THE CLUB’S office door slammed shut, and Tom backed Camilla into it. He kissed a path down the delicate column of her throat, and sucked hard on her pulse point. It left a pretty red mark behind when he finally let go.
Already, his hands were skimming beneath the skirt of her black dress. Smoothing over silky thighs to find the waistband of the thong she wore underneath. He tugged, and she gave a little shimmy of her hips.
That was it.
The thong fell down.
“Should lock the door,” she told him.
Tom kissed her stained red lips once more. “No way. Nobody’s coming up here.”
“They could.”
“They won’t.”
Tom considered lifting Camilla against the door to fuck her, but that hadn’t been what she wanted earlier. The desk had a nice view of the one-way windows overlooking the club’s floor, but it was too fucking high.
Damn, Joe.
Why did the fucker need such a big desk?
“Too bad you weren’t a couple of inches taller,” Tom said as Camilla’s teeth teased his jawline. “Could have bent you over the desk.”
Camilla fake gasped. “Don’t point out my shortness, Tom. That’s not nice.”
His laughter rumbled. “I was just saying.”
She waved a hand high. “There’s a whole world up there that I don’t even know about, okay. Don’t rub it in.”
He laughed even more.
Camilla gave him a look.
Tom couldn’t stop. “Sorry, sorry.”
“Do you know August got me a fucking stepstool as a gift when I moved into my apartment?” Camilla glowered at him. “So then I could reach the cupboards.”
“That’s perfect.”
“Stop laughing. This is serious, Tommaso!”
He tried—he really, really did.
The only thing that finally stopped his laughter was a hard kiss from Camilla, and the way her tongue slammed against his with sinful intent. Her hands pushed against his chest, and knocking him back from the door.
He didn’t stumble, but he hadn’t been expecting the move, either. Still, he managed to grab her as he took the couple of steps backward. He pulled Camilla along with him, dragging her over to the window ledge.
Flipping her around, he shoved her against the ledge. There was one for the window, and a smaller one on the floor. Camilla stepped up on the ledge at the floor, and it gave her just a few extra inches of height. His hand at her neck forced her upper body downward and forward. The side of her cheek rested against the glass, and her skirt rode up to show just a peek of her ass.
Camilla grasped the ledge with the first smack of Tom’s palm against her ass. On the second one—a little lower where her ass melted into her thigh—she moaned. For the third, she pushed back against his palm when he slid it between her thighs.
“Christ, you’re wet. Like a damn lake down here.”
Her laughter came out airless and sweet. “I like it when you spank me.”
“Say it again and I’ll think about giving you another.”
“Tom.”
“Say it again, Cam.”
Her brown gaze darted over her shoulder to lock onto his. “I like it when you spank me, Tommaso. Give me another, please.”
Pleasure and lust jolted through him.
He gave her another three slaps on the other side.
“There, now you match on both cheeks, Cam.”
“All pink?”
“Little more red, actually.”
She sighed happily. “Warm?”
“Just like your cunt,” he said as his fingers slipped back between her thighs. Two of his digits thrust into her pussy, and her inner muscles hugged him tightly. One stroke, and then two. Three, and on the fourth he curled his fingers at her G-spot. The trembling in her legs every time he hit that spot had his grin growing. “You going to come, Cam?”
“You gonna make me?”
“You know it, babe.”
It didn’t take long at all to give her what she wanted. He was pretty sure thirty seconds was a record for him when it came to making her come, but who knew? At the moment, he was more focused on the sounds she made as she rode his fingers through the first orgasm.
“Holy shit,” Camilla mumbled against the glass.
Tom was already using his other hand to undo his pants while the fingers still stuffed up her pussy massaged her G-spot through the orgasm. Her sweet juices slicked up his hand, and the scent of sex clung in the air.
He removed his hand from between Camilla’s thighs because he would need two for his next task. Camilla read his mind before he could even reach for the item in his pocket.
“Don’t,” she said, letting go of the ledge long enough to grasp his wrist. “I’m on the shot—we don’t need condoms.”
“You sure?” Tom leaned over her a bit to kiss her cheek, and he felt her smile grow. “Because it’s fine, Cam.”
“I might like the feeling of you coming inside me, Tom. Actually there, you know? Wouldn’t it make you hot to think about your cum in my pussy when we go back downstairs to dance?”
His thick groan echoed back to his own ears.
