chapter Thirty-Four
Locatellis
Tasha
“You are what I’ve always seen for my LaSalle. The gypsy was what he wanted, but I knew she wouldn’t fit his world,” Uncle Alfanzo says, holding up his hand when I go to protest. “Listen, young Bella. I mean no disrespect to the dead. Ellen was a great wife and mother, she just wasn’t what my nephew needs.”
“What makes you think I am,” I ask cautiously.
I woke the morning after we arrived in Italy to Minnie sitting on the side of my bed. She informed me that her Uncle wanted to meet me. It took me a minute to realize she meant the Don that LaSalle is here to replace.
I have been staying in his lovely home since. Don Alanzo’s wife and daughters-in-law have made me feel so at home. I feel like I’m already family.
I haven’t seen LaSalle in almost a week. I’ve gotten to know D’Angelo a lot better, along with Marco and a few other cousins. I think Marco and I have buried the hatchet. He teases me enough about saving all our lives and getting us to Italy safely. All Marco’s words.
I am humoring Uncle Alfanzo. I don’t really think there is much to talk about when it comes to me and LaSalle. He has made his decision. The fact that I haven’t seen or heard from him speaks volumes to me.
“We’re a close family and city here. The walls talk. I heard about what happened upon your arrival. You cause a fire to rise in LaSalle, and you’re not afraid of it. You’re drawn to it,” Uncle Alfanzo says, as he leads me through his beautiful garden.
We have taken a walk in it almost every day since I’ve been here. I like Uncle Alfanzo. He is straightforward and tells it like it is. You can tell he is used to running shit.
I smile and shake my head. “I don’t know about all of that.”
“I do. The gypsy girl was not the only one that knows and sees things. I can see it in your eyes. You will become what LaSalle needs most. A partner, someone to allow him to be him. The hand that pulls him from the destruction that wants to claim him,” Uncle Alfanzo says with a wisdom you can’t help but feel.
I sigh and stop walking, causing him to as well. We turn to each other, as I gather my thoughts. I want to be respectful, but I want to be truthful as well.
“LaSalle has made his choice. I don’t fit into that,” I say finally.
“Ah, you still believe you two have a choice. What you and LaSalle have is what my father called, ‘Anima della mia anima,’ Uncle Alfanzo chuckles. “Do you understand this?”
“Soul of my soul,” I repeat in English.
“Ah, sì, very good. This isn’t love you control. This is love that controls itself. Do you understand? LaSalle was made for you and you for him. My nephew doesn’t know his head from his ass at this time, but this does not change who you are to him,” Alfanzo smiles down at me and cups my cheek.
“He will come to you. You will see. You have the spirit of a Locatelli. You will fight for what’s yours. Let LaSalle be a dragon. In a few days, he will come licking his wounds and wanting to bury his head in your bosom, because he too knows how much he needs you.”
I’m in a stubborn mood, so I pout and grumble. “Who says I’ll want him then?”
Uncle Alfanzo throws his head back and gives a raspy laugh. He kisses my forehead when his laughter subsides. His eyes twinkle with his next words.
“You, Bella Donna, are his other half. You and my nephew roar together or not at all. The world will know the Locatelli name and you will play no small part in that.
“Embrace her,” he taps my chest. “She will guide you through this life. The fierce warrior within you has waited her turn long enough. Let her claim her king. It is time.”
Even hours after Uncle Alfanzo loops his arm through mine to walk us back to the main house, his words echo in my head. Maybe putting the ball in LaSalle’s court isn’t the best strategy. Clearly, he’s doing nothing with it.
~B~
Sam
My parents and my uncle felt I needed to cool off. It’s been a week. I’m done cooling off. I want to talk to Tasha about the way things were left off a week ago.
I’ve gotten Cam to look after the kids for me. It’s a little over a thirty-minute drive to my uncle’s home. I was pissed when I found out my mother ran Tasha off to stay with my uncle.
There is so much Tasha and I need to sort out. Like the fact that our engagement party will be thrown this weekend. I haven’t told her and I made sure no one else would.
There will be no changing the date. Everyone, and I mean everyone will be flying in for this gala. It is almost like a ceremony of witness. I’ve made this promise and now approval will be given on all that has transpired.
It is old school shit that I can’t get around, Don Locatelli or not. To the honored parties, this is my first official action. My engagement will be held in as high regard as all of my decisions as Don.
We are not just putting on a show for Misha any longer. This has to look real to everyone. Misha, this bullshit all started with him.
