“Because putting my mouth on a woman like that felt too intimate.” He taps my foot for me to lift so that he can slide my panties back on.
“Is it the emotional or physical intimacy that you didn’t like?” I ask curiously.
“Both.”
“I would normally have been a bit more … prepared … down there.” I wish I’d had a chance to shower before this—I wasn’t exactly keeping myself performance-ready. It’s hard not to be self-conscious about that sort of thing.
“Look at me,” Tommy says firmly. “How often do you think I hand out empty compliments for the fun of it?”
I survey his severe expression. “Never.”
His eyes crease the tiniest bit in the corners. “Exactly, so if I say you’re fucking addictive, I mean it.”
“Okay.” That’s a relief, I guess, but also, I’m desperately curious about his past. I hadn’t considered it before. Has he ever been in a relationship? Do I really want to know? Probably not. “Well, if that’s your first go, I’m highly impressed.” I sit up next to him, my cheeks flushing. I scoot a bit closer and run my hand up his thigh. His hand wraps around mine to stop me.
“What about you?” I ask. I’ve only been in a couple of long-term relationships, but a certain degree of reciprocity was always assumed.
Tommy shakes his head. “I’m not coming in your mouth or hand. The first time you wring me dry, I want my cum inside you, and that’s not happening until you’re my wife.” Before I can argue, he brings his lips to mine, stealing my thoughts with a seductive kiss. Once I’m thoroughly mindless, he stands and helps me to my feet. “I’m going to finish getting ready, but first…” He starts tapping at his phone.
“First what?”
“First, I’m arming the damn alarm. No more unexpected visitors,” he grumbles.
Once he’s done, he turns for the bedroom, then pauses to look back at me. I’m standing in the same place, chewing on my lip. His brows furrow in a deep crease.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Nothing, I guess.” I look around the room, wondering what on earth I’m going to do with myself all day.
“You guess? I’m not good at reading between the lines, Danika. If there’s a problem, you have to tell me.”
“Not a problem, I’m just a little stir-crazy. I’ve been stuck here in the apartment for a week. Another long day inside feels a little daunting.”
“I suppose you can join me today if you want to.” His voice bears a note of uncertainty—a hint of insecurity, as though he’s not sure he should offer.
I smile warmly to reassure him. “I’d really love that, thank you.”
Tommy grunts and resumes his walk back to the bedroom. He doesn’t coddle me or feel an artificial need to make me comfortable. In his eyes, it’s time to move on to the next task. Knowing that his behavior isn’t meant as a personal slight, I find it unexpectedly refreshing. I can take his words and actions at face value, and I appreciate that.
This Mafia captor of mine is an incredible duality of simplicity and complexity. So straightforward yet so unusual. I can’t wait to see what more I can learn about him in his work environment. I shouldn’t be so excited to spend time with him, but I can’t deny the eagerness exists. Tommy Donati has me utterly spellbound, for better or worse. I can only pray it’s for the better.
“Are we at a company picnic?”I look around at the families carrying plates of food and playing carnival-style games inside the large conference center. The predominant theme among them is a familiar brown delivery service logo.
“It’s a benefits fair for the local branch of the Teamsters Union.” Tommy has to project his voice over the ruckus of the crowd. With bounce castles at the back of the room, this is definitely a family-focused event. Lots of kids. Lots of noise.
I have to strain to hear clearly, and I make sure to walk with Tommy on my right side—the side of my good ear. Crowds aren’t my favorite, but I’m intrigued about why we’re here. A union gathering would explain the information booths, but it doesn’t help me understand our purpose here.
“Sooo, what exactly are we doing here?” I ask as we walk past a man making balloon animals in front of a cluster of children—not at all what I expected a workday with Tommy to look like. I don’t know what Ididexpect, but this wasn’t it.
“My family plays an active role in the Teamsters and other mall onions intensity.”
Mall onions intensity?
I play over his words and can’t make sense of them. “The Teamsters and what? I didn’t catch that last part.”
“I said, the Teamsters and other smaller unions in the city.”
That makes more sense linguistically, but I’m clueless as to why a Mafia family would care about unions. I doubt they’re concerned about fair wages or comprehensive healthcare. I decide to take a chance and push for a bit more information.
