Chapter Twenty Five

Riley felt terrible. Perhaps getting shot at did that to a guy, but he was plagued with guilt and remorse. He shouldn’t have dragged Tania into this mess. He should’ve been more cautious from the first day. If only he’d paid more attention, he might’ve realized these guys were up to no good. Not all the members in Devil’s Mafia Brotherhood were bad, but they would all have to pay the heavy price. Each one of them would be dragged to the police station. He hoped those who were innocent would escape unscathed, but the aftermath of such an investigation was bound to be painful for everyone associated.

 

A week passed in relative quiet. Jason came to visit them and, much to their surprise, he’d already written a first draft of the screenplay and wanted to show it to them. “It’s not perfect, far from it, but I have the basics down. And now, I’m going to hire a screenwriter and ask him to work his magic and turn this good story into a great, riveting one.”

 

“Great isn’t a word I would use for it,” Tania said as she got him a cup of coffee. “Scary. Dangerous. Crazy. Those are the words that spring to my mind.”

 

“That’s because you can’t see what I can see.”

 

“What is that?” Riley asked, picking up his cup. Although he felt a slight twinge of pain every time he lifted something, his arm was much better than before. “What do you see?”

 

“I see a blockbuster, my friend and since this is your story, I’ve decided to do things the official way.” Jason took out some papers from his briefcase and plopped them on the table. “These are the contracts for both of you.”

 

Tania wrinkled a brow as she took a seat. “Contracts?”

 

“Yes. In exchange for your story exclusively to me, I’d like to pay you guys a handsome amount.”

 

“We don’t need money,” said Tania.

 

“Hush, sweetheart,” said Riley as he picked up the contract and began to read it. His eyes popped when he saw the amount. Jason was damn serious about this. “I would take the money.”

 

“Spoken like a true businessman,” said Jason in a dry voice. “So here’s the deal. You can’t sell this story to anyone else. If the movie doesn’t get made, the rights of it are reverted back to you within two years. I’ll pay you half now and half once the movie is ready to be released. If there’s no movie, you don’t get the second half. How does that sound?”

 

Riley wasn’t one to throw away money that crawled to him. He signed on the paper and then pushed the pen towards Tania. “I say yes.”

 

Tania stared into his eyes. She turned to Jason who nodded. Picking up the pen, she nodded. “Fine.”

 

“Great. So that’s all in order. We should go out and celebrate.”

 

“We haven’t been out in a week,” Tania told him. “Raymond still hasn’t been discovered, and until he’s no longer on the loose, we’re in danger. The police have told us to stay put, so that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

 

“I bet you’re both ready to pull out your hair. Damn that man.” Jason stood. “Okay, then. We’ll celebrate once you guys are free to do so.”

 

After he left, Riley picked up the contracts and put them in a file. “I’ve got an idea.”

 

Tania cleared the table. “What?”

 

“There’s enough money in this for us to start our own real estate agency. What do you think?”

 

She halted and then glanced at him. Her expression was incredulous, surprised. “You mean…we should go into business together?”

 

He watched her face, not sure what she was thinking. As far as Riley was concerned, they were in for the long haul. He couldn’t imagine a life without Tania. She was the real reason why he lived. But doing this would entwine their business with their personal lives. Was she willing to do it?

 

“That’s the plan,” he said.

 

She ran a hand through her hair. “I got a call from Martha offering me the job, but I think you’re right. It’s time we hit out on our own, and this money would give us enough to start the business. And we’re damn good together.”

 

Happiness exploded in his gut. He raised his hand towards her. “Better than the best. You and me together, sweetheart! We’ll set his town on fire.”

 

She put her hand in his and he drew her forward. Her breasts pushed against his chest as she stood toe to toe with him. This felt right. It was perfect. “You bet we will.”

 

His lips claimed hers. The kiss was slow, gentle. The desire that skidded over his skin was hot and needy. He wanted her. Riley had thought that as time elapsed, perhaps his passion for her would simmer down, but it seemed to gain in momentum. He wanted her more now than ever before. Her hands traveled up his chest and settled on his shoulders as she pushed her tongue deep inside his mouth.

