“So, the Kovaks will buy up the dirty business?” I ask, moving to the couch. Nero takes a seat beside me, relaxing back with a nod.
“I’m essentially selling off the criminal side of our enterprise. Trade routes, suppliers, the whole lot of it. Which will cause a whole lot of shit when they hear about it in New York.”
“They don’t matter.” I stretch my legs out, draping them across his lap. “It’s your empire now. You get to call the shots.”
I pause, something else occurring to me. “It would mean less risk from the FBI, wouldn’t it?” I ask. “If you give up the criminal parts of the organization to the Kovaks, they can’t come after you anymore.”
“They might try and dredge up the past, but yeah, our liability goes way down. We’d be legit,” Nero says. “Focus on real estate, and the genuine businesses. Not hiding in the shadows anymore.”
“Are you sure about this?” I ask, not because I think it’s a bad idea, but because it’s huge. He’s taking a big chance here.
“All the way. It would change everything for us.” Nero takes my hand. “We would be safe.”
My heart is racing. “It sounds too good to be true.” I whisper.
“That’s because it is,” he replies. “It’s not a done deal, not yet. There’s going to be resistance on both sides, to put it mildly. And a bargain like this requires trust, not something that’s easy to come by in this business. But I have to try,” he adds, eyes full of determination. “It’s the only way we’ll have a future. Not just my crew, but us. You and me.”
I feel a wave of emotion surge through me. I reach for him, and Nero meets me halfway, claiming my mouth in a slow, devastating kiss.
“You’d do this for us?” I echo, pressing closer.
“Anything,” he growls.
He lays me back on the couch, kissing me again as he pins my wrists above my head with one hand.
I shiver in anticipation, my body already reacting to his dominant gesture. “What are you—”
“Shh,” Nero places his finger to my lips. “I’m done talking. And you’re done asking questions.”
A small part of me wants to challenge him, just to see what’ll happen, but I’m too breathless. The look on his face is tantalizing, the way his gaze moves over my body like he owns it.
The hungry expression in his eyes.
“Don’t move,” he orders me, as he releases my wrists.
“Or what?” I ask, wriggling in anticipation.
He silences me with a look. “Or I’ll take you over my knee and spank the disobedience out of you.”
I suck in a breath, my pulse kicking. Oh my god. I’m tempted to test his sexy promise, but I force myself to hold still, laying there with my hands above my head.
He has something in mind for tonight, and I want to find out.
Nero stands, holding my eyes as he starts to slowly undress.
It’s amazing how hard it is to hold my position as I watch, my core flooding with heat at the sight of his sculpted body. The dips and curves of his muscles are what fantasies are made of.
God knows I’ve thought about him in the dark of night over the last ten years, dreaming of the way he could touch me. Pleasure me. Fuck me into submission.
And now, he’s mine.
Nero strips down to his briefs, and then returns to me, his erection jutting out under the fabric, making my mouth water for a taste. His hands go to my shirt, stripping it over my head. My bra is lace with a front clasp, which Nero makes quick work of flicking open.
“Look at you,” he murmurs, trailing a hand over my bared breasts. “All laid out for me like a present. I don’t even know where to start.”
He pinches my nipple, making me smart, but just as quickly, his head dips, tongue lavishing the pain. I sigh, relaxing as he blows lightly over the sensitive peaks, making them stiffen with sensation.
I arch eagerly against his mouth, needing more, but he places a hand on my chest and pushes me back into the couch.