Bennett Mafia
Chapter 50 - BENNETT MAFIA

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

I woke and rolled over. It was still dark outside.

Kai sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me, his elbows resting on his knees. I sat up, scooting over to slip my legs around both sides of him. He tensed at first, then relaxed as I rested my cheek to his back, breathing him in.

He caught one of my hands, tugging it to his chest. "Do you regret anything?" he asked, his back rumbling with the question.

I held still a moment. He was asking so much.

"No." I relaxed. I squeezed his hand. "Not one thing."

He raised our hands, pressing a kiss to them. "Good." Instead of turning to me, he reached behind him and dragged me around to straddle his lap. I raised my arms, resting them on his shoulders. I grinned at him, easing back to take in his entire face.

His hair was tousled. I could see soft lines of tiredness around his mouth, but his eyes were alert. Awake. He reached up, his fingers sliding to cup the back of my head.

He drew me close, my forehead touching his. "You're here now."

"I'm here now."

"I have things to do here."

"I know." My hand twitched. He felt it, raising his eyebrows.

"Will you be okay with that?"

"I came to see my father." But there was more. I'd come for him too. I just didn't know it until I got here.

He nodded, his fingers tracing my sides. "I want to remove your father from his company." He paused, observing me intently. "And I want you to replace him."

I leaned farther back to really take him in.

There was a guardedness, a resigned expression behind his eyes-as if he was warning me, but also waiting for...something. I didn't know what.

"Okay?" I asked.

"Are you willing to do that? I can have someone replace you, if you want. If you're willing to help me."

I grinned. "We're back to the original proposition then?"

His grin was rueful, but ominous at the same time. "You came here of your own volition. I won't send you away. I'll only make you do something if it's for your safety. That's it. I promise." He looked me over. "I don't promise often." My mouth was suddenly parched. "Okay. I mean..." I licked my lips. "Yes. I'll do what I can."

"I need to remove your father from the Bello Company, and I'll put you in his place. If you stay, it's up to you. It can be real, or it can be for show. I can have Tanner come down to act as your spokesman. That's all up to you." Why was he telling me this?

What else was going to happen?

But I nodded. "I'll do it."

And as soon as I said those words, the butterflies were back, and this time they had steel-edged wings. That meant so many things: I would reveal myself as not being dead to the public. I would have to face my father. It had been a nightmare for half my life, a revenge-filled dream, a goal, and now I gulped a reality. A whole tornado kicked up inside of me. "What about my cousin?" I asked.

Kai shook his head, closing his eyes and tugging me against him. I looked into his eyes, seemingly closer to him than I'd ever been before. He wasn't guarded now. He seemed to be seeking comfort in me, in my embrace. Some of the tornado lessened.

He moved to kiss my neck and breathed out, "She won't be a problem."

I tipped back, a finger under his chin as I raised his face. "Why not?"

A shudder went through his chest. He gripped my hand and held it between my breasts, his thumb sneaking out to graze one. "Because she's a non-factor. She's not his daughter. She's not related to him by blood at all. She is his mistress. That's it."

"Not girlfriend?"

"Mistress is more appropriate. Trust me." His gaze hardened. "She doesn't matter to him, not after he sees you again."

"Is she the only one who might have a claim to his position, though?"

"Only if they were married. They're not. I checked."

"I thought they were engaged."

"An engagement doesn't beat out a daughter. And when you're presented to him, he'll champion you. I promise."

The dark shivers I'd begun to equate with Kai went down my spine again. He was planning something, but this time, I wasn't on the other side. This time, I knew I needed to trust him. "Okay."

"Okay?" His grin showed, becoming infectious.

Those damn dimples too.

I laughed, shaking my head. "You look like a little boy who got his favorite piece of candy."

His eyes darkened. "Because I did." He hardened beneath me and leaned forward, his eyes holding mine until I felt his lips on my throat. They were now commanding, and the throb within me burst into a full-fledged fire.

