Chapter Seven
Alessa remained by Roberto’s side, his hand on her hip as he introduced her to several people. He acted proud, telling everyone she was a famous pastry chef, and that one day soon she would be opening up an upscale patisserie. She felt uneasy since last night, and really didn’t want to bring those feelings here. The more she thought about Roberto’s behavior, the more her gut clenched. Last night, he was aggressive. From his demanding kiss in the car to the way he spoke to her at her apartment and even tried to persuade her to let him stay the night, put her on guard.
His hand slid along her ass, and before she could reprimand him or move it, it slid back up.
“Alessa?” She heard her name and turned to see her uncle, Roger Preston. He squinted at Roberto, who smiled and then reached out his hand.
“Roger, good to see you. I was hoping we would meet up.”
Roger shook Roberto’s hand and her uncle eyed her over and smiled wide.
“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone. I thought you were still hanging around those troublemaking friends of yours and those trampy women,” Uncle Roger stated.
“How do you know Alessa?” Roberto interrupted.
“She’s my niece,” Roger said. “You look amazing, Alessa.”
She tightened up. What were the chances that Roberto knew her uncle? Had Calvin introduced them?
“We’ve known one another for years. Your uncle, which is a big surprise for me learning that, has assisted me with multiple business deals,” Roberto said, and she realized that if he was working with Roger then more than likely Roberto did some illegal business. Her uncle was scum, as was Calvin, who at that moment chose to appear with some bimbo blonde who looked as dumb as dirt on his arm, and not the same bimbo blonde she saw him with weeks ago. She rolled her eyes.
“We’ve worked together several times. Currently on a nice real estate transaction.”
“Yes, indeed. Which you need to update me on.”
“What’s going on over here?” Calvin asked, his eyes zeroing in on Alessa’s breasts and her body. She felt good for the moment, making him drool and knowing what he lost out on. Roberto pulled her closer, ran his palm along her hip to her belly in a possessive manner. He kissed her bare shoulder.
“Calvin, you know Alessa, I believe,” Roberto stated.
“Of course,” he said and reached out to take her hand but she refused to offer it to him. Instead, she turned in Roberto’s arms.
“I think I need a drink,” she whispered. His hand slid along her ass and then to her hip.
“Roger, join us for a drink and we’ll discuss something,” he said to Roger.
“Of course.”
“I’ll come along, too. Beverly can go mingle with Alessa while we men talk.” Calvin tried to dismiss her.
“I don’t think so,” Alessa said, but Roberto gripped her hip and gave her a scolding expression. She was shocked, and also embarrassed by the smug expression on Calvin’s face.
“Do as I say. Grab a drink with Beverly and then wait for me by the bar,” Roberto ordered.
“I’ll fend for myself, Roberto.” He gripped her arm tight, shocking her. Calvin chuckled.
“She needs discipline, my friend. She’s been around whores and scumbags like the Fiorre family, the men who are after the same real estate you are. Don’t worry, Roger and I know how to handle them. This deal will go through nicely,” Calvin said. She wondered what deal this was, and what it had to do with the Fiorres, but then Roberto whispered into her ear, “Do as I said. Don’t show disrespect again in front of anyone and especially not that dick after what he did to you.”
His words confused her. Wasn’t he being just as much as a dick by reprimanded her, manhandling her, and giving orders?
“Who is being a dick?” she whispered. He pulled her closer, gripped her upper arm so tight she knew it would be bruised.
“We’ll discuss this shortly. Don’t repeat what you heard to anyone, Alessa. Understood?” he asked.
She nodded and then he clenched her chin, tilted her head up toward him, and kissed her. “Stay nearby,” he ordered, and they walked away, Calvin with a smirk, Uncle Roger, too, and the blonde just fixed her boobs in the dress she wore and then smiled at Alessa.
“That’s some set you have on you. I think you’ve got me beat up top. You’ve done Calvin, too?” she asked Alessa, and Alessa felt sick to her stomach. What the hell had she gotten herself into here? Robert worked with and knew Uncle Roger and Calvin. Roberto’s attitude had changed over the last twenty-four hours, and now this mention of a deal and taking something from the Fiorre’s put her on alert.
She didn’t answer the blonde, who just kept talking.
“So this deal is big stuff,” she said and lowered her voice to whisper to her. “Don’t worry that they left you out. I’ve been around Calvin and his phone calls. I’ll tell you a secret, but don’t let Calvin know I told you. He’ll kill me.”
“What secret would that be?” Alessa asked, standing there and watching the men talking, looking so serious. It aggravated her. She worked so hard to stay away from her family and from Calvin, now somehow she wound up around them again.
“They’re trying to buy this block of property. Well, your boyfriend Roberto is. Who, by the way, loves blowjobs.”
Alessa widened her eyes, swinging her head toward the woman in shock.
“Yeah, totally,” she said, and Alessa was going to walk away but the blonde kept talking.
“Anyway, they’re screwing over these made men, which personally I think is suicide, but Roberto’s name is anonymous. The Fiorres don’t even know it’s him. Plus, Calvin said its part of revenge. That Roberto wants to go after them and these other men who did something to his brothers. I didn’t get all of it, but Roberto is out to hurt those men any way he can. Anyone close to them like these Fiorres will get theirs.”
She was shocked, angry, as she looked back toward the men and then Roger’s eyes landed on her then the blonde.
“I need to go,” Alessa said and started walking away.
Alessa got into the cab and headed home. She didn’t care about leaving Roberto there, her mind was on what the blonde told her. By the time she got to her apartment and was climbing up the stairs, she heard the footsteps and then saw Roberto coming toward her.
“Why did you leave?” He raised his voice as she stood by the open doorway to her apartment.
She swallowed hard.
“I think you should go. I’m not feeling well and—”
He shoved her into her apartment and closed the door. Her purse and keys fell to the floor. She was scared. He was a big man and he was angry, and into things she wanted nothing to do with. This wasn’t the man she had thought she got to know the last few weeks.