I’m dragging Monique into my life because of him. However, the moment I step into the dining room in my uncle’s house, I’m not sure what I think I’m dragging her into. Sitting before me, is Tasha, my uncles, and my cousins all laughing and ribbing each other over cards.
God, she’s gorgeous. She looks like she belongs here, which is all wrong because the women never hang around. Yet, my Tasha fits right in. From the looks of things she’s cleaning house.
I shake my head and clear my throat. All eyes turn to me. I watch as Tasha’s eyes light up, but that light quickly dims. I have plans of lighting them back up.
“Look at this,” D’Angelo says. “I told you if we let you hang out, you would draw the wrong crowd.”
“I don’t blame him. I would come for my woman too, if she were hanging with the better looking side of the family,” Marco says, before roaring with laughter.
“You wish you were better looking,” I throw back.
“It’s not a wish. You come close, but no cigar, dear cousin,” D’Angelo ribs.
I flick my hand under my chin, in a gesture to flip my cousins off. My eyes stay glued on the source of my presence. Her full lips thin and she turns back to her cards.
I’m pissed off by her dismissal. I take advantage of my uncle’s rustic old dining room table. The heavy oak table can seat about twenty. Instead of chairs it has two benches on either side of the table and two large, intricate chairs at either end of the table.
I shrug out of my leather jacket, tossing it aside. Walking over to Tasha, I climb right in behind her, not caring that there isn’t enough room on the bench for her ass and mine. I push forward into the seat, lifting her onto my lap.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She hisses over her shoulder.
I lean into her ear. “Why do you look so comfortable amongst killers?”
“Because I am one,” she snaps.
I throw my head back and laugh. My chest squeezes. I’ve missed her so fucking much. I wrap my arms around her waist and squeeze. I feel the tension float from her body as she relaxes into my embrace.
“We need to talk. Come home with me,” I breathe into her ear.
“I’m fine here,” she shakes her head.
I slip my hand under the table where no one else can see. I bunch up her skirt, reaching for her thick thigh as I expose it. Everyone at the table has returned to their boisterous conversation and teasing one and another.
It’s just me and my woman as far as I’m concerned. Tasha reaches to stop my hands ascent, but I’m stronger. I lick the shell of her ear.
“You have mistaken my command for a question, Baby. I’ll have to fix that. I miss you. We have shit to talk through and then I need to be inside you until the sun comes up,” I whisper.
I feel the shudder that runs through her. I glide my fingers up between her legs, beneath her panties to test her seam. She’s already wet for me. She squeezes her legs closed, trapping my hand between her warm brown thighs.
Tasha leans her head back on my shoulder, turning her face to my ear. “Why do you insist on embarrassing me all the time,” she hisses low.
“Are you really embarrassed,” I ask, wiggling my hand for better access of her cleft. “I feel like you’re more turned on than embarrassed.”
“LaSalle,” she growls, but gasps when my cock twitches against her ass.
“I want you, Tasha. You know I want you,” I whisper in her ear.
“Stop,” she moans low.
“I won’t stop until you understand you’re leaving with me,” I reply.
She presses her forehead to my neck. To everyone else we just look like we are having a little chat. My soaked fingers know differently.
“Okay,” she whimpers, as she drops her cards to the table.
Her head lifts and I look down into her lust filled eyes. I can’t resist her full lips. I bend my head and capture them. It’s been too long since we’ve kissed.
“I told you the dragon would come,” my uncle chuckles over everyone else, when I break the kiss and place my forehead to hers. “You have a fine woman, LaSalle. Don’t take that lightly. Now get out of my house. See you Saturday, Bella. I will miss our walks.”
“I will miss them too,” Tasha blushes. “Thank you for making me feel so welcome.”
“You are welcome. You’re family,” my uncle nods.
I stand taking her body with me. I move to the head of the table to kiss my uncle’s cheek. He winks at me and mouths, ‘go.’ He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
I grab my jacket, pulling my woman out of the house with me. I’ll have her things brought to the house later. If I have it my way she won’t be needing any clothes for a very long time.
We are in the car and on the road, before she can protest. I don’t give her time to change her mind. I need us to sort this out. I need her.
“You want to talk, start talking,” Tasha says, not even two minutes into the drive.
“I was wrong,” I huff.
“About what exactly?”
“For how I handled things. For how I talked to you in front of our family. I was wrong to think the way to keep you safe was to let you go,” I turn to look at her briefly. “I was wrong to ever allow you to think I don’t want you.”
“Clarify something for me. Is it that you want me in your bed, or have you figured out whether or not you want me?”
“I want you. I want us. I have so much inside of me that I’m warring with, but the truth is. I keep coming back to one thing. I need you. I feel complete when I’m with you,” I reply.
