Chapter 32: Chapter 32

C H A P T E R - T H I R T E E N

He had a large workforce. He was driving a top-of-the-line Camaro. He put up sophisticated security measures. He could afford high-end designer shoes. He could heat a vast warehouse to the point that he could walk about barefoot and bare-chested, and I was perfectly content in only his shirt and thong.

"You live in an old warehouse," I stated flatly.

"Yeah," he acknowledged the obvious.

"There's a lot of room here, Falcone."

"Yeah," he said.

"A lot of space," I continued. He smiled and sipped his coffee. I did the same thing.

"Don't like close," he said as his mug slipped from his lips. "We need more space."

Interesting.

"All right, you've got it."

He grinned again, set his coffee mug down, pulled mine from my grasp, set it down as well, and then slipped into me from the front, his hands slipping around my waist to my back, wrapping around and drawing me to him.

I looked up as I rested my hands on his chest.

"You're adorable in the morning," he said.

"I am? " I inquired.

"Sweet and cute."

"Mm," I said, relieved he thought so, although I'd never been a morning person. I, too, was a night person. When I wasn't stressed or in a foul mood, I was an anytime person.

I watched as one of his hands left my back and his gaze became warm and fierce as they inspected my face.

Then he did something wonderful, something fantastic, something that would have destroyed whatever reservations I had about my assurance.

"A year and a half," he mumbled, sliding the backs of his knuckles across the flesh of my cheek. I completely fucking missed out."

My stomach squishy.

Yes, very certain.

"Falcone," I said quietly, and his fingers cupped my jaw.

"How much work did you complete?"

“What?”

"You were relaxed last night, not anxious; how are you doing at work?"

"Um..." I murmured, not wanting to worry about work or life or anything else, preferring to experience this genuine daydream.

Falcone went on. "I have to go do something this morning, the boys will be here in a few minutes, and I want you to be here when I return."

I locked my gaze on his.

Oh my goodness.

Yay! When he returned, he wanted me at his lair!

My thoughts turned to work.

Oh my god.

Boo! I had to get back home and smack it.

My hands crept up his chest to his neck as I melted into him.

"Today is one of my deadlines." "I'm almost done, but I still have some work to do." His arm gripped me and I continued in a hushed, little afraid, slightly optimistic voice, but my choice was made and my decision was about him so I decided he should know even though it scared the crap out of me. It's a guarantee I make to my clients, and -"

"It's cool, Babe," he cut me off.

"I do want to be here," I said again, but this time in hushed tones.

As his fingers dropped closer to mine, I leaned my head back even further. "I'm getting that, Sweet Pea," he said quietly, "and I like it."

He nabbed it. And he enjoyed it.

I nodded and licked my lips.

He kissed my lips, then moved his head an inch and murmured, "I've got to leave with the lads." I'll call Fang, and you can take your time getting dressed, showering, getting some food, or doing whatever you want. He'll be there in thirty minutes to pick you up and take you home. I'll leave you a key; take it. Three, three, six, four is the security code. Return after you're finished."

"OK," I said quickly.

His arm wrapped around me, drawing me in closer, and his palm at my jaw slid back into my hair as I saw his eyes heat up.

"We're overdue, darling. Definitely. Even more so after I had to watch you in that dress and those heels last night, and then you fell out virtually nude in my bed before we got to play. Make plans for an active evening."

Wow.

"All right," I said this time, and I did it easily.

He grinned, and I could tell he was hungry because his eyes were heated on me and his body was near.

Yum.

As I raised up on my toes and my gaze fell to his lips, my fingers slipped over his hair and applied pressure.

As a result, I observed them muttering, "Totally missed out."

Then he kissed me, hot and hard, with tongues and his palm on my a$$ pulling my hips into his while I clung on and my legs and insides went liquid.

He interrupted the kiss with what sounded like a furious growl, which made me lean closer, and as I did, his mouth brushed mine, then returned, and his teeth bit my lower lip.

Um…nice.

"Falcone," I said quietly, still hanging on.

"Baby, let go; if you don't, I'll lose a client and your expensive shoes will be gone."

I pondered this while considering shoes vs sex with Falcone in his vast lair.

Then I held on tighter.

He grinned, squeezed my arm, his mouth again touched mine, then let me go and moved back. I leaned on the bar to support myself, and he lifted his hand and traced the side of his index finger over the flesh beneath my chin.

Um…nice!

"Later," he said.

"'Kay," I said.

His hand crept to my neck and squeezed it, then he drew away, fished in a drawer, brought out a key, dropped it on the counter, and walked to the stairs. I waited until he reached the top, then took my coffee, sipped it, and watched him open and close drawers on his dresser and wardrobe while he dressed.

He was sitting on the bed putting on his boots when I heard the outside traffic, and as he down the stairs, I walked to the steps with my coffee mug. He grabbed my shoulders with one arm and led me to the door beneath the bed platform, where I entered a vast room that had his Camaro, a black SUV, a motorbike hidden under a cover, and still had room for my vehicle, my father's car, and a motor home to be parked.

He reached for a box with two large, round, red buttons that was suspended on a cord. As he led me to the end of the building and turned me toward him, I managed to evade him with my coffee mug just before he placed another hot, wet one on me. He pressed one, the enormous door swung up, and I briefly felt the cold attack from outside.

He cocked his head, "Energetic," he murmured.

I said, "Gotcha," and he smirked. I then watched him stalk to one of the three SUVs, where I saw one of his commandos leap out and circle the car to enter on the other side while Falcone grabbed the wheel.

I waved the commandos off as they drove away while still wearing his clothes and clutching a sparkling, midnight blue coffee mug. I felt absolutely no embarrassment at all since I was having the time of my life in my daydream.

Although I received a few smiles and one amusing head shake, none of them waved back.

The enormous door groaningly slid down as I grasped the box and pressed the button, allowing me to into Falcone's den.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** *

When it happened, I was on the bed platform preparing Falcone's bed.

The phone rang, which I clearly disregarded.

The answering machine on one of the massive, dark wood nightstands then activated. An automated voice requested the caller to leave a message, and the caller did.

I paused in the middle of fluffing my pillows the moment I heard her voice.

“Falcone? " in a hesitant tone. Inquiring but uncertain. "I hope everything is well, honey.  You did not show up last night. I’m Thursday.” Pause. "I hope you don't mind if I call," she says, still reluctant. "However, I'm concerned. "Um..." pause "Can you please call me?" Another pause, then quickly, "Just so I know you're okay." Another wait, then, "Um... okay, um... bye."

She hung up, and there was a buzz before there was stillness.

Something terrible was rumbling in my gut as I stood there with a pillow in my hand, staring at the answering machine.

Did she said her name is Thursday?

Thursday?

Exactly what did that mean?

Thursday she was. Thursday was yesterday. She was anticipating Falcone's arrival.

Thursday she was.

Something in my gut crawled up my throat and filled my mouth with an acidic flavor.