Page 13 of Cartel King (The Cartel Brotherhood #1)
Chapter Thirteen
Ellie
He’s taking this way better than I expected.
For starters, he hasn’t dumped me on the floor and stormed out. He’s listening to me, and I think he’s reserving judgement. He hasn’t flipped out and sworn to bludgeon Tommaso. I count that as a win. There’s so much more I could tell him—want to tell him—but I can’t.
I no longer feel any loyalty to Tomasso, but I’m a Vizzini, no matter what my last name is. I was one when I was still a Luigiano. I’m still one now that I go by McCann. My family’s always been Mafia. I worked for the organization. There are things I’ll take to the grave before betraying my family by blood and by bond.
“ Chiquita , what’ll happen when Tommaso finds out?”
“He can go fuck himself.” My lips purse. “He’ll have plenty to say. I mentioned the car with the camera, and I believe he doesn’t know about it. But I could be wrong. He might already know about us.”
“I don’t think so. He would’ve confronted me about it. He wouldn’t have sent you on a mission where you could’ve fucked him over to help me more. He would’ve known I’d gut him for suggesting you go.”
“True. I need to tell my other boys, and you need to tell your family. How will they react?”
“It’ll piss my brother off. Alejandro’ll feel guilty he tried to kill you. And you’ll impress my other nephews.”
“Should you tell them alone?”
“No. I want them to meet you and see who you are. They can read people as well as I can. I admit I didn’t guess you were a mercenary, but I’ve always known how loyal you are to family. I can hear it and see every time you speak about your sons. It’s no surprise there’re no limits to what you’ll do to protect them.”
“Won’t they fear I’ll tell Tommaso anything I hear? That I’ll try to kill all of you?”
“Probably.”
I wrap my arms around myself, putting a barrier between us and guarding myself. He pulls them apart, putting my hands on his heart.
“You’ve done everything to separate yourself from the Vizzinis. It explains why my family couldn’t find anything about you.”
“Or they’ll think I’m still an active mercenary, and I’m living in plain sight to distract from who I am.”
“They might.”
Nothing he says reassures me. I’m growing more anxious by the word. I want to retreat. Just when I let myself think I have a future with Enrique, reality kicks me in the teeth. I shouldn’t have let my guard down.
What was I thinking?
Everything about my past screams, “don’t get close to anyone else.” As though my baggage from my marriage wasn’t trunks rather than suitcases, my history with the Mafia fills fucking storage tubs.
“ Chiquita , don’t run away. Can you trust me to make my family come around?”
“I’m more likely to cause a massive argument. I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to anything.”
His gaze hardens, and I wish I’d kept that to myself.
“You are mine, Elodie. Either you and my family can accept that without a fuss, or I will make you all understand it.”
“Don’t call me that. I don’t need scolding.”
“But you could use a spanking for arguing with me.”
I stare at him for a moment as guilt threatens to pull me into its undertow.
“You know it’s not that simple. I will not cause friction in your family. I refuse to get between you and anyone else in your family. I’m not w?—”
“I dare you to finish that sentence, chiquita .”
He cuts me off, and it’s probably just as well. He’s giving me a chance to save my ass from that spanking. Of course, who am I to use common sense?
“I’m not worth the trouble, Enrique.”
He snarls as he rises from the sofa. He hefts me over his shoulder and pulls down my shorts. He spanks me all the way upstairs and into my bedroom. He pulls the shorts off and hurls them across the room. He puts me on my feet and grabs the front of my plain blue shirt. He rips it apart, pulling it off me. His hand comes down on my right breast.
“Mine.”
He slaps my left one.
“Mine.”
He pushes me to lean forward on the mattress and grabs a cat o’ nine tails. He flicks it across my ass five times, the sting painful but not nearly what he could inflict.
“Mine.”
He nudges my feet apart until they’re more than hip-width apart. He takes a crop and strikes between my legs, nailing my clit. That one I can’t keep from crying out after.
“Mine.”
