Page 22 of Only For Your Touch
“What can we do for you?” Sasha repeated his question, though the yawning pit in his chest warned him of their purpose.
“You haven’t said, but we know Corrine has been coming here the past couple of nights, and her friend Tara told us she met you the first night they came,” Gianni replied, slipping his hands inside his pants pockets. “Since Corrine’s our baby sister, we decided to come by and meet the man she’s been seeing.” He turned, surveying the club, the packed bar, and the crowded dance floor. “I can’t believe you’re this packed on a Sunday night.” When he returned his attention to Sasha, a shrewd gleam had entered his gaze. “Seeing what you have here, we’re interested in investing in good businesses. I think we could all make money here.”
“No,” Sasha stated, voice flat, final. “We have three partners in this club. That’s all we need—or want.”
“You sure you don’t want to consider our offer?” Marco bristled. “You’d be smart to take some time and think it over carefully.”
“Is that a threat?” Killian growled, unfolding from his lean against the bar.
“No threats,” Gianni assured them, but the glint in his eyes belied the conciliatory note in his voice. “Just an offer. Like I said, I think a partnership could be beneficial to all of us.”
“Let’s cut the bullshit,” Sasha snapped, dropping all pretense of civility as well as his drink on the bar top. “We’re legit, mob-free, and we intend to stay that way. And before you think about issuing anynon-threats”—he sneered, curling his lip—“understand this. You don’t want to fuck with us. You don’t want this war you’re on the edge of starting. Do your homework next time before you roll up on somebody thinking to punk them. Jamie Hughes. Darry Ward. The O’Bannon gang.” He let the names of the feared Irish mob’s boss and head enforcer sink in. Yeah, he was bluffing by tossing out the names of their former associates; they’d cut ties with the O’Bannons, but Corrine’s brothers didn’t know that. And he caught the paling of Gianni’s face and the slight widening of Marco’s eyes, though they both tried to cover it. “Yeah. I think the Salvaggi family has enough shit on their plate without adding going to war with the Irish mob to it.”
Tension thrummed between them, but Sasha and Killian had won this round. All of them knew it.
“What about our sister, asshole?” Marco demanded. “You fucking her?”
In one step, Sasha cleared the space between him and the younger Salvaggi. “You really want to watch how you talk about her with me,” he murmured. “Last time I checked, she was twenty-four, and whatever is between her and me is just that—between us. And none of your fucking business.Capisce?”
“Let’s go, Marco.” Gianni stepped back and grabbed his brother’s shoulder. The two men backpedaled several steps before disappearing into the crowd.
“I’m on them. I’ll make sure they find the exit. With a full understanding not to bring their asses back in here,” Killian promised and strode forward, stalking Corrine’s brothers.
What had Sasha done?
Placed his friends, their club, their chance at redemption, directly in the greedy line of fire of another mob family. Exactly what he’d feared would happen.
“Fuck.” Sasha scrubbed a hand over his head, closed his eyes. “Just…fuck,” he whispered.
…
Corrine slowed the again borrowed Escalade and pulled up in front of the back entrance of Lick. Anticipation and excitement snapped through her like a live current. She glanced up at the imposing warehouse, studying the upper level with its black-out windows. From the outside, it didn’t look like much. But on the inside… A hum of burgeoning desire set up inside her, readying her for tonight. What would it hold? What new sexual boundary would she cross tonight? Not that it mattered. As long as she was with Sasha, it didn’t matter.
Sasha.
Memories from the previous night rolled through her head, and she treasured each image. Wished she could pluck them out of her head and trace her fingers over them like a photograph. Last night had been special. Life-changing. At least for her.
Along with pleasure, sexual freedom, and confidence, and power in her femininity, Sasha had given her something even more precious—a semblance of peace about her father and her conflicted feelings for him. And he’d also gifted her with a glimpse into him, an honor she doubted many people received. A softer emotion—one shesowasn’t ready to analyze or label—slid through her veins, warming her and mingling with the simmering arousal, amplifying it.
Three nights ago, Sasha had made her burn hotter than anyone before him. Now he consumed her thoughts as well as her body. He caused her heart to pound as well as her sex to ache. The lover had introduced her to an ecstasy that defied description. And the man…the man had her wishing for more than secret meetings, masks, and closed doors.
Impossible… Or was it?
Sasha had trusted her with a private piece of him. What they’d shared—especially this last night—had been special, more than sex. God, she wanted it to be.
Maybe…just maybe… The acrid flavor of fear filled her mouth. What if he rejected her? He’d been adamant about their arrangement being temporary—and so had she. But she’d changed her mind. Still, what if all he wanted was a fuck buddy?
Did she have the courage to find out?
Yes, she did. Because by the end of this night she would know one of two things: He didn’t want her as anything more than a fuck buddy, and she was in way too deep…and it was her job to shovel herself out. Or, Sasha foresaw a future for them, and he would give her what she wanted…him outside of The Loft.
Her belly somersaulted, the nerves playing havoc with her.
A valet appeared at her door, disrupting her spiral into panic. Forcing a smile at the middle-aged man who looked more like a boxer with his muscled body and bullish face, she stepped out of the borrowed Escalade and handed over the keys.
“Jake, hold up.” Sasha appeared under the awning, the door open. “Wait for a few minutes.”
The valet nodded, shutting the car door. Confused, she glanced from him to Sasha, a sliver of worry and uncertainty wriggling under her skin.