My breathing quickened, along with my pulse, and I tipped my head back as his mouth began to explore. Down. Down. Nuzzling between my breasts, then sweeping over to take one nipple into his mouth. His tongue wrapped around me, kissing me, tasting.

A full body sigh left me, and slowly, inch-by-inch, he lowered me back to lie on his legs. My head came to rest just over his knees. I was stretched out for his feasting, and as he released one breast, he moved to the other. He took his time, making my entire body clench, tremble, and tighten, only for him to do it all over again.

He moved farther down.

Farther.

All the way until I felt his lips on my clit.

He was bent almost in half, and his tongue pushed inside.

I gasped, sensations coursing through me, setting everything on end.

He kissed and sucked, thrusting his tongue in, then licking, while his fingers rubbed over me. It wasn't long before I was gasping, air caught in my throat, and I exploded for him.

A few moments later I still wanted him, but that had mixed with a languid contentment. Every bone in my body melted as he readjusted us, laying me on my back and moving between my legs. He crawled up, holding himself above me, his muscles rock hard, and then he pushed inside. He watched me the whole time.

Dark. Delicious. Desire.

All of it rolled together as he moved inside of me. This was different than before. This was a meeting of the souls. He was tugging me farther into his world.

A tremor wound up inside of me, like a snake, and once it worked itself all the way to the top of my head, I exploded once more.

He was right behind me, falling over me, his body quaking and trembling with his release.

I lie beside him as his heartbeat slowed to match mine.

He ran a hand down my side as he eased out of me. I couldn't form a thought or even a word. We had started to fall asleep when there was a shuffle of feet outside my door.

"I say, this is my house. My business," a sharp voice protested. "You let me in there. I need to check on my customer. It's my right!"

A low male voice spoke to her.

"I said what I said! I ain't moving."

Another shuffle of feet and a soft, reluctant knock on the door.

Kai tensed for a second before pushing up. "Hold on."

He jumped out of bed, moving with ease and athleticism. Flashing me an apologetic look, he dressed and moved to the door.

He opened it, and I sat up in bed, tugging the sheet to cover me.

His guards were there. And I was able to get a glimpse of the B&B's owner.

"Ma'am."

I almost snorted. That word coming from Kai was a new one. He said something more, shutting the door so I couldn't hear the rest.

"I want to see for myself," the owner said after a moment.

Swallowing my amusement, I climbed out of bed. It was time to go anyway. We'd stayed in this cocoon for as long as we could. Her presence just brought the inevitable. I hurried to dress and wash up, grabbing the little I had pulled out of my bags and stuffing it back in. I gazed around the room, still hearing the owner arguing with Kai.

I snagged what he'd left behind, but it wasn't much.

I went to the door.

"-assure you, I—" Kai stopped when I opened it.

The guard moved aside.

Kai took in my bags and nodded behind me. That guard slipped inside, and I knew he was clearing the room, making sure nothing was left behind.

"Mrs. Gambles." I had a wide smile on my face and held out my hand. "Thank you for letting me stay." I nodded toward Kai. "But you can see it's probably time to go."

She looked over the crowd of men in her hallway.

"You in trouble? Why are all these strange men here?"

"Everything's fine. I promise. I paid for the night, yes?"

"You did." Her tone was still untrusting. "I won't hesitate to call the police, you know." She stared hard at Kai.

"No! No." I took Kai's hand. "We're good. Thank you."

Kai glared at her, seeming a bit bewildered.

I tugged him behind me as I started down the hall, the guards jumping into action. They led the way, two falling in behind us, and I was even more mortified when I saw some of the other customers standing in the living room, their mouths gaping at the whole show. Three SUVs were parked on the curb, waiting for us as we left the house. As we approached, the door opened on the one in the back.

I went in first, Kai's hand on the small of my back to guide me.

We waited for the last of the guards. A minute later, he came out and got into the front seat of our SUV. He twisted around, holding out what I'd completely forgotten. My gun box.

My stomach sank.