I cup her face and press my forehead to hers trying to rein in my control and understand what is going on. I close my eyes and tell myself I am mistaken. This just can’t be.
“You are twenty five, yes Love,” I say in a husky whisper. I don’t know if I am being gentle for her or if I am just that stunned.
“Yes,” she nods.
My brows draw and I blink.
~B~
This is why I never wanted to get married. I look into his confused blue eyes and I don’t know what to feel. Embarrass, shamed, defective? All of those would fit right now, but I want this man in a way I have never wanted another. If I am going to trust him to keep me from marrying Raphael it is time I trust him with my secrets as well.
“How is this possible,” he asks. “You are still a virgin, Baby?”
“Yes,” I nod. “I’ve used my body to get close to marks but I’ve never been penetrated.”
He nods and I can see the wheels turning in his head. I squeeze my eyes shut as the images that haunt me surface. I gasp and start to pant.
“Talk to me Bella what is going on,” Uri commands gently.
“I…I watched my sister…I watched…when I was four I saw,” I stammer but can’t find the words to explain.
“I have heard the story. I know,” he says softly.
I open my eyes, but I don’t see what I expected. He does not pity me, instead I see pure rage. If I were anyone else I would curl away as fast as I could from the shear look.
I reach to cup his face. “I have never been able to let a man climb over me. It sends me back to,” I shudder. “I just can’t.”
Uri’s face softens. He pulls my legs around his waist then cradles me in his arms. “This too I will fix,” he murmurs in my ear. “We will take it slow. There are ways for me to bring you pleasure without me being the one on top.”
I push at his chest lightly until I can look up into his eyes. He looks at me questioningly. I reach for his hard cock and squeeze without breaking eye contact.
He hisses a breath, “Careful Cara, I am a patient man but I have my limits.”
I smile and give another squeeze. His lips part and his chest heaves. This time I look down and lick my lips. I want to taste him and I know he needs this release.
“Valentina,” he growls. “Are you sure?”
I nod my head and hop off the desk. I drop to my knees just like he did. Reaching for his zipper I gently pull it down before releasing his belt and the button on his slacks.
I look up to see him watching me with a hot intensity. He cups my face and runs his thumb over my lower lip. His eyes fall to my breasts and he reaches to pinch my right nipple. I purr at his touch and turn my attention back to my task. I hook my fingers in the waist band of his slacks peeling them down his thighs.
I smile to see he is not wearing underwear. His massive cock springs free almost popping me in my face before I can move out of the way. I gasp at my first glimpse of his shaft. He is long and thick. I can feel the heat coming from his body.
I look up at him again and he tilts his head at me and smirks. He is watching me to see what I will do next and I don’t want to disappoint. I wrap one hand around his base and I’m in awe of how heavy and hard he is, but silky and soft at the same time.
I pump my hand slowly up his shaft in wonder. When I see the bead of precum come to the tip I involuntarily lick my lips. Uri chuckles and strokes my cheek.
“I promise I taste as good as you do,” he teases.
I smile at the thought of the things he did to my pussy. I bend my head and lick the stream of liquid dripping from his tip. I actually moan at his flavor. My brows draw as I revel in how good he tastes.
My eyes flicker up to look at him through my lashes. Once I have my lips wrapped around him all shyness floats out the window. He feel so good in my mouth I want as much as I can take. I use my hands to help me cover him because he is too much to take in.
Uri locks his fingers in my hair as he starts to moan and groan. I watch his face to see if he is enjoying what I am doing. He keeps his eyes on me looking as if he is in just as much awe as I am.
“Oh God Baby,” he groans as his hips start to buck. I hum in happiness because I am pleasing him. “Valentina, yes, just like that, suck harder, let me hear you.”
It takes me a second to figure out what he is asking for. When I moan and slurp, causing him to growl and thrust harder I catch on. I swirl my tongue and start to really slurp at him. That does the trick his head falls back and he roughly tugs my hair, pumping at my mouth.
I keep bobbing and slurping for all I’m worth. I reach for his balls and give them a tug. With that he bellows my name and a stream of curses fly from his mouth in English and Italian. I let his release easy down the back of my throat, surprised at how much I like it and how good it tastes.
I let him pop from my mouth and nuzzle my face into his curls surrounding his semi hard dick. He smells so good down here. His manly scent mixed with whatever body wash he uses is intoxicating. Uri cradles my head to his pelvis.
