Sly: Jagged Edge Series #4 Read online

  I would have laughed at the analogy, but he was right, because I knew this was going to be our home for a while. There weren’t any bags to unload from the car, so we both headed to the door. Peter thought it best to just leave without taking anything with us. He said that everything we would need would be there for us once we arrived. Unlocking the door, Sly pushed it open and stepped inside first to scan the area. Taking hold of my hand, he led me inside.

  The house actually looked better on the inside than on the outside. The furniture looked to be fairly new. It was decorated very nicely as well. As I went to the kitchen, Sly went to check out the rest of the house. Just like Peter said, everything we needed was already here, with the fridge fully stocked and the cupboards as well.

  Walking back to where Sly headed, I found him in the bedroom that was furnished with a dresser and a queen-sized bed. He was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands. As unbelievable as it was to swallow what happened, I knew that he was affected by what happened as much as me. Sitting next to him, I placed my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him. It felt so much better when I was holding him. It was like he was my security blanket, protecting me from everything bad. Only he couldn’t. He was just as much a part of this as I was. We needed each other more than ever.

  Lifting his head, he turned toward me as I lifted my head from his body. The way he looked at me told me everything because I was giving him the exact same look. Moving closer, I touched my lips to his. The kiss wasn’t hurried, it was just sweet and genuine and took my breath away. The affection between us was so real that it made my heart hurt. Turning towards him, I stood, lifting my leg and placing it on the other side of his body so that I was sitting across his lap. His hands caressed my back for a second before he lifted my shirt over my head. I had to catch my breath, only because I needed to tame down the rapid beating of my heart. The way he touched me sent a radiating sensation down my body all the way to my core.

  Sly lifted me from his lap only to spin my body so that he could place it on the bed. Carefully lowering me down, he continued kissing me as I tried desperately to feel more of him. Tugging at his shirt to get it off, Sly lifted his body and finished what I had started by pulling his shirt the rest of the way off. When his chiseled body appeared, I could only lick my lips in delight that this for now, this moment, was mine for the taking. Placing my hands on his chest, I worked them down his muscled abs to his waist. I unbuttoned his jeans and then pulled down the zipper. I could see that the need to take me was having an effect on him as well, as his boxers struggled to keep his impressive cock tucked inside.

  Gliding my index finger between the waistband of his boxers and his skin, I watched with desperation as his impressive cock appeared. Taking hold of the velvety rod, I slowly moved my hand up and down the hard length. The wetness pooled between my legs, making my panties soaked with desire for him. Placing his hand over mine, Sly moved it away and tugged on my knit top. Within seconds, my top was off and his soft lips brushed against the material of my bra, making my heart beat with rapture. Giving me one of his devilish looks, he undid the front clasp of my bra, exposing my taut buds. Caressing my breast while rolling my nipple between his finger, Sly bowed his head and brushed his lips against the sensitive peak. His tongue softly teased my nipple until he finally kissed and sucked the hard peak. The mere touch of his lips on my body caused my back to rise off the bed in hopes that I could feel more of what he was giving me.

  Gripping my waist lightly with his hands, he lifted my hips and in one tug, my yoga pants and underwear were down my legs and on the floor. With his body pressed so close to mine, I knew he could feel just how wet he made me. His hand danced across my skin, finding its way to my slick folds. Dipping a finger inside my soaked channel, his moan of approval filled the small room. A burst of pleasure hit my body like a tidal wave, sending my body along with it.

  “God, baby, do you know how sexy you look when you come?” he sighed between each light kiss he placed on my stomach, my nipples, my neck, until his mouth captured mine in a heated kiss that sent me over once again.

  It was the most sensual thing I had ever felt. To taste my own juices on his tongue as it lapped with mine. I was so close to releasing again that I couldn’t do it without him inside me. “Please, Sly, I need to feel you inside me,” I pleaded as he continued his assault on my mouth.

  Lifting his head, he rose above me with his knees between mine. Placing his hands on my hips, he lifted them in the air. “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he commanded as he kissed the inside of my thigh. He gently inched his way inside me with slow movements. Just the feeling of fullness, knowing that it was Sly inside me, sent my heart spinning. A rush of emotion hit like an unwanted guest and the tears began to pour.

  “It’s okay, baby, just let it go,” Sly whispered.

  “SLY!” I screamed as an explosion of emotion came to a head and surged to my core.

  Sly must have felt my torture, because soon his arms were wrapped around me tightly and his movements increased faster and harder as he pushed deeper inside me. I opened my eyes to see the intensity in his face as he tried to hold back his own torment. We were like two lost souls coming together, feeding off of each other, getting stronger, knowing that we were meant to be together. Feeling his body tense, his groan of ecstasy mixed with the need to let go filled the space between us as his seed spilled inside me.

  ~****~

  “How do you want that, baby?” I heard from the kitchen as I tried to concentrate on putting on the little make-up Peter provided for me.

