Chapter 109 Nico
NICO
It had been two months since Donatello had told the world about the dark secrets Viola and her corporation were responsible for.
Eight weeks of hunting and searching by every law enforcement agency in the world.
After all that, none of them were any closer to finding Viola.
If anything, the trail she left was becoming more and more bloody.
The night before, I’d seen a news story about a couple of scientists who had worked for Viola. They’d been ID’d on the videos we’d leaked. Both of them had been high-ranking members of the company and had been found dead over the last week.
They’d been staged as suicides, of course.
We could see that, but only because we’d seen what they were capable of.
Viola was running in the shadows, trying to tie up loose ends.
There was no way to know exactly what she had planned, but it had to be horrible.
I wished I could say I was surprised by the report, but I wasn’t.
If Viola had proven anything over the last year, it was that she was capable of terrible things.
It only took about a month for the local anti-shifter activists to finally stop crowding around at our gates.
More than likely, it was the fact that they were getting tired of bouncing off Sinthy’s wards.
There were only so many times one could get bounced five feet back into the dirt before giving up.
It had been three weeks since we’d seen anyone, but Sinthy wasn’t about to drop the wards.
“Those people could come back at any time. Plus, it’s kinda fun watching them flail around and flop into the grass.”
“I suppose we don’t know when or how the royals will attack again. I guess you can leave it up.”
She’d grinned. “Oh, I’ve planned on it.”
There had been a lot going on, and I knew I needed to do something special for Maddy.
For months now, we’d really had no time or chance to breathe.
The last few weeks had been the quietest and most relaxing time we’d had since the night I found her beaten body in her bar. It was time for me to get creative.
Javi’s pack had returned to their lands after holing up at their spot until they were sure things were settled.
I knew, in passing, that one of his guys was a chef and owned a restaurant in Tampa.
A few calls and texts and I had something set for that Friday.
The next thing I had to do was get everyone else out of the house.
Abi and the rest of Maddy’s family hadn’t really been out of the house in weeks.
It was time for them to get a little air.
Eliza and Francisca decided, with a little prodding from me, to host a big movie night and dinner at the communal hall.
I made sure they chose a nice long movie and had dinner at the end.
Maddy and I would be assured of at least four hours of quiet while they were all out of the house.
Sinthy had no desire to see the movie but told me she’d head out into the woods to forage for herbs. “Certain toadstools only develop the correct toxins via moonlight. I’ll be gone until at least one or two in the morning. You and your lady can have all the time you need.”
Javi’s guy, Romeo, got to my place around five in the afternoon, along with a load of groceries. Maddy was out with Abi. When she finally got home, the surprise on her face almost made me laugh.
“What’s all this?” she asked, pointing toward the strange man chopping chives in the kitchen.
Romeo looked up and gave Maddy a bright smile. “Hello. I’m Romeo. I’ll be your chef tonight.”
“My chef?” Maddy turned to look at me. Abi hid her grin behind her hand as she headed to her room.
I shrugged. “Go get dressed. We’re having a luxurious night in.”
“I thought we were doing the whole movie night thing your cousins set up?”
“Who do you think had them set it up? Go on, get dressed.”
Maddy looked at Romeo again as he slid a rack of lamb into the oven to roast, then headed upstairs. Everyone else filtered out for the neighborhood party before Maddy came back down. I had candles lit around the room and on the table.
“This is amazing,” she said as she took her seat.
Romeo walked over and set a small plate in front of both of us. “Javi told me you wanted something special, which means special you shall have. A tasting of caviar with all the accouterments. Enjoy. The salad course will be out next.”
The plate had a beautiful scoop of caviar along with finely chopped egg, creme fraiche, diced chives, and toast points.
I’d actually never had it before but decided to go with it.
Maddy took a bite, and her eyes widened in pleasant surprise.
After trying some, I had to admit that it was surprisingly good.
The salad was great as well, and when Romeo brought out the rack of lamb, it literally looked like a work of art, along with the roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus.
I’d already decided to make a reservation at Romeo’s restaurant the next time I was in Tampa when he brought out the dessert—a warm chocolate tart and gelato.