He pulls me up from the mattress, spins me so fast I nearly lose my balance, then devours me. He nips at my lower lip, then thrusts his tongue into my mouth. I tangle mine with his before sucking on his, rhythmically reminding him of what I can do to his cock. He coils my hair around his right hand while his left rests heavily around my throat.
“All of you is mine, Ellie. Mine to protect. Mine to pleasure. Mine to worship. You don’t want out because of who I am. You want to hide in case something goes wrong. You’re a stronger woman than that.”
That punches through the flood gates.
“I don’t want to be strong! I’m tired of it. Why do I always have to be the strong one for everyone ? Why can’t somebody else be fucking strong for me ?”
Enrique pushes everything out of the way and gently lifts me onto the bed. I reach for him, but he pulls away. The tears that started as a dribble now cascade down my cheeks. He pushes off his jeans, then hurries to get on the bed beside me. He’s still hard from when I sat on his lap. Whenever I touch him, he seems to be in a permanent state of arousal. Is being this dominant what gets him hard? Or is it me?
He lifts me like he always does. I’m not a light woman. I’m a straight up heavy one. But he makes me feel delicate and petite when he does this. That’s why I don’t object. He positions me and guides his cock into me. Then he eases my head to his chest.
“Shh, chiquita . I’ll take care of you. Always. Just let me. Please.”
I want to believe him. I want someone to take care of me for once. I want to feel safe for once. Even though I left Boston and the Vizzinis, I didn’t feel entirely safe. Finding out there’s a car with a camera pointed toward my house freaked me out more than I admitted to even myself. Having his men nearby helped, but I only felt safe while Enrique was here, and that didn’t even last an entire night the first time. We’ve argued, and he was just punishing me, but I’m safe. He was punishing me because we’re into kinky shit, but also because he wants me to think better of myself.
He wants me to see myself as he sees me.
“Baby girl, will you let me take care of you?”
His accent does something to me. And the way he said baby girl… Dios mío.
“ Sí, papí .”
Where the fuck did that come from?
His hand stroking the hair down my back pauses for a moment before he holds me tighter. The hand on my ass—one always seems to wind up there—squeezes.
“Are you learning Spanish, chiquita ?”
“No. I don’t know where that came from.”
“You don’t mean it as the slang, do you?”
I try to shake my head.
“No, Daddy.”
There I said it. Every atom of tension in me seeps out. Not even a speck remains, and I feel boneless as he holds me. I’m suddenly so relaxed, it’s like I’m weightless. Nothing feels heavy anymore.
“Ellie, do you know what a Little is?”
Oh, shit!
“Enrique, that wasn’t what I had in mind when I said that. I—I’m not—I feel every fucking bit of my forty-nine years. I doubt I can ever be as carefree as I was as a child, and that’s a level of control I won’t give up. If that’s what you’re into—Is that why you call me chiquita , little one, little girl, and now baby girl? Is that what you’ve been hinting at?”
“No. Not at all. I want an equal at my side who I can talk to about anything that’s safe. Now that I know you’re part of this world, I know I can share more than I would with a woman who wasn’t. I am not a Daddy Dom. Never have been, and I never want that with you. But I’ve felt protective of you since the moment I saw you on that damn ladder. I’ve wanted to take care of you since I saw you straining to do a job someone taller than you should have. You are shorter and smaller than me, and you’re younger than me by nearly ten years. I’ve asked you to let me take care of you several times. I think you feel safe with me, and I think you’re finally letting your guard down enough to let me take care of you beyond getting you off. I want to stand by you and support you in all things.”
“I think that’s why I said it. What you just described. I don’t need nor want a replacement for my father. I don’t have daddy issues either. But I love that you’re bigger than me, stronger than me, protective of me. You make me feel special in a way I haven’t in far too long. I’m still scared this will all go up in smoke. Not because either of us wants to walk away, but because life will pull us apart. That’s overwhelming and terrifying now that I see happiness around the corner, and it could literally all blow up. When I’m with you like this, it’s like I’m invisible. You’re a shield around me, and you won’t let anyone pass.”
