Текст книги "Blood & Loyalties"

Автор книги: Ryan Michele

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

“Come. You must meet some guests. Kiera is not here yet; she called to say she had to make a stop.” That sounded strange to me, considering she had left twenty minutes before I had. Then again, her guards didn’t leave her side, would protect her, and that thought helped me relax a bit. The trust in our protection was unbelievably important. Love it or hate it, we counted on it.

After meeting countless people, talking with my family, my cousins, and brothers, who gave me shit, and the arrival of Kiera—who seemed perfectly fine—I was damn tired.

Being dual CEOs with Kiera of Lambardoni Enterprises was the best job ever. We took people’s money and worked it in the stock market. We also invested it in companies we knew would show profit. We got our cut, and the clients got theirs. It was a seriously lucrative business. I loved my job, but it was the schmoozing that got me. Kiera was so much better at this part. I’d had to put on a professional front for the past three hours, and I needed a break.

“Catarina,” Uncle Vino called from the other side of the bar, and I looked up as he called out, “Come. Come here.”

My eyes drifted to the man he was standing with, all six-foot plus inches of Italian muscle. Jag’s eyes latched onto me, like I was his next meal, as I took steps toward them.

“Rina, meet Jag. He works with us in California.”

I wasn’t a stupid woman. When I had seen him with my brother and Ace, I had known he had to be part of the operations. I just didn’t know which part, and more than likely, I would never find out.

“Vino, we’ve actually met.” Jag’s eyes bored into mine, and I flushed from the intensity. “I was with Val last night when … Things needed to be dealt with.”

“Ah, yes. So you know my niece. She runs Lambardoni Enterprises with my daughter, Kiera.” Uncle Vino looked around the room, obviously searching for Kiera, and then turned back to us. “I’ll have to introduce you to her another time, yeah?”

“Sure, Vino,” Jag said.

The electrical sexual current that flowed between the two of us couldn’t be denied because it was twisting me in knots. My body was screaming at me to get closer, while my mind was telling me to stay back, and then my pussy was telling me to go for it. I was a screwed up mess in this man’s presence, my body and mind not getting on the same page.

“I need to run. I’ll be back in a bit,” Uncle Vino stated before he walked away, no doubt greeting other guests.

“Dance with me.” Jag held out his strong hand, and I took it without hesitation. The thought of being that close to him was too thrilling not to.

He pulled me through the crowd of people, each one staring as we passed, and onto the makeshift dance floor in the living room. Other couples were swaying to the soft music the string band was playing, many with smiles on their faces. Jag stopped, turned, and pulled me into his arms, my front plastered to his. One of my hands went to his shoulder, and the other he grasped in his as our bodies began swaying to the music. His arm around my back flexed with each movement he made as I followed his lead, the heat from it scorching my back.

“Catarina.” My name slithered from his lips like the finest silk against my skin, each syllable of it a warm caress. When our eyes met, I was dazed at the amount of passion and warmth that his held inside.

“Jag.” My breathy tone wasn’t what I was aiming for, but I prided myself on at least getting the word out.

The corner of his lips tipped up, revealing the sexiest lopsided knowing grin. He liked the way he was affecting me. “You look absolutely beautiful tonight.”

“Thanks, but I think you already told me that earlier.” Though I was going for teasing, I wasn’t sure if it worked. I hated that I became downright tongue tied in this man’s presence. Hell, I could take him down if I had to, yet there I was, barely able to say a word.

“No, earlier I called you beautiful, and you are very bellissima.” The Italian word for beautiful rolled off his tongue, and I swear I forgot how to breathe. I absolutely loved the way the endearment started something burning inside of me. “But I’m talking about this gorgeous dress.”

I quivered at his words from head to toe. Of course, I’d had many men tell me I was beautiful, but with the way Jag said it, the look in his eyes, I actually believed him.

“Thanks,” was all I could muster.

“Now come on, cara, I know you can speak more than one word at a time.” This time, I got a full smile, one that lit up his face, taking every hard-edged line and turning him into pure beauty. I didn’t tell him this, because no man wanted to be called beautiful, but that was what he was.

He was right; I needed to get my shit together. He was a man exactly like every other, and although my body’s reaction to him wasn’t within my control, how I presented myself was. As a result, I steeled my spine and pulled out my seduction card. He obviously liked what he saw in me, may as well play it up.

“I was just admiring the view.” I shrugged, going for tempting. “Figured you got a good look last night. Now it’s my turn.”

His lips parted, obviously not expecting the bluntness from me. “Baby, you can admire it all day or night.” His gruff voice went down a few notches, and I felt goose bumps rise up my arms and on my lower back. It was that good.

“I’ll think on that.”

