her to a needy, lustful mess. My power over her is the most delicious thing I’d ever seen.
When her eyes lock on her own reflection, her lips part on a soft gasp, as though she doesn’t recognize herself.
I press deeper into her, stimulating her clit on my thigh. She releases a soft cry, then surrenders. Her hips rock, her hot cunt rubbing against me. She blushes, but she stares at herself with rapt fascination as her breaths quicken and her movements become more frantic.
“Come, Evelyn. Come for me.”
She shudders in my arms and orgasms with a low moan. I practically feel the waves of bliss rolling through her body, almost as though her pleasure is my own.
“That’s it,” I praise, watching her reflection along with her. She remains transfixed by the image of her ecstatic abandon. “Bellissima.”
Her body softens as she floats down from her orgasmic high.
But I’m not nearly finished with her. Once I get her into my bed, I’ll make her scream my name.