Chapter Fourteen
Jess
Snake is always there when I leave work. I’ve grown used to his watchful eye. I even find myself looking for him at the end of the day. He’s always in the same spot, across the street from my office building, parked at a meter. Today, when I come out of the front door, I look over there right away. His regular spot is empty.
I stop walking, my heels skidding against the concrete. Where is he? Is he watching me from somewhere? I jerk my head around, looking for him. My palms begin to sweat. If he’s not watching me, something could happen. What if the other soldiers found out what I did, and Snake was taken off watch? It’s strange, and I hate myself for it, but I feel safer with Snake around.
A short, quick honk gets my attention. There’s a silver Acura parked a few yards away in the employees’ lot. My heart starts to pound. Who is that? Then the window rolls down, revealing Snake’s cocky smile. I remember that the black BMW he was driving was on loan.
“Looking for me?” he calls.
Shit, did he see me panicking? I cover up my embarrassment with a sneer, then shoulder my bag and make for my car.
“Yo, wait,” Snake calls.
I whirl around and face him. Snake casually gets out of the car, his long, lean legs dressed in a black suit unfolding beneath him. I’d forgotten just how tall he is until he stretches up to his full height. He leans against the car, casually lighting a cigarette.
I left the office a little early, and in a few minutes, this parking lot will be swarming with my underlings. They already think I’m a raging bitch. I can’t let them see me mingling with the mob. I walk up to him as quickly as my heels will allow.
“What do you want?” I snap.
Snake coolly gestures to the car. “Get in.”
I know I’ll have to eventually do what he says, but I won’t let him win that easily.
“Did you come to pay me back for the damage you did to my bedroom? Or give me back the underwear you stole?”
Snake peers down at me through the dark canopy of his lashes. “You noticed?”
“Of course, I noticed.” Heat rises from my flesh at the thought of him pocketing my panties.
“You take inventory?” he asks, cocking his head. “Or were you looking for something else in that drawer?”
An electric jolt makes me zip my thighs together. He’s talking about my vibrator, which wasn’t in the exact spot I’d left it in before he searched my room. Snake opens his coat just wide enough to show me the silver gun glinting in the holster on his side.
“Let’s not waste anymore time,” Snake says.
I plant my feet on the ground. “If you don’t leave, I’ll scream.”
The side of Snake’s mouth twitches with an arrogant, lopsided grin. “No, you won’t. Because if you do that, people will start asking questions, and it won’t be long until they find out what you’ve been up to.” He walks over to me, and takes my hand in his. “I’m the only one who knows what a bad girl you are. Let’s keep it that way. Come on.”
I snarl at him as he leads me to the passenger seat of the car.
“Does this one lock from the outside too?” I ask, sliding inside.
Snake shakes his head. “No. That’s just Salvatore’s car.”
While he drives away from the office building, I study Snake. He doesn’t seem as tense and hostile as the other night. He doesn’t act like a man who’s about to commit murder. But then again, how would I know.
I eventually realize that we’re driving towards his apartment. I break the silence.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I thought we could have a business meeting over a couple of sandwiches. You hungry?”
I sit back in the seat, crossing my arms over my chest. “Do I have a choice?”
Snake doesn’t say anything, but I know the answer. He parks the car, then we walk up to the Italian grocer. Snake’s hand is on me the entire time, either lightly resting on the small of back, or gently grasping my arm. He’s sending a clear signal that he’s in control. I don’t fight him, for now.
The guys behind the sandwich counter recognize Snake when walks in.
“The usual?” a young, bearded guy wearing plastic gloves shouts. His name-tag proclaims that he’s Rick.
Snake nods, then flashes Rick two fingers. We find a table towards the back of the restaurant and settle in. He’s acting so casually, I start to get nervous. Has he lured me here? Are the guys making our sandwiches in on it? Is someone pointing a gun at the back of my head right now?
“Relax,” Snake says. He reaches across the table and grabs my hand briefly. “You’re safe with me.”
I hate how perceptive he is of my every move. Nothing gets by him. I ignore the warm feeling his words give me. “What’s this about? You got what you wanted from me.”
“I need more.”