Tasha is silent for the next few minutes. I’m not sure she’s going to respond at all as we draw close to home. I breathe in relief when her soft voice meets my ears again.
“I can’t imagine what you must go through every day with all of your responsibilities on top of what you’ve been through. Because of that and because I’ve read the letters you slipped under the door, I will cut you some slack.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you or your men that I was going to the apartment. But in all fairness, I thought Jackie was tailing me. I figured he reported in. I wasn’t trying to sneak away.
“I just needed some sleep and that wasn’t happening in that house,” she sighs. “I’m sorry too. I get that you worry for my safety and I get why, but I’m not her. I can handle myself and if you need me to, I will always be there to hold you down.”
“I’m not wired that way, Baby. I need to protect you,” I grumble.
She reaches over to run her fingers through my hair. “For now, we’ll agree to disagree, LaSalle. I know you will protect me if you have to, but I can hold my own.”
I snort. “Tell me something I don’t know,” I mutter. I contemplate my next words, hoping they don’t return us to square one. “Our engagement party will be Saturday, at Uncle Alfanzo’s house.”
I see her head whip in my direction out of the corner of my eye. I feel like I can hear her counting from one to ten in her head. I wait, wondering what she will say.
“We haven’t spoken in a week,” she gasps out.
“The Alliance is coming in. I couldn’t cancel because we were having a disagreement,” I sigh.
“So, is this why you came to make up?” she huffs.
I place the car in park, as I pull in front of the house. I turn in my seat to look at her. Her little nostrils are flaring, telling me she’s angry again. I’m pissed off too. What do I have to say for her to get that I want her regardless of all the other bullshit going on?
I choose to say nothing at all. Instead, I get out the truck and round it to open her door. When I have the door open, I reach in and scoop her out of the seat.
Kicking the door closed, I head for the house through the side door that will lead straight up to my bedroom. It’s faster and hopefully I’ll make it without interruption. Tasha doesn’t say a word, she just glares at me. I’ll take that for now. It’s better than her fighting me.
When we’re in the room behind closed doors, I set her on her feet and look down at her. I lick my lips and I think of all the ways I intend to show her that she’s mine. We will get married because it’s what I want.
“I want to make something clear. I don’t do shit I don’t want to. If I didn’t want to be engaged to you, if I didn’t want to marry you, I wouldn’t,” I reach out and pull her into me.
“I came for you because you belong with me. I’m tired of sleeping alone, and I’m not talking about making love. I miss your body next to mine. I miss talking to you before I close my eyes at night. I miss waking up and watching you sleep.
“I love you and I want to spend the rest of my fucked-up life with you. I’m choosing you. Over my demons, my fears, my brokenness,” I finish with a chaste kiss to her lips.
Tasha big brown eyes shine up at me. “I love you too,” she whispers.
I pinch her chin between my fingers. “Good, because you belong to me. You’re asking to walk through this hell with me, and I know I won’t make it out if I don’t allow you to. So, you have every fucked-up piece of me for your own,” I murmur against her lips.
“Have you ever thought that maybe it’s my job to walk through that hell with you?” She asks, as she places her soft hand against my jaw. “Maybe I love every fucked up piece that I want to call my own.
“I know this is who you are, LaSalle. I know what I’m getting into. You want this? You want to rise from this? I’m here to help. If it’s to watch over the children, if you just need me to rub your back, or if you need me to lay down a body for you, that’s what I’m here for.
“And if all you need is to take my body for your own, that’s yours too,” Tasha says, with so much love I can’t hold back any longer.
There is no turning back from here.
~B~
Tasha
I just barely get my words out of my mouth before LaSalle crushes my lips with his. He kisses me so deeply I feel like I need his air to breathe. I reach to lock my fingers in his hair.
As I tighten my hold, he deepens the kiss. LaSalle reaches to release the ties of my wrap dress. The first touch of his warm hands takes me over the edge. I wiggle to get closer to him, trying to climb his body.
LaSalle’s strong hands cup my cheeks, lifting me up as my legs wrap around him. His lips move to my neck, where he flicks his tongue and groans. He moves towards the bed, placing me in the center.
I reach to pull his shirt over his head, while he pushes my dress from my shoulders. It’s not rushed movements, but we move together as one. Never an awkward step.
When I have his shirt off, he reaches for it and tosses it away. I place my hands on his smooth skin and run them up from his abs to his shoulders. LaSalle wraps an arm around me, splaying his hand on my back, pulling me into his chest, and taking my lips once more.
