Hard Up: A Military Mafia Romance (10 page)

“Ready to go?” he asked her.

She got up and proceeded out of the dining room silently.

As he followed her out, he wondered if there wasn’t something building, something quietly powerful, yet devastating.

And he wondered if that something wasn’t coming for him, sooner rather than later…

T
he next night
, Vi looked up from her books to see Callum enter her room. He wore a dark suit, which was about as debonair as they come…

How often did she get to secretly swoon over a man in a suit?

And that look… she couldn’t admit it to him, but those glowing emerald eyes did things to her. Made her want to strip before him, beg him for the attention she knew he would show her…

“Hey,” she said shakily, closing her book.

He carried a garment bag, which he dropped on the bed.

“Get dressed. We’re going out.”

She opened her mouth to say something or protest, say that she should stay in, but apparently he wasn’t interested. That’s how she took it when he walked right back out of the room, anyway.

Closing her mouth, she reached for the garment bag. Unzipping it, she found a dress inside.

Her mouth went dry. It was a sheer red Jenny Packham, cut low in the front, with two thigh-high slits that would show the world exactly what she was working with.

She picked it up, holding it against herself. She got up and looked at herself in the mirror.

Lovely,
she thought.
It’s like this dress was designed for me. And I want to wear it…

Putting the dress aside, she moved to get ready. She’d blown out her hair earlier in the day, so a quick shave and a light coat of makeup were really all the getting ready she needed.

Dressed in the gown and a pair of killer heels, she peeked out her door. Callum loomed close by, more than prepared to leave.

“Ready?” he asked.

She stepped fully outside, presenting herself. She saw his eyes go dark when he looked at her, there was no hiding that. But otherwise he didn’t respond, he just stuck an arm out for Viola to take.

He led her outside to the waiting car, opening the door for her and making sure she was seated first. It seemed like a real date, except it wasn’t. At all.

She really needed to remember that the next time she caught herself staring lustfully at his ass.
Not a date
.

Viola tried not to be disappointed as he pulled the car out.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Metropolitan.”

She bit her lip. “Not that I don’t want to go, but isn’t Metropolitan busy? There’ll be a ton of Italians there. Like primo danger zone for the both of us.”

He reached behind her seat and handed her a small black eye mask.

“Masquerade-themed. No one will notice us in the sea of masks.”

She was quiet the rest of trip, as was he. When they pulled up, Callum put his own mask on, so Viola did, too.

As it turned out, Metropolitan was doing a booming business that night, as evidenced by the numerous people standing in line. Viola started heading toward the end of the line, but Callum steered her around it. They walked right through security, with a nod to the bouncer.

Inside the club was loud, the music pulsing rhythmically, a techno remix of a popular song. The lights flashed through the haze of fog, doing little to illuminate the dancers writhing to the beat.

“Wow,” Viola said, but it was lost to the roar of the music.

“Let’s get some drinks,” Callum said into her ear, making her shiver. She nodded and he led the way to the bar, long and lit up like a shining star.

Once their drinks were in hand, whisky for him and a gin and tonic for her, he held up his glass. “What do we toast to?”

She thought for a moment, then smiled and held up her glass.

“Second chances.”

She saw that same fire burn bright in his eyes in the seconds before they toasted, and he shot back his whisky. She sipped her drink, laughing.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to drink fine whisky like that.”

He leaned in close, until he was right in her ear.

“I’m not supposed to do a lot of things that I enjoy.”

A chill raced down her spine at the way his lips touched her ear. Not a good sign for her resolution to be a good girl and remain well-behaved, that’s for sure.

He pulled away after that, ordering another whisky and looking around.

She looked around, too. People were everywhere, doing shots together and pulling their friends out on the dance floor.

She’d never had friends like that, except for Jason’s friends. She remembered their girlfriends had been nice, taking her on outings and treating her like she was one of the gang.

It had been especially hard, leaving them behind when she ran…

Now, it was just easier not to make friends who would remember her, who might remark on her disappearance. She blinked into her cup, trying not to look as melancholy as she felt.

It was a fair deal
, she thought.
My life in exchange for friends. That’s fair, right?