He stalked toward her, and she walked backward.
“Roberto, I want you to leave. I don’t want to see you again. I have too much going on in my—”
He struck her. Right across the cheek. Then he grabbed her and pulled her close.
“You’re not blowing me off.”
She was crying, shocked that he would hit her. He swallowed hard and lightened his hold.
“I’m sorry.” He released her, then ran his fingers through his hair, turned away from her and then turned back. “This deal with Roger and Calvin is making me insane. It should have been completed weeks ago.”
“I don’t want to know anything about it.”
“Why not? It will affect you, too.”
“What? How so?”
“You’re going to be my woman. That strip of property, the buildings, will be ours. It’s where your bakery will go, too.” He stepped closer and she stepped back, her back hitting the corner of the table, stinging her side. It would surely bruise. She cringed and held her side.
He gripped her face between his hands. “Don’t push me away.”
“Roberto, don’t do this to me. I want you to leave.”
“Not before we get some things straight. I’ve hooked you up with some great connections for business. I’ve provided means of delivery and support to you, and I expect a return on my investment.”
“What return?”
He eyed over her breasts and licked his lips, then tried forcing her to her knees with one hand gripping her hair as he undid his pants. She was mortified. She cried out and yelled at him, telling him to get away and that she wasn’t some whore.
“You might as well be, letting Cobra kiss you like that and him wanting to share you with his brother and cousins. That’s what they do there. Now, pleasure me,” he demanded.
“No.” She punched him in the leg and then went to move and he kicked her in the ribs, shocking her.
“No. No, damn it, I won’t. Get out,” she screamed at him and he struck her three more times on the side. She cuddled into the fetal position, remembering when Calvin hit her with the belt and made his demands. Somehow, she wound up in a similar situation with an evil, manipulative asshole who just wanted to use her. His cell phone was ringing and he stopped to answer it. He sounded pissed off, but then he ended the call, knelt down, and gripped her hair. She tightened up and waited for the additional strikes.
He caressed her cheek and wiped away her tears.
“You have a lot to learn, but I know you will learn, and fast. I own you now, so remember that.”
“You don’t.”
“Shhh.” He stopped her from talking. “I paid off your college loans. I’m going to help you open your business, and you’re going to be spending a lot of time in my bed,” he commanded, pointing at her.
“I have things that need to be taken care of. Don’t fight me on this, Alessa.” He stroked her cheek and stared down at her. She shook with fear. Hoped he wouldn’t force himself on her. How could this be happening to her? How? His cell phone buzzed. He glanced at his watch.
“I’ll call you. Be sure to ice that cheek. My woman isn’t going around looking like shit.” He stood up and walked out of her apartment, closing the door behind him.
She laid her head down on the rug and cried. She thought about the series of events. How she fell for his charms, his care, and how he was involved with Roger and Calvin. He was a monster, a criminal business man, and something he had brewing had to do with the Fiorre men. Was it Fedarro and Collin? Major and Mateus? She didn’t know. Her head was throbbing and her ribs ached. He kicked her. The son of a bitch kicked her.
She sobbed, unable to process what happened, and how she wound up in this situation. She should have known. Cobra warned her to follow her gut. Had he known who Roberto was and what he was into and it was a warning?
She eased up off the rug, slid off her heels and used the table to pull herself up. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she knew she wasn’t going to allow Roberto to control her, or strike her again. She had allowed Calvin that control. She had been too weak to fight him, to argue with him, especially with her family’s support behind him. This was a repeat of the past, except it was Calvin and Uncle Roger who were supporting Roberto, and she was being controlled, overpowered, and manipulated. She was being treated like trash and a nobody. It made her feel sick.
She walked to the door and locked the two deadbolts on it. She even pulled over a chair and propped it under the doorknob so no one could get in. She then turned off the lights and headed to the bedroom, her mind swirling with ways she could handle this situation, and how her dreams were once again being put on hold. Her happiness on a back burner and the evil manipulations of others were controlling her destiny. How could she fight this? How could she prevail through this?
She felt defeated, beaten down, and exhausted. As she undressed and looked into the mirror, she saw the bruising and redness was already there on her side. It ached, and would be a reminder for some time that no man could be trusted. No person could be, because they all had an agenda, and wanted control and power over a woman. She didn’t know how she was going to get away from Roberto, but she would, even if it put her in a hospital. She wasn’t submitting to him. Not ever.
* * * *
Gisella looked at her watch. Alessa was over and hour late. She said she was coming and now Gisella was worried. She kept looking toward the front entryway to the club. The others were there. Alda, Train, Royce, Brew, and Logic. Dominick, Giada, Andreas, and Giuseppe, too, and of course Collin Fedarro, were standing up talking with Cobra, Lenox, Ziek, and Roman.
Then she saw her. Alessa came alone and Gisella exhaled in relief. She didn’t look happy at all. She wore a slim fitting dress in black, and as she walked, she did so slowly. Gisella stood up and started to head toward her when Collin grabbed her hand.
“Wait for her here,” he ordered, never wanting Gisella too far from him when not accompanied by security or him or Fedarro.
One look in Alessa’s eyes and she knew something was wrong.
She smiled. “Hey, you made it. I was getting worried.”
Alessa put her hand over her waist. “I wasn’t feeling too well,” she said but hugged her and Gisella felt Alessa tighten as she embraced her. She pulled back and squinted.
“What’s wrong? Something is wrong,” she said and Alessa’s eyes filled with tears and she looked away, shaking her head.
“Come on. We can go in the back and talk.” Gisella began to pull her along but Alessa stopped her as Collin and Fedarro approached. They greeted her hello and Alessa forced a smile, but she tightened up when the men hugged her.
She stepped back as the others came over saying hello. Alda and Giada handed Alessa a glass and then opened the bottle of Patron in front of her and poured it over the glass of ice. “Come sit with us. The show is going to start soon,” Giada said, and they all headed toward a table.
