πππππππVANESSA Detective James looked surprised, like really, really surprised in a "what the fuck" kind of way. I couldn't say I blamed him. If he was really as clued in about us and them, the infamous Boston crime families, he knew exactly how screwed up and wrong it was for me to have any kind of history with one of the Morello brothers. I scowled at him. "Don't you dare judge?" "Not judging at all. You gotta do what you gotta doβ¦or who you gotta do." He snorted, and I frowned at his attempt to crack a lame-ass joke. "I need to get out of here." I was about to turn and head up the stairs when that voice stopped me dead in my tracks. "Vanessa Bologna." I winced at the painfully familiar tone, and I couldn't shake the chills it sent down my spine. I had no choice but to face him, and the moment I looked into his eyes was like a punch in the gut, leaving me without a damn breath. Every memory I'd tried to suppress for the last four years came flood
πππππππ VANESSA Enzo narrowed his eyes as he glanced from me to James, and then down to where James' hand rested on my hip. I didn't know if it was just the tension and angst that currently swirled all around us, but I was pretty sure I saw Enzo's nostrils flare, his lips moving like he was biting the inside of his cheek. Was he jealous? Of course not. The thought was completely absurd since Enzo Morello was incapable of feeling anything for anyone. And for him to be jealous would mean he had to feel something. Again, absurd. Enzo looked back up at me and smiled maliciously. "I guess once you've experienced the thrill of breaking the rules, you'll always crave that exhilaration, won't youβ¦little lamb?" The moment those words came out of his mouth, it felt like every drop of blood drained from my body. Shudders wracked through me as my legs grew weak. If it weren't for James gripping me so tightly against him, I would have been flat on my ass on the floor. Little lamb
πππππππVANESSA "Oh, my God!" I groaned in frustration. "You are the most stubborn, hot-headed guy I have ever met." "Compared to who?" "What?" I couldn't believe this guy. James rubbed his jaw. "You said I'm the most stubborn, hot-headedβ" "I know what I said, goddammit." I just couldn't fathom why this man got to me so badly. "So, who are you comparing me to when you say that?" "Jesus. What does it matter?" "Vanessa?" James kept his gaze locked on mine, his smothering orbs boring into mine. "What?" I groaned and he arched a brow. "Why are you acting so crazy right now?" "I'm acting crazy? You are the one asking me crazy questions!" I pulled my palm down my face. And then the corners of James' mouth began to slowly creep up into a smug grin. The darkness in his eyes disappeared, replaced with an impish glint as he stared at me. It was like he just realized he knew something I didn't. "Can I get you a drink?" He was
πππππJAMESMy gaze was glued to Vanessa as she made her way down the stairs. I knew I should let her leave, that I should back the hell off. But there was a very insistent idiot inside me who kept pushing me, gnawing at my goddamn spine to pursue her until I was buried balls deep inside her. Everything about her triggered an uncontrollable animalistic urge in me to spread her legs and feel her pleasure gushing down my thighs. I wanted to make her shudder and scream. I wanted her clawing at my back as my cock forced her to come violently until all she could see were fucking stars. I pushed my hand through my hair and took a deep breath, trying to convey the message to my cock that now was not the time to stand at fucking attention. There was more important shit right now than creaming some Italian princess's pussy. I continued to watch Vanessa, my gaze moving to the exposed insides of her thighs as she took each step. The closer she got, the harder I got.
πππππJAMESI let go of Vanessa's wrists, wanting to cup her other firm ass cheek, needing to push her harder against me. Her hands fell to my shoulders, and she slowly weaved her fingers through the hair at the back of my neck. Every inch of my body was electrified, ready to consume this woman in every way imaginable.Both of us were breathing rapidly, and I almost lifted her off her feet as I gripped her ass harder, tighter between my fingers. We were both already lost-lost at the moment, lost in each other. The harder I pressed against her, the tighter she gripped my hair. I couldn't stop myself from moving my hips, grinding my cock against her, wishing we were naked. Dry humping was never my style."James," she moaned softly against my cheek, but it sounded more like a plea."I want you, Vanessa. I want you so bad it's almost impossible to fucking breathe right now." I leaned back, ready to finally taste her. To feel her lips against mine as I claimed her mouth with vehement
πππππππVANESSAI took a deep breath and sank back into the seat, placing my hand on my forehead. This was why I didn't want to come home. Everything always went haywire whenever I was around my family. For so long, I'd denied my father by not joining the family business. I thought by not having any part in it, I would have some semblance of a normal life. But it seemed like no matter what I did, my life would never be my own. Never. Antonio turned back and looked out over the road. "What happened between you and Enzo?" I closed my eyes and exhaled. "You're the genius, why don't you tell me?" "I'm serious, Vanessa." "So am I." "Both of you, stop," Daniel bellowed. " You guys are giving me a headache." "And the cop?" Antonio asked, blatantly ignoring Daniel. "Oh, my God!" I pulled my palms down my face in frustration. "Nothing is going on with the cop. Enzo was being a jerk, and James justβ" "James?" Antonio interrupted. "So, you're on
πππππππVANESSAMy tears threatened to escape, and I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep myself from crying. "What did he do to you, Vanessa?" I heard Antonio ask softly, his eyes wide with concern. I couldn't look at him, so I let my gaze drop to the ground beneath my feet and wrapped my arms around my chest. I knew what he had to be thinking, and it was nothing like that. It was worse. For three years, I carried this burden, knowing my mistake would one day come out in the open. And here I was, unable to keep my secret any longer. Antonio moved closer. "Vanessa did heβ" "No," I interrupted him. "No, he didn't." I still couldn't look at him. The guilt was too much, tearing at my soul. Admitting this to Antonio was almost as bad as it would be admitting it to my father. "Then what did he do?" Finally, I gathered the courage to look up and glanced between Daniel and Antonio. A tear slipped down my cheek, and I took a deep breath. "Enzo d
πππππJAMESThe moment Vanessa wrapped her arms around my neck, weaving her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer to deepen our kiss, I fucking lost it. My hands started to go everywhereβher sides, her ass, her thighsβlike I couldn't touch all of her fast enough. Her clothes and her skin were soaking wet from the rain, but it felt fucking amazing to finally touch her like I wanted to touch her. I kissed down the side of her neck, loving the way she smelled. Her vanilla and Cinnamon scent was sweet and so damn tantalizing, that I could have gotten high on her smell alone. "James, thisβ" "Unless you're about to tell me to rip your clothes off, I suggest you shut the hell up." "I'm serious." I ignored her by letting my lips travel down over her naked shoulder. Thank fuck for the strapless dresses. Every inch, every curve of this woman felt like it was carved out of perfection. If perfection could have been bottled, I would have shoved her in a vial and kept her on m