Heady.
Loud.
Raw.
“Fuck me, Tom,” he heard her say.
Christ.
He couldn’t get his slacks down fast enough, or his cock out into his hand quick enough for his needs. He kissed over her shoulder, and the back of her neck, and he fitted himself in behind her. Already hard as hell—painfully so—sliding into her warm, tight channel was heaven to him.
The sweetest relief slipped through his bloodstream with that first thrust.
Like he found home and happiness there.
Sin and love.
A hunger thudded in his ribcage right along with his heartbeat. A deep bass that matched the sounds pumping down on the club’s floor. People moved below them while Tom grabbed both of Camilla’s hips, and yanked her back into him. Over and over again.
Flashing lights on the ceiling helped to light up the fireworks already starting to burst in his eyes. Camilla’s loud cries melted into the music, and drowned in his ears.
The harder he fucked her, the louder she moaned. The deeper his thrusts came, the more she begged.
This woman was everything to Tom.
Everything perfect.
Everything beautiful.
“Whose slut are you, Camilla?” he asked in her ear.
That sinful, sly smile curved her lips.
“Yours, Tom.”
“And don’t fucking forget it, babe.”
It wasn’t long before she was coming a second time. Tom let go of her right hip to fist a hand in her hair. He tugged Camilla’s head back as she shouted his name through her orgasm.
“Beg for my cum, Cam. Tell me how badly you want it. Beg me for it.”
She did.
Loud.
Repeatedly.
Hot.
She had been right. The thought of knowing he would be inside her all night long drove him fucking insane. It made him want to get her back to his place, clean her, and then fill her up again.
Tom never came harder in his life than he did at that moment. He’d never had an orgasm so strong—one that damn near brought him to his knees.
So perfect.
Tom cupped Camilla’s face in his hands, tipped her head back, and kissed her once. Then a second and third time in quick succession. Her sweet smile grew, and she peered at him through her thick, dark lashes.
“Love you,” she said.
“Feel good to know that now?”
Camilla laughed softly. “Yeah, it does.”
Cool May air blew around them. People rushed from all directions, probably late and needing to get to their gates.
Tom didn’t care. He wasn’t quite ready to let go of this woman just yet.
“I might make you late,” he warned her.
Camilla flashed her teeth in a grin. “Not too concerned about it.”
“Pretty sure you have something coming up for school. A test, or something.”
She shrugged. “I could afford to miss it.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Yeah, probably not.”
“And your parents might like to see you,” he added.
“Yeah, they’ve called a couple of times.”
Tom kissed her once more. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Coming here. Spending time with me and my family. Keeping an open mind about Chicago.”
“That last one was a joke, right?”
“Kind of,” he said, “but not really.”
Camilla’s cheeks pinked in her amusement. “You’re terrible.”
“Yeah, well … what can you do?”
“I should thank you, too,” she said quietly.
“For what?”
“Loving me.”
Tom let out a hard laugh. “That was hard not to do, Cam.”
“Okay, then … waiting me out, Tom. Giving me time. Letting me figure all this craziness out, and still being here at the end of it all.”
“Of course, I’m here, Cam.”
She patted his cheek with her warm palm. “So, fair warning. The next time you see me, I’ll have mermaid hair.”
Tom cocked a brow. “Mermaid hair?”
“Pink at the roots. Purple in the middle. Blue on the tips.”
“Huh.”
“It’ll be nice.”
“Mmhmm,” he said.
What else could he say?
This woman constantly surprised him.
Camilla poked a finger right in the middle of his chest. “The only acceptable response you can give me when you see it is a compliment, or asking what I plan to do next. Understood?”
Tom gave a single nod. “Got it, babe.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to come visit soon?”
“I will,” he promised. “Not sure when, but I will figure it out.”
“And I can come up on some weekends.”
“You better.”
Camilla winked, and then her amusement faded fast. “We’ll figure this out, won’t we?”
“Hmm, what?”
“The distance. The space. New York and Chicago. Just … us.”
Tom pulled her in for one last kiss—they really were cutting it close, and it was going to take forever for her to get through O’Hare’s security. “We will figure it all out one thing at a time, Camilla. It’s worth that, isn’t it?”
“We’re definitely worth it,” she whispered.
“Thought so. Go catch your flight.”
