Dangerous Flames (Mafia Hearts) (23 page)

“
I
usually don’t drink either.”

He
glanced over at her just as she brought the class to her lips. “Then
why now?”

“
Because
I want to.” She drained the glass, flinched at the taste, and
then started to pour some more but stopped. “What’s the
point?” She set the glass on the table and brought the bottle
to her lips.

He
tried ignoring her but couldn’t. He was drawn to her like a
thirsty animal to a fresh stream of water. She took a few more drinks
but didn’t say anything. Her eyes quickly glazed over while her
lips turned up at the corners, giving him a sexy smile.

“
I
don’t want to be friends anymore, Mik,” she whispered.

This
was the moment he’d been waiting for. “I don’t
either.” His declaration came out as a low rumble.

“
Do
you love me, Mikolas Russo?” She came closer, giving him the
chance to see the haziness of her eyes. Damn it, alcohol had taken
affect already. He didn’t want to talk to her about this while
she was intoxicated. It just didn’t seem right, but he couldn’t
rip his gaze from her.

With
the glow of the fire dancing over her body, she looked like some
exotic woman. Who was he kidding? That’s exactly what she was
in his eyes. She stopped dancing long enough to push the coffee table
out from in front of him, leaving a wide open space. What was she
doing to do?

She
giggled. “Are you going to answer my question?”

Panic
rushed through him as he shook his head. “I don’t want to
talk about this while you’re drunk.”

She
slid her hands over her breasts, making her nipples pucker against
the fabric of her t-shirt. His dick stood at attention.

“
But
I’m not drunk.”

The
common sense that had been screaming in his head quickly began to
dissolve into the desire pumping through his body, making his dick
throb for attention. He wanted to touch her. Kiss her. Feel her
wrapped around him. But not now. Not when she was in this condition.
“Yes you are.” He picked his book up from the coffee
table and flipped it open, knowing full well he wouldn’t be
able to ignore her. He’d try though.

“
I
can’t take it anymore, Mik.” She swayed her hips again.
She snatched the book from his hand and tossed it carelessly on the
floor. “Aren’t I more interesting than a stupid book?
Tell me you’ll go away with me. Let’s have a life
together far from here.”

“
Let’s
wait to do this. Okay?” He asked but was more curious to find
out if she was wearing a pair of her thong panties under those pants.

“
I
have to leave anyway, so I want you with me.” She slid her hand
up her shirt, revealing her bare stomach, and the smallest amount of
breast. Holy hell, she wasn’t wearing a bra.

“
But
I-”

She
put a finger to his lips. “Sh.” Her hand slid up her
shirt again, this time showing off the full shape of her round breast
and part of each nipple. She brought her hand out of her shirt and
wrapped her fingers around the hem and slid it all the way over her
head before tossing it to the floor.

He
licked his lips as he stared at her bare nipples, the rose colored
circles puckered out to him as they wanted him as much as he wanted
them. His heart pounded in his ribcage like a steel drum. She slowly
traced a circle around her nipple with her finger, making his
erection strain the fabric of his pants. Please don’t actually
touch me, he begged silently. If she did, he was likely to explode.
Or put her down on the floor in front of the fire and make love to
her all night long. That would not be a good thing.

His
gazed locked onto as she lowered her pink lips to her budded nipple.
A groan started low in his throat and rumbled out. Instead of looking
up at him, she traced the same nipple with her tongue as she’d
just done with her finger only moments before.

“
I
have wanted you for so long,” she whispered, as she walked
closer to him.

Her
legs spread apart, straddling his. She stood so her nipple was barely
a centimeter from his lips. He craved her. Wanted her. Needed her so
bad it actually hurt. He shook his head in an attempt to resist her.

“
So
do you want me?”

He
nodded. How could he deny it when her crotch was only inches above
his erection?

She
lowered enough for him to feel the heat against his lap and her bare
breasts against his chest. Whispering in his ear, she asked, “Are
you going to take me?”

“
I
can’t—”

“
Oh?
You want me to stop?”

Yes,
he wanted to say, but instead, “No, I don’t think so,”
came out in a rough voice.

She
went backward until she had enough room to turn around. Her hands
slid down the waist of her pants, her thumbs catching the waistband,
pulling them down as she swayed her hips along with the beat of the
music. The top of the pink glittery thong came into view. Then she
pulled her pants down the rest of the way, her ass barely off his
lap. He had never been so hard in his life. She kicked the pants off
and bent all the way over, revealing her silky smooth sheath to him.

He
couldn’t keep from touching her another moment. He slid his
fingers over her bare skin and let them slide all the way down her
thigh. She moaned but stood up and turned toward him to straddling
his lap. This time, she sat right down on his erection. He could feel
the heat of her core through his pants as she slid back and forth
over him. Her lips found the curve of his neck and she sucked on him.
His fingers made a trail across her thigh, up her stomach, and found
her plump breast. Her nipple puckered even more under his fingertips.

“
Gabi,”
he breathed.

“
Yes?”

She
pressed her lips against his, urged his to part and a second later he
was finally able to taste the woman he yearned for. He needed to
think with the head on his shoulders and not his dick or one more
night would be all they have together. He wanted so much more.