As conversation took place around them, Gisella noticed that Cobra, Roman, Ziek, and Lenox remained nearby and were trying to get Alessa’s attention, but Alessa remained looking away from them. Giada and Alda were engaged in conversation so Gisella leaned closer to Alessa.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Maybe you should.”
“I can’t, Gisella. I don’t know what’s going on. My life is a mess right now. I can’t seem to get away from the past or my family and their fucked up ways,” she stated.
“Are you talking about your Uncle Roger and Calvin? Have they contacted you to try to get information from you about Fedarro and Collin and this real estate deal?” Gisella asked. Alessa widened her eyes.
“You know about this deal? What do you know? What can you tell me?”
“Wait, I thought you might know something because obviously your uncle and that jerk Calvin contacted you.”
“I saw them last night at the event. They were so rude and things happened, Gisella. Roberto has done business with them which means he’s done illegal things.”
“Wait, he’s done business with Roger and Calvin? Are you serious? Like in the past or currently?”
Alessa swallowed hard and looked around them.
“I caught wind of something last night. From Calvin’s bimbo date I was forced to stand next to and mingle with as the men talked. Such bullshit. I was pissed and then she started rambling. Something about a real estate deal, and Roger and Calvin’s involvement, and the Fiorres.”
“Oh shit. It’s Collin and Fedarro. They’ve been trying to buy this block of buildings and keep running into red tape, and now it seems that someone is paying these lawyers under the table to make sure that Collin, Fedarro, and the guys don’t get it.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I overheard a conversation, too, and, well, my men were displeased but I was able to tell them a little bit about Calvin and Roger. What does Roberto have to do with this?”
“Oh God, he’s the one trying to get the property.”
Gisella covered her mouth and gasped.
“Oh my God, he wants revenge against Cobra and them. That’s what the blonde was saying. Something about revenge, and Roberto threatened me last night, and he—” Alessa wiped the tear away and lowered her eyes.
Gisella covered her hand with hers. “What did he do, Alessa? How did he threaten you?”
She shook her head and the music began, the show starting and Gisella swallowed hard. She locked gazes with Cobra, then Fedarro. They both knew immediately that something was wrong.
* * * *
When the show ended and they all started talking and having drinks, Gisella took Alessa by the hand and led her from the main area of the club. They were standing in the hallway, Scotch at the end keeping watch when Cobra and Fedarro appeared. Then Collin, Lenox, Roman, and Ziek came there, too.
“How did he threaten you?” she asked Alessa, and looked into her eyes, at her face, when she saw discoloration there. Her eyes widened. Alessa knew Gisella could see the bruising. She felt embarrassed. Tears filled her eyes.
“Why do these things keep happening to me? Why?” she asked and Gisella pulled her into an embrace and Alessa gasped.
Gisella pulled back just as Fedarro and Collin approached, and Alessa shook her head, begging Gisella to not say a word about her being hurt. Gisella narrowed her eyes at Alessa.
“What’s going on? Something is wrong. Talk to us,” Fedarro stated. Collin placed his hands over Gisella’s shoulders and pulled her back against his front.
“Tell them, Alessa. Tell them what you found out last night.”
Alessa looked at them, and then at Cobra, Lenox, Ziek, and Roman.
“I was at a party last night with Roberto.” She saw their angry expressions and heard Cobra and Roman make noises like they were upset about that.
“My Uncle Roger and ex-boyfriend Calvin were there. They were talking and I found out that Roberto has done business with them. They walked away to talk and left me with Calvin’s girlfriend, and she was blabbing about a deal, a contract. Roberto is trying to buy the property that you guys are trying to buy.”
“Roberto is? That fucking piece of shit. This is what this is about?” Cobra yelled and slammed his hand against the wall. Alessa jumped back, wrapped an arm around her waist, and moved behind Fedarro.
“Alessa, shit, baby, he isn’t pissed at you. He’s pissed at Roberto. We haven’t been able to figure out who was causing all the problems,” Ziek said to her and moved closer. Fedarro turned and looked at her, his eyes landed on her cheek. He reached up, held her gaze, and she knew he saw the bruising, and her reaction had him putting things together quickly.
“Do not be afraid of these men. Of my men. They are soldiers, and they care so much for you. They can protect you,” Fedarro told her, and she started to shake her head when Gisella spoke.
“He hit you. I can see the bruising. What else did Roberto do? How did he threaten you?” Gisella asked.
“He struck you?” Roman roared and then the four men, plus Fedarro and Collin, started asking her questions. Roman pulled her closer to him and cupped her cheek then looked at the other cheek.
“He hit you?”
“He’s dead. I’ll fucking kill him for laying a hand on her,” Cobra roared and slammed his hand against the wall again. Tears spilled from her eyes and she heard Collin, Scotch, and Ziek telling him to calm down and that killing Roberto was only going to cause more problems, and that he could get arrested.
She saw how angry he was and he looked at her, eyed over her body, and more tears fell.
“Don’t, Cobra. There’s other ways we can handle this situation,” she said to him.
“Other ways? How, when he hurt you to get to us? He’s screwing us out of this deal to seek revenge,” Cobra stated.
“What does he want revenge for?” she asked.
Cobra took a few unsteady breaths, then Roman narrowed his eyes and stared into hers. “For killing his brothers,” he said, and her eyes widened.
“It isn’t what you think. We’ll explain, but know right now that he will suffer for hurting you,” Roman said.
“He won’t succeed. Now that you know he’s involved as well as my uncle and Calvin, your lawyers can take them down,” Alessa stated.
“No, Alessa, they can’t. They’ve got our lawyers caught up in so much red tape and other bullshit, there’s no way,” Fedarro said.
“I’ll help.”
“How, baby?” Lenox asked her, and when he wrapped his arm round her waist she gasped and took a sharp intake of breath.
They all scrunched their eyebrows and looked at her.
“You’re hurting here, too?” Lenox asked and eased his arm from her waist. She looked at them.
