Cruel Mercy (Dark Mafia)

Because that was what I wanted, I realized. I wanted his love. I wanted it more than anything.

But it was something I did not dare to even think about.

I stared at the open book on my tray table, the highlighter sitting unused in the valley between the pages. I should be working, not worrying about things I couldn’t control. But still…

I felt the feather light touch of his fingertips against my neck as he pushed my hair aside. His lips found my skin, pressing a kiss just below my ear before speaking softly into it.

“I want you,” he said quietly.

“Michael…” I warned, trying to ignore the wild spirals of desire his voice sent through my body.

“Don’t worry, I know you aren’t ready for the mile high club,” he murmured against my ear. “But I want you as desperate as I am when we land.”

I swallowed as he turned my hand over and started tracing circles on the inside of my wrist. I felt it in my core. My nipples were instantly hard. And my skin felt like electricity was dancing over the surface of every inch of my body.

I let out a soft moan and he chuckled in that knowing way that infuriated me, and turned me on at the same time.

“Do you want me to take care of you?” He asked solicitously. “All we need is a blanket… I will be very discreet. All we have to do is pull your skirt up…”

I shook my head, feeling my cheeks turn bright pink. Only he would dare… but I couldn’t. As much as I wanted his hands on me… and the rest of his incredible body, too!

“No. Please, Michael, stop teasing me.”

“Hmmm,” he said, leaning back. “But it’s so much fun.”

He did stop though. For a little while. I dozed off a bit. When I came to, it was time for dinner. He insisted on feeding me steak and red wine, watching my mouth as I swallowed each bite.

“Stop it,” I whispered, looking around the half empty cabin.

“Stop what?” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“You are doing it again,” I said in a low voice. He just laughed, as if I had given him a new toy. That was it exactly. He was like a big child who was delighted with a new toy.

His attention was flattering. Intoxicating really. But being a toy was dangerous. Little boys were known for breaking their toys. Particularly when they got bored with them.

I wondered how long it would be before Michael got bored with me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Michael

“What do you think?” I asked the wide eyed girl sitting next to me in the back ion the car I’d arranged for the trip. The driver was someone I knew and trusted, as was the body guard sitting next to him up front. They were our guys, and they’d come all the way from Italy to ferry us around the city of lights.

I had plans for tonight, but I wanted her to enjoy this moment. I wanted her to enjoy all the moments. I would have to fight my baser nature to keep from tearing her clothes off the moment we got into the suite.

Well, that was my plan actually, but I was going to take her out on the town afterwards. Shopping and museums and all the rich French food she could eat. And then tonight… I had a surprise for her.

I smiled to myself in anticipation.

I was a lucky, lucky man.

“It’s… beautiful,” she sighed, her eyes glued to the streets of Paris, glowing softly in the early morning light.

“Yes,” I said reverently, kissing her hand. “Beautiful.”

She looked over her shoulder at me and blushed, realizing I was talking about her and not the city.

“Just wait until you see it at night,” I said. “It’s not called the city of lights for nothing.”

“You’ve done everything. Seen everything. I feel like such a provincial.”

“Not everything,” I said, looking at her again. This time she didn’t notice. I was thinking about how I’d never fallen in love before. Never held a woman all night, careful not to move because I wanted to let her sleep undisturbed. Never watched the light from outside the window slowly caress the skin of her cheek, her shoulder, her glorious legs tangled in the sheets…

With her, everything was a first. But I didn’t say that. I couldn’t say that.

So I just watched her, and waited until we could be alone. Then I would show her how I felt. Wasn’t that the old expression? Actions spoke louder than words?

We breezed into the hotel, where we were offered coffee while we checked in. I signed and we headed up, one security guy having gone ahead to secure the suite. The other rode with us in the elevator.

At that moment, I hated the need for security. I wanted nothing more than to pull the gorgeous girl beside me into my arms and kiss her. Touch her. Absorb her, until we were one.