Pleasure rippled through me as his thrusts pushed me closer and closer to another climax. His hips rolling as he slid into me like he instinctively knew exactly what would make my toes curl.
“Spade,” I cried, his name filling every crevice of my mind as another earth-shattering orgasm crashed over me, my legs shaking at the force as my core clenched around him. He thrusted a few final times before his length throbbed inside me, spilling his release into the condom. We stayed there for a moment, my lungs desperately attempting to fill themselves with the oxygen they craved, our bodies still together. I relaxed into the feeling of contentment spreading through me, the perfect feel of our bodies joined as one.
My arms quivered beneath me as I struggled to support my weight. The languid heat rushed through me, stealing every ounce of my strength. But thankfully I didn’t need to for much longer as his arms wrapped around my torso, his hips easing away from mine before he pulled me to sit across his lap.
I curled into his arms that wrapped around me and relaxed against the hard muscles, his chest rapidly rising and falling in time with my own as we fought to catch our breaths.
“I’m not letting you go, sugar. Not ever,” he murmured, his breath whispering over the top of my head before he placed a tender kiss there. His words were a promise, a declaration to the world and a warning to whatever forces may try to tear us apart. “I love you.”
My chest warmed at those three words, and the sincerity and devotion that rang through them. It hadn’t come from a place of infatuation, this time. I could tell they came from his heart, that he saw every jagged piece of my soul and loved me not despite the broken parts but for them.
“I love you too.” And in that moment, I knew Spade had just ripped everything I knew to shreds. I was his just as much as he was mine, and we’d rain chaos and death upon anyone who got in our way.
Chapter twenty-one
Giana
Six years ago …
“Youbetternotstayout too late,” Pam barked, slamming the door to the supply closet behind her, audible through the thin washroom wall. You would think she’d just got finished mopping the floors with the attitude she was giving—but no it was me, like always.
“God forbid I get a day off work for my birthday,” I grumbled under my breath as I coated my lashes with another layer of mascara. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said with a derisive snort, letting some of my disdain seep through. She was only being pissy because I asked to leave an hour early, never mind I’d already mopped half of the restaurant save for the small section with the few remaining families.
“I mean it, Giana,” she snapped back, heedless of the customers who could make out every word. “I don’t want to hear you got up to some trouble with those boys. You have responsibilities.”
I screwed back on the top of the mascara and let it clatter to the sink, my hand gripping the porcelain sides. I let the cool surface sink into my bones, chilling some of the anger blazing through me.Two more months, I reminded myself. The countdown became an internal mantra, that lately I had to repeat daily.
My phone chimed in my clutch, and I slipped it out, a goofy grin already curling my lips expecting a message from one of the guys. Exams were now officially over, I had my last one today, and I’d seen them at school—but tonight was different.
This was our first step to freedom, and soon we’d be leaving for New York, ready to put this town and all its residents behind us. Sure, the guys would still want to see their parents and visit home, but I’d be sure to not come anywhere close to this diner or my parents if I ever returned.
The screen lit up as I brought it to my face, the recognition unlocking the message preview immediately.
Tommaso:You can ignore me all you want, mi amore. But I can’t wait for our date tomorrow.
The warm contentment and light giddy feeling that had lightened my chest a moment ago, now chilled to icy dread, pooling in my stomach.It’s fine, I told myself, deleting the message before I shoved the phone back in my bag.I’ll just be incredibly dull and boring on the date.It was only one date after all. I could get through it, then he’d leave me alone. There were plenty of other girls out there, many who would kill to go out with the wealthy, handsome heir to the largest crime family on this side of North America.He’ll get over his little crush when he sees I’m not worth the effort.
I pushed all thoughts of him aside and swiped on some lipstick numbly, not even looking at the color before I coated my plump lips. I tucked it back into my bag and shoved the rest of my makeup into my overnight bag, hoping Pam and Greg wouldn’t see before I snuck out the front door. They’d probably be too busy arguing or drinking to even notice me leaving. Not like they even wished me a happy birthday yet today …
I eased open the door and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t spot either of them in the main section of the diner. I said I wouldn’t stay out too late, but I didn’t say anything about coming home tonight. As one of the last nights any of us had before summer began and our work schedules picked up, we all decided to stay over at the firehouse tonight. A mix of nerves and excitement hummed through me at that thought as I glided smoothly through the restaurant, noticing Merrick’s red Chevy already parked outside. Despite not wanting to ruin our friendships, I couldn’t help where my mind strayed. There was no denying I was attracted to my two best friends and I’d dreamed of how it could be between us. But I had no idea if they felt the same way, despite all their small touches and flirty banter. Not to mention the fact I couldn’t choose, wouldn’t choose, between them. So where would that leave us?
I pushed open the front door just as Kellan opened the driver’s side door, a beaming smile spreading across his face as his sable eyes lighted on me, his black curls freshly trimmed. He rushed forward, taking my hand in his and lifting the bag from my grip. It was moments like this that made all those rational thoughts flee from my mind, that made me think that we could be more than friends.
“Well hello to you too.” I chuckled, my fingers twining with his as he guided me over to the passenger side. He swiftly opened the door, and my brows furrowed at the empty seat. “Where’s Merrick?” I asked suspiciously.
He threw my bag into the back and turned to me, a hint of mischief glimmering in his gaze. My heart panged at that look, wishing I could tell him about the text and Tommaso but I knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it from Merrick, and the two of them would end up going after him headfirst without any thought for the repercussions, and Tommaso would leave them in a bloody heap, that is if he didn’t just kill them.
“Happy Birthday, Giana,” he breathed, clutching me close to him and easing away the shiver that had run up my spine, chasing those morbid thoughts away. His strong arms enveloped me in a warm embrace, and I nestled my cheek against his strong chest, relaxing into the rise and fall of his steady breaths. His hand slid up from my shoulders to cradle my head against him and his face lowered to the top of my head. He inhaled deeply, as though taking comfort in the familiar scent of my lilac shampoo and placed a tender kiss there.
I melted into him, wishing I could lift on my toes and return that kiss, but this time in a soft caress of our mouths, rather than the chaste one he’d just placed. My arms wrapped around his waist and clutched him close to me, never wanting to leave the warm cocoon of his presence. But I knew I had to, just like I knew I couldn’t break that wall between us, the one that teetered, so close to collapsing in on itself.
“Don’t think you can distract me,” I chided, pulling back from him and hiding my look of disappointment as his arms slid from my back.
“It was worth a try.” He grinned, opening the door wider and gesturing for me to get in. “We’re meeting him somewhere.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything,” I grumbled, but obliged, slipping into the passenger seat. He closed my door for me, the click echoing in the silent car as I pulled on my seatbelt. Drawing in a shuddering breath, I attempted to compose myself. I’d been so close to crossing that line. Hell, if I was feeling this way already, what would I do when I was living with the two of them? How would I react if either of them brought another girl home? I knew they’d both hooked up with girls before, but it had never been serious.
My thoughts cut off as he opened the driver’s side door and sat down. Wasting no time, he turned the key in the ignition and closed the door. He threw the car in reverse and then pulled out of the parking lot as I relaxed back into the seat, letting any lingering tension slip away. I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way tonight, I was going to let loose and enjoy my eighteenth birthday. We were so close to leaving this town in the rearview mirror, and this day symbolized one of our final hurdles, the end of classes, exams, the legal age where I was in control of my future, not needing my parents’ approval anymore, and that dreaded date tomorrow.