Unforgivable Ties

Chapter 35

Vincenzo

I t had felt like a part of me was missing these past few days. The minute Stephanie was back in my arms, everything clicked back into place; there was an easing, a settling of a weight inside me that had been churning away in her absence.

I held her hand in the car, squeezing it a bit too tightly, but I didn’t want to let her go.

“How did you know where I was?” she asked curiously, tilting her head.

“I put your information into FindMy on my iPhone,” I responded. “Sorry, I should’ve told you.”

“Well, I went through your wallet, so I guess that makes us even,” she said, a soft smile forming on her face. “And you saved my butt in there.”

Thank Christ. When I saw she had ended up at The Gilded Garden, a restaurant known for illicit activity, I had stopped what I was doing and ran to my car. I was just grateful I got there on time.

But I had no idea how she got there. When I busted down the door, I didn’t recognize the older man sitting at the table, and I knew most people in the underworld.

“Who was the man you were with?” I asked, my left hand tightening on the steering wheel.

“Dr. Malden. Well,” she said, her mouth turning down into a frown. “You’d know him as ‘The Surgeon.’”

I almost slammed my foot on the brake pedal. The Surgeon revealed his identity to no one, not even his most trusted partners. Cesare and I had worked with him for years and still didn’t know his true identity.

But here he was, having met Stephanie: a woman who had no connections to the underworld until she met me.

“How’d that happen?” My head reeled for a moment, thinking about the implications. Would he try to get rid of her now that she knew his identity?

Stephanie told me the story from beginning to end, and as she talked, I was amazed at the coincidence of her working for us and crossing paths with The Surgeon.

“I can’t believe he asked you to leave the mafia,” I muttered under my breath, the enormity of the situation sinking in. It was audacious, even for The Surgeon. After near kidnapping her and asking her to do that, I should put a bullet in his skull.

“Well, apparently I’m being underpaid. Maybe I should’ve considered it,” she said teasingly, gently tapping my arm. “Kidding.”

“Listen,” I began, my tone suddenly serious. “The Surgeon is dangerous, Stephanie. You need to stay away from him,” I sighed, my hand tightening on the steering wheel. I’d find him and take care of him, for what he did to Stephanie, but the best we could do for now is avoid him.

“You better leave it be!” she said, as if reading my mind. “Cesare told me you’ve killed two men over me. Dr. Malden may do horrible things, but he has also done a lot of good for the world.”

I was going to wring the old man’s neck. Cesare should have never told her I did that; she was too good for this world, too good to know I did those things.

“Promise me,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “That you won’t hurt him.”

“I promise,” I said reluctantly. If it were anyone else, I would ignore the instructions completely. But for Stephanie, I would listen. “Are you mad?” I asked, glancing over at her. “That I killed them.”

I turned the car into the apartment parking garage, the sound of tires screeching echoing throughout the concrete structure. Stephanie remained silent for a few beats longer than I would have liked.

“No. Well, I was. But I realized we’re not exactly normal.” She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “It’s almost like killing people for me is your love language.”

“Hurting them, too,” I smirked, pulling the car into our spot.

I laced my fingers in hers as we walked towards the elevators, the lights of the garage casting a soft glow on us. Stephanie squeezed my hand and leaned into my side as we entered the underground elevator.

Stephanie looked down, embarrassed about what she was going to say next. “Do you promise you want me here? Living with you. I just don’t want to be—”

I pressed my lips against hers before she could finish her sentence. Of fucking course I wanted her here with me; I had felt like dying these past few days she was gone.

“Never leave me again,” I growled, tightening my grip around her waist.

I slammed my lips against hers, intending to show her exactly how deep my promise went. Her fingers tangled in my hair, responding with equal fervor, her body arching into mine. I could feel the heat rolling off of her, matching mine in intensity.

The elevator doors let out a sharp ding, signaling our arrival in the lobby. My heart raced with anticipation as I led us to the lobby elevator. After days of being apart, I needed to have her back in our bed as soon as possible. The anticipation was almost tangible, like a storm brewing inside me, and I could barely keep my hands off her as we made our way to the penthouse.

“If you’re not careful, we’re not going to make it to the bedroom,” I groaned as she palmed the tent in my pants. We still had five floors until we reached the penthouse.

“We’ll make it there eventually,” she said, unbuckling my belt.

Just as she was about to dip her hand down the waistband of my underwear, the elevator door dinged. I tapped the keycard again, and the doors opened to reveal the penthouse suite, our home.

Stephanie immediately dropped to her knees and pulled my dick out of my trousers. My hand found its way into her hair, gripping it tightly as she leaned back to look up at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“The bedroom will still be there,” she said, as if reading my mind.

Fuck. If she wanted to start out here, fine. She was the only one who had the power to tell me what to do.

Her mouth enveloped my manhood before I could protest, her tongue swirling around me. Her eyes remained locked with mine, challenging me as her hands worked to undo my pants further. The sensation was overwhelming, causing me to stumble back against the wall of the penthouse.

I rested my head back against the cold marble, my breath hitching as she continued her ministrations. Stephanie knew exactly what she was doing, what buttons to push, what spots to touch to drive me insane.

She was the master and I was her puppet, willingly dancing to her sinful tune. My hips involuntarily thrust into her mouth as she quickened her pace, applying just the right amount of pressure.

“Cara Mia,” I groaned out, my fingers tightening in her hair.