She hesitated for a second, and he knew that feeling well. Like he didn’t want her to leave, but he knew life was set up elsewhere for her. It was things they would have to work on and figure out.
Worth it, though.
“Call me when you get settled,” he told her.
Camilla nodded, and her hand tightened around his wrist momentarily. One last kiss between them, and she headed into the departure entrance of the large airport. Tom was left watching her go.
Fuck.
He already wanted her back.
Tom cursed under his breath as a text message rang through the Bluetooth in his ear. A message from his father, it seemed.
Head to my restaurant downtown. I need you for something today.
The guys on the crew were expecting him in less than a half an hour to go over their business for the week. He thought to text his father back and say he was on his way to the warehouse, but didn’t bother. A boss was a boss—when a boss called, a man went. It was as simple as that.
Tom pulled an illegal U-turn in the middle of the road when traffic slowed, and hit the gas. He had been closer to the warehouse than the restaurant, but ended up making it in half the time. By speeding, of course. He didn’t exactly need a speeding ticket, but it was what it was.
Parking in the employee spot, Tom shut down the Mercedes, and headed for the back of the joint. Tommas never worked at a table, but in a back office where he could have private meetings and whatever else was needed.
Sure enough, Tom found his father sitting behind a large desk. A steaming cup of coffee sat on one side, and a cell phone sat on the other. No paperwork or files like he would usually have. No employee from the restaurant was sitting in the chair.
Just Tommas, Theo, and Damian.
Tom stepped into the office. “You called?”
Tommas smiled. “Did you send Camilla off?”
“An hour ago, or so.”
“Already figuring out a way to get to New York, hmm?”
Tom chuckled. “That obvious?”
Smirks passed between the older men, and left Tom out of the loop of what was so amusing. Well, he did know. Him. He was amusing to them because this was the first time they had ever seen him in this sort of … mindset.
In love.
Tom checked his watch. “I was supposed to be at the warehouse in five minutes to meet the guys and get them set up for the week. If we get this over with, I can still make it in time so that most of them won’t have already bailed on me.”
“You won’t be needing to go to the warehouse.”
He looked up, and met his father’s gaze. “What?”
“The warehouse—handling the crew, I mean. Not necessary after today.”
Tom cleared his throat. “Kind of my job, boss.”
He almost said dad, but thought better of it at the last second. It was clear this was a business meeting, and not something else.
Respect was needed.
Always.
“Actually, I need an extra pair of hands handling the gunrunning side of the business,” Theo said with a shrug. “Mind, you won’t be running the guns, but handling the business side of the operation. Handling deals, managing the shipments, and the guys who work in the warehouses.”
“Like a new crew,” Tommas added.
Tom’s gaze drifted between his father, and Theo. “You don’t want me running guns, though.”
“You’re not running them, Tommaso. You’re doing something else, but in the same arena. Something better suited to you, son,” his father said, leaning back in chair to seem more relaxed. At least, for the moment. “See, you’re not like me, or like I was. You’re not even like Theo or Damian back when they were young Capos. You’re you. And I did not take into consideration that we have all treated you far differently than how we were treated. You’ve learned at a different pace, and your focus shows it. The way you know what is best for the organization, the crew, and you personally shows it, Tommaso.”
“Cross has already brought up the fact that he can’t handle every aspect of the gunrunning without some additional help. We all know you’re suited to it.” Theo pushed off the edge of the desk, and waved at hand at Damian. “Besides that, it’s about time you start shadowing the underboss, don’t you think?”
“It’s good business to put men where they work best,” Damian added.
“And where they deserve to be,” his father said.
Tom liked all of this.
He just had one question …
“What about the crew in the Heights?” Tom asked. “Is Adriano going to step back in, or what?”
Tommas shook his head. “Adriano has been working on building another crew, actually. He’s quite good at that—he knows where he does his best work.”
“That crew needs a Capo, boss.”
“It will have one.”
“Who?”
Tommas picked up the cell phone, and held it out to Tom. “Call Lou, son. Have him meet you—do not offer more information—at the club Damian likes to work out of. The rest of the Capos have already been notified, and will be arriving at the club anytime now.”
Tom glanced down at the phone in his hand, unsure but happy. “Got it.”
“Lou has one hour to show up. He’s not to be one fucking second late, and you are not to tell him what he’s been called in for.”
Yeah, Tom knew how initiations went.
