Page 28 of Relentless Refuge

“I’m okay,cara mia. Nothing and no one will tear me from your arms. I have my men surrounding both of us, and this night is ours for the taking. Now, eat with me, laugh with me, and later, make love to me.” His kisses are eager and hungry and interrupted by the waiter who brings our food.

I sit back in my seat ready to feast, but with my mind fixed on the meeting later tonight. Nicky will be forced to back me up, and if he does, I know half the Family will follow. It’s the other half I worry about.

21

MARCO

My entire evening has been consumed with focusing on Isabella, except for the one small interruption. But I don’t allow that to steal my attention for a single second. When she is with me, I am a different man, perhaps calmer and more well-adjusted. She prefers mercy, I prefer action, and together, I believe we make an unstoppable team who will eventually overthrow all of our enemies.

My fingers lace through hers as she tells me stories of her father, how he handled men he worked with, how she misses him dearly. She doesn’t share memories of her brother as much, but I know she’s mourning him too. I remember carrying the weight of my father’s passing heavy on my shoulders for more than a year following his demise. I know what she’s feeling and the thoughts she’s navigating as she takes the helm of the organization like the born leader she is.

“I’m so amazed by the strength you display in all situations.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles, which I can’t seem to do often enough. Her lotion smells like strawberries and honey, and it makes her skin soft and supple.

“Thank you,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me over the dinner table. “And thank you for dinner here. It was special that you cleared the dining room so we could have this intimate time together.”

We’re close now, closer than I’ve ever been with a woman, though that was to be expected, given that I’ve never been married to anyone else. I never thought my heart capable of feeling the things I feel for her—the urge to protect her, the desire to be with her and close to her. My heart is cold and hard, capable of dangerous and deadly things, but she softens my edges, makes me hope for a family and a future with her.

“I have to take you home now.”

The look on her face when I say the words tugs at my heart. She’s enjoying this as much as I am, and I don’t want to leave her side any more than she does mine. We’re better together, stronger. But I stand and leave my napkin on the empty plate between us, and I offer her my hand.

She stands too, taking her purse and leaning into me. I nod at the guard by the door. The tab is paid up. The car outside is running , waiting for us, and what lies ahead of me after I drop her at the house is anyone’s guess. Detective Schuler interrupted my dinner with a demand to see me this evening, and I have to meet him. Victor is entertaining him now, waiting for me to arrive.

“I was hoping you’d join me this evening.” Isabella’s head rests on my shoulder as we walk to the limo, surrounded by six armed men. I’m not taking a chance. When I learned that my enemy would likely try another hit, I pulled every available asset I have.

“You were?” I ask, opening the door for her. She slides into the limo, making space for me, and I nod at my guards. They’ve been tasked with watching my limo all evening, the street, the diner, and even my home. I relax in comfort knowing my loyal followers have not let me down and that Isabella and I are safe.

“I was,” she says, curling into my side as they shut the door and the car takes off. “I was hoping we could… Well…” Her eyes meet mine, and I see the desire there. I want nothing more than to take her home and have my way with her all night long, but she will never understand the business I have to attend tonight. If I tell her, she will insist that I bring her along, and I have to protect her. She’s safer at my home under lock and key for now.

“Ah…” I sigh, understanding her unspoken request. I am not a man to deny myself the carnal pleasure of a good fuck, and she is the woman who does unthinkable things to me, or rather, allows me to do them to her. “And you think I can’t fulfill that need and also attend to my business?”

My arm, draped around her shoulders, slides lower behind her back, and I pull her onto my lap in a firm but swift movement. The black dress she wears rides upon her thighs as she turns to straddle me and my hands rest on her hips.

“Well, the car isn’t a very comfortable or romantic place to?—”

I chuckle, cutting her off, and she looks at me with confusion. “Have you ever?” I ask, but I know the answer. I am her first—at everything. And I love everything about that. I’ve stolen her virginity in every hole, and I’ve shown her the finer things I like—restraints, choking, blow jobs. And I’m not done showing her things.

“Marco,” she says, and I hear the shame in her voice.

“Allow me to show you?” My fingers inch the delicate black fabric up her thighs to her waist, and I see the moisture pushing through her panties. She shudders as my thumb traces across her soggy center and presses into her core. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

Isabella bites her lip and nods at me when I begin swirling my finger against the moist fabric that keeps me from enjoying her flesh. Pulling her in, I place a chaste kiss on her lips and then bite down on her jaw. “Good girl,” I growl against her skin, my cock hardening at the thought of what's to come.

“Lift your hips,” I command, and without hesitation, she does. My fingers work her panties down as she precariously balances on one foot, then the other, and once freed, I ball them up in my fist and press them against her entrance. Her wetness assaults me as I dip a digit inside her, pushing her panties into her. “You're so damn wet for me, baby," I tell her, but her panties soak up so much of that sweet, delicious moisture.

"Fuck… What are you doing?" She moans in response, rocking her hips against my touch. I love to see her like this, a wanton mess for me and only me. My other hand slides to her nape, palming her neck as I bring her mouth to mine. My thumb presses into the dip of her collarbone where I feel her pulse racing against my touch. My every intention is to ravage her mouth, but she bites my bottom lip again. I growl into the kiss and grind my erection into her damp core. “You want it rough?" I ask in a gravelly voice, and she nods, shamelessly grinding herself against me.

With a growl of my own, I angle her head and press my lips to the side of her neck, sucking and biting as I thrust my fingers into her soaked core. “You taste so good, Isabella. So fucking good,”I say, nipping her earlobe before sucking it gently between my teeth. “Do you like that?”

“Yes,” she moans, and it's music to my ears. Her whimpers and moans tell me I'm on the right path. “Beg me, Bella.” I pull away from her neck and look at her. “Beg me for more.”

“I–I need more, Marco. Please," she whimpers, her voice filled with need.

With that I return to her neck, sucking and biting everywhere her pulse races underneath her delicate skin. Her nails dig into my shoulders, and the more she moans, the more I want. My fingers pump in and out of her drenched core as my other hand now rests on her belly. My cock throbs against her thigh, begging to be inside her, and as she comes undone, I unzip my fly and slip my dick out.

"Yes, that's a good girl," I tell her, and she drapes herself over my shoulder and bites me through the layers of shirt and suitcoat. "Good girl…"

Her walls spasm around my fingers as I plunge them in and out, curling them, fucking her with my fingers as she comes apart. Her warmth coats my hand, and I can't wait to taste her. "Marco," she gasps, her climax rippling through her body as I slowly remove my fingers from her and my other hand comes down on her ass hard.

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