Detonate: A Dark Mafia Romance (Beneath The Mask Series Book 2)
Detonate: Chapter 14

We ride over to his penthouse in silence.

I steal a glance at him. Shit, even the way he drives, those veins popping out of his forearms as he clutches the steering wheel… I lick my lips.

“Admiring the view, Sunshine?”

“No,” I lie, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth.

His large hand smacks down onto my thigh, grabbing it tight.

“Are you lying to me?”

“N-no,” I squeak.

“You, Sweetheart, are a horrendous liar.”

We pull into his building and he parks. As I’m about to exit, he rounds over the car and bends down and scoops me up, flinging me over his shoulder, his hand firmly gripping my ass.

“Really, Grayson, it’s about ten footsteps to the elevator.” I roll my eyes.

“I saw you yawning, I’m conserving your energy. Now, don’t be mad, I took the liberty of buying you a few supplies to keep here, like women’s products.”

“That’s sweet, thank you.”

After the quick elevator ride, we enter his apartment, not even stopping as he takes us straight into the bedroom. Darkness envelops us. He places me on his soft bed. Stretching my arms above my head, my eyes flutter closed. His knuckles graze my cheek, and I melt against the softness of his touch. As soon as he removes his hand, I feel empty. He turns the bedside lamp on, and a warm light fills the room. Standing up, I unzip my dress and let it fall to the floor. Grayson’s eyes never leave my exposed breasts. He scans my entire body until his hungry eyes meet mine. My eyes inevitably zone in on the erection straining against his pants. The way he eats me up gives me confidence.

I flick off my heels. He cocks his brow as they tumble across the floor. If I had to guess, he hates mess. Everything around him, even down to his clothing, his stubble, is immaculate. And here I am, throwing my shit around the place like I live here.

I pad over to him, rising up onto my tiptoes, rubbing my body up against his clothed frame. My body tingles with desire. I nip at his bottom lip and he groans. I trail my tongue along his sharp jawline, his stubble tickling my tongue. “Touch me,” I purr in his ear, and he stiffens against me.

Running my hand up his body, I start undoing each button, starting from the top and working my way down. My fingertips graze his rock-hard abs on my descent. His breath hitches as I reach the buckle of his belt and unclasp it. Stepping back, he shrugs off his suit jacket and shirt, leaving me drooling over his defined body. I frown as he sits on the edge of the bed, his pants still on, legs sprawled out.

He taps his thigh. “Sit.”

Desire floods straight to my core as I close the distance between us. Hoisting my leg over his to straddle his thigh, my wet pussy throbs against his smooth suit pants. I start to grind my hips against him, moving in slow movements, the friction from the fabric hitting the right spot. He cups my breast, and I arch my back, giving him better access. He takes my nipple in his mouth, his teeth biting into my sensitive flesh. The pain only accelerates the pleasure rippling through me. He switches between licking, kissing, and biting.

“More, Grayson,” I moan.

“You’re soaking my pants, Sunshine. Absolutely fucking drenched for me.”

I search for his dick, but he snatches my forearm to stop me. “You don’t get to touch. Not yet.”

“What, why?” I whine like a complete needy bitch. But I don’t care, I need him.

With a final suck on my nipple, he removes his mouth. “On all fours and grab the headboard.” His deep voice sends shockwaves straight to my pussy. Jesus, this man and his mouth.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I shuffle off his lap and crawl around him, gripping onto the leather headboard with shaky hands. I suck in a breath as he swiftly removes his pants, finally freeing his cock. He stalks toward the bed, which dips as he climbs on, positioning himself behind me.

“Fuck, Sunshine,” he mutters. I jolt as his tongue connects to my clit as he starts to make small circular motions whilst his fingers trail up the inside of my thigh toward my pussy. His fingers slam into my entrance.

“Oh God, Grayson,” I pant, my chest heaving. My hips buck on their own accord, meeting his rhythm, as he continues to lick and suck. My body sags as he removes his fingers, only to trace them around my back entrance. My pussy convulses around his mouth. I inch my hips back, and he inserts a finger. I quickly get over the alien feeling, which is replaced by euphoric pleasure.

“I can’t wait to stick my cock in this tight hole.”

“Mmm, yes.”

He ups the pace, his tongue now lapping me up. “I’m so close, Grayson.” The burning sensation from one end, mixed with the delicate motion in my pussy, is tipping me over the edge. My legs start to tremble as I dip my shoulders toward the pillows.

“Keep those hands on the headboard.”

“Grayson, please, please just fuck me.” I can’t take it anymore. Before I can ask again, he’s removed himself from me and is rubbing his cock along my slit.

“More, Grayson.”

“Jesus,” he hisses, then slams into me. The headboard bangs against the wall. His palm connects with my ass cheek with a slap, while his other hand grips so tightly.

“Grayson!” I shriek, my lungs now burning. The second his hand connects to the same spot again, I lose it. I come so hard; stars fill my vision. I can about make out the cursing coming from Grayson over the ringing in my ears. With a few final thrusts, he reaches his own climax, roaring out my name and draping his sweaty body over mine.

“Holy fuck, Sunshine.”

