8. Marco
8
MARCO
I ’m done with this shit.
These events, the fake smiles, the networking, it’s all bullshit. I have to play the game for the sake of my growing businesses. It’s not like the old days where you took what you wanted and killed anyone who got in your way. We’re part of the upper echelon of society now, not the common criminals and thugs we used to be. Still, I hate this shit and all the glad-handing gets on my fucking nerves.
Lyla is the only good thing about tonight, but she’s not just a showpiece. I want her all to myself, to taste her cunt again and show her I’m not always so ruthless. I’ve never had to be gentle before, but that doesn’t mean I can’t. I’ll try for her. I’m learning I’ll do anything for her as long as she gives herself to me. And I want every part.
We make our way toward the door when none other than Liam Donahue blocks our path. We despise each other and neither one of us pretends otherwise. The Irish and the Italians have always fought for territory in this town, claiming districts and stealing others. There’s been relative peace for the last several years, since the previous crime bosses have passed, and now the families are left in the hands of people like me and Liam. We attempt to be civilized, but the long-standing hatred still simmers beneath the surface, threatening to spill over at any moment. Like now, when this smug asshole stands in my way.
He eyes Lyla like she’s a piece of meat, and the possessive rage inside me comes to a boil. “Marco,” he sneers. “You hardly bring anyone to these things. And never such a rare beauty.”
He bends forward, reaching out to take her hand and bring it to his mouth. I smack his outstretched arm aside, earning myself a mocking chuckle.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. So uncouth.” A hint of his native accent remains, though he’s worked hard to hide it over the years. “I’m Liam. And who might this wee darlin’ be?”
“None of your fucking concern,” I growl.
She glances back and forth between us, then offers him a polite smile. “I’m Lyla.”
I’m seething, but my ire isn’t directed toward her. Liam reaches for her hand again, and my blood runs cold as I tug Lyla behind me and get in his face.
“Keep your fucking hands off her,” I warn through gritted teeth.
Liam’s mouth turns up into a knowing smirk, as he’s just discovered my newest weakness. Fuck. I never should’ve brought her here.
“Whatever you’re thinking, I suggest you stop. This won’t end well for you.”
“We’ll see about that.” He snickers. “Nice meetin’ ya, love.” He winks at her, and I’m ready to end his life now. He knows I won’t draw my weapon, not even for his blatant disrespect. Not here, on neutral ground, where we’re surrounded by impartial associates.
When he turns and struts away, I know he’s found the chink in my armor. A blind spot that could be dangerous to both me and the woman who’s become my obsession. He’s already seen too much and I have no doubt he’s had his eyes on us all night. I cut our evening short, and drag Lyla out of there while she teeters on her tall heels.
“What was that about?” she questions as soon as we’re in the car.
I avoid her inquisitive gaze and stare out the window. “Nothing. I’ll handle it.”
“Handle what, exactly?” Her tone isn’t accusatory. She’s requesting information, studying my face with a tilt of her head as she processes the details. “I can see that you regret bringing me here. I don’t. For once, I got to feel like I mattered.” She slumps against the plush leather and folds her hands in her lap.
Her dejection guts me, but I don’t know what the fuck to say to make it better. I want her to feel important every goddamn day, because she is. She is important to me.
Lyla’s silent during the drive and heads straight to bed once we get to the house. I want to follow her, but I need to make sure my men are ready for whatever Liam might pull. He was right that I never bring anyone to these events. I’m rarely ever seen with someone outside my family because that’s how you get them killed. Loving them puts a target on their back and it doesn’t take long for your enemies to notice and capitalize on your vulnerability. I should know. It’s what happened to my mother.
Paulie and I stay up for a few hours discussing possible scenarios. While we do our best to plan, we can’t predict every outcome. When we decide to call it a night, I find myself standing outside Lyla’s room. I tell myself that I’m just checking on her, making sure she’s okay. Then, before I know it, I’m pushing open the door and crossing the room to her bed.
She’s awake, the moonlight casting a glow over her as she lies on her side, watching me with those piercing blue eyes. The silence between us is thick as I reach out and stroke her cheek with the backs of my fingers. I regret that the evening ended so abruptly for her, and I don’t want to fuck things up any more than I already have.
When I turn away, she grabs my hand. “Don’t go. Stay with me tonight.”
To anyone else, her request is simple. To me, she asked me to give her the moon. I don’t sleep with women; I fuck them. Fuck them eight ways from Sunday, then send them on their way. I seldom kiss them, and I never let them stay the night. Then it dawns on me that I haven’t kissed Lyla, a mistake I need to rectify.