“I will always be that shield, Ellie. There will be times when I can’t put you first. I hate knowing that, and I feel guilty about it already. But I will always want to put you first. Whenever I can, I will. With your safety, I won’t budge about you being my top priority. You letting me take care of you in a way I do with nobody else makes me feel like more of a man than anything I’ve done up to meeting you.”
I sit back and pull his hands from around me then lace our fingers together.
“I’ve always loved how papí sounds, especially with a sexy ay, papí . Since it’s slang, would it be weird to your family if I used that around them when I’m not Latina or a Spanish speaker?”
“No, especially since I intend to teach you Spanish. Ellie, I need you to understand enough to know if someone’s a threat. There are twenty Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, plus Puerto Rico. I’m respected but not well-liked in any of them. I’m feared in all of them. You need to know enough to get by in case someone takes you or you overhear something. How do you not know Spanish?”
“Because so many other people do. On most missions, Tommaso sent a couple of men with me, even if we weren’t together after the flight. They were around in case I needed extracting. When I was in Latin America, he had men who could interpret for me. Since I’m fluent in French, Italian, and Sicilian, I can follow along mostly if people don’t speak too fast. I’m fucked around Argentinians and Cubans. My problem is I don’t have the vocabulary to respond. I speak enough Russian, Japanese, and Chinese to get by. I have a strong translation app on my phone, so that helps. That’s how I understood what was going on during Ignacio and Alejandro’s meeting.”
He nods, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“Daddy, I—” I’m not sure if he really likes that, or he just agreed for my sake.
“ Sí, chiquita .”
“Daddy, I can’t do anything that’ll endanger my sons. And I will put them ahead of anyone else, anywhere, anytime. Will didn’t get a choice, as I’m certain you know. He does what he has to, and I’m loyal to him. But beyond keeping my sons safe, I have no loyalty to the Vizzinis. If we’re together and plan for this to be permanent, like you say, then my loyalty is to you and to your family. I have faith you’ll never coerce me into working for you or going on missions for you, but I will. Now that you know who I am, you know what I’ve done. You know what I can do. I don’t know who your accountant is because I’ve never needed to. If they ever need anything, I will do what I can. If you need my other skills, you have them.”
I think I stunned him from the way he’s looking at me.
“Are you pledging fealty to me, Ellie?”
“In a way, I suppose I am. You told me you’ll make me your top priority when you can. I know you have to put the organization before your personal wants. I don’t have to do that anymore. No one owns me anymore. I choose where I give my time and talents. I choose to put you ahead of anyone but my sons. If that means helping your organization to help you, to protect you, then I will because I can.”
I don’t know if he’s worked through all that it means to be with me yet.
“Enrique, I want to be the one you come home to. The one you can be yourself with. You never have to be jefe with me. I want to give you a reprieve from who you have to be, but are you prepared to be with someone who’s done far worse than most of your narcos? Tommaso may have stripped most of my choices, but I got paid for each job. I’m a killer for hire.”
If I have to murder anyone, I prefer being a sniper. But that hasn’t always been the best method—hasn’t always been an option. Enrique knows that. Enrique knows I’m morally gray. When he kisses me, I know he’s fine with that.
His right hand releases mine, and he cups my jaw. It still feels like I’m watching a love scene from a movie. It’s fucking erotic as hell. I move my hips, and he groans.
Talking is over.
Fucking isn’t.
I rise and fall, rolling my hips as we break apart, and he sucks on my tits. I put my hands on the top of my headboard to brace myself. My ass and cunt clench when his hand lands against my left ass cheek. I hear a moan, and it surprises me to realize I made that sound. I’m so enthralled with each sensation, I don’t realize my reaction.
When he bites my nipple, the headboard shakes from how I pull it as my instinct is to escape the stab of pain. But then I’m leaning into it, wanting more. I arch back, offering him whatever he wants.
