Carmine

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Since the second I caved in to Eva’s pull, something has changed and I’m unable to leave my apartment. I’ve never been home this often – the only time I’ve gone out was to get Brandon’s notebook from my soldier – but it’s entirely calming, a feeling I never experience being part of a crime organization. And each day, I enjoy her presence more while we fuck and eat whenever we want.

On Friday afternoon, after exploring Eva’s delectable body all morning, I shower while she takes a bath. Once I’ve dried off, I move to the sink next to the marble tub, and when she lifts her toes above the water, wriggling them, my attention sweeps up her shapely body, lingering at her cleavage that glistens from the water. A grin curves her lips and she leans her head back, watching me with a serene expression on her lovely face as I get my razor and cream to shave my beard.

“How do you find joy after everything that you’ve been through?” I ask, scraping the razor up my throat.

“Because of you.” For a moment her lashes lift and her gaze meets mine directly, her stormy grey eyes wide and intrigued, the very frankness of her look, whether consciously or unconsciously, a feminine lure to a man.

And for the first time, I wish things were different, because a part of me wants to keep her. She’s the only woman I ever denied and actually got to know before I fucked her. I don’t want her to be one in a string of women – the realization hits me hard.

While I finish shaving and dab cologne on my jaw, she mutters, “How do you find joy, Carmine?”

I arc a brow, turn around, and glance suggestively at her breasts.

Eva rolls her eyes. “Never mind, you’re going to give me an asinine comment anyway.”

I simply show her a lopsided grin. “You asked.” Then I catch her ankle, yanking her closer as she grips the edge of the tub and shrieks while water sloshes over the side of it.

“Carmine!”

I release her as she sits up, her head at my groin. “I was actually not going to make an asinine comment.”

“What were you going to say then?” she inquires gently, tracing a finger over my abs in a soothing manner as moisture drips down her skin, beading at her hard nipple.

“I thought I’d found joy, but it always felt like something was missing,” I admit without thinking because she weaves a spell around me, causing my cock to twitch.

And she utters, “Were you lonely too, Carmine?”

I nod. “Sometimes.” Stroking my fingers through her hair, I comb back the wet strands, solely because I desire to touch her.

“I told you we’re all just looking for something. But once you have it, you have to fight to hold on to it. You have to fight for what you want in this life.”

Her words ring true, and I start to comprehend how she could survive in my criminal environment. All the Syndicate does is fight for what we want, for our wealth, for our power. She understands the world far better than other women. I could tell from the beginning that she’s a warrior.

“You’re right,” I respond, and her smile becomes wider before she presses a kiss to my abs, an astoundingly affectionate gesture.

“Then why did you never let anyone close before? You’ve met a lot of women.” She makes a face, yet winds her arms around my middle.

Since I want to set her at ease, I reveal, “Because they weren’t what I was looking for.”

She bites her lip but doesn’t manage to hide her pure elation. Bending down, I kiss the top of her head. “By the way, I have a family dinner tonight. I should go, although I’d rather unleash more of my depraved fantasies on you.”

At first, Eva smirks, but then she scoots back into the tub, objecting, “No.” And she presses her foot against my stomach. “Go. If you don’t go and regret it later, you’ll blame me.”

I tilt my head, retorting sarcastically, “That’s true.”

Swiftly, she skims her hand across the surface of the water, trying to splash me, but I step aside steadily and stroll out. “I’ll just have to fuck you hard when I return.”

“I’ll be waiting – while raiding your fridge,” she comments.

Amused, I laugh unrestrainedly. The kind of laugh only Eva Conley elicits from me. When I look back, she flashes me a grin before dunking her head.

I hurriedly get dressed, and it occurs to me that I’m not in the mood to go; however, I never miss my weekly family dinner.

***

I’m last to arrive at my parents’ apartment, which is located several floors below mine in the Astoria Tower. My mother lets me inside, leading me to the living room, where my father, Adriano, and Mary are already settled around the dinner table with their partners, and I greet them.