“Come Valentina, let’s go home. I have much to do,” Uri says with a hint of exhaustion.
CHAPTER Nine
“Brother, is this really what you want to do? This could start a war you know,” Valentine says to his brother.
“I did not start this war but I will see it finished,” Vincent rasped as he glared at his brother.
“You do understand that if Val finds out the truth she will come for them all,” Valentine lifted a brow at his brother. “It will be a blood bath.”
“When Uri finds out the truth it will be no different. I have seen how he watches her. He is very taken with my little girl. He will hush this problem once and for all,” Vincent smiles.
“If she gets involved,” Valentine pauses and sighs. “She may never be the same this time. I’ve seen something changing in her. I haven’t been asking her to handle any business since her last trip. She saw or did something that has changed her.”
Valentine had been second guessing himself as of late. What had once brought his niece back to them had now started to change her. He was afraid he had done more harm than help.
He never wanted to hurt her he’d just offered her what he felt she needed. He’d given her an outlet for the fear, rage, and hurt that lived within her little heart, but Val had begun to become more vicious in her last hits.
Her temper at times had even become explosive. He agreed with his brother on one thing. He too had watched Uri with Valentina. He could see they both cared for one another.
“This is why it is time to end this. I don’t just want Uri to make this problem go away. I want him to make her happy again. He is the right one for her,” Vincent nods at his decision.
Valentine released a heavy breath. “You are right this has been a long time coming. I will let Gio in,” Valentine stood.
Vincent stood and looked out the window with a smile on his face. Valentina had done just what he knew she would do. Now he just had to wait and see if Uri lived up to the man his uncle thought him to be.
“Ah Vincent,” Gio marched into the study like a proud peacock. “So you have come to see my son is the best choice for your little Tina.”
Vincent gritted his teeth at the man using the name he and his wife used for his daughter. He forced the smile to remain on his face as he turned from the window. “Yes my friend. Raphael will make a fine son in law. We will make the official announcement to my family and yours this Saturday.”
“Fine, fine,” Gio said with a smug smile.
CHAPTER Ten
I am exhausted. Between hours of torture and the emotional war with Valentina at my club I just want to fall flat on my face. I am still reeling at what Valentina said in my office. What the fuck are my uncle and Vincent up to?
I have just spent all night and most of the early morning making arrangements to take care of this problem. My eyes are bloodshot. I stumble into the master ensuite, striping as I go. I toss my clothes in the hamper and step into the glass incased shower.
I turn the water as hot as I can stand it. I place my palms and forehead to the shower wall. My muscles start to loosen with the steam and heat. The hot water cascades down my hair and back. I flex the muscles in my back.
A lot about what happened in my office has my thoughts on overdrive. From the time I stepped into the States and made it clear that I had business there and would be around for a while my uncle started up with this need for me to marry.
It was his condition. I could stay States side as long as I wanted, as long as I played nice and entertained the matches he felt were suitable for the family. So I played along as long as I could keep a handle on things with Pamela and Luca.
My uncle has felt like I am his responsibility since my father’s death. He was the one to come for me when I was sent to stay with my grandfather. Uncle Nicholas found out about the way I was being treated and stormed in to take me away.
Valentina was right; she and I are one and the same. Only I was forced into the life I have by my grandfather at the age of thirteen. However my grandfather’s reason for bloodshed was much different from the jobs I am tasked with now.
My grandfather was a bitter and vengeful man. Once he taught me to be a killer he released me on his unsuspecting business partners. They had lost him money and pushed him out of the business when he started to become unhinged.
When I wasn’t his puppet I was his whipping post. Uncle Nicholas had felt that he did me wrong by not taking me in from the beginning. After three years of living with his family in the States he sent me to London. It was clear he saw the monster my grandfather had created and he didn’t want me near his family. I could not taint his Luca.
Which leads me to these newest developments, something is off. It is making me question everything I know. My brain is too tired to put the pieces together right now. I have been up for over twenty four hours now.
I run a hand through my wet hair and I smile as my thoughts go to Valentina. She was more than thrilled to find my hair to be longer than it appears when it is combed into place. On the way to my home she combed her fingers through my thick hair and nuzzled my neck as I held her in my lap.
It was hard to keep my hands off her. I can still taste her on my tongue. Her scent embedded in my mind has distracted me since I left her to get some rest, a sweet scent of cherry blossoms mixed with peaches. I feel my body tightening as thoughts of my office come flooding back.
