34. Chapter 34
Jasmine
Dario’s bare ass is on the concrete floor of the closet, but he holds me to him, never allowing me to touch the ground. I place a kiss on his shoulder, then trail my lips down to his impressive biceps.
“How often do you work out?” I ask, genuinely curious because I have never seen a man’s body look this damn good.
Dario runs his hand over my hair. “Daily.”
“Really?” I pull my head up and look at him. There’s an amused expression on his face. “You work out every single day?”
He shrugs. “It’s a habit. Our father made us when we were younger so we could become his strong soldiers, and I’ve kept it up over the years. Why do you ask?”
“You’re the only one who has ever carried me,” I confess.
“During sex?” Dario asks, and I shake my head.
“Ever.”
His eyebrows turn down. “Your parents didn’t carry you around when you were little?”
“Well, of course they did when I was an infant, and I’m sure when I was a toddler, too.
But, in my childhood? No. I remember one summer when I was eight, I was playing softball.
I tripped over third base, making my way to home plate, and twisted my ankle.
There was no way I could put any weight on it.
My coach came over and picked me up to bring me to the dugout, where my parents had rushed over.
My ankle was already swollen, and I was in so much pain, but neither of them moved to carry me to the car.
They made me hop on one foot all the way there, insisting nothing was wrong and I was making a big deal out of nothing. ”
“Was something wrong?”
I nod. “I had torn a tendon. It was my one and only surgery I’ve had.”
“Your parents should be punished for making you go through that pain.”
I shake my head and place a hand on his chest before giving him a soft smile.
“They didn’t know. They’re good parents, but they strongly believe in the walk-it-off method.
That’s basically what they said any time I got hurt, whether physically or emotionally.
I learned that expressing my emotions and crying was futile, so I don’t. ”
Dario’s hand glides to the back of my neck, and he pulls me down for a soft, slow kiss.
I melt into him, loving the way he’s holding me.
“I’ve seen them a few times here and there.
Your emotions. And every single time, I savor them.
I love when you’re mad. I crave every exasperated eye roll.
Your smiles make my heart skip a beat. And when you flash your eyes at me and look at me as though I’m something you want to devour, my entire body vibrates. ”
We stare at each other, and the intensity is almost too much. “Every eye roll?” I tease.
Dario caresses my cheek. “Every. Single. One.” His lips move against mine once more, and it’s far too soon when he pulls away. “I want all of your emotions, Jasmine. I want you to know that I will carry you through anything and everything.”
I look into his eyes and know he means what he says, and I realize I want that, too.
I don’t want to be the girl who doesn’t feel.
I don’t want to be the woman who thinks acting on emotion is frivolous.
I want to be the woman who has a partner who walks through them in life and believes in them the way Dario believes in me.
I slide my hand down his chest, past his flawless abs, and then grip his length. My hand slides over his length. “I want you, Dario. Again.”
“Have you seen my panties?” I ask Dario, turning around in time to see him shove something inside his pockets.
He looks up at the ceiling and does that thing where he snaps as he connects his fist to his palm. “Umm, nope. Don’t know where those must have gone.”
I roll my eyes, knowing he’s kept his own little souvenir, but I continue to straighten myself up and remove as much evidence from this crime scene as possible.
I glance over at the lifeless man, noting the large wet spot on his jeans and wondering how much of it is from me and how much is nature running its course.
Guess there isn’t much I can do about that.
“Umm, so what do we do with him?” I ask, jutting my chin in the direction of the body I made my personal sex chair.
Dario smiles at me before slapping the dead man across the face.
“I’ve already called in a team to come clean it up.
” He must read the concern on my face because he adds, “Don’t worry.
They’re professionals and will make sure there isn’t a trace of any of us in this room once they’re finished with it. ”
I bite my lip, unsure about how to ask for what I want next.
Dario must sense my anxiety, because he comes over, cupping my face and placing a gentle kiss against my lips. His touch instantly soothes me, and that’s something I don’t really want to unpack right now. “What’s wrong, angioletta?”
“I don’t want to go home.”
He hums. “Where do you want to go?”
“I’ve never been to your place before.”
Dario laughs. “You have, actually. Both of them.”
I narrow my eyes, and my lips turn down, confused. “Wait, where do you live?”
He grabs my hand and opens the door of the closet so we can begin our walk back to the valet desk. “I have a suite at Angelo, and then another one at my father’s place.”
I shudder. “I do not want to go there.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Neither do I, if I’m being honest. But, I would love for you to join me at Angelo tonight.”
I tilt my chin and smile when he knows what I want, pressing my lips to his. “I would love to.”
