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

The Friday before Valentine’s. What a perfect evening to go to dinner with the parents. Still single. Not only that, but, with a mother who’s too obsessed with my love life, or lack of it.

I haven’t seen Grayson since that awkward yet hot-as-fuck argument we had at Sienna’s. That was over three weeks ago, so I’ve been concentrating my efforts on forgetting about him and that damn kiss. I’ve been on a few dates. None of which I had any instant spark with. They kind of bored me to death. I was listening to them drawl on about work and finances. Yawn.

I’m still cringing over the fact I told Grayson, the big bad mafia hitman, to be safe. I don’t know what I was thinking. That was way too personal.

I quickly throw on a black turtleneck knitted dress, tights, and a pair of leather heeled boots. Then flick some mascara on my long fluffy lashes, just enough to make my green eyes pop. I’ve already spent the hour straightening my hair which is so damn long and thick it takes forever. But I can’t have my mom looking down her nose at me. If I can make my appearance perfect, that’s one less thing for her to comment on. Ergh. Why did I agree to this?!

I tip the rest of my prosecco into my mouth, letting the bubbles tingle on my tongue. I’m going to need as much as I can tolerate to get through this. My phone beeps on the counter, telling me my Uber is outside. Better get this evening over with. I sigh, grabbing my purse and leather jacket from the bar stool.

The ride to La Brasserie in Midtown is quick and uneventful. The cool air whips over my body, making me shiver.

I swing open the glass door, only to be greeted by a bubbly teenager, far too upbeat for the mood I’m in right now. All I feel is dread and anxiety.

“Good evening, Miss, do you have a reservation?” she asks, tapping away on her iPad.

I survey the room and it’s impossible to miss my parents in the middle of the room. My dad beams at me and waves, while mom pokes her head up over what I assume is the wine menu, and drops her gaze straight back down.

Good start.

I give Dad a quick smile and wiggle my fingers, then turn my attention back to the server.

“I’m just here to meet my parents,” I point.

The waitress pulls out the dark wooden chair, and I slide off my jacket and take a seat, carefully placing my purse and coat on the chair next to me. In the seat my date was supposed to be in.

“Hi, sweetie, you look lovely,” my dad says, nudging my mom with his elbow as if to get her to pay me some attention.

“Hi,” I say trying to hide any hint of bitchiness in my tone.

“How’s Gregory, any updates? Why didn’t you invite him?” Mom asks in her high-pitched voice.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, waiting for the throbbing headache to form. Why did I bother telling her about him? Oh wait, because I’m constantly trying to impress her.

“We’ve been on a few dates, Mom, I’m not sure yet. He’s fine. Nice.”

“Oh, Maddie, get your head out of the clouds. Nice is good. It’s stable. It’s plenty good enough for you. I mean, come on, you’re just a make-up artist yourself, for Christ’s sake.”

“Carol!” my dad scolds her and shoots me an apologetic look.

“What?” She shrugs, completely unfazed.

He’s always had my back and tries his best to defend me. But she is relentless, I’ll give her that much. There’s only so much he can do. I don’t want him to fight with her about it either. All he’s ever done is love me for how I am.

“I have my own make-up studio and my own apartment. I’m doing well, thank you very much,” I snap, my blood starting to boil.

The door opening creates a cool breeze right through the restaurant, followed by a fake laugh that catches my attention. I can’t resist turning to look. My breath hitches as I spot him. Suddenly, the room is like a sauna. Every damn time I see him, my heart starts to race no matter how hard I try to stop it.

Grayson’s date looks like a model, complete with a low-cut dress and fake boobs almost falling out. She’s running her hand up and down his big, muscular arm. He looks gorgeous in his black tailored suit, and it’s tight enough to see his muscles bulge through. His crisp white shirt accentuates against his lightly tanned complexion and his short sandy hair.I want to look away, but I can’t. I’m in a daze, watching his big frame lean down and whisper in her ear.