She looked at Callum, who was staring off into the distance. At least he had Declan and Cormac. They might fight, but she could tell without asking that they were ride-or-die brothers, the kind who would never leave Callum hanging.

When it came down to it, who did she really have in her corner?

“Come on,” Callum said, putting his glass down and taking her hand. “Let’s dance.”

She went willingly toward the back, forgetting her morbid thoughts. She was more concerned about trying hard not to look at his ass while he led her to the packed dance floor.

Callum led her into the thick of it all, turning and drawing her close. It was a fast-paced beat, the song familiar. She smiled when he held her closer, knowing that for this moment in time, she was not alone.

His hands worked their way down from her shoulders to her waist, his eyes setting her on fire. She turned around, grinding on him, making herself nearly crazy. He ran his hands up the slits in her dress, then down the tempting front of her dress.

She could tell he wanted to tear the front of her dress, but instead he slipped his fingers underneath, touched her bare breast.

She felt like she was going to explode, just from that simple touch. Could he make her cum like that?

Even as she blushed at the thought, she turned up the grinding a notch. The music made her bold, the drinks loosened her up, so she reached behind herself. Sliding her hand between them, she felt the rigid outline of his cock.

Hard. Ready.

He let her explore for a second, not at all shy about his interest in her body. She wished she could pull his cock out, feel it in her hand. Or better yet, inside her, thrusting with all his might…

He groaned and moved away, turning her around to face him again.

“You…” he growled in her ear. “You’re going to beg for it.”

His fingers teased the sensitive flesh bared by the slits in her dress, then he turned her around and marched her toward the back of the club.

The fact that he was manhandling her, the way he greased a palm and got them a private booth, the knowledge of what he planned to with her… it should have shamed her.

But there was something wild about the woman she was tonight, something that could only be brought out by the anonymity of the mask. It protected her, made her bold.

Made her
wanton
.

Callum held out a hand to the booth, gesturing for her to slide in first. She did, and he was entering the booth right after her, almost on top of her.

His eyes were on her, watching her. His hand brushed her thigh, fingers teased back the fabric. Caressed upward toward the juncture of her thighs, until they crept along her silkiness.

The second he touched her there, she
moaned
.

He leaned forward and caught her moan, cutting it off with a steaming-hot kiss. His fingers carefully explored, found a rhythm she liked; his tongue traced the same pattern against hers.

She felt like she was burning alive, like he would peel back her layers and reveal nothing but hot magma, ready to burst forth at any moment.

She worked her hand inside his suit coat, under his shirt. Skin touching skin, that was what she craved.

He shifted, probing her with two fingers while his thumb worked its magic. Playing her like a finely-shaped violin, made exclusively for him. She cried out, but he caught each cry, silencing her, the music thrumming in her ears.

Suddenly she exploded, her body melting down like a nuclear reactor. She cried out in ecstasy, losing herself for several long moments. He held her close, feeling her tremble as she came down.

She looked at him, really looked at him. And knew that it wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t ever enough.

She leaned in to kiss him, then whispered in his ear. “The closest hotel. Let’s get a room.”

He looked at her, hunger and need blazing in his emerald eyes.

“As you wish.”

His playful taunt was infused with strength, with the depth of his need.

He got out of the booth first, then helped her out, righting a bit of her skirt as she went. She felt like she was dancing on air as they left, that she might as well be with a shah or a rockstar, as far as she was concerned.

As long as it was Callum, she couldn’t care less.

He drove to a gorgeous hotel downtown, one that still held all the 1940s glamour, still looked like starlets walked through the lobby regularly. She smirked when they registered as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

She could only hope they would live up to the hype.

Then again, she thought as they rode the elevator up to their room, she did have a bit of experience…

She grinned to herself as she walked through the door.

C
allum was on fire
, stepping into that hotel room. He’d never wanted anything the way he wanted Viola.

Like he was dying, and she was the only thing that could save him.

She was right in front of him, and he couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and grab her. She turned in his arms, and their lips met, the kiss passionate and full of need.

He slid his hand to the back of her neck, acting on pure impulse. He needed to possess her, to own her, if just for this moment.

