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

The sunlight burns my eyes. I roll onto my side, expecting to find a sleeping Grayson. Instead, all that’s there is a pillow, and a feeling of loneliness consumes me. Sleeping with his strong arms wrapped around me is nice. I feel safe.

Sitting up, I stretch out my arms and let out a yawn. I have no idea what time we actually went to sleep. Hell, I can’t even remember going to sleep.

All I know is I was fucked into oblivion by Grayson. And now here I am, in his bed and silky black comforter. I slip out of the covers and head over to the drawers. His clothes are all folded in color-coordinated piles, and it’s actually very pleasing to look at. After living with a messy Sienna for years, I’m used to everything being a bomb site. But this, a man who does laundry and folds neatly, maybe I was wrong about him.

I throw on one of his black t-shirts. I’m not short, but it hangs off me like a dress. Oh well, he’s seen me in worse.

I head to the en-suite, only to be greeted by a sparkling white bathroom. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the pretty skyline. I had no idea Grayson was this rich. I spy a stunning waterfall shower in the back corner. Not wanting to overstay my welcome, I settle with a quick face wash and brush my teeth.

Then I make my way to the kitchen. The banging coming from there piques my attention.

“For fuck’s sake, where’s the fucking spatula,” Grayson shouts as I jump up on the barstool and watch him. He hasn’t even noticed I’m here yet, being busy bent down yanking open drawers and cupboards.

“Morning,” I say chirpily.

He pops up from the counter, looking flustered, in just a pair of shorts. I scan his body, taking in every ripped muscle, every dark tattoo that spans both of his arms and his pecs. Wait, he has his nipple pierced? I lick my lips as I imagine biting his piercing. God, he even has that perfect V.

“Morning, Sunshine.” He gives me one of those panty-dropping grins, the ones I so used to hate.

“Ooo, so I get breakfast as well,” I tease. “I thought you didn’t do sleepovers, let alone breakfast. God, I must be special.” I give him a cheeky smile.

“Mmm,” is all he says before turning his attention on the frying pan.

Weird.

A phone vibrates on the countertop.

“It’s yours,” Grayson calls out.

God, I hadn’t even thought about my phone. I lean over and grab the phone. Gregory’s name flashes on the screen. Shit.

I answer.

“Hey, Maddie, how are you?”

“Hey, I’m good, thanks. You?”

“I’m fine.”

Grayson’s head jerks around, his eyes boring into mine.

Oh, shit. He coughs, that little shit. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Where are you?” Gregory asks.

“Er, I stayed at a friends.”

“What friend?”

I don’t like where this is going.

“Grayson.”

“I thought you couldn’t stand him?”

I lie, “He ended up giving me a lift home, and I was so drunk I crashed at his place.”

“Right. I thought you went out for dinner with your parents?”

Oops.

“I did. I’ll see you later?” I ask, feeling guilty.

He sighs. “Yeah, fancy Italian?”

“Italian sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

As I’m debating how to face Grayson now, he says, “You still hate me, Sunshine? I think the number of times you screamed my name last night tells me different.”

“Don’t remind me.” I reply.

He tuts, placing the plate of scrambled eggs in front of me, the smell making my stomach rumble, and I remember how famished I am.

“Thank you,” I say and dig in.

As soon as the buttery goodness hits my tongue, I moan.

“Yes, it was just like that. Mmm, Grayson, more, please,” he mimics me.

He grabs his own plate and pulls out the barstool next to me. Within minutes, he’s already hogged it all.

“I feel guilty,” I admit, lowering my gaze to the floor. I’m not with Gregory; we’ve had a few dates but that’s it.

“What for?”

“I guess, sleeping with you when I should be putting my effort in getting to know Gregory.”

He stiffens.

“Are you fucking Gregory? Do you want to keep fucking him?”

I haven’t fucked him, nor do I want to. Not that Grayson needs to know, ours was a one-time thing.

He jumps off the barstool, his eyes filled with rage. He grabs my waist and yanks me up, my butt crashing against the island counter, my face now level with his. My breath hitches as he brings his mouth to my ear.

“Let’s get one thing straight here, Sunshine. If you want me to keep fucking you until you see stars, no other man touches you. I’ll keep it simple. I. Don’t. Share.”

How the hell is this turning me on?

His warm breath hits the sensitive skin below my ear. It takes everything in me not to wrap my legs around him and beg him to devour me.

But I know I can’t.

A man like Grayson isn’t going to want to keep me around. I close my eyes and sigh. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to give in to this. I should have known after that kiss, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Well then, I guess it definitely was a one-night thing,” I whisper.

“Fine.” He pushes himself off the counter away from me. His jaw clenches as he looks at me, just for a moment, before shaking his head, and storming off down the hallway.

I’m only in one of his massive t-shirts, so how the fuck am I supposed to go home like this?

I pick up my phone from the counter and quickly type out a text to my assistant, sending a location pin to where I am.

EVIE

I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. I have SO many questions, Maddie!!

