Dom's Ascension (Mariani Crime Family Book 1) Read online

  I barely lasted three weeks before calling her. If she hadn’t agreed to come with me, I might have broken down her door and kidnapped her. And as she slept naked beside me, I realized just how screwed I was.

  Her perfect body, soft and firm in all the right places, called to my hands to touch it. I traced a finger over her exposed breast, up her neck, and to her plump, slightly parted lips. She opened her eyes slowly, and inviting jade pools gazed up at me. “Hey,” she said, her voice husky with sleep.

  “Mornin,’ Net.” The girl had me all tangled and tripped up. I didn’t know what to do about her, but I was sure as hell enjoying being caught. “Don’t sleep. I don’t know how long I’ll get to keep you.”

  She knuckled her eyes. “What do you want to do, then?”

  My gaze drifted down her body. I had a few ideas, but wanted more than sex from her. I wanted… everything. “Talk to me. Tell me more about yourself.”

  “Like what?”

  “Anything. Everything. What’s your favorite color? Favorite movie? Favorite food? Whatever shit pops into your mind,” I said.

  “Okay.” She tugged the blanket up over her exposed breast and I stopped her.

  “Please?” I asked. “I want to see you, too.”

  She released the blanket and I wrapped my arm around her stomach, feeling the curves of her hips.

  “So who’s the guy in the Celica?” I asked, still hung up on what her old man had said.

  “Crap, I was supposed to call him last night.”

  The idea of Annetta calling another man pissed me off. Struggling not to show how badly I wanted to find this guy and rip out his throat, I asked. “Why? Who is he?”

  “Just a friend I work with,” she said, but there was something more in her voice.

  Looking into her eyes, I asked, “Just a friend?”

  She nodded. “I think he wants more, but I… I want this. I want you.”

  I knew she was telling the truth, but hearing that some bastard was making a play for her made me feel the need to claim her again. In fact, I wanted to lock her up and never let the asshole so much as see her again.

  “He can’t have more,” I said, nuzzling her neck. My hand drifted down between her thighs to get her ready for me. “You’re mine now.”

  Her breath caught as I circled her clit. Regaining her composure, she stared me down and asked, “Really? When did I agree to that?”

  I wanted her again. Kissing her sassy lips, I slid a finger inside her. She was already wet. I slid my finger deeper, and when she moaned, added a second and stroked her g-spot.

  “Right now,” I said against her lips, still staring into her eyes. “Tell me you’re mine.”

  She moaned again, grinding her soaking pussy against my fingers. I slid them out, climbed on top of her, and pinned her beneath my body, the head of my dick waiting at her entrance. She tried to grind against me, but I held her still.

  “No. Not until you tell me you’re mine, Net. I need to hear the words.”

  “I’m here with you,” she whispered.

  “Not good enough. I won’t share you. I’ll fuckin’ kill anyone stupid enough to touch you. You’re mine.”

  “Of course I’m yours,” she said. “Think I’d do what we did last night with just anyone?”

  “You better not.” I nibbled her neck, barely able to contain myself. “You make me so goddamn crazy. I just… I need to feel you. I don’t want to use a condom this time.”

  “I’m on the pill,” she said.

  Taking her announcement as permission, I started to slide into her, but she stopped me.

  “I won’t share you, either, Dom. You’re mine, too.”

  Fierce, beautiful, so damn sexy I couldn’t hold back anymore. I slid deep inside her, and she felt so amazing I almost came right then. I stilled, fighting for control. “This is mine. All mine.”

  I drove into her again and her lips parted with a moan. I thought about shoving my dick in her mouth, but knew I wouldn’t last. Instead, I popped a perfect pink nipple in my mouth and sucked, grazing it with my teeth. Annetta squeezed me inside her and I almost lost my shit.

  “You’re gonna make me come,” I warned.

  “Good,” she breathed. “Fuck me.”

  I never knew that word could be so sexy. Her eyes were closed. I set my hands on either side of her face and said, “Look at me.”

