Page 48 of Bittersweet Endings
“My bad. Yourpuppywants to know if you’re coming to the club after dinner. I said yes, because my baby sister wasn’t hiding from…”
Anoomphsounded, and I could hear Rocco dragging Marco away.
Lost in a fog, I wandered into the bathroom and started the shower. As the steam rose, I stripped naked and stared at myselfin the mirror. Running my hands over my skin while tracing the once-hideous scars, I was startled by the commotion outside the door.
Then it opened. Carmine slipped inside, closing it behind him before pressing his back to it. “Fuck,” he groaned. “Look at you. My little doll isn’t hiding anymore.”
“You’re the one who taught me I was strong…”
I didn’t finish, because he lunged forward. Lifting me onto the sink and tearing off his shirt. This was my favorite version of him. Jeans, boots, and a flannel. Tattoos on display. And a savage hunger that burned straight through my veins.
Our lips collided and we devoured each other as he continued to strip. My legs wrapped around him as he carried me into the shower. His hands and mouth were everywhere, claiming and worshiping.
Somewhere deep inside, I’d known he’d find me. That he’dfeelme here, in his city. That I’d never really escape him. A moan slipped from my throat as my body tightened around his fingers.
Sucking his neck, I panted, “How’d you get in here?”
“Please. You fuckin’ belong to me,” he growled. “You can’t get away from me, little doll. I own this tight body, perfectly scarred and battered to take a beast like me.”
“Carmine, I need to c?—”
He bit into my neck and my body twisted, muscles tensing as stars danced in my vision. “Come for me, baby,” Carmine whispered, staring down at me.
A knock interrupted us. “Tave! I’m running down to the hotel bar. When you’re ready, come down with yourpuppy!” Marco shouted, and Rocco cursed in the background.
Blinking several times, I sighed and pulled my fingers out of myself. The aftershocks of my orgasm made my knees weak, butI was weaker for my affection for Carmine. Even when he wasn’t here, he was somehowhere. In my mind.
He owned my pleasure.
I went through the motions of getting ready and waited for Rocco to clear the hall and elevator before leaving with him.
The hotel bar was filled with men in suits, a little buzzed and loud during happy hour. Marco was flirting with a waitress and bartender. They were laughing at something he said but frowned when he stood up and ignored them.
He looked me up and down. “I thought the agenda said dinner and then right to the club.”
“It does.” I dropped my clutch on the spare chair, asking the bartender for a drink. “Whatever mybrotheris having.”
Her disposition immediately changed.
“No. I refuse.” Marco kept staring at me. “A blazer… a bun? Thought my new sister was a bad bitch…”
I sighed, pulled the band from my head, and my curly locks fell around me. Then I shrugged off my jacket to reveal the backless black dress underneath.
“Put that on my tab,” a man behind me said.
Another added, “No, no. I got it.”
“No thank you,” I replied, taking the drink. “My brother is buying. Everything.”
“I’ll shut up and happily get you drunk. That dress is much better.” Marco lifted his glass to me. “To a good night.”
We finished our drinks and made our way to the car. Sitting in Los Angeles traffic, I worked on my cell as Marco scrolled through videos on his phone. Before I knew it, my security team was whisking us inside the restaurant while ignoring the flashing cameras outside. The way they shouted my name shocked me. I had no clue how they knew who I was. But I wasn’t surprisedthey knew Marco. His infamous flings with stars would make their way to the west.
Whore.
We headed to the back of the restaurant, straight into a private room. Sybil stood from the table and my brother paused, making me cringe because I forgot to have a conversation with him about hitting on her.
Sybil was taller than I was, with long straight brown hair and matching brown eyes. Her black dress complemented her killer heels and her disposition made it clear she wasn’t here to play. When Marco showed his cards, seductively kissing her hand, she rolled her eyes.
