Sinful Secrets (Savannah Sharks Hockey and Mafia #2)

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

SAVANNAH

Spencer ends the call as he pushes the shopping cart through the store. “Alright, we are all set to host snacks, drinks, and games at my place. The guys will come over in a little over an hour.”

“Are you nervous they won’t like me?” I ask as I stare at the contents of the shopping cart.

Hell, I’m nervous. What if they don’t like me? Will Spencer have to choose between his friends and me?

He pulls me down yet another board game aisle. “No, why do you ask?”

“Because you’re buying an air hockey table, foosball table, and three board games.”

He glances at the cart and grins. “Maybe I am buying this stuff because I’ve always wanted them.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Have you? Have you always wanted an air hockey table?”

“I have actually. I’ve always wanted an arcade at my house where my friends and family could hang out and relax.”

“Where are you going to put all of this?”

His apartment isn’t the same size as a house. Where is he planning on putting this?

“I’ll have to move some stuff around, but my apartment is big enough for games.”

I shrug. “If you say so.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me until our bodies are pressed against one another. “I do.”

His lips find mine in a playful, carefree kiss. I giggle and push him away.

“If we have to rearrange your apartment, put these together, and cook, then we need to get going.”

“We’re having snacks, not dinner. I figured we’d get chips and dip, some meat, like pepperoni, and cheese, and maybe a fruit and vegetable tray.”

I grab the shopping cart and steer it toward the grocery side of the store. “That sounds good.”

He leans closer to me and whispers, “You sound good. I’m happy you are going to meet my friends, but I’d rather spend all night with you screaming my name.”

My face flames as a woman stares at us.

“Spencer, we’re in public.”

“Yeah, and?”

“And someone can hear.”

“Let them eavesdrop. I want everyone to know that you belong to me. Your perfect little ass is mine. Your pussy is mine. Your orgasms are mine.”

A tiny moan escapes past my lips as he reaches up my shirt and runs his finger along my breast.

“Later Spencer.” My voice is breathless, like I just ran a marathon.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” His warm breath tickles my ear, sending pleasure down my spine.

“Come on. We don’t have that much time to get ready.”

We grab enough food to feed an army and head to the checkout. Luckily, the drive to his apartment is only a few minutes because he spent way too long staring at the food options.

Spencer takes his time bringing the games inside and resting them next to the elevator while I push all the grocery bags up my arms so I can make one trip.

Spencer looks at my arms and laughs. “Damn, Savannah, you don’t have to be Wonder Woman. It’s okay to make multiple trips.”

“Says the guy lining up games at the elevator so he can get them upstairs in one trip. Besides, I figured I would get started on laying out all the snacks and desserts while you got your games upstairs and laid out. Then we can rearrange your living room and put the games together.”

“That’s very thorough thinking.”

“Well, someone took too long at the food, so we only have thirty minutes until your friends get here.”

Spencer grins and nods toward the building. “They are already here and probably biting at the bit to come over to meet you.”

I follow him inside the elevator and up to the second floor. “How many people did you invite over?”

“Just a few of the guys. Rhett Montgomery and his fiance, Francesca Marino, are coming over as is Joseph Marino, Knox Anderson, Chase Williams, and Gage Roberts, but you’ve already met Gage. Anderson and Williams don’t know about the mafia, so please keep it a secret.”

“If they don’t know about it, why invite them?”

He waits until we are in the privacy of his apartment to answer. “They were around Gage when I called and he had me on speaker, so they thought I invited them, too.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

I place the bags on the counter and start laying out the food. Spencer joins me in the kitchen and hands me three bowls for the chips. He lays a few spoons out next to the dip.

“Good enough.”

“Good enough? Sorry, but that’s not good enough.”

“What else needs to be done?”

“The chips actually have to be dumped in the bowls. The dips need to be opened and lined up. The fruit and vegetables trays need to be opened. Drinks need to be in the refrigerator or a cooler.”

“My friends are not that high maintenance. They can do all of that themselves.”

“Yeah, but this is my only chance to make a great first impression. If you haven’t noticed, two of the people you invited are children of the mafia boss. Their opinion of me matters a lot.”

He pulls me over to him, pressing me against his growing erection. “Do you need an orgasm or two to relax?”

“I’d love that, but there’s no way I can relax enough to enjoy it.”

He growls and nips at my neck. “Is that a challenge?”

I playfully push him away. “Being flushed and turned on isn’t a good way for me to meet your friends, either.”

“I disagree, but you have nothing to worry about. My friends are going to love you.”

