Page 2 of Taunt Me (Dark Odyssey 2)

Pa was however, getting so many clients he needed extra help, so he hired Mandrake and that was where he went wrong. Mandrake set up some elaborate scheme to steal millions and wipe us out. Now Pa owes money to clients who won’t be compassionate or understanding of the situation. Mafia families.

I smile when Gabe appears at the door and try not to drool at the sight of him wearing just his boxers.

He stands there resting on the door frame tall at six four, always and ever the Italian stallion. With his sleek, thick muscle and untamed pride, he has the kind of hard body a warrior would have. The kind that radiates raw and primal strength like a fantasy come to life. The Japanese dragon tattooed on the right side of his hip just add to the vision of him.

A wild combo of lust and warmth steal over me as his dark brown eyes, cool and magnetic caress me with invisible fingers.

“Morning Goddess.” He gives me his trademark cocky grin.

Goddess.

I have to try hard not to melt every time he calls me that.

“Good morning.” My skin is…Godit’s still on fire from last night.

Wrapping the sheet around me, I slide off the bed and pad across the plush white carpet to him.

He gives me a kiss that tastes of last night and pulls me into his lap as he sits on the edge of the bed.

We continue to kiss and I’m lured to the wildness we shared just a few hours ago. We had sex six times and I have a vague recollection of screaming into another orgasm before I fell asleep.

Pulling back, he looks me over with a twinkle in his eyes. A twinkle but there’s a spark of something that I know means he’s worried.

“Baby, what did you tell your family?” He searches my eyes. “You spent your birthday with me. It’s not the same as sneaking out.”

I sigh and look down at the hard wall of his chest. “I told them I was going to a party.”

He quirks a brow. “And they believed you?”

I bite the inside of my lip. “I told Ma.”

Because my mother is far from stupid she knows I went to see Gabe, but she doesn’t know where I am. Pa would go crazy and I’m certain if things hadn’t gone bad financially, he’d have me shipped off to Italy. He threatened that very thing when he caught me and Gabe together and told him to stay away from me.

“Christ…” He sighs and presses his head to me for a few seconds then pulls back.

“What?” He has that expression again. The one that washes over his handsome face when he wants to tell me something about us being together.

It’s wild being with him. Maybe that’s what draws me to him. The wildness of us. I’ve been sneaking around seeing him since I was sixteen. I love him. It’s as simple as that.

“You’re eighteen. You should be going to a party. And I’m this crazy mobster who can’t fucking get you out of my damn head.” He winces like that’s supposed to be a bad thing.

“Then keep me there,” I put in.

“That’s just the thing, Goddess. I don’t think I can take you out even if I wanted to try.” He holds my gaze. “I …need to change things up Charlotte.”

“Like how?”

“I know you’re worried about going away to college.”

I want to be an English literature teacher. I hope to teach high school kids.

I had my heart set on Brown University until I met Gabe. Of course now I was worried about going away and leaving him.

“I was just worrying about going far… away from you.”

“I’m coming with you,” he declares and my mouth drops.

“Gabe…”

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