Pursuit: Brandon & Carly (Mafia Ties Book 4) (3 page)

She was waiting at the bottom of the porch steps as I shut and locked the door. Which made me curious. “Who is Mac Thomas?” It was the name on the mortgage for the little house.

She shrugged casually. “Friend of a friend of a friend.” I frowned, not happy with her answer, or her overly nonchalant attitude. Before I could delve into it, she asked, “What do you want to do for wheels? I took the bus here from the next town over where I ditched my um—borrowed car.”

I tried not to laugh, but damn, I really did love everything about this woman. The thought didn’t stagger me like I would have expected. I guessed my mind was simply accepting what my heart had already known.

There was a reason I’d had to chase her. She was well equipped with the knowledge to go on the run, as well as a talented thief, an excellent markswoman, and sexy as fuck. I was definitely going to have my hands full. A very appealing idea.

“That’s my rental, right there.” I pointed to the non-descript, dark blue SUV across the street.

“A rental?” she scoffed and shook her head. “Amateur.”

I rolled my eyes. “Says the kitten in the house I was able to track her to,” I drawled, enjoying the sight of her cheeks becoming a little pink. “Do you really think I don’t have the contacts for completely clean alternate identities? This car is buried so deep, the devil himself couldn’t connect it to me.”

“Touché,” she replied before setting off for the car.

Once our bags were in the car and we’d both settled in our seat, I started the drive home. She was holed up in a tiny town in Maine, and we had around an eight-hour drive. I grilled her on everything she knew for a couple of hours, making sure I knew as much as she did about the situation. Every detail I wasn’t aware of was a potential threat.

Eventually, she fell asleep and I was pleased to see her getting more rest. The purple hue I’d seen under her eyes that morning indicated how little rest she’d been getting. I hated to wake her, but we switched out vehicles in Mount Vernon.

She was quiet for the rest of the relatively short drive, but when I pulled up in front of my apartment, she shook her head and gave me an address in the Bronx. “If you’ll take me, I’d appreciate it. It’s been a long couple of weeks and I’d rather not have to traipse up there on the train.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And, why exactly would I be taking you there?”

“I’ll stay there for now. I know it’s safe.”

I gritted my teeth, deciding which ludicrous idea I was going to approach first. “Let’s get something straight, right now, Carly. You are not to go anywhere without me or the handful of Nic’s men I will allow to protect you if I need to be away from you. As I cannot protect you if you aren’t with me, your sexy ass will be living in my house.”

She tried to speak, but I railroaded right over her objections. “This is not a democracy, babe. When it comes to your safety, I am in charge. This is not up for debate.” I turned fully to face her, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Not that it truly matters since you won’t be stepping foot in that place, but how do you know it’s safe?”

“A friend of a fri—”

“Of a friend of a friend,” I finished for her dryly. “This Mac Thomas guy again?” My tone was low with warning.

“Sort of,” she hedged.

“Carly,” I ground out, my gut telling me that I was going to hate her answer, which fueled my ire. “I swear to St. Bonaventure, if you do not tell me the truth right now, I’ll take you to bed and drive you to the peak of orgasm over and over again. But, I won’t let you come until you’re begging for release and ready to tell me anything I want to know.”

“U
mm.”

Yeah, that was my response. In my defense, I really didn’t know what to say. Hell, I didn’t even know if he’d just threatened me or promised me a good time. My mind went with the threat theory, but my body was another story. If my damp panties were any indication, I was more than up for some of his sensual torture. Either way, this wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have while sitting in his car on the street.

“Can you hold that thought until we’re in your apartment?”

“As long as you understand I’m likely to take every moment I wait for an answer out of your hide,” he grumbled, climbing out of the car.

I giggled, literally, like a schoolgirl, while he walked around to open my door. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t lay a hand on me to cause pain, not after the sick look he’d had on his face when I described my childhood. I also didn’t have any doubt that he’d find a way to make me pay with pleasure. I should probably be afraid of the fact that I was actually looking forward to his efforts, but I was starting to get used to the way he made me feel things I’d never experienced before. It was addictive, this rush of emotion I felt whenever he was around. So was seeing the smirk he flashed my way as he helped me out of the car.

