Page 24

Luca

As I thrust deep inside Evan’s willing body, I feel like I’m drunk or high. The slide of my hard flesh inside his tight hole is almost too much to handle. I can’t believe the sexy bastard came to me. In the end, I didn’t have to chase him down and coerce him into sex. There were no threats or intimidation needed.

Evan came to me.

Willingly.

So I could fuck him.

Use him.

Own him.

Being inside him again is even better than I remembered, and I’d already thought it was perfect. His ass was made for my dick. He squeezes me so perfectly, it’s hard to breathe. The scent of him. Taste of him. It’s intoxicating. As I thrust deep inside his warm, tight body, it’s like we’re one.

That’s such a fucking cliché, but it’s never been more true.

When I’m inside Evan, we move as one. He meets every thrust with a sensual roll of his hips that takes me higher and higher. And I fucking love kissing him. It’s the weirdest thing, because kissing has never been my thing. I’ve always been more of a stick-it-in, come, and be-on-my-merry-way kind of guy. But with Evan, I like to take my time. I like to taste his mouth, feel his warm body against mine, and breathe in the scent of his skin. When it comes to Evan, my lust is all-consuming.

Until Evan, I’ve never fucked a guy while staring into their eyes. But I can’t help myself with this man. As I look into his green eyes, I want to climb inside his brain like I’m inside his body. I want to know his every feeling and thought. I want to own every cell of him.

Our first night together, I felt a connection. It startled me. Not counting lust, I’m not used to experiencing actual emotions for the men I sleep with. Feelings aren’t high on my list of priorities. But Evan makes me feel things. Not always good things, but he coaxes my emotions to life, whether I like it or not.

I’m brought back to the present when Evan drags his nails down my spine. The pain is tinged with pleasure, but mostly I’m mesmerized by how sexy he looks. His cheeks are pink and his eyes glazed. His breaths come out in little needy grunts, and when our eyes meet, he literally whimpers.

“Shit, I’m gonna come.” His lips part in anticipation and his body arches into me. “Luca,” he moans. “Fuck.”

He’s coming. Sweet Jesus, I can literally feel his hole quaking on my dick as he spills warm release between our heaving bodies. I growl, relishing the squeeze of his ass as I move my hips faster. My breathing becomes ragged. His pleasure almost means more than mine. Almost. I immerse myself in his sounds, and watch the flush spread over his neck and face as his orgasm consumes him.

I’m on the verge of coming myself, and as he arches into me, I allow myself to fall over the edge. My balls tighten and my cock jerks and we’re both coming. I cover his open mouth with mine, swallowing his gasps and groans of pleasure. His body shudders, and he gives a low, guttural moan. I’d love to pull out, rip off the condom, and finish him bare. But I restrain that primal need to mark him, and thrust deeper instead.

He wraps his arms around my waist as my thrusts slow and become less fierce. His legs are still wrapped around me, and I relax into his embrace. I lower my face to the crook of his sweaty neck, and I melt into him. I’m far from a cuddler after sex, but this feels okay. I like it when Evan holds me. I’d die before I admitted that to anyone, but it feels nice. Makes my chest warm and tight to be in his arms.

It takes a while for our breathing to return to normal. If it were anyone but Evan, I’d already be out of the bed and in the bathroom cleaning up. I eventually move so that he can breathe easier, and lie beside him. We don’t speak at first, then he turns his head and looks at me.

“Worth the wait,” he says with a smile in his voice.

My lips twitch and I rake a hand through my hair. “It was.” He sighs and sits up. When he starts to get off the bed, I reach out and grab his arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

He blinks at me. “To my room.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“No?” He frowns. “Why no?”

I smirk. “Because I’m not done with you yet.”

He makes a chuffing sound. “Oh, really?” He glances down at his cum smeared abs. “Then, can I at least clean up in your bathroom?”

“Sure. If you promise to come back.” I release his arm.

He stands, rubbing his wrist. “I assumed you’d want me to leave.”

“You assumed wrong.” I flutter my fingers at him. “Now run along and get pretty for me.”

