Raw Bloody Power

Chapter 15

15

I SPY A LITTLE SPARK

Ivory

When Wednesday rolls around, I’m anxious to see Benedikt. If I can, once again, play my role as expected, I can secure his assistance—which I desperately need after the long conversation I had with my father. Longest hour of my life if that says anything at all, with much of the same back and forth, ‘get me off this never-ending carousel’ ride we’ve been on since the fire. In the end, I used the ‘Daddy’s Little Princess’ thing to my advantage, eventually wearing him down to the point that he agreed I had one last chance to make this right. With Benedikt on my side, my chances are much higher.

Benedikt Koshka

I’m pulling up in less than five.

Me

I’ll be right down .

Slipping my phone into my purse, I take one last look in the full length mirror and smooth out the champagne silk clinging to my curves. The lighter color does show off more of my squishy lower belly than society deems acceptable, but I’m feeling good tonight and truly don’t give a shit.

Don’t like it? Don’t look.

They’ll look, though, because the low scoop neck accentuates the generous swells of my breasts, my nipples pebbled beneath the thin fabric from the lack of a bra. And much like the first dress he saw me in, my back’s fully exposed, too, shielded only by the long, loose waves of my hair. Leaving nothing to the imagination here, I know, but I need this man foaming at the mouth.

“Yeah, this’ll do,” I murmur to myself in satisfaction and make my way down the hall to Alessandro’s room, the pups all following behind me. Normally, I’d just let them loose in the house, but my mom’s setting up for book club and two of her friends aren’t very fond of large dogs.

Dr. Dre’s deep register seeps out from beneath my little brother’s door, bobbing my head to the beat as I rap my knuckles against smooth surface.

“Come in!” he belts over “Forgot About Dre”.

I poke my head in and smile at the sight of him on the floor, surrounded by various school books. He’s got his glasses on, his tight curls a huge wild and frizzy mane with a pen shoved inside. He really is a good kid. “Can you watch the psychos for me? I’m heading out, and Ma’s book club will be here in a bit.”

Xena sneaks in past my legs and runs straight for Sandro, launching herself into his lap. He catches her right before she goes flying into his snacks and buries his face in her little neck. “I got you. Where the hell are you going, though?” He perks a brow questioningly as I allow Draco and Katana entrance.

“Out.” That’s all I offer, not the least bit interested in the conversation that will ensue if I mention the word date. “I shouldn’t be back too late.”

My little brother gives me that look. You know, the protective brother glare. He might be the younger one but he is no less inclined to bust a man’s knee caps than Santo is. It’s comical, really, and although it can be obnoxious sometimes, I also love it in equal measure. I blow him a kiss to avoid another possible question regarding the who and where, and shut the door behind me.

Just as I’m breaching the last step at the bottom of the stairs, the doorbell rings. My heart shoots up to my throat on a gasp. Please, for the love of God, do not tell me this man is on my doorstep right now…

“Coming!” Mom bellows from somewhere in the house, springing me into action.

“I got it, Ma!” The click of my heels echos through the foyer as I bound to the door and throw it open without a glance through the peephole.

Three gleaming smiles stare back at me beneath the porch light. I internally sag in relief, thanking the Universe for sparing me.

“Ivory!” Janice beams, throwing her arms around me. She’s my mom’s oldest friend. Just about forty years now, I think. I can’t remember a time she wasn’t a part of all the important pieces of my life. “You look absolutely stunning, baby girl!”

I return her embrace with a smile and ease back to greet Marla and Sherry just as my mom sidles up beside us. She assesses me with the same exact speculative brow as Sandro, though her colorful grin screams of a hopeful excitement. “My girl, you look beautiful. Where are you off to?”

For a split-second I consider giving her a similar one-word answer like the one I threw at my brother, but I know that’s not going to fly. So I give her the truth. Well, a manufactured version of it, that is, taking great care not to break eye contact. Or shift on my feet. Or stutter. “A date.”

All four women gasp and clap their hands in glee. Ma’s head jerks back a little, too, unable to control her surprise. We’ve had countless conversations about how I’m going to be single until I die. She hasn’t cared for them, making it known she doesn’t agree or find it remotely amusing. “A date? With who?”

Here comes the fabricated part…

“He was a groomsman at one of the weddings I delivered a cake to last week. I could barely carry the damn thing when I got there, struggling to navigate my way to the hall. He was out in the parking lot grabbing something from his car and offered to help. We got to talking and before I left, he asked for my number.”

Headlights rake over the front of the house as the growling sound of Benedikt’s Z28 Camaro grows louder.

“That would be him.” I press a kiss to her cheek before she can spit out another word, bid her friends a hasty goodbye, and rush down the stone steps. My phone chimes in my purse before he comes into view, likely a text letting me know he’s outside.

Sure enough, as I approach the idling car, he’s still tapping away at his screen. I hadn’t noticed the paint job when he dropped me off over the weekend, but now, the black chromaflair sparkles under the setting sun. It’s gorgeous, fading from black to a metallic purple. Like spilled oil or gasoline. Tapping a manicured claw on the window grants me his attention, a panty-melting smile revealing luminous white teeth.

Benedikt rolls down the glass and lets out a wolf-whistle into the early evening air as he twirls his index finger along with it. “Give me a spin, beautiful.”

Despite my best efforts, heat rises in my cheeks. I oblige to his request and throw a saucy wink over my shoulder and all.

“Gonna have me sweating the whole night, I see,” he chuckles, unlocking the door with the click of a button.

I slide into the passenger seat and slam the door behind me, leaning over the center console with a sparkling grin. “We did agree on sexy in satin, remember?”

“Oh, I remember, trust me. I just didn’t think it would translate so literally.” Embedding himself in my breathing space, he drags a ringed finger up my sternum to my chin, blue eyes dropping to my lips. “Would it be too forward of me if I kissed you already?”

“What happened to being a gentleman?” I purr, earning me a smirk.

“That’s why I’m asking. I could’ve just taken it. ”

My stomach flips, I won’t even lie. Could be the gravelly tone of his voice or the heady notes of his cologne. Or maybe it’s the way that deep navy blue dress shirt adheres to his chest and well-built arms, or the way he looks like he wants to eat me alive…

Whatever it is has me bobbing my head slowly, my tongue peeking out to wet my lips. “Just one.”

Benedikt hums in concession and snakes an inked hand around my throat, drawing me closer. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself after one, malish. Those lips look far too soft.”

“You better try, Koshka,” I breathe, “because I can tell you right now…if we don’t drive off in the next minute, my father is bound to come out here like a bat out of hell, and I highly doubt you want to be on the Don’s bad side if you plan on taking me out again.”

“Fair point.” His grip tightens enough to enrapture every ounce of my attention. “Because yes, I do very much plan on a second date.”

And then he’s kissing me, expertly molding his mouth to mine. His tongue teases the seam, but he doesn’t demand entrance, nipping and tugging at my bottom lip instead. When he pulls back, I find myself instinctively leaning in for more, chasing the tiny flame ignited in his wake.

Benedikt laughs softly as he releases me and rights himself in his seat. “Ready?”

On my nod, he flashes me that wolfish smile all over again and shifts the Camaro into drive.

Phase one: complete.