This radiant creature has me breaking all my rules. I’ve kidnapped her, moved her into my home, spoiled her with expensive clothes and shoes, given her more orgasms than I’ve ever given a woman, and shown her off in public, introducing her as mine. All of this, after killing her bastard father, and even then, she didn’t run away from me like she should have. In fact, she hasn’t tried escaping me once.
I should leave, before I damage this sweet girl more than I already have. Drag her into a world where she doesn’t belong. A world she’s too good for because she’s too good for me.
I don’t. Instead, I stare back at her innocent face and see the longing reflected in her eyes. The same longing in mine that I’ve hidden for years, determining that a man like me doesn’t deserve anything so pure. Fuck it. The devil doesn’t deserve an angel like this, but if I’m going to hell, then I’m getting my taste of heaven first.
I strip off my clothes, tossing them aside before climbing into bed behind Lyla. I’m surprised to find her naked, and she turns to face me, throwing an arm over my chest and resting her head on my shoulder. My body relaxes when she presses her soft curves against me.
“You’re the one thing I can’t say no to, Lyla.”
Her palm glides over my muscular pec before she reaches out to cup my face. “You’re not going to hurt me, Marco. I may be uncultured and inexperienced, but I’m not fragile. I won’t break. You can show me things, teach me how to live in your world. I don’t want to go back to what I had before.”
She continues to astound me. She’s had a hard life that’s made her mature beyond her twenty-something years, but I can ensure she has a better life from now on.
Emotions surge through me as I realize how much I need this woman. I wanted her to beg for it, but it’s me who’s doing the begging.
Her eyes widen, and she releases a tiny yelp when I crash my lips to hers. The world around us fades as she melts into the kiss, letting me claim her mouth with my tongue. It’s frantic and needy, our hands exploring each other’s bodies while our moans fill the room.
The malleable flesh of her tits spills over my palms when I roughly massage them. Her back arches and presses her chest into my hands as I tease her nipples into tight little buds. Precum seeps from the tip of my aching cock, dying to be buried deep inside her in a way that goes beyond fucking.
Rolling onto my back, I drag Lyla’s voluptuous body over mine and plant her thick thighs along my sides. “Ride me, Princess. You decide how rough you want it this time.”
She looks unsure, so I grab her hips and pull her to her knees before angling my hard dick at her glistening entrance. She braces her hands on my chest, biting her pillowy lower lip as she steadily sinks down on my cock. We both groan when she covers me to the hilt, and her slick walls stretch around me. My breaths become more labored, my muscles tensing beneath her while I struggle to remain still.
Then she starts to move, circling her hips and rocking back and forth until she finds a pace that she likes. The torture is exquisite, and I want to ravage her body, but she deserves my patience. Deserves to relish every second of pleasure I can give her.
Her heavy tits sway as she moves faster, grinding her swollen clit against me. “Marco,” she whines. “It feels so good, but I…”
My jaw clenches and I squeeze her hips. “You need more, baby? Need me to fill you up?”
She nods her head and her lips press into a thin line.
“Grab the headboard and hold on tight.”
Her breaths quicken and she peers down at me before leaning forward and following my directions. I take a moment to lavish attention on her breasts. How could I not when they’re right in front of my face, insisting they be licked and sucked? I can’t get enough of them and vow to fuck them later.
When she arches her body on a languid moan, I move my hands back to her hips, holding her in place while I drive my rigid cock inside her tight cunt. She cries out, the wood creaking from her firm grip as I fuck into her from below.
“Oh my God, you’re so deep like this.” Her brow wrinkles, but her mouth is lax and her lips are parted as she exhales with every upward thrust.
I dig my heels into the mattress, slamming her gushing pussy onto my dick each time I ram inside her. I pound into her with everything I’ve got, feeling more than a physical connection when she gazes at me with those intense blue eyes. Her pussy clamps down like a vise, demanding that I fill her with my hot cum. I want to do this every day until her belly is big and round, the thought of her carrying my child shooting a jolt of need through my chest.
My voice is raspy when I speak through clenched teeth. “Come with me, Lyla. Come now.” I won’t let go before her, but I can’t hold back much longer.
“I’m so close. Don’t stop,” she begs as tears of ecstasy roll down her cheeks.
I wrap an arm around her lower back, thrusting hard inside her while rubbing her pulsing clit with my other hand. With one last drive of my hips, we explode together, pleasure coursing through us while our moans echo in the room. She trembles and convulses around me when she reaches her peak in a mesmerizing display. Then she collapses onto my chest, our hearts pounding against each other while we catch our breath.
Finally, everything is perfect and right in the world, but the feeling doesn’t last long.