Dario Read online

  Teeth and tongue, my jaw working, and a small growl I couldn’t help worked out of my throat as I dominated her mouth. I took until her entire body trembled, until she gripped at my collar like she was drowning, and that small grasp was the only thing kept her above water.

  When I broke away, Ava shook, looking dizzy and a little punch drunk.

  “That better?”

  She was weightless in my arms, managed a distracted nod, and I pulled her close, loving the heat I felt from her pussy when I pushed our hips together.

  “You feel that?”

  “I feel everything you give me.” A shudder worked through her arms when I kissed her neck. “Every damn look.”

  She let me lead her back to the chair, standing stiff, her knees and arms locked as I took off my jacket, tossing it onto the table before I sat down, relaxing into the cushions.

  “Dario—” The doubt was clear as she took my hand, chewing on her bottom lip. “I’m not…it’s been a long time, and I don’t think I was ever any…any good at this.”

  “Why? Because Shane didn’t know what he was doing?”

  She looked unsure, something Ava never was.

  “Because he never made me come.”

  “Never?”

  She shook her head, and I sat up, taking her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist.

  “I’m not fucking surprised. That asshole only gives a shit about himself.”

  “You don’t think it’s me?”

  “Sweetheart, pull your skirt up and straddle me.”

  She hesitated, so I touched the back of her thighs, my attention on her face, pulling her forward.

  “I’m going to show you what a real man does for his woman. How it’s always supposed to be.”

  One knee at a time, that’s how she came to me, the skirt slipping up, her sweet vanilla scent getting stronger as Ava rested her legs on either side of my thighs. She was looking down, her pulse thumping hard as I slipped my fingers up her legs.

  “I’m gonna make you relax.”

  She nodded, holding her breath when I reached under her skirt, teasing around the back of her legs.

  “You’ll feel good, I promise.” She was warm, skin on fire and soft when I grazed a knuckle against her pussy. Even through the satin she wore, the wetness was there, weeping from her, getting hotter when I pulled on the edge and slipped her panties down to her knees, angling her to the right to take them off completely.

  “Dario,” she whispered, eyes closing when I touched her.

  “You want this. You’re wet already.” Then, I pushed a finger into her, groaning when that warm, sweet heat surrounded me. “Fuck…you’re tight, baby.”

  But she didn’t react; her eyes were shut, her breath heavier the longer I fingered her.

  “Ride my fingers. Do what feels good.” She was slow at first, hips barely moving so I teased her clit, letting the pad of my thumb work slow, small circles against it. When she moved her legs farther apart, I quickened my movements building pressure, intensifying my touch. Ava began to pant, moving her hand to her breast, squeezing when I slipped another finger inside her. “Don’t do that.” I pushed her hand away, sitting up to unbutton her shirt and pull down one cup of her bra. “That’s my job.”

  Her nipple was pink, perfectly round, and the faster I moved my hand, the harder I sucked, liking the sounds she made when I scraped my teeth over her soft skin. She was getting wetter, her voice low, whining as she moaned, her breathing more erratic when I pushed another finger into her, curling my knuckle to hit her G-spot, grinning against her nipple when she bent forward, holding onto the arm rest like it would keep her from falling to pieces.

  “Dario…that’s so…it feels…so good.”

  “That’s the point, darlin’.” She milked my fingers, still leaning, her legs shaking from the strain of staying upright. This wasn’t good enough.

  She released a low “shit,” when I pulled my fingers out of her, eyes rounded as she straightened and stared down at me. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hush, sweetheart,” I told her, pulling her shirt out of her waistband, watching how she stared at everything I did—pulling her bra completely off her now, unsnapping it with one hand, taking my damp fingers to circle her nipple, leaving traces of her wetness right against her skin. And when I held that wet nipple to my mouth and licked her clean, Ava groaned, cupping the back of my head like she would fall if she didn’t touch me.

  “Fuck, Dario…”

  “In a minute,” I said, grinning at her smile. “Stand up, sweetheart.”