  Her eyelids fluttered open and bright green eyes watched me as I plunged into her again and again.

  “Say my name,” I said. “And tell me what you want me to do to you again.”

  She was panting. We both were.

  “Fuck me, Dom,” she said.

  Barely hanging on, I thrust into her again. Harder. Again. Her body writhed beneath me, angling to get me in the perfect spot. Once I hit it, she began to unravel. Faster. Her eyes drifted closed as she called out my name again. One last thrust, and I was done. Breathing hard, I collapsed on top of her and kissed her neck.

  I got up to hit the bathroom about an hour later, accidentally waking Annetta in the process. When I finished, we snuggled in front of the fireplace, alternating between talking, laughing, and messing around until the sun came up.

  All too early, my pager went off - reality calling me to return. I phoned in and confirmed that Carlo needed me to do a couple of pickups. Annetta and I put the blankets we’d used in the dirty clothes hamper and locked up the house.

  The drive to Annetta’s was quiet, and I got the sense she was no readier to go home than I was to drop her off. Still, duty called, so I walked her to the door.

  “I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again,” I said.

  “I get it,” she replied, searching my face. “But try to call every once in a while, and let me know you’re okay. I worry about you.”

  She was so damn sweet, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and shield her from my shitty world. “Don’t let the Celica guy touch you,” I said. She hadn’t mentioned her friend’s name, but I knew where he worked and what he drove. I’d have it by the end of the day.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a slut, Dom. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Trapping her between my body and the door, I gave her one last kiss before letting her into the house. Then, I went back to work.

  ***

  The rest of the week passed in a blur of business as usual. Saturday evening I worked another of Carlo’s poker games before helping Michael intercept a forty-foot truck of liquor bound for the Columbian. Successful heists that broke up the Durante’s supply chain always put my old man in a good mood. He slapped me and Michael on our backs and broke out the good cigars. Then he let us know that Mom and Mrs. Caruso were planning Michael and Zeta’s engagement party.

  Knowing I’d be next, and practically hearing the clock tick against my time as a bachelor, I tried to get away to see Annetta, but the old man kept me tied up. With the hits on our warehouses, we were short staffed, so Father had me and Michael making rounds to pick up and drop money. He didn’t want us flying solo and he sure as hell didn’t want us off doing our own thing. Michael was practically glued to my hip, making it almost impossible to call my girl, much less go see her.

  My first chance to break away came Tuesday night when Michael was roped into having dinner with his future in-laws. It only took a quick phone call to the restaurant to find out when Annetta’s shift ended and to get the name of the Celica driver: Brandon Smith. I dropped by the Davenport Hotel to call in a favor with their desk clerk, who would book me a room on cash, before hauling ass back to the restaurant. Arriving only minutes before Annetta’s shift let out, I lit up a smoke by the back door and waited.

  A man emerged, took one look at me, and then leaned against the wall. He had dishwater blond hair, average height, average build, and looked exactly like Collin’s description.

  “You Brandon?” I asked.

  He eyed me. “Yeah. Do I know you?”

  I took a final deep drag before dropping my cigar
ette and crushing it under my steel-toed shoe. “No, but I wanted to thank you for giving my girl a lift to and from work. It’s uh… nice of you to take an interest in her safety like that.”

  His brow furrowed. “Your girl?” He looked at the door. “Annetta’s… your girl?”

  She hadn’t told him about me, huh? Wondering why, but trying not to let it bug me, I nodded. “Yeah. In fact, I’m picking her up tonight, so you can go ahead and head home.”

  He continued to watch me, making no move to leave.

  Who the fuck did this guy think he was? “You got a hearing problem?” I asked.

  “No.” He frowned. “I’ll just wait and make sure that’s cool with Annetta.”

  As I was mentally ripping Brandon’s arms from his body, Annetta emerged from the restaurant. She paused, midstep, and smiled at me, her eyes bright.

  “Dom!” Leaving the door wide open behind her, she lunged, sliding her arms under my jacket to hug me.