He presses a light kiss at the center of my spine before rolling off me. I collapse onto the bed, squashing my face into the plush pillow.

As my breath returns to normal, Grayson clambers over me. I tip my head to the side, and he spreads my legs, warm liquid spilling down the inside of my thighs.

His finger trails up my leg, wiping up his cum from my skin. He slides his fingers inside me and leans over. “My cum stays where it belongs—inside you.”

Holy. Fuck.

“Mmm, that feels nice,” I whisper.

“Tomorrow, Sunshine. Don’t worry. Now, we need to sleep,” he says, stroking the hair out of my face. He pulls back the duvet and tucks me in, snuggling into me. He snakes his arm under my pillow, and I use his chest as my own. The rise and fall of his chest bring me comfort.

“Good night, Grayson,” I say. He gives me a soft kiss on my forehead. The kiss is something a loving boyfriend would do. Not a fuck-buddy.

“Sweet dreams, Baby.” I give him one last peck and nuzzle my head into his chest. His strong arm tightens around my waist, and I drift off to sleep.

I blink a few times to unblur my vision. Lifting my head off Grayson’s chest, I prop up on my elbow. Dark ink covers both of his pecs and all the way down his arms. I trace my fingers along them, picking out what I can. A lot of it seems tribal as I trace my way up his bicep. I stop on a date. 08/22/2015. Hmm, seven years ago… Shit, does he have a kid? I mean, not that it is any of my concern. But it kinda would be nice to know.

His cough startles me. I turn to replace him staring at me, with puffy eyes and one eyebrow cocked up.

“Morning, Gorgeous,” he says in a rough tone.

“Good morning.”

“Question…” Unable to help myself, I start, intrigue getting the better of me.

“It’s a bit early for that, but shoot.”

“This date—2015. What’s that for?”

He squeezes his eyes shut.

“Fuck, it really is too early for that.” He chuckles awkwardly.

“Hey, it’s ok. Maybe another time. You don’t have to spill your life to me, Grayson. I’m not really anyone to you.”

His large hand covers mine, stopping me from tracing the tattoo.

“It’s the date my best friend, Casper, was killed in action.”

Shit.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry.” I squeeze his hand, and he gives me a sad smile and sighs.

“It’s ok, Sunshine. That was also the date I found out my best friend had been fucking my wife.”

Holy fuck.

“I-I don’t know what to say. That is awful.” I slip my hand from underneath his and cup his cheek.

“They never deserved you, Grayson.”

The realization dawns on me as to why he’s so against relationships.

Stroking his face with my thumb, I press my lips against his. I close my eyes and kiss him with everything I have, wanting to kiss the pain away. To prove to him that not everyone would stamp on his heart like that.

He breaks the kiss, his eyes searching mine.

“You know you’re special to me, right, Sunshine? You aren’t just ‘anyone.’ You’re quickly becoming everything.”

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my lips, and that’s enough to make my cheeks hurt. He’s everything I want. I’ve never felt this connection with anyone else before in my life. As I stare into his eyes, taking in this beautiful man in front of me, my smile quickly slips as my brain churns.

Why couldn’t this happen with anyone else but him? The man who can’t make my dreams come true. He doesn’t need fixing. Love isn’t going to change him and pull him out of the darkness. He thrives there. Can I let him pull me in to his world?

“Hey.” He tips my chin up. “I lost you for a second there. What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

“N-nothing.”

“You really think I can’t tell when you’re lying to me? I’ve studied you long enough now to know pretty much everything about you,” he growls, rolling over the top of me, grabbing my wrists above my head with his hands.

I’m at a loss for words.

“Come on, Maddie. Tell me what’s the matter?” He pouts, giving me a devilish smirk as he starts to slowly grind up against me.

“Not fair, Grayson,” I whine, tipping my head back. He takes that as an opportunity to suck on the sensitive skin of my throat. I moan the instant his lips connect with mine.

“You can’t have my cock until you tell me.”

“You fucker.” I try to wriggle out of his grip, but that only rubs his cock harder against me. Desire fills me.

“Sunshine, you know you want it.” There’s a playful tone to his voice, which makes me smile.

“Fine,” I huff.

“I’m confused how we got here, how I feel about you. I’m scared of what this actually is between us. We want two completely different things out of life, Grayson. But we’re so perfect for each other. It’s like life sent you to me as a cruel twist of fate.” I sigh, avoiding his eyes.

Even though we’d texted a few times and had calls last week, I missed him. All I wanted was to cuddle up in his arms.

“People change all the time, Sunshine. We need to do some thinking.” It’s his turn to sigh as he brings his forehead to mine.

“But—”

“I’m not giving this up. I want you. I know that much will never change. It hasn’t from the first time I set my eyes on you. So, we work this out… together.”

Maybe… just maybe he’s right.

“Who knew you were so philosophical, Mr. Ward.”

“Mmm, you can call me that again,” he rasps, closing his eyes.

This is the first time I have ever seen him look carefree. That darkness behind them is gone.

“Do you have plans this weekend?” he asks.

“Nope.”

“Stay here with me? I want you all to myself for the whole weekend.”

When I nod, he beams.