Everything I Need Page 8

  I was able to get a couple of cameras inside the warehouse one early morning when a group of young fuckers were too engrossed in some porn on one’s phone to pay attention to me breaking in. They were supposed to be watching the building. Lucky for me, the horny fuckers weren’t. I planted one wire and two cameras in minutes. My training from the FBI proving effective.

  Now I’m sitting here, laptop open on the console separating me from the empty passenger seat, scanning the footage to see what’s going on inside. Bodies mill around. Some counting stacks of cash. Others bagging blow by the bucketful.

  Corsetti’s created one intense operation out here in New Hampshire. No one would suspect one of the most notorious, yet little known about, crime bosses of our time to be running something like this here. But he is. And that’s what he’s wanted all along. To fly under the radar.

  He was always able to until I nailed the fucker years ago. Disrupting the gig he had going on in Maryland. Supplying drugs and running books for Baltimore and DC and the surrounding areas. We busted his ass and finally got him locked up.

  But the biggest bust of my career ended up costing me everything.

  Shaking off the rage and the pain that starts to bubble whenever I think of that fucker and what he set in motion, I bring my attention back to the laptop in front of me. Taking in the movement and chatter going on inside.

  When the footage proves to be useless, my mind starts to wander. My teeth clench when this morning runs through my mind. Minding my own damn business at the diner, going about my own way, when I catch word about something going down at Between the Pages.

  I didn’t need to hear another word. I abandoned my half-eaten meal, tossed too much cash onto the counter, and took off down the sidewalk. One destination in mind.

  When I strolled up, nothing looked amiss. The store was empty, but it was midweek and early, I don’t think that should be surprising. Toni greeted me, smile stretched wide, all-knowing and shit, before she turned and said she’d go and get Keelynn for me.

  I was browsing the shelves when movement caught my eye. I looked up and caught sight of the deepest, greenest eyes. Wide with a hint of shock and a whole lot of memories of yesterday. I could see her thoughts running wild, turning hot.

  Then when she fidgeted on the spot, I couldn’t help but smirk and close the distance between us.

  Drawn.

  It didn’t take long for the haze of lust to lift though. Not when she opened that pretty mouth of hers and told me her store had been vandalized, tagged by some punk ass kids—or so she says.

  Fucking hell that woman, not telling me what it said. Not wanting to report it. It took every ounce of self-control I could muster not to force her hand and make demands.

  But that’s just it, I don’t have a leg to stand on with her. Not yet anyway. I may have been inside of her, she may have turned my world on its axis, but it was just one time.

  One life-changing, mind-fucking-blowing time.

  But that’s all it was…for now. Until I get my mind on right and arrange my thoughts so I can make a rational decision with the head on my shoulders.

  I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing when it comes to her. I can’t get tangled up with anyone. I don’t even want to.

  Or I didn’t.

  Not until I saw her smile and felt her light. And now that I’ve been inside of her, I know there’s no going back. Not when it felt so right.

  So good.

  So goddamn perfect she blew my fucking mind and my carefully constructed measly existence to dust.

  Yeah. She has me feeling shit I haven’t felt in years. If ever.

  Strong. Sure. Real.

  Fucking real.

  I can’t get her off my mind. Especially after yesterday.

  Her moans of ecstasy. Whispered breaths of passion. Lips that give as good as they get.

  Her wicked tongue. Tight as hell pussy. Tan, perfect skin.

  And that—fucking—smile.

  This perfect, petite package that has the ability to bring me to my knees.

  Every supple curve. Every beautiful inch.

  Goddamn, but it’s more than that. More than just her looks and that curvy body and that motherfucking smile.

  It’s the way she makes me feel. Like I’m not the broken piece of shit, the failure, I’ve felt like the last three years. Like maybe I have a chance in this life. A second chance. One I wasn’t looking for, didn’t want, but can’t help hoping I can get.

  While my thoughts get lost in lush curves, bare skin, and green eyes, movement from the front door catches my eye. Bringing me back to the present and why I’m here in the first place. Under the streetlight in the parking lot, I see Corsetti’s nephew and underboss, Marcello Selano, step out and light a cigarette. Smoke billowing around his tall and wiry frame encased in an expensive Italian suit.

