Seduced by the Mafia Boss (Forbidden Confessions 8)

“Have you spent the last three years with these animals? I have,” I growl. “Do you know what they’re capable of? What they’ve got planned? How far they’re willing to go for power? I do. Paulie thinks he gunned down Ransom in a parking lot tonight. He was celebrating with champagne and a laugh. So I’m telling you right now that, unless I give them a reason not to, these animals will think nothing of using you and Sammie for their fun, then pumping you full of bullets before digging you a shallow grave in the desert for the coyotes to find.”

Kristi goes mute in horror. Good. I can’t be any more stark and clear about the stakes. She needs to stop being angry with me for all the wrong reasons and focus.

“Finally got your attention?”

She nods miserably. “Bastard.”

Yeah, yeah. “Like I’ve never heard that before. What’s going to make you feel better, Little Red? You want to hear that I hated leaving you that morning? I did. I resented the shit out of this assignment when I had to tiptoe out on you at five a.m. on New Year’s Day. Want to know if I’ve thought of you since then? All the goddamn time. I expected to want you that night, but I didn’t expect to fall for you. I certainly didn’t expect to come back to Vegas, determined to wrap up this multi-year op so I could find you again because I’m not fucking interested in anyone else. Just you.”

She swallows, then sends me a suspicious scowl. “You’re just saying that to get me to cooperate.”

Of course she thinks that. In her shoes, I would, too. “I’m not. Now shut up. I’m going to make you scream. I know you’re going to be pissed at me for a while, but try not to hate me, huh? It’s going to make our next fifty years together really rough.”

As far as I’m concerned, more conversation is somewhere between pointless and dangerous. Besides, Fate has given me another night with Kristi well before I thought I’d have one again. Better believe I’m going to take it and make sure that, despite this fucked-up op, she knows she’s mine.

Kristi

Ridge Garrison is the most frustrating, confusing, difficult, macho, annoying man I’ve ever met. I’d love to keep hating him, but I’ve got three problems.

First, when he dips his head and covers my lips with his, he reminds me that he’s amazing in bed. Since the morning he left me, my body has literally ached for him every single day. I can’t masturbate the need away. I tried. And so far, I haven’t felt even a smidgeon of interest for another man. I’m worried the damn bastard ruined me.

Second, he knows where to find Sammie. Well, he says he does. I don’t know for sure that he’s being honest…but despite the fact he’s horrible boyfriend material, Sophie and Rand swear Ridge is one of the good guys. That has to mean something, right? Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but it makes me feel better because…

Third, it pains me to admit it—and I’m seriously questioning my judgement—but I think I fell for the cocky bastard. The night we met was magical—in every sense of the word. I became every princess when I was with him. Ariel at first because he tongue-tied me so much I couldn’t find my voice. Once I did, I was Cinderella. We danced and danced until midnight. Then we kissed as the clock struck twelve, and I lost a shoe—not kidding—as I ran to my room. He chased me and returned it, slipping it on, only to slip it—and everything else I wore—off as soon as we were alone. Then I was Sleeping Beauty because after the first three times we had sex, I fell into an exhausted slumber. But he awakened me again with what I fear was true love’s kiss. We had sex again, too, rather than saved a kingdom, but it was still the most enchanting night of my life.

Until I woke up alone and realized he was no Prince Charming because he never called again.

The unwelcome realizations didn’t end there, but before I can dwell on that, that talented mouth of his works down my neck, dragging his lips and nipping at my skin. With every passing heartbeat, he gets closer and closer to my aching nipples.

Against my will, my back arches, not just offering him the hard tips but silently begging him to take them.

Ridge reaches them, hovers, breathing hot and hard. I shudder. My exhalations turn ragged. He’s so close…

Why don’t I have any shame when it comes to this man?

He thumbs the trembling peak again before cupping the swell with a satisfied smile. “I can’t wait to show you how much I’ve fucking missed you.”

My beleaguered brain doesn’t finish computing his words before he dips his head and takes my nipple in his mouth.