Chapter Eight Leo
As I glanced in the mirror, I slicked back the long strands of my hair. Everything had been so crazy lately, I hadn’t taken the time for a haircut in months. The same could be said for the beard I’d grown.
When Rafe claimed I was trying to look like him, I told him I was doing most of his work for him, so I might as well look like him.
That shut him up pretty quickly. But it was the truth. With an expiration date on their romance, Rafe slacked off work whenever he could to be with Maeve.
Although I teased him about it, I didn’t mind taking on the extra work. First off, he was my brother, and I’d die for him, which meant that taking the brunt of his work was nothing in the vast scheme of things.
Second, it alleviated some of the guilt that I felt for having the hots for his future wife.
And finally, it gave me a focus where I didn’t have to think about Drea.
Regardless of how hard I tried to fuck her out of my system, I couldn’t.
For a man like me, it was absolute insanity that a woman who I had barely spoken to, least of all fucked, had this much hold over me.
One of the worst parts about it was I couldn’t talk to Rafe or Gianni about what I was going through.
I’d sunk so low I’d approached Caterina for advice. Although she’d never had much experience even prior to joining the convent, she was a woman and understood their feelings. Not to mention she was blissfully happy with Callum and four months pregnant.
Of course, I hadn’t told her the love triangle was between me, Drea, and Rafe. When I’d finished, she sighed. “Seriously, Leo? You’re only obsessed with this woman because you can’t have her.”
“Ouch, Kitty Cat. Easy with the claws.”
Instead of apologizing, she rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry if the truth hurts. I could’ve said maybe karma has come to bite you in the ass.”
I snorted. “How were you almost a nun with that language and attitude?”
“I’m serious, Leo. Men like you and Rafe and Gianni make me sad for what my future daughter might face.”
“Speaking of Baby Kavanaugh, are you sure you’re not just overly hormonal right now with your responses?” I teasingly asked.
She narrowed her dark eyes. “You do realize I’m still agile and can smack the hell out of you?”
I held my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, Kitty Cat.”
“Here’s the last thing I’m going to say about it.”
“Oh boy. Let me brace myself.”
“You’re used to women throwing themselves at you, and this woman didn’t.” When I started to protest, she held up her hand. “She was flirty at best until she realized you were friends with her boyfriend.”
Yeah, that was the story I’d given her. Drea was supposed to be the girlfriend of one of my really good friends.
“You and your ego need to let it go.”
I shook my head. “I should’ve gone to Talia instead of you for advice.”
She laughed. “She has your number just like I do. Probably even more since she raised you.”
My thoughts were interrupted by my phone buzzing with a text. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Gianni.
Lucky Charm is in position
I snorted at his reference to Maeve. Today was Rafe’s birthday, and we’d roped him into going to Inferno for the night, which he wasn’t thrilled about.
While he thought Maeve wouldn’t arrive from Ireland until tomorrow to celebrate with him, she was actually going to surprise him at the club.
She’d called me last week to ask for my help, and I’d happily volunteered.
Today, after I’d picked her up from the airport, I’d sent her to one of the apartments we owned.
She couldn’t stay with me for fear of running into Rafe in the building, or with Gianni on the off chance that he might see her on the street outside his building.
Then Gianni was to pick her up and take her to the club while I got Rafe there.
Meeting Birthday Boy in 5
K
Considering my infatuation with Drea, I probably should’ve hated Maeve. She was the woman standing between Rafe making Drea happy. But as hard as I tried to dislike Maeve, I couldn’t.
She’d brought peace to Rafe after our Father’s death.
Although the three of us had each had a hand in his torture, it had been Rafe who ended things by cutting Father’s throat.
Regardless of how much Father deserved it, Rafe was a fucking mess, and Maeve had been there for him in a way that neither I, Gianni, or Caterina could.
Whatever had happened between them the day we’d killed Father had cemented Rafe’s feelings. He’d decided then he wanted to pursue Maeve regardless of his contract with Drea.
After heading downstairs, I met Rafe in the lobby. “Lookin’ good, brother,” I remarked.
“Thanks. You clean up nicely as well.”
Since Guilio was off for the night, Gianni’s bodyguard, Emiliano, had our back along with two part-time bodyguards whose names I had yet to learn. When we arrived at the back of the club, a balloon arch decorated the employee entrance. “Seriously?” Rafe asked with a grin.
