Page 21 of Unforgettable Underboss

“Right,” Aurelio replies. “You’re right. I should be the one to go and shake hands.”

I stand from my chair in front of the Boss’ desk, ready to head home to Valerie. Pausing, I look at Aurelio, head in his hands and shoulders slumped. “You okay, Boss?”

He’s always been serious and stoic, but right now, he appears… tired. Not so much physically, but soul-tired. The kind of tired that sleep won’t fix.

“Yes,” he answers automatically.

I give him a moment to remember he’s talking to me, his best friend and the man raised alongside him.

“I don’t know,” he finally admits. “I mean, yes, I’m fine. But something is… missing.”

Aurelio looks off into the distance, trying to parse out his feelings. It’s not something he’s used to. Hell, it’s something I’ve only recently started doing myself, thanks to Valerie. Which gives me an idea.

“Maybe you could take someone to the Policeman’s Ball,” I suggest.

Aurelio snaps his attention back to me, his dark eyes wide with shock and disgust. “No,” he spits out. “Why the fuck would I do that?”

I’d laugh if I didn’t think he’d throw his computer at me. I shrug, though he knows exactly what I’m getting at. “Lorenzo, Marco, and now me… we’ve all found our person. Our partner for life. I’m sure I’m also speaking for both of them when I say our women have made us better and given us richer lives. Maybe what’s missing is…”

“A bit heavy-handed, but I see what you’re saying,” Aurelio replies, his tone flat. “It’s more complicated for me. I have a different set of responsibilities, which means I sacrifice certain things for the good of the Family.”

I furrow my brow, getting ready to call him on his bullshit. “For the good of the Family or to protect yourself from getting too close to anyone?”

Aurelio grunts but doesn’t protest.

“Just think about it,” I continue. “If not for the ball tomorrow, then at least in general.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to bring someone into this lifestyle,” he murmurs so quietly I almost don’t hear him.

I’m about to tell him he’s wrong, but I know it’s a losing battle. He’ll cave for the right woman at the right time. Me trying to force anything isn’t going to help. Instead of dragging out his torture any further, I simply nod and walk out of his office. Something tells me he’s not going to be alone for much longer.

It’s a three-minute walk from Aurelio’s mansion to my house next to his on the compound, but today, it feels like a ten-mile hike. Valerie is at home working on her latest art project, and I’m hoping she’s ready for a break.

I pause when I step inside, observing my beautiful woman as she adds a few lines to her drawing and tilts her head before adding a few more. I’m so damn proud of her for applying to several online art schools these past few weeks. I know she’ll get in, and I can’t wait to be the one to support her as she achieves more than she ever thought she could.

She’s stunning with the golden rays of the early evening sun pouring through the window and silhouetting her frame. Her oversized sweatshirt hangs off one shoulder, drawing my attention to her smooth skin.

“Welcome home,” Valerie says, smiling as she stands from the table. My sexy-as-hell woman saunters in my direction, hypnotizing me with the sway of her hips. Her emerald eyes darken with desire, and I can’t wait a second longer to have her in my arms.

I grab her rounded hips, sinking my fingers into her flesh and pulling her against my chest. She tilts her head for a kiss, but I tease her by rubbing my nose against hers and pulling back. She pouts but then gasps when I spin her so her back is pressed against my front and we're staring into the fireplace.

I nibble at her exposed shoulder, pressing kisses up her neck and sucking on her earlobe. “Strip for me, Valerie,” I murmur, my voice low and scratchy.

Her breath hitches, and she tips her head back, tempting me to bite her creamy throat and leave my mark. I nuzzle into her warm skin and scrape my teeth over her pulse point, groaning when she whimpers for me. I suck on her sweet flesh and nip her skin before kissing away the sting.?

Valerie nearly stumbles backward when I lean away from her to take off my clothes. I steady her with a hand on her hip and help her peel off the rest of her clothes. She tries to turn in my arms, but I hold her in place, running my hands up and down her ample curves.?

I palm her breasts, kneading the sensitive flesh and pinching her nipples. Valerie gasps and presses her ass into my solid erection, nestling it between her cheeks. A growl rumbles through my chest as I rub against her. Jesus, I love feeling her like this, skin against skin, both of us desperate, achy, on edge, yet wanting to draw out the sweet torture.

One of my hands slides down her torso, playing with the soft curls covering her mound. A muffled, pinched moan escapes her mouth as I run my fingers up and down her slit, gathering her juices and pulling them up toward her sensitive little button.

“You’re soaking wet, baby. Does it hurt?”

“So bad,” she moans, nodding her head.

Valerie inhales deeply, but it only takes a few moments for her breathing to become shallow and rapid as I stroke her pussy in tight circles. Her back arches, and I band my free arm over her breasts, crushing them and holding her close against my chest while blurring my fingers over her clit.

Valerie trembles at my touch. I know she’s close. She’s right there. I can feel her climax rattling through her bones. Right before she comes, I thrust two fingers inside her tight hole and grind my heel against her clit.

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