Junior
I didn’t fly out to be a nice guy. That’s never me. But Tony came home to bring his mom out, so I figured I could go for the last concert, too.
Officially, Pepper Heart, Inc. finished paying off its debt to me last weekend. This last concert is a fundraiser to help rape victims. Pretty classy, considering the shit that went down with Pepper and her manager.
I still can’t believe Tony’s letting that asshole keep breathing, but I guess they say he’ll be locked up for a good long time. The police have evidence of his payment to a known hitman-deceased, killer officially unknown-as well as eyewitness accounts of him rigging the lighting to fall on Pepper, and multiple rape victims from his past coming forward after Pepper went public with her story.
I straighten my jacket and walk past security to the special box seats Tony reserved. I could’ve grabbed a pretty girl from the casino to take in on my arm. It would’ve taken no effort at all-sex is pretty much a given in Vegas. I’m not even sure why I didn’t.
It has nothing to do with Desiree, the luscious home healthcare nurse whose scent is still in my nostrils after I drove her home this morning.
And no, sadly, it wasn’t after spending a hot night tapping that juicy ass of hers. Her car wouldn’t start, and I insisted on calling a mechanic to fix it and driving her home myself.
See, she works for me. I hired her to be with my mom as she recovers from her hip surgery. She’s the fifth nurse I hired, and the only one who stuck. My mom can be a real bitch when she wants to, and who can blame her? The woman’s in pain. Anyway, Desiree has this way of giving it right back to my mom, while still taking care of her every need. Somehow, in the matter of twenty-four hours, she had my mom eating out of her hand.
If I didn’t fear I’d need her for my mom again in the future, I’d see how far she’s willing to take the personal service. See how she is at taking care of my needs.
Nico and Sondra come into the private box, along with Stefano and Corey and Tony’s mom, who I haven’t seen in years. I stand up and offer double kisses to the women, ignore my younger brothers.
“Where’s Tony?” I ask his mom.
“He’s backstage with Pepper, managing the show. Won’t let her out of his sight.” His ma is proud of him. If I weren’t wondering how the hell the toughest enforcer in the family got his balls cut off, I might think it was commendable, too. But we just lost one of our best assets to the Pepper Heart organization, so I’m a little grudging with my well-wishes.
Nico shoots me a suspicious look. He’s probably worried I’m gonna give Tony a hard time about leaving the organization. If Nico hadn’t fallen in love himself last year, he might’ve fought Tony’s request to leave. But he and Stefano are as hopelessly lost as Tony. Love has a curious habit of transforming the meanest men into something much more noble.
But I wouldn’t know.
Tony
I will never get tired of watching Pepper perform. Not if we did this every night until we’re ninety. Or I’m ninety and she’s seventy-something. My girl is a genius. And beautiful. And pure magic.
Tonight she has everyone eating out of her hand. I think there must be a special vibe at a charity event-more love going around than usual.
“Thank you, everyone,” she calls out after she finishes her song. “As you know, rape is an issue near and dear to my heart. I am a rape survivor.” The crowd rumbles, same as I do every time I think about what happened to her. “I’m here to take a stand against sexual assault. Will you join me?”
The crowd lets out ear-splitting cheers.
“One hundred percent of tonight’s proceeds go to benefit the non-profit organization Take Back the Night. I want to thank Bellissimo Hotel and Casino and the Tacone family for donating tonight’s venue and all of you for showing up and making a difference in women’s lives. Every time you stand up against sexual assault, you make the world a safer place, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
“I also want to say that I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for two really important people in my life. The first one is Izzy, my stage manager, who knows that we women have to look out for each other.”
The crowd goes wild again.
“She’s had my back from the beginning, and I can’t express how grateful I am. The other is my boyfriend, Tony.” She smiles and looks in my direction, even though the lights blind her too much to see me. “We met here, at the Bellissimo. He’s the kinda guy who would do anything for the people he loves, and I count myself very lucky to be included on that list. I wrote this song for him. I hope you all enjoy it.”
She adjusts her electric guitar and starts playing. It’s not a song I’ve heard before
All I know, is you’re the one
who always stands with me.