 

He tasted her mouth while she plundered his. It felt good and right. As always, he took delight in the feel and touch of her. It was enough to drive him insane. Riley picked her up.

 

“Your arm?” she protested.

 

“It’s fine, sweetheart.” Once again, he kissed her as he walked to their room. Sometimes he couldn’t believe he was so lucky. They had made it. After all the trouble, the fights, and the fear, they were now safe. And from now, they were more than lovers; they were business partners. Surely, this said something for their relationship.

 

Once he reached the bed, Riley laid her down. She wriggled out of her clothes. The desire that skipped through his heart also gleamed in her eyes. He took off his shirt. Naked, Tania stepped off the bed and helped him take off his trousers. As he stepped away from his pants, she bent on her knees and before he understood what she intended, she ran her hands up his legs.

 

He froze.

 

Seizing the opportunity, she licked the tip of his cock with her tongue. He groaned. Her hand cupped his balls, rubbed, and caressed as he shuddered. There was a sudden roaring in his ears as she swept her tongue over his cock, sending blood rushing through his body. He sucked in a deep breath as she took him inside her mouth. The sensations, strong and heady, enveloped him.

 

He was close, too close. Riley pulled out of her mouth before she could bring him to climax. He didn’t want this to end without feeling her pussy around him. When she rose, he kissed her once more and made her lie on the bed. He couldn’t wait any more, but he wanted to take his time. He wanted to savor and take delight in this moment.

 

As he gazed down at her naked, magnificent body, his heart thundered inside his chest. She was so goddamned beautiful. He loved her more than he could explain, more than he could understand. There was no going back for either one of them. His gaze traveled down her gorgeous face to her swan-like neck, her heavy, firm breasts, to her flat stomach, and down to the lips of her pussy that were already wet with arousal.

 

He bent over her, and his mouth covered her swollen nipple. Her fingers ran through his hair while he played with her sensitive bud. She arched under him. Soft moans escaped her lips as he gorged on her breasts to his heart’s content. His cock was hard and demanding, growing larger as he fondled and creased her breasts. Finally, his lips traced a line down to her taut stomach where he took his time and paid homage to her belly button.

 

“Riley, please,” she begged.

 

He loved it when she was on the same page as him. Riley slipped down her torso until his head was bent between her legs. He inhaled the musky scent of her arousal, and licked her pussy, tasting how sweet she was just for him.

 

She buckled under him, unable to do anything but succumb to the torture he inflicted on her. He could feel her need and responded to it by picking up pace. When his tongue pushed down on her sensitive clit, she burst into a scream and the orgasm rippled through her. She shuddered and trembled while he gave her a moment to recover.

 

He was bristling with impatience, needing to take her then. He climbed on top of her and took position. As if understanding his need, she opened her legs and wrapped them around him. His cock found her wet pussy, and he dove inside without pause. Her muscles expanded to accommodate him, and he slipped inside. For a moment, they were joined together, hip to hip, and there was nothing better than this.

 

Riley put his hands on the bed and moved out. She gasped as he rose up, and squealed when he thrust deep inside her once more. He watched the play of emotions on her face, loving the fact that he could drive her to such heights. Her eyes were closed and her lips trembled. He kissed her once more, needing to feel the intimate connection. He raised his head and bore down again.

 

In and out, he moved, setting a demanding pace, but she matched him stroke for stroke. He rode her hard, but she wasn’t one to tire easily. Her breasts heaved as his hips jerked while his legs clung to her.

 

Over and over, he pounded into her with enough force to make her squeal. Finally, she shuddered and screamed, her orgasm rushing through and enveloping her. He felt her entire body vibrate, and only then did Riley allow himself to give in to his own pleasure. He came inside her, his orgasm hard and wonderful, and before his weight could crush her, he rolled off. His heart beat so loudly he thought it might break free from his ribcage. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “I love you, Tania.”

 

“I love you, Riley.”