I pause, biting my lip. What does that mean? What does he want? Is whatever compelled him to take my underwear the same as what compelled him to take me to dinner tonight?
“I don’t have anything else to offer you,” I say, stubbornly.
“I doubt that,” Snake says, darkly. He straightens his tie and focuses his gaze. “Before we get started, let me make something crystal clear.” He leans forward, lowering his voice. “If you ever try to pull a stunt like that again, you’re dead. And if our plan doesn’t work, we’re both dead.”
Disappointment thuds in my stomach. This is about business. What did I think this was, a date?
“There’s been some changes to the plan,” Snake says, folding his hands on the table. “It’s going to be a lot more involved than I originally thought. We need the charges to come from your company’s website each time the customer makes a purchase.”
My jaw drops. He can’t be serious. I shake my head.
“I’d have to get the website developer to do that,” I say.
Snake sweeps his arms out, like it’s no big deal. “Then let’s get him.”
I think of scared, trembling Toby compromising his morals once again, and can’t help but laugh.
“Let’s get him,” I say. “Just like that. Let’s get an ordinary, law-abiding citizen to help us commit major credit card fraud.”
“Keep it down,” Snake warns. “And don’t worry about that. I have ways of convincing people to help me.”
My eyes drift to the gun at his side. “I don’t doubt that.”
Snake drums his fingertips against the table, staring me down. “You don’t have to be like that, all cold and sharp edges. I’m willing to let the past live in the past. We can move forward, start fresh, as long as it doesn’t happen again.”
“Best friends,” I say, lightly, twirling my hair. “Let’s go buy a tandem bicycle and ride down Venice Beach together.”
Snake turns his head to one side, eyeing me. “Who was it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. It must have been someone close to you. Was it your boyfriend?”
Anger creeps up the back of my neck. “He was innocent,” I say through my teeth.
Snake looks up at the ceiling, incredulously. “I doubt that. Listen, you can learn from his mistakes. My guess is, he got in bed with the Mariano’s, and at some point tried to screw them over. Don’t let the same thing happen to you. Don’t end up like him.”
We’re interrupted by Rick, who delivers our sandwiches, and two bottles of lemon-flavored soda. I stare at the sandwich, piled high with different Italian meats, refusing to eat, but I can’t keep it up for too long. I haven’t had a proper meal in ages, and in all honesty, this looks delicious. The bread is warm in my hands when I pick it up. It’s slightly toasted, and holds up well to the hearty fillings and sauce.
“Right?” Snake says. “Best sandwiches in town.”
I neither confirm nor deny this. We eat silently for a few minutes. Finally, Snake puts down his sandwich, and looks at me with somber eyes.
“You’re not trapped, Jess, not forever,” Snake says. “I want you to know that. Once we start making money, you can take your split and get out of here, start a new life. Maybe you can get yourself some therapy, you know, to deal with your grief.”
I stop eating, and look down at the table. I detected compassion in Snake’s voice, and I don’t know quite how to react to it. He’s also ensuring that I make it out o this whole mess unscathed, that is, if I decide not to try to kill Monty again.
“But for now, I don’t have a choice.” I eye him challengingly. “Right?”
Snake’s lips spread back into that cocky smile. “Right.”
We finish up. Snake pays the bill, and he escorts me back to the car.
“Where to now, pal?” I ask, sarcastically.
“Back to your place.”
“What about my car? It’s at the office.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I expect Snake to drop me off when we arrive at my apartment building, but he pops the trunk before getting out of the car. I watch in horror as he lifts a duffel bag out of the trunk and slings in across his shoulders.
“I need to keep a closer eye on you,” Snake explains. “You make me nervous, sweetheart.”
My first instinct is to fight him on this, but I decide against it. In all honesty, I feel better having Snake close by. Sure, he can protect me from the big, bad boogeyman that most likely only exists in my head, but also, having someone else in the apartment might be a welcome change. When I look at him, I feel angry, and that’s a hell of a lot better than grief.
I make a sour face, then turn around on my heels, marching up to my apartment. When we get inside, Snake tosses his bag on the couch like he owns the place. He points at me, then points at a chair.
“Sit,” he says.
“You think you can tell me what to do in my own home?” I ask, defiantly.