  My fists clench impossibly tight around the steering wheel of my truck. Anger and sadness swirling through my veins, pulsing a deep-seated hatred for this man down to the depths of my soul. It takes every ounce of self-control my years of training and work for the FBI taught me to not get out now and light this son of a bitch up.

  This motherfucker, with the direction of Corsetti, is the reason I’m even here in the first place. The scumbag that pulled the trigger. The one who took it all from me.

  It took me almost a year to find out which of Corsetti’s henchmen was behind the gun who stole my reasons to live. And when I found out, I vowed there and then he’d be delivered to hell in the most agonizing way possible.

  I don’t care what I have to do, how I have to do it, but I will avenge their deaths. I will exact the revenge they deserve, that burns through my blood, and blow every last one of them away.

  It may not make me any better than them. The things I have planned, the fact that I want blood for blood. But I’m beyond caring. It’s only right. An eye for an eye.

  Deep, controlled breathing has the lava in my veins cooling down to a simmer. I see Selano’s eyes scanning the area surrounding him. From ocean to land. His eyes skim over my truck in the darkness. But he finds nothing, as I knew he would, and heads back inside after flicking the butt of his cigarette to the ground.

  Deciding to give up for the night as nothing looks out of the ordinary, and nothing has changed, my heart starts to triple beat.

  Because despite all the reasons I should stay away from her…there’s no fucking way I can.

  NOT ABLE TO SLEEP, I stretch then pad out from my bedroom to get a glass of warm milk. Hoping the soothing drink will help me sleep.

  A hard knock sounds at my front door just as I get ready to turn into the kitchen. I look at the clock and see it’s just after midnight. Crossing my arms over my chest, I rub my arms as I walk to see who could possibly be here so late. Worry pricking my skin and churning in my belly. A knock at night has never meant good news for me…

  Peeking through the curtained window next to the door, I see a dark figure on the other side. Dark jeans. Black hoodie and boots. Head hanging down, hand poised to knock again.

  Merrick.

  I breathe a sigh of relief before quickly opening the door, my eyes greedily taking him in. Twinkling stars and a full moon hang overhead, casting a glow around him. My dark angel.

  “Hey,” I whisper into the night as dark as his eyes. A small smile playing across my lips.

  “Hi,” he replies just as softly. Eyes scanning my bare arms and legs exposed from my tank and sleep shorts before settling on my mouth. Kicking my smile up a notch just for him.

  “You okay?” I ask as I lean my head against the open door. Hand to the grain, my heart pounding and wanting.

  “Just wanted to check in on you about what happened earlier today.” Dark brows lay low, furrowed over his eyes.

  “At midnight?” I try to joke. He just keeps glowering.

  He mutters a curse before rubbing the back of his neck. “Shit, yeah, this wasn’t a good idea,” he replies before turning around as if h
e’s going to leave.

  Panic starts to skitter through my veins. “No. Wait.”

  He stills on the porch, back to me, but doesn’t move to turn back around.

  “I’m fine, Merrick. It was just some kids being kids.”

  He spins at my flippant comment. “Spray-painting ‘whore’ on a storefront isn’t just kids being kids, Keelynn.”

  I flinch at his harshly spoken words. From their impact and at the shock that he knows what was graffitied.

  He sees it and steps toward me. Large hand settling on the groove where my neck meets my shoulder. Fingers sifting through my long hair. Thumb stroking along my jaw. He shakes his head. “I’m sorry,” he huffs. “I was just worried. Talked to Toni when I ran into her this afternoon. Wanted to check in, and I couldn’t sleep.”

  Guess that explains that. “Me either. I’m glad you stopped by. Even at this ungodly hour,” I try to joke again with a smile. “Come in?” I ask. Eyes peering into his, hoping he will.

  His eyes scan my face before he relents. “Yeah,” he says through a sigh. My heart takes off on a gallop when his big hand moves from my neck, down my arm, to my hip where he squeezes lightly.