Adriano’s cuddling his six-month-old daughter as he peers up. “Brother, I haven’t seen you at the club for two days...”

I disregard his comment and sit down next to Mary, who’s practically on Henry’s lap as they huddle together.

My mother places a large bowl with spaghetti and meatballs in the center next to freshly baked bread, and the aroma of tomatoes fills the air.

Eva would devour this meal.

Tactlessly, my mother pipes in, “Carmine seems to be very busy these days. Maybe someone else is hogging his time...”

Adriano studies me intently while Cam frowns at me – I catch it from the corner of my eye as I send my mother a flat stare. Something about the way Adriano and Cam evaluate me during dinner concerns me, but I’m preoccupied with thoughts of a certain little thief who’s waiting for me upstairs. And as I’m confronted with Adriano doting on his wife and Henry’s ridiculous love eyes for my sister, I become aggravated. They want me to have that too, but the one person I want it with would be killed by this family.

Despite that fact, the sensation overcoming me increases with every minute, and I can’t expel it. I don’t want to be here. Enduring this inner conflict tears me up. I crave to be with Eva for one more night, because tomorrow is our meet with Pelayo, and afterward, she should leave the Loop because while the Syndicate will cease searching for her, Roman will not.

Therefore, I take my plate to the kitchen, but my mother follows me, so I say, “I’m going. I need to work out. By the way, do you have some chicken parm for me?”

Around a smile, she opens the fridge door and brings out a Tupperware container, handing it over. “You’re in luck. Your father wanted me to make some yesterday.”

“Thank you.” I kiss her cheek and dip my chin to the rest of the group before I vacate the apartment and take the elevator up to the thirtieth floor, eager to see her after being gone for only an hour.

***

Someone is lazing on the sofa, watching an action movie with the volume blasting and crunching on biscotti when I return and close the door with a bang.

Eva’s gaze shoots sideways before she points the remote at the TV to pause the movie.

As she sits up, the satin robe she’s wearing exposes a sliver of skin and she angles her head to the side. “That was quick...”

“I have no idea what you mean...” I feign ignorance as she taunts me.

“You can’t even stay away for an hour?” She clutches her chest in a theatrical manner, causing me to laugh, and my mood improves instantly as she rises and we meet halfway.

Holding up the Tupperware, I smirk, and when she raises both brows in question, I nod.

“Chicken parm from your mom! You’re so sweet!” she exclaims, gripping the lapels of my suit jacket and pressing her full lips against mine.

Sweet? A word no one has ever used to describe me before, and coming from her, I relish it.

I practically toss the container onto the couch and rake one finger down her cleavage. “I know how you can thank me.”

“Really?” she purrs. “How...?”

“Use your imagination,” I counter before untying her robe to slide it off her shoulders.

It anchors at her elbows while my eyes skim over her perky breasts and flared hips, covered in red lace panties.

“I want you completely naked,” I growl, effortlessly tearing the fabric of her panties with one hand. Taking it slow is always far from my mind when it comes to her.

Together, we stumble to the wooden credenza at our left, and I lean my ass against it as Eva’s fingers rake down the row of buttons on my dress shirt, which I hurry out of while she unfastens my slacks. She’s as impatient as I am with no hesitancy in her movement, except when she slows to feel her way around my stiffening cock while she looks up at me, which makes her touch more intimate – and very much wanted.

When Eva kneels down, taking my pants with her, I hold on to the edges of the credenza, and she scratches her nails up my thighs. Then she takes the base of my cock in hand and wraps her lips around the head, her tongue sneaking out to lick the tip, making me swell instantly.

Watching her, I thread both hands through her black hair and fist it, growling, “Suck it, Eva.”

And when her lips part, I plunge inside, retreating to thrust back in while keeping a tight grip on her head, and she relaxes her throat so that I can fit my thick length all the way in. As her mouth and tongue move like hot silk up and down my shaft, I continue to clutch her hair, shoving myself deeper, wanting more of that lashing tongue.

“Ahhh! Eva, suck harder.”

