Page 4

CHAPTER FOUR

I froze at the sound of knocking on the door. My eyes flew to the door to the suite, and for some stupid reason, I expected the door to open.

Vince, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch. His eyes, still locked on me, held a glimmer of amusement.

“Relax,” he murmured, grabbed my hand, pulled me behind him across the room, and walked us to the closet. He grabbed one of his crisp white dress shirts from a nearby hook. “Here, put this on.”

I took the shirt with trembling hands, acutely aware of my nakedness and his. As I slipped it on, the soft fabric falling to mid-thigh, I caught Vince’s gaze. The heat in his eyes made me shiver even though I had been hot just moments ago.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I hissed and fumbled to close the buttons while glaring at him.

Vince’s lips quirked up in a smirk. “Like what?”

“Like…like… ”

“Like I want to strip you naked, lay you out on the bed, and taste you?”

“Shhh, they might hear you,” I hissed and deepened my glare.

He chuckled, the sound low and rich. “But I do, Little One. I very much do.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through my body at his words. “Just…hurry and answer the door, will you?”

Vince raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “As you wish, Wife.”

I watched him saunter toward the door, still naked and completely unashamed. “Hey!” I called out, exasperated. “Put some clothes on first!”

He turned back, grinning wickedly. “Why? Are you afraid someone else might see what’s yours?”

I rolled my eyes. I grabbed the first pants I could reach—black and very smooth—and handed them to him.

“Thanks, wifey,” he said in such a teasing manner that I couldn’t keep myself from smiling. He pulled them on, and I watched him walk to the door.

Well, watch, eye-fuck…lose myself in the visuals of the clearly defined muscles of his back, moving under his olive skin with every step. Big, bad Vince Salvini was such a dork…with an unbelievably sexy body.

Vince opened the door and came face to face with Hawk on the other side.

Hawk’s eyes darted from Vince to me, and he narrowed his brows .

The realization of how this must look hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I was, wearing nothing but Vince’s shirt while he stood there shirtless. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what we’d possibly been up to. But Hawk had always been a father figure to me, and I didn’t want him to think we were going at it like rabbits every chance we got.

“I…uh…we were just…” I stammered, my mind racing to find a plausible explanation. “You see, there was this…um…the shower because…and then Vince’s shirt was the only thing… I mean, it’s not what it looks like. Well, maybe it is, but… Oh, God.”

I could feel myself digging a deeper hole with every word.

Hawk’s eyebrow raised higher and higher as I rambled on, and I swear I could see the hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

“What Jemma means is—” Vince started, but I cut him off.

“No, no, I can explain!” I insisted, my voice rising in pitch. “I was just helping him wash up, so he could keep his wound away from the water. And?—”

“Jemma,” Vince’s voice was soft but firm, cutting through my babbling. He turned to me, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and something else…something that made me melt. “Shut up, Little One.”

The gentle way he said it, and the undertone of steel, made my words die in my throat. I closed my mouth, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and comfort wash over me.

Hawk’s gaze landed on Vince, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable, until I thought I might burst from the tension .

Finally, Hawk cleared his throat. “Little One, huh?” he said, his voice gruff but tinged with amusement. “That’s interesting.”

I felt my cheeks flush hot with embarrassment. “It’s not… I mean, he doesn’t usually…”

Vince’s straightened. “Is it?” he asked, his tone casual but with an underlying edge that made me glance at him.

The two men stared at each other in some sort of silent communication before Hawk shook his head. “No. It’s not. Just…surprised, I guess. Didn’t think you and her would be…”

His gaze landed on me, and I squirmed under his scrutiny.

“…Into the lifestyle.”

The lifestyle? Wait, did Hawk think what I thought he did?

But Vince seemed unfazed, his posture relaxed as he stood beside the door. “Is there something we can do for you?”

Hawk nodded, then raised his hands and showed the small kit he’d been holding in one hand and the first aid kit he’d been holding in his other hand. “I’m here to stitch you up if you’re up to it.”

Vince stepped back and invited Hawk into the room.

Hawk swept the room with his eyes, then pointed at the bed. “Park your ass, and let’s see how you can handle your pain.”

Vince narrowed his eyes, clearly not amused about the challenge in Hawk’s words.