  She frowned but did what I told her, holding onto my arms for support.

  “Good. Now turn around.”

  Ava followed the instruction, glancing over her shoulder to watch me lower the zipper on her skirt, uncovering her perfect, round ass. “Shit, baby, I could eat you alive.”

  “Don’t…just…more of the finger—”

  “You like me touching you?”

  She nodded, arching against my mouth when I kissed one cheek, nibbling as I moved my hands to her hips, turning her.

  “I…love you touching me.” She sighed, glancing down at me, eyes alert, focused when I cupped her, petting that soft red hair. “Why did you stop?”

  Ava went still when I looked up at her, moving my hand on the small of her back. “To go deeper.”

  She bent forward, releasing a small cry of surprise from her mouth when I moved to the edge of the seat and put her on my lap, rubbing her thighs, kissing the curve of her ass. “Relax your leg, let your knee hit the floor.” She started to move both legs, but I held her left thigh in my hand. “Nah, baby. I want you wide open.”

  “Oh, God…”

  She was soft and pink, the lips swollen and wet. I wanted to keep her there, watch her pussy clench when I teased the glistening skin, when I slipped my thumb between them, letting it disappear inside.

  “I love your pretty pussy. So fucking wet.” My dick was rock hard; it ached against my zipper when I slipped my middle finger inside her, groaning when she whimpered, wishing her lips were around my dick when she made that noise.

  “Do you taste as sweet as you look?” Ava rocked her hips when I moved faster and she sounded anxious, desperate as I gripped her ass cheek with my free hand, kneading it, spreading her open.

  That sight, those noises she made, it was all too much. I needed a taste. So, I took one, bending down to lick her from behind, teasing her lips, moving my knees apart to get better access to her clit.

  “D—Dario… oh God…” Her tone was needy now, hungrier than I’d ever heard her.

  I licked her slit, sticking my tongue inside, thumbing her clit, my dick raging now, jumping. She smelled so good, earthy and sweet but the taste, fuck the taste was heaven.

  “Ava, you…fuck, you’re delicious.”

  “More…oh, shit…baby more.”

  She’d never called me by anything other than my name before and the sound of that sweet talk from her lips unhinged me. I sucked her, teased her clit, feasting on that sweet, hot pussy as Ava pushed at my mouth, as her groans and pleas for me to never stop got louder and louder. Then, I slipped my thumb into the taut muscle above her pussy, stealing a glance at her face, grinning against her as she groaned, mouth open like she didn’t know anyone touching her could feel this good.

  “Dario…I’m, oh God, I’m coming…”

  And she did, rocking against my mouth, my fingers, flooding against my tongue, and I drank her in, almost losing control completely when that taste hit me.

  “Shit…oh, shit…”

  I didn’t want the sensation to stop, didn’t want Ava coming down from her high. Grabbing my wallet, I dug out the condom from inside. “Get up, baby, lay your back against me. Hurry…”

  Still dazed, Ava did as she was told, sitting on my lap while I pulled out my cock and got the condom on. “Lift up, ease onto me,” I said, pushing on her back to get at that sweet pussy, let it slide down my dick.

  “Shit…oh�
��” Ava cried, sitting back to lean her head against my shoulder, riding me, then moving her head from side to side like the sensation was too much and not enough at the same time.

  “Baby, fuck…it’s never felt this good.” I met her when she came down, loving how tight she was, how the smell and taste of her skin was mana and I’d never be full of it. “Ava…you’re fucking glorious.”

  “Better…better than—”

  “Better than everything, sweetheart.” She worked her hips faster when I moved my hand around her waist, rubbing her clit, my movements shifting faster and faster, my chest tight as sensation and fucking emotion all collided together.

  I wanted this with her always. Fuck me, I didn’t want anything but this and her and us.

  “Ava…” My sack tightened, the sensation moving into my stomach as I fisted her hair, sucking on her neck. “My Ava…only mine.”