He deepened the kiss, realizing how much he needed this — he’d let it all build too long. Maybe that was why he was so obsessed with Viola.

It was long overdue, and judging by her enthusiasm in returning the kiss, she felt the same.

He was desperate to feel her under his body, going crazy with the urge to feel every single inch of her under his flesh. He picked her up with one arm, carrying her backward to the bed.

She was good the last time he’d had her, but this time there was something different about her. Intense, almost wild. She bit his bottom lip as he carried her back to the bed, moaning.

“Hurry,” she cried as he put her down. “I need you inside me.”

He reared back, looking down at her intently.

“You’ve had your fun. Now it’s time for me to have mine.”

Callum leaned down to kiss her lips, her ear, her neck. She shuddered with pleasure, her hands raking his back. Reminding him that there was far too much material between them, most of it his suit.

He moved back to peel his suit jacket off, along with his shoulder holster for his gun. Staring down at her with a distinctly threatening look, he moved close. She sat up close to the edge of the bed, and they met with a kiss, a clashing of lips and teeth.

He gripped the back of her neck again, forced her to take more of his kiss. She submitted, but her eyes sparked — she wouldn’t take it for long.

Good
.

She undid the buttons of his shirt, and he closed his eyes briefly as she kissed his stomach, her hands searching for his belt. He saw what she was doing, moving closer to being penetrated.

But he didn’t want that, not just yet. He wanted to do all the things he’d skipped last time, the things he needed to try out with her.

He released her and shucked his shirt. He stood her up, turned her around, then made a show of slowly unzipping her dress. She wore nothing underneath, the way it should be.

His fingers caressed every inch of skin as it was revealed, memorizing the feel of her. Her breasts were small but perfect, two gorgeous teardrops. He turned her around, kissing her, and pushed her back on the bed.

Callum slowly undid his belt, pushing his pants down with force. He toed off his shoes and socks, leaving him in dark boxer briefs and a darker look.

“You were so good back there at the club,” he said. “Now it’s my turn, little girl.”

Her hands were already on his boxers, pushing them down.

His cock jutted out proudly. She was surprised all over again by his size, he could tell by the look on her face.

Still, Viola didn’t back down for a second. She fisted his cock in her hand boldly, making him hiss. And then when she took it in her mouth…

Heaven
.

She took it deep, sucking it in long strokes. She managed to wrap her hand around his cock, twisting as she worked her tongue gently under the head. He wrestled with his need for control.

Looking down on her as she worked, watching her tongue work… it nearly undid him.

In less than five minutes, she had him good to go, ready to cum like an avalanche; soon enough, he was pulling her away, eager to taste her instead.

He pushed her back onto the bed, back to the pillows. He separated her thighs with a knee, then lied on top of her, kissing her hard.

She groaned, ready for him. “Cum in me. You know you want to…”

He chuckled. As tempting as that sounded, there were important things to do first. He hadn’t done this, tasted her, during their rushed first time.

He’d been drunk, in a rush, not especially interested in getting some random chick off first.

But now it was different. She wasn’t a random girl anymore, and he wanted her to remember him forever. That thought put questions in his mind of where he thought this was going, but he pushed those aside.

Callum moved down, kissing her breasts and her stomach as he went. She realized what he was doing and tried to pull him away, but he wasn’t standing for it.

He moved down to the light dappling of hair she kept down there, spreading her lips wide with two fingers. She whimpered with hunger, impatient. She was soaked for him, beyond ready.

He delved in, running his tongue in circles, pulling soft sounds from her throat. Her hands clutched his hair, breathless. He could tell she wanted it, more than anything, but maybe didn’t want to be disappointed.

She’d never had
him
before, though; damn if he was going to let her be anything but blown away by their first real session, when he wasn’t drunk off his ass.

He kept his pace slow and steady, listening to her breathing pick up, her hands restless. It was only when her hips began to move against his mouth, grinding mindlessly, that he kicked up the intensity.

He pulled back and inserted one finger, then two before putting his tongue to work again. He worked his fingers in and out, and put some force behind his tongue, working her clit for all it was worth.

She was begging to cum now, pleading with him. He’d give her what she wanted.

