The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY.

My lips were quirked in amusement as I twirled around in my chair, watching Drake, who was standing by the projector, presenting his idea to everyone in the conference room while Aurelia constantly chipped in her suggestions.

On a normal day, I would have cut her off and told her to hold her tongue but there was something about their banters that I found so cute. They were both my editors but the way they were always at each other’s neck was fascinating.

I chuckled, clicking my pen.

“It’s just pure logic, Mrs. Gray. We have seen what these people read and the best bet would be to recruit writers who are experts in the Genre that people love to read,” Drake’s eyes were solely fixed on me, watching my every move. I smirked, leaning into my chair and nodding at him to go on.

“Nope, that won’t work.”

The brunette, who was so relaxed in her seat interjected him. Aurelia had always been an exotic beauty and she owned it proudly. She flipped her purplish hair over her shoulder, turning to Drake, who had a huge frown on his face.

“We are not aiming to be stereotypical, Drake.” The words rolled off her tongue so calmly. She maintained her regal posture, her eyes locked on him in a challenging stare. She was daring him and she wasn’t being subtle with it.

Drake scoffed, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Stop interrupting me, Aurelia.” He said coldly.

“No, you don’t tell me what to do. You are not the boss of me. I am simply just looking the other way and I am trying to make you see reasons why this idea won’t work.” She wasn’t raising her voice at him, yet every single word she uttered reeked with confidence.

She turned to me, anchoring her grey eyes at me.

“The project to expand our company through a reading platform is still on, right, Mrs. Gray?” She asked softly.

“Yes, Aurelia. We are working on it,” I answered.

I have been thinking of creating a reading platform where readers and writers can collide. New writers get the chance to put their work on the platform, readers read to pay. It’s a win-win situation. The writers get a chance to garner early recognition for themselves and the readers get entertained with their intriguing books.

“Now, how do we pull that off if we are sticking with the common Genres?” Aurelia asked and her question hit me like a whiplash. I sat up in my seat, my ears perking up at those words. When she saw that she had successfully gained my attention, she smiled.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we can’t publish the common Genres, but I am just saying the sole goal of this company is to be distinct. We won’t pull that off if we only stick to the common genres. Why don’t we mix them up with the unusual ones too? Trust me, there are a thousand distinct story ideas out there that we are yet to discover, but if we are limiting ourselves, how do we want to discover them?”

“There’s no reason to hold ourselves back when in truth, the sky is big enough for birds to fly without hurting one another.”

“Let’s spice things up.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Most people don’t know what they want until they actually see it. Most readers might have been bored of keeping repeating a book with similar storylines. But when we put the unusual storylines out there, they are going to love it.”

The other editors in the room didn’t hesitate to put their hands together for a deafening round of applause. I couldn’t resist joining in too. I watched her, utterly appalled at her idea.

“You are a Genius, Rellie.” I called her by her nickname and she flashed me a warm smile, basking in the praise that came in from different angles. Her eyes darted away from me, resting on Drake’s rigid frame, who in turn, rolled his eyes at her.

“I___”

The door that led to the conference room was pushed open and the familiar figure emerged, striding into the room like he owned the place. The air of confidence and supremacy that hung around him, although familiar, still had my breath hitching. His signature resting bitch-face was so pronounced and made him twice as hot in his white shirt that was tucked in black slacks. He slayed his go-to outfit like that was the first time he was wearing it, rolling the sleeves to his elbow and leaving a few buttons undone.

It made him look reckless.

I couldn’t get over how beautiful this man was and it still left me wondering how I managed to snag someone as hot as he was, as my husband. It feels so surreal at times.

“Good morning, Mr. Gray.” Several greetings from my editors echoed in the room.

“We are done here.” I dismissed them, my eyes still fixated on him. They all rose to their feet and filed out of the room, alongside his bodyguards, including Duncan, whom I threw a stink eye before he sauntered out.

He got to me and picked me up from my chair like I weighed nothing, eliciting a squeal from him. He hoisted me on the desk, capturing my lips in a soft kiss, but he pulled away when I made to deepen it. His action made me frown.

“Hey, Peach.” He whispered, gazing at me beneath his lashes. I tucked my lips between my teeth, giggling. I tossed one of my legs on his back, drawing him closer, so that he could stand between my legs. My hands were now splayed on his chest, alluring green eyes boring into mine.

“Hey, husband.” I grinned.