“For as long as I’m around, I’m going to tell you what to do, sweetheart. And you’ll be smart to listen.”
I’m growing exhausted from arguing. I sit in the chair, take off my high heels, and rub my sore feet. Snake disappears down the hall. I hear him opening drawers and looking through my closet. He’s searching the place.
“Try not to cause any more damage,” I yell.
Snake doesn’t respond. He emerges from the hallway, carrying the baseball bat I keep in my closet, then goes into the kitchen. He collects all of my knives, and anything else with a sharp edge, and stuffs them into his duffel bag.
“Now you,” he says, pointing at me. “Stand up. Arms out.”
I sigh with frustration, but eventually, I do what he says. “You already took my gun,” I say. “Which I want back.”
Snake smirks. “You’re not getting that back anytime soon.”
I hold my arms straight out from my body. Snake glances over me. I can feel his eyes on my skin, tracing over every curve. I have to fight to keep my arms from shaking. Once he’s looked me over, he steps closer to me. I can smell his aftershave, a deep, masculine scent, and I can feel the heat radiating off of his body. He starts at my wrist, carefully feeling up my arm with his probing fingers. He slides his palms over my shoulders, then down the sides of my waist. A wet warmth rushes through my lower body as his hands trail over my belly, and start to make their way up.
“Watch it,” I warn.
“I’ll be purely professional. Promise,” Snake says. But his voice is dark and thick. I know he’s full of shit.
His hands travel slowly upward, more slowly, I figure, than is purely professional. He lifts one of my breasts up with the back of his hand, then feels underneath. He does the same to the other breast. When he’s done with this, he slips his fingertips down my neckline, sweeping across the top of my cleavage. Despite myself, my nipples grow tight and hard. The bra I’m wearing is thin, and this is clearly visible through my silk blouse. I glance at Snake, embarrassed by my body’s response. He’s looking directly at me with those dark eyes of his. By the growing bulge in his pants, I can tell his body is responding as well. He still wants me. In a way, it makes me feel powerful.
Snake crouches down, and starts running his hands up one of my legs. I remember the night we met, and our brief time in the alley. I’m reminded of his sexual prowess, and his strong, dominant energy, the way his determined hands groped my entire body, seeking only to bring me pleasure.
As his hands travel up to my thigh, I feel a surge of wetness in my underwear. I consider, perhaps, not resisting this time. And not because it feels so good, but I know I can regain his trust this way, and my plan won’t be dead.
Snake glances up at me as he traces the hem of my panties. He seems to be testing my boundaries, to see how far he can go. He caresses over my ass, then down to my inner thighs.
This fucking asshole, he still wants to fuck me, I think. The hatred I feel for him is hot, yet energizing. It sends more blood pumping between my legs. You fucking prick. You ruined everything.
I adjust my feet, only slightly. That small movement slides Snake’s fingertips over my panties, directly over my swollen and sensitive lips. He gulps, and looks up at me carefully. He must feel how wet I am. With his eyes on my face, he wordlessly strokes up my slit. It’s like his fingers are electrified. Every touch sets off a thousand explosions in my stomach, rattling every nerve. He pauses over my clit, and with a dark smile, he presses into it. I gasp, my knees buckling. I reach behind me to grab the chair.
Snake’s smile deepens. He presses against my clit harder, making a small circular motion. I close my eyes, craning my head back, while the warm, oozing pleasure overtakes my body. Why am I letting him do this again? The motives I’ve conjured up for myself barely make sense now. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. When was the last time I indulged myself?
Snake reaches up my skirt, grabs my panties, and starts working them down my legs. When they’re off, he presses against my lower belly, pushing me back into the chair. My skirt rides up to my hips when I fall back. He pushes my legs apart, then lays himself on top of me. He grabs the neckline of my blouse, pulling it down. My breasts spill out. He immediately ravages them with kisses, taking my nipples between his lips and suckling. His hand is back between my legs. The feeling of his fingers against my raw flesh is even more intense. He takes two fingers and slips them inside me.
“You’re soaked,” he growls, with a self-congratulating smile.
Oh God, I fucking hate him. I hate every arrogant cell in his body. He thinks he has power over me? He pumps his fingers inside of me, and my anger dissolves as I feel myself about to come. Snake twists one of my nipples, and that sets me off. I throw my head back, my back arching, as I moan with abandon.
