Chapter 40

Rainey

Reality struck down on me when Michael closed the limo door. I glanced at Constantine who now faced forward. Through the rear-view mirror, his face was serious, and his eyes darted to the side mirror several times before I turned back to Michael.

The men were huge. They reminded me of the bouncers at Kadia. Were they his brother’s employees? The way they stood, cross-armed with a wide stance, I doubted they were friendly with each other. I moved my hand to the side panel and pressed the window button downward. The window cracked. The sound of the window moving was loud, and I glanced over at Constantine again. He didn’t appear to notice. Maybe it had only been loud to me since I was trying so hard to be sneaky. My curiosity got the best of me, and I sidled up alongside the door to listen to what they were talking about. I couldn’t hear any distinct words among them.

Michael’s expression was stoic as he calmly spoke to the men. They were defensive and talked with their hands. One of them pointed at Michael, and I winced. In the time I’ve known Michael, he wasn’t one to be disrespected. And that finger poke seemed like something that would turn him from an active listener to someone who’d throw a punch.

Michael showed restraint, and before I knew it, the men were on their way. Michael stared at them for a few moments before coming to the car.

I glanced at the window. I couldn’t roll it up now and risk Michael knowing that I had attempted to listen to his conversation.

My suspicions rose about Michael’s ties to the mafia even more now. Between the rumors from Tessa, Rachel’s confirmation from her nephew, and those men, I didn’t know if there was a reason I should doubt my hunch anymore.

Michael opened the door for me. I stepped out onto the curb and was about to ask him what that confrontation was about, but instead, he kissed me. His hands slipped around my waist and pulled me against him.

I gently pressed my palm against his hard chest. “Michael—”

“Mm?” he asked without moving an inch from my body.

His hands felt so good against my body and ripples of pleasure moved outward with each touch. He was distracting me, and it worked.

I pressed my lips against his. He leaned over, holding me in place, and patted the top of the limo. Constantine pulled away from the curb as Michael and I went inside his building.

Through the lobby, Michael held my hand. I averted my eyes, avoiding any looks from the doorman or staff that were in the lobby. I wasn’t ashamed of what I was about to do, but I wanted to live in our little bubble for a moment before something popped it.

Once the elevator doors closed, locking us inside, I expected Michael to come at me again. But he didn’t. His eyes were unfocused.

I’d made it to the elevator with him, had he changed his mind that quickly?

I pressed my lips together, no longer feeling the smoothness of my lips. Did our make-out session in the car make me look like a monster in the harsh light of the lobby?

I glanced around, but there wasn’t a reflective surface in the elevator. Maybe he had changed his mind. I had to do something.

When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out first. “I’d like to freshen up.”

Michael smirked and took my hand. His thumb circled against my hand, and more delicious shivers moved up my spine. He brought me straight upstairs to his bedroom.

“It’s through there,” he said, pointing to the door in the back of the room.

I didn’t want to delay this anymore, so I barely took in the room before rushing over to the bathroom.

“I’ll be right back,” Michael said. “I need to make a quick phone call.”

“Okay,” I said, closing the door to the bathroom.

I looked in the mirror and saw that I didn’t look that bad. My hair was a bit mussed, and my lipstick was gone. Michael’s reaction in the elevator hadn’t been about me. I licked my finger and cleared a smudge of mascara from under my eye. I pulled out the bobby pins from my hair and let it tumble over my shoulders. Tessa had curled my hair before putting it up, so the hairspray held the wave in my hair. It didn’t look too shabby, so I fluffed it around for a minute before deciding I looked halfway decent.

Then my brain turned on again. What phone call did Michael need to take at this hour? Was his distraction-kissing not enough of a distraction for him? Did it had something to do with those men?

“Rainey?” he called from the bedroom.

I jumped as if he could hear my thoughts through the door. “Coming.”

I opened the door, and Michael stood in the middle of the room. While I wanted to get a better look at the room where he slept, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. His eyes pierced through my soul and my legs moved forward on their own accord.

Michael met me halfway and held my head in his hands.

My heart hammered against my ribs as Michael turned my head to the side and pressed his lips to my neck. I was suddenly aware of the heat radiating from his skin, through his shirt, and burning into my body. His large hands spread warmth into my arms as he gripped them firmly, as he was afraid I’d pull back.

I let my head fall back as his lips explored my skin, pressing firmly against my neck as he moved toward my ear. Did I imagine the subtle flicks of his tongue? Pleasurable shocks accompanied every movement, drawing tiny whimpers from my throat.

As he kissed his way to my earlobe, he generated a new level of heat in my skin. A quiet moan fled my throat. My fingers curled around his upper arms, and I hung on as he kissed the sweet spot beneath my ear, a place few men had ever bothered to explore. The room grew hotter, and spun alarmingly, forcing me to tighten my grip. I didn’t want to stumble and spoil the moment.

Michael’s hands slid onto my waist, momentarily steadying me. With a lidded gaze, he moved, and we engaged in a hot, passionate kiss that transcended any kiss we’d shared before.

A quick burst of reality fell over me while we were kissing. He had quickly distracted me again from the real issues surrounding tonight. I knew he was dangerous and kept bad company and it was best for me to stay away from him. But he felt so damn good in my arms. A small part of me asked if those accusations were just rumors. I had a strong feeling they weren’t. My mind went back and forth, and as if Michael was inside my head, he stopped kissing me.

