Page 12 of Paying the Mafia Don

A huge grin spreads across my face. “Tell me she did not.”

“She absolutely did. Told me, and I quote, “I better never hurt her girl,” end quote.”

He leans down to tip my chin up and says. “And I never will.” His mouth covers mine with a kiss that banishes all my sorrow. His mouth worshiping my lips, my face, my neck—flitting from spot to spot as if wondering where to land next.

I wind my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. His tongue teases mine, and I suck it into my mouth. He groans.

I’m no longer tired. I’m more wide awake than I’ve ever been. I shift my weight and straddle him, running my hands up and down his chest, enjoying the ripple of his muscles. He groans when I rotate hungrily on his lap. I’m already wet. “Leo,” I whisper, my lips graze his ear, and I nip at his earlobe. “Help me remember who I belong to now. Remind me how much better off I am.”

He sucks in a breath, and his hands slide up my thighs, gripping them tightly. I reach between us to free him from his pants, and he helps, kicking them off the rest of the way. I’m already soaking, so ready for him that I sink onto him. My breath hitches at the feel of him stretching me, filling me. It’s not a feeling I’ll ever tire of. I ride him, moving my hips, arching my back, and rolling my body. He watches me, his eyes glittering with appreciation. He’s enjoying watching me take control.

“Touch yourself,” he urges, and I do. Running my fingers down to where we’re connected, I circle and tease my clit. His eyes stay on me, on our connection. I reach behind me to grip his balls, squeezing lightly as I ride him. He bucks beneath me. His fingers dig into my hips, and his jaw clenches. We’re both close. His eyes never leave my face. He’s watching me as he’s about to come. His teeth are clenched, and the cords in his neck are drawn tight. The look of passion on his face is what sends me over the edge.

“Leo,” I call as I start to shake. My body clenches around him, and he roars out his release.

Leo is not at all what I expected. He’s ruthless and dangerous. A crime lord and a killer. Possessive and jealous. He’s also a man who knows how to take care of his family. He provides and protects. He would give his life before he let anything happen to me or Cassie. And as I ride his slowly deflating cock, determined to squeeze every drop, I realize I’ve fallen head over heels.

Tears fill my eyes because I know it’s one-sided. Despite the fact that he’s a good man. He doesn’t love because he doesn’t think he can.. He thinks Eden ripped out his heart, but I see it every day in everything he does.

He sighs when he slides me off his lap. I’ve been so wrapped up in my problems that I’ve overlooked his. It’s not like him to come home so late at night. With a dark cloud hovering over his head that I ignored. But I see it now as more clouds gather. “What’s wrong.”

“We’re having a problem in the U.S., I’ll leave in the morning.”

“Oh,” I say. My eyes watering again. Why am I so damn emotional? “It’ll be our first time apart.” His face looks as happy about it as I feel. “Is everything okay? Is it safe?”

“Don’t worry. It’s a problem. We’ll handle it. Don’t worry. It comes with the business.”

His nonchalance only makes me want to cry even more. Does he know that he has value to me? I take his face in my hands and will him to not only hear my words but feel them. “I will fucking worry. Every day, all day, until you bring your ass back here in one piece. You got me?”

“Not ready to be a widow, yet?” He tries teasing with the least funny joke he could have made.

I wait for him to see, that I’m not kidding before I respond. “Not ever.” His brows raise, but I kiss him before he can dissect my words further.

When I awake the next morning, he’s gone. But a bright bouquet of fresh flowers is lying on the side table with a note. “Take care of yourself. I’m not ready to be a widow, either.”

* * *

No one tells me anything. They keep telling me not to worry. Words that have never reduced anyone’s stress—ever. Leo calls every day to check on me and Cassie. Calls that give me nothing other than the sound of his voice. Two weeks have gone by, and I’m sitting by the pool in our home overlooking the sea, watching Cassie swim. A shadow covers me, and I look up at Leo’s grim face.

He looks to the guards and then to my one-piece swimsuit. “Where’s your fucking burka?” He growls, but I see right through his bark.

I jump up and squeal, wrapping my arms around him. Hugging him so tight, his bones might break. He squeezes me just as tight. “You’re back.” I drop kisses all over his face while he tries to hold mine steady so he can plant his in response. “I missed you so much. Did you get all of your business handled?”

He kisses me again, but then he grimaces. “Yes and no. I’ll tell you all about it later.” My eyes widen at this new level of trust. “Bottom line, someone stole something from us. We handled it, but the way we handled it is not going to make some of our friends happy.”

I grab his face and peer closer into his eyes. “But you’re safe? You’re okay? Or are we going to war? Because I’m from Chicago, so you know I have no problem with a mafia war.” His roar of laughter catches the attention of Cassie, who splashes closer to us. We’re all laughing when he folds me in his arms and adds. “I believe it. That’s why I love you.”

It’s the first time he’s said it, and I realize I haven’t said it at all. But it’s hard to speak with the lump in my throat, so I just manage, “ditto.”

He grins, and I see the Leo he must have been before Eden shining in his eyes. Eyes that are lit with light and love, and I know that my eyes reflect the same. I’m so damn happy that I forgive him and Cassie when they push me in the pool, and then they jump in right behind me, and we all play the tickle game before going in the house… as a family.

---