When the orgasm subsides, I open my eyes to see Snake staring into my face. He takes his fingers out of me, then licks them, before standing to his full height. He puts one hand on the top of my head, while the other loosens his belt. His cock springs out, thick, and so long there’s a slight curve at the end, giving it a serpentine quality indeed. He pushes towards my mouth, tilting my head back.
“As long as I’m here, you’ll do as I say,” he says. He draws the words out, making a slight hissing noise on the s sounds.
I lick my lips and open my mouth. We’ll see who has the power here, I think, as his cock slips over my tongue. I make a tight seal around his shaft with my lips, then suck him up and down.
“Fuuuck,” he groans, tightening his fingers in my hair.
I suck him slowly, wetly, teasing him. His cock seems to grow even harder in my mouth. And I have to admit, I’m growing wetter too. My clit throbs, begging to be touched. I pull my head back, letting his cock slide out of my mouth, and look up at him.
“Fuck me,” I demand.
There’s a spark in Snake’s eyes, and a determination on his face that frightens me a little. He looks down at me as he patiently takes off his jacket and shirt. His torso is deeply muscled, hard and toned, and his chest and arms covered in tattoos. The snake on his inner arm dances as he digs a condom out of his pocket, then removes his pants. He’s prepared. Has he been planning this?
Grabbing me by the waist, he lifts me easily from the chair, and throws me over his shoulder, smacking my ass, hard, in the process. In my bedroom, he throws me down on the mattress, then rips off my clothes like a savage beast. He grabs my wrists and pins them down as he hovers over me.
“You like playing with fire, don’t you?” he asks, bending to kiss the tops of my breasts. “That’s something we have in common.”
I briefly consider that maybe he’s right. Maybe I’ve traded an alcohol addiction for an adrenaline addiction. But those thoughts leave my mind as soon as they appear. All I can think about is his rock hard cock ramming inside of me. I grab at his waist desperately. He sits up on his knees, ripping the condom open with his teeth, then expertly slides it over his shaft.
Snake lowers himself over me. I feel him prodding at my wetness, spreading me open. He plants his hands on my shoulders, and with one sharp thrust, he’s fully inside of me. I clutch at his back, my breath shallow. That bend in his penis hits right where it counts.
I expect Snake to take me hard and without mercy, to sink between my legs and pound me into oblivion. That’s what I want, a savage fuck from a savage man. Instead, he’s slow and gentle. He looks directly into my eyes while sweeping my hair back from my face. I get caught up in his gaze, and the slow, mounting pleasure. As we look at each other, another warmth develops in my cells, independent of what his cock is doing. He kisses the side of my face, then whispers into my ear, “You’re beautiful.”
This is not at all what I expected. Snake is being kind, loving, even. He envelops me with his long, strong limbs, holding me tightly beneath him. I close my eyes and breathe in his smell, a smell that’s growing familiar to me. I wrap my arms around his neck while he kisses me on the lips. I grow soft beneath him. The energy that’s been pent up beside me is finally starting to release. He pulls back, then presses his forehead against mine as he continues to fuck me slowly.
No, this is all wrong. It’s time to admit that I’m catching feelings for him. I can feel it spreading through my body like a virus. I can’t give in.
“Stop,” I say, abruptly.
Snake blinks at me. “Is something wrong?”
I grit my teeth. “Harder. Faster.”
Snake grins deeply. “Your wish is my command.”
In an instant, he grabs my waist, and flips me over on my stomach, giving my ass a hearty smack. He hooks his arm beneath me, lifting my ass up. Grabbing my hair, he plunges back inside of me, then fucks me fiercely. The bed rattles beneath me as he uses his dick as a jackhammer.
It works. All gooey feelings disappear as I climax over and over again. Snake holds my head down against the bed, fucking me relentlessly. I moan into the bedsheets as another orgasm racks my body. He collapses forward, groaning in my ear as he gives me one last thrust.
Then, the snake slithers out of me, emptied and satisfied. My entire body is weak. All I can do is lie there. When Snake comes back from the bathroom, I pretend I’m asleep, and eventually, I am.