MIGUELThe knock at the door got frantic as loud bangs rattled the frame. “Who the fuck is that?” I stepped back, my heart slamming hard, and Emily stumbled beside me. My focus was solely on the door, but I could clearly see her hands trembling. She grabbed my arm, her nails digging in, her breath shaky and fast. “They’re here,” she whispered, her eyes wide with terror. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but the door burst open. The wood cracked under the weight that drove through it, the locks clanging to the floor.A man stepped in, tall and broad, his leather jacket creaking as he moved. His face was hard, jaw square, and a scar cut through his left eyebrow. Dark hair slicked back, eyes cold and grey, he carried a weight that filled the room.The first thing I looked at was his hips. There was no visible ammunition, thankfully.Two others flanked him. They were quieter and their hands hovered near their waists like they were ready to pull something out. Fuck!The man
SALVATORE“Hey John, I’ll call you back. Just got to the house.” I slid the phone into my pocket and took a long sigh. The air felt heavy, pressing on my chest as I pushed the door open.That was enough discussion about deals and shipments. John could handle the rest.I stepped into the sitting room. It was empty. The couch was bare, the TV staring blankly back at me. I stood there with my hands in my pockets, breathing slowly to calm the buzz in my nerves. No sounds, no clatter, just silence. I didn’t know if Miguel was home, and I hoped he was. I hoped he’d seen the flowers and felt something… anything.My mind spun restlessly. I didn’t know enough about him to understand his reaction to my apology. Would he laugh and toss the flowers and note aside, or would let them sit there, softening him up? I wanted him to feel that pull that I couldn’t shake, but I didn’t know where he stood. I’d kissed him and it felt like heaven. Fuck! It felt so damn good. I wanted to kiss him again, ta
MIGUELAn angel? No, this wasn’t an angel. Though he seemed like one when he swooped in with fury and grace, angels don't kill people and batter bodies, like the buzz-cut guy by the gate, who was left bleeding in the dirt. I snaked my hand to his chest as he lowered me into the passenger seat, his intoxicating scent of leather, smoke, and something sharp, hitting me like a ton of bricks. My fingers lingered, tracing the hard lines beneath his shirt. I caught my breath as the warmth of him seeped through. He eased me down gently and stared at me for some seconds.“Where are we going?” I asked quietly, my voice rough, barely above a whisper.“Home.” Salvatore’s hand brushed my cheek tenderly, his thumb grazing the bruise. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”I nodded slowly. My throat was tight and his touch sent spasms through me. He buckled the seatbelt and reached to close the door, but I grabbed his arm quickly. “Wait, Salvatore. My knife is inside, on the floor.”He paused for a mo
MIGUELOh, fuck. The taste was unlike anything I’d ever had in my life. First, it was the unwelcome sensation of having my mouth filled and stretched to its breaking point, but as soon as I went ahead for the next five seconds, my body adjusted.He tasted warm, hot, insatiable. The mix of that masculine scent I’d come to obsess over drove me nuts.My knees sank deeper into the sand, the grains cool against my skin as I moved, my lips brushing the tip, then sinking, taking as much of his cock as I could. Salvatore’s hand stayed in my hair, his fingers curling through the strands, guiding me gently. “Slowly, Miguel. Ah, yes, right there.” I moaned softly around him, the sound coming out muffled as saliva tricked from the sides of my mouth onto his thighs. His taste hit me again—sharp, warm, with a little mix of salt and him—and I couldn’t pull back. Fuck, I didn’t want to. My mind yelled at me. A jumbled mess of “What am I doing?” and “This man is my stepfather” echoed through my h
MIGUELI scrambled through my stuff, grabbing a shirt, jeans, and my jacket. My hands shook as I shoved them into a bag. Fuck this. Fuck me. I couldn’t stay here, not with Salvatore’s scent still on me, not after what happened at the beach.“I’m going insane.” I closed my eyes tightly and dug my fingers into my hair, pulling on them until I felt pain.What exactly what I thinking? How the fuck had I allowed Salvatore to touch me back at the diner, and now feed me his cock at the beach? How?But even as I reprimanded myself, I knew I was hard. I cursed softly under my breath, running into the bathroom, and slamming the door behind me. I fucking hated this.My fingers worked faster than I could process, yanking my pants down, and lubing my cock up with some saliva.Salvatore’s face flashed in my head and I forced my eyes open. My teeth grinded hard against each other. “You fucking slut,” I snarled at myself, pouring some more saliva onto my cock and jerking faster. Maybe this would he
I stuffed everything I came with back into the bag.I was so scattered that I added the blanket I was given. I tossed it out after I realized I’d made a mistake, but I ended up tossing some of the things I’d arranged. Paul leaned against the doorway, watching me, his arms crossed loosely. I would hear occasional sighs and exhales, but he said nothing.When I finally finished, I zipped the bag, slung it over my shoulder, and turned to him. His place once felt like a lifeline, a quiet and safe place, and it was already slipping away.“Thanks for everything,” I smiled, my voice low, real. “You didn’t have to let me crash here, but you did.”He stepped closer and pulled me into a hug. What was with the frequent hugs? I wasn’t complaining though. His grip was tight, warm. “You can stay as long as you want, Miguel. The door is always open.”I hugged back in gratitude. “I appreciate it, but I gotta go.”His eyes were soft as he nodded. “Are you sure? I could ask around and find you a new s