He rolls his eyes and heads for the master bath. I watch him go, admiring his firm, muscular ass. He’s a gorgeous specimen of a man. His body is lean and athletic. I was surprised, but thrilled, when he knocked on my door tonight. Hopefully, this night will change things between us. I don’t want to always fight with him. I’d rather enjoy him and spend some quality time with him.

Who the hell am I?

I’m out of my element with Evan. I want things with him I’ve never once craved with anyone else. I’m sure this ache I have for him will diminish, if I can just fuck him enough times. Flirting with Austin at the wedding didn’t help like I’d hoped it would. While it was nice seeing Austin, and he looked sexy as fuck, all I could think about was getting back to Evan.

Hopefully, I’ll work him out of my system quickly. I need to get back to being the cold-hearted bastard people expect me to be. My family’s surprised by how attached I am to Evan. Marco is too. I can tell he’s uneasy about having Evan in my home, but he’s keeping that to himself for now. He told me how he felt already, but now he’s watching and waiting to see what happens.

Evan returns with a warm washcloth. I dispose of the used condom, and he sits on the edge of the bed and gently cleans my stomach. I shiver at his gentle touch, studying him. I run my gaze over his high cheekbones and the strong, masculine line of his nose. He looks too perfect to be a hockey player. It’s a rough sport and most of players have broken their noses at least a once. Players commonly crash into each other, the boards, or the ice. How is it Evan has retained his boyish good looks when I know for a fact he’s a beast out on the ice?

He meets my gaze. “Something wrong?” he asks.

“No.”

He sets the washcloth on the nightstand. “You had a funny look on your face.”

“Did I?” I shrug. “ I was just admiring what a good looking guy my fake boyfriend is.”

He laughs. “I see.”

I grab his wrist and tug him down. He reclines beside me, head turned toward me. I don’t let go of him, instead holding his arm against my stomach. His lashes are thick and black and his eyes a darker green than usual.

“I like it when you’re like this,” he says softly.

“Like what?” I frown.

He hesitates. “You’re being nice.”

“Pfft. I’m not nice .” I let go of his arm and roll onto my stomach. I rest my chin on my crossed arms, but I allow our bodies to touch. I can feel his gaze still on me, but he doesn’t speak. He leans over and kisses my shoulder. I shiver and he laughs.

“It’s okay to be nice sometimes, Luca,” he whispers, his breath warm against my skin.

“No it’s not,” I grumble. “Not if you’re me.”

He inches toward me, looping his arm over my waist. “Don’t be a grump.”

“Why not?” I smirk. “I’m very good at it.”

“Come on. I already know you’re not all bad, so there’s no point in putting on an act. I’ve seen you with your family. I know what a pussycat you can be sometimes.”

I should argue with him. Maybe I should say something mean to put him in his place. But I don’t. I don’t want to do anything that will bring back his resentment. I’m enjoying our little truce. “I’m not all bad, but I’m certainly not good.”

He murmurs, “No, you’re not a good man. Not really.” His fingers lightly tease my ribs. “You’re good in bed though.”

“Thanks. But I already knew that.”

He laughs. “God, you truly are an egomaniac.” He inches closer, resting his head on my back. He rubs his stubbled cheek against my skin, and my cock stirs.

He’s being so affectionate, it should make me uneasy. But it doesn’t. I like it. I enjoy that he wants to be near me, even though we’ve already fucked. I probably should have had him go back to his own room, but I want him here in my bed. It makes no logical sense, but it feels natural to have him beside me.

“You have a game against the Boston Titans this week, right?” I ask. I’m already thinking ahead to when I can get Evan back in my bed. Some players believe that not having sex before a game helps keep them focused and aggressive on the ice. I’m curious where Evan stands on that.

“Yep. Wednesday. I’m hoping the home-ice advantage gives us the edge.”

“Oh, you’re going to bury them,” I say confidently. “I’ve watched enough of their games to know that.”

He lifts his head, grinning. “Yeah?”

I nod. “The Ice Hawks will run them out of the building.”

His grin widens. “You know, I wasn’t sure at first, but you actually love hockey, don’t you?” He moves to lean on his elbow, watching me. “You didn’t just buy the Ice Hawks for gambling. You actually love the game.”