I winked. “The waitresses got a little carried away.”
Gianni snorted. “I’d agree considering the credit card receipt I got from the party decor store.”
When we stepped onto the floor of the club, we entered an absolute party overload. Yellow and red balloons of all shapes and sizes littered the corners, which was a subtle nod to the Sicilian flag.
Over the main balcony to the VIP section was an enormous banner that read Happy Birthday Raphael.
Our manager, Carissa, handed him an enormous piece of chocolate cake and a flute of champagne. “Happy Birthday, boss!” she shouted over the roar of the music.
I then leaned over to speak into his ear. “Listen, G and I have a birthday present for you in your office.”
“You didn’t need to get me anything.”
“Come on, man. You’re not just our brother–you’re our capo. You’ve seen us through some crazy shit this year,” I countered with a grin.
“That means a lot,” Rafe replied with a sincere smile.
“So, come on.”
Since Gianni had slipped away to let Maeve in the employee entrance, Rafe followed me to his office. Just before we got to the door, I faked a phone call. Laying it on thick, I grimaced. “I’ve got to take this. Go on in and see your present.”
Nodding, Rafe then disappeared into his office.
He was going to lose his shit when he realized what his gift was.
Since I knew Maeve wanted the grand tour of the club, I decided it was safe to wait to see Rafe’s expression.
I knew they would be getting down to it, but probably not until they got into Lust.
After a few minutes, the door opened, and my face lit up at the sight of Rafe’s expression. “Good surprise?”
“Excellent surprise.”
My gaze flickered over to Maeve. Before I could stop myself, my eyes bulged at the sight of her sexy lingerie. “Holy shit,” I muttered under my breath.
Rafe glared at me. “Yeah, you can put your eyes back in your head. While others might be looking at her tonight, you won’t be one of them.”
I winked at him. “That’s a pity.”
With a grunt, he brushed past me to take Maeve to the employee entrance for Lust. I chuckled when he made sure to put Maeve in front of me so I couldn’t ogle her ass down the hallway.
I wanted to gaze at an ass that belonged to him, but it wasn’t Maeve’s.
Huffing in frustration, I decided I needed a drink. When I exited the employee entrance, I eyed the crowd on the dance floor. My disinterested gaze bounced around until it landed on a fucking vision. “Hello, fucking lady in red,” I murmured under my breath as I watched her sultry moves.
She had a body made for sin. Perfect tits that strained against the flimsy opaque material. Supple ass cheeks that I wanted to see gleaming red from my palm.
Although a mask covered her face, I knew she was gorgeous. It was in the way the material fitted across her cheeks. The only exposed part of her face were her lush lips that were painted blood red. Immediately, I imagined how they’d look wrapped around my cock.
As much as she turned me on, a part of me didn’t even want to bother. She wasn’t Drea. It would just be a temporary fix.
But as I watched her hands slide along her body to squeeze her tits, I was a goner. Regardless of all the reasons why I shouldn’t, I started making my way through the crowd to her.
My hand slithered over her hip to rest just below her belly button.
She responded by rolling her ass against my crotch, which caused me to grunt with pleasure.
As she continued gyrating against me, my cock began to grow.
With my free hand, I wrapped my fingers around the back of her neck.
As I nudged her gently, she eased over to place her palms on her thighs before thrusting her hips back at me.
With her in place, I began to thrust my cock against her firm globes.
The hand that had been at her waist inched up her ribcage to cup her breast. Her moan of pleasure could be heard over the pounding bass.
When I pinched her hardened nipple through the fabric, she threw her head back with a cry of pleasure.
I pulled her upright so that her back was pressed against my front. Dipping my head, I grazed my teeth against her neck. At her shiver, I bit down on her smooth skin hard enough that I knew I’d leave a mark.
As I licked and sucked my way to her ear, I kept squeezing her breast beneath my fingertips. When I reached her ear, I pressed my lips against the shell. “I want to make you come so hard you see stars,” I panted.
Her hips froze at my declaration. “You want me to fuck you. Don’t you, gorgeous?”
A shudder ran through her before she quickly extricated herself from me. Whirling around, she stared intently up at me. So intently it felt like she was memorizing my face.
Tilting my head at her, I countered, “I know your panties are soaked, Lady in Red, so don’t try saying you don’t want me as much as I want you.”
With a horrified cry, she whipped the mask from her face.
Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop at the sight of Drea standing before me.