Salvatore walked toward the bed, his eyes tracing my body. I could see the questions in his eyes, but I had questions, too. I had questions as to why I couldn’t stop thinking of this man, or why my life was somehow turning apart while I watched, or fucking why I was rejecting help when it was right in front of me. Danger, yes… This was a dangerous man. My life would probably be unsafe with him.But even as I stroked down again, moaning as the rush hit me, I knew that was a lie. I would be heavily protected with Salvatore. So what was wrong?His eyes locked on me darkly, slicing sharply through my flushed skin. “Hey.” I bit a corner of my lip and smiled, still stroking softly. I sprawled there, clothes off, my skin bare in the dim light. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice husky, low, cutting through the quiet. Wasn’t it obvious what I was doing? He didn’t wait for a response. His hand moved, and brushed mine aside, resting where I’d been, warm and firm against me. “Hmm.” H
MIGUELPaul’s hands slid to my shoulders, his eyes searching mine. I was holding my breath, trying not to flip, but it wasn’t working. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of a plan that I knew could cause disaster. Had Paul always been this handsome?Or… was it the alcohol?He snaked his tongue out, wetting his lip, adding shine to them. Okay, he was handsome. And maybe…“Are you fine?” he asked, his voice low, soft with worry. Our gazes locked and held there, seconds stretching into more heavy silence. My chest tightened. His face was close, his breath brushing my skin. My mind spun around as I thought about how crazy it would be to use Paul to push Salvatore away from my thoughts.Maybe I was this way because I’d refused to allow myself some physical intimacy. Paul could help me forget Salvatore.His eyes dug into mine with a fierceness that made me more worried than scared about what I was able to do. “Paul,” I said softly, barely above a whisper. “Yeah?” he muttered, his voice rou
SALVATOREI woke with a start, disoriented and heavy. There was a silent ringing in the back of my head. The world around me slowly came into focus. Miguel’s bed creaked beneath me as I shifted, my head pounding with that familiar, dull throb behind my eyes. The blinds let in just enough of the fading evening light to slice the room into gold and shadow. Everything smelled like him. I hadn’t meant to fall asleep here, not really. But sometime this morning, after pacing the warehouse until my legs gave out, I ended up in his room, curling into the spot where he used to sleep.I didn’t even pull the covers back. I just collapsed on top of everything, chasing the memory of him. His scent clung to the comforter, to the pillows, and I let it wrap around me like a story I didn’t want to forget.Sitting up took more effort than it should have. My throat was dry, my limbs sore like I’d spent the night fighting something in my dreams. Maybe I had. I swung my legs over the side of the bed an
I stood at the kitchen counter, chopping everything I’d set out for tonight. The onions stung my eyes as I diced them, but I didn’t mind. I focused on the motions: slice, slide, dice, repeat. Anything to keep my hands moving and my mind from circling back to that streetlamp, and to Salvatore’s face.The pan on the stove hissed to life as the oil met the heat. The scent of garlic hit next, followed by a splash of soy sauce that filled the kitchen with warmth. I moved on autopilot, throwing in whatever vegetables I’d grabbed without checking. Cooking wasn’t really about eating tonight; it was about distraction. If I could just keep stirring and slicing, maybe I wouldn’t feel that twisting in my gut every time I replayed the way he’d looked at me, like he didn’t care who saw, like I still belonged to him.A knock shattered the quiet. For a beat, I froze, my fingers getting tight around the blade. My heart thudded a little too hard. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and forced myself to
MIGUELI ran faster than my legs allowed. My sneakers slapped against the pavement, the sting of the cold air biting at my lungs with every breath. How the hell did he find me?!Shadows from alleyways clawed at my back like fingers trying to drag me down, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Behind me, Salvatore’s voice echoed like thunder.“Miguel! Please come back!”I didn’t turn around.That voice had power. It was the kind of power that made me want to hesitate, to believe he meant every word, but I knew better. He was a high tide, and if I turned back, I’d drown in him all over again like I did the first time.I rounded the corner and saw the store’s sign glowing red against the night. I had run so far that I was back at my workplace.My interaction with Salvatore wasn’t even up to ten minutes, and my life was already turning sour.I burst through the doors, the bell above jingling loudly like it knew what kind of storm had just walked in.The warmth of the place wrapped around me l