  All concerns I’d had about her and Brandon-the-asshole disappeared as I breathed her in and gave her a peck on the lips before releasing her. Keeping an arm wrapped around her waist, I dismissed Brandon. “See, we’re good.”

  “I’ll catch you tomorrow Annetta,” he said, pushing off the building and heading for his car.

  Annetta frowned, looking from me to Brandon. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then to me, she asked, “What did you say to him?”

  I pasted on my best innocent face, acting like I hadn’t been ready to kill him. “Nothing. I was just sizing up the competition.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous. I told you, there is no competition.”

  Music to my ears. I grabbed her arms and pulled her in for a longer kiss, knowing full well I shouldn’t be doing it in the parking lot of a restaurant under my family’s protection. Anyone could see us, and if word got back to my old man or the Pelinos, all hell would break loose. But Annetta was like a drug that I couldn’t get enough of. Knowing she’d probably get me killed only made me want to take more of her in. Hair pulled back in a bun, smelling of pasta sauce, I’d never seen a more beautiful sight. I wanted to fuck her in the parking lot. Barely controlling myself, I released her and led her to my Porsche.

  “Thanks for picking me up,” she said.

  “I couldn’t stay away.” My hand rested high on her thigh. It had been almost a week since I’d spent the night with her, and it was all I could do not to lay her chair back and rip her clothes off. “I need you, Net.”

  Her breath caught. “I missed you. Where are we going?” She buckled up.

  “Another surprise.”

  I drove us to the hotel I’d visited earlier, grabbed my bag from the back, and let us in the side door using the keycard I’d picked up from the desk clerk earlier.

  “What are we doing here?” Annetta asked as I led her to the elevator.

  “Going to our room.”

  “Our room?” Her eyebrows rose. “Do you have a permanent room here?”

  Wondering what she was asking, I stared at her.

  “That you bring all your girls to?”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. She was jealous and gorgeous and my god, I wanted to fuck her right there in the elevator.

  “What?” she asked. “It’s a valid question.”

  “No… it’s not,” I said, taking a deep breath to get my laughter under control. “You must think I have way more time on my hands than I actually do. Trust me, Net, if I had the time, I would have a permanent hotel room, but you’d be tied up in there waiting for me.”

  Her eyes widened.

  I pulled her into me, capturing those beautiful, full lips while my hands slid down to grab her ass. The elevator doors dinged open and she pulled away. Keeping hold of her hand, I found our room and let us in.

  Although small and conservative compared to the suites in my father’s casino, the room was also clean and bright. A king bed filled the wall to the right with a small kitchenette and bathroom to the left. The best part about it, however, was the oversized jetted tub positioned in front of the giant windows.

  “This is nice,” Annetta said, drifting away from me to look around, her gaze landing on the bottle of champagne, chocolates, and flowers on the bar. Beaming a smile at me, she asked, “What’s all this?”

  “An apology for staying away so long.”

  “You don’t have to apologize, Dom.” She picked up the bottle of champagne and examined it. “I know you’re busy.”

  She was so goddamn perfect. I closed the distance between us, wrapped her in my arms, and started nibbling on her neck.

  Giggling, she pushed me away. “Shower first. I smell like the restaurant.”

  I undid the top button of her blouse. “No shower, bathtub.” I led her to it and turned on the water.

  Her gaze drifted from me to the tub. “But I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

  “Think I’d let you wear one?”

  I unbuttoned the rest of her blouse and slid it from her shoulders. Her lacy pink bra was the next thing to go. It fell to the floor, exposing her perfect breasts, nipples already dark, erect, and begging for me to suck on them.

  “How’s that water coming?” she asked, sounding adorably nervous.

  Glancing over my shoulder to check on the tub, I said, “Like we need to get you naked.”

  With one swift motion, I tugged her elastic wasted chef pants down to her ankles. Her panties matched her bra. I pulled her to me and turned her away, so her ass was pressed against my now hard dick. Kissing her bare shoulders, one of my hands played with her breasts while the other dipped down over her stomach to rub the silky lace of her panties against her clit.