“How can I be frustrated as fuck one minute and want to laugh right along with you the next?”

His question was a deep purr in my ear which made my laughter die in my throat while I shivered at the goosebumps he caused instead. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one acting completely out of character.”

He tugged my hand, leading me into his building and down a small hallway. “Or maybe this is exactly how we’re supposed to be—you and I are better people because we found each other.”

Seriously, how the hell was I supposed to protect my heart from a hot as fuck guy who said shit like that? It was impossible not to melt while my panties spontaneously combusted.

“Brandon,” I sighed.

“Carly,” he breathed, his lips swooping down to claim mine as he stopped in front of the door on the left.

His kiss fogged my brain, and I didn’t notice him unlocking the door until he ushered me inside. How the hell he managed that while kissing the fuck out of me was a mystery. The man had serious skills, that was a fact. I didn’t have the chance to properly appreciate his apartment. I caught glimpses of black leather furniture, gleaming chrome accents, and dark wood touches as he ravaged my mouth again while shuffling me into his bedroom. Or at least, what I assumed was his bedroom because of the king-sized bed with the masculine comforter that he picked me up and tossed me onto.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” I gasped, crawling off the mattress and stalking towards him. “You want me to tell you about Mac Thomas and my connection to him, right?”

“Whatever
connection
,”—he practically spit out the word—“you had with this Mac guy is over. Done. Finito.”

“You’re even sexier than usual when you’re jealous and speaking Italian.”

“I’d be very careful about pushing my buttons right now, kitten,” he growled, reaching for my hand to press it against his hardened length. “I’m barely holding on by a thread as it is.”

“Aww, poor baby,” I cooed, cupping him and squeezing. “You gave me all those orgasms without taking anything for yourself.”

“You don’t know how hard it was to not take you, but you deserve better than to lose your virginity in some random bed while on the run from your father.”

“I think I have some idea how
hard
it was.” I gave him a squeeze for emphasis before dropping down to my knees.

“You don’t have to do this.” His voice was hoarse, his eyes darkening a shade as he gazed down at me.

“But what if I want to?” I asked. “Maybe even
need
to get a taste of you?”

“Damn, kitten. You drive a hard bargain.” He stroked a finger down my cheek, running it across my lips. “If you need a taste of me, that’s what you’ll get.”

I watched, rapt, as he unzipped his pants and tugged his hard cock out. His hand stroked up and down the shaft, working it lazily. His breathing picked up, coming in short pants through his lips. I licked mine, hungry for him.

“Open,” he ordered, running the head of his cock over my bottom lip. I parted them, my tongue darting out to lick away the drop of pre-come beaded on the tip.

“Mmm,” I moaned, opening my mouth wide as he slowly plunged inside. My hands slid upwards, along the back of his legs to grip his thighs and pull him forward.

“Damn, kitten! Your mouth feels so fucking good wrapped around my cock.”

I sucked him into my mouth as far as I could go until I bumped against the fist he still had wrapped around the base. I licked the ridges of his length as I released him. “More,” I moaned.

His fingers unwrapped from his cock and quickly tangled in my hair, gathering it up at the back of my head. Peeking up at him, I wanted to smirk at seeing how the cords of his neck were strained, his eyes riveted on my mouth. I licked the slit at the tip, slowly trailing it down his length, lapping at him. This time, without his hand to block me, I kept going until he brushed the back of my throat. It tightened around him reflexively as I tried not to gag.

“Relax your jaw,” he murmured, pulling back and thrusting back in even farther. His fingers dug into my scalp as he took control, withdrawing and driving forward at a leisurely pace. “You can take it deep for me, can’t you?”

I wasn’t sure how deep I could take it because I’d never done this before, but I wanted to make this good for him. To blow his mind. My lips curved up in a little smile at the thought of blowing his mind with a blow job.

“I see the laughter in your eyes,” he rasped. “I guess I’d better make sure I have all of your attention.”

He surged forward, holding me in place as he pumped his hips in short jabs. He let out a low moan of pleasure, fucking my mouth even as he swelled within it. He was getting closer, and the knowledge urged me on. I lapped and sucked at his length, feeling him start to twitch and pulse.