Knocking sounds on the door followed by more knocking. Spencer laughs and shakes his head. “Of course the fuckers are early today.”

He heads to the front door as I finish setting up the food and drinks.

Laughter drifts in through the front door as Spencer greets several guys.

A loud man’s voice asks, “Where is she?”

Another man speaks. “I told you she was a figment of his imagination.”

A third man chimes in. “She must have realized her mistake and ran away before we got here.”

The first man laughs and says, “Idiot, we just saw her carrying in groceries.”

A soft smack echoes off the wall before a female laughs. “Yeah, Spencer, why didn’t you help her bring in the groceries?”

That must be Francesca. Arturo’s daughter.

Spencer answers her. “She already had her arms full when I got the games inside to the elevator.”

“That’s no excuse. You should try to make it up to her.”

“Hey, I tried. She said no because we had to get ready for the party.”

I gasp as Spencer comes into view. He gives me a grin and says, “I’m kidding. She’s been helping me get everything ready, but of course you guys show up early.”

Francesca chuckles. “That’s why we came early, so we can help.” She walks toward me in the kitchen. “What else needs to be done?”

I point to the boxes on the floor. “Getting the drinks and making room for the games.”

Spencer introduces me to everyone before the guys break off into their own group and start moving his furniture around.

Francesca and I get the drinks in the refrigerator and get plates and napkins stacked before grabbing a beer and making our way over to the couch.

We watch the guys unbox the air hockey table and try to put it together. They leave pieces scattered all around and yell at one another to find the piece they need.

Francesca takes a sip of her beer and laughs. “This is way worse than it should be.”

I nod and laugh along with her. “This would be easy to put together if they would just read the instruction booklet.”

We watch them struggle for a few more minutes.

Francesca calls out to them. “Hey guys? How about we pause this little disaster you have going on and play Twister?”

Rhett smiles at her. “You just want to see us fall.”

She shrugs. “That’s just an added perk.”

Without waiting for their answer, she grabs the box and starts laying out the mat.

I grab the spinner. “I’ll be the referee for the first round.”

Spencer plops down on the couch next to me. “I’ll play the next round.”

The guys grab a beer from the kitchen before making their way over to Francesca. Rhett, Francesca, Knox, and Gage play the first round.

“Everyone ready?” They nod, so I flick the spinner. “Right foot blue.”

Everyone places their right foot on a blue circle. Rhett takes the circle behind Francesca and pulls her into his chest. She blushes but turns her head to the side to give him a chaste kiss.

I flick the spinner again, and it lands on the right hand and the color yellow. They scramble on the colorful mat as they have to bend over. The next spin lands on the left hand red. Then right foot green. Left foot green.

Gage yelps and falls down and joins me and Spencer on the couch as I flick the spinner again.

Right hand blue.

Left foot blue.

Rhett grabs the blue circle closest to him and Knox falls down.

Francesca grins as she stares at Rhett. “May the best person win.”

Rhett smirks. “You’re going down.”

She shakes her head. Her long hair sways in front of her face. “I don’t think so. That’s your job.”

She gives him a wink, and he growls out. “Watch it. You wouldn’t want to start something in front of everyone because I will win.”

My face blushes, and Spencer laughs beside me.

Is Rhett insinuating he would go down on her in front of everyone? He wouldn’t really do that, would he?

I flick the spinner, needing to get those thoughts out of my head and call out, “Left foot green.”

The game continues for several rounds until Rhett loses his balance and falls over.

“Yes! I won.” Francesca jumps up and down before grabbing the spinner from me. “I’m going to be the referee to keep it fair.”

Spencer stands and helps me up. “Yeah, I doubt that.”

She rolls her eyes at him and laughs as she flicks the spinner. “Don’t be a sore loser. Alright. Right foot yellow.”

I take my preferred spot in the middle of the mat and place my foot down firmly on the yellow circle. Spencer, Chase Williams, and Joseph Marino place their feet down and Francesca spins again and again.

These guys are all competitive, even to the point of trash talking. None of them sling insults my way, but I can tell they mean them in a joking way. There is no malice behind their words. Just friendly banter.

Spencer and Joseph team up to take Chase down, but Chase pulls Spencer down with him.

Joseph and I are on opposite sides of the mat with our legs spread as far apart as they will go and both of our hands on yellow.

He doesn’t speak to me. He keeps his focus on the mat and on Francesca. It’s a little unnerving knowing who his father is.

Does he not like me? Does he know about the cop and the FBI agent? Is that why he’s not speaking to me?

I debate losing on purpose. Maybe he will like me a little more than he appears to like me now, but Francesca cheers me on.