When we reach the desk, we’re surprised to see the attendant still there, a worried look on his young face. Beside him is a man in a suit.
“Mr. Caruso, sir, I’m so sorry.”
The man in the suit pats the kid on the back, then walks over to Dario, extending his hand.
“Dario, we are unsure of how it happened, but during the game tonight, someone vandalized your vehicle.”
I grip Dario’s arm as his jaw tightens. “I assume you pulled the footage.”
“We did.”
“And it was wiped?”
“It was.”
Dario nods. “I’d like it anyway. I can send it over to one of my guys and see if we’re able to pull anything. Thank you for sticking around to tell me.”
He walks over to the kid and pulls several bills from his pocket before mussing up the boy’s hair. The look of relief on the kid’s face melts my heart, and when he hugs Dario, who doesn’t hesitate at all to return the gesture, I feel it unlock a little more for the man.
When they release with one of those manly pats on the back, the man in the suit nods at Dario, takes the boy, and walks him outside. Dario pulls his phone from his pocket and begins to text someone.
“A driver is on the way. They should be here in about ten minutes.”
I nod and walk over to him, loving the way he instantly opens his arms and pulls me to his chest. “Do you have any idea who you think would have done it?”
He places a kiss on my forehead, and something flutters in my chest. “No, but I will. I’m glad you distracted me with your wiles, though.”
I place my hands against his chest in an attempt to push him away, but he doesn’t budge. “Hey now, my wiles may have kept you alive.”
“Hmm, maybe. They better be glad we weren’t around.”
“Because you’re actually a tough guy and not just some pretty boy?” I tease, and Dario pulls me in closer to him.
“Because, Jasmine Baker, I will destroy any man who tries to harm you. I will break the fingers of any man who puts his hands on you. I will gouge the eyes out of any man whose stare lingers too long. If his lips get anywhere near your skin, I will put a bullet through his fucking brain. Do you know why?”
I shake my head.
“Because you are mine.”
“My brothers and I need to get together and make a plan. Everything is piling up between the warehouses, our men are getting hit, and now my car. We have to start taking action.”
I nod, understanding. At least, I think I understand.
He runs a hand through his hair and takes a deep breath. “I will likely be gone most of the night. Do you want to go to Angelo, or would you prefer I have my driver drop you off at your place?”
I press a kiss to Dario’s hand that’s holding mine.
I was really looking forward to seeing his place and spending the night with him tonight, but their family is being attacked, and even with my slim knowledge of how the mafia works, I know if they don’t get things under control soon, all hell could break loose.
“You can take me home. We can have a sleepover at your place some other time.”
“It’s a date,” he says with a smile.
Dario presses a soft kiss to my lips, then breaks it with a sigh. “I will come join you as soon as we have decided on our next steps.”
As we approach my condominium, the driver pulls up to the side of the building.
I go to tell Dario good night, but he’s already stepping out of the vehicle, and I smile at how well this man takes care of me.
When he opens the car door, I take his hand and step out, falling for my forbidden client a little more.
The elevator ride to the sixteenth floor is quiet, but sweet. Dario holds me the entire time, occasionally leaning down and pressing kisses to the top of my head. It’s not something I thought I would like, but I don’t think I ever want to go another day without them.
Dario drops me off with a kiss before he leaves, and I step into my condo completely blissed out, but utterly confused.
Things were not supposed to get this far with the man.
Sure, I immediately clocked how attractive he is, and my body reacted to that.
But somewhere along the way, Dario has turned into someone I truly enjoy being with.
I find myself looking forward to seeing him. And right now, I miss him.
I head straight for the shower, not wanting to wash away Dario’s scent, but knowing I need to scrub away the sweat and utter filthiness of the night.
I had sex on a corpse.
The thought of that should completely terrify me, but for some reason, it doesn’t.
Knowing what Dario did to that man simply because he disrespected me?
Well, it’s really fucking hot and already has that spot between my legs aching again.
I really hope he and his brothers come up with a plan fast so he can join me soon.
The glass on the shower doors fogs from the heat of my water, and I step inside, loving the heat. If I don’t look like a lobster when I’m finished, then did I even shower?
My hands follow in the wake as water sluices down my body. I can’t help but imagine they belong to an Italian man with chocolate eyes and a beautiful smile. I cup my breasts and throw my head back, closing my eyes and remembering every moment from earlier when Dario filled me completely.
I run my hands through my long locks, then reach for my shampoo, my fingertips blindly searching only to find it’s not on the ledge where I always put it.
Strange.
My eyes open, catching the mirror. My reflection stares back at me. And so do the eyes of an indiscernible color.
Then I scream.