Chapter 3-1
2284 Words
Chapter 3
Sondra
“What in the hell happened yesterday?” My boss, Marissa, demands the minute I show up in the housekeeping area.
I try to keep my face blank. I don’t know how much she knows, but I sure as hell don’t want the whole staff hearing I got stripped down to my panties in Mr. Tacone’s bathroom. Or that he paid me six hundred cash for it. Or that two dozen peach roses arrived for me at Corey’s townhouse last night.
I’ve never been given two dozen roses in my life. I gave half of them to Corey, who dragged me into her bedroom to tell her what happened in private. Corey found the story insane and declared Tacone has a thing for me.
I lift my eyes to my supervisor’s. “What happened with your son?” I attempt to redirect the conversation.
She isn’t having it. She waves her hand with impatience. “Concussion. He fell backward onto concrete in the schoolyard. What happened with you?”
My face heats. I open my mouth but I’m not really sure how to answer. “What did you hear?”
Irritation flashes across her face. “Well, first Samuel called to say I was fired for allowing you up there. Then he called back to say no, actually, he heard from Nico Tacone himself and everything was fine. So fine, in fact, Tacone requested you be the regular penthouse cleaning person. Which pays double what you’re making now.” She folds her arms across her chest. “So what happened?”
Wait...what? My heart takes off running ahead of me. He wants me to be his regular cleaning person? That would mean seeing him again—face to face. The man who humiliated me and ogled my n***d body. Who’s seen me crying. And wet. No. I can’t.
But double the pay…that would definitely get me out of Corey’s place faster. Out of Vegas, if that’s what I decide.
Marissa stands there, eyebrows raised, waiting for an explanation. I opt for a partial truth. “While I was cleaning Nico Tacone’s room, he returned and freaked out because he didn’t know me. I mean freaked out. He held a g*n to my head.”
Marissa slaps a hand over her mouth and her eyes get wide.
“I seriously thought I was going to die.”
Sympathy washes over her features. “Oh my God, Sondra, I’m so sorry. I never should have left you there alone.”
I shrug. “It ended up okay. Once he checked out my story, I think he felt bad about scaring the s**t out of me.” Or pee, as the case may be. “He sent me home in a limo with his driver.”
Marissa lets out a surprised gust of laughter. “No. Way.”
I nod. “True story.”
“Well, it probably doesn’t hurt that you’re young and beautiful. I’m sure if it were me, I’d have been fired on the spot.”
“You’re young and beautiful.”
She smiles. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
I try not to let her words feed the stupid thrill already buzzing beneath all my more sane thoughts. Is Nico taken by me? I shouldn’t hope so. Surely my better sense will kick in soon. Except I didn’t sleep last night. I had my fingers between my legs, fantasizing about what it would’ve been like if Nico Tacone turned me to face the counter in his bathroom and plunged his authoritative c**k inside me until I screamed.
Suddenly Marissa’s brows slam back down. “Do you feel safe?” she demands. “Because I’m not going to send a vulnerable young woman in there to get molested. Was that the vibe you got from him?”
Was it? No. Not really. Other than the almost kissing me part. And sending me roses. But molested is a strong word. I didn’t feel that vulnerable. Yes, he terrified me, but he also fascinated. He actually took care of me in a weird way—shoving me in that shower to clean up and drying me off. And taking off my soaked panties.
But do I feel safe?
No.
Is that half the appeal? Corey would say yes. Because I possess some aberrant thrill-seeking gene when it comes to men.
“Yeah, he’s okay. I don’t get a creepy vibe from him,” I mutter, stacking my cart with supplies.
“Are you sure? Because if you’re still too shaken up, I’m not afraid to tell them. They’ve got a human resource nightmare waiting to happen with you.”
Somehow I doubt the Tacone family gives a s**t about human resource problems. They probably have their own special way of dealing with problems that don’t involve lawsuits or payouts. Unless you count the payout Nico gave me yesterday of six hundred crisp ones.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, here’s your new keycard. You’re in charge of the three suites on the top floor and nothing else, according to Mr. Tacone.”
“That won’t take all day, though. What do I do when I’m done?”
“You get to go home.”
Oh—so I’m really not getting a raise. Well, I’ll be working fewer hours for the same amount of money, so it’s an improvement. But it doesn’t get me out of Corey’s house any sooner. Still, I’m not complaining. It will give me time to apply for teaching positions.
I take my cart and the new keycard she gives me into the elevator. On the top floor, I clean the other two suites first. They both have two bedrooms. I wonder who they belong to—Nico’s brothers? Cousins? I wish I knew more about the operation here. When I first applied at the Bellissimo and Corey told me it was mafia run, I Googled it, but nothing came up. Zero. Not that I’m surprised. If Nico Tacone assumes a new maid is bugging his place, then he’s either paranoid, or he has some serious secrets to keep hidden. The second thought sends a shiver running up my spine.
Curiosity killed the cat, Sondra. Yeah. Too bad the attraction to the wrong sort of men never fades for me.
After I finish with the other two suites, I knock on Nico’s door. I have to admit, my heart beats faster as I stand there listening for an answer. I’m both thrilled and quaking at the idea of seeing him again.
I use the keycard and enter. I hear his voice first, then catch sight of him pacing out on his balcony, talking—actually, yelling—into his phone. His head jerks up and eyes lock on me with the same dark intensity they wore yesterday. He says something more into the phone and then drops it into his pocket, never taking his gaze from me.
I push the cart into the center of the room, hoping I’m hiding how much he unnerves me.
He slides open the glass door from the balcony and stalks toward me. “You came back.”
Does he sound pleased, or am I imagining it?
“Yeah,” I mumble and make a big show out of pulling supplies from the cart.
“I wasn’t sure you would.”
