Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
I didn’t know how to compute this information. The very concept of ghosts and life after death intrigued and scared the shit out of me. I hadn’t considered this information before, which was foolish since I had always felt that death was not the end of life.
Of course, my own death had been on my mind all my life and what would happen afterwards.
Ghosts?
However, this talk of ghosts proved that death was not the end. That was at least comforting, but also scary at the same time.
She came closer to me. “You really believe me? Don’t you?”
I turned to her. “Of course I do. They whispered my name.”
She parted her mouth.
“Is that bad?”
She handed me the Bible. “They usually ignore white guests, unless. . .”
I found comfort in holding the Bible. “Unless what?”
“Unless they have plans for you.”
“And what would be the plan? Death? Haunting?”
She grinned. “They’re not that bad. They would only want to harm you if you came for us.”
I nodded. “Well, that’s not the plan.”
“Are you sure about that?” She frowned.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Never mind. We’ll talk later.” She tried to walk off.
I grabbed her arm and gently brought her back to me. “What does that mean?”
“I’m still not sure the DeLuca family has the Killer Crows’ best interests in mind.”
“We don’t.” I drew in closer to me, so close that her soft breasts pressed against my chest. “But, when you become my wife, I’ll make sure that the Killer Crows will always remain strong.”
“Wouldn’t that go against your Don?”
“Only if he wanted to end the Killer Crows.”
“And does he?”
“He doesn’t.”
“Then, what does he want?”
“Paradise.”
“The Syndicate controls this city.”
“For now.”
“And you think you’ll topple the Syndicate?”
“That’s my skill.”
“You’re talking about people that I’ve known all my life.”
“I’ll do my best to not kill them.”
Sighing, she tried to leave my hold.
I wouldn’t let her. “That doesn’t make you happy?”
“I don’t want you or your family coming here and shaking everything up.”
“Millions upon millions of dirty dollars run through this city. In the criminal underworld, Paradise is now bigger and wealthier than cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.”
She glared. “For many generations, the Syndicate and Killer Crows worked hard to get Paradise there. You’re not allowed to come through and take it.”
“Such is life.”
“Let me go.”
“No.”
She gave me sad smile. “Don’t make me hurt you, Santino.”
My cock jerked in my pants. “I would actually like it if you tried.”
11
Prisoner of Desire
Kashmere
I
should have never come in here.
Santino’s scent was everywhere, rolling and swirling like a wildfire. It clung to my skin, addictive and sexy. I couldn’t get enough of it. I felt like his captive, his prisoner of desire.
I could get addicted to just breathing him in.
I didn’t like the sudden reaction he triggered in me.
Time to go, Kashmere. All I need is for the Board to hear that I fucked him before the wedding.
“Goodnight.” Fast, I shoved Santino away, twisted his arm around, and broke my hold.
But, I wasn’t fast enough.
“Not bad.” He caught me with the other hand. “Let’s try that again.”
“We’re not trying anything.” I tried to move from him. “Let me go.”
“It’s too late for that, Kashmere.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re to be mine soon.”
“Being your wife doesn’t mean doing whatever you want.”
He pulled be close to him. “It does when it comes to the bedroom.”
“I never agreed to be your wife.”
“I never agreed to be your husband.”
“Then, you understand.”
“I don’t. Once I saw you, I trusted my Don.”
“Well. . .I still need time.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.” I struggled against his grip. “Santino, you’ll have to wait until I’m more comfortable with this idea and—”
He kissed my next words away. My mouth opened without my permission, and his mouth was soft and hungry, urgent and skilled. It was so different from our first kiss in my office. It was heated. Scorching. Insistent. Dominating. Demanding my submission and slowly devouring me.
He wrapped his huge, muscular arms around me. And my body tingled with electricity.
Fuck.
The passion between us was undeniable.
All I could do was surrender into the erotic experience of him. His warmth. The lush taste of his mouth on my lips. The sensual wet brush of his tongue. The lingering taste of his cologne. His muscular, powerful body tensed against me. His intoxicating scent filled my nostrils and stirred my stomach with the knowledge that I wanted more of him and craved his touch, his cock.
I moaned against his lips, “Santino.”
The heat of his lips felt like a thousand suns. My heart pounded against my chest, and I could feel the beat of his heart in my mouth and on my lips as he consumed me.
Then, he left my mouth and traced his tongue along my lip. It was odd. No one had ever done that.
He sucked on my lips next.
My breath caught.