I'll Do Anything (The Challenge Night Series Book 1) Page 5

  “That’s wonderful Katherine. You should be very proud.” Lorenzo's mother is the first to break the silence.

  I graduated three years ago, and being congratulated again feels strange but sort of nice.

  “Uhm, thank you. I don’t like to boast, but Lorenzo has never been shy about success of any kind.” I laugh nervously.

  The table fills with chuckles from various guests in agreement. I breathe a silent sigh of relief.

  “You got that right!” Arianna laughs so hard she has to cover her mouth.

  Our plates are taken away and replaced with a small plated portion of tiramisu. I’d only ever had it once before in college. It was good but I have never been a big dessert person. I make sure to eat at least four bites, leaving only a small piece left.

  I’m so full and it hurts to eat the few bites that I did. I’ve always been bad at eating big meals. I like to spread out my food but I know how manners work in families like Lorenzo’s. I do my best and Lorenzo doesn’t seem upset by what’s left on my plate.

  We talk and talk and talk and drink more than enough wine before we’re finally standing up from the table.

  Extended family members whose names I forget quickly are greeting me with hellos and goodbyes. I only speak Spanish with one man, Miguel. He tells me he is Lorenzo’s cousin and that it’s good to see him with someone who isn’t fully Italian. He whispers that bit after I tell him that I’m half Italian and half Mexican. My mother was born in Sicily and my father was born in Puebla. Miguel’s father is from Guadalajara. He’s mixed like me and he feels more comfortable that he isn’t the only one anymore.

  Soon it’s only a few guests remaining with us. Lorenzo’s mom Gianna left his father to talk with a few men so she rejoins Lorenzo and I. I take another sip of wine foolishly.

  “So, Katherine my dear, should I be expecting grandchildren anytime soon?” Gianna smiles hopefully.

  Oh god.

  I nearly choke on my sip and cough quietly to cover it up.

  “Mamma!” Lorenzo grumbles at her.

  “Hey! Don’t Mamma me, I have a right to know when I should start buying gifts!” Gianna laughs and crosses her arms with some sass waiting for my answer.

  I place my hand on Lorenzo’s arm with sincerity. I don’t know what I’m going to say as I do it. “I think Lorenzo will be an amazing father one day. I would love to see him taking care of a little one. I think we will wait just a few years at the most, we want to spend as much time together as we can before we take the leap.” I force myself to smile. “Do you think you could hold out a little longer?” I ask hopefully.

  “My dear, that's just the perfect answer. I would love a grand baby to spoil but not before you two spoil each other, while you are still young!” Gianna is practically crying tears of joy.

  I almost feel bad for being such a good liar.

  “I told you she was perfect.” Lorenzo pulls my head to his lips and kisses the top of it in my hair. “But we’ve had a long day, and I need to get this one home before she falls asleep standing up.” He teases me to excuse us from his mother.

  “Of course, my son.” She smiles, then hugs us both goodbye.

  Gio is sitting in the driver's seat of the Maserati SUV waiting for us when we step outside. It’s dark but the driveway is lined with fluorescent white lights.

  Lorenzo opens my door and helps me inside by my hand then makes sure my dress is all the way inside before shutting it. He slides inside his own door and Gio pulls out of the driveway slowly.

  “Did I do okay?” I ask, watching the mansion fade away through my window.

  “You did… great.” He admits. “I thought you would have tried to run away.”

  “Why would I do that? I made a deal. Anything, remember? Also, I’m not dumb enough to think that I could get away, not with the connections you seem to have. Besides, it's not like you’ve really hurt me or anything.” I roll my eyes accidentally. I don’t think he sees it though.

  “Yet.” He sighs.

  “You’re not going to.” I can’t stop myself from saying it. “You need me for some reason, I just don’t know why. Yet.”

  I’m seriously pushing my luck.

  Lorenzo laughs and my fear washes away a bit.

  “You did well. I’ll answer three questions tonight when we get home. Choose wisely.” He advises.

  I spend the rest of the ride narrowing down what three questions to ask.