I watched the testosterone-fueled staring contest between them and rolled my eyes at their macho posturing.

Men. But enough was enough .

“Alright, boys,” I said, clapping my hands together. “If you’re done measuring, can we get on with it?”

Both men turned to look at me, surprise evident on their faces. I raised an eyebrow, challenging them to argue with me.

Vince’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “You heard my wife, Hawk. Let’s get this over with.”

Hawk grunted and followed Vince, who moved toward the bed and settled down.

Hawk began to clean the wound.

“You know,” I mused, unable to resist teasing them further, “for two grown men who deal with life-or-death situations on a daily basis, you’d think you could handle a little first aid without all the macho posturing.”

Vince winced, whether from the antiseptic or my words, I couldn’t tell. “We weren’t posturing,” he grumbled.

I snorted. “Oh, please. You two were one step away from beating your chests and grunting.”

Hawk chuckled, his hands steady as he prepared to stitch the wound. “You clearly love a challenge, Salvini. These Donnelly girls really are something else.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Vince muttered, but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

I leaned in to get a glimpse at Hawk’s suture kit. It looked like it was well-stocked.

Vince slung his arm around one thigh—making me acutely aware I was not wearing panties. And the look he sent me told me he suddenly became aware of it, too.

Thank God his shirt fell to mid-thigh for me .

He pulled his arm back, then slung it around my waist and carefully pulled me into his lap.

“Wha—”

“I need some additional weight to hold me down,” Vince said while resting his hand on top of my covered crotch area.

I crossed my legs, turned my head, and met his gaze. “Sorry, but weighing someone down is not one of my superpowers.”

That got a laugh out of both of them, and the tension in the room dissipated.

As Hawk lifted the needle, Vince reached out, took my hand, interlaced our fingers, and gave me a gentle squeeze.

I squeezed back, surprised by how natural it felt.

I watched as Hawk carefully stitched up Vince’s wound. Vince sat there, stoic and unflinching as if he were merely getting a routine check-up.

But I knew better. I could see the tension in his jaw, the slight crease between his brows that betrayed his facade and showed his discomfort.

Without thinking, I cuddled into him. Our eyes met, and in that moment, I felt a surge of…something powerful.

Something like love.

I focused on our intertwined fingers. His skin was warm, his hand so much bigger than mine and rough with calluses. He didn’t show any signs of pain, not even the tiniest flinches.

I lifted my gaze to Vince’s face and caught him staring at me.

The sharp angle of his jawline, the fullness of his lips, the intensity in his dark eyes—he was truly handsome, especially up close. How had I not realized I was falling head over heels?

Or had I known, deep down, and just refused to admit it?

Suddenly, the skin around his eyes tightened, and I could feel pain radiating through him, not in any outward display, but in the subtle changes in his eyes. They darkened like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Yet he remained silent, enduring.

He was good at that. Good at masking his emotions. Good at pretending. I always thought he was cold and hard, but I’d been wrong.

He was just so much better at hiding his feelings than anyone else.

Hiding the weight of how much he was carrying on his shoulders.

The safety of his family, his responsibilities, and now me…quite literally. We kept our gazes locked, and I saw the pain. He didn’t try to mask it, didn’t look away or hide. He let me see him vulnerable, if only for this moment.

I tightened my grip on his hand, offering what little comfort I could. To my surprise, I felt him relax slightly, some of the tension easing from his body. Maybe we could become a team.

Share some of the burdens.

Hawk finished the last stitch, his hands steady and sure. He glanced up at Vince, a mischievous glint in his eye. “The untouchable Vince Salvini, not as bulletproof as legend says,” Hawk teased, his voice gruff but tinged with affection. “What would your enemies say if they could see you now? ”

Vince’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “They’d probably say I look damn good for a man who just survived a helicopter attack.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at their banter. It struck me then how easily they played off each other, like two sides of the same coin.

Hawk, with his rugged exterior and no-nonsense attitude, and Vince, all polished danger and calculated control. Yet beneath the surface, they were cut from the same cloth.

Both men exuded an air of quiet confidence and a sense of unwavering strength. They moved with the same fluid grace of predators, always aware of their surroundings. And in their eyes, the same sharp intelligence, the same ability to assess a situation in seconds and run through scenarios, ten steps ahead of everyone else.

