Page 46 of Dreadful
My muscles tighten, and my legs threaten to crumple beneath me. I back into the wall to keep myself upright. The water sluices down my skin, and the droplets caress the sensitive skin around my clit.
I imagine it’s Sever touching me. Sever’s fingers lightly kneading my clit. Sever’s tongue tasting me where the water trails. His lips kissing down my thighs.
He looks up, licking his lips before his tongue strokes up my entrance. One of his large hands fists his long cock while the other explores my core. My inner muscles tighten as if he’s really filling me, and I tug my clit lightly, imagining him sucking on the bundle of nerves.
“Sever, oh my god.”
On instinct, I pinch my nipple to the point of pain. The sting only increases my pleasure, and my pussy bucks against my hand. My fingers zero in on my clit, circling faster and faster. The motion tightens my lower belly while my core contracts, making me ache. Finally, I crest and tumble over a precipice I hadn’t realized I was climbing.
I am one pulse, beating to the tune of my very first orgasm. Pleasure rolls through my veins. Waves and waves crash over me, and I cry out Sever’s name on a long, hoarse moan. Sensation takes over, but I keep massaging, riding the feeling even as my legs give out. I slide down the shower wall, and I barely stop myself from gracelessly plopping onto my ass. My trembling legs splay out and I drape my hands on the edge of the tub as I catch my breath.
In the back of my mind, I hear a thump, and the heat clambers back on with what I swear sounds like a male groan. I chuckle softly at the thought. My imagination has always been way too vivid for my own good. It did well this time, though. I don’t hate the idea of Sever being here moaning with me during my first orgasm. My smile widens at the thought, and a strange warmth fills my chest.
The water begins to cool, so I slowly unfold my body to continue my shower. A shadow flickers in the corner of my eye. My eyes dart toward the open door, even though I know there’s nothing there. I’m right, of course, and a heavy sigh of defeat leaks out of me.
Trauma has haunted me for over a decade. I’d thought I was finally getting rid of the apparitions. Over the past few weeks of getting justice, my mind and vision have been wonderfully vacant at times. Or as empty as they can be with that damned mantra stuck in my head. But it seems like the shadows are coming back.
I give myself a minute to feel sorry for myself before I finally continue my shower. My skin is like a livewire, but I’m extra careful with the loofah as it brushes over my sensitive tattoo. I might wait a week or two before I fill in the next snake. Hopefully I’ll have a couple more I can do at the same time rather than just one. Tomorrow will be the judge of that.
I’ve finished off the driver, and it’s time to move onto the rest of my list. The capo has been impossibly hard to find, but I’m determined. Tomorrow’s a Sunday, so from my recon, heshouldbe right where I need him. He was the one who stole me as my parents lay dying. He’s the one who helped deal with my father in the end.
I need to know the name of one more person on my list, so hopefully someone along the way will give up the information. No matter what, though, Ihaveto follow the order. Then again…I alsohaveto get through my list before I get caught. If the capo doesn’t turn up soon, I don’t know what my next step should be.
What if he’s not there and I can’t go in order and I’m caught before I can finish and I can’t punish every one of them and then what do I do about the last one and will he be a white snake like Antonella or filled in like the rest and am I giving up if I give in…
The thoughts race until I can’t keep up with their pace. I retreat into myself, and the sick lullaby from my childhood becomes a frantic hum as it tries to escape from my closed lips.
Scene 14
THE DINNER GUEST
Sever
Watching Tallie make herself come in the shower was breathtaking. She moanedmyname throughout, and it took everything in me not to fist my cock and join her. When she melted from pleasure, every muscle in my body had burned to catch her, and I nearly came at the sight of her so sated. As soon as I’d gotten home, I’d slammed my back against the door and relieved my own tension. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as Tallie’s warmth would have been, but that will all come in due time.
Merda, it’s been almost twenty-four hours, and I still can’t get those memories out of my head, nor do I want to. But I have no choice, considering the fact that I’m at dinner with my mother, uncle, his three dogs, and one of his pompous guests, thehonorableJudge Richard “Dickie” Blunt.
I’d rather not be here at all, but missing the meal we’ve kept every Sunday for decades would wave a red flag at a time when I’m trying to stay under the radar. My uncle is already on edge since his capo is still on his “bender,” and his driver was mysteriously murdered last night.
Raze and I were able to convince Claudio that someone shot Alfonso. Because people were leaving the afterparty at the same time, Roman, Tiero, and I had to dispose of the body immediately to avoid police involvement. My mother thinks that’s where I went when I left, and that’s why Raze was the one who drove her and “the girls” around the city last night. I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep this subterfuge shit up. It already feels like I’m walking a tightrope of lies.
“Severino, dear, would you like some wine?” My mother’s practiced faux Italian hospitality comes easy as she tries to help with whatever deal my uncle must be trying to broker.
“No, Gertrude. I would not.”
Her smile cracks, until she breaks out into a bubbly laugh. “My son has always had a silly sense of humor, haven’t you, Severino? Ever since he was a boy, he’s insisted on calling me by my given name. So precocious.”
“Quite. I’ll take his portion, then.” Dickie’s nearly translucent skin is already flushed from alcohol, and the ends of his bushy gray mustache are dyed red from wine.
“You should come by Luciano’s Cuts for a shave, Dickie,” I offer.
“Oh, what a lovely idea. You should take him up on it, Judge Blunt. The barbershop is usually booked up for weeks.”
“She’s right. It’s doing very well. My cousin, Orazio, runs a tight ship.”
His wrinkles crease around his jaundiced-blue eyes as he tries to figure out if I’m fucking with him or not. Honestly, I haven’t decided. I don’t know why he was invited tonight, whether he’s friend or foe. Claudio no doubt has an agenda that I won’t like, but I can only wait for it to play out.
“Yes. I’ll have my assistant make an appointment. Speaking of business, Claudio, how are your ventures doing? It’s been far too long since we caught up.”