“Daddy, I’m close. May I come, please?” I’m breathless and pant each word.
“No.”
I whimper. I recognize that sound because I need to come so badly I feel like my entire body’s vibrating with it. My pussy ached for him while we talked. Having his cock pressed against me tested my restraint downstairs. I wanted to dry hump him until I came. He rolls us and pulls out. My hands fly forward to reach for him.
“Hands over your head, chiquita .”
He kneels between my legs, his cock glistening. He grabs a set of nipple clamps and rips the package. When he holds them up, I realize there’s a chain that attaches a clit clamp too.
“Do you have any experience with these?”
“I have a pair, but I haven’t worn them in ages. Even when I did, it was only a couple times. It was short-lived.”
“You will always tell me when it gets past the point of hurting and will harm you.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“I’ll make these snug, but I won’t tighten them to what I think we can work up to.”
He clamps each nipple, turning the little dial. I breathe through the initial pain, having always enjoyed my nipples being bitten and tweaked. I inhale and hold my breath as he attaches the clit clamp. He leans forward and kisses my neck.
“Breathe, baby girl.”
I flinch as he tightens it one turn. My fear is worse than the actual pain. I relax, and I consider the sensation. It’s not as intense as I expected. However, I nearly spring off the bed a moment later when he sucks what’s exposed of my clit.
Holy motherfucker!
I reach for him, unsure if I want to push him closer or push him away.
“Kneel facing the headboard again.”
I do as I’m told. I hear packaging ripping once more, then he lifts my arms over my head. He guides me to bend them with my elbows up, bringing my hands behind my head like bunny ears. He snaps handcuffs around my wrists.
“Stay still, chiquita .”
“Yes, papí .”
“This isn’t a punishment, Ellie. This is purely for pleasure.”
He shifts from behind me to beside me. I close my eyes, waiting for whatever’ll come next. I try not to clench my ass, knowing how that looks. But I can’t help it. His palm rests on one cheek, his fingers dipping into the division, and I swear I hear him sigh. I think he’s an ass man from how he’s always touching mine. Though he seems pretty fond of my breasts, too.
When I open my eyes, I can see him when I look in his direction, but I can’t see his left hand. I shiver when the cat o’ nine tails’ leather thongs trail down my back from my shoulders to my ass, then swish over it. It almost tickles. Then I hear the snap before I feel the sting.
My hips jerk away before I press my ass back. He does it twice more before I lean forward to rest my elbows on the headboard. It allows me to bend and push my ass toward him. I breathe through the increasing burn as the whip covers my lower back, ass, and upper thighs. I’m unprepared for his hand to travel up the length of my inner thigh, his arm resting between my swinging tits. He flicks the clit clamp, and I howl. Then I beg.
“Please, Daddy. More.”
I don’t know how much more I can take, but I intend to find out.
Fuck my life.
The moment I beg, he pulls his hand away. He rests it on my pubic bone. So close to where I need him, but a million miles away. My head falls back toward my hands, and I’m ready to clench my hair in burning frustration. It’s been decades since I ached to be fucked like I do with Enrique. The need to feel full pulsing between my thighs.
Nothing is little about Enrique. The man’s proportional everywhere . The man is a work of art. His body is sculpted perfection. If the story were about a man, he’d be Henry of Troy. He has the face that sailed a thousand ships. He fucks like a god.
I much prefer Enrique to Henry. It’s way hotter. It’s?—
“Pay attention, chiquita . No letting your mind drift to handle the pain. If it’s too much, safe word.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
How’d he know?
“I’ve been a Dom for a long time, Ellie. I can read you.”
I’m glad he knows what he’s doing. I trust him to take me places I’ve never been before.
His fingers graze the inside of my thighs again, making them quiver. If I were standing, my kneecaps would shake. I moan with need, not risking a word. My head lolls to my right arm, and I feel sweat bead on my forehead.
“Do you need me to stop, Ellie?”
“No!”
