Page 19 of A Life Chosen

They moved hurriedly, as if time would illuminate a reality neither of them was ready to confront. Mathias’s fingers dug into his flesh. His own hands bunched the sheets in fists, grappling for purchase. Mathias brought an arm around Rayan’s neck, sinking his teeth into his shoulder. Rayan pressed against him, arching beneath the weight of his capo’s body.

Mathias pulled out then pushed back as roughly but hit somewhere deeper. Somewhere that made Rayan’s heart stall. He groaned, a low animal sound propelled from his body by force. Mathias was in to the hilt, draped over Rayan’sback, breath brushing his ear with each thrust. The thought of being so intimately intertwined with his capo, a man capable of commanding intense fear and respect, made Rayan’s skin burn. He lowered his head, exhaling in short bursts as the pleasure built, seizing him.Fuck, fuck.He was going to come.

Mathias’s hand found his straining cock, pulling it through his fist in a series of quick strokes. It was enough to send Rayan over the edge, and he came hard, stifling a moan through clenched teeth. He felt Mathias bear down on him and heard a growl rumble in the man’s chest as he himself finished.

They separated, collapsing onto the bed, heavy, sedated. Rayan tried to string together a single coherent thought, but his mind was foggy, misted over. They lay like that in silence, time crawling as if they were no longer held captive by its rules.

Then Mathias sat up, breaking the spell in one fluid motion. He stood, his broad, muscular back to Rayan and dressed in silence. Rayan turned away, chest tightening. He retrieved his clothes from the floor and tugged them on.

Mathias was already at the bedroom door. “Tomorrow.” The word came out thick, a gruffness so different from the usual severity of his voice. He cleared his throat. “There’s a job on the South Shore. Be at the office by nine.”

And then he was gone.

Chapter Eight

“Paterlini wants to send his son over here for a bit. Get a leg up,” Tony said. It was late in the evening, and they’d stayed on at the office for a nightcap. Everyone else had been sent home.

“Silvano Paterlini?” Mathias knew of the man but had never formally made his acquaintance. He was old-school, tending to stick with the same handful of senior mafiosi.

“Yeah, tight with Russo, from the same village in the old country, yada yada. Generally a right pain in the ass.”

Despite the prickle of annoyance, Mathias spoke cautiously. “I don’t know the kid. What’s his deal?”

Tony shrugged and took a long swig from his drink. “Fucked if I know. But I’m putting him on your team. Show him the ropes, teach him a thing or two. Make sure he doesn’t get killed.”

“No,” Mathias said bluntly.

“You owe me, Beauvais. I put in a good word with the boss. Scratch your back and all that.” Tony looked at him pointedly. “Besides, he’s asked for you. Seems you made quite the impression at the last meeting.”

“I don’t have time to watch some kid piss himself.”

Tony raised an eyebrow. “Now that your boy’s all trained?”

Mathias gave him a warning look as he downed the last of his scotch. “Rayan has earned his place.”

Mention of his second stirred up a conflicting flurry of thoughts that Mathias quickly quashed. Despite having spent the last few days working in close proximity to Rayan, Mathias found himself avoiding eye contact, barely speaking, as though if he willed it hard enough, everything that had transpired between them would simply disappear.

“And here’s Paterlini wanting the same for his kid,” Tony said. “Sends a bit of attention our way. Lord knows we could do with the manpower.”

“Put him on another team.”

Even as he spoke, Mathias realized he was considering it. He’d lost confidence in his ability to keep himself in check. He relied on Rayan too much to have him reassigned but at the same time needed to put some distance between himself and the man. Mathias had allowed him to get too close. He needed a buffer, perhaps in the form of some higher-up’s sniveling brat.

“Did it sound like I was giving you a choice?” Tony glowered. “Wise up, Beauvais. The kid’s starting Wednesday. Here I was trying to be gracious, giving you a heads-up. Should have just thrown him in the car and told you to shut your mouth.”

“Gracious?” Mathias scoffed. “The fuck you think you are, Tony?” He pulled out his cigarettes and lit one. “How much did Paterlini slide you?” He should have known his boss would be off padding his fat pocket regardless of what he had to say about it.

Tony waved him off, reaching across the desk and helping himself to one of Mathias’s cigarettes. “The way I see it, with an extra set of hands, you can take on a few more contracts, bump up your weekly take. So it all comes around.”

Mathias pulled in a lungful of smoke.Bastard.Not only was the old man landing him with some presumptuous daddy’s boy, but he was also cranking up his workload. “I want five for my troubles.”

Tony scowled. “Fuck off.”

Mathias leaned back in his seat and exhaled slowly. “Our pal Paterlini slipped you a nice chunk of change to make sure his boy got what he wanted. Don’t disappoint him now, Tony.”

“Two.”

“Five.”

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