The Mafia Contract Series

I hear voices and as I wake from a very deep sleep, I feel a hard object wrapped around my leg and strong arms holding me tight.

My eyes adjust to the surroundings, and it all comes flooding back.

Alessandro.

For a moment, I think of what happened last night and feel the evidence of that between my legs. I did it. We did it and now we’re going to burn in hell.

Shifting slightly, I love the low groan from the man beside me as he comes back to me and then we hear Flynn’s laughter from somewhere nearby and we both tense at the same time.

Fuck, its morning, and we fell asleep. This is bad.

I turn to face him and love how that makes me feel. It’s so good to wake up in his arms and just thinking it’s the only time makes me sad. If I see any regret in his eyes, it’s well hidden and just the emotion in them tells me he’s feeling the same.

Once again, we hear laughter and the howl of a wolf and Alessandro places his finger against my lips and whispers, “This is bad.”

I nod as we lie stiff, almost in shock, and then he moves slowly and carefully and reaches for his clothes.

I watch him dress and admire his naked perfection as he covers a body I would die to look at for the rest of my life and then he leans down and kisses me long, leisurely and so sweetly, I feel my body coming alive ready to welcome him in once more.

“Thank you.” He whispers against my lips and then says in the softest voice, “I’ll distract them while you head upstairs. Pretend you’re hung over or something.”

I nod and he winks as he heads toward the door and I say softly, “Thank you and just so you know, I don’t regret a thing.”

He nods and blows me a kiss and then he’s gone before I can say anything to embarrass myself, like declare my undying love for him, or something along those lines. But I do. I know I do and yet how can that ever develop into something amazing? It was just a fleeting moment in a lifetime of bitter regret. One moment of pleasure that will have to stay with me forever and keep my heart wrapped in a bubble of love.

I ache so badly as I reach for my clothes and as I quickly dress, I’m desperate for a long shower and something to eat.

Cracking open the door, I hear nothing and quietly tiptoe along the corridor and take the stairs to my room.

It’s only when I’m safely inside that I relax and yet I can’t keep the smile from my face as I revisit what happened last night.

I did it. I made something so beautiful, so magical, happen and it was on my terms. I think I can deal with anything right now because we got away with it. Nobody found us and we enjoyed a night of pure unadulterated pleasure and now nothing can ever take that away from me.

IT’S ONLY when I hear the shower from Angelo’s room, do I creep downstairs and head to class. I’m not sure how I’ll disguise my feelings toward Alessandro, but I know I must, for his sake, more than mine. Nobody must know what happened last night-ever and as I slip into my seat in class, I congratulate myself on a plan coming together.

LATER, I meet Emma for lunch in the canteen and she looks at me with a smug expression. “Thanks for inviting me to that party, Winter. I had the best time.”

She looks so happy I feel my heart sag with relief, and she leans closer and giggles. “You know, after Flynn I thought it wouldn’t happen again. Not at Rockwell, anyway.”

“What?” I feel confused, and she smiles dreamily. “Cory.”

“The guy you were with. What happened?”

“Well…” She leans forward and looks around, checking no one’s listening. “We went outside, and it was unbelievably romantic. The moon, the stars, the music from the house. It was peaceful out there and he was so attentive. He told me he’d always liked me and thought I wasn’t interested.

When he saw me at the party, he couldn’t believe how amazing I looked and was glad he found the courage to talk to me.”

“That’s nice.” I’m pleased for her, and she sighs.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“We made out under the stars, and it was so good. It felt natural, you know, like God was giving me his blessing to enjoy college life like the rest of them.”

“You are like the rest of them.”

I fix her with a look that pushes away any doubts of that and she says sadly, “I never felt like it. I was always the fat girl from maths, english, or science. The girl with more spots than a kid with chicken pox and who looks as if her mom still dressed her. I was bullied, ignored, and dismissed. But that all changed when I became your friend and you opened up a whole new world to me, so thank you, Winter. I owe you everything.”

“And Flynn.”

I grin as she blushes. “Yes, I owe Flynn a huge debt because he turned me into a woman, and I will never forget that.”

Knowing exactly what she means, I say with curiosity, “Do you ever wish you could be with Flynn?”

A hint of sadness reaches her eyes, and she nods. “Of course. He is probably the best-looking guy I have ever seen with the most generous heart.

He is seriously gorgeous inside and out and has this lost look about him that makes me feel like a protective mama bear. I adore that man and wish he was my man, but he made it clear that was never an option and I went into it knowing that. So, I accept his generous gift and use it wisely.”

She laughs and I shake my head. “Corey.”

She nods and sighs heavily. “We only made out last night, but he wanted more. I even let him finger me. Can you believe I did that?”

“No, I can’t.”

Laughing, she leans forward and whispers, “I even returned the favor and he came in my hand. I’m guessing it won’t be long before we end up going all the way and you know what? I can’t wait.”

Leaning back, she fixes me with a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Winter.”

“What for?”

“I’m rattling on about something you can never have, not at Rockwell Academy all the time your brother has placed an imaginary chastity belt around you. It must suck being you sometimes.”

“I’ll live.” I smile and think about Alessandro and wonder if we’ll ever catch a break. Will his plan work, or will it just be a pipedream? More than anything, I want him to be my husband, but I’m not sure I like the idea of him giving up his own dream to make that happen.