His had been the same, only he had been made to run errand after errand for his father and uncles for days leading up to it. His had come in the dead of winter, and left him freezing as Capo after Capo threw question after question at him while he stood mostly naked in a cold warehouse.
Lou was going to get his button far easier, it seemed.
Tom was actually grateful for that.
“His time started two minutes ago,” Tommas said. “Are you going to be the reason he loses his chance because you’re just standing there like a fucking idiot?”
Tom laughed. “Nope.”
“Call the man, Tommaso. Now.”
“Tom!”
“Tommaso!”
Tom braced for the impact of the tornadoes coming his way. Sara and Rebeka barreled into him full speed, full of laughter and shouts. It didn’t matter if he was gone for a day, or a month. His sisters still acted like he was their favorite person in the whole world whenever they saw him again.
“Where’s Camilla?” Sara asked.
“Yeah, she coming?” Rebeka added.
Tom bent down on one knee to at least be closer to eye level with the girls. “Cam had to go back to New York, but we’ll see her again soon.”
Rebeka frowned.
Sara made a face.
“Well, okay,” Sara eventually said.
“Hey!” Rebeka shouted.
Tom’s eyes widened at the loud volume.
Jesus, his sisters were loud.
“I’m right here,” he told her, “you don’t need to shout.”
And bust my eardrums.
“Ma says the new princess movie is showing.” Rebeka preened, pretty as could be. “Will you take us, Tom?”
Both girls smiled.
They knew he couldn’t say no when they did that.
“Yeah, I’ll take you.”
“Yas!”
Again, loud.
Tom stood, and put a hand on both girls’ bobbing heads. “Let me go talk to Ma for a few minutes, and then we’ll go. Okay?”
“Okay,” both echoed.
Then Sara said, “Come on, Rebeka. Let’s go get ready.”
Rebeka happily followed along with her older sister. Despite Tom not growing up with siblings close to his age so that he had a friend, he was happy his sisters had each other. The two looked out for the other, and he hoped that continued on.
Quickly, Tom found his mother.
In her library.
She looked up from the book in her hands at his presence in the doorway.
“Tommaso.”
“Hey, Ma.”
“Where’s your father?”
Tom shrugged. “He’s got business to celebrate tonight.”
A new made man.
The boss always had to celebrate a new recruit.
Abriella didn’t ask questions, simply patted the seat next to her on the leather couch. “Come, sit with me.”
“I told the girls I would take them to a movie.”
“The princess one?”
“How did you know?” he asked, chuckling.
“They haven’t stopped talking about it since I showed them the trailer.” Abriella glanced over at him as he sat down. “But that’s not why you came over tonight, is it?”
“How did you know?”
His repeated question made his mother smile. She touched his cheek with her fingertips, and then looked back at her book before she set it away.
“I just thought maybe you would come see me today sometime.”
“Why?”
“Camilla went home today, didn’t she?”
“This morning, yeah.”
Abriella nodded. “Something on your mind, Tommaso?”
“Something is always on my mind, Ma.”
“Something about her, I meant.”
“Maybe.”
Abriella smiled widely. “Thought so. Over in the desk, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the top drawer.”
Tom gave his mother a look, but stood from the couch and headed for the desk. In the top drawer of the old desk, he found a black velvet ring box. Inside rested his mother’s princess cut diamond engagement ring sitting on top of a crown of diamonds. The white gold band gleamed, telling him someone had recently gotten it cleaned.
For a long while, Tom stared at the ring, but said nothing. His mother was the first to speak.
“It’s okay not to know when, Tommaso.”
“Is it?”
“You know her, and that’s what matters.” Abriella tilted her head to the side as she stared at him, saying, “You’re happier, now. Maybe that’s what you needed, Tommaso. Maybe that’s what you were looking for. Every man needs a good woman in this life. Seems you found yours a little earlier than most.”
Tom kept looking at the ring. “I still can’t believe you knew I was coming to ask you about this.”
Abriella laughed. “Of course, I did, Tommaso. I was the first woman to have ever loved you—you’re my boy, and I know you. I know your heart. She gets to be the last woman to love you, though. I’m glad it’s her.”
Tom crossed the room again, and dropped a kiss to his mother’s head. “Love you, Ma.”
She reached up and patted his neck tenderly. “Go, and take your sisters to the movie. Say hello to Camilla for me when she calls.”
“I will, Ma.”