  I step back and open the door wider to let him in. When he passes me his rugged scent infiltrates my senses, bringing me back to bare skin, heated moans, and passionate kisses.

  Closing the door behind me, I lean against the wood. Eyes closed, getting lost in memories of what it felt like to have him inside of me. Reliving the memory as if I was living it then, a small moan leaves my lips.

  My eyes flash open when a low growl rips through the air. Letting me know he heard me and knows where my mind is. Before I can even react, he’s caging me in and kissing me deep. It’s raw and needy and so damn perfect.

  “I can’t stay away,” he admits through a rough whisper when he finally pulls his lips from mine. “I should, but I can’t.” Rough fingers gently glide across the skin of my back exposed by his hands.

  “Don’t,” I reply. Almost frantic. “I don’t want you to stay away.”

  “Thank fuck, because I don’t think I can. You’re under my skin, Sunshine. Ripping me apart and mending me back together again. I haven’t felt this whole in a long time.”

  Tears prick my eyes at the desperation and hint of agony I hear in his tone. While my heart beats double-time and a swarm of butterflies take flight in my tummy. Because everything he’s feeling, I’m feeling, too. This man makes me feel and want and need things I haven’t in so long. Sometimes I wonder…if ever.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I drag his mouth back down to mine to hopefully convey that I feel the same way. Our tongues dueling. Hands shedding clothes right there at the front door, stripping the barriers between our heated skin.

  As soon as our tops are gone and we’re kicking off our bottoms, he pulls me in. Skin to skin.

  We groan in unison as our hearts beat as one.

  His large hands skim down my back, over my butt, before landing on the backs of my thighs. He lifts and I oblige, wrapping my legs around his waist.

  Turning, he blindly walks toward my bedroom. Lips glued to mine.

  “I need to be inside of you, Sunshine. Haven’t been able to think of anything else since,” he says against my lips.

  His words have my arousal kicking up a million degrees. Liquid heat between my thighs. I shamelessly grind against his lower stomach as my lips trail down his jaw to his neck where I lightly nip and suck his pulse point that’s beating harder than a kick drum.

  When his knees knock into the foot of my mattress, he places me down in the middle of the cool comforter haphazardly strewn atop my bed. Warm, full lips trail down my cheek to my chin where he nips playfully. A dark smirk takes up residence on his face before he disappears to greedily suck a peaked nipple into his mouth. A large hand grasps my other breast where he plucks and plays with my other nipple, not leaving it unattended.

  “Making sure to taste every inch I wasn’t able to the other day, Sunshine,” he growls after releasing my tight bud with a light pop. He moves to the other to give it the same attention. Nibbling and biting before soothing with his tongue.

  I’m a writhing mess as he leans over me. Switching between sucking and nipping and licking my nipples and breasts. I swear I’m about to come just from this alone. Just as an orgasm starts to crest to its peak, he pulls back. “Not yet, Sunshine.”

  That dark smirk is back. Wicked and sinful and so, so sexy.

  I groan as I pout, and he chuckles. Deep and low. Graveled with arousal.

  “I said I needed to taste all of you, baby.” A full blown, rare, and oh so gorgeous smile spreads across his lips before he says, “That was only the appetizer. Now it’s time for the main course.”

  Before I can say another word he’s descending down my soft tummy. Dropping openmouthed kisses as he goes. When he reaches my navel, his tongue sneaks out to lave my skin. Goose bumps erupt when he pulls back and blows on the wet flesh.

  “So responsive,” he whispers in awe.

  “Merrick,” I gasp as he drops to his knees and wrenches my legs apart. Large hands sliding up my legs, from calf to thigh, fingers spread wide.

  “Shh, baby. I’ve got you.” His breathing is ragged. Eyes trained on the juncture between my thighs. “So pretty and so wet.” He unleashes a groan from deep in his chest.

  Heat engulfs me; I can feel the flush working down my cheeks to my chest. Then before I know it, my head is slamming back and I’m fisting the blanket below me. “Oh…fuck.”

  I hate cursing, but right now, with Merrick’s tongue twisting and licking and feasting on my most intimate part, I feel it’s justified. Because holy hell can this man use his tongue. “Merrick, oh God, yes!” I plead and beg.