“I’ll help because I’m tired of being treated this way. No matter how hard I fight, I work, some man comes along and breaks me down, tries using me, or abusing me in some way. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, but I know what needs to be done here. I’m finished being a victim. Finished letting men beat me down, use me, and try intimidating me. I can’t take this anymore. Roberto went and paid off my college loans without my consent. Then he threatened me, hurt me. He more than likely told my uncle that I belong to Roberto now, and any day now I’ll hear from my parents and they’ll push and demand and force me to stay with Roberto. I’m done with this. I can’t live like this,” she said and then exhaled.
“You don’t need to be further involved with this,” Fedarro said to her.
“I know what needs to be done, if you’ll allow me access to your attorneys,” she said to Fedarro and Collin. They looked at one another and then at Cobra, Roman, Ziek, and Lenox, who held her close and kissed her neck softly.
“First, you let your men take care of you. Work things out with them, Alessa, and tomorrow we’ll all sit down and talk this out,” Fedarro said, and then took Gisella’s hand, and he and Collin led her out of the hallway.
She stared at Roman, Cobra, and Ziek. “My men?” she questioned as tears fell.
“We want to be. We realized what we did, Alessa. How badly we made you feel. That wasn’t our intentions. You’re so beautiful, so perfect, I guess we felt vulnerable and weak and didn’t know how to handle that,” Roman told her.
“We figured being commanding, controlling, helped us to handle that vulnerable feeling and stay in control, but not having you, and seeing you with that dick, made us feel even more out of control,” Ziek told her.
“I don’t know what to say or what to do. I’m so confused. So broken down and hurt. I just can’t think. I can’t make decisions. I don’t know what to do about Roberto and his threats.”
“His threats are powerless. Come with us now. We can talk things through. Take our time and be honest about what we all feel and want,” Lenox said to her. He was so sexy in a Pierce Brosnan kind of way. Their power, though, their strength and tempers made her concerned for her safety. Roberto struck her. Hell, kicked her. Cobra and Roman, with their tempers, could kill her.
“Don’t look at us like that. Please, baby, I don’t know what this dick did exactly, but we would never lay a hand on you to hurt you,” Roman said.
“Come on. We need to figure this out, and quickly. Our time apart has been torturous,” Cobra said and the others agreed. Lenox remained holding her as the four men led her out of The Red Slipper and into their SUV.
* * * *
Lenox didn’t like the fact that Alessa was shaking as she sat between him and Ziek. Cobra was driving and Roman was in the passenger seat.
“I don’t think this a good idea,” she whispered.
Lenox held her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. He held her gaze, saw the tears in her hazel green eyes. “It’s time to hand over the reins to us, Alessa. To let down your guard, even if it’s just a little, and give us a chance.” He kissed her knuckles again.
“It’s so hard,” she said, her voice cracking.
“It doesn’t have to be, baby,” Ziek added and placed his hand on her knee and turned in his seat.
She sniffled. “I’m so tired, Ziek. I’m tired of feeling confused, hurt, and alone. I’m obviously not a good judge of character at all. I thought if I focused on work, on achieving my dream and nothing else, that maybe I would be okay. That I wouldn’t have time or energy to feel so scared and alone.”
Ziek reached out and cupped her cheek. “Sweetie, we didn’t help you, either. We failed you when you needed us because we were so caught up in our macho, hardcore ways. We were dicks to you and it wasn’t right.”
“Why are you saying these things now, because of Roberto and this deal? To make me stay away from him? Why?”
“Oh, you are staying away from him, and if he tries to come near you, to hurt you again, I will kill him,” Cobra stated.
When they pulled off the street and down into the underground garage, Alessa sat forward. “Where are we?”
“Some place we can talk, relax, and not get interrupted,” Roman said as Cobra pulled the SUV into a parking spot. Lenox got out first and took her hand. She slid from the seat, her long, sexy legs revealed to the thigh as the slit exposed her beautiful skin. As she bent, he caught sight of the deep cleavage of her breasts and the scent of her shampoo. She stood slowly but then straightened her shoulders, trying to act tough, but it was obvious she felt pain. He wondered what the prick did to her. Had he assaulted her, touched her, worse? Lenox was feeling overwhelmed with jealousy and anger, and wanted to fucking know what Roberto did, but she needed him to be patient.
As they all stepped into the elevator, Lenox brought her hand to his lips and held her gaze. He kissed her fingers, stared down into her eyes, and she held his gaze.
“We heard about the business your starting and the catering or specialty desserts. You’re establishing quite the reputation. How long have you been a pastry chef?” he asked. The doors opened and they walked from the elevator to another one. They stepped inside.
“I started to practice and learn the trade while in law school,” she stated.
“That’s right. We had no idea that you were in law school. What made you not want to be a lawyer?” Ziek asked as the second doors opened and a small entryway appeared along with a set of double doors. Cobra punched in the code and the doors opened.
“It was my parents’ dream, not mine.” She stopped and looked around. “Holy God, this is gorgeous,” she said and he smiled.
“Let’s show you around while Roman grabs drinks,” Lenox told her and she paused, looked at Roman, and didn’t move.
“I’ll pour it in front of you,” he said sounding pissed.
“You don’t have to, Roman. You know what I went through. You know how I acted, how scared not knowing makes me feel. I could use a drink,” she said to him and he nodded then walked over to the living room and bar area.
“So this is the kitchen,” Lenox said and motioned with his hand. They watched her closely as she slid her hand along the counter, the industrial stove, and the stainless steel double oven. When she turned slowly, glancing back at the oven again and then looking out toward the city skyline, her jaw dropped.
“Oh God, this is gorgeous.”
“I bet you could create some masterpieces in this kitchen,” Ziek said to her and passed her the glass of Patron on ice. They all had glasses of Patron and stood around her and the island in the kitchen. Lenox raised his glass.
“To starting over,” he said.
“To finishing where we left off,” Cobra stated and leaned over the counter, held her gaze and tilted his glass toward Alessa’s. She hesitated but then clinked his glass, took a sip, and didn’t take her eyes off of Cobra’s.