I was so turned on by her eagerness to please and the fact that she was taking so much pleasure as well. I want to teach her everything. I will unleash a passion in her that will insure she knows no limits to pleasure. When I am done she will know how to give my cock proper loving.
Not that she didn’t do an awe inspiring job in my office. I feel myself blush as I reach down to do something I haven’t had to do in years. I promised Valentina we would take it slow so I will do my best to take care of this hard on.
Not that it is hard to finish myself off with images of Valentina’s swollen lips and her enthusiastic blow job playing on repeat in my head. I growl as I shoot my load into my palm. I sag against the wall with the force of it.
When I catch my breath I shake my head at what this woman has reduced me to. I’ll be hitting the gym when I’m not so bloody tired. I wash off and step out to dry off.
Wrapping the towel around my waist I run my fingers through my damp hair. I look in the mirror and I look tired. I consider cutting my facial hair back down to just a simple goatee but my thoughts go back to Valentina nuzzling into my beard.
I smile. She is like a little kitten. I can’t wait to teach her to use her claws. I don’t know how she thought it was possible that I no longer want her. She has been all that has been on my mind since my uncle requested I handle Toni Vito. Honestly, she consumed my thoughts before then.
I step into the master suite, laying eyes on the object of my obsession. I just stand and stare at her curvy figure resting beneath the covers. She is laying on her side curled into a ball as she hugs the pillow to her. I laugh at the sight; still have a lot to learn about my woman. When exhaustion will allow me to stare no more I stumble my way over to the bed.
I drop my towel to the floor and climb under the covers behind her. I consider wrapping my arms around her but I don’t want to wake her. I turn onto my back and stare up at the ceiling.
Valentina whimpers and rolls onto her back. I look over to see her face pinched into a frown. I turn onto my side and let my eyes search her face. When I move my eyes further down to where the sheet has started to fall away I frown.
She is not wearing the shirt I gave her before I left to handle business. Her bare shoulder is taunting. I gently move the sheet and her full beautiful breasts come into view. I’m instantly hard all over again. I must be a masochist.
I have never seen skin so flawless and beautiful. Her brown nipples beckon me. I force myself to recover her body feeling like an old perv. I force my eyes closed as well and huff out a breath. Soon, we will learn each other’s bodies soon.
I place my arm under my head and I am on the verge of drifting to sleep when Valentina’s whimpers pull me back to consciousness. I turn to look at her again and she is in a fitful state. She starts to whimper and cry out in her sleep. When the thrashing starts I sit up and reach for her.
I gently pull her into my arms and run my knuckles down the side of her face. “Valentina,” I whisper against her temple.
She whimpers some more and murmurs something intangible. I give her a gentle shake and call her name again. Her eyes fly open and her hand shoots to my throat. Her grip surprises me.
“Valentina,” I grunt out. “It’s me, Love.”
Her eyes clear and come into focus and she quickly releases my throat. I gulp down a breath, swallowing thickly. Valentina gasps and cups my face. “I’m sorry,” she says looking up at me with wild eyes.
I kiss her forehead. “It is nothing. You were having a bad dream,” I soothe.
She turns to pull from my arms and she looks away from me. I tighten my hold. “Maybe I should sleep somewhere else,” she murmurs.
I turn her face back to me. “Does this happen often?” I ask gently.
She nods, still not making eye contact. “I’ve never gotten over the nightmares,” she sighs. “Lately they have gotten worse.”
“How so,” I prod.
“My last kill,” she swallows and finally looks up at me. “His family came home unexpectedly. I had to hide in the closet for a bit. His son was the one to come and find him. He looked to be the age I was when …I can’t believe I did that to someone else. It was sloppy and not like me.”
Her last words come out in a whisper. I could see how haunted she has become. I vow in that moment her killing days are over. The Caprisi family will just have to deal with me if they can’t afford to lose a hitter.
“You are nothing like the monster that took your family. We all make mistakes from time to time. I have found myself in a pickle or two from small miscalculations. It’s what keeps us on our toes and makes us better at what we do,” I offer to ease her mind.
Valentina shakes her head. “How are we any different from him,” her brows draw in as if this is a question that has been weighing on her mind for ages.
