Fourteen

Flynn

I knew it was last minute and getting late, but after everything I’d been through that day, I just wanted to see her face. I wanted something good in my world after all the goddamned ugliness. And she was that. She was pure. Sweet. Beautiful. She made me feel emotions I couldn’t understand. All I knew was that when I was around her, I felt good. And I needed that.

As I sat at the restaurant sipping a glass of red wine, I tapped my fingers on the tabletop, anxious to see her curly red hair and beautiful smile, knowing it would cheer me right up.

And then she was there. I spotted her walking across the dining room behind the host, looking as ravishing as ever. Just seeing her made my heart skip a beat–a reaction I wasn’t used to. Women had always been disposable in my life. Nothing serious. No attachments and no commitments. That had always been the way I’d operated.

But as I watched her approaching, I really believed I could fall in love with that woman. I knew it was a dangerous thought since she knew absolutely nothing about me. What would she think of me if she knew the truth about who I was? If she knew I was a monster? If she knew I was someone who’d killed men before and would kill men again? What would she think if she knew I was somebody who’d tortured others for information, or that I was currently working deals that could put our very city in danger every single day?

What would she think?

I knew that was why many of the guys married women on the inside–women who were in the know already. It made things simple and left little room for surprises.

But Ava, well, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was somebody who had sparked something in me, something I felt like I wanted to hold on to. As she stepped to the table, I stood up and pulled her into my chest, wrapping one hand tightly around her waist and caressing the other against her cheek. I captured her soft lips with my own, and she surprised me by kissing me back, a small moan falling from her sweet and delicious lips. The kiss held so much promise, so much heat. I knew I had to pull away before the moment escalated.

I broke away and tried to inhale a steady breath without giving away the effect she had on me. Ava gently touched her lips as she smiled up at me, her cheeks flush with heat. “It’s great to see you, Ian,” she muttered softly.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, sweetheart,” I rasped. “Here, let me take your jacket.”

I helped remove her jacket, placing it on the back of her seat, before reaching down and pulling the chair out for her. I was a lot of things—a ruthless mob boss who protected what was mine at all costs, but I was also a true gentleman. Me mum may have died when I was a wee boy, but she instilled in me that women were meant to be cherished, loved, and respected. Ava deserved chivalry, someone who would hold doors open for her and buy her flowers. She deserved all of the good things in life and to be treated like a queen.

Shit. I should have brought her flowers, but I’d been so busy with business it hadn’t even occurred to me. I was mentally kicking myself while taking a mental note to remember the feckin’ flowers next time.

I sat across from her, staring into those green eyes and wanted to lose myself within their depths. I wanted to bask in all the goodness I saw in Ava and leave this horrible world behind.

“Late night,” she said. “I didn’t expect to hear from you this evening. It was a pleasant surprise.”

“And I’m surprised you weren’t offended by my offer to take you out so late,” I said with a laugh. “I didn’t even realize the time, to be honest, I was working late.”

Ava raised an eyebrow at me as she sipped from her water glass. I motioned for the waiter to come over and pour her some wine.

“This late?” she asked. “What in the world could you be working on this late?”

“Shipment at the dock,” I pulled back a sip of wine, watching her, watching me. Her brow quirked inquisitively, and I continued, “Import business works around the clock, sweetheart. Some shipments require management approval upon acceptin’ the delivery, but Jonny’s wife went into labor so that left me to tend to the docks.”

“I see,” she said.

Our waiter poured the wine and there was a moment of silence between us. It was a quiet that might be a little awkward for most people. But not with Ava. It felt natural. Like a brief, but normal pause while our minds and bodies fell into sync. And hell, I could just stare at her beautiful face all day long and never say a word. Looking at her was like admiring the most exquisite piece of art hanging in any gallery anywhere in the world.

She smiled and thanked our server, opening the menu. “I’m famished,” she said. “What do you recommend?”

“The porterhouse is to die for,” I said. “Though it’s rather large.”

“Probably a bit too much meat for me,” she said.

My eyes shot up at her statement, and Ava winked, suppressing a hint of a grin. Had that been some sexy double entendre? Or was it just an offhanded remark that meant nothing more than she’d said. I had no idea. I was completely confused when it came to Ava and her intentions. She was a mystery to me—one I really enjoyed trying to solve.

“Then maybe a nice filet instead?” I said, trying to throw a line out to see if she’d bite. “They’re tender and juicy.”

“Just the way I like them,” she said.