Even their differences seemed to complement each other. Where Hawk was all rough edges and blunt honesty, Vince was slick, dangerous, and charming…except when it came to me.

Hawk’s years of experience showed in the lines on his face and the salt-and-pepper hair. But he had this air of being exactly where he wanted to be in life while Vince’s edge of restless energy still showed the hunger and drive to get where he wanted to go.

The top of his family. The capo of the Salvini famiglia.

As I watched them, I realized that despite their different backgrounds and ages; despite their different paths and lives, these two men were more alike than I’d noticed before. They were both protectors at heart, fiercely loyal to those they cared about. And right now, whether I liked it or not, I was one of those people—for both of them .

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of comfort and unease. To be under the protection of men like this was both reassuring and terrifying.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what that might mean—that my chances to disappear—if I came to the conclusion that was what I needed to do—were slim to none.

Hawk packed up his medical supplies, his movements efficient and practiced. I watched as he snapped the first aid kit shut, the sound echoing in the now-quiet room.

“All done,” he announced, got up, and turned to us. “Try to rest that arm for a while. No heavy lifting, no strenuous”—he paused, and his eyes flicked to me for a brief moment—“activity.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I caught his meaning.

Vince nodded, his face impassive. “Understood.”

As Hawk made his way to the door, he paused, looking back at us. His gaze lingered on me, and I squirmed under the intensity of it.

I wanted to crawl under the bed and die of embarrassment. It was bad enough that Hawk had walked in on us half-dressed, but now he was basically giving us the ‘birds and bees’ talk?—or in this case the ‘no birds and bees’ talk.

Could anything be more humiliating? I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or cry. Oh my God, did he know I was bare-ass naked underneath my shirt?

Vince, seemingly oblivious to my internal meltdown, nodded at Hawk and remained silent.

Hawk left, and when the door closed behind him, I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Well,” I said, trying to break the silence, “that was… ”

“Interesting?” Vince supplied, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “I haven’t been advised not to have sex in…ever.”

I rolled my eyes. “I was going to say mortifying, but sure, let’s go with interesting. And also…” I turned and locked eyes with him. “You have no intention of following his advice, do you?”

Vince chuckled, wincing slightly as the movement jostled his injured arm. “Come on, Little One. Let’s get some rest.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “I don’t think so.” I jumped off his lap and watched him get rid of his pants, and then settle on the bed.

“Why don’t I show you what I have in mind?” he said and beckoned me with his finger to follow. “And then you make up your mind.”

I shook my head, then crawled onto the bed, careful of his newly stitched wound, covered under the white bandages, but before I could settle down next to him, he pulled me on top.

“Vince,” I warned, my gaze darting to his wounded arm.

But he just grinned up at me, a devilish glint in his eyes. “I’m not made of glass, Little One,” he said, then ran his free hand up my back and under his shirt.

His touch, along with the desire burning in his eyes, sent a shiver running through me. But there was something else there, too—something softer.

My heart fluttered at the thought, and I leaned down to kiss him.

I intended to keep things relaxed and easy between us, just a little cuddling, but he met my lips with a fervor that stole my breath away. His good hand explored the expanse of my back before slipping lower and covering my ass, then he squeezed one of my cheeks.

I gasped into our kiss, and he chuckled against my lips, the sound rumbling deep in his chest.

Vince continued his explorative journey lower, dipping his finger between my cheeks, then to my already wet pussy. “So wet for me,” he whispered against my lips. “Let me taste you, Little One.”

I opened my eyes, narrowed my brows, and stared at him. “Are you nuts? You heard Hawk—no strain on your arm.”

He gave me a look that was nothing short of devious. “Scoot up, hold onto the headboard, and let me taste you,” he murmured, his voice low and sultry.

My core tightened with anticipation. “Vince…” I hesitated, heat creeping up my neck and cheeks as I contemplated his suggestion.

He merely chuckled, his fingers teasing my clit. “Right now, Little One,” he growled, his dark eyes holding mine captive.

There it was again, that commanding edge that brooked no argument.