We were eating as Romeo finished filling the dishwasher and packed up his items to go. “Did it live up to the hype?” he asked.
I sighed and put a hand on my stomach. “Romeo, I can’t thank you enough. This was amazing.”
“Seriously,” Maddy added, dabbing at her lips with a napkin. “I’m stuffed, but I can’t stop eating.”
Romeo put his backpack on and picked up the big tote he’d brought. “I leave you now to enjoy your night.” He gave me an awkward grin. “I believe Javi will send the bill.”
I laughed. “Whatever it is, it was well worth it.”
He smiled brightly and left out the front door. Maddy finished her last bite of dessert and tossed her spoon down beside her plate. “You better be glad that guy is nowhere near as cute, sexy, or charming as you. Otherwise, you’d be in trouble.”
Putting my own spoon down, I said, “I mean… I’d have a hard time holding it against you. Wanna watch a movie to wind down?”
“Sure.”
We chose a romantic comedy and snuggled up on the couch. About an hour in, I looked at her. Eventually, she noticed my gaze and looked up. “What?”
“You have no idea how much you mean to me. I don’t tell you that enough, but it’s true. I know the way we met wasn’t ideal, but I can’t imagine a life without you.”
Her face and eyes grew serious as she lifted her hand and stroked my cheek. The sensation of her fingers on my skin sent a pleasant shiver through my body. She smiled. “Are you trying to get lucky?”
I grinned. “Well… yeah. But it doesn’t mean it’s not true. I love you, Maddy.”
She held my gaze for several seconds, then slid her hand down from my face to my chest. Her fingers started slipping the buttons open. Desire kindled within me as her hand slipped inside, and her cool skin slid across my flesh.
I caressed her thigh up to her butt. Maddy leaned forward and kissed my neck.
Once her lips touched my skin, it was like a switch had been flipped, and need filled me.
I clutched at her, pulling her close as I crushed my lips into hers.
The smell of her was intoxicating. I’d never wanted anything more than her.
Her scent, the sound of her heartbeat, the way she pressed into me—all of it swirled into one big explosion of lust. My cock throbbed in my pants.
As though she’d read my mind, Maddy slid a hand down between my legs, squeezing gently at the bulge. I sighed and laid my head back as Maddy unzipped my pants. In seconds, she’d freed me, and there was only a second of cool air before she took me into her mouth.
“God,” I hissed.
The warm pressure of her tongue flexed and pressed into the head of my cock.
I let my hand drift down her back and across her butt, lifting her dress and slipping my fingers into her panties.
Her pussy was wet as I slid my fingers inside her.
She moaned around my cock and pulled her mouth away, looking up at me, her gaze locked on mine as I pumped my fingers in and out of her.
Maddy held my gaze as she started grinding her hips back against my hand.
I slipped a finger back and forth across her clit, and she moaned and took my cock into her mouth again, sucking at me while stroking my shaft with her free hand. I had to have her. I was desperate to slide into her. I pulled her up and shoved my pants and underwear down around my ankles.
Maddy was frantically pulling her dress up over her head.
Then she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra.
I let out a hungry sigh as I watched her breasts swing free.
The sight of her olive skin and dark brown nipples sent me into a frenzy.
She kissed me deeply and passionately, still stroking me as our tongues twined together.
She pulled away and stripped her panties off before climbing onto me, her pussy hovering less than an inch above my throbbing cock.
Maddy looked into my eyes as she slowly lowered herself onto me.
I gasped as the heat of her pussy swallowed every inch.
She rested on me, grinding herself, and I took her breasts in my hands, stroking, sucking, and licking at her nipples.
Unable to control myself any longer, I thrust up.
Maddy gasped as I did. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto me each time I pushed myself into her.
Delirious with lust and hunger, we rode each other in breathless aggression.
Maddy slammed down onto me and reached a free hand down to rub her own clit.
“Are you gonna come for me?” I whispered.
“Mmm. Oh fuck… oh God.”
I smiled to myself as she shuddered on top of me, the orgasm shaking her to her core. She stopped moving her hips and rested her head against my shoulder. She was still trying to catch her breath when I started moving my hips again.
“I don’t know if I can keep going.” Her voice was shaking, but I could hear the smile in it.