She looked up at me, her eyes clouded with desire but still holding that mischievous glint. “Yes?” she inquired innocently, but I could see through her act. She knew exactly the effect she was having on me, and she reveled in it.

I wanted to tell her to stop, that I was saving all my come for her pussy. But her mouth felt so damn good.

“Fuck,” I muttered, feeling the familiar tightness coiling in my lower abdomen. It was a sensation that Stephanie had become expert at coaxing from me. In one last desperate move, I pulled her away, panting heavily as my dick throbbed.

“You’ve had your fun,” I told her, scooping her off the ground and carrying her to the bedroom.

As I walked, each step was punctuated by Stephanie’s soft giggles. She curled her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me as she peppered my neck with featherlight kisses. Her lips were warm and soft against my skin, fueling the fire that was already raging within me.

Once we reached the bedroom, I unceremoniously dropped her on to the bed. In a record speed, I had her undressed with her legs spread open in invitation for me.

I licked a stripe along her pussy and we both moaned at the same time. I had missed the taste so much.

The hickies I had previously left had faded away from the time we hadn’t seen each other, and a minor flash of anger ran through me. I would never let us be kept apart for so long again.

I would put plenty more on her tonight.

My tongue traced her soft folds, exploring every inch that was offered to me. I felt her shiver beneath me, her fingers clutching the bed sheets as she tried to hold back the moans that threatened to spill from her lips.

“I want to hear you,” I said, before taking her clit in my mouth and sucking on it.

“Fuck, Vincenzo!” she whimpered, her legs jerking and her toes curling in response. I could feel the pulsating of her arousal, could taste it on my lips and tongue. It drove me to the edge, turning my primal instincts into overdrive as I lapped at her, hungry and desperate for more.

I slid my finger into her, feeling her slick walls clamp down on me. The wet sounds of my digits sliding in and out of her drenched pussy filled the room, paired with the sharp gasps and moans coming from Stephanie. She bucked against my face, grinding herself on me, and I loved every moment.

Soon, I felt a telltale fluttering on my fingers, signifying her impending climax. I quickened my pace, sucking and licking with fervor. Her hips rolled in rhythm with my mouth, her hands twisting the sheets, her cries becoming louder.

Her back arched off the bed as she came, her body shaking with the intensity of her release. She called out my name again, and whimpered how much she had missed me, how much she had needed me.

I had missed her too, and I was going to give my girl everything she needed. I sucked my first hickey on her inner thigh, and was very displeased at the blank canvas I was working with. It was something that I would have to fill immediately.

I got lost in her; stuck in a loop of tasting her essence, making her come, and marking her. I was a man depraved, and I needed her to know that. I needed her to feel that. Feel the urgency, the need, the hunger that was eating away at my self-control.

“Vincenzo,” she said as I finished placing my fourth mark on her inner thigh. “I want you.”

I could have easily kept going, but I would never deny her anything, especially when her voice was laced with such need. I glided upwards, pressing delicate kisses onto her heated skin with every inch of space I travelled. Her breath hitched as I briefly brushed my lips across her swollen nipples before making my way to her lips.

Sliding into her felt like coming home. I felt her warm tightness envelop me, surrounding me with a sensation that was as familiar as it was breathtaking. She let out a soft gasp as I filled her, her fingers digging into my back, nails biting into my skin. The pleasure and pain mingled together, driving my senses wild.

Her eyes fluttered closed as I sank fully into her, my body shivering with the pleasure that was already coursing through my veins. I started slow, grinding myself into her as her body reacted, getting wetter, inviting me deeper.

“Voglio rimanere con te per sempre, Cara Mia,” I whispered into her ear.

I want to stay with you forever. I could only tell her these things in Italian, because I was too afraid to say them to her in English.

She looked at me with an intensity that threatened to shatter my resolve. Her nails dug deeper into my back as she met my rhythm, pushing her hips upwards to take me even deeper.

“Vincenzo,” she gasped again, the vulnerability in her voice causing my heart to pound against my chest.

Her body trembled beneath me, signaling her forthcoming release. I quickened my pace, driven by a need that was as fierce as it was tender.

I kissed her fiercely, unable to hold back any longer. I could taste the sweet mixture of herself and me on her lips, intoxicating me further.

“Cara Mia,” I breathed heavily into the kiss. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, pushing me deeper; she was glorious in her surrender to pleasure. I felt her body tighten around me, her breath shallow and rapid.

She let out a cry, her voice reverberating around the room as her orgasm took her. Her release triggered my own, a wave of euphoria washing over me as I emptied myself into her.

I pressed myself as far deep as I could go, wanting my hot ropes of come to be as deep as possible. After not having her for days, the orgasm felt like a thunderstorm raging through my senses, every nerve ending coming alive with fiery passion, leaving me breathless and spent.

As the waves of pleasure subsided, I collapsed onto her. My hands ran along her body; at this point, they were so familiar I had it memorized by touch.

“I love you,” I whispered into her ear.

It was something I’d never thought I’d hear myself say. But as the words slipped from my lips, they felt as natural as breathing, as crucial to me as the beat of my heart.

Her breath hitched at my confession, her lips parting in surprise. Her eyes, the color of autumn leaves, held mine captive, her heart pounding against my chest.

“I love you, too,” she said, tears pooling at the corner of her eyes.

I kissed her again, the taste of her tears mixing with the familiar taste of her lips.

“But what does Cara Mia mean?” she asked, tilting her head in the cutest way.

I laughed, and finally translated all the words of adoration I had been hiding from her.