Chapter 76: Chapter 76

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

Even though dinner was finished, the party—and hence the drinking—was not.

I was seated next to Ryan but listening to Mrs. Bartolome and Erma, who were both wonderfully inebriated, as they told Ramona, their other audience member, tales of Dad and Melinda's previous anniversaries.

My head twisted when Ryan suddenly seized my hand, and I looked to his face to find that he was looking across the room.

My heart warmed as I followed his with my gaze. Melinda, who was holding Mic's hand by the fingers, was standing next to Mic as they both looked at the diamond ring Ryan had put on earlier that night when he had proposed to her.

The reason they were late.

“Lingerie parties, darlin’,” I heard Ryan whisper in my ear, I smiled and turned to face him. “You promised,” he finished when he caught my eyes.

I squeezed his hand and whispered back, “You happy?”

“She is, so, yeah,” Ryan answered.

That was a great freaking answer.

“Love you, babe,” I told him softly.

“Lingerie,” he replied.

“Gotcha,” I whispered on a smile.

“Gia, can I have a moment?”

Enrico was standing there with his face set and an upset expression when Ryan and I both craned our necks and tilted our heads back.

Shit.

I nodded, gave Ryan's hand another squeeze, and then stood. Enrico entered the room, placed his hand on the small of my back, and led me out. To let Falcone know where I was going and who I was with, I looked for him as I went but was unable to locate him.

I looked at Enrico as we entered a hallway.

“Enrico, I –”

“Just wait a second, Gia, would you?” he asked tersely and I wondered what was on his mind and why he seemed in such a foul mood.

However, it wasn't difficult to guess. Falcone was not averse to public displays of affection, and this, combined with the fact that he was an alpha male, meant that PDA was frequently combined with possessive branding gestures. For example, he would wrap his arm around the back of my chair while we were sitting together or run his hand over my ass when he saw a man looking at my ass in that manner.

As the evening went on, I became aware of Enrico's distaste for certain things.

When we saw Falcone with his back to us about eight feet down the hallway after turning a corner, we both came to a complete stop on the carpet. One feminine hand was at his bowed head, and one arm was tightly wrapped around his back.

Enrico's arm curved around my waist and was tightly grasped as I took a hushed, agonizing breath and felt my head start to spin.

It dawned on me that Falcone had just moved, taking the woman's arms away with him, and that he had done it violently.

“What the fuck?” he clipped, his voice so harsh, it was acid and it was a wonder the wallpaper didn’t melt off the walls.

“I –” a woman replied.

“You told me you wanted to talk about my woman and your man,” Falcone went on.

“I –” she repeated.

Falcone cut her off again. “Jesus, fuck, what’s the matter with you?”

“I –” she tried yet again and failed yet again.

“Give me one good reason not to go back into that room and tell your man you put your hands and your fuckin’ mouth on me,” Falcone demanded.

“He won’t believe you,” she got out and my body froze solid as Enrico’s did the same at my side.

That voice was Enrico’s whiney, annoying, grasping girlfriend, Hanna.

“You’re right,” Falcone replied. “He won’t, which, I gotta tell you, woman, sucks because he’s a good man and he could do a lot fuckin’ better than you.”

Oh God.

I had to end this for Enrico and I had to do it now.

“Yago, honey,” I called and Falcone’s body jerked around to face us. I saw his eyes were narrow, his jaw hard and his gaze slid over me to Enrico.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

Hanna was staring at Enrico, her eyes huge, face pale.

“Enrico,” she whispered.

“I hope you have money for a cab,” Enrico replied.

“Uh…” She took a step forward but I moved into Enrico, turning into his side, my arms going around his middle and I pulled him a step back so she stopped. “Enrico, it isn’t what –” she tried.

Enrico interrupted. “Stop, Hanna, it was. Don’t add being a fucking liar to being a fucking slut.”

Hanna winced. I gave Enrico a squeeze. Falcone studied Enrico and when no one said anything further, his head turned to Hanna.

“I think that’s your cue to get the fuck outta here,” he prompted, she looked up at him, her pale face got whiter and she nodded.

Then, as I looked sharp, deadly daggers at her, none of which formed and drew blood, she hurried toward Enrico and me. Because neither Enrico nor I moved, she bypassed us and hurried around the corner.

Enrico was in Falcone's line of sight as he came closer, stopping in front of us.

Then he looked down at me and asked softly, “You got this, baby?”

I nodded up at him. He lifted his chin, glanced at Enrico and then walked around us on my side, his hand sliding along my hip as he did it.

See. Total alpha male possessive branding moves even when no one was around to see them!

Then Falcone disappeared.

I moved into Enrico’s front, not letting him go and looked into his stony face.

“Do we need beer, tequila or a trip to the firing range?” I asked quietly and Enrico’s arm around my waist gave a reflexive squeeze.

“Shit, Gia,” he whispered.

I pressed my cheek to his shoulder and held on tighter.

“Shit,” he repeated over my head.

“Falcone’s right, honey, you can so do better than her.”

His other arm slid around me and it was his turn to hold on tight.

We held each other for awhile in silence before Enrico broke it to mutter, “Maybe he isn’t a dick.”

I pressed my lips together but relaxed in his arms.

Then I lifted my cheek from his shoulder to put my lips to his ear.

“Missed you,” I whispered. “So much, Enrico. Sofreakingmuch. It’s good to have you back, babe.”

I closed my eyes as Enrico buried his face in my neck and I had the intoxicating impression that everything in my world had transformed into the most ideal daydream, with the exception of the fact that my sister was in protective care. It was superior to any daydream I could have had, and it wasn't just superior — it was genuine.