He
ended the kiss even though he didn‘t want to. “I want
you,” he began.

“
I
want you too. Right now.” She tried kissing him again but he
put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from taking over the last
bit of his senses.

“
Not
when you’ve been drinking.” He knew he hadn’t been
fair to have let this go to just slam the brakes on the situation,
but he had to. Maybe she’d thank him once sober. Or maybe not.
He’d have to take the chance.

She
looked up at him, her eyes wide. “I’m not drunk.”

“
But
I don’t want anything to be the blame for tonight. I’ll
make love to you tomorrow. All day if you want. And I promise to make
plans with the future with you.” He smiled at her. Did she
understand why he chose not to do this right now? Or did she view it
as a rejection?

“
You’re
really going to leave with me?” She slid off his lap.

“
I
would be a fool not to be, Gabi. You’re beautiful both inside
and out.”

“
You
really think so?” She smiled back at him.

“
I
have loved you since I was fifteen-years-old. Come on.” He
stood up from the couch. He picked her up in his arms. “Let’s
go to bed and
sleep
.
We can talk about this all tomorrow.”

“
Are
you going to hold me all night again?” she asked, looking into
his eyes. Fear flecked in those gorgeous eyes of hers.

“
If
you want me to.” He lay her down on the bed and spread the
blanket over her.

“
What
if I want you to every night from now on?”

He
undressed and tossed his clothes in a pile. “Then you’ll
have me.” He slid into bed next to her.

“
What
if I want it to be forever?”

“
Honey,
I don’t think I’ll ever want to sleep another night
without you by my side.” His lips found hers this time but kept
the kiss short and sweet. If he tasted her again, he wouldn’t
be able to stop himself. He snuggled up behind her with his arm
hugging her waist.

“
Mik?”
she whispered in the dark. “Can I tell you something?”

“
You
can tell me anything you want.”

She
let her fingers entwine with his. “It’s something I’ve
never told anyone before.”

“
Okay.”
He gave her a gentle squeeze.

“
I’m
scared of the dark.” She sucked in her breath, waiting for him
to respond or to laugh.

“
Really?”

“
Yes.
When I was fourteen, a guy climbed through my bedroom window. I
screamed. Dad ran in and shot him right there in my bedroom. I have
been scared of the dark ever since then.” She took a deep
breath. “Is that stupid?”

“
No.
You switched bedrooms right after, didn’t you? I remember
helping you move your stuff, but it only had been a month or so
before you left.” He pulled her closer to him. It all made
sense now and he didn’t plan on her sleeping alone again.

“
Yes.
I thought moving rooms would help but it didn’t. I think that’s
why my father sent me away. Now that I know what he does, I realize
the intruder had nothing to do with me. Father sent me away to keep
me safe just as Mom is doing now. For a long time I’d thought
it was because I’d done something wrong. Now being scared of
the dark is something I have to deal with.” She pulled his arm
tighter around her. “Thank you for not laughing at me.”

He
snuggled his face in her hair. Damn, she smelled good. “I’d
never laugh at you and I missed you every day you were gone.”

“
You
did?” She glanced at him even though he wanted to continue
taking in her scent.

What
could he say? He ached for her more than he could explain at all?
There were no words to express how much he missed her when they’d
been teens. He hadn’t been able to get much until Enrico had
called the family together, warning them not to speak of any Family
activity in front of her.

He’d
thought he’d move on but wasn’t able to. No matter who he
dated, the day Gabi got back, without question, was the best day of
his life. He wanted to be there to pick her up from the airport but
Enrico had denied the request. But none of that mattered anymore
because she was in his arms now and he had every intention to keep
her there forever no matter what it took.

“
Mik?”
She turned away from him again.

Did
she have more revelations? If so, he wanted to hear every single one.

“
I
love you too.”

Mikolas
kissed her cheek and in a matter of minutes, she was asleep in his
arms. He followed right behind her.

Chapter Fifteen

Mikolas
held the gun straight out as the bullet whizzed into the guy’s
chest like a savage beast, soaking his white wife-beater in bright
red blood. It was his first kill and it amazed him how such a small
piece of lead could rip someone apart.

Tucking
the gun back in his pocket, he turned to leave, but there she stood.
Piercing blue eyes, a mound of light blond curls that made her look
like an angel, and a nightgown reaching her small feet.

“
What’s
wrong with my daddy?”

Panic
filled Mik. His hands shook as the severity of the situation crashed
down on him. He’d checked out this hit thoroughly before coming
here. The Mark was supposed to be alone tonight and he didn’t
know how to answer the little girl’s question. Was there
someone else here too?

“
Where’s
your mommy?”

The
little girl kept her teary eyes on her dead father. “At work,
so I’m with my dad.” Tears welled up in her eyes and
quickly spilled down her freckled cheeks.

“
Is
there anyone else here?” He walked over to the little girl and
got down on one knee.

Mik
felt his tense body shake back and forth.

“
Mikolas?”
Gabi’s voice broke through the dark haze of the dream.

His
stomach hurt as he rolled the images from his dream through his mind
again.

“
Mik!
You’re hurting me.”