“Let’s go sit down and get comfortable,” Lenox suggested and they all walked into the living room.
* * * *
Roman watched Lenox undo his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, then leaned back into the sofa. Alessa sat down next to him and crossed her legs. Roman sat on her other side, and Ziek and Cobra sat across from them. They all undid their ties, then Roman looked at Alessa.
“Get comfortable, and relax.”
She held her glass with both hands and worried her bottom lip as she stared at him.
“That’s not so easy.”
“Why not?” Roman asked, reaching out and stroking her cheek. She closed her eyes and he knew she felt the attraction.
“Tell us why you can’t relax around us,” Cobra said.
She looked at him, but Roman still stroked her jaw. “I guess you intimidate me.”
“We should. We’re big men, but we would never hurt you.”
“You say that, Cobra, but you’re made men. Enforcers in an organized crime family, I know you have capabilities.”
“More than you’ll ever know, but none that we would use to hurt you, only use to protect you. Which brings me to my question about Roberto and what he did to you. I want to know,” Cobra said.
She looked down only for Roman to grip her chin and give her a firm expression.
“We have a right to know. We failed you by pushing you away, making you feel cheap and meaningless, and that wasn’t our intention,” he stated. Tears filled her eyes.
“You broke my heart,” she said. Roman felt his gut clench and his heart actually ache.
“We are going to make that all up to you,” he replied and slowly moved closer to kiss her. When she didn’t pull away, or tell him she wanted to leave, his lips touched hers and he felt triumphant. He wanted to explore her mouth, but hesitated kissing her too deeply. They all agreed on slow, yet when they kissed, he wanted fast. Roman pulled back and brushed his thumb along her lower lip. “So sweet.”
She stared at him.
“You are beautiful, baby, and like no other. You’re smart, strong, and brave,” he said to her. She shook her head as tears fell.
“Not brave or strong.” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t stop him. I couldn’t move. I froze,” she said and the tears kept rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and stood up. Gasped and held her side. Roman stood up, too, and took her hand, turned her around to face him.
She was precious, so incredibly beautiful, emotional, and all woman and he knew in that moment that he would do anything for her. Roman would move heaven and earth for her. He cupped her cheeks, stared at her mouth, then her eyes, and she covered his hands with hers.
“You are special to us. We want you in every way. To protect you, to care for you, to be here for you when others failed you. We. Will. Not. Fail. You.”
Roman pressed his lips to hers, felt her tighten only a moment before her hands pressed against his chest, singed his skin through the dress shirt he wore, and then caressed up and down. He pulled her closer as he stepped closer.
“He’s right, Alessa. You are our woman and we are your men. This is real,” Lenox added, joining them and pressing against her back. As Roman released her lips, Lenox turned her sideways so he could kiss her next. Then Ziek was there, and Roman and Lenox released her to Ziek.
He pulled her close, smiled down into her eyes as he caressed her long brown hair away from her cheeks.
“Let go, baby, like we’re doing. It feels so good,” he said, then pressed his lips to hers.
* * * *
Ziek felt emotional, and it was strange for him. A man who, like his brother and cousins, closed off his heart, his emotions, years ago and learned to be stronger than a shield of iron. This gorgeous, sexy woman broke down those walls, penetrated that shield, and made him want things he never knew he wanted, or maybe had denied himself. Ziek smoothed his hand along her ass and squeezed. Instead of pulling back, Alessa pressed closer, pressed her tongue deeper into his mouth and drew what she needed from him.
She moaned into his mouth and then he felt her fingers undo the buttons on his shirt. He tightened, shocked, aroused. He pulled from her mouth. “Alessa?”
She shook her head.
“I need, and want, and feel so much, Ziek. I want to let go. I want to be free from the fears, the pain, the distrust, the loneliness. When I’m with all of you, I feel whole. I hope that doesn’t scare you.” She continued to unbutton his shirt and then pressed her lips to his chest.
“It scares the hell out of me,” Cobra said, joining them. Touching her hair, gripping a handful as he stared at her lips. “Don’t you tell a soul, baby, or there’ll be consequences,” Cobra whispered as an order, then pressed his lips to hers.
Ziek had to hide his smile. Big, bad Cobra was finally letting down his guard, too. Ziek went to step back to give Cobra space, but then he felt Alessa’s feminine hand grip his shirt and hold him there. She used her other her hand to rub up and down Cobra’s chest as Cobra kissed her full throttle on the mouth. Both of them moaned and Ziek looked at Roman and Lenox, who now stood up, joining in. Roman caressed her hair. Lenox took her hand. She pulled from Cobra’s mouth, eyes closed, body swaying and she shook her head.
“Incredible. Oh God, I feel it.”
“We feel it, too. It isn’t bullshit. We want you. You want us. Nothing else matters. It will all fall into place. Let’s stop fighting it, Alessa, and let’s make love. Let’s be one,” Roman said to her.
Ziek reached out to stroke her cheek and jaw. She looked up at him, those gorgeous hazel green eyes were filled with emotion and desire.
“It’s been forever for me. I mean, years since I let a man into my body.”
“What?” Cobra asked, totally shocked, and his tone and expression made Alessa lower her eyes.
“I’ve only been with one man, Calvin, and look what he did to me. He was abusive, controlling, manipulative, and unfaithful. He cheated on me with multiple women, Cobra. I can’t help but be terrified that not only will it happen again, but it will be worse, because there are four of you, and four of you could–”
“Never. Never compare us to him, to Roberto, or whatever male dicks you’ve come across in your life. This is real. We want you and there will be no other women. Only you. The center of our universe,” Cobra said then kissed her.
When he released her lips he held her gaze and it was serious. So serious that Ziek felt the anticipation, the need to claim her with them as their woman so deeply his throat felt dry and his heart hammered inside of his chest.
“Tell us what you want,” Roman said and kissed the top of her head.
She stared at Cobra.