“Rainey,” he said with heavy, ragged breaths. He stroked his fingers through my hair. Touches that tender and looks like the one he was giving me had melted away the bad thoughts. For just one night, I didn’t want to be responsible. I didn’t want to think about Tanner, Killian, or anything else for that matter. I wanted to be selfish with Michael. Everything could wait one damned night.

I gave up and fell into his embrace, gripping his arms fiercely. His stubble scraped my face, but I didn’t mind.

I grabbed his shoulders and brought him to me, willing and ready. Our tongues danced eagerly. I groaned into his mouth as our lips crushed together. Firm hands slid down from my waist and stroked their way over my hips and onto my bottom. Subtle pressure pulled my body firmly against his, and the unmistakable bulge of his erection pressed into my hip. I’d felt him in the limo and was desperate to see it for myself.

I rolled my hips minutely, rubbing myself against him, leaving him in no doubt that I wanted this. I wanted everything he had to offer, and I was prepared to go all the way with him. We’d already waited too long for this to happen. Our moment was finally here. I was so glad I was in a dress, rather than pants and blouse, or even a skirt. I felt deliciously vulnerable, with only one item of clothing to protect me from his wicked, roaming hands.

He grabbed a handful of my butt and squeezed, making me groan again. I whimpered with delight. Cool air touched my excited flesh, and I imagined him touching me there without fabric separating us. My increasing arousal demanded it. I became impatient and had to fight the urge to grab his hand and thrust it between my legs. It took a deep, steadying breath to control myself. I was determined to enjoy every thrilling second of this seduction, and hurrying his hands would spoil everything I’d waited for.

He bent his head to kiss my throat, moving subtly down my chest. My fingernails created tracks across the back of his shirt. He shivered under my hands, and I grinned, peering at him through half-open eyes. Michael trailed kisses all the way to the neckline of my dress, and as he moved, one of his hands stroked my spine. It was my turn to shiver. But he wasn’t only pleasuring me, as I realized when he tugged down the zipper on my dress.

Within a moment, the material slithered down my body to pool at my feet, leaving me clad in only my underwear.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. I opened my mouth to reply but squealed instead as he swept me off my feet and lowered me onto the huge bed.

“Touch yourself,” he demanded in a soft voice.

“Like this?” I asked. I ran my hands over my breasts and down my tummy, bringing them together until they met between my legs. I had no idea where that came from. Any other time I had sex it was a quick affair in a dimly lit or dark room. Though watching him look at me, made me feel brave and incredibly sexy.

“Again,” he said, pushing off his shoes. As I stroked my body again, he undressed, dropping his shirt onto a chair, before unfastening his pants. They fell to his ankles, and he stepped out of them, moving toward me. My eyes were drawn to the long bulge in his briefs as my hands hovered between my thighs. He reached down and gripped my hand, pressing my fingers against my the top of my mound, rolling them in a tight circle. I inhaled deeply as he watched my softening expression.

He slid down his briefs, and his erection sprang free, and I smiled at the size of it. But I didn’t have much time to admire it. He turned away, reaching for something I couldn’t see.

“Take off your bra,” he said over his shoulder.

His wish was my command. I reached back and released the hooks, sliding the straps down my arms. I’d only just put it aside when he turned back to me, his erection covered in shining latex. Subtle ribs circled the shaft, and I knew I was in for a good time.

“I guess you don’t want to wait,” I said with a small smile. He was beyond sexy standing there half dressed in front of me.

“We’ve waited long enough.” He licked his perfect lips.

“Then don’t waste another second.” I extended my arms toward him, giving myself over to him completely.

He knelt between my legs and pulled off my panties, sliding them gently down my legs to leave me completely naked. When he shifted forward, I let my legs fall outward, offering my moist flesh to him. There would be plenty of time for foreplay later. Right now, I wanted him inside me. I wanted to surrender myself utterly to him. I wanted to be his.

He lowered himself onto me. I slid my arms around him and lifted my head to get a fast start on the kissing. His hardness pressed against my clit, then slid down, moving over my slippery flesh. I tilted my hips to meet him halfway. My breathing deepened, hissing through my nose, and I clung to his arms as he moved inside of me.

I groaned softly as he slid into me, filling me one amazing inch at a time. I whimpered. He was deep inside me, and it was delicious. We kissed gently as if there was no hurry—until he started to move inside me. He withdrew, then pushed deep, sending waves of heat through my body. My head fell back, breaking the kiss as he moved faster.

“Harder,” I managed to squeeze out. “More.”

He smirked. “I thought I gave the orders.”

“Not today,” I groaned. I slid my hands down to his ass and grabbed him, using my grip to speed him up. The increase and strength of his thrusting was so good. Almost too good. Before long, he was hammering against me. I lifted my legs from the bed, taking him even deeper. He grunted each time we collided. I wailed in time to his thrusting. I couldn’t help it. We were finally making love, and I loved it.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said.

Heat flushed my body and tightened my muscles. My back arched and tried to lift me from the bed. As my inner muscles gripped him, he groaned. Suddenly, his rhythm changed. His movements became urgent.

“I’m going to come,” I whispered.

“I want you to, baby.”

It was an order I couldn’t refuse. I came with a fury that I’d never felt before. Whether it was a mix of the gorgeous night we shared or the incredible man I was with, I was in heaven. Either way, I never wanted to come down from that high.

He released a long groan as every muscle in his body tightened, and he slammed into me three times and finally stopped. The look of lust on his handsome face burned me.

I clung to him, wrapping both arms and legs around his body as he groaned and trembled, momentarily helpless in my arms. I closed my eyes and smiled, eager to memorize every single detail of this incredible moment.