She takes me into her mouth as hard and deep as possible while pumping the base, almost eliciting an explosive orgasm. I groan as she whimpers while I fuck her mouth relentlessly. Brutally. Gagging her as I hit the back of her throat. And when her teeth scrape my skin, I feel my balls tightening, and I have to stop if I don’t want to blow my load.

“Up.” I pull her up with one hand tangled in her hair and rotate us to boost Eva onto the credenza, sliding her to the edge.

Hooking my arms under her knees, I press them toward her chest, forcing her to lie back while I lean forward to slant my mouth over hers, rubbing my hard cock against her wet pussy.

“Oh, Carmine,” she moans, caressing my face as her half-lidded eyes meet mine.

I ghost my lips down her throat, cleavage, and stomach, to the trail of hair, skimming my tongue up her center. Eva moans as I catch her ankles and plant them on the edge of the desk, giving myself a magnificent view of her glistening pussy. Then, without preamble, I start to devour her, spearing her with my tongue and tasting her wetness as she sifts her fingers into my hair. 

I worship her body to make sure she knows how much I want her, yet all the while, my cock is leaking and I crave to release inside her sweet pussy. But first, I want to bring her over the edge.

Trying to keep her somewhat still with my hands locked around her ankles as she bucks off the credenza, I consume her. I taste, then lick. I fuck her hard with my tongue, sucking and circling her clit.

“Oh, fuck!” Eva cries, and when she rasps my name and rotates her hips against my face, she climaxes, shuddering and moaning, roughly yanking my hair while pulling me into her.

I draw her entire clit inside my mouth and lap her up and down a few times before she goes slack. With legs wide open, she’s breathless as I kiss my way up her stomach and bite her rosy nipple, causing her body to arch. I hook her legs back with my arms again, spreading her wide, and I kiss her, possessing her before I nudge the tip of my dick inside and drive into her dripping wet pussy that takes me with little resistance.

“God, you feel too good wrapped around my cock,” I groan, rising up into a standing position and holding Eva’s ankles draped over my chest as I piston into her.

“Yes, Carmine. Harder!” she pants, raising her arms over her head and pressing her hands against the wall as I slam into her and revel in how passionate, loud, and fucking uninhibited she is. She trusts me enough to let me do anything to her and bend her in every position.

I skim my hands down her legs, making sure she feels me everywhere as I run a palm down her stomach, touching the place where our bodies meet and taking a deep breath, crazy with lust for her.

Lifting Eva to sit up, I kiss her, our teeth clashing as I carry her to the sofa behind us, and I quickly pull out, swing her around, and position her on all fours. Standing behind her, I place one foot on the sofa and sink into her pussy again, burying my cock deep while both of us groan.

Then I wind her hair around one hand and grasp her hip with the other, tugging her head back and growling into her ear, “I’m going to fuck you hard and fast, and you’re going to love it. Hold tight.”

Heeding my warning, she grips the back of the sofa tightly with one hand, and I drive into her easily because she’s soaking wet. She bows her back seductively and I watch my dick disappear into her hot channel while I squeeze her ass cheeks, spanking her once, and again, pushing in to the hilt. Then another thwack as she mewls with pleasure.

My palm comes around her stomach and down to her clit so that I can rub her as I circle my hips, and she moves her pussy against my hand, shuddering and screaming unashamedly while I thrust forward.

A low groan escapes me as I hammer inside her, flesh slapping together when Eva pushes back, screaming louder as I fuck her harder. I’ve wanted to take her like this since the first time I met her, and she doesn’t disappoint me.

Eva’s back curves, and I lay my palm on her shoulder as I grip the roots of her hair. And when I circle my hips a bit, I feel her inner walls milking my cock as she comes again. I roll my hips twice more, plunging with increased power and speed until pleasure overtakes me too, my cock spurting as I relish an intense climax that makes me shudder all the way to the tips of my toes, and I bottom out, my balls tightening when my peak bursts in my groin. Expelling a low, throaty growl, I collapse against Eva’s back while we both catch our breath. Then I release her hair, my forehead resting against her nape, and I cruise one palm down her arm. We remain in that position, kneeling on the sofa, for seconds, minutes – I don’t know.