My face warms and I shrug. “Yeah, I do. I don’t really let anyone know that though, so don’t spread it around. My dad didn’t approve of my fascination with the sport.”

His smile fades. “Why not?”

“He didn’t want me to have any interests that weren’t connected to the Barone family business,” I say quietly. “So I kept my outside interests to myself.”

“Seriously? You weren’t allowed to be interested in anything else?”

“Let’s just say it wasn’t encouraged.” I grimace. “Anyway, when’s your next game after the Boston Titans?”

“Saturday against the Toronto Strikers. It’s an away game. Why?”

I push up onto my elbows and meet his curious gaze. “What’s your take on sex before a game?”

He blinks at me, looking thoughtful. “Uh… to be honest, I don’t think much about it. If I want to hook up, I hook up. If anything, sex helps me relax and sleep better the night before a big game.”

“I like the sound of that,” I rumble, running my gaze over his body.

He lays down, facing me. He reaches out and runs his hand down my back, grazing my bare ass with his nails. “Does that mean I should knock on your door more often?”

“Yeah, if I don’t knock on yours first.” I get on my knees and move to straddle him. He smiles, putting his hands on my hips. I lower my head and take his mouth in a slow, seductive kiss. I nudge his nose with mine, smiling down at him. “Fuck, I like it when we get along, Evan.”

“Me too,” he mutters, his eyes glittering with lust.

“Maybe we should get tested so we can skip the rubbers.” I watch his face to gauge his reaction. He doesn’t look put off by the suggestion. If anything he seems excited.

“Fuck, yeah.”

Pleased, I stretch across the bed to grab another condom from the bedside table. “But until then, we’re stuck using these.”

“I’m just glad we’re finally enjoying the benefits of our arrangement.”

I tear open the condom package with my teeth. “Me too. We wasted a lot of time being at each other’s throats.”

“Yeah.” He takes the condom from me and slowly rolls it down my length. I shiver as he gently strokes his palm over my balls. “Let’s not waste anymore.”

****

It’s the end of the week and Marco and I are riding in my SUV with Danny at the wheel. We’re on our way to meet with Vincent and his second for a business lunch. Marco is getting around much better and is down to one crutch, so he’s back on the job.

“You’re in an unusually chipper mood,” Marco says, scrutinizing me. “Any particular reason?”

“The Ice Hawks won their game against the Boston Titans. We’re one step closer to the playoffs.” I make a cha-ching sound.

He squints at me. “This happy energy I’m sensing has nothing to do with hockey. I’d bet my left nut on that.”

I try to hide my smile, but can’t quite manage it. “I’m in a pretty good place with Evan.”

“Is that right?” His smile is sly.

I smirk. “Evan’s been much friendlier as of late.”

He guffaws. “Holy, shit. Did the bastard finally let you fuck him again?”

I smile, but inside I flinch at his crass phrasing. Strange, considering I’m usually just as callous as he is about my hookups. But I feel protective of Evan, which is very unlike me.

I’m about to respond when Danny suddenly straightens in the driver’s seat.

“Boss,” he says, voice clipped. “Black SUV behind us just ran a light to catch up.”

My hand instinctively moves to the Beretta holstered under my jacket. “Could be nothing. Maybe they’re just late for an appointment.”

“I’d agree, except another SUV just pulled out from Gardner Street and he did the same thing,” Danny reports, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “I’m worried they might try to box us in.”

Adrenaline floods my system, sharpening every sense. “Speed up and see what they do,” I suggest.

Danny accelerates, pressing me back against the leather seat. Marco already has his gun out, checking the magazine with practiced efficiency. We don’t want to overreact, but we also need to be ready in case it’s an actual threat.

“Could be the Russians,” Marco suggests, voice calm. “They’ve been acting squirrely lately.”

“Yeah,” I say. “It could also be anyone in the fucking world. I have a lot of enemies.”

“True,” Marco mutters. “Everybody wants to be you.”

I grimace. “It’s not as flattering as it sounds.”

