Page 82 of Mafia Obsession

I freeze. “You’ve been working extra hard since we’ve been here.”

“You pay me every month, and sometimes no one is here.”

“Youare here.” I smile at her. “That has value to me.”

“You have a deal, Ares. Thank you.” She leaves, her shadow dancing down the hall.

A few moments later, I join her in the kitchen to season the scallops and put them on skewers. Outside, I prepare the grill and put a few logs in the outdoor fireplace.

Elani says goodbye, and I wonder if I should tell her to skip the whole week. Not wanting to make a decision I’ll need to reverse later, I simply wave goodbye.

Lourdes comes up behind me at the counter while I check out Elani’s recipe book. “Something smells good.”

“That’s you.” I turn around and kiss her.

Looking fresh from a nap and wearing yet another dress I bought her, she asks, “Where’s Elani?”

“Gone for the day. We’re alone for the rest of the night.” I level her with a stare and wait for her to understand the implication.

“That’s more my speed.” She reaches into the antipasto plate and pops a fresh mozzarella ball into her lovely mouth. Her eyes go wide as she savors the taste. “Christ, I hate what corporate greed does to our food.”

I consider the cost of having all my food imported for her. Something to think about later.

On the back patio, we drink wine while I sear the scallops on the grill. I watch her for any signs of awkwardness or guilt.

There’s none even though I’m her boss, and I fucked her with my tongue. She’s married and orgasmed all over my face.

Good girl…

When the scallops are done, I plate them and motion to her to sit on the outdoor sofa. “Let’s eat right here.”

Sitting next to each other, we balance our plates on our knees. I remove a scallop from the skewer and hold it to her lips. “Open.”

She smiles and lets me feed her. Then she does the same to me with a piece of bread. The garden’s fragrance combines with the woodsmoke and seared scallops, calming me like no other place does.

When our plates are empty, Lourdes hops up and takes them into the kitchen. I don’t protest when I hear the sink faucet running and the dishwasher opening.

She returns with our wine glasses refilled. I take mine from her and sit her on my lap.

Kissing her neck, I groan, “I need to fuck you.”

“What are your real intentions with me?” She leans back. “I’m not a woman you’d take to wife. You won’t tell me if you want children. I accept this for what it is for a few days, but I have no desire to be used long-term, Ares.”

I study her, weighing that statement.A few days.

“Long-term has a different meaning when you run a crime family. You unsettle me, Lourdes. Have from the moment I met you. I make arrangements with women. That is all. I get what I want, and I walk away. Never look back.”

“And now?”

I smile, not warmly. It’s calculating. “Now every second holds a challenge. You aren’t one of those women who will accept one of my usual arrangements. And yet, here you are. Here I am. And I want to fuck you. Hard. All night.”

Lourdes’s eyelashes flutter. “I… I want you to fuck me.”

“That means you’re mine, Lourdes. Tell me you understand that.” I drill her with a stare. “Even if it’sa few days.”

Those words feel so wrong in my chest.

Normally, I have a date in mind to end an arrangement. It should scare the piss out of me that I see no date in my head to let her go.