“Well, someone snuck out without telling me.” He mused, squeezing my waist and I giggled when he buried his head in the crook of my neck, sniffing me in. Even with how he placed me on his desk, he was still taller. Arden had a way of making me feel so short.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” I rasped when he ran his tongue across the skin of my neck.

“You smell so good.” He murmured, kissing my neck. I tightened my legs around him, snapping my eyes shut. I tilted my head to the side, giving him access to my neck.

“Fuck,” I moaned softly as he sucked on the skin of my neck.

“I saw what you did to Duncan’s face.” He chuckled against me, slipping his hands underneath my dress. My breath hitched and I swallowed, parting my legs when I felt his fingers brush my thigh. He was so quick at shifting my panties to the side, stroking my clitoris.

I was already a pool down there.

“Oh, my God!” I tossed my head backwards, arching my back to meet the pace of his fingers, but then he retracted them, eliciting a whine from me.

“Oh, come on!” I cried out in frustration. I was dripping wet and I just needed him to touch me. He pulled away from my neck, smirking at me. He bent to my level, caging me on the desk with his hands splayed on the surface of the desk.

“You haven’t answered my question…” His voice trailed off with a glint of tease in his now-dark green eyes.

“He deserved it,” I huffed.

“God, I love your temper even though it gets on my nerves at times.” He grinned and kissed my cheek before getting me off the table. He took his seat on the chair, pulling me onto his lap.

“Careful, Peach. You are soaking my trousers with your juices.” He whispered, smirking at me as he balanced his hands on my ass, yanking me forward and my barely covered pussy brushed his clothed crotch. I whimpered with pleasure.

He was hell-bent on making me sexually frustrated and he wasn’t even done. His hands came up to my zipper, pulling it down while I watched him, out of breath. He pushed the sleeves of my dress downwards, removing my arms out of it. I was left in my red lacy bra.

He watched me and strings of curse words elicited his lips. He pushed himself off the chair, dropping his head on my cleavage, which he pressed a soft kiss too. He groaned in satisfaction and I bit my lip, cradling his head against my chest. I was too distracted to notice him working his fingers on my bra hook.

He unclasped it abruptly and got his head off my chest, freeing my boobs from its confines. He tossed the bra somewhere in the room and I giggled, digging my fingers into my hair, freeing it from the ponytail I had it in. I shook my hair softly, working my fingers through its knot.

“You are going to be the death of me,” he uttered those words with a strong conviction, swiping his thumb against my bottom lip. He inserted his finger into my mouth afterwards and I sucked on it, moaning softly. He slowly retracted it from my mouth, trailing it down my chin, down to my chest and when his fingers neared my boobs, I sucked in a breath and watched my nipples grow excessively hard beneath his touch.

“So sensitive,” he whispered, brushing the pad of his thumb against one of my buds. I had to clamp my teeth down on my mouth to submerge the moans that threatened to leave my lips.

“I don’t want you holding back your moans. I want everyone in this building to hear the sounds you make as I pleasure you. I want them to know who you belong to.” He told me, his voice thick with dominance and assertiveness.

Arden showered kisses everywhere on my upper body except my breasts. He was punishing me even though it made me so restless. I loved it. I loved how he pushed me right over the edge and pulled me right back. He stopped kissing me, burying his head into my chest.

“I wanted to ask you to go on a trip with me. Consider it our honeymoon. You didn’t get a chance at that when you first married me and I want to right that wrong,” His voice was so soft. I felt myself smile at the attempt to make up for his past deeds.

“If you’ll allow me, that is,” He whispered, massaging my waist softly. I loved how his fingers felt on my bare body.

He enclosed his mouth around my nub, tugging softly at it before pulling away, to my dismay.

Fuck…

“Where are you taking me?” I demanded and he glanced up, smirking.

“That’s a surprise.” He grinned. My phone beeped on the table and I groaned, lifting myself off his legs and snatching it off the table. I unlocked it, seeing as it was a message that popped up on my screen.

Unknown

I see you got my gift. Do you like it?

My blood went cold, my hands freezing on the screen of my phone. I furrowed my brows, a wave of uncertainty hitting me. This further proves that the gift isn’t from Arden.

“Is everything okay?” He queried and I looked up from my phone to meet his scrutinising gaze that was so uncomfortable. I plastered on a faux smile, which I desperately hoped he wouldn’t detect. I dropped my phone on the table and propped myself on his lap.

“Less talking, more touching.” I cupped his face and kissed him. He squeezed my ass, causing me to moan against his mouth.