The SUV lurches as Danny takes a hard right, tires squealing in protest. When I glance out the back window, I see the vehicles behind us match the maneuver without hesitation.

“Definitely not a coincidence that they’re going the same way,” Danny mumbles. “They’re still stuck to us like white on rice.”

Marco says drolly, “Maybe it’s Jehovah Witnesses.”

I crack a smile. “Have you heard the good news?” We’re covering our nerves with humor, but it’s better than panicking. You can’t think straight when you panic.

We’re in an industrial area now, warehouses looming on either side. Few witnesses, plenty of space for an ambush. But we didn’t really have a choice. We had to try and shake them.

One of the SUVs pulls even with us, on my side, and I say to Marco, “Text Vito. Tell him—” I stop talking as bullets slam into the SUV’s window with dull, vicious thuds. The bullet proof glass absorbs the impact like it’s supposed to, but the shooter is targeting one spot only, and my stomach drops. The glass won’t hold up if they pound the same spot over and over.

I meet Marco’s gaze and his expression is grim. “Fucker knows what he’s doing,” he growls.

“Yeah,” I mutter as a web of cracks blossoms across the window beside me. The glass bows inward with each new impact, whining under the strain.

I unclip my seatbelt and duck instinctively, heart slamming against my ribs. Marco pulls me down onto the seat and he covers me with his body. Another shot hits the glass. The center of the spiderweb pulses white, a small chip flicking off like a warning. A final blast punches through the weakened glass. Shards rain into the cabin. The protective seal is gone.

“ Fuck .” Danny swerves hard, then accelerates again. “The vehicle to the left of us has a shooter.”

“I noticed.” I grit my teeth and push Marco off of me. He scowls at me, but I rasp, “I’m good, Marco.” I respect his desire to protect me, but I can’t do shit if he’s lying on top of me like a blanket. I need to do something. The SUV that shot out the window dropped back momentarily, but now it makes another move to pass us.

Oh no you don’t, asshole.

I lean out what’s left of my window and fire, aiming at the black SUV that’s now pulling alongside us. My hands are shaking with adrenalin, but I manage to get off three shots. I do my best to make them controlled. Spaced. Effective. The vehicle beside us slows as their side window spiderwebs.

Danny takes another hard turn, throwing me against the door. “We need to get off the road,” I say, harshly. “There’s the Martelli warehouse two blocks east. We could take cover there. That would give us time for Vito and some men to arrive.”

“You got it, boss.” Danny nods in understanding.

“I’ll text Vito the plan.” Marco’s jaw is clenched as he taps on his phone rapidly. “He’s on his way.”

Danny cuts across an empty lot, buying us time as our pursuers adjust. Air whips through the shattered window as we speed down a narrow access road, and we’re jostled around the back of the car.

A burst of automatic fire rakes the back of our vehicle. The bulletproof panels absorb most of it, but the rear window cracks. Marco returns fire through his side window, more to force them to keep their heads down than with any real hope of hitting them at this speed.

“Almost there,” Danny says through gritted teeth.

We round a corner, the Martelli warehouse ahead. It’s a hulking concrete structure bathed in harsh daylight. Its loading bay doors are closed, but there’s a side entrance with a keypad. If we can reach it—

Another SUV roars out of nowhere from a side street on the right, ramming us broadside. The impact is deafening, metal screaming against metal as our vehicle spins. My head slams hard against the steel door frame, and I’m immediately dazed. There’s a ringing in my ears as warm blood gushes from my temple down my cheek and neck. I look down and watch the scarlet fluid soak into my white shirt, spreading out like oil in a hot pan. For some reason I think of Evan. I’m worried I’ll never see him again. The thought of that guts me.

My vision blurs. Marco’s got his arm around my shoulders and he’s shouting. I smell the sharp bite of spent propellant, and a ghost of oil and ozone. I can’t make sense of Marco’s words, and I can’t speak. My mouth just won’t move, no matter how hard I try. It’s like my off switch has been toggled. I need to help Marco and Danny, but I can’t lift my arms. The ringing in my ears is getting louder and louder. Little starbursts appear on the edge of my vision. I can’t seem to catch my breath, and then…

Nothing.