Page 24 of Mafia And Taken

She was sitting on her bed doing her homework. She was fourteen years old, and her bedroom was full of pink and posters of boy bands. She had the same dark hair that was shared by all my siblings, and her eyes were the color of rich chocolate.

“Hey Debi, do you have any of that stuff that you put in the bathtub?”

She frowned slightly. “What, like cleaning spray?”

I chuckled. “No, I’ve got plenty of that—you know I’m good at cleaning.”

“Yeah, you are,” she said, as she smiled her beautiful smile back at me. Man, she was going to be a heartbreaker when she grew up. But she better not grow up anytime soon, I thought with a stab of anxiety. “What exactly do you need?” she asked.

“That stuff that makes bubbles and makes the water smell nice.”

“Oh, I know what you mean. Hang on a second.” She went into her bathroom and came back a minute later, holding two bottles up at me.

“You need bubble bath or bath oils—which do you want?”

I was silent. This was harder than a math quiz. “Which is better?”

“You can use both. Here, take them, I have plenty.” She handed both bottles over.

“Thanks, shortcake. You’re the best.” I stopped to press a kiss to the top of her head.

I went back to my bedroom where I found Cate still sitting on the bed where I’d left her. I went into the bathroom and added the bubble bath and oils to the water. Returning to my bedroom, I opened my dresser and grabbed another one of my t-shirts for her to put on after her bath. I liked seeing her in my t-shirts, I thought to myself.

Handing her the t-shirt, I said, “I’ll wait here in case you need any help.”

She avoided my gaze and blushed, probably remembering what had happened in the shower yesterday.

I waited outside the bathroom and heard the water as she got into the tub. I was worried about her drowsiness, but at least sitting in the tub she couldn’t come to much harm.

A while later, I heard the water gurgling down the drain and thought she must be drying herself. I told myself not to think about it because imagining her naked was wreaking havoc with my cock. I was a red-blooded male, after all, and she did have a good body.

After another couple of minutes, the door creaked open and she emerged, wearing my t-shirt over her slender body.

“I saw your hairbrush on the vanity counter. I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed it,” she said, self-consciously touching her hair. I thought to myself that her hair was the color of a sunset.

“Of course not, just help yourself to anything you need.”

Cate got into my bed and looked over at me as I undressed to my boxer briefs and then prowled over to the bed.

“You’re going to sleep in the bed with me?” she squeaked.

“I did last night, so I may as well tonight as well.” I didn’t say how much I’d enjoyed having her in my embrace, caged in my arms so that she couldn’t get away from me.

After getting under the covers and switching off the nightstand lamp, I turned toward her and pulled her into my arms. Her limbs were stiff, and she was on edge. I stroked her head, avoiding the sore area, trying to relax her. I could sense that her breathing wasn’t quite even, that she wasn’t quite at ease.

I couldn’t help nuzzling my face into her hair, the color reminding me of a glorious sunset, and inhaling her own unique scent with its subtle hint of berries.

Her curves felt so soft, and her petite body felt so fragile against my own body.

I felt an overwhelming urge to look after her, to protect her. I didn’t know what her father had gotten her involved in, but she was only twenty-one. She had led a sheltered life and lost her mom at an early age and in a violent manner.

Fuck. I shouldn’t be having these thoughts. I should be pinning her down on the bed right now, capturing her body with mine, demanding answers out of her. It was the perfect opportunity.

Her bare legs pressed against mine, and I felt her velvet breath against my naked chest. “I like seeing you dressed in my t-shirt,” I said to her.

“Thanks for lending it to me. I wouldn’t have anything to wear otherwise.” She stiffened as she realized the implication of her words—without my t-shirt, she would have been naked in bed with me.

“I wouldn’t mind you having nothing to wear,” I said in a low voice.

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