I turn around and yelp to find him right in front of me, the heat of his body radiating into mine.
Oh lord, he’s still beautiful. Chocolate brown eyes with long dark, curling lashes—the kind a woman would kill for. Olive skin. His square jaw sports a five-o’clock shadow. The bags under his eyes are still there, but not quite as pronounced today. His periwinkle blue button-down gapes at the collar, revealing a light dusting of dark curls.
I run my tongue over my lips to moisten them and his eyes follow the movement. “Are you going to strip search me again?”
His lips kick up at the corners and suddenly I find myself crowded against the cart. He’s not quite touching me, but it wouldn’t take much to bring our bodies flush with each other. “Do you want me to?”
Yes.
“No, thanks, I’m good.” I swallow, heat pooling between my legs, my core quivering. His lips are just inches away. I can smell his breath—minty and fresh. “Did you sleep last night?”
He arches a brow—yes, just one. It’s movie star sexy. “Are you asking after my well-being, bambina? After what I did to you yesterday?”
My face grows warm at the reminder and I shrug.
“You’re as sweet as you look, aren’t you?” His face darkens and he takes a step back. “You shouldn’t have come.” He shakes his head. “I figured you’d quit for sure.”
Suddenly I’m suffocating under his disappointment in me, which mirrors my own. When will I ever smarten up? Bartenders who like to drop ecstasy and mafioso casino owners are bad news.
As if he senses my change in mood, he reaches out and touches my shoulder. It’s a light touch—respectful. Nothing sexy or dominating about it. “I’m sorry about yesterday, Sondra.”
The way he says my name makes my insides twist and wriggle. I didn’t expect it to sound so… familiar on his lips.
“I’m glad you came back—even though I wish to hell, for your sake, you didn’t.”
I shove my chin forward. “So which is it? You want me here or you don’t?”
Suddenly I’m trapped against the cart, caged by the two steel bands of his arms. Tacone comes flush up against me, hard, muscular lines pressed against my curves. His c**k bulges at my stomach. “I jerked off three times watching our video last night, bambina.” His voice comes as a hoarse rumble that enters my body.
My p***y squeezes, thrills of shock rippling through me.
What video? Oh dear lord, did his security surveillance catch the whole interaction? Who else has seen it?
“I was so sure you were a plant yesterday because there’s something special about you. Something that hooks me right here.” He curls his finger in front of his solar plexus. “So yeah. I wanted to see you again. Wanted to hear your voice. Make sure you’re okay.” He drops one of his hands to my hip.
I suck my lower lip in between my teeth. I’m trembling almost as much as I did yesterday, only this time, there’s no fear. Just excitement.
Desire.
His palm slides around my hip to cup my a*s. I put my hands up on his chest, ready to push him away, but I don’t follow through. The thread of indignation running through me is drowned out by his velvety voice.
He cants his head, studying me. “Beautiful face. Perfect t**s, that lush little body of yours. I’ve seen that before. But the way that sweet p***y got wet even though I scared the hell out of you. The way you revealed everything, like you really have nothing to hide...”
Oh gawd.
My sweet p***y is definitely wet again, clenching and releasing as his hot breath caresses my cheek.
“Have you forgiven me?” His voice drops to an intimate level.
Another squeeze of my lady parts tells me I’m already lost.
I want to say no because of the humiliation I endured, but, once more, my body betrays me—he has me leaning toward him, panting, hungry. “Not yet,” is as close I can get to a negative.
He brushes my cheek with the backs of his fingers. I get the feeling he’s testing to see if I’ll resist.
I don’t.
Score another one for the bad boy.
“Just like that,” he whispers, staring down at me. “That’s the look.”
What look?
One corner of his mouth lifts and he cups the back of my head, pulling my face up to his. “I’m not sorry.”
My eyes widen and I try to jerk away, but he holds me fast, and goes on like I didn’t react. “I wouldn’t have missed that encounter for all the world.” His lips descend on mine, firm and demanding.
A wave of l**t rolls over me. I melt into him, parting my lips, allowing his tongue to sweep into my mouth. Heat explodes in every cell of my body.
He pulls away, nostrils flaring. “As sweet as I imagined.” He licks his lips, as if tasting me. “That I regretted. Not tasting you.”
I lick my lips, too. “I didn’t say you could kiss me.” The breathy quality of my voice belies my reaction.
He gives a harsh laugh. “No, you didn’t. I stole that kiss.” His features harden. “That’s why you shouldn’t have come back. You stick around here, piccolina, and I’m going to make you sorry. Probably make us both sorry.” He steps back and surveys me. “Or maybe not. I might just take what I want without apology.”
My pulse skitters. My panties are damp with arousal, n*****s chafe against my b*a. I’m one part scared, two parts turned on. And damn, if his warning doesn’t make me want to offer myself up to him on a silver platter.
He straightens his jacket and walks toward the door. “So I’m going to leave, amore. You do your thing here.” He stops at the door and turns back to face me. “And you’d better think about what you want to tell me next time. Make up your mind. Yes or no. And I’ll make up mine. But I’m warning you, bambi—you have even a little bit of yes mixed in with your no, I’m going to mow you down to the ground.” He points a warning finger at me. “Believe it.”
When he leaves, I have to hang onto the housekeeping cart to keep my legs under me.
What. In the hell. Just happened?
I want to call Corey and report, because today’s story turned out almost as exciting as yesterday’s, but I don’t dare. Tacone has cameras everywhere, and he already confessed to j*********f to the footage of me yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he reviewed today’s feed, too. And I really need to get my head straight before I open my mouth around him again.
Because he just gave me an ultimatum. Make up my mind. I don’t know the full implications of that decision or even what it entails, but I do know one thing—
There’s way too much yes in me to say no.
- Writer
