Page 40 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

“If I remember correctly,” his response was curt, cold and mocking, “we offered him a very generous package for his company, more than it’s worth on the market.”

I watched this ruthless man that had so much. It was obvious he didn’t need John’s share of the business. People walked all around us, passing us by, while we stood in the marble lobby of his building. Wealth and money all around us; he had way more than the majority of the population on this planet. What could a local small construction business possibly mean to him? It wasn’t even a blip on his radar.

Maybe if I explained to him what that company meant to John, I could help him see that what he was doing was wrong.

“John’s father died building that company.” I didn’t even realize my hand reached out to him and my palm laid flat on his chest. His warmth and musky scent seeped into me, enveloping me. “He worked on his construction projects along with his crew. During one of them, an iron pipe pierced his chest and killed him. John was only seventeen at that time. You could never put a price tag on that.”

I wasn’t sure if he listened; his eyes were dark and intent. As I finished speaking, his gaze shifted down to where my hand laid on his chest, and I quickly pulled my hand back. Without another word, he took my hand into his, and we walked to the elevator hand in hand.

I had no clue if I just helped John or made it worse. But he was forgotten the moment Nico took my hand. All my focus was on his big hand holding mine, warmth spreading through my body. Touching this man was like getting sent into a heat wave.

Just one look by him and I was hot all over. Just one touch and I was like a bitch in heat.Totally not good!

We entered the elevator, just the two of us, and as soon as the door shut, he pulled me to face him and asked, “Have you been romantically involved with him?”

Utterly confused, I wondered what he was talking about. “Who?”

“John Martin.”

“God no,” I answered him, staring at him in shock. “John and William were friends, he was the best man at our wedding. He helped us with our house renovation. We were broke and could barely afford the house, but I fell in love with it. All the work in the house was our own sweat and labor.”

Why did I just tell him all that?

His eyes were intent on me, as if evaluating if I was lying or manipulating him. I continued on, “I haven’t done a good job keeping in touch with him since William's death. John occasionally calls me or swings by the house to check on us. He lives on Gibson Island too, and I see him but he is a family friend. The girls call him Uncle John.”

I leaned in closer, watching Nico, as if trying to convince him to believe me. What was it with this man? He constantly made me feel this unreasonable, magnetic pull towards him. I didn’t tell Nico that I kept everyone away since William’s death, scared of consequences that I was sure would follow from spending the mafia’s money. Nico’s money. And just when I relaxed, karma decided to play.

“Your girls?”

“Yes, my twins.”

I wondered what was going through his mind. This man made no sense to me. He placed his palm flat against the elevator wall. With his other hand, he took my chin between his fingers. Mesmerized, I watched him bend his head towards me, and the moment his lips touched mine, all thoughts left me. My eyes fluttered shut, enjoying all the feelings his kiss brought on. His familiar cologne entered my lungs, and without realizing it, my hands wrapped around his nape, and I pressed my body against his hard muscles.

Languid heat spread through my body. I missed the physical closeness of a man. That had to be the reason I reacted so strongly to him. I have been alone for so long. My mouth parted to let him in. As if he got the permission he needed, his kiss turned hard, his tongue exploring my mouth, teasing, claiming. I loved his heat, our bodies touching. I was under no illusion that I could resist him. If he’d tell me to strip, I feared I’d do it all too eagerly.

My heartbeat drummed in my ears. His lips kissed a slow line down to my neck, while his other hand found itself on my thighs. Every touch and every kiss shot sizzles through my body and between my legs. He ran his large hands down my sides, brushing against my breast and down to my hips. He pulled up my dress, and his rough palm on the soft skin of my inner thigh.

My senses were exploding from the heat and the length of him pressed against me. His erection pressed against my stomach and a thought pierced through my lust-hazed brain.At least he is as impacted as I am.

I rocked against him to increase the friction, while his mouth was back on my throat, pressing hot, wet kisses on my skin. My head fell back against the elevator wall, on a soft moan. This man was killing me with his mouth. And his fingers! He brushed them over the thin material of my panties, the only barrier between his expert fingers and my bare pussy.

“Please,” I breathed, needing more. I wanted him so damn much.

He removed the hand that was pressed against the elevator wall and it wrapped it around my neck. The strength of his grip hit me straight to my chest. But I felt no fear. Our eyes met, a sinful gleam in his primitive, hungry gaze as he held me at his mercy. But there was hot desire there too. I’d have him at my mercy too.

I didn’t fear him. At this moment, I wanted every single part of this man, whether it was good, bad, or ugly. I didn’t care. The sane woman within me was gone. I arched, tilting my head back, offering him my neck and a low, feral growl tore from his mouth. His lips crashed back on mine, bruising me with its intensity.

The pulsing cascaded through my veins like an avalanche and ended between my legs. The sweet ache between my thighs grew with each second, demanding to be satisfied. And the emptiness pulsed between my legs, driving me insane with need. Pushing against his rough hand on my pussy, embarrassing noises came from my throat that I have never heard myself make.

From the far corner of my mind, I registered a gasp but desire raged through me, and I ignored it all as I pressed harder against Nico, sucking on his tongue.

“Excuse me,” a stranger's voice startled both Nico and I out of our moment.

“Fuck,” he murmured against my lips. His eyes were dark silver pools, desire in them reflecting what my body felt. His big frame hid me from view.

I slid my arms from his neck, down his hard body, shame and embarrassment burning my cheeks. I lost my control. Every time this man touches me, all my senses flee. It was a dangerous sensation; yet so damn addictive.

“Give us a moment,” he told the man outside the elevator.

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