Okay, she’d bitten on that. She was definitely flirting with me.

“Then you’re in for a treat, sweetheart,” I said with a wink.

Ava blushed ever so slightly, as if she realized our conversation was taking a turn for the naughty. Her foot tenderly stroked my leg under the table, moving higher and higher making me think that maybe it was me who was actually in for the treat.

“I sure hope so.” Her eyes darkened as she smiled, pressing her full red lips to the glass as she sipped her red wine. Her tongue slowly traced the outline of her lips and the fresh wine that coated them

“Yummy,” she said. “The wine is delicious.”

I could feel my cock growing hard just from the touch of her foot on my leg and the look in her eyes. Getting through dinner was going to be hard. But there was a piece of my brain that wondered what was going to happen and what would I do if she was only teasing me? I was mentally preparing myself for a cold shower and a good old-fashioned hand job. But I remained hopeful.

I figured I’d be in for a long, lonely night with a raging case of blue balls because the higher her foot moved up my leg, the harder my cock pressed against my pants. It was painful as it begged for release, but all I could do was stare at her from across the table, yearning to touch her, to kiss her, to feel her body underneath mine.

Maybe the wine had an effect on her? Or perhaps my charm had finally won her over? All through dinner, she continued flirting and touching and from my point of view—it was intensifying. She was teasing me.

I let her know–without coming out and stating the obvious–that I wanted to fuck her. That I needed to fuck her. After she blew me off that first night then came crawling back the following night and declared she refused to be a notch in me belt, I vowed to let things progress naturally between us. I was willing to let her come to me whenever she was ready and never pressure her. And from the looks of it, she was ready.

“Check, please,” I said.

Ava tried to reach for it as the waiter dropped it off, but I snatched it from his hand and held it out of reach, a playful smile on my face.

“It’s on me, sweetheart.” Just like I hope you’ll be on me later.

“I insist. It’s my turn to pay. I’m a modern girl, after all, Ian.”

“No amount of insisting will work on me, Ava.” I handed the waiter my card before she could fight me any longer. “I know you’re a modern woman, and that’s one of the things I love about you. Even still, I do enjoy treating you.” I winked playfully, my smirk widening as I continued, “You deserve to be treated like royalty.”

“Well, if you love that side of me so much,” she said. “You need to let me pick up the check sometime.”

“Maybe next time,” I said, knowing full well that I’d never let that happen.

But if it got her to agree to yet another date with me, I’d be willing to offer up the possibility that it might.

“No maybe, Ian,” she said with a laugh. “I will be paying for our next date. Either that or I’ll kick your ass.”

“We’ll talk about that later,” I said.

I signed the receipt and stood to help her put her jacket on. Always the gentlemen, at least where the ladies were concerned. It was only right. My hands slipped down her shoulders, and I felt her shudder beneath my touch. She looked back at me and smiled, thanking me with her eyes. I let my hands linger over her arms until I took her hand in mine.

“Did you drive?” I asked. “Because I don’t know if you’re in any shape to drive home.”

“No, I took a taxi,” she said.

“I live just around the corner, sweetheart. We can hang out at my place until I sober up enough to take you home. If you’d like. Or I can just call you a cab.”

“That would be nice,” she said softly. “I mean, your place. Not the cab.”

My body pulsed with anticipation. She was going to my place. There was, of course, no promise that anything would happen, but there was at least the chance. And that was enough to get my cock stirring within my pants yet again.

“Sounds great,” I said, leading her out of the restaurant.

We walked down the street, hand-in-hand. She pulled her jacket around her tighter as the cool, night breeze rustled her hair. She had pulled it back into a twist, but tendrils were now falling loosely around her face. Honestly, I thought that was how she looked the most beautiful–with her hair wild and free, the way it was meant to be.

We neared my building, and I pulled open the door for her, greeting the doorman as I did. He nodded his head at me and welcomed us inside.

“You meant it when you said you lived nearby,” she said, shaking off the cold as we stepped inside the much warmer interior. “I’d almost say you planned this.”

“Planned this? Me?” I said, feigning innocence. “Perish the thought, my sweet Ava. I’m not so devious. And besides, I did offer to call you a cab, after all.”

She playfully slapped me. “I know. I wanted to come over.”

She leaned in for a kiss as we waited for the elevator. I kissed her gently, just enough to keep her there, begging for more. I wasn’t about to go all in just yet, not when we had an entire night ahead of us.

Besides, if she thought she was the queen of teasing, she was about to meet her king.