Something inside me gave way to him then, a part of me still clinging to my innocence, or was it the refusal to be bossed around? Whatever it was I’d been holding on to until now, it was replaced by a rush of desire to please him, to follow his command, so intense I could hardly breathe.

I nodded, then shifted my position, moving upward until I was straddling his face, acutely aware of keeping my distance from his injured arm .

His dark eyes bored into mine with raw intensity, and I clung to the headboard, anticipation making every nerve in my body stand on end.

A wicked grin spread across his face as he looked up at me before his attention dipped lower. “Such a beautiful view,” he murmured appreciatively, then traced over my slick folds with his tongue.

I gasped as a jolt of sensation ran through me, and I clung tighter to the headboard. The warmth of his tongue, the touch of his lips…it was just like when he devoured me in his office. But the different position felt so much more daring, so much more intense. I couldn’t help but squirm.

“Hold still,” he whispered, sending shivers down my spine. “And keep your eyes on me.”

“Vince!” I whimpered, my voice barely a whisper as my thighs quivered while I stared down at him, the visual as erotic as the feeling of his touch.

His response was a low growl, and the vibrations sent another jolt of pleasure through me. He continued his slow exploration, his tongue dipping into me before swirling around my sensitive clit.

I twitched and moaned, but Vince only grinned up at me, completely unfazed by my reactions. “You taste like sin and paradise mixed into one,” he murmured, holding my gaze. His dark eyes were filled with an intoxicating mix of lust and adoration, and it made my heart race even faster.

He returned his attention to my pussy then, his lips working in tandem with his tongue to send wave after wave of pleasure coursing through me.

I let my head fall back, and a strangled moan escaped my lips .

He continued his slow torture until every nerve in my body screamed for release.

“Please,” I whispered, and as soon as I said it, he sucked on my clit—hard.

“Yes,” was all I could manage to get out as the first climax hit me and pulled me under like a giant wave.

The world spun as I clung to the headboard for dear life, my body trembling from the intensity of the orgasm.

He continued to torture my sensitive bud long after the waves had subsided, drawing out a series of soft aftershocks until I was ready to collapse.

I grabbed his hair, pulled him away, and moved my hips back.

He was grinning up at me, his mouth slick and glistening. “You’re breathtaking when you come undone,” he murmured, the words so tender that they caught me off guard.

Here I was, gasping for breath, my body still shaking from the intensity of my orgasm. But despite the vulnerability of the position, I found myself not caring. Instead, I felt powerful—strong and beautiful in a way that I hadn’t before.

The sight of him beneath me, covered in my juices, made my core clench again.

“Come down here,” he said softly.

I swallowed and slowly moved back down—carefully working around his arm—until I straddled his hips.

He was hard and ready beneath me, a delicious pressure against my still-sensitive core.

“I want you to take me all the way,” he said, his chest rising and falling rapidly, “as deep as you can. ”

I met his gaze, and his irises were so dark, they appeared almost black.

I hovered above him for a moment before I took him in one long, fluid motion.

His sharp intake of breath was my undoing. The feeling of him deep within me pushed me over the edge again, causing me to spasm around him.

His eyes flared with raw desire, and he gripped my hip with his good side, fingertips digging into my skin as he guided me up and down his length. Faster and faster. Before he let go and let me take over.

I rocked back and forth, each roll of my hips sending fire coursing through me.

I clenched my core as another orgasm washed through me.

Vince threw his head back and clenched my waist once more. “Punk,” he groaned, his voice rough, choked by the intensity of his own pleasure as he thrust upward twice, then came right along with me.

I opened my eyes and stared down, and the sight of him beneath me was intoxicating and heartwarming. This strong and dominant man had let me set the pace, had trusted me enough to let go of his tight handle on control, and had let me lead.

I leaned down. Pressed a kiss against his chest before I settled my cheek against him, skin to skin, feeling the hard planes of his chest beneath me.

His scars, older ones, that I had yet to ask about, were rough under my fingertips, but they didn’t detract from his rugged beauty. Instead, they served as a reminder of the world we lived in—a world marked by violence and danger .

He lifted his uninjured hand to the back of my head, ran his fingers through my short hair, then gently pulled me up for a searing kiss.

This was just the beginning, and we had a lot of time to explore.