Oh, shit.

“Grayson,” I shout. I don’t have the energy to run after him today. My body is sore and my head is throbbing.

Nothing.

“I’m going now. I’ll see you around.”

When no response comes, I sigh and grab my bag, throwing the phone inside. With slow, hesitant steps, I make my way to the elevator. I’m about to press the call button when suddenly, a hand slams over mine and pulls me backward.

“What the fuck?”

He whips me around to face him, a pained expression flashing across his features. He almost looks tortured.

“It’s not fine,” he says.

“What?” I ask, tipping my chin up to him. I don’t have time for his mood swings today.

“I don’t think I can let you walk away. I can’t let you fuck anyone else, Maddie.” He rests his forehead against mine.

His confession hits me straight in the heart, stealing the air out of my lungs. Deep down, I know I don’t want to stop this either. I know Gregory isn’t the one. He’s nice, he’s reliable. But he’s not mine. He doesn’t set off a spark in me like Grayson. And what’s wrong with a girl taking what she wants anyway?

I cup his cheeks.

“I’ll make you a deal. We keep doing whatever this is, exclusively. We both don’t fuck anyone else. But I will keep dating. No one will touch me, but I’ll date. If and when I find someone good enough, we stop this.” I gesture between us.

“Does that mean I can fuck you anywhere and anytime I want?” he asks, hovering his lips over mine.

I nod.

“Now?” he says, taking my bottom lip between his teeth, his fingers skimming the hem of my t-shirt.

Shit. Evie.

He cocks his eyebrow at me as I push him away.

“I need to text my friend,” I say, rustling through my bag and snatching my phone. I shoot her a text telling her not to worry. I’ll deal with the grilling from her later.

My phone pings with a text, and Grayson leans over.

GREGORY

I’ve booked us a table at Rico’s, 7pm.

“How original.”Sarcasm drips from his tone.

“Oh yeah, where would you take me if we were dating?” I instantly regret asking this as his eyebrows raise, as if he’s deep in thought.

“Where’s the one place in the world you’ve always wanted to go?”

“London.”

“There’s your answer.”

“Grayson, that’s not how dating works. You don’t just fly your date around the world. A restaurant works fine.”

“I think that’s where you’re going wrong, Sunshine. If a man wants you, he won’t stop until you are completely his. He will put the world at your feet and stop at nothing to see your smile light up the room. He will worship you.” He closes the distance between us, my back flush against the elevator door.

“He will want you in every possible way. He will claim you, own you and fuck you how you’re supposed to be fucked.”

Heat courses through my insides at his bold words.

“That’s exactly how I would do it,” is the last thing he says before he slams his lips over mine. He commands every inch of me, takes what he wants, and I let him.

The loud ringing from his pocket makes him break the kiss. “For fuck’s sake,” he mutters, sliding his phone out of his pocket.

“Two minutes. I have to take this.” He presses a kiss to my nose.

My cheeks start to hurt from smiling so goddamn hard.

“Luca,” he greets.

I stand there, my back still pressed against the door, breathing heavily as he walks away from me.

Grayson shouts, “What do you mean he’s fucking dead. How?” making me jump. For a few moments there, I forgot who he is, what he does. How dangerous his life is.

All I can hear is muffled whispers now. God, I need to leave. Grayson strides back toward me, his eyes full of fury.

“I have to go. I’ll drop you home on the way.”

“Ok.”

His eyes roam over my body. The next thing I know, he’s scooping me up into his arms.

As we enter the lift, I ask, “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Nico’s been murdered. They just dropped his mutilated body outside Luca’s gates.”

“I’m sorry. Nico was the guy who came and found me the day Sienna was kidnapped, right? The one who brought me to you.”

He nods. Solemnly.

“What are you going to do now?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“Hunt them down and give them slow painful deaths.”

“Just be safe, Grayson. Promise me.”

He cocks his brow.

“Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.”

“Promise me.”

He sighs, his grip on me tightening slightly.

“I promise you.”

“Thank you,” I say and press a kiss on his stubbly jaw.

We ride over to my apartment in silence. He slows the car down as we approach my building. I reach for the door handle, but he grips the back of my neck, turning me back to face him.

“I’ll text you later, ok?”

I nod.

Reluctantly, I turn away from him and open the car door. The cold breeze blows my t-shirt, reminding me that I’m not wearing any panties.

“Hey, do I not get a kiss goodbye now?” he says with a cheeky grin. I clamber back across the passenger seat on all fours and press my lips against his. He inhales as our lips connect.

I break the kiss and grin, shuffling back out of the car and slamming the door shut. I can feel his gaze on me the entire time I walk into my building. I open up the door and head in with a quick wave to him. I need a shower, nap and some ice cream.

I have no clue what we’re doing.

I have a date with another man, but all I want to do is rush back to be fucked by Grayson.

I can’t stop the smile as I remember all the ways Grayson made me orgasm last night.

I can’t resist him.

Maybe I’ll take a little break from dating anyway.