She shattered, cumming so hard around his fingers that he gasped. She seemed to cum for ages, delicate aftershocks continuing for what seemed like forever.

He moved back up to her face, kissing her. He was hard as a rock, and Viola was about to experience just how good that could feel.

Callum rose above her, fisting his cock, and rubbed it against her opening. She bit her lip, pulling him in, gasping at the way that he filled her. He felt the same, that her pussy was so incredible, it felt like a glove made just for him.

“You like that, don’t you?” he said, sinking all the way in.

“Yes, yes!” she cried. “More, please!”

He managed to get himself under control, filling her with short strokes, keeping things on the lighter side.
Well, lighter side for him.

He could feel her nails raking his back, felt pressure to let go, let the beast out of its cage.
No, not yet…

He fucked her in measured increments, realized that he wouldn’t last that long like this. He needed her to take some control, to take some of the burden, or he was going to blow his lid.

He slowed, kissing her, then pulled out and flipped them both, reversing their positions.

“Your turn,” he told her, breathless. “Show me what you got.”

Viola gave him a slow grin, then mounted him like a horse. Again, that slippery-tight fit, like she was created for him. She was beautiful in this position, breasts jutting out, bouncing as she began to move.

It felt so good, in such a different way. Watching her was something else.

Her face when she started to ride him… He couldn’t look away. It was transfixing, the way she wore her emotions on her sleeve like that. She lifted her face toward the sky as she got closer, he could feel it.

“Are you close?” he whispered, knowing she was.

He reached up and caressed her breast, pinched her nipples.

“Yes. More!” she said, holding his hand to her breast.

Her hips were moving fast, her eyes closed, and he could feel the tightening of her core around his cock. He could tell she wanted it, but the part of his that longed for control just couldn’t let her have it.

Not yet, not if he wasn’t giving it to her.

When he lifted her up, she protested. “Hey!”

“On your knees,” he said, roughly putting her in the right position. “Let me see you touch yourself.”

She reached a trembling hand down to do as he said. He watched for a moment as she touched herself, softly gasping. It was hotter than anything he’d ever seen, and he’d seen a lot.

He grasped his cock, fitted it against her slit, and plunged in. They both cried out as he slid home, filling her to the hilt.

“Your pussy feels so good,” he whispered. “So wet, so tight.”

Now the beast could come out of its cage, he unleashed upon both of them. He hammered her from behind, gritting his teeth.

He could feel her tightening again, ready to orgasm. He set a grueling pace, his mind narrowly focused on one thing: the need to cum.

He felt her beginning to cum underneath him with a scream, and completely let himself go. His movements were brutal, unforgiving.

He came with a shout, pumping long jets of his semen into her willing body. He couldn’t talk or even breathe for a minute afterward. From her inability to catch her breath, neither could she.

They both collapsed into the bed together, Viola in Callum’s arms.

Callum tried not to go under, but the pull of sleep was too strong.

C
allum woke
in the middle of the night, sleep chased away by dreams of marching in formation. He realized he was hard; he also realized there was a solution at hand.

She
was here, in his bed.

He pulled the hair away from Viola’s neck, and kissed her there. She woke, sleepy.

“Hey.”

He kissed her lips, her pretty breasts. She went
mmmm
, and he turned her around. Kissed her upper back, slid his hand down between her thighs.

After a minute of gently massaging her down there, she was wet. Ready for what he had to offer.

He grasped his cock and brought it to her slit; she surprised him by taking him in, groaning all the while.

Damn, she was tight.

She was already touching herself, slipping her hand down where his had been a minute earlier. He moved without the roughness of their earlier coupling. This was more like moving on autopilot, both of them fulfilling the hunger that had built between them.

They weren’t starving anymore, yet they still knew want. Breathing heavily as they both moved in sync, together toward the climax.

He felt her breasts, felt her tighten around his cock.

“Yes,” he said. “Cum for me, baby. God, you make me so hard…”

As soon as he felt her about to cum, he released himself, let himself cum so hard his balls hurt. It was supposed to be a relief every time he came, but somehow with her…

He withdrew and held her close, trying to catch his breath.

They could have a few days together. That was
all
they could have.

That would have to be enough.