Devil's Claim: A Dark Mafia Romance (Devil's Syndicate Book 2), page 23
Good for me.
“You don’t seem to understand or accept there are people who would stop at nothing to get to me through you.”
“You’ve made that perfectly clear.”
“Have I?”
I was cognizant he threw his head in my direction. “Trust me.”
“Well, why don’t I make it even clearer?”
“Why? Do you just want to ruin the entire night? You made fools of both of us.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Oh, yes, you did.”
I’ll be damned if he didn’t smack his hand on the steering wheel. It would seem I’d crawled under his skin lighting a fire. Maybe I should fear his outburst, but I had to be honest with myself. No man had ever acted possessive around me, which had led me to believe not a single man would have fought for me if push came to shove.
This man, this brutal hunk of a man was willing to go the extra mile, destroying everything in the path of protecting me. In truth? I found that sexy as hell. The fact he was snorting like a bull was also adorable.
Not that I’d tell him that. His ego was already too big.
He took several deep breaths, now with both hands on the steering wheel. “I told you before. I won’t lose you.”
“I’m not that easily lost.”
“You’re making light of this.”
“No, I’m making fun of you.”
Another snap of his head, his eyes on fire with both rage and lust. Holy hell, a hot flash coursed through me like a tidal wave. I licked my lips and could instantly see that was the wrong thing to do. He puffed up, his nostrils flaring. I’d be damned if he didn’t curse in Spanish. I caught a few words that I’d heard before. Something about me being hardheaded and spoiled.
I’d show him spoiled.
“Watch the road, tough guy. You wouldn’t want a wreck to be the cause of my demise.” As he narrowed his eyes, I couldn’t help but allow myself a glance down his chest to his muscular legs. They certainly filled out a pair of fine linen trousers with no room to spare. My eyes drifted to the thick bulge between his legs, which was so not good for me to do.
My pussy immediately throbbed in response. I clenched my fists, whispering hate-filled words to myself. I couldn’t allow the man to break down my defenses through my lust.
“You are… the most difficult woman I’ve ever known,” he finally said between clenched teeth.
“I thought that’s exactly what you wanted in a partner.” Continuing to push him might result in the kind of argument I didn’t want, but the bratty girl inside was still in control.
“Not that way, Christine.”
“You’re stubborn as well. Pigheaded.” We were doing nothing more than exchanging barbs, but at least it gave me some sense of satisfaction. Plus, I was ensuring he knew I had my own set of boundaries.
“I am doing my job!”
A laugh bubbled to my lips and that certainly didn’t make him happy. However, even in his sullenness, he remained far too sexy. I shivered from the look he gave me. His breathing remained labored and I couldn’t help myself, studying his every reaction.
Seconds ticked by, the awkwardness between us ticking up the sexual tension.
“You can’t go off halfcocked anytime a man has a conversation with me and guess what, in the line of work I now find myself in, I will shake hands with men. I’ll be close to them in rooms and elevators. I might even be required to have lunch or God forbid dinner. That doesn’t mean the only thing on their mind is seducing me.”
“You obviously don’t know men very well.”
“Of course. I’m nothing but a naïve little girl. How could I forget.”
“Jesus Christ,” he huffed. “You’re definitely not a little girl. You are a voluptuous woman and every man we’ve come into contact with is envious of me. Did you not see the desire on their faces when you strutted through that restaurant? Did you not notice the hunger they had as you walked by?”
“First of all, I don’t strut,” I scoffed. Did he really say that? “It doesn’t matter, Kruz. I’m marrying you. Remember? I won’t be doing the hanky-panky with anyone else. My God. You’d likely take them out to the woodshed and use them for target practice.”
He narrowed his eyes, clearly not understanding my American slang. I wasn’t in the mood to clarify.
“Yes, you are marrying me. Until death do us part.”
“When you say it like that…” I fisted my hands. Goddamn, the man was infuriating.
The wave of silence was also annoying for me. Tension remained, our heated breaths fogging the windows. I almost laughed because we were both acting childish.
“Don’t you get it?” His voice held sheer exasperation. “Do you not see what you’ve done to me in a few days? All I think about is you. All I dream about is you. And all I want is your body cradled next to mine, your heart beating with mine, and your sweet lips kissing mine in the throes of electric passion. I not only want you in my life. I need you. Nothing and no one will ever stand in the way of what I want.” He hissed, rolling both hands around the steering wheel.
What did he just say?
“Repeat that,” I whispered. “No, don’t. You’re just saying that.”
“No, Christine. I meant every word. God help me, I did.”
A man like Kruz Blanco didn’t fall for a girl like me. What did he have to gain?
His words stunned me, so much so I couldn’t breathe. The world came to a complete halt, my mind spinning. All I could concentrate on was how much I desired this man. This angry, dominating, often insanely jealous man who’d rocked my world. When he slowly placed his hand on my knee, a series of explosive shivers tickled every nerve ending.
The man wasn’t just possessive; he was completely and entirely obsessive.