  “Over-easy will be fine,” I yelled back.

  I couldn’t believe how much had changed within a twenty-four hour period. Sly was making breakfast for me, while I was finishing the final touches of placing mascara on my lashes. The earth-shattering connection we had last night brought a new light to what looked like a stormy day. Peter had contacted Sly on the burner phone, letting him know that the fight was called off. A rumor was spread that there was a chance a sting operation was in place and there was no information on who was the inside person planted by the feds. Even though it was only a rumor, I was pretty sure Peter started it. It must have been convincing enough to call the fight off.

  Taking a last look at my handiwork, I accepted the way I looked, and went to where Sly was cooking up something delicious, by the way the smell filled the tiny house. Turning the corner, the view I was hit with just about took my breath away. Wearing nothing but a pair of faded jeans that hung low on his hips and a white apron that hung around his neck and tied in the back, he could have been a calendar model for one of those cooking shows my mom used to watch on television. He was that gorgeous.

  “Mmm…,” I hummed as I moved beside him to see what he had going on in the pan.

  Turning his head, he gave me a tender kiss on my temple and said, “Almost done, baby. I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Am I ever,” I answered with a smile.

  I was totally in love with this man as I took my first bite of the meal he had prepared for us. Even though it was a simple breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, and toast, it was amazing. I normally wasn’t one to eat breakfast, but for some reason my stomach was protesting that it needed food.

  Sly was staring at me like he had never seen anyone eat before, Looking up at him with a full mouth, I mumbled shamelessly, “What? I’ve worked up an appetite.”

  Shaking his head at me, he looked down at his own plate with a smile and resumed eating his eggs. I knew he was wondering if I was even chewing as quickly as I was shoving the food inside my mouth. I wasn’t sure why I was so hungry. It had to have been the night of wonderful sex coupled with the strain of all the events that took place over the past week. All I knew was, I was hungry and I was ready to consume every last crumb of this amazing meal.

  Drinking the last of my coffee, which was also amazing. I gathered the breakfast dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. Sly came up behind be and gave me a
tender kiss on the neck. “God, you smell good, baby,” he said as he planted his nose in my hair.

  “You can thank Peter for that, or maybe I should say Lilly,” I replied.

  Even though it wasn’t the shampoo that I normally used, I had to admit that I liked the smell of it as well. Sly gave me one more chaste kiss, this time on the cheek, and headed to the living area. The last thing I heard was him greeting Peter on his cell. It made me curious as to why he would be calling him again, especially since he just talked to him. Drying my hands, I put my ear to the side of the wall to see if I could hear what they were taking about.

  “Are you sure? I know… I should have told you. I was just protecting her,” Sly stated.

  I had no idea who he could have been talking about. All I knew was that whatever he was talking to Peter about involved me. I wasn’t sure if I should confront him about what I heard or wait until he brought it up. Pushing my thoughts aside, I continued to hone in on the conversation.

  “That’s okay, Peter, I can handle it. I think it would be better coming from me instead of Nikki hearing it from someone else. I’m not sure how she is going to react.”

  I backed away from the wall, knowing that Sly had finished his call with Peter. The last thing I needed was to be caught eavesdropping on his private conversation. Although, if it was so private, I think he would have stepped outside or in a room that had a door. If he didn’t tell me what he was hiding soon, I would be confronting him with what I heard.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Sly

  There was something that had changed in Nikki over the past couple of days. She was quiet and distant. Walking out of the house to the front pouch, I found her sitting on the step drinking a beer. I could tell that her thoughts were a million miles away. Taking a seat beside her, I took the bottle of beer from her and took a long draw. It didn’t even faze her that I did.

  “Hello, earth to Nikki,” I finally said.

  Standing, she tried to go back inside the house, but there was no way I was going to let her leave. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her against me to force her to stop. As much as she was fighting me, she finally knew she couldn’t win. It was only after she smacked me with her fist across my cheek that I had to let go.

  Nikki ran to the front door before I even knew what hit me. “Damn, that girl has a mean punch,” I thought to myself as I pushed from the step to follow her. By the time I got inside, she was already in the bathroom with the door locked. Unfortunately for her, that wasn’t going to stop me from getting inside. I knew how the locks worked on these old doors. Reaching above my head, I felt for the master key to open the door. I hit pay dirt when the key fell to the floor in front of me.

  Working the lock as quietly as I could, I finally got it open and was greeted by a surprised look on her face. Nikki was sitting on the toilet with her knees pulled to her chest. I never could understand the flexibility of women that allowed their body to be contorted that way.

  Stepping in front of her, I placed my hands on her knees and looked at her sympathetically. “Nikki, you’ve been so closed off the past two days. I can’t stand it any more. What’s going on with you?”

  “I think you need to be asking yourself that question, Sly. What are you keeping from me?” she questioned with a look of despair.