SALVATOREI slumped behind my desk, my fingertips idly tracing the rim of a cold, half-empty coffee mug. The room felt tighter today, more suffocating. Every second Miguel remained missing added more weight to my chest, like a clamp pressing in from all sides.The door creaked open. I didn’t even bother to lift my head.It was John. He stood at the door for a moment before stepping in and closing it behind himself.I still didn’t raise my head. But he still wasn’t saying anything. “What the fuck is it, John?”He cleared his throat. “Boss…”“I can hear you.”“I knew you must have forgotten about the meeting for today. So I thought to remind you.”Oh, shit. I’d totally forgotten. Since that successful deal on the boat, I’d gotten countless calls from my partners. Everybody was excited about what this new phase would bring us. I was excited too, but I was too weak right now to sit at a round table and discuss financial and risk matters.“Will you be going?”"Of course, I won't." I exhal
JOHNKarl leaned in close to Salvatore, their heads nearly touching as they hovered over a clipboard. I watched from across the warehouse floor, pretending to busy myself with a half-open crate. Karl’s laugh was soft, almost charming, but too well-timed, like a man who practised in the mirror before work. I’d been watching him for weeks, and it was always the same. He was too eager, too clean, and too damn smooth.Why hadn’t I seen this earlier?He said something that made Salvatore shake his head and sigh, then clapped him on the shoulder. Then Karl walked away and slipped out the back door like smoke curling under a crack. I set the clipboard down and followed him.The air outside bit through my jacket. The alley behind the warehouse smelled like stale beer and motor oil, and the ground was littered with crushed cartons and broken pallets. Karl stood by the dumpster with his back to me, his phone pressed to his ear. His voice was a low thread as he spoke quickly into the receiver
MIGUELAnother day of healing, learning to smile warmly at customers, and enjoying the peace of my surroundings. When I clocked out, John was there again, waiting under that flickering lamp outside the store. His car was in the lot, the headlights cutting across the cracked pavement.He seemed to have mastered my schedule even better than me. He had a way of showing up right on time, already knowing that I had nothing to keep me back when I closed.He leaned against the hood with his arms folded, a soft grin tugging at his face when he saw me coming.“You are going to spoil me,” I said, jogging up with a tired smile. “Keep this up and I’ll start expecting dinner too.”He opened the passenger door, dipping his head in a mock bow. “Maybe I’m just making sure you don’t starve.”I climbed in and let the door thunk shut behind me. I could get used to this. The familiar scent of old leather and lingering coffee greeted me. No Salvatore scent. Good.John settled behind the wheel, and we pu
SALVATOREI slammed the front door so hard it nearly cracked in the frame. The echo thundered through the house like a gunshot. “Emily!” I roared. My shoes pounded the hardwood floor as I barreled into the living room. The scent of lavender candles choked the air. It clung to everything like a lie pretending to be peace. Miguel was gone. Not for hours. Not even a day. But for Days. Three fucking days now without a fucking word! And it was driving me out of my goddamn mind.Emily appeared at the top of the stairs, her silk robe clinging to her as she hurried down, her eyes wide and frightened. “Salvatore, what happened?” she gasped. “What’s wrong?”Her voice grated on me. She was too calm. How the fuck didn’t she even have an idea. She reached for me like her touch might soothe the chaos inside me, but I jerked away, smacking her hands off me.“You haven’t seen Miguel in days and you didn’t think to say anything?”Her face fell, confusion flickering across her features. “I thought h
MIGUEL“Your total is one hundred and twenty-three, and some cents,” I said, flashing a warm smile at the customer, an older woman with a cart brimming with canned goods and fresh produce. Her glasses slipped down her nose as she fumbled with a wad of crumpled bills, and I punched the numbers into the register. The air carried the comforting scent of warm bread from the bakery aisle, mingling with the sharp tang of citrus from a nearby display. I handed her the change, and she thanked me with a nod before wheeling her cart away.The next customer in line was a teenager with headphones dangling around his neck and a six-pack of soda in his arms. I rang him up, made a joke about the caffeine rush, and he gave a small laugh before heading out. Each interaction was a brief and pleasant flicker. Out here, in this sleepy corner of the world, everything was a little slower, a little softer.This place—this small, unassuming store tucked on the edge of town—had become something I hadn’t r
SALVATORE I paced the office with the phone pressed to my ear, my voice sharp as I barked into it. “John, get to my office. Now.” I hung up before he could reply, raking a hand through my hair as frustration crackled under my skin. The air felt thick, too quiet, too still, like it was waiting for the next blow.John stepped in a few minutes later, his eyes flicking over me. “What’s going on?”“I fucked up,” I said. “Miguel has refused to pick up my calls. I don’t even know if he will see me at this point.”John’s jaw ticked. “What do you need?”“I need you to go to Paul’s. Miguel’s probably with him.” I stepped closer. “Tell Miguel that I’m sorry. I’m coming to make it right. Get some flowers, I don’t know, maybe roses, lilies, or something that says, ‘I’m a jackass, but I love you.’ Got it?”John hesitated. “You think that’s gonna do anything? Flowers?”“I don’t care if it doesn’t. Just do it.” I pointed toward the door. “Now.”He gave a short nod and left, and I sank into my chair