And my God, I was so aroused I couldn’t think clearly. Every muscle twitched, swarms of butterflies tearing my stomach apart.
I sat back in the seat, trying to control my breathing as sinful images flowed through my mind. He had a way of doing that to me. I’d never felt so wanted or needed in my life.
His breathing returned to normal, his concentration returning to the road.
Minutes later he was pulling into the driveway, this time pulling the car into a huge garage. The soldiers didn’t follow.
Even as the door began to close behind us, I still couldn’t move.
The air in the car was hot, my skin on fire and my pussy molten lava. As he removed the keys, I unfastened my seatbelt, realizing my throat was dry.
With a heavy sigh, he unfastened his belt and why something carnal came over me I couldn’t answer. At least not right now. But a second later, I pulled my dress up to my thighs and slid onto his lap facing him.
“What are you doing?” he growled, the husky sound fueling a tremendous fire.
“Taking what I want for a change.” I wasn’t gentle, ripping at his shirt. Buttons flew off, exposing his muscular chest. As soon as I placed my fingertips on his skin, he issued a dark moan.
“Be careful, little girl. You’re playing with fire.”
“So what? You’ve already burned me. I’m already going to hell. I might as well enjoy myself before I do.” I captured his mouth, immediately pressing my tongue inside.
Even with the engine off, the headlights remained on, the stark glow reflecting back on our sinful act. At least we were alone, his men remaining on the outside. The entire rest of the world, the danger and uncertainty were locked out, prevented from interrupting our passion.
If only for a few precious minutes.
Maybe I needed grounding.
Maybe I craved absolution.
Or maybe my desire was nothing more than pretending my life hadn’t been swept into chaos and sin.
He seemed surprised, allowing me a precious moment of control. I swept my tongue inside, tasting bourbon and a hint of chocolate from the luscious dessert we’d shared. Lava cake had never seemed so appropriate.
As I crushed my mouth down on his, he rolled one hand down my back, bunching material from my dress in his hand. I ground my lap against his, becoming even further aroused from the friction.
He growled into my mouth, the kiss becoming crazed, a frantic need to taste and touch.
There was no denying the connection we shared, the burst of electricity every time we were together. I was lightheaded, not thinking about anything but the passion I craved as much as I did the man. His possessiveness had sparked something deep within, pushing me to a point I hadn’t known existed.
He struggled with my dress, breaking the kiss long enough to rip the material over my shoulders.
His lips found my jaw, his thumb sliding underneath my chin, lifting as he dragged his tongue along my bottom lip. When he bit down, I mewed like a kitten, scratching his skin before yanking his shirt from his trousers. The feel of his skin against my fingertips seared every nerve ending.
I pushed back against the steering wheel, laughing softly when he fumbled before finding the seat controls. After pushing the seat all the way back, he shoved me gently by a few inches, cupping both breasts.
“Goddamn, you’re beautiful.”
With his breathing as labored as mine, it didn’t take any time before the driver’s window became fogged. I bit his chin just as he pinched my nipples, twisting them until a flash of pain rumbled straight into my aching pussy.
“Fuck,” he groaned. “I want you.”
“Then fuck me.” I wasn’t interested in wasting any time, ripping at his belt and zipper. I shifted onto my knees, wrapping one hand around his cock. As I squeezed and stroked, he threw his head back. I sensed he was trying to keep some manner of control.
But he was failing rapidly.
With a single finger, he ripped off my thong, the sound floating between us. We both laughed and he bent me back, fisting my hair and latching his lips around my nipple.
Holy fuck, it felt so good.
The man was even more insatiable than before, immediately lifting his hips and driving the entire length of his cock deep inside my tight channel.
Sweat beaded across his chiseled face, the sweltering heat of our actions in a confined space making it difficult to breathe. As his chest rose and fell, he rubbed his hands down my back. His half laugh was one of intended ownership.
Something in the back of my mind screamed all I was doing was cementing his required possession, but my body would always betray me around the rugged man.
I slipped my arms over his shoulders and bucked hard against him, the hard bounces forcing air from my lungs.
The look on his face remained carnal, his eyes as unfocused as mine felt.
Sudden darkness forced a growl from his lips, a tension in my body. But within seconds, his dark laugh fueled another fire.
He caressed my bottom, squeezing until I issued another scattered moan. His control was intense, every nerve fluttering.
“You are truly exquisite. Never forget you are all mine.”
Every syllable echoing in the dense space, I closed my eyes, unable to stop the ragged moans. What was it about dominating men that added to the rush of excitement?
Kruz wasn’t the kind of man to do anything half assed. He slipped one hand to the back of my neck while he fucked me, the brutal pounding sweet music.
I tangled my fingers in his hair, panting as the excessive heat increased. The first tickle of an orgasm pulsed through every muscle, my toes suddenly curling. I squeezed my muscles, the sense of nirvana electrifying.
As the orgasm erupted in my core, I threw one hand against the roof, rocking against him like some crazed woman.
“That’s it. Come for me.” His husky growl was a command, but unneeded.
I was completely lost in the intense moment, my mind blown by the rush of vibrations as I floated into pure ecstasy.