  The only reason she would be asking that is if she heard my conversation with Peter. Standing to my feet, I held out my hand. “I’ll tell you, but can we please not talk about it in the bathroom while you’re sitting on the commode?”

  I could have sworn I saw a slight smile when she looked up at me. Taking her by the hand, I led her out of the bathroom and to the living room. Sitting on the couch, I faced her, giving her the explanation she should have had two days ago.

  “This isn’t easy for me, Nikki. I think you already know how much I care about you.” Taking a deep breath, I ran my hand through my hair, more nervous than I had ever been. “I had Peter look into your past for me. You have to understand, I didn’t know what was going on with you. You were being so secretive. It was killing me not knowing about the girl I was falling hard for.”

  “Sly, you shouldn’t have gone behind my back. Why would you do that?” she asked with conviction.

  “I didn’t know you were going to tell me about your past. Most everything that Peter found out, I already knew from you,” I admitted. “But there are some things that you didn’t know, like the way your mom died and the reason your father did.”

  “What are you talking about, Sly?” she stared at me with a confused look.

  I didn’t even know where to begin, so I figured from the beginning was the best option. “Remember when you told me that Carlos appeared at your door one day, just out of the blue, claiming to be your uncle?”

  “Yeah,” she replied.

  “There was a reason he was there. The debt your father owed Carlos was forgiven in exchange for one thing. The one thing he couldn’t get himself.”

  “I don’t understand?” Nikki confessed.

  “It was your mom,” I said, waiting for Nikki’s reaction.

  Placing my hand on her chin, I made sure she looked at me. “Nikki, please look at me.”

  When her eyes fell upon mine, I continued. “The minute Carlos set eyes on your mom, he fell in love with her. He wanted her and he would do anything to have her. He told your father the only way he could pay for his stupidity was to give up your mom to him.”

  “Who does that, Sly?” she asked, not believing what she was hearing.

  “Carlos Giordano. He was so powerful that anything he wanted, he got.” I stopped, making sure she was still with me. “Anyway, your dad wouldn’t have it, so Carlos took it into his own hands and took her. She ended up pregnant. My guess is that he raped her. He was so obsessed with her, and when he found out that she was pregnant, it was icing on the cake. He thought for sure she would give him a son, only it never happened. She lost the baby. He was never going to give up. He tried to have another child with her. He never knew that she could never give him the son he wanted. Having you was the only child she would ever bear. She couldn’t stand giving him a child, so she made sure she would never get pregnant again.”

  “I can’t listen to this anymore. Not only did he take something sacred from my mom, he also took it from me. I hate him so much. I wish he was dead.” Nikki was filled with so much anger that she pushed away from me and ran out the front door.

  “Nikki, wait, please.” I yelled.

  “Leave me alone, Sly, I need to think,” she choked as she took off down the dirt road.

  ~****~

  I waited for what seemed like forever for Nikki to come back. It was getting dark and I was beginning to get worried. This had been the second time she had got away from me. I guess being an MMA fighter taught you to be quick on your feet. Grabbing my jacket, knowing she would be cold, I left the house to see if I could find where she might have gone. I knew she went down the dirt road leading to the main road, so that was my first move. I thought about taking the Camaro, but going on foot would be the best option, especially if she veered off the road into the wooded area.

  Heading down the road, I looked through the trees to see if I could see her. I called out to her several times with no response. I was really getting worried now. I could barely see where I was going and I neglected to grab a flashlight when I left the house. Thinking that it was best to head back to the house, I heard her small voice. “Hey.” she said.

  “Jesus Christ, Nikki. Do you realize how worried I was for you?” I questioned her.

  “I know, I just needed to wrap my brain around what you said,” she responded.

  Walking over to her, I wrapped my coat around her shoulders and began walking with her back to the house. Pulling her closer to my side and giving her a light kiss on the head, I said softly, “Don’t ever do that again.”

  There were no words from her so I was pretty sure she got the message. We walked in silence, hearing only the sound
of the crunching gravel under our feet. There was still a lot that I needed to tell her about what Peter had found out. I knew she wouldn’t be able to take any more bad news so I decided to feed her and get her beneath me and hold her tight while making sweet passionate love to her.

  When we finally got back to the house, it seemed that Nikki was much calmer. Opening the door for her, I asked, “Are you hungry?” knowing that she was probably starving after being gone for so long.

  “A little, but for now I just want to take a shower,” she answered, looking over at me like she had more to say.

  “What is it, Nikki?” I asked, concerned.

  “When I’m done with my shower, I want you to tell me everything you know about my mom and dad.”

  I nodded, thinking that what I had to finish telling her might be too much for her. As soon as she was out of sight, I headed to the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. Popping the top off of a beer bottle, I took a long swig and leaned my body against the counter, trying to come up with an easy way to tell her that Carlos killed her parents. Even though he covered his tracks pretty good, there was still someone he forgot about. Namely, my father.