47

Joey
Damn. It seems Al was right to keep Sophie on his radar. She hasn’t let it go. Not in the slightest. I get that it’s hard to grieve when you don’t have answers or a body. I assume it also made it easy to blame the Family.
If all she needs is closure, I want to give that to her. But it’s hard when the actual facts might be more incendiary than not knowing.
She melts a bit when I try to distract her with seduction. “I suppose you’re going to demand a do-over on this date.”
“Yeah, I definitely get a do-over.” I wink.
I do appreciate that she got real with me. I want to take away the pain of her father’s death, same as I had that day at his funeral when I took her to the beach.
I hadn’t been attracted to her thenshe was just a teenbut I’d been drawn to her. I’d watched her dad die a needless death. Had heard his last words begging us to take care of his girls. So when I saw her trying to escape the funeral, I helped her.
I can’t tell her what happened. Of course, I can’t. But I do wish I could give her peace. I didn’t realize she was still so broken up about it. So unresolved.
My phone rings, and I give an inward curse when I look at the screen. It’s Pauly. Another man who heard Artie Palazzo’s last words. “What’s up?”
“You at your place? A friend of ours got picked up tonight, and I’m short ten grand to post bail.”
“No, I’m on a date, Pauly.”
“Oh really? No kiddin’. Who with?”
I glance at Sophie and give her an apologetic look. “None of your business.”
“Does that mean I know her? Come on, tell me who.”
“Sophie Palazzo.”
Pauly takes a beat. “No shit?” There’s a slightly wary note to his voice. Understandably.
“Yeah.”
“How’d that happen?”
“Can we talk about it later?”
“Oh yeah, right. What about the cash?”
“Hit up Al, or I can get it to you in the morning. This is not my emergency.”
“Yeah, fuck you.”
“Fuck you, too.” I end the call. “That was Pauly,” I explain since Sophie knows him. “Sorry for the interruption.”
We walk a little further, but Sophie’s steps slow. “Well, I feel stupid now, but my feet are killing me.”
I glance down at her strappy heels. “I’m sorry, I should have realized.” I swing her up into my arms, chuckling when she lets out a little shriek.
“Ack! Put me down, I’m too heavy!”
I enjoy the feeling of her in my arms. She’s soft and slight. Her hair smells faintly of citrus. “You’re not too heavy, and I’m not putting you down.” I turn to walk back in the direction of my car.
She squirms in my arms, but I can tell she loves it. “You’re showing off.”
“Yes,” I murmur, enjoying the honeysuckle scent at her pulse and the view of her cleavage.
“You’re looking down my shirt, aren’t you?”
“Paybacks are hell.”
“What’s this payback for?”
“Your little massage torture game.”
“Oh yeah, that.”
“Yeah, that.”
I carry her back to my car and set her down to open the passenger door. “All right, bella. Back to your place? Are you through with me for the night?”
“Yes, please,” she murmurs to my disappointment but not surprise.
I start the car and pull out, navigating my way to her townhouse.
“So, what, are you a capo now?”
I send her an amused glance. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll let you quiz me about my job right after you let me strip-search you for a wire.”
She snorts.
When we get to her place, I jump out to open her door and swing her up into my arms again.
“Jesus, Joey!” she protests, but there’s a giggle in her voice. “You just want me to tell all my friends you swept me off my feet, don’t you?”
I want you to tell them I fucked you so hard you forgot your own name.
The idea of her telling her friends anything about me turns me on. “What are you going to tell your friends?”
“I’m going to tell them-” she breaks off abruptly, and I have the feeling it’s because it’s not all positive.
“What? That some Made Man took you out and manhandled you?”
“Shut up,” she says, but I can tell by the way her gaze darts away I’m close to the truth. I walk her to the door and take her keys, refusing to put her down until we’re inside.
I look around. I missed inspecting the place when I picked her up because I was too busy inspecting her. It’s small but comfortable-filled with plants and colorful artwork. She pulls off her shoes and drops them against the wall by the door.
“What bothers you about me, anyway?” I push, staying in her personal space.
Her cheeks flush as she looks up. “You’re just too much man for me, that’s all. I couldn’t handle you.”
I cradle her face with one hand, running my thumb over her cheekbone. “You handled me just fine yesterday.”
Her eyes dilate.
I lower my gaze and bring the back of my forefinger to the place her nipple protrudes through her bra and blouse and rub over it.
She sucks in her breath but doesn’t pull away. I trace a fingertip up her throat and under her chin, watching as her head falls backward. I cup her nape and lower my head, moving slowly to kiss her throat, giving her ample time to refuse it, if she chooses.
She doesn’t. I can see her frantic pulse beating under her jawline, and I brush my lips there first, traveling lower to nip at her neck and still lower to kiss her collarbone.
“Sophie.” I run my hands down her back and squeeze her shapely ass. “I’ll be gentle this time…unless you like it rough.”
“No,” she gasps, leaning into me, her body pressing against mine as her head falls further back and her arms clutch my shoulders.
“No to which part?” I knead her ass with one hand while the other returns to the back of her neck as I nibble at her ear, kissing along her jaw, and suckling her neck. She moans and grasps my head, pulling my mouth toward hers. My cock goes rock hard at the invitation. I claim her mouth, sucking her lower lip between my teeth, pulling her against my body. She shocks me by climbing onto me, lifting one knee to my waist for me to catch, then mounting me with both legs around my waist, never releasing the kiss.
I slide my forearm under her ass and walk down her hallway in search of the bedroom. I find it easily and don’t bother with the lights. The moment I put her down, she pulls off her clothes, so I unbutton my shirt and tear it off. Her hands on my zipper throw me over the edge, and I pick her up by the waist and toss her onto the bed, pouncing on her the moment she lands.
“Joey!” she gasps.
The sound of my name on her lips makes me shudder with pleasure. I flick my tongue over her erect nipple while pinching the other between two fingers. She arches into me, wriggling her hips and wrapping one long leg around my waist.
I want to slow down. To give it to her with more finesse this time. To stop and enjoy the moment. But the chemistry between us is off the charts. I’m already feverish with lust. To distract myself and make sure it’s good for her, I part her thighs, licking into the succulent folds of her pussy.
She winds her fingers in my hair and pulls. “Oh God!”
I swirl my tongue around her clit before penetrating her with it and pulling back to flick her sensitive folds. I slide two fingers inside her, curling them to feel her inner wall, searching for her g-spot. Bingo. The little button of tissue stiffens and wrinkles under my fingers, and she cries out, squirming frantically.
When I pump my fingers in and out, she bucks up from the bed and screams, her core clenching around my fingers and her legs clamping around my shoulders. “That’s it, bella. Come all over my fingers.”
She squeezes some more, her soft belly shuddering with her release. I ease my fingers out and kiss her inner thigh. Her face is flushed, her hair wild around her head.
“You’re beautiful when you come.”
She laughs and blinks at me like she can’t believe what just happened.
I finish kicking off my clothes, find a condom, and climb over her. “Now I want to see what you look like when you come all over my dick.”