“Give the order,” she said as a tear fell from her eye. Ziek squinted, then Roman and Lenox looked unsure.
Cobra held her gaze. He reached out and wiped the tear from her cheek.
“Take our woman to the bedroom. It’s time to make love to her, and show her how real men treat their woman.”
* * * *
Alessa was more than ready, she felt desperate. It was different this time. As their bed came into sight, she felt every part of her tingle. Flashbacks of years past, times she was with Calvin, then the night he cheated on her filled her mind. The strikes to her body with the belt and the weakness, the shitty, worthless feeling she had then lingered to the surface. Fast forward to Roberto, a man she thought she might be able to trust, to let into her bed, even though she only liked him, filled her mind. Then that evil expression, the way he forced himself into her apartment, tried to make her pleasure him, and of course the fact that he struck her, too. Kicked her while she was on the rug like some worthless animal. He was a monster. She felt herself shaking but then Cobra pressed up against her back rubbed her arms up and down.
“What are you thinking? If you’re not ready, it’s okay.”
She turned in his arms and looked up at him. Tan, extra-large, wide shoulders, muscles, that bald head, fierce, expression, and mysterious aura made her stammer for words to say.
“I don’t want to think about the past. About my mistakes and how I let my guard down and let the wrong men close. But I can’t help but remember the strikes against my body. The feelings of worthlessness. The thoughts, the memories of abuse from Calvin, and then from Roberto, keep popping into my head.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head.
“It all stops now. We’ll take those bad experiences away and replace them with pleasurable, happy ones. The four of us aren’t going anywhere. We also would never strike you, Alessa. Sure there are rules when being involved with made men. Rules you’ll learn, that your friends will help you understand are necessary to protect you,” Cobra said, and reached up and cupped her cheek. She covered it with her hands and closed her eyes, absorbing the feel of his ability to make her feel protected.
“I want that.”
Cobra slid behind her as Ziek stood in front of her shirtless, filled with muscles, and looking hungry for her.
“Then let us show you how much you mean to us,” Cobra whispered against her neck, and kissed her shoulder.
Ziek took her hand and brought her palm to his bare chest.
“I’m yours,” he said to her. Her heart hammered inside of her chest. She felt the lump in her throat and then tightened as Cobra began to unzip her dress.
As she pressed closer to Ziek, she stood up on tiptoes and kissed his chin, his jaw, and then his lips. At the same time, her dress began to fall and Cobra’s lips pressed against her spine, then lower. She moaned into Ziek’s mouth.
“So soft, sexy and—”
Cobra stopped. Ziek released her lips and she turned to see Cobra staring at her skin. She held the top against her large breasts, not letting it fall. The anger, the pure disgust in his eyes got her all emotional again. Cobra cared. He was pissed to see the bruises on her ribs and side. He was breathing through his nostrils. His hands on his hips. She turned toward him and now Ziek, Roman, and Lenox made comments.
“That fucking asshole is as good as dead,” Roman said.
“No,” she said to them. “No, I don’t want that. I don’t want you doing anything that could jeopardize your lives, your professions, and what you do.”
Roman narrowed his eyes at her.
“It isn’t right or normal for a woman to get abused by a man. Not ever. Do you understand me?” Roman demanded.
“Yes, Roman. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t think I did anything to deserve Calvin’s abuse, his cheating, or how he struck me with his belt after I yelled at him for cheating on me with two women.”
“He beat you with a belt?” Lenox asked in an angry whispered.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled. “I vowed that no man would ever strike me again. That I would never let one close enough to break my heart, to hurt me like that.”
“Then we did. We fucking made you feel like a whore. Then this dick Roberto strikes you? Kicks you in the side. That’s what he did, right?” Cobra asked in a sharp tone.
She reached out and pressed her hand against Cobras chest. He tightened, breathing through his nostrils, and she held his gaze.
“Put it all behind you, behind us. You promised me care, affection, protection, and I want that, want to believe it, I need it, Cobra. I need you, Ziek, Roman, and Lenox to be part of me, surrounding me and protecting me. Please, don’t fail me. I won’t be able to survive this time. I won’t,” she said as tears fell from her eyes.
Cobra pulled her into his arms and held her close. He kissed her neck, her bare shoulder.
“Never, baby. We’re never going to let you down, hurt you, or allow any others to. Hell, your life is going to change, baby. We’re going to be one family, together.” He pressed his lips to hers and she released her dress, raised her arms up over his shoulders and kissed him deeply, tenderly. As her dress fell, she heard the intakes of breath, felt the lips, the hands cares along her ribs, the bruises, then her spine and ass. As Cobra released her lips, he cupped one large breast.
“Sweet, sweet angel, you are a goddess. My God. Look at her,” he said and stepped back, his large palm still cupping one breast, and then Roman and Ziek took her hands and raised her arms out so they could see all of her. She felt her heart race, her breathing go rapid, her nipples hardened and her pussy throbbed.
“Make love to me. Make me yours. All of you, please,” she begged.
“With pleasure,” Roman whispered, then kissed her lips before lowering to kiss her breast just as Ziek pushed her panties down and Cobra began to feast on her other breast.
Lenox stood back, but she felt his presence, then his hand under her hair, tilting her head to the left. She locked gazes with him as mouths devoured her breasts, and fingers slid into her cunt.
“Oh,” she moaned.
“Sweet, sweet Alessa. You are our woman. We don’t deserve someone as beautiful, sexy, and sweet as you. We’ve done bad shit in our lives, baby. Bad, crazy shit, but nothing, no experience, no risks, no adrenaline rush compares to the way I feel right fucking now.” He pressed his mouth to hers and that was it. They took control and she let them. Lenox was right. Nothing ever felt so powerful, so affecting than it was with all of them touching her, tasting her, and wanting inside her body.
She gasped as fingers pulled from her cunt, and then Cobra lifted her up and placed her down onto the bed. He spread her thighs, lowered between her legs and immediately began to feast on her cunt. The sensations, the control he had over her, was exciting. She moaned and tilted her head back, thrust her hips and lifted her torso.