  She was already wet. I spent some time enjoying the feel of her wet panties before pushing them aside and dipping two fingers into her pussy. She moaned and adjusted her hips, giving me better access. My fingers played inside her as I memorized her body’s reactions, paying close attention to what made her moan the loudest. I loved pleasing her like this, and before too long, I focused on her g-spot, and really went to town. Annetta’s breathing grew shallow and labored as I plunged my fingers into her harder and faster until she released around me.

  When she was done, I helped her into the tub, undressed, and climbed in beside her, standing. Her gaze lingered on my dick.

  “See something you like?” I asked.

  She blushed. “I wanna try… something.”

  The possibilities only made me harder. “We can try anything you want, Net.”

  She reached up and grabbed my dick, giving it a little squeeze. I moaned. She smiled and started stroking me. “You like that?” she asked.

  I nodded.

  She tugged me closer to her and slid me inside her mouth. I’ve had blow jobs before, but something about Annetta’s plump lips wrapped around my dick made me lose my mind. As she sucked and teased me, I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her further up my shaft. Remembering she’d been a virgin before our last encounter and fearing I might have gone too far, I watched her for a sign of how she felt about this. When she looked up at me with a grin tugging at her lips and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, god dammit, I think I fell in love.

  I fucked her mouth as her hands wrapped around me and squeezed my ass. I let her take me to the brink, and then released her head and pulled out.

  “Fuck,” I breathed.

  Sparkle still dancing in her eyes, grin still tugging at her lips, she said, “You like that?”

  In answer, I climbed on top of her and buried myself deep in her pussy.

  She gasped.

  “You like that?” I asked, turning her own question on her.

  “Yes. Fuck me, Dom.”

  One thing was certain, she wasn’t a virgin anymore. I made her come, and then pulled her out of the tub. With my fingers inside her and her hand stroking my dick, we each drained a glass of champagne. Then I talked her into letting me pour it on her and lick it off. She returned the favor, and we ended u
p back in the tub.

  By the time I dropped her off at home the next morning, the sheets were full of champagne and all the towels had been used.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Dominico

  OVER THE NEXT several weeks, Annetta and I kept up our secret relationship. Whenever I could get away, we’d slip off to the Davenport Hotel, room 325, and fuck until morning. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, but I couldn’t force myself to quit her.

  In August, Abriana married and moved to California with Romario De Lucca. I called her a couple of times, and although she didn’t sound happy, she was alive and healthy, which I told myself had to be enough. The attacks on the family increased, and the De Luccas had given us the leg up, steadily supplying weapon shipments and helping us organize strikes against the Durantes.

  The Commission was still trying to place a messaggero, and my father’s paranoia kept increasing at an alarming rate. He had every available wiseguy working around the clock. With lengthened workdays, and Father demanding more of my time, my free-time with Annetta was basically non-existent.

  September brought on Michael’s engagement dinner. Since the Carusos hosted, we didn’t return to Annetta’s restaurant. Which was a good thing, since Valentina was at the party and wouldn’t shut up about me and her getting hitched. With Valentina’s eighteenth birthday less than six months away, my future looked bleak. As the goddamn pink-lipped octopus butted her shrill voice and immature opinions into my dinner conversation with Mario, I lost my appetite. Tossing my napkin onto my untouched plate, I escaped the stuffy banquet hall and headed outside for air.

  That bitch was gonna be my wife.

  I couldn’t begin to come to grips with it. Not after Annetta. Thoughts of my girl’s perfect lips and bright green eyes churned my stomach even more. I would have to tell her about Valentina soon. Then what? I couldn’t let her go.

  Would Annetta agree to be my mistress?

  The thought made me laugh. My feisty little firecracker would likely stab me rather than sleep with me after she found out I’d have to marry someone else.

  Maybe Annetta and I could disappear…