πππππππVANESSAI took a sip of my Negroni cocktail at β I glanced at the old grandfather clock in the corner β two in the afternoon. Lucky for me, my family owned this damn restaurant, and no one who worked in Biloxi would question my motivation for drinking a cocktail this time of day. "It's a bit early for you, isn't it?" Except for Daniel. I shrugged. "I don't know. According to whose standards, mine or yours?" He took a seat next to me at the bar and eyed my cocktail. "Negroni. Gin. That's some hard liquor." I ignored him and took another sip. "Everything okay?" "Why wouldn't it be?" "Oh, I don't know." He held up his hand, signaling to the bartender to give him one of his usualβbourbons. "Maybe it's because you're not a big drinker, and you hardly ever come down to the restaurant." I placed my empty glass on the counter. "Or maybe I'm just not a big drinker according to you, and maybe I finally realized my life isn't family-orientated enough, so I decided
πππππ JAMESWant to know the true meaning of a clusterfuck? When the daughter of the man you'd investigated for years storms out of your apartment while you can still smell her perfume on your goddamn sheets. And then your commander calls you two days later saying you're no longer suspended, but now have to work with your partner on a case in which the brothers of the woman who managed to get your balls in a twist were the prime suspects. Yeah, that had been my life ever since I last saw Vanessa. Normally, I was so damn focused when it came to my job. Catching the bad guy was my only goal. One would think I'd be fucking ecstatic when I heard my suspension had been lifted, and I'd have a huge chip on my shoulder knowing the commander thought my insight into the Bologna family would be beneficial to the case. But not so much. All I could think about was her like I was betraying her somehow by taking on this case. Why would I feel that way? I was just a man determined to do his
πππππ JAMESThe moment those words left my mouth, Vanessa froze, which was a tale-telling sign that she was nervous or uncomfortable. "Oh, I heard about that," Daniel immediately replied and I frowned as I watched him. I was expecting him to freeze not Vanessa. But instead, he seemed to relax a little. "Can't say I'm surprised, though," he added and my suspicion turned to curiosity. "Why do you say that?" I couldn't help but ask, I wanted to know what his answer would be. "The guy was a crook, owed a lot of people a lot of money." "Did he owe you money?" Daniel laughed. "God, no. I know better than to do business with someone like Rio." Vanessa was slowly moving closer. I knew this because I was hyperaware of her presence, feeling that familiar crackle of electricity between us with every step she took. We were drawn to each other, and judging by the look on her face, she was trying her best to fight itβand so was I. Focus. Back to Daniel. "And your brother? Any cha
πππππππVANESSAMy heart was about to crawl its way up my throat along with the lie that just came out of my mouth. James knew it; I knew it. I was a liar. But I'd be damned if I stood there and did nothing while they insinuated one of my brothers was a murderer. If anyone knew my family's doings were far from legit, it was me. But I also knew neither of my brothers killed this Rio character. James' eyes narrowed, scrutinizing my face, and I was convinced he was seconds away from calling my bluff. I felt the sweat run down my back, my gut on the verge of twisting upside down. But then he took two steps back and looked at my brothers. "Okay, then. I guess we're done here." I exhaled and allowed my shoulders to relax, even though I knew this entire situation was far from over. If I knew James at all, I knew he wouldn't let this lie go so easily. "Thank you for your time." James walked toward the door, and I wanted to punch myself for feeling disappointed. I didn't like th
πππππππVANESSAThe hand James had on my waist began to travel down and over my hip, making its way down my thigh. I was so overwhelmed by the sensation that I struggled to breathe normally. "Tell me you remember when you wrapped your legs around me, permitting me to fuck you bare. When I impaled you with my cock and you begged me to keep still while your body adapted to the feeling of having a real man inside you." God, I remember. I remembered all of it. I remembered how my body was on the edge of bursting into flames. How the pain and the pleasure mixed into the most intense decadence my body had ever experienced and threatened to burn me into embers of desire. He leaned closer, his spicy scent giving life to all those memories. "Tell me you remember coming around my cock. Tell me you remember how I pulsed my orgasm all over your warm, sweaty skin." Oh, sweet baby Jesus. There was no way in hell I could have stopped myself. I jerked forward and pressed my lips ha
πππππJAMESI swept my tongue hard and fast through her mouth before finally withdrawing my hand from between her legs and jumping out of the car. I opened her door. "Get out and make sure you get your ass in my apartment within the next ten seconds." And, true as fuck, we were in my apartment within ten seconds. Clothes were ripped and torn and tossed everywhere while we desperately tried to keep our mouths glued together. Our need for each other was so damn strong, that I could feel it in every bone of my body, pulsing, growing, aching like a motherfucker. "I want you in my bed, princess," I whispered when we were both finally naked and ready. She yelped when I swept her into my arms and carried her down the hall. Having her skin against mine felt so right, all I could think about was how I'd be able to keep her against me, with me, for-fucking-ever. The second I put her down on her feet, she glanced at the wallβa very bare wall. I knew what she was looking for, and
πππππ JAMES"Vanessa," I heard myself moan as I sped up, going as deep as possible, but still not taking my eyes off hers. "I want to come inside you. I need to make you mine in every way." It was the plea of a desperate man, trying my best to mark her, to claim her in every goddamn way possible. If I could tie her to me and never let go, I would. But this was the closest I'd ever get to owning her completely. A tear slipped down the side of her face, and she placed her palms on my cheeks, her gaze on mine. "Yes," she replied before pulling me down and pressing her mouth against mine. The warmth of her mouth, the heat of her body, and the slickness of her orgasm coating every inch of me were enough to send me to the motherfucking peak of the most intense release I had ever had in my entire goddamn life. For the first time, I knew what it felt like to be alive, to be connected to someone. With my cock as deep as it could go, I came inside herβhard. The severity, the strong
πππππ JAMESWhat the fuck? "No," Vanessa breathed out, her fear echoing in her voice. "What the fuck are you talking about, Morello?" I balled my fists, trying my best to remain calm. If I learned anything during my time in the force, it was that anger didn't help one fucking bit when you were on the receiving end of a gun. "She didn't tell you?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "She's mine, Detective. I claimed her four years ago when she spread her legs for me with a single snap of my fingers." Vanessa gasped, and tears started to stream down her face, her entire body shaking. "Please stop, Enzo." I stepped forward. "Take your hands off her, or I swear to God I will kill you." "Tsk, tsk, tsk. A cop shouldn't go around tossing threats freely. You could get into a lot of trouble for that." "And aiming a gun at someone's head? You can go to prison for that." He laughed maniacally. "Who, me? No. I assure you, Detective, I have every avenue covered when it comes