Enrico was then given a squeeze before I made the decision for him and said, "Tequila."

Enrico’s face came out of my neck, he looked at me, gave me a small, not very happy smile and whispered, “Right.”

I sighed then I turned my friend in the direction of the bar.

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Oh God.

I was going to bring it home!

“Baby,” I whispered, my face in Falcone’s neck, my arms around his shoulders, his hands were at my hips and I was riding him hard.

His head turned so his lips were at my ear.

“Mouth,” he growled, I lifted and twisted my head instantly, my mouth going to his as a moan slid up my throat. “Harder, baby, you’re almost there.”

“Falcone,” I whimpered into his mouth as I drove myself down on him harder and both my hands went to his head.

“Yago,” he corrected on a thick rumble. “You call me Yago when you bring it home.”

“Yago,” I whispered then gasped, my back and neck arching as it burned through me.

My back arched more as Falcone's hand went into my hair, fisted and tugged softly, and I felt his lips closing over my nipple and sucking it deeply, prolonging my orgasm as fresh fire blasted through me. He gasped and buried his lips between my breasts after releasing his hold on my nipple and pulling me down hard on his cock.

Beautiful.

After he was done, we descended, and he gave me a kiss on the inner of my breast. When I applied pressure to his head, it tilted back, my own did the same, and his hand in my hair helped me get my mouth to his so he could give me a wonderful, hot, wet, beautiful kiss.

When he was done, I bragged on a whisper, “I brought it home.”

I felt his mouth smile against mine. “Yeah you did, baby.”

I lifted my mouth an inch from his and slid one hand to his neck, the other to his jaw.

“Did it work for you?” I asked softly.

The dimples, already there, got deeper. “You seriously askin’ that shit?”

“Um…” I replied.

His hand in my hair brought my lips back to his and he responded, “Yeah, Gia,” he gave me a light kiss then his head dropped and he kissed the base of my throat where he murmured, “Oh yeah.”

“Yay,” I whispered.

He ran his nose along my jaw then he pulled slightly away, his hands going to my dress which was bunched at my waist. He pulled the wisp of material up, my arms went up with it then he tossed it aside.

Normally, I would have concerns about an expensive, satin dress being tossed to the floor.

At that moment, I didn’t give a shit.

Falcone fell back, taking me with him, then he rolled me to my back, unfortunately disconnecting from me but I took that loss because I gained his heat and weight.

His mouth was at my neck and he started speaking. “Next time you wear those shoes, babe, takin’ you on your knees and you’re not takin’ ‘em off.”

I twisted my neck and his head came up so he could look at me.

“Do you like those shoes that much?”

“Like the dress more, Sweet Pea, but those shoes are hot.”

I blinked at him. I could understand the dress, it showed more skin than it covered and the parts that covered skin clung to flesh but I was shocked a badass could like Cinderella-perfect shoes.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Why are you surprised?”

“Um… they’re satin and have crystals and if the Brothers Grimm were clairvoyant and knew they would one day exist, Cinderella would have those shoes. Those are not commando shoes.”

“No, they’re commando’s woman’s shoes. The heel is high and you got great legs, babe, and the perfect ass but those shoes do the impossible and make your legs and ass even fuckin’ better.”

This was true.

Though I wouldn’t describe my ass as perfect, it made my belly squishy to hear Falcone do it.

“So,” I slid my hands down his back to wrap my arms around his waist, “you’re saying you bought me those shoes becauseyoulike them.”

“No, Sweet Pea, I bought you those shoes because when I saw you after buyin’ them, the minute you looked at me I knew it meant a lot to you. Your face was gentle.” His finger came to my temple and then slid down my hairline before his hand curled around my neck and when he spoke again, his voice was soft.

“I’d do just about anything to make you look at me like that, Gia, and I’ll keep doin’ it as long as I can surprise you and know, from that look, you like me spoilin’ you, it means somethin’ to you and I’m gonna keep doin’ it and only stop when I don’t get that in return.”

God. God. I love this man.

“Falcone,” I whispered.

“Helped that you gave great underwear as a thank you.”

I grinned at him. Then I reminded him, “You took it right off.”

“Babe, your body in that underwear, burned on my brain. Fuck, I can still see it.”

I giggled and Falcone gave me his dimples.

“Well, this is good to know,” I informed him. “I thought you were a take it off because it gets in the way man. I’m pleased to know my efforts were appreciated.”

His head dipped and his mouth touched mine before he whispered, “Everything about you is appreciated, Giabella.”

My stomach melted, my heart skipped and I felt a tingle in my throat.

“Yago,” I whispered back then my arms left his waist and my hands went to either side of his head and I shared, “You should know, I’m living in a daydream. A real one. I’ve never been this happy. Not ever, baby, not in my whole life.”

I lifted my head, slid my arms around his shoulders and kissed his jaw then said in his ear, “Thank you, Falcone.”

He rolled us to our sides, his arms closing around me, his mouth going to my ear in return and he murmured, “You’re welcome, Sweet Pea.”

I sighed into his throat.

He touched his tongue to the skin behind my ear then turned me in his arms so my back was to his front, he separated from me only to turn off the light and then curled into me, saying his nonverbal goodnight.

I made mine verbal.

“’Night, baby, love you.”

His arm gave me a squeeze and I felt his face in my hair.

“Love you too, Gia,” he said quietly then ordered, “Go to sleep.”

So bossy.

But seriously, did I care?

The answer to that was a big, fat, no!

Therefore I snuggled my ass into his lap and replied, “’Kay.”

And then, about five seconds later, I did what I was told.