Jag pushed me away from him, lifting our conjoined hands to twirl me. It was so unexpected my mouth gaped open as he pulled me back to his body securely. He reached for my arms and wrapped them around his neck. Then he placed his around my back, bringing our faces so close I could feel his breathing becoming more labored on my cheek.

“Yes, you think on that.” He dipped his lips to my ear, his hot breath caressing it. “Bet you won’t have to think long.”

My entire body wavered at his words, and I clutched him tightly so I wouldn’t fall flat on my ass, only adding to the heat between us.

“Excuse me,” My father’s voice came to me from the right, and my head snapped in his direction. His face was tight, brows creased. That little twitch in his cheek began flickering like when he was angry. Oh, no. That wasn’t good.

Jag pulled away and turned to my father. “Yes, sir.” Respect oozed off those words, and I liked it, but also felt a twinge of here we go again, in the sense of another man not willing to stand up to my father.

“I’m dancing with my daughter now.” His tone left no room for argument.

Jag’s chest deflated as he leaned into my ear. “I’ll find you later.”

I nodded as the heat from Jag’s body left mine. I watched him as he left, but he didn’t turn back and that didn’t leave me with a good feeling.

My father pulled me to him, not close, but enough to get my attention. “That one, yeah?” he asked.

I really didn’t know what to say, so I shrugged. “He seems nice.”

My father burst out laughing so loudly it drowned out the music. All eyes in the room snapped toward us, but my father didn’t care and continued to move, his attention solely on me.

“Nice. Sure. He’s a good man, but he lives in California,” my father warned, repeating Val’s words from earlier in the day. “I told you I’d try to give you room, and I shall try. I just want you to go in with your eyes wide open. You hear?”

If my heart could expand in my chest for my father, it would have at that moment. The fact that he was giving me room to breathe meant more to me than I could express.

“I understand, Daddy. I’ve got this.” I liked that my confidence had decided to come back to me now that Jag wasn’t inches away from me.

“I will be here no matter what.” In other words, if shit went sour in any way, he was there for me, and that was exactly what I needed.

“Thanks, Daddy.” My throat closed as tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall.

The song ended and the other couples on the dance floor began to clap for the band. My father and I stepped away from each other and followed suit.

“I must go now.” He kissed me on both cheeks then was gone.

I again mingled through the crowd, talking to potential clients and old alike. Kiera seemed to be really happy with Mark, not leaving his side. Every once in a while, I would feel a hot gaze penetrating me and looked up to find Jag staring at me. When I turned back to whomever I was talking to at the time, I had a very difficult time following the conversation.

Two hours later, I was beyond exhausted. Grabbing a rum and pineapple juice from the bar, I rushed outside without anyone seeing me. I headed to the small patio just off the main house, hidden behind a bunch of massive shrubs. No one was there except for Scraper following me, but he just blended in.

I grabbed a metal chair with plush pillows and took a seat, kicking off my sexy heels and instantly feeling the relief after they had pinched my feet all night. Wearing them wasn’t the best idea, but they looked good. I hiked up my dress, resting it on my thighs, and plopped my feet into the nearby chair, allowing the cool air to touch every part of my skin.

Lying my head back, I stared up at the night sky. The moon was half full, only showing me part of the man inside. The soft sounds of the music from the party played as I closed my eyes, enjoying the serenity of the evening.

My entire body ached. It wasn’t just from the heels, though. It was from being on my feet all night. That shit took a lot out of a woman, especially when she had to be on her game and make every person she talked to a top priority. It was more than just a physical exhaustion, it was mental as well.

“Stop!” Scraper’s voice yelled from my left.

I jumped to my aching feet, ignoring the throbbing, and looked around quickly, my eyes locking with the beautiful denim ones from earlier. I breathed in deeply, letting the adrenaline of the moment wash through me as I sat back down in the same position I was in before, propping my feet up.

“Jag’s fine, Scraper,” I called out, resting my head back and looking once more at the clear sky again. There was one good thing about being tired—I found myself not being so cautious with Jag. I didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. I was too tired to evaluate it.

“Your brother said not to allow him near you,” Scraper said curtly, standing next to me with his arms crossed as he glared at Jag.

“Stop it. We had a talk this morning. He’s good. I’m good. All right?” I said all of this with my eyes staring up at the sky, trying to find the stars yet unable to with all the lights. I wished I could turn them all off so I could watch the stars dance.

“I’ll talk to him.” Scraper moved away from my chair. He was talking about getting the okay from my brother? Hell no.

I snapped, getting up from my pseudo-relaxation and right into Scraper’s face. “You do whatever the hell you need to do, but you don’t tell me whom I can see and whom I can’t. Neither do my brothers. Your job is to make sure he doesn’t kill me. Can you just stick to that?” I didn’t hold back a single bit of the irritation I felt. No need. He could probably smell it on me it was so thick.