“I’m gonna come,” he warned, starting to pull out.

“No,” I protested, wrapping my lips around him and gripping the back of his thighs so he couldn’t get away from me. I sucked harder, my cheeks hollowing out, and then his erection jerked. His hot come poured down my throat, his hips still pumping and his husky cries of completion ringing in my ears.

When he pulled away, his chest was heaving and his dark eyes were heavy-lidded. He bent down, dragging me up his body and claiming my lips in another kiss. I blushed wildly at the thought of him tasting himself on my lips, making him chuckle darkly.

“I’ll take your mouth any damn time I want, kitten. It’s mine. Just like you’ll learn to take mine no matter what I’ve been doing with it.” His fingers slipped down my belly to glide across my pussy lips. I felt the heat of his touch, as though my clothing wasn’t between us.

“Whatever you say,” I mumbled, still a little embarrassed.

“Damn straight.”

He helped me to my feet, and I playfully slapped at his chest while he tucked himself back into his pants.

“My blowjob doesn’t seem to have mellowed you out very much.”

“It took the edge off, but I don’t think I’ll be mellow until I’ve had you at least a hundred times, babe. Maybe a thousand.”

“A thousand sounds like an awful lot,” I teased.

“Not when you consider I’m never letting you go,” he quipped, making my heart flutter again. “Now tell me, who is Mac Thomas and what does he mean to you?”

Crap, I’d only delayed the inevitable, and I didn’t think he was going to like my answer much. “Mac Thomas is one of Thomas McKinnon’s aliases.”

“Fuck!” he barked out, beginning to pace. “McKinnon is part of your father’s organization, Carly. Please tell me you aren’t naive enough to have kept in touch with someone who’s connected to the very man who’s been hunting you.”

“I’m not dumb,” I hissed, straightening my spine and crossing my arms over my chest while I glared at him. “Tommy would never do anything to hurt me. He’s risked a lot to protect me and he’s one of the only other men I’ve ever trusted in my entire life.”

I
stopped pacing and gripped Carly’s biceps, backing her up against the wall and crowding her. “Used to be, kitten. As of now, I am the only man you trust.” I paused for a minute, thinking about her situation. “You can also trust Nic.” I would lay down my life for Nic, and I knew he would do the same, just as we would for each other’s families. But, it eased my tension knowing I didn’t have to worry about him trying to steal my woman.

Carly shook her head, her long mane of red hair brushing against her tits with the movement. She was so damn beautiful. I didn’t care what McKinnon had done for her, who he’d been to her, as of now, he wouldn’t be anywhere near her.

“Tommy is the reason I was able to run, Bran. He’s been my best friend since I was eight. He took punishment from protecting me from my dad and brother more times than I care to think about. His father is as big of a monster as mine.”

I gripped her chin, forcing her to pay complete attention. “I don’t give a fuck, Carly. I can appreciate that he played a role in keeping you safe until we found each other, but now you’re mine. And, I protect what’s mine.” I squeezed her chin a little harder, but made sure I wasn’t causing her pain. “You know my reputation, Carly.
No one
touches what’s mine. And that includes Thomas fucking McKinnon. Do you understand”

She stared at me, wide-eyed, unblinking, and for a moment, I worried I’d gone too far and made her afraid of me. I wasn’t in the habit of hiding who I was like Nic. I couldn’t be. Being the enforcer, and his number two, people had to know me because I needed them to fear me. Even so, for the first time, I considered whether I should have tempered my hard edges a bit.

Then she blinked. Fuck. Her lids raised and her green eyes were full of fire, burning with desire.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I backed up, my hands clenching and unclenching into fists, as I reminded myself to take it slow. To make things special. My cock was pissed at me for the decision and my zipper cut into the skin as he pressed against it, trying to get free.

I cleared my throat and glanced at the partially open door to the bedroom. “Come to the kitchen, babe,” I said, sidling toward the door. “We can talk while I make you some dinner.” Then, I turned and practically ran from the room before I threw her on the bed and fucked her until we both collapsed into a sexual coma.