  We pull into Lorenzo’s driveway and I’m anxious. I don’t know if I want the answers to the questions I’m going to ask. I don’t even know if they’ll be honest answers but I know I’m too curious not to answer them.

  Lorenzo still holds my hand to lead me to the elevator despite the fact there is no one to fool at the moment. We arrive at my bedroom’s floor and he steps out but let’s go of my hand.

  “Go get changed into pajamas. I’ll be back in ten.” He heads in the opposite direction, to the other set of doors.

  I do what he asks, mostly so that I can take off my shoes. I shut my door and take a deep breath before starting to unzip myself. I kick off my shoes and let the fabric of my dress fall to the floor, then pick it up. I throw it on the chair next to my closet door. I peel off my bra and panties next; a matching set from the wardrobe Lorenzo’s assistant bought me. I just throw them on top of the dress for now. I put my shoes back on their shelf and take my jewelry off minus the ring. Part of me wants to take it off too, it doesn’t feel right but I don’t want to be in trouble, so I don’t.

  I pick out another pair of panties, black ones that are cheeky but not a full-on thong. I choose an emerald green satin pajama set with high cut shorts and a cropped thin strapped top. I decide against a bra, the top is tight enough to act as a bralette and no one wears a bra to bed.

  I make my way to my bathroom and brush my teeth after I find an unopened toothbrush and toothpaste in my cabinet. I find a container of mouthwash and use that next. My hair is still in tamed curls that feel warm against my back. I look put together, more put together than I have in a long time.

  When I leave my bathroom, Lorenzo is sitting in the center of my bed typing on his blackberry. He’s only wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a light grey t-shirt. He looks too normal. It’s strange.

  “Hi.” I hold my arms awkwardly in front of my stomach.

  “Sit.” Lorenzo insists, patting the bed.

  I do as I’m told but I sit further from where he patted. I’m facing him with my back toward my door.

  “Question 1.” He sets his phone down in his lap.

  “Why were you trying to kill James?” It’s the key question, and we both know it.

  “God Katherine, how’d I know that was going to be the first one? No build up or anything?” Lorenzo grumbles like he is mad that he could predict my question. “James Manner and Myers Price are scum of the earth. They were caught trying to traffic in New York yesterday, that’s why they were shot. When they didn’t die on sight, my contact called me in to finish the job.”

  “Traffic?” My ears start ringing. “James was involved with sex trafficking?”

  Please don’t say yes, please don’t say yes.

  “Sort of. Price handled the women, Manner peddled cocaine. But he knew what his friend was doing.” Lorenzo is angry, his fists are in balls.

  I could swear his eyes flashed red.

  My ears feel hot to the touch when I hold the sides of my face.

  He can’t be telling the truth, can he? James wouldn’t do that… Price always got him into trouble, but not this kind of trouble. Is that where they always are? They weren’t on missions; they were selling people and drugs for money…

  Tears start streaming down my face and I can’t breathe. I can’t even think about fighting my tears, they burn in my eyes and fall out as I blink. I feel like I’m hyperventilating but I can’t hear myself breathing.

  Suddenly Lorenzo looks less angry.

  “You didn’t know?” He sighs, frowning.

/>   What? I must have misheard him.

  I shake my head and realize I haven’t misheard him, he really asked me that. “Of course, I didn’t know! Are you insane?” I hit his arm, full blown hysterical now. “You thought I knew about this and was willing to die for him? You thought I knew about this and you weren’t disgusted enough to kill me yourself?” My voice cracks.

  Tears keep coming and ragged breaths escape me. Sex trafficking quite literally makes me want to vomit; it was my last straw with Gus. I would have never been with James, had I known.

  “I didn’t know what to think. He didn’t hide it very well, but you didn’t seem like you knew. You seemed genuinely surprised when you saw me pointing a gun at him. I just needed to be sure.” Lorenzo rubs the back of his neck, like he’s in pain. “To be honest, if you knew, I was going to kill you. No matter how well you did today, it’s in the code.” He admits.

  Code?