But eventually, I whisper, “Later on, I’m going to fuck you slow and steady.”

I’m rewarded with a smile before I pull out of her and lead us to my bedroom downstairs – the most comfortable spot in my home to hang out in.

I lie down on my bed first, and Eva drapes half of her body over me as I hold her close to my chest while she entangles our legs. No words are needed, as they often aren’t with us.

The silence is soothing me.

The silence is tormenting me while various clashing thoughts haunt me. I’ve fucked so many nameless women in my life, yet it hits me that I don’t desire anyone else anymore. Eva’s beauty amazes me. While I’ve always had a great appetite for sex, with her, I’m hard all the time. I’m addicted to her pussy. No other woman has ever satisfied me in the way Eva does. She quenches my lust, and I always want more.

On top of that, her feisty yet laidback ways mesmerize me every day. She challenges me and entertains me, and I’ve come to enjoy our banter.

In hindsight, I know I should’ve let her go after that first peculiar night at Roman’s mansion, and I definitely shouldn’t have fallen for her, but I did. That’s the truth that burns in my soul. More importantly, I wish there wasn’t a time limit on this relationship that I shouldn’t be in. A time limit that’s coming closer and closer much too fast, within twenty-four hours now.

Goddammit!

I fall into a fitful sleep, not knowing how I’m going to send her away, even though I don’t have a choice.

***

Saturday rolls around too quickly, and I wake when I hear a ringing, seizing my phone from the nightstand without releasing Eva, who’s asleep in my arms. I squint one eye open, reading a message.

Adriano: Meet me at the club at noon to prep for Pelayo.

With a groan, I fling the phone aside and pull Eva’s naked body into mine, abhorring that the prep meeting will cut into my time with her.

Two hours later, I get up and shower hurriedly, kissing her lips as she stirs but remains asleep when I leave. The sooner I meet Adriano, the sooner I can get back.

***

Just as I arrive at Club 7, I receive another text from my brother.

Adriano: Luca and I are running late, so never mind. We’ll just meet tonight at eight.

The uneasiness I experienced during dinner last night re-emerges. Adriano’s usually extremely punctual; is he onto me?

This time, I don’t just tamp the edginess down, but I go into his office since I have the code to unlock the front door. Rummaging around through Adriano’s desk, I find nothing odd.

I exit the club, reliving the last week and realizing that both Adriano and Luca have been distant to me. And when I navigate through the slippery streets, I notice a black SUV tailing me. To check to see if I’m correct, I switch lanes twice, and the vehicle follows me with a few cars between us.

For my and Eva’s safety, I pass the Astoria, driving two blocks further and parking my BMW in front of a Starbucks. After I get out of my car, I suspiciously gaze around, and then Gwen comes strutting up to me.

“Hey, Carmine. I’m so glad to run into you.”

My attention snaps to her. “Hey.”

When she shifts closer, much too close, I’m apprehensive – I don’t believe in coincidences.

“We still have to schedule a new date,” she says.

How can a woman be this ignorant? Nevertheless, I play my part because red flags are going off in my head.

I nod good-humoredly. “Yeah. Maybe next week?”

“Sure.” She swipes open her phone and checks her calendar as I mention a random day.

I survey the area repeatedly, but I freeze when I see a flash of midnight black hair I’d recognize anywhere across the street. Even in a crowd of millions, I could pick Eva out in an instant.

“I’m actually in a hurry,” I hint to Gwen, and she smiles and pecks my cheek while I struggle not to lose my composure.

At that exact moment, Eva’s eyes meet mine and widen while time hangs heavy between us.

Luckily, Gwen walks away, not seeing her.

Much to my chagrin, a large, dark-haired man stops behind Eva and spins her around by her arm, flashing her a provoking grin before he speaks to her.

Why the hell did she leave my apartment and who the fuck is she talking to?

Darting around my car, I set out to cross the street, dodging traffic, while my blood simmers with rage and anxiety.