On the next spin, Joseph falls and I win. I can’t prove that Francesca cheated to help me win, but the way Rhett and Spencer are looking at her makes me question the validity of my win.

Chase grabs a bowl of chips. “That’s not fair. She’s so tiny. Her small frame helped her win.”

I roll my eyes. “Actually, I credit it to being flexible from years of ballet. I thought hockey players were pretty flexible, but I guess not.”

He pops a chip into his mouth and says, “I can win at air hockey.”

“We can’t play because it’s not put together.” I point to all the pieces scattered around.

Chase sets his bowl of chips down on the coffee table. “We can change that, can’t we, guys?”

The guys nod and grab the instruction booklet. Spencer glances my way. “Just give us fifteen minutes and we will school you two in the mastery of air hockey.”

I join Francesca on the couch.

She gives me a smile. “I know this might sound strange, but I feel like I already know you.”

“Same here. Spencer has told me a lot about you and your family.”

She raises an eyebrow before glancing at the men. “Oh, he did?”

“It wasn’t anything bad.” I immediately say, as my heart pounds in my chest. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea.

She turns toward me and smiles. “There has been a lot going on since I’ve moved back, but I have to admit, it’s nice to have another woman around. Sometimes all the testosterone can become overwhelming.”

“I think they are just overwhelming to be around.”

Our gazes wander over to the men. They are already staring back at us. Rhett’s gaze is dark, hungry, and intense. So is Spencers.

I whisper, “Are they always like that?”

She breaks Rhett’s gaze and looks at me. “Rhett wasn’t always like that, but I love how protective he is.”

“You mean intense? Scary? Overwhelming? Deadly?”

She leans her head back and laughs. “Trust me, you’ll get used to it. Our world is dangerous, dark, and shady. The guys have to be on guard all the time.”

I let out a long sigh and let my gaze fall to my lap. “You must think I’m a wimp.”

“Not at all. I grew up in this life, and sometimes it can get pretty twisted. You haven’t known about the mafia for very long. It’s new and scary, and we are like a big, dysfunctional family, but we always look out for one another.”

I glance at her, surprised to see her staring back. “Is that why Spencer is closed off and angry sometimes?”

“I think being a professional hockey player contributes to that a little, but there was a lot that happened recently, with my mom coming back from the dead and my ex boyfriend trying to kill me, but Spencer is a good man. He’s one of the best out there.”

My gaze follows his every move as he helps screw two pieces of the table together. “There seems to be a really dark side of him, though.”

“That would be the mafia side. They have to do horrible things sometimes, like torture others, and they keep it bottled up. You know how men are. They don’t talk about their feelings. Ever. Well, add hard unethical crimes to that and that’s where they are.”

“And you don’t care that Rhett has killed people?”

“Nope. Hell, I’ve killed before. That’s just the type of world we live in. It’s not always black and white. We operate mostly in the gray area, and if you plan on sticking around, you are going to have to get used to it.”

Could I handle knowing that Spencer tortured and killed a man or multiple men? Could I just forget everything and pretend to live in a fairytale?

Francesca continues. “Besides, once you get a taste of the dark life, you won’t want to go back, and I’m not only talking about the endless supply of drugs, guns, and money.”

Francesca leans closer, not wanting the guys to overhear.

“I’m talking about the rough, hard sex that you only read about in romance novels. The type of sex that leaves you feeling completely spent and shaking, complete with Earth shattering orgasms. The type of sex you will remember for the rest of your life.”

My mouth falls open.

My sex life isn’t boring. Not by a long shot, but I can’t picture Spencer tying me up, blindfolding me, and fucking me into oblivion.

She chuckles. “Try it out sometime. I’m not saying go straight into chains, whips, and choking, but try a little spanking and hair pulling. Maybe even light bondage with scarves and an eye mask.”

I glance over at Spencer, who is completely oblivious to my and Francesca’s conversation. “How can I even ask for that without him thinking I’m weird?”

“Trust me, that is the last thing he will think about. Come on, I’ll help you get ready for tonight. It will be a nice reminder of what he has waiting for him back home.”

I shake my head as she stands. “I don’t want to distract him before a game, let alone two away games.”

“He won’t be distracted. Well, at least not in a negative way. This reminder will help keep him focused on returning home.”

A grin forms on my face as I picture the shock and arousal on his. “Alright. Show me what to do.”

While the guys are distracted, Francesca and I sneak into Spencer’s bedroom. I just hope I don’t make a fool out of myself and end up regretting listening to her advice.