And all I see, is when you’re here
I never need to go.
Stick around, and I’ll sink into you
Stick around, and I’ll never let you go.
I just want to be forever, be forever,
Be forever with you
I just want to know forever, know forever,
Know forever with you.
And baby if you want forever, want forever,
Want forever with me
You just gotta bring forever, bring forever
Bring forever, bring forever
My eyes are wet. One song was enough. Then I find out she’s written more. But this one? This one is ripping me bare.
And she keeps singing, her face lit up like a goddamn angel’s, rivaling the lights shining down.
When it’s over, the crowd flips out again and she takes a bow, blowing kisses before she hangs the guitar up and jogs offstage and into my arms.
“Baby.” It’s all I can say. My throat is too rusty to work. Plus I have no words. I squeeze her tight and refuse to let go. I’m swaying back and forth with her little body engulfed in my arms. Finally, I say, “When you’re ready, I’m gonna buy you the biggest diamond on the face of the earth. And you’ll have your forever.”
“I’m ready.” She says it so simply. Without hesitation.
I want to drop to my knees out of the sheer grace of it.
“Yeah?” I choke.
“Yes. I want it all. The ring. The wedding. Babies. Songs. Tours with you as my manager. Do you think that’s possible?”
I squeeze her tighter. “Yeah, it’s fucking done. I promise. You’ll get everything you ever dreamed of.” I release her enough to capture her lips with mine, kissing her into oblivion. It goes on for a good ninety seconds before someone clears their throat.
Turns out, we have an audience. Which is good, because I’m telling everyone.
Pepper’s parents are standing there, along with my mom and Junior, Nico, Sondra, Stefano, Corey, Izzy, the Wonder Twins and the rest of the band.
“We’re getting married,” I announce.
My mom-seriously, my mom, who never calls attention to herself-whoops.
Corey and Sondra join in, and so does Izzy, and Pepper’s band mates.
“Congratulations,” Nico says, taking me in for a man hug. Stefano gives me one, too.
Junior shakes his head at me, but a smile plays on his lips. He offers his hand and when I go to shake it, he pulls me into him. “You know there’s no leaving the Family, right?”
“Yeah, we’ll always be there for each other. Right?” I pull back and look him square in the eye. It’s a challenge and he knows it.
He chuckles and thumps my shoulder. “That’s right.”
Sometimes I think Junior talks a big game but doesn’t mean any of it. Like what he did to Nico over marrying Sondra.
Pepper
My parents pull me over to the side. My dad looks pale and worried.
Crap.
I’m really not up for them giving me any shit about marrying Tony.
“Pepper, are you sure about this? This is what you want?”
“Of course it is, Tom, can’t you see how happy she is?” my mom answers for me.
My dad bobs his head. “Yeah, okay. Listen, Pepper. I just want to tell you…” He looks like he’s going to be sick. “I’m sorry about Hugh. I’m the one who pushed you into that relationship. I made a huge mistake. Huge. And it took other people-practical strangers-to save you from him, when it should’ve been me.”
Ah. I see. Dad is feeling guilty.
I squeeze his hand. “Dad, it’s okay. You didn’t know. You haven’t been on tour with me in a long time. Everything turned out all right. Hugh didn’t succeed in killing me. And now I have Tony.” I look over my shoulder and smile, knowing Tony’s gaze will meet mine, because he always keeps me in his periphery.
They do. Crinkles form around his warm brown eyes as he regards me. I never feel anything but beautiful or brilliant when he looks at me that way. And then his eyes darken, a smolder of promise there making my inner thighs clap together.
I hug Sondra and Corey and Izzy and the band and my parents while Tony finishes pumping hands and clapping backs with everyone.
“Thank you all so much,” Tony booms, cutting through the chit chat. “We want to continue to celebrate with you, so please, let’s move this party up to my suite. Help yourselves to cocktails and food and we’ll join you as soon as we wrap things up here.”
Nico helps encourage them along as Tony ushers me into the dressing room.
The place where this all started.
I turn to him, dipping a finger in my mouth. “I’m feeling a bit nostalgic about this dressing room. You know-remembering my first show here.”