  Somehow the assurance that Lorenzo would have killed me for my compliance made me feel relieved. The grey morality of our situation becomes less dark. He has some sort of moral compass. I wanted to throw up thinking he could look at me if I knew that my husband let his friend enslave women.

  “James is dead, isn’t he?” My tears calm as my theory forms in my mind. “That’s why you assured me I would be divorced when he wakes up. He didn’t wake up. I’m not divorced, I’m widowed.” I guess.

  I guess correctly. Lorenzo nods.

  “I paid a nurse to slip him too much morphine. He died before we made it to Italy.”

  “Why do you need to marry me? Why did you pick me? Why did you take me if we don’t have a deal?” I sit up on my knees and move closer to him.

  “That’s way over your three-question limit.” I pout at his answer. “I don’t need to marry you, but I picked you.” He sighs. “That’s all of the answers I can give you right now.”

  He starts to move to get up and I grab his hand.

  “Wait.” My mind is racing. “Don’t go.”

  “Why?” Lorenzo only asks, one word.

  “Thank you.” I blurt out.

  Lorenzo’s jaw tightens and he raises an eyebrow at me.

  “For what?”

  I think about my answer, my head spins.

  “For taking me away from him, I guess. I really didn’t know about any of it. James and I didn’t talk a lot about anything of substance after we got married. We both were always busy and just went through the motions of our relationship most of the time.” I sigh. “I feel like I need to scrub him off of my body.” I shiver in disgust. “At least I know he’s in hell now.”

  I’m babbling.

  “Um, you’re welcome.” Lorenzo starts to leave again but I don’t let go of his wrist.

  “Stay.” I pout.

  Chapter 7: Implorare

  “Why?” He asks again.

  Lorenzo’s eyes are dark and terrifying. I don’t think he likes that I’m touching his arm.

  “I don’t want you to leave.” I don’t know what I’m saying but I can’t help myself. “Please stay.”

  “I don’t sleep well with others.”

  “I didn’t ask you to sleep.”

  Did I just say that? Fuck, what am I doing? You’re just sad and lonely, stop.

  I don’t stop, I start to move my hand further up his arm. He watches my fingers trace up his tattoos softly. His free hand swipes a few pieces of hair from my face.

  “What do you want Kate?” His face is too close to mine, I can only breathe his air now. “You have to ask for it.”

  Lorenzo’s lips are inches from mine.

  “Make me forget.” I plead.

  “More specifically, use your words.” Lorenzo commands, making my skin flash hot.

  “Take my body so it can’t be his anymore. Make it yours… for now.” I beg.

  His hand goes from gently in my hair to roughly around the back of my neck. I’m pulled into his lips and my lower stomach pools with heat. I feel myself practically dripping in my panties as I shift into his arms.

  Lorenzo’s tongue claims my mouth as pathetic moans fall out of it. Both of his hands are surrounding my neck and mine are traveling along his chest to his abs. His muscles are firm and I want his shirt out of my way. I tug at it while he moves his mouth along my jawline and down to my neck. More whimpers escape me and I’m stunned by how good he feels against me.

  He’s doing what I asked, all I can think about is him. All of my other thoughts fly away. I tug at his shirt some more praying he’ll throw it off of himself soon. Instead, my top is torn off, literally torn off. My chest is exposed and I’m too hot to be embarrassed in any way. Our lips part and I’m able to catch my breath.

  Lorenzo stops and drinks me in, looking at my breasts and wetting his bottom lip. A hand clasps around my throat and I’m put on my back roughly. A small gasp comes from my mouth as his mouth starts to work on my nipples.

  “Lorenzo.” I moan his name when he bites down on my nipple too hard.

  I can’t moan too loudly with his hand around my neck so tightly but it feels too good to fight. His mouth is switching from breast to breast, biting, licking and teasing while his free hand starts to travel down past my stomach. Without warning it’s thrust under my shorts and then slips under my panties. A finger brushes against my clit. I’m squirming and my lips are whimpering.

  “Lorenzo, please.”

  I need him to stop teasing me, I can’t take it any longer. I’m desperately thirsty for him.