Kruz continued to pound into me, holding nothing back, including his primal growls.
His body tensed, his actions even more savage. I slowly lowered my head, smiling as I clenched my pussy muscles.
“You little… minx,” he muttered. His actions becoming crazed, he bounced me up and down on his lap. One additional roar and I felt the rush of heat as he erupted deep inside.
As soon as he pushed me back, a blast of noise interrupted the insanely decadent moment.
The horn.
I’d accidently pressed the horn.
Gasping, I threw myself forward, instantly horrified.
Yet the sexy bastard laughed, even cracking his hand against my bottom.
Suddenly, there were bright lights.
The sound of footsteps.
A horrible pound on the window.
And another guttural laugh from Kruz just before he turned the key and lowered the window.
Oh. My. God. Two faces. Two pairs of eyes gawking at us with incredulous expressions.
One giggle.
One curse in Spanish.
The people interrupting us? My new boss and her husband. A man with a gun.
“Well, hell,” Kruz hissed.
I pressed my face into Kruz’s neck, but not before catching sight of someone holding a gun in our face. A giggle popped from my lips. Then another. At least Kruz was attempting to be chivalrous, holding me close and protecting my naked body while my face turned sixteen shades of red.
“What the fuck?” The man with the gruff voice suddenly burst into laughter. “Couldn’t you wait until you got inside?”
Kruz exhaled. “You know me, Jago. I take what I want when I want. I just couldn’t wait.”
CHAPTER 26
Kruz
“You are going to be very obedient. Correct?” I lifted my eyebrows as I studied Christine, holding out a new cellphone at the same time.
She tipped her head, tossing her long hair across her shoulders. As she swaggered closer, my body reacted as it always did around her, my mind taken hostage by my intense needs. Right now, I could chuck everything required with business, spending the day in bed ravaging every inch of her body.
We’d done that several times over the last few days.
As she approached, she swept her gaze very slowly all the way down to my Berluti Alessandro leather oxfords. She closed the distance, shaking her head while taking the phone.
“What?” I demanded.
She gave me the look I’d come to both love and loathe before adjusting the collar on my jacket. Underneath I wore a black sleeveless tee shirt, black jeans, and combat boots finishing off the look. “You look like some bandit from an eighties movie.”
“Bandit?”
“You know what I mean. Like some bit player bandito used as a hired gun for the bigwig who always wears a Gucci suit and smokes a fine Cuban cigar while his men do the dirty work.”
“You’re suggesting I don’t look like a boss?”
“You definitely do not look like a dictator. More like a foot soldier in an army. Maybe it’s your hair.” She ran her fingers through my hair as she laughed.
I threw my arm around her waist, pulling her even closer. “You have no room to talk. Where did my little baker go?”
“What do you mean?” She shoved her hands against my chest, breaking the hold and turning in a full circle.
“You look like a million bucks,” I admitted.
And she did.
The black pantsuit and shocking violet blouse accentuated… absolutely everything about her. The glisten in her eyes. Her luminous skin. Her dazzling figure.
“That’s because this outfit cost more money than my rent payment in Miami. It’s not really me.”
I inched as close as possible, only a few centimeters between us. Dangerous territory. “You know what they say. Perception is everything.”
Christine sighed but nodded at the same time while pushing off from me playfully. “I know. I just feel like a fake.”
She liked to think she had some control over me.
Not a chance.
“You’re many things, my wife to be, but fake isn’t one of them. You tell it like it is. Always. Much to my frustration.”
“I do like to keep you on your toes. Is the outfit to provide a killer look? Literally?” She pointed her long finger down to my boots.
Chuckling, I hadn’t thought about how attire made me appear. “Maybe you’re right, but Eduardo’s world is quite different than mine.”
“More brutal.”
“You could say that. The man is… Let’s just say he’s stuck in the old ways.”
“What you hear on the news. Mutilations and torture. Body parts found in trunks and oil barrels. People missing. Including tourists and public officials.”
A visible chill drifted through her. “Something like that.” I backed away long enough to snatch a box from the bookshelf. “I have something for you.”
She looked at me skeptically as I handed her the long black box. “What’s this?”
Chuckling, I rubbed my index finger across her hand. “I guess you’ll need to open it.”
Christine frowned, but pulled the red ribbon, slowly opening the lid. At least her eyes lit up when she noticed the watch. “Wow. This is beautiful.”
“Every woman needs a spectacular watch to provide her with an indication of the right moment to toss an unwanted guest from her office.”
Her head snapped up and she burst into laughter. “Is that what you do?”
“I don’t need a watch to tell me that. Let me put it on for you.”
“You don’t need to buy me anything, Kruz. The contract is signed.”
The odd pang as she made the statement surprised me. “I’m allowed to buy my fiancée a present, aren’t I?”
“As long as you don’t expect something in return.”
Her teasing attitude had returned, but I noticed sadness in her eyes even as she adjusted the watch on her wrist.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She nodded in return. “I don’t like you leaving. Not now.”