“Fucking incredible. Look at these breasts. Fuck,” Ziek said, cupping one before lowering down to indulge.
“Look at these thighs, so smooth, muscular, long, and sexy,” Roman said and ran his palm up and down her thigh before cupping her other breast, then sliding his palm the rest of the way up, holding her arm above her head. She gasped, but then Lenox did that to her other thigh, slid his palm up, holding it wide like Roman was, spreading her for Cobra, then pushing her arm above her head.
“Oh God, please. Oh!” she cried out, and came. From their words, the intensity of their eyes, from Cobra’s tongue, and from them restraining her. It was overwhelming.
Ziek caressed her hair and looked down from above her.
“Her eyes are my favorite, I think. So telling, so emotional, and so sincere. This color of green and hazel is like nothing I’ve seen before. Our woman is precious, amazing, and yes, a goddess,” he said, and lowered down to press his lips to hers.
“I need in, now. You’re on the pill, right?” Cobra said to her as Ziek released her lips.
“Yes.”
“Good. No barriers, Alessa. Skin to skin, my dick buried deep in this pussy that will belong to us,” he said and pinched her clit. She jerked but the guys still held her thighs wide. Cobra undressed the rest of the way and she shivered with anticipation and desire. Her legs were being held wide open by Roman and Lenox. Her arms pressed above her head by Ziek now, and then Cobra’s full, naked body came into view. The deep ridges of thick, hard muscles, scars, a knife wound. “Cobra, oh God, you were stabbed?” she asked.
He slid his palm from her cunt to her breasts then lowered over her. She felt the tip of his cock against her opening when the men released their hold. “I’ve had a crazy life, Alessa, but it was worth it, now that I know it was all to get here to you,” he said, lowered down, and kissed her as he slid his cock into her cunt. Cobra nudged and nudged until he filled her with cock, and made her lose her breath.
“So tight baby. Holy shit, I can hardly move inside of you.” He cupped her cheeks and hair between his forearms and lifted and thrust into her.
She moaned and gasped on every stroke, each one easing deeper, lubricating her channel from the vibrations and sensations attacking her insides. Cobra was so heavy, so thick and solid. All man and then some, she shivered and shook.
“Oh Cobra. Cobra!” she cried out
“Damn, I love that sound,” Ziek said aloud.
“She’s more than tight. She’s small, fucking packs one hell of a punch,” Cobra said to his brother and cousins. He rocked and thrust. “So good, Alessa. So fucking good,” Cobra exclaimed and moved faster, thrust harder and deeper before he grunted and came inside of her. He immediately kissed her mouth, then along her chest, her breasts, then back to her mouth again.
“Incredible. God damn, I’ve been waiting to make love to you, woman. To smell your shampoo, to have your scent all over me and know that your mine, my brother and cousins, too. This is perfect. Let them make love to you, too. Make this official,” he said and she smiled.
Cobra eased out of her, her pussy holding tight, not wanting to release him or the sensations. He moaned and grunted. Placed a hand on her hip and pulled out. Then his eyes landed on the bruising. She gripped his wrists.
“I’m yours. He can’t hurt me ever again. No one can,” she said to him. He nodded, looked so serious, but then Lenox slapped his hands together, rubbed them, and then stood between her legs. He gripped her ankles and slid them up and down against her skin.
“Where to begin. Holy shit. I’ve dreamt about you like this, Alessa. Spread out naked on a bed, arms above your head, breasts pushed out, pussy wet and ready for cock,” he told her.
“Lenox,” she said, and felt her cheeks blush as she turned away a moment, feeling shy.
Ziek and Roman chuckled.
“Open your eyes,” Lenox ordered and when she did he stared at her body, explored her with his palms.
“Where do your arms belong?” he asked in a serious tone that did something incredible to her insides.
She raised them up slowly and he smirked.
“That’s my girl. Submissive, obedient, and ready to be rewarded.” He said then lowered down to suckle her breast. He slid his palms up her arms to her wrists, the tip of his cock poked her cunt.
“This first time is going to be fast. I need so badly, I could come all over your belly right now. I never felt like this before. It’s going to take several times making love to ease and calm this need. Can you handle us?” he asked.
“I sure hope so, because I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
He started to ease his cock into her cunt.
“Let’s lose our minds together,” he said. She smiled and he thrust into her pussy fully, making her gasp and moan in pleasure. Lenox surprised her. With his aggressiveness, his naughty talk, and his honesty about his emotions. She needed that. Appreciated it, as she felt the same way and was unable to express that. He did though, and continued to amaze her as he thrust into her pussy, held her hands above her head, his body over hers and he rocked into her over and over again.
* * * *
Lenox couldn’t thrust fast enough. This need inside of him was like nothing he ever felt before. It was deep, emotional, and so real he felt scared. But something told him this was because Alessa was special and they all wanted her to be their woman. He wanted to protect her and kill any fuck that messed with her. Roberto would be dealt with accordingly and Calvin, as well, but right now, this animalistic need to fuck, claim, make love to, and mark Alessa was priority. All else would follow in the days to come. As he thrust faster and held her hands above her head with one hand he eased his other palm down to her full, large breast. The woman was built to please them.
“Lenox, oh please. Please, Lenox, faster,” she begged.
“I’ll come,” he said through clenched teeth.
“We’ll do it again and again. Please,” she said, and heard Roman and Ziek chuckle, and he lost the control and pounded into her pussy. She cried out as she came, and he grunted, shook, and came next.
“Mine. You’re mine, woman.” He lowered down and kissed her hard on the mouth.
* * * *
Ziek undressed and slid along the side of her on the bed. He stroked her nipple and she turned to look at him, her unique eyes and abundance of brown curls, his angelic lover. She turned to her side, reached out, and ran her palm along his chest. He tightened and couldn’t believe how her touch alone penetrated so deeply. She kissed along his skin, explored his chest, his mouth and chin then down his belly. He used his palm to explore her, too. Running a palm over her ass cheek then a finger along the crack. She paused and he did it again.