I always get the feeling he is holding back from me. As if he is taming himself, so not to scare me away. I don’t want him to hold back. We have done enough of that.
“I want every part of you, broken, damaged, hurt, scarred, rough, and tortured. I’ll give you my best, if you give me your all. Don’t hold back, LaSalle,” I whimper. “I can take whatever you unleash.”
His grey eyes fly to mine, and I see the storm brewing in them, before he captures my lips hungrily. His hand grabs the back of my neck as he devours me. He reaches between us and rips my bra from my body.
His large palm cups one of my breasts, while he drinks from my lips. Sucking my lips into his mouth as he holds me tight, his hold is possessive, but I feel nothing but safe.
My panties are next to be torn from my body. He breaks the kiss to allow his lust filled eyes to roam over me. Lifting to his knees, he releases his belt and unzips his pants. I lick my lips as his long, thick, and veiny dick springs free.
Looking at his pulsing shaft reminds me of a mini bat. I bite my lip in wonder and awe. All the things the girls said, that day they called themselves preparing me, comes to mind.
“I can see you want to taste me,” LaSalle rasps, while kicking off his shoes and chucking his pants that he has pulled off.
I look up to meet his eyes and he has a brow lifted. I nod my head. I haven’t gone down on him yet. He has gone down on me a number of times.
He moves to his knees, in the center of the bed. Crooking a finger, he beckons me forward. I move to my knees and crawl to him. LaSalle locks his hand in my loose coils, tugging my head gently, but purposefully to his shaft.
I reach for him and open my mouth. We moan in unison when he slides only a fraction of the way into my mouth. I like the feel of him on my tongue. Heavy and velvety. I wrap my lips around him and he slides in like silk.
My eyes flicker up to his, knowing he likes eye contact. The look on his face is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. His jaw ticks just before his lips part and his brows knit. His eyes have never been so dark.
I can see the pleasure written all over his face. His hips start to thrust forward and I give in to the rhythm he sets, as I start to work my hand across what I can’t fit into my mouth. He’s so large.
I relax my throat, as all the girls coached and take him all the way back. LaSalle growls and throws his head back. I hum in pleasure and suck harder, hollowing my cheeks.
I reach between his legs for his heavy balls and my reward is a throaty groan, followed by a string of curses. I tilt my head, bobbing for more. LaSalle’s grip tightens and his hips thrust harder. The rough play is turning us both on.
LaSalle reaches to cup my ass cheek and squeezes. His hand then slides between my legs and he begins to stroke me. I’m so wet, his fingers slip right in. I breathe through my nose as I take my own task up a notch.
“Fuck, Baby,” LaSalle grunts, when I slurp and suck his tip, before taking him whole again. “Just like that. Suck my cock just like that.”
Who am I to deny my man? I give him just what he wants. I suck him in deep, slurping, drooling, and bobbing away. All while staring up into those grey eyes that have become so intense, I feel his stare in my pussy.
“You’re so wet. You like sucking my cock, don’t you? Fuck, Tasha,” he hisses when I take him so deep I gag.
I’m no quitter, I keep sucking right through it. It’s so worth it. When LaSalle tosses his head back and growls out his release, I feel like I just won the biggest prize ever. I accept the challenge to swallow every drop.
It’s a lot, but I don’t disappoint my teachers. From the look on LaSalle’s face, I haven’t disappointed him either. He wipes the corner of my mouth with his thumb and places it to my lips. I suck the salty, sweetness from his fingers, bringing a smile to his lips.
Cupping the back of my neck, he brings my face to his to kiss me. He shifts us so that I’m lying beneath him. I moan when he pinches my nipple. He breaks the kiss to give attention to that same peak, with his lips.
“Never touching you again would kill me,” he murmurs against my breast. “Even I know, I was talking shit when I said I would let you go. I want you so bad, I can’t think straight.”
With those words, he kisses his way down between my legs. The grip he places on my thighs, is something more than possessive. His hold speaks of hunger and need, but also somehow tenderness.
He devours my center the same way. He’s not eating my pussy, it’s like he is worshiping it. Making a promise to my flower, a promise to always make it bloom, blossom, and flourish under his touch.
His hums and groans are only sweet notes to this symphony of pleasure. I lock my fingers in his hair and let my hips enjoy the ride. When LaSalle grasps my waist, and tilt my hips, so he can nearly crawl into me, I bow my back off the bed screaming in ecstasy.
My entire body quakes, while LaSalle licks up every drop. My body feels heavy and my lids start to droop. LaSalle is having none of that though. With my hips still tilted up, he thrusts into me.