  “Please what?” Lorenzo teases me, stopping his attack on my beaded nipples.

  I want to growl in frustration.

  “Please fuck me.” I groan, frustrated that he’s making me speak. “Please make me come.” I cough out. His grip on my neck loosens enough for me to answer him again. “Please I need it so badly.”

  “Keep your hands above your head. If you move them, I’ll stop.” Lorenzo instructs as he lets go of my neck.

  I nod breathlessly and place my hands above my head, letting them fall to the side of my head. My shorts are pulled down and off of my body and my panties are quick to follow. Lorenzo looks at my fully nude body and smiles. My c–section scar has been dulled for years, but it still makes me nervous. Yet, the way he’s looking at me makes me not care if he sees it. He’s still fully clothed and I’m completely bare. He has all of the power.

  His lips crush back into mine and I’m enjoying every blissful taste of his mouth. A hand returns to my pussy and I gasp, leaving my mouth open enough for his tongue to dance around in it.

  “Your fucking soaked, love.” He groans into my ear as his mouth makes its way to my neck.

  He has only been teasing me with soft little touches but now I feel fingers finally slip inside of me. Two fingers push inside of my body while his thumb teases my clit making circles.

  “Oh my god.” I cry out throwing my head back. “That’s so good.” I whimper, basking in the pleasure.

  I can feel myself dripping around his fingers, beads of my arousal fall down my skin as he pumps in me faster. His mouth leaves my neck and makes its way down my stomach.

  Fuck yes.

  Lorenzo stops moving his fingers in me and I gasp.

  I haven't moved my hands. Why is he stopping?

  His lips hit me in the deepest point of pleasure I have and I understand why he stopped moving. His tongue is making small strokes up my cunt and I’m completely lost in how good it feels.

  “So sweet.” His voice melts in my ears.

  “Fuck Lorenzo.” I moan, itching to put my hands in his hair.

  I fist them together above my head to keep them in place. His fingers start moving again, faster and deeper.

  “Don’t come yet.” He tells me before nipping at my sensitive skin more.

  “What? Why?” I gasp, trying to hold back the pleasure building in my stomach.

  No reply is given, but his tongue is moving even faster and harder against me. His fingers keep pace and curl to stroke every inch of
me.

  “Fuck Lorenzo I can’t wait anymore, please let me come.” I pant.

  I won’t be able to stop myself even if he tells me no. Seconds pass with no reply, my body aches for relief.

  “Come now.” He demands before shoving his tongue hard against my clit again.

  “Jesus, fuck.” I cry out and I’m clenching around his fingers as my orgasm explodes through me.

  His licking slows until it finally ends.

  “Thank you.” I whimper, unable to move.

  “Don’t thank me yet Kate.” His tone is a warning. I look away from the ceiling and see his shirt being tossed to the side.

  Fuck.

  His sweatpants disappear next and his cock springs free. My face turns to fear when I focus on his impressive length. It has to be at least nine inches and now I’m terrified. He was carved by angels, or maybe demons. I don’t know but he’s perfectly chiseled. I want to lick every inch of him.

  “You’re not going to fit inside of me.” I gape my mouth open at him.

  “Care to bet on it?”

  My eyes widen at his challenge. He winks at me then pounces.

  Lorenzo is on top of me again with his body pressed against mine. His skin has only just met mine but it feels like they belong together. His knee slowly pushes my legs open for him to line himself up at my entrance.

  “If you scream too loudly, Gio and Luca will hear you and they won’t be able to forget it.” He warns me before thrusting into my wetness.

  “Oh fuc–” I slap my hand over my mouth to stop myself from yelling after only one thrust.

  “That’s cheating. Hands above your hand.” Lorenzo demands and he continues to pump himself into me further.

  I move my hands above my hand and bite my lip. I can feel myself building another orgasm and we’ve barely begun. He’s sliding in and out of me so easily but stretching me with every stroke.

  “You.”

  Thrust.

  “Feel.”

  Thrust.

  “So, fucking good.” Lorenzo groans and grabs my throat with one hand while the other steadies him.