“Ever have a cock in your ass, Alessa?” he asked her.
“No,” she said softly and lowered down more until her mouth moved over his cock and began to feast on him. She shifted. He moaned, and she was between his legs, sucking him down. Roman moved in behind her and she tightened.
“Easy, baby. Just going to explore a little bit. Going to show you what it will be like with multiple lovers like us,” he said and she bobbed her head up and down a little faster as if turned on by his words.
Ziek continued to caress her hair, to thrust his hips, and then she moaned.
“Such a sexy, tight hole she has,” Roman said, and Ziek saw him lower his mouth to her ass. She shivered.
“Fuck, it’s tight. I need to lube it up,” he said, and Cobra passed him the lube.
“Easy, honey. Let Roman get you used to all of us,” Cobra said to her, and then Roman placed his hand on her hip and leaned down over her ass and back to kiss her neck and whisper to her as she sucked Ziek’s cock.
“You feel that burning sensation? It will ease with every stroke of my finger. When I add a second, you’ll feel your asshole stretching, and then pulsating, and needing more. That’s when my cock is going to slip right in there and claim this sexy ass. You want that?” he asked her and she moaned.
“Fuck, Roman. I can’t take it. Alessa, let go. I need you,” Ziek said and she released his cock, Ziek lifted her higher and she impaled herself onto his shaft as he thrust upward. She cried out and Ziek grunted. Roman lowered her down as Ziek thrust his hips upward, held her tight around her waist as she rode him. Behind her, Roman thrust fingers into her ass.
“Oh my God, it’s crazy. Oh, Roman. Ziek. Please help me,” she said and rocked faster.
“Fuck, she’s ready, Roman. Fuck her ass, let’s all claim her together,” Cobra said and then Lenox got onto the bed, he tilted her head toward his cock and Alessa hungrily opened and took him into her mouth. Lenox moaned.
“Holy fuck, her mouth is incredible. How the fuck didn’t you come, Ziek?”
“I wanted to come in her pussy the first time,” Ziek said.
Smack, smack.
Roman spanked her ass. “Fuck that. We need to claim our woman. Show her who she belongs to now and forever, and who belongs to her.”
Alessa moaned against his cock.
“Here I come,” Roman said and slid into her ass. They all moaned and began to thrust into her.
“Fuck, too good. Too fucking good,” Roman yelled out, moving faster. Her head moved up and down and Ziek felt his cock thicken, and then Lenox came.
“Too good. Fuck, Alessa.” He pulled out of her mouth and fell to the bed.
“Fuck, fuck!” Roman grunted and came in her ass.
“Me,” Cobra ordered firmly and Ziek kept pumping his hips upward as Roman pulled from her ass and then Cobra took his place.
“Nice and easy. Some more lube to slick you up, baby. We don’t want to hurt you. Don’t want to see you in pain ever,” Cobra said against her neck and then his hand was on her hip and his cock slid into her ass. He and Ziek pumped into her, and then Ziek came.
“All mine,” Cobra said and pulled her up, with his cock in her ass and Ziek slid from under her and Cobra had her on all fours on the bed as he slowly rocked into her ass.
* * * *
Cobra felt on fire. Desperate. He ran a palm over her firm, round ass, along the beauty mark and then bruises. He slid his palm under her arm to her breast and cupped it as he rocked balls deep into her ass.
“Cobra. Oh my, Cobra, you’re so deep. I feel so naughty.”
Smack. Smack.
“You are naughty. You’re going to love being our lover. You have a salacious appetite, I can tell. And we’re demanding lovers. Can you take it?” he asked, thrusting harder as he pinched her nipple.
“Oh,” she moaned and rocked back against his cock. “I need. Oh God, I’m throbbing down there,” she said.
Roman was wiping off his cock with a washcloth and towel. “Down here, baby?” Roman asked, sliding his hand along her torso and then to her pussy.
“Yes. Oh yes,” she said as Roman eased fingers into her cunt.
“Oh yeah. Fucking hot. Fuck,” Cobra said and thrust faster and deeper, then grunted and came. He kissed along her shoulder and her spine and eased out.
“Mine,” Roman said and lifted her to him to straddle his body. Alessa did, and sunk over Roman’s cock, and they both moaned and closed their eyes a moment.
“Heaven on earth. That’s what you are,” he said and pulled her down to kiss him before Roman rolled her to her back, pressed her arms above her head and thrust into her so fast, so deeply, they both cried out and came together. They were panting, and she was out of breath.
“Why did we wait so long to do this?” she asked.
Roman cupped her cheeks and held her gaze.
“Because the time wasn’t right, and it is now, and always.”
She smiled.
Roman eased out of her, and Ziek and Lenox were there with a washcloth and towel to clean her up. Then Cobra washed his cock off before he pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest.
“Rest, Alessa. We’re going to be at this all night.”
“Oh really?” she asked and caressed his skin with her palm.
He squeezed her ass.
“It’s going to take several fucking times to make love to you, and to ease the fears, the anger at failing you.”
She lifted up and cupped his cheek. “You didn’t fail me. We all fought this in one way or another because it wasn’t the right time. It is now. I’m going to be a good girlfriend and lover to each of you so you never stray, or want to get rid of me,” she admitted.
“Baby, don’t base what you think a relationship is supposed to be on those two dicks that hurt you. A ménage is different. This connection is different, strong, and real. It’s a new start to life for all of us. Embrace it, and everything will work out, because we have your back. We won’t let you down. We won’t let anyone hurt you, ever,” Cobra said and she kissed his lips and then straddled his waist.
He held her hips and caressed her ass.
“I think you’re right, Cobra. I think it’s going to take many, many times making love for these feelings of uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability to go away,” she said and then kissed his lips, his chest, and down to his cock, taking him into her mouth. Cobra gripped her hair and moaned as he made eye contact with the others.
“More lube. Everyone get into position,” he ordered.