  I didn’t know if she heard that. I didn’t know much at that point because just then Ava clenched around me, crying out a loud, “Yes, yes!” and then she drenched my fingers with her orgasm, soaking them, spurring me onward as she milked me, as she called my name over and over, clamping against me. I came holding onto her, my forehead against her neck slamming inside her like I couldn’t stop.

  Breath heavy, head fuzzy with sensation and thought and the greedy need for her, for this, I cupped her breast, grinning against her neck when her heartbeat started to slow.

  She was everything—beautiful, intelligent, independent, fucking tempting. When she’d disappeared for months, everything in my damn world had gone dark. There’d been no light. Nothing that kept me up in the day and everything that kept me from sleeping at night.

  I’d been lost, and I wasn’t a man who liked to wander. I craved an anchor, a home, and as she relaxed against me, as I softened inside her, an awareness hit me like an electric shock.

  I didn’t want the life I had before her. I didn’t want anything but a life with Ava consuming me, and I’d kill anyone who got in the way of that.

  Exhaling, I stretched my arms around her, kissing her neck, tugging her head back to get to her mouth. “You’re mine,” I said, not smiling, making Ava a promise with two words I’d never meant more.

  For a second, I thought she’d agree. She stared up at me looking lust-drunk and satisfied and then, the grin on her mouth lowered, her body tensed, and she sat up, going still when I pulled her against my chest. “Don’t you fucking dare—”

  She lowered her head and I thought she was going to kiss my hand resting against her chest. Her heartbeat went wild again, pounding against my arm, and I knew the moment when I lost her. This was over because she was a runner. When she was scared, when she felt the need to protect herself, Ava got quiet, a little defensive and retreated.

  “Dario—”

  “Baby,” I said, my voice low, quiet, “you can’t do this. It’s too late.”

  “I’m not…this can’t…” She straightened then, moving off me and something dark and angry that felt like a fever coiled inside my chest.

  I didn’t say anything as she moved around the shop picking up her clothes or when she hurried to put them back on. My dick was still out. It was still wet and throbbing from just being inside her. She wouldn’t face me, seemed set on pulling herself back together until I pulled the condom off, tied it up, and then stood, righting my pants.

  Finally, Ava looked at me, glancing down at my hand holding the used condom and then she moved to the front counter, grabbing a napkin that she used to bundle the condom from me and toss it in the trash.

  We were quiet when we both went to the sink and washed our hands. She kept her eyes forward, ignoring how I glanced at her.

  “So that’s it? You’re just going to go quiet on me and make excuses?”

  Ava closed her eyes, inhaling quickly before she spoke. “Those excuses could save lives.”

  “You think I’m scared of your punk husband?”

  She jerked a glare at me, throwing the paper towel she used to dry her hands into the trash. “It doesn’t matter if you are. Me being here, staying here…being with you? It’s just…” She rubbed her face, her eyes looking like wet glass when she looked back at me. “There are things you don’t know. Things I haven’t been able to tell you.”

  “Tell me now.” I folded my arms, leaning against the sink. “I’m right fucking here.”

  “It’s not…” She looked down, then up at the ceiling like the words were just beyond the surface of her thoughts and she couldn’t get to them. “It’s so complicated, and I don’t want you…”

  “You know how many women want me even if you don’t?”

  She widened her eyes, taking a step back.

  “Do you know how many I’ve turned down since I started fucking around with you?”

  The shock on her face shifted quickly, like she’d been shot with something rage-inducing, something that pulled all the memories of my touch, of what I’d just done to her from her mind.

  “I never asked you for anything.” The muscles around her mouth clenched, hardening her features. “I never asked for your attention or your family or your…your body…”

  “Yeah, you did a thousand times. You asked for me, for what and who I am six years ago when you were scared and desperate for someone to save you.” I stepped closer, holding back the baller bullshit Dimitri wanted me to bring back. It took restraint not to yell at her, not to slam my mouth down on her and remind her what I could do to her.