I straighten, not wanting to give him the impression I can’t take this or don’t want to. I’m just getting used to it. He rewards me by slipping his fingers into me. Blessed relief.
Finally.
Of course, it’s short-lived. He isn’t ready for me to come. He controls my orgasms. His fingers are inside me, but they don’t move. They don’t thrust. They don’t stroke my G-spot. They don’t rub near my cervix. They’re just there. It’s not comforting like when I sit on his dick while we talk. I can’t stop my hips from twisting when I shift my weight from knee to knee. I’m antsy.
“You need to get off, don’t you, chiquita ?”
“You know I do, Daddy.”
“I could…But I don’t want to.”
“Will you ever?”
He chuckles, and it’s about the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.
“Maybe. Why should I let you when I’m having so much fun toying with you?”
“I don’t know.”
I don’t. It’s getting hard to form a coherent thought. I breathe through the nearly unbearable pain that’s a coalescence of several overly sensitive parts of my body. But the more I relax to bear it, the more my mind eases. I’m not letting my mind wander. I’m living in it. Basking in it.
I’ve never experienced so much physical sensation. He can do whatever he wants as long as he doesn’t stop. It’s my turn to sigh. He senses the change in me because he strokes my G-spot for a moment before pulling his fingers out. I don’t complain. I accept it. They’re only gone long enough for him to remove the clamps. He drops the whip as he shifts around me to suck my throbbing nipples as the blood rushes back into them. Since he can only reach one, the other’s left longing for his ministrations. His fingers bury into me, and his thumb rubs my clit.
I yelp when I feel the riding crop’s rapid tapping. He lightly swats me in fours as he moves the crop in an unpredictable pattern across my ass. He’s not inflicting more pain, just keeping the burn going. He pulls away from my breast and straightens.
“You’re so much stronger than you realize, little one. But you don’t have to be in control all the time. Let me do it, and just let your mind rest.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
He stops spanking me. While he continues to stroke me, I feel him reaching for something. It’s the handcuff key.
“Move your arms around. I don’t want your shoulders sore, only your ass.”
His thumb rubs slow circles on my clit, and it’s soothing now. A few minutes ago, it would have taunted me.
“Hold onto the headboard again.”
I follow his command, and he moves to kneel behind me and wraps an arm around me. He pulls my hips back as he thrusts into me. His arm keeps me from falling forward because my arms are too tired to brace myself. He thrusts until he doesn’t. I didn’t keep count. He draws my ass to his lap. I yelp at the contact, but then I settle. His hands knead my breasts as I rock with him inside me.
“There is nothing more beautiful than your submission, Ellie. Your body is more than I ever dreamed of. It’s feminine. It’s strong. It’s carried and given life. It’s a temple to be worshipped.”
He kisses each shoulder.
“I’ve never genuinely belonged anywhere. My position has always kept me apart from everyone else, even my family. But I belong inside you.”
“How’re you so sure, Enrique? We’ve never been on a date.”
“How long does it take you to pull the trigger at the right moment?”
“I just know.”
“Because you’ve made those life changing decisions in seconds for years.”
“Yes.”
“That’s how I’ve known since the moment you looked down at me from that ladder. And I consider each walk and our time on the water as dates.”
“Me too.”
I turn my head, moving my arm out of the way, so we can kiss. That hand moves to cup his head because I’m not ready for the kiss to end. I want it to go on forever. I rise and fall on his lap as his left hand trails down my soft belly until he’s rubbing my clit again. His lips brush mine as he speaks.
“Come for me, chiquita. Come for Daddy.”
“I’m so close.”
“I know. I feel you contracting around me. I won’t last much longer.”
My free hand releases the headboard, and my arm reaches back and wraps around him.
“Lean on me, baby girl.”
There’s so much more to that than my head on his shoulder. My eyes slide shut, and I do as he says. The moment I accept I’m where I belong for the rest of my life, my orgasm explodes. I kiss him again, my hand fisting his hair. His arm tightens around my waist, pinning me in place. Pinning me where I belong.