Kingpin (Breeding #4)

“I’m not looking.” Well, I thought I wasn’t. I’d always been so busy with school, then I was a live-in nanny for so long that I didn’t have time. Normally I spent my days at the home I was staying in, so dating wasn’t something I’d given much thought to. I’d always wanted to get married and have babies, but I didn’t know when it would ever happen.

“If you say so,” she says nonchalantly. The smile she’s giving me says she doesn’t believe me. We both go back to eating and I savor some of the best food I’ve had in weeks.

“Let me give you a mini tour,” Thea says after we put our dishes in the sink.

We both get up and she shows me around the house. She takes me to the pool, the game room, theater, and then about a dozen other rooms. I’m in awe at the expanse of this place. She shows me the different wings of the house, and I hope I don’t get lost.

“The one place you never go is into my husband’s office. Unless invited in. It’s the first door on the left when you walk into the house.”

I nod. I wouldn’t walk into any room with a door on it without knocking first. Plus, I will probably do my best to avoid her husband as much as I can.

“And this is your room.” She opens the door and steps inside, holding her arm out for me to come in.

I’m a little surprised to see my things are already here. I knew they were coming, but that seemed really fast. Not that I have a ton, really. Four bags hold everything I own. I try to keep it light, but I like holding real books when I read. Two of the bags are filled with paperbacks I can’t let go of.

“Where is Gio’s room?” I ask before I can stop myself.

A smile lights up her face. “I’m not sure. Maybe the next room over?”

A giddy unwanted excitement lights up in my stomach. What is wrong with me?

“It’s late. I’ll let you get settled,” she tells me. “Thank you,” she adds, surprising me by pulling me into a tight hug before turning and leaving the room.

It’s not until she shuts the door behind her that I register what’s happened. I should have said something back to her, but I guess there’s time for that later. This is a lot to take in at once.

I glance around the room. It’s just as stunning as the rest of the house, but I find myself walking back to the door instead of exploring my new room. I want to look out into the hall and see if I can find Gio. I tell myself it’s so that I’ll know where he is, but I’m beginning to obsess about him. This isn’t good.

I turn the handle to just take a peek, and almost jump out of my skin when I see him standing right at my door. A slow, sexy smile pulls at his lips. He’s more casual now. His suit jacket is gone and his sleeves are rolled up. A couple of buttons are undone on his dress shirt and he looks even sexier than normal. Crap.

I want to go back to when I thought he was crushing on me, and not just a spy. I should’ve known better. A man like him probably dates tall, skinny women. He’s probably used to models. Not short girls with glasses and who have hair they can’t control to save their life. Not to mention I’m on the chubby side.

“Here to spy on me?” I snip, putting my hands on my hips. Better to start on the defensive side.

“Spy?” he queries. He raises one eyebrow as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

“Isn’t that why you’ve been following me around for days? Spying and getting information for your boss?”

He shakes his head as he takes a step toward me. I retreat, but he only takes another step into my room. We slowly do this until I’m pressed up against something hard. His hands come up to cage me in on both sides of my body. His giant frame shields every part of me. I should be freaking out, but my breathing picks up and I feel my nipples tighten. I’m turned on. Double crap.

“I’ve been following you because I like watching you.” His words still my breath. “I want you.”

I shake my head. This can’t be happening.

“You’re in the mob, aren’t you?” I throw back, wanting no part of something like that. Even if I want him so badly in this moment it aches.

“What mob?” he asks lazily, as if he has no idea what I’m talking about. I roll my eyes. “There are some things we don’t talk about, Dollface.”

He leans down, rubbing his nose along my neck and up to my ear. I should push him away, but I find my fingers on his chest, digging into his button-up dress shirt.

“Some things I can’t tell you for your own good,” he whispers in my ear. His breath tickles my ear. He buries his face into my curls, and I feel him inhale against me. How is this turning me on? He pulls back a little and looks into my eyes. “But if you ask me again, I’ll tell you. I’ll never tell you a lie. But I think you already know the answer to your question.”

“I’m scared,” I admit. Not of him. I don’t know why, though, because on paper he should be terrifying. Maybe it’s the softness on his face as he’s looking at me. Having him this close is calming, and though I can’t explain it, I don’t want it to stop.

The only time I was scared was when I was alone under the roof of some mob boss. Who, oddly enough, just cooked me a really good meal. But the second Gio walked in, that fear melted away. When he’s near me, I’m safe.

“I’d never let anything happen to you. Ever.” He says the last word with so much finality that it makes me believe him.

He brings one of hands to my face. He touches me so softly, as if I’m delicate. Without realizing it, I’m leaning into him. I want the security of his protection, and the feeling of him is a warm, safe blanket wrapping around me.

His whole body goes rock solid and his eyes flare with something as they turn even darker. I should turn my head, but instead I tilt it back even more. My lips part just a little, and my eyes fall closed. His warm breath caresses me right before I feel his lips on mine.

It’s soft and gentle at first. He’s tentative in his touch, but I push against him as I rise up on my tippy toes. I press my mouth to his, and as I do, it’s like all his control snaps. He grips my hips with bruising fingers, digging into me as his mouth opens. I moan at his possessiveness and push my body into his. Letting his shirt go, I slide my hands up his hard body and wrap my arms around his neck.

He pushes his tongue into my mouth and I taste a smoky caramel. It’s sweet and I want more of his taste. I get lost in him. I forget about every crazy thing that happened today and focus on this moment. There are no thoughts about anything except the pleasure that’s shooting through my body.

I rub against him, trying to get closer. His hands leave my hips and go to my ass. He lifts me easily, like I weigh nothing, and I instinctively wrap my legs around him. I move my body against his, but then suddenly I’m pinned beneath him on a soft surface. I didn’t even feel us move, but I don’t care. I just want to rub every inch of myself against all of his hardness, but his heavy body has me pinned. Just when I’m about to beg for it, he starts to move on top of me.

A deep moan from the center of my soul rises up from my chest as he dry humps me on the bed. The weight of him on top of me, pinning me down and controlling me…this is more erotic than anything I’ve ever fantasized about.