  “You asked for me with every fucking look and touch you ever gave me. You want me, Ava. You were wet for me. You screamed my name. Fuck’s sake, my cock is still aching from your sweet pussy.”

  “Get out,” she said pushing on my chest. “Get the hell out of my shop.”

  She slipped past me before I could stop her and when she pulled the door open, I spotted the rage in her expression, the anger and regret that made her cheeks go blotchy and pink.

  I hesitated, meeting the glare she gave me. “I knew better than to chase after a woman who doesn’t know what she wants.”

  “Then why the hell did you?” Her mouth was small and bunched up like she’d tasted something sour.

  “I got bad advice.” We stared at each other, not saying a word, and saying everything at the same time. Ava nodded toward the door, her face telling me that I shouldn’t push her. If I did it might have her disappearing for good.

  “One day you’re going to kick me out and I won’t be back.”

  For half a second her features softened like the threat was something she hadn’t expected and didn’t like hearing. I stepped forward, wanting to reach for her, but Ava looked away, letting the anger return to her face.

  “You’re a runner, Ava Anderson. What the fuck am I doing with you?”

  “Nothing,” she said, eyes unblinking and sharp. “Not anymore.”

  16

  Ava

  Angelique Carelli was a cunning woman.

  “We’re so happy now that the baby is home and my boy, Dimitri is healed up. We want to celebrate.”

  The explanation had been exaggerated, a little dramatic, but during the past few months I’d caught on quick that the woman had the same flare for drama as a grifter on the Vegas strip. It was part of her m.o., how she moved people around in this town like her personal pieces on a chess board. She was the queen, and this town was the board.

  It seemed I was her rook.

  “You’ll come, of course, won’t you, Ava dear?”

  She’d asked just a few days after I’d kicked Dario out of my bakery. Mrs. C. caught me trying to hurry past the restaurant with her husband holding a small crate of wine in his thick hands.

  “Say yes, I’ll be upset if you don’t.” Her warning came with a smile and the squeeze of her fingers against my hand as she held it.

  “Bella, you may as well agree,” Mr. Carelli said. “You’re new to town, so I’ll let you in on a secret.”

  “What’s that?”

  The han
dsome older man had a gleam in his dark eyes that reminded me of the same look Dario gave me anytime we verbally sparred.

  “My wife always gets her way.” He shot me a wink when his woman pretended to be insulted. “Always,” he said.

  “You’re so thin,” she told me, exaggerating as always. I wasn’t thin. Not anymore, thank God. “And I know you have no people here in town. Angelica told me.”

  “Did she?” I made a mental note to chew out the woman on Monday.

  “Oh, don’t be mad at her. She worries, like I do.” Mrs. Carelli’s grip eased as she patted the top of my hand. “Humor an old woman and let me feed you, and I’ll introduce you to everyone you haven’t met.”

  She had no reaction when I widened my eyes, realizing what she was saying. “So, everyone in town will be there?”

  “Of course. It’s dinner.”

  But as I walked toward the restaurant tonight, spotting the small crowds converged under the patio and around the side of the building, the fear that pulsed in my chest had nothing to do with the townsfolk who’d watch every move I made. My free baskets hadn’t quite alleviated all the damage that bad review had stirred, but I wasn’t worried about the people who didn’t like me.

  It was Dario and his brooding, angry expression the moment I walked inside that had me second-guessing the wisdom in taking up the Carellis on their invite.

  “Ah, Ava…” his mother said, automatically engulfing me in her arms as her husband took my sweater.

  Over her shoulder, I spotted Dario’s expression—the way he dropped the relaxed, satisfied look on his face as he sipped on a drink, keeping that tumbler to his lips until he spotted me.

  Then, everything changed. His demeanor, the way he held himself. The anger was present, raw, and there was only a half a second of hesitation before his face twitched and he stood looking ready to scream and get me as far from his family as possible.

  “Come, I’ll introduce you to everyone…” Mrs. Carelli led me deeper into the room, throwing so many names at me I had no hope of remembering even one.

  “And my sister, Maria, of course…”