I capture her chin between my fingers making sure her gaze locks on mine. “I assure you we are nothing like that monster. I have never taken the life of a child or done any of the filthy things that man did. I am quite sure neither have you,” I pause and look her face over. “We both know that the marks we are sent after have it coming for something they have done to deserve a visit from one of us.
“Many times it is them or our family. We do what we do for our families. I know for a fact the Caprisi and Donati families can be harsh in dealing with a problem but we are fare as well. I for one never take a job until it is justified to my liking.”
Valentina’s lips crack into a small smile. “Yeah, that is what I have always admired about the stories I have heard about you. You’re supposed to be totally badass. Even your own family is afraid to cross you. If you show up then someone really fucked up,” Valentina chuckles.
I capture her lips in a deep kiss because she is just too irresistible not to. Her arms go around my neck and she groans in my mouth. I break the kiss before things can really heat, as if they haven’t gone far enough already.
“Watch that beautiful mouth, Love,” I growl against her lips.
I have come to learn Valentina has a bit of a filthy mouth. In bed it is a turn on but she could stand to curve it elsewhere. Valentina brushes my hair from my face, searching it for something.
“You’re naked,” she whispers as her fingers move from my hair to my bare chest.
Her eyes drop to my chest following her fingertips. She looks almost to be in awe as my muscles flex under her fingers. I pull her in closer to my body as my cock starts to harden.
“So are you,” I say as I pinch one of her hard peeks.
A moan slips from her lips that almost breaks my control. I have already told myself we will not go there tonight. Valentina is not ready for that right now. Not after waking from a nightmare. I will tame the beast inside clawing to break free to claim her as mine.
“Yeah, but your body is not what I expected,” she almost whispers.
I chuckle. “What were you expecting, beautiful?”
“I don’t know maybe an ounce of fat,” she says cheekily. “I mean I could tell you had muscle under your suits but,” she bites her lip tearing her gaze from my abs and looking me in the eyes once again. “Your body is amazing. You could have been chiseled from stone.”
“Oh really,” I laugh. I can’t keep my hands off of her. Her skin is so soft to the touch. Her breasts feel amazing in my hands. I slide my hand down her ribs and cup her lush arse.
Valentina moans, placing her head against my chest and snuggling into my body. She remains quiet for a moment before lifting her head with her brows puckered. “You know I have seen Raphael in just swim shorts. You just put him to shame and he is younger than you are,” Valentina giggles.
I flip onto my back and drag her body up mine. Capturing her face between my hands I give her a hard glare. “Don’t ever mention another man in our bed,” I hiss out, “Especially not the fact that you have seen him half naked.”
Valentina squirms on top of me and I regret pulling us into this position the moment her arse and dripping wet folds brush against my rock hard arousal. Valentina gasps before grinding her hips back against me. I close my eyes as her wet folds soak my cock with the motion.
I reach to still her hips before I slip inside her body, either by accident or from losing my mind and driving right into her. I pluck her from on top of me and place her beside me once again tucking her up under my arm.
“Do we understand each other,” I ask.
“Yes,” she says while looking up at me with desire in her eyes. She reaches for my shaft but I clasp her hand before she gets a hold of me. There is only but so much restraint to be had. I am at my breaking point.
“We have a long day ahead of us and I need some sleep,” I kiss her forehead as she pouts up at me in disappointment. She frowns but I just pull her more snuggly into my arms. I know she has a million and one thoughts going through her mind but this is not the time for me to try to analyze them I really do need some rest.
~B~
I wake to the buzzing of my phone. I am locked underneath Uri’s body and to my surprise it doesn’t freak me out. I’m actually buzzing from head to toe at the feel of his warm body wrapped around mine.
I shift a little to move from beneath him but he stirs as his erection twitches against my bare backside. His hold around my waist tightens and I can feel his breaths puffing across my hair and the back of my neck.
I press my lips in frustration. I would gladly fall back to sleep in his hold but the stupid phone won’t stop ringing. I reach out my arm and stretch as much as I can under Uri’s hold. I just manage to reach the tip of my phone on the night stand I put it on last night.
After some creative maneuvering I get the phone in my hand. It stops ringing the moment I have it clutched in my fingertips. I curse the phone under my breath and as if in answer it starts to ring again.
I answer without looking at who is calling. Most likely it is my father after just realizing I have run off. I shouldn’t take his calls but it is better to get it over with and out of the way. I will not be returning home until this is resolved in a manner pleasing to me.
“Hello,” I say groggily into the phone.