Scraper grunted in his own irritation. Not once in the years he had been at my side had I spoken to him that way, but he was acting like my father and brothers. I couldn’t take the damn leashes anymore.

He nodded without a word, moving over into the darkness and giving us a semblance of peace for the moment. I sat back down, placing my feet on the chair in front of me trying to even out my breathing from the confrontation.

“Have a seat.” I waved to the three empty chairs around the glass patio table, but he didn’t pick any of those. Nope. He chose the one my feet were resting so comfortably on. He picked my aching limbs up and laid them on his lap, massaging and rubbing every sore inch. God, it felt good. I closed my eyes, enjoying his touch and the unbelievable way he knew exactly where to rub to make my body relax.

“You have magic hands,” I moaned, enjoying the strength in his touch as he focused on my arch.

The scent of his cologne wafted in the air directly to my nose, and I breathed him in deeply. My body instantly became aroused, the combination of his smell and his magic hands making my belly clench and quiver.

“A lot of things I have are magic.”

I smiled as I watched his muscles flex while he worked my feet over, each movement sending flashes of heat throughout my body.

“I’m sure they are,” I teased back as he switched to the other foot, causing me to moan in delight again. I closed my eyes and focused on the enjoyment of each knead and rub his fingers provided me. With every touch of his rough yet soothing hands, my body was floating and fluttering. He was strong yet tender, and it felt amazing.

His hands moved up my leg, slowly massaging as they went, igniting fire at every sweep. My entire body shuddered, my core becoming tight and needy with each small touch his fingers made up and down my legs. It was like his fingers had electrodes attached to them, his touch burning me. The more he worked my legs, the more I wanted him to go higher.

His fingers drifted up my thigh, and I desperately wanted them to move to where I needed them the most. My core fluttered and pulsed, but he didn’t go that far.

I opened my eyes to see his staring back at me, happiness shining inside of them. “You need something, beautiful?” he toyed with me, amusement lighting his eyes.

“Desperately.” I ground my hips into the chair, needing more of his touch. Feeling the roughness of the fabric under my ass only added to my want. My breaths became pants, and a slight sheen formed over my exposed skin. As the night air rolled over my skin, goose bumps rose on my arms.

He stood, placing my feet on the rough, stone-covered ground. Then he moved closer, kneeling between my spread legs. My eyes never wavered from his, the burning intensity of them something I had never felt. I leaned in closer, the anticipation of his touch eating at me.

He dipped his head, his nose and mouth grazing my neck as he moved over my body. A flood washed heat through my body as I throbbed uncontrollably. A throb worse than I’d ever felt in my life, needing release.

I leaned more into his touch as his lips moved up to my earlobe and began a slow, torturous assault on it, even kissing the sensitive skin below it. My hands wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer to my body. Fire burned brightly in his eyes, fueling him.

Instantly, his lips were on mine, slow and tender as he took his time exploring every inch of my mouth. With each tilt of my head meeting his, the kisses became more urgent.

I threaded my fingers through his hair, the hunger and lust burning deep inside me. His tongue licked my bottom lip, demanding entry, and I didn’t hesitate to open for him. I pulled him as close as possible as his arms reached around and pulled me securely to him.

The heat between us was so electrified we could have fried together, and I couldn’t have cared less. We each gave completely to the kiss, melting together. It was bliss.

“Catarina!” Val yelled, causing me to jump away from Jag.

I sighed, not wanting this moment to be over with this hot hunk of a man. Our foreheads pressed together, our breathing ragged, and his eyes continued to burn into mine as we caught our breath, neither of us acknowledging Val.

“Catarina! I’m talking to you.”

I reluctantly turned my head at my brother’s deep growl. He stood next to Scraper, his fists balled up and anger radiating from his body. Why in the hell was he so pissed? We had just gone through this.

I found my voice, even if it was a bit breathless. “What do you need, Val?”

“Do you ever listen to anything I say?”

I turned back to Jag whose eyes were still focused on me. He smiled and stood, turning to face my brother, and I rose abruptly, thinking interception was in order.

“Val, what the fuck is your problem?” Jag took me a bit off guard with his tone. I had yet to experience this rough, domineering side of him. Hell, I had yet to experience really any side except his lips and hands, which were exceptional.

“What the fuck happens when you leave? What then?” My brother’s voice became glacial, and I knew he was just trying to protect me, so I stepped in, using the calmest voice I could muster.