  He growls against me, the sensation vibrating through my folds. His fingers are clasped tightly around my thighs, keeping me spread wide. I can guarantee bruises will be there tomorrow, but I can’t bring myself to care. Not when his tongue is making me feel like a damn queen.

  “Give it to me, Sunshine.” A hand disappears from my leg before two fingers slide into me. Bringing me right on the cusp of orgasm. That is until he curls his fingers, pumps wildly, then sucks my clit into his mouth. Teeth nipping. I go off like a rocket launcher. Screaming and crying and oh my God. A moaned sob tears up my throat at the pleasure.

  When I open my eyes I didn’t realize I closed, it’s to see deep dark ones looking into mine. “You are the sweetest fucking thing I’ve ever tasted, Sunshine.” Then his lips are on mine. My arousal mixing with his unique flavor.

  He pulls back from the kiss. Our ragged breathing the only thing between us. “So, maybe I’m more like dessert then?” I ask, cheeky smirk on my face.

  He breathes through a laugh as he shakes his head. White teeth raking along his bottom lip while my hands skim up his back to his hair. Threading through the soft, dark strands. “Yeah, baby…dessert,” he replies, grabbing my hands and lacing our fingers.

  Then with my much smaller hands clasped in his much larger ones, he slides into me. Slow and intimate and just what I needed. “Fuck,” he bites on a clipped curse. “The feel of your bare pussy taking me raw. Nothing like it.” He grunts and groans.

  He almost slides out completely before he thrusts back into me. Hard. Deep. But nowhere near rough. Repeating the movement at the same pace again and again. Pull out. Thrust back in. Dragging out our pleasure. Making me feel so much more than his cock buried deep and my pussy quivering with each thrust. My heart beats a frantic rhythm, calling out to him.

  He drops his forehead to mine. His elbows now down by my head, bracing himself above me while he holds tightly to my hands.

  Our bodies are heated and slick with sweat. His harsh breaths fan my face as mine puff out against his lips. No words are spoken. They aren’t needed. We let our bodies do the talking, the feeling, the needing. Our collective moans of want filling the space around us.

  My eyes start to well with emotio
n right as he picks up the pace and drops my hands. His thrusts still deep. Still precise. Still perfect.

  As a tear breaks free and slides down into my hair, he gently cups my face in his hands. Thumbs brushing away the tear. Mine frantically roam the wide expanse of his back and grip the back of his neck. His eyes intense and knowing. Because he can feel it, too.

  His pace keeps rocking harder and deeper and faster until he has to drop my cheeks to brace his hands on the mattress below me.

  “Fuck, Sunshine. I can feel your pussy rippling and convulsing around my dick.”

  He changes his angle then. Gripping my hips to lift them slightly off the mattress. Hitting my G-spot repeatedly. “Oh, Merrick. Oh, Merrick. Merr—” My words are cut off on a scream of pleasure and complete ecstasy.

  “That’s right, baby. Scream my fucking name. Let me fucking hear it.” He pistons into me now, chasing his release. Prolonging mine.

  Then on a roar of my name he’s emptying into me. His hot release searing me from the inside out. Marking me as his.

  I think I always have been.

  Nothing but panting breaths, beating hearts, and tethered souls remain of our limp bodies as he collapses on top of me before rolling over. Taking me with him. Not pulling out, not breaking our connection.

  He pulls me up and onto his chest, my bare breasts against his bare skin eliciting another moan as my sensitive nipples make contact with the light spattering of hair on his chest. His hand glides down my back and up again in a few sweeping motions before settling on the swell of one cheek where he squeezes. Then doesn’t let go. His fingers gripping tight, indented into my supple flesh.

  As my breathing evens out, I place kisses along his chest. No words. Just us. While he lies there, eyes closed, soaking in the moment.

  “You okay?” I ask softly when the silence becomes too much. Gets too heavy.

  Deep, dark eyes open and look right at me. Focused and clear. “I don’t think I’ve ever been better,” he replies in all seriousness. Tone soft and true.