Matt was shocked at her statement. How could she be so beautiful and not have ever had sex?

“How is that possible?” he asked.

“I was waiting until I met the right person, I guess. I didn’t date very seriously in high school. And nursing school is so crazy, there isn’t much time for that. Years passed and…” She lifted a shoulder to shrug.

Matt closed his eyes. He wanted her badly. He was raging hard inside his jeans, but a virgin? He didn’t want that kind of responsibility. To be her first. She’d remember that forever, and it should be with someone she had a future with. At least someone she loved and could date for a while. Not him, who would only bring her down with him.

“We should stop,” he said. He tried to push her back, but she leaned into him and pressed her mouth to his.

“I don’t want to,” she said.

He swallowed hard. What was the right thing to do, here? “I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for.”

“I’m ready.”

“But we barely know each other. Don’t you want to be in love first?”

“Maybe that will come later.” She kissed along his neck, sending shivers through him. How could he resist her?

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He wouldn’t bother asking again. If she wanted him, and he’d given her every chance to say no, then he had no reason to feel bad.

He scooped her up and carried her into her bedroom. “I want to do this right.” He lay her down and hovered over her, looking deep into her eyes. “To make it special for you.”

“It is.” She reached up to put her hand to the back of his neck and pull his face down to kiss her.

Her robe had fallen open, and he sucked on her bare nipples. He reached down, under her panties again and rubbed her clit. He wanted to make sure she was ready so it wouldn’t be painful.

She moaned and moved with the motion of his hand. “That feels good.”

He pulled her panties down and let his tongue explore around and inside her. When she felt nice and wet, he returned to kiss her.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She bit her lip and nodded.

Matt slipped out of his pants and let his erection free. He pushed her legs apart and positioned himself. He’d never done this before—taking someone’s virginity. It felt strange to know his was the first penis to ever enter her.

He pressed the tip of his head at her opening and pushed in the smallest amount. There was some resistance and he didn’t want to do this too hard. He pressed a little harder until he felt her open and let him in.

He slid in slowly and deeply, then paused. “Okay?”

She nodded.

He leaned down to kiss her and moved slowly in and out of her. When she relaxed, she moved her body with him, pushing up her hips to meet his, and moaning at the pleasure.

The slow movement was almost too much for him. He had to stop to keep from coming. For her first time, he wanted to make sure she came first.

He pushed in deep and made circles with his hips, rubbing her clit with his pelvis. He felt her tighten as her breathing sped and he knew she was close. He sped up a little and thrust into her until she let out a cry and shuddered.

She lay back and smiled. He kissed along her neck and let himself come moments later. He pulled out of her slowly and lay beside her, stroking her cheek.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Better than okay.”

She turned to face him and started kissing him. As they continued to kiss and let their hands roam over each other, he grew hard again. He couldn’t get enough of her.

She surprised him by climbing on top of him. She trailed her fingers along his chest and down until she gripped his cock. She stroked him gently before lifting herself to slid him inside her.

He grabbed her hips and this time, he wasn’t nearly so slow and cautious. He slammed her down on him, sending his cock deep inside her. She rode him, bouncing up and down while moaning.

When she cried out loudly a moment later, he was surprised she’d come so fast. He didn’t bother holding back this time and let his load loose inside her.

“Damn, woman,” he said.

She lay down beside him, panting. “God. I shouldn’t have waited so long to do this.”

He chuckled. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Mmm, I sure did.” She lay her leg over him and they rested together.

They drifted off into a light sleep. When Matt started to wake, he found her ass pressing into him as he curled around her. She was so warm and curvy that when she stirred and pressed into him, he hardened.

He reached down to stroke her from behind. She moaned in her half-sleep state and pressed back into his hand. She soaked his hand and turned her head to kiss him.

He slid into her from behind. He hooked his arm under her leg and pulled her closer, slamming into her hard and fast.

“Oh yes!” she cried out and her body shuddered in pleasure.

He came when he felt her come. He stayed inside her until he went soft and slipped out.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he said.

“Me either. I’m glad you were my first. I never knew it could feel so good.”

“Maya, I don’t just want you. I want to be with you.”

“Really?” She turned to fully face him. “I want to be with you.”

She nuzzled in close to him, and he felt his chest warm with joy. She could be someone he really loved.

He spent the weekend with her. They scarcely left the bed, but they did make time to eat and sleep. There was also plenty of conversation. He asked all about her schooling and work. She asked about his. He admitted to as much as he could without getting into the finer details of the terrible position his father had left him in.

When he finally left her on Sunday evening, he kissed her a long goodbye. They planned to see each other again soon. He wanted to complete the task he had to do for Antonio and get out of there so he could be with her and not worry that she was in danger.

That morning, he went to meet his contact. This time, he was to pick up the drugs and make the payment. It was even riskier that Antonio would hand him thousands of dollars rather than a load of drugs. If something happened or Matt took off with the money, Antonio would kill him.

Luckily, the exchange went as planned. He drove his car full of drugs to the restaurant and went inside to see Antonio.

“It’s done,” Matt said.

“Very good, Matty. I knew you wouldn’t let me down again.”

“So, we’re even, right? I’ve paid off everything my father owed you. I’m done.”

“Done?” Antonio steepled his fingers and looked over them at Matt. “What makes you say that?”

“I’ve done what you asked. You said this was the last task.”

“Oh sure.” Antonio nodded. “It was. Your last task as a solider. Now, you’ll become part of the family.”

Matt shook his head. “I don’t want that.”

“Too bad. You’ve proven yourself to us. You should be glad, Matty. No one comes in and works for us then walks away.”

“But…”

“I apologize if you did not understand the arrangement.”

“I don’t want this life. I only did those things for you to pay for what my father owed and to protect them.”

Antonio nodded. “I think you’re starting to understand. You protect your family by becoming part of mine.”

Matt slowly realized what Antonio was saying. If he didn’t keep working for him, his family was in danger. His mouth dropped open in shock. How could he have gotten into this mess?

“I think you know our two new recruits.” Antonio waved across the room to two men Matt hadn’t noticed before.

He looked over and saw the same two men who’d beaten him up, then Matt had beaten up at Maya’s.

“I thought you knew each other.” Antonio grinned, showing his teeth. “Turns out, they’re not too happy about what you did to them. Shame. They’ve given me some valuable about you, Matt. Or rather, about Maya.”

Matt’s mouth went dry. No. “Leave her out of this. She knows nothing and she has nothing to do with any of this!”

“Exactly. And you can keep it that way. You have a choice now, Matt. You join the family and do what I say, working for me. You’ll be rewarded handsomely. It’s quite a good job. You should be grateful to me. Or. You can leave right now.” He gestured toward the door with a blank face.

“I can leave?”

“You can leave. But if you don’t join the family, I can’t guarantee the safety of yours. Or your little girlfriend.”

Matt ground his teeth. “Fine.” He glared at Antonio. “It’s not like you’ve given me a real choice.”

Antonio smiled. “I’m glad you understand.”

Matt left, his chest filled with turmoil. If he wanted to keep Maya safe and keep her out of this mafia life, there was only one thing he could do. Stay away from her forever. He swallowed the lump in his throat and drove home.