“Val, this may go nowhere. It’s a kiss. Will it be more? Will it last? Who knows? Remember, we talked about this. I’m a grown up, and I make my own decisions, right?” I pleaded to my grunting brother, but his eyes didn’t leave Jag. It wasn’t like this was a shocker to him. Val obviously saw the sparks between Jag and me last night at the bar or he wouldn’t have said anything. “He’s part of the family, right?” I asked, walking closer and putting my hand on his cheek.

His eyes darted to me, some of the anger dissipating with my touch. “Yeah.”

“I’ll be okay.” I urged with my eyes for him to calm down.

I knew hardly anything of the man my brother was trying so hard to steer me away from. As far as I was concerned, he could scratch an itch and move on. It wasn’t like I was in love with the guy. His hot body could simply keep me warm for a bit and I was more than fine with that.

“Man, you need to calm down,” Jag said to Val when his vein looked like it was going to burst out of his neck.

Val glared hard at Jag. “You fucking hurt her and I’ll gut you. Then my father will finish you off. You’ve been warned.”

I turned to see Jag smiling, which was an oddity. Normal men would be shaking, but Jag was definitely not intimidated, or if he was, he didn’t bother showing it. And I liked it. I liked that he did have balls to stand up to Val. This was a bigger turn on than his smell…okay, so maybe a really close second.

I shook my head, turned to Jag, and grabbed his hand giving it a soft squeeze. “Thank you for the foot rub. They feel much better. I need to go back in now. Maybe we can meet up sometime.” I shrugged, moving away from him.

Jag pulled me flush against his body, causing me to shiver from head to toe. “Dolcezza”—my heart fluttered at the Italian word for sweetheart—“I’ll find you before you leave, and we’ll grab some food, okay?”

I nodded, immediately feeling stupid for once again not speaking. What the hell was wrong with me?

I finally found my voice. “I’d love to.” I smiled then kissed him on the cheek before putting my shoes back on and leaving Jag. As I walked past Val, I whispered, “Be nice,” then moved back into the party.

For the next hour and a half, I schmoozed and laughed at all the jokes that no one thought were funny, but made the players in our world happy. Kiera came and helped me, which I was eternally grateful for. At one point, my father came and wrapped his arm around me, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I didn’t need words from him to feel his comfort. My brother calmed down, but he kept his eyes on me while I ignored him. I was grateful when people began to leave for the night. I couldn’t wait to get home, undress, take off these shoes, and relax.

Hands wrapped around my waist then pulled me to a strong body, and I could instantly smell the sexiness that was Jag. I closed my eyes, but snapped them open as the sounds in the room came to a halt, and I saw all eyes were on us. My body tensed of its own accord as I looked from person to person, everyone’s eyes wide. My pulse picked up, and I had no idea why the hell I was so damn nervous all of a sudden. I breathed in and out deeply, trying to keep calm. I was going to eat with Jag, right?

Pulling myself together, I leaned into Jag.

“Bye, everyone. Thank you for a wonderful night, Uncle Vino.” I bowed my head slightly out of respect then turned in Jag’s arms. “Let’s go,” I whispered, not wanting to meet my father’s eyes for fear of seeing disapproval.

“My pleasure.”

He led me down the hallway before a strong bellow came from across the room, and I tensed, unable to move.

“Jag.”

Jag turned and I followed suit, coming face-to-face with my father.

“Yes, sir.” He was so damn calm and cool. I wondered if this was just him or some mask he put on when he was scared shitless. I hoped for the first, masks always fell away leaving a mess in their wake.

My father gave him a strong, penetrating stare, and my Uncle Vino came to stand beside him. Both men had their arms crossed over their chests, looking menacing. My knees wobbled a bit, but I held still—barely. I couldn’t help but feel unsure and a little scared.

“If anything happens to my girl, you’re dead.”

I gulped loudly as Daddy looked into Jag’s eyes, some strange conversation taking place that I would really like to be privy to, considering it was about me.

“I understand, sir.” Jag’s voice was strong, confident, and self-assured. The same voice that I’d hoped for from all those losers who ran the other way when faced with my father and brothers. I melted at the gesture, my heart thumping hard–yet showed no outward signs.

“Same goes for me,” Uncle Vino added.

“I’ll protect her with my life,” Jag assured them, knocking the air out of my lungs. Those words meant a lot, more than I could even describe, at least in my family. He didn’t even know me yet, but he was willing to say those words, the ones that showed respect and strength. The words that my family held in the highest regard. Ones that not one man I’ve ever been with has said. The pounding of my heart echoed through my ears.

Both Dad and Uncle Vino nodded in understanding and approval. Jag turned back to me, giving me a megawatt smile, and I could do nothing except smile shyly back at him.

“Let’s go, dolcezza,” He whispered softly, leading me out of the party with his arm firmly around my body protectively while eyes followed our every movement. I loved every second of it.