Hunger transforms Tony’s face. “I’m feeling a bit nostalgic about those shorts you’re wearing.” His voice is deeper than usual. “How did this go? I think you start undressing while getting sassy with me.”
I pull my top off and rub a towel between my breasts. “Like this?”
His eyes trace my taut nipples, travel over my butterfly tattoo. “Almost. You need to tuck your thumbs in the waistband of those little shorts and-” he bites his knuckle when I do. “Yeah, that’s it. And then I come over and spin you around.” He molds his hands to my waist and makes a rumble of approval at the connection of skin to skin.
“No, I don’t think it was quite like that.” I look up with mock innocence.
His smirk tells me he knows exactly what I want. “No, it wasn’t, was it?” He captures my wrists behind my back and spins me around. This time he pulls my little shorts down to my thighs, baring my ass.
He slaps me lightly, like he’s afraid to inflict pain now that I’m his fiancée.
I wiggle my butt for more.
“What part did you like best about that night, songbird?” He spanks me again, a little harder.
I arch and push back, begging for more. He rubs his fingers between my legs. I’m sopping wet. “I liked all of it,” I admit. “It was so hot that you were really genuinely angry with me, but all you did was smack my ass. And I loved that this giant, dangerous man found me attractive enough to punish this way.” It makes no sense when I say it out loud. Maybe there’s no explaining kink.
He spanks me harder now-a real spanking like he gave me that night. The kind that leaves my butt hot and tingling.
Then I remember what really lit me on fire. “The pussy spanking.”
“What?”
“That was definitely the best part.”
He chuckles and pulls my shorts the rest of the way off so I’m completely naked. “Spread your legs, songbird.”
I spread wide-porn star wide-and Tony’s groan tells me he loves what he sees.
Slap.
His fingers connect with my lady parts and a shiver of pleasure zaps through me. “Yes,” I breathe.
He slaps again and again. It doesn’t hurt, but there’s a harshness to it, a punitive edge that sets my kite flying. “What I remember more is what didn’t happen.” Tony slaps my pussy again, but I hear the jingle of his belt buckle, the slide of fabric. “What I wanted to do.” He releases my wrists for a moment and I steal a glance at him sheathing his cock. “Clasp your elbows behind your back, songbird-that’s it. Give me a handle to hold onto.” He pushes into me, then grasps my elbows and uses them to propel me back onto his cock.
I shudder with the pleasure of it-the deliciousness of feeling used and controlled. Of pretending choice has been taken away from me. He plows into me, filling and emptying my channel, taking me roughly.
After a moment, he must grow bored with holding my elbows because he untangles them, cupping my throat instead. He uses it to pull me into an arched position, my hands braced on the counter. “Oh God, yes,” I moan, my teeth chattering with the glory of it.
“Fanculo, yes. So good,” he mutters. “I won’t last long, baby.”
“Come,” I encourage, because I want to come too, and it’s always better when he comes first. He shifts his hands again, gripping my hips and slamming his loins against my ass again and again, like another dirty spanking.
“Madonna, yes,” he roars and buries himself deep. My internal muscles contract with my release, squeezing and milking his cock. He inches out and slams in again and I come some more. A third time. Then he reaches around and taps my clit. The fluttering of my muscles renews as the orgasm is prolonged.
And then I collapse over the counter, my legs too wobbly to stand.
Tony leans over, covering my torso with his, kissing my neck and nuzzling into me. “Sweet, songbird. That’s what I wanted to do that night. Or maybe fuck your ass, since you’d mentioned it the first time you barged into my office.”
I turn my face to his. “We can practice that one before we leave tomorrow,” I murmur.
Tomorrow we leave Vegas. Tony rented us a beautiful place in Los Angeles where we’ll stay while I record the next album and then we’ll figure out where we want to live when we’re not on tour. We have time to decide. Our whole lives, actually.
Tony dresses me because I’m limp and about as useless as a rag doll and we go upstairs. To toast with the people who are most important to us. To celebrate the end of our stay here and the beginning of our new adventure.
Continue reading for the next book. I hope you’ve enjoyed this story.