We both cry out together, his lips covering mine swiftly. He drinks in my cries of pleasure as he rocks my body hard. This isn’t the love making I’m used to.
This is LaSalle unleashed, I can feel it down in my toes. He reaches for a hand full of my hair, leading and guiding me through his searing kiss. They say be careful what you ask for. I wasn’t ready.
“That’s right, let that pussy come for me,” he growls. “Don’t ever run from me again, Tasha. I don’t care how pissed off I make you. This pussy belongs to me.”
“Yes,” I cry out. It’s the only thing I can say.
This man is putting his all into this. That big, fat, dick of his is owning me. My mind is blown as my orgasm hits hard. I cry out his name, but it sounds more like I’m speaking in tongues.
LaSalle pulls out, determination covering his face. “On your knees, ass to me, grab the top of the mattress and hold on,” he commands.
So dazed from my orgasm, I’m slow to comprehend and move. LaSalle just watches me, licking his lips as he gives me time to process and move. When I ease into position, he slaps my ass, just before lifting and spreading my cheeks.
He pierces my core with is thickness, causing me to moan into the mattress. The room fills with the sound of LaSalle cursing, his hips slapping my ass, and me keening into the mattress. He presses a hand to the center of my back and slaps my right ass cheek.
“Fuck, this pussy is so good. You have no idea how good this pussy feels,” LaSalle pants.
If I were capable of speech, I’d tell him that his dick is just as fucking good. Instead, I tighten my hold on the mattress as he pounds into me. I gush around LaSalle, causing him to growl and pound harder.
He reaches beneath me, zeroing in on my button. His other hand fists my hair turning my head. He leans into my ear, as he strums my clit.
“You’re right, we’ve been waiting long enough to be together. I won’t wait any longer to have you as my wife. Another month won’t go by without you being mine,” he breathes in my ear.
“LaSalle,” I whimper.
“Yes, Baby,” he grunts. “Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need. You will have the world set at your feet, Tasha. Just ask and it’s yours.”
At this moment, I don’t want the world. I want him. I reach for his hand locked in my hair and intertwine my fingers with his. LaSalle licks from my shoulder to my ear and groans.
“Dimmi quello che vuoi,” he commands in Italian. That sexy ass accent coming through strong and clear.
It becomes clear to me just what I want. The answer to his question is formed in the way he has asked it. We’ve danced around it time and time again. This is who he really is.
“I want you, LaSalle. Not the man you’re trying to be. I want you, the man you are,” I say breathlessly.
A broken sound rips from his chest. With two more thrusts of his hips, he empties into me. My own release is relentless. My heart stutters a few beats from the impact of it. He splays one hand on my belly and reaches for my hand still clinging to the mattress with the other, lacing our fingers together.
“My mother will help you. You have a week from the engagement party. Get anything you want. If it looks like you can’t get it, come to me. I will make it happen, but you have one week,” he pants, out of breath. Then kisses my head. “You will be Mrs. Locatelli a week from Saturday.”
I’m too weak to protest. When LaSalle does move, pulling from my body. He tugs me onto his chest as he lies on his back. Both of his arms band around me.
“I love you. I was never angry at you. I was angry that I wasn’t there for you,” LaSalle grumbles into my hair. “I’m sorry for how I handled things in front of everyone.”
I cut him off. “If you dish, make sure you can take,” I kiss his chest. “I’ve observed you enough to know that was who you really are, but if you ever embarrass me like that again, Baby. I’m not going to run. I’m going to make sure your dick is nice and dry for two weeks.”
The room is silent for a few seconds, when I look up he’s staring at me with a smirk on his lips. I wink at him and he roars with laughter. Oh, God, laughter suits him. He looks younger and so handsome.
“You know my aunt has known my uncle’s mistress for years,” he teases.
“You know I carry two guns, with me at all times?” I lift a brow to make my point.
He laughs again, cupping the side of my face, he runs a finger over my lips. “You will never have to worry about where to lay your head, what will fill your stomach, what clothes will cover your back or another woman. I will forever be all you need, and you are all that I need and want.”
I swallow my emotions and blink a few times. I bite my lip as a question arises. I’ve thought of it once or twice in the past four weeks.
“What is it,” he coaxes when I don’t speak up.
“And if I want a baby?” I whisper.
I yelp when I find myself suddenly on my back. LaSalle eases into my body and stills. Just when I thought his eyes couldn’t turn any darker, they have.
“If you’re on birth control, it stops now. I want you pregnant and growing with my child. Does that answer your question,” he breathes, but waits for no answer, as he takes me to places I never want to come back from.