His eyes snap up to mine. I roll my eyes at him, and he smiles back. Enough to soak my panties. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing I’m drooling over him, I swivel back to face my mom. Fuck him and his stupid sexy smile.

I reach for the menu and open it, trying to hide my blush. That is a line of questioning I can’t deal with right now.

Heavy footsteps pound behind me and so does that annoying laugh that makes my ears want to bleed. The closer he gets, the more the electricity bolts through my body. I stick my foot out under the table.

His foot connects with mine, and his hand thuds onto our table. The force of it causes the cutlery to fly into the air.

“What is going on?!” my mom shouts, all flustered.

I’m doing everything I can to hold in the laughter, still hiding behind the menu. I don’t need to look to know he’s wanting to kill me.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, sir, I don’t know what you tripped on. Are you ok?” the waitress asks, shocked. I slowly lower the menu, coming face-to-face with my nemesis, my drop-dead gorgeous nemesis.

His jaw tics as he stares straight at me, cocking his brow.

“Well, hello, Sunshine,” he drawls out.

“Grayson,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. I expect him to be angry, but instead, I’m met with his hungry eyes roaming along my body. He leans forward, his face just inches from mine. I can’t breathe and my heart is about to beat its way out of my chest. He brings his lips to my cheek and presses a soft peck. It takes fuck all in my power not to moan. He stands up straight. I let out a sigh of relief now that he’s finally out of my personal space.

“Sorry about that. I don’t know what happened. I’ll leave you guys to your evening.” He grins, addressing my parents.

I rest my elbow on the table and put my chin on my hand, giving him a sweet and innocent smile. All the while fighting the urge to jump him and maybe smack that stupid grin off his face.

He stalks off, his date following him.

The flustered waitress takes our order. I go for a steak and chips with all the sides.

Every now and then, I steal glances at Grayson.

“Well, if you’re going to be with men like that, you’re never going to find a man to stay with you. I mean, how many dates have you been on now, and still nothing. I’m embarrassed for you.” Mom scoffs, breaking my stupor. I don’t have it in me to argue back right now.I’m too busy concentrating on not crying. She hates that.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”

Which means I will have to walk past Grayson’s flirting fest. God, I wish that man didn’t get under my skin so much. I wish he wasn’t the best kiss of my life.

My dad squeezes my hand as I walk past, that small gesture enough for tears to start forming at the corners of my eyes. All these years, my mom still knows how to hurt me, and I let her. I’m so desperate to show her I am special.

I lower my head down and rush past Grayson’s table. I don’t know how much longer I can keep pushing him away. I can’t deny I’m jealous. Jealous he will fuck anyone else but me, apparently.

Once safely in the bathroom, I shut myself in a stall and lock the door, breathing a sigh of relief. I need a minute of peace before my next grilling from Mom. Dinner shouldn’t be so hard. It doesn’t help that Grayson’s kissable lips are taunting me this whole time. His lopsided grin while flirting with that woman that is almost the complete opposite of me. Is that what he’s into? It shouldn’t hurt, but it does.

The sound of the door slamming shut breaks me from my thoughts. My back is still pressed up against the stall door.

“Sunshine, are you in here?”

Goosebumps erupt throughout my body at his masculine voice. I can’t let him see me like this. He better not have come in here to taunt me.

I slowly unlock the door, slipping on my usual bitch mask to face him. It’s the only way to keep my heart safe.

“What do you want, Grayson?” I step out, hitting straight into his solid chest. I’m not short for a woman, but he’s huge. Maybe six-foot-four. He towers over me. Every inch of him oozes strength and power.

I step away from him and tip my chin up to look at his face. I’m shocked when there’s concern etched all over it.

“You looked like you were about to burst into tears when you left the table. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He flings his hands up in a surrender. “Please don’t shout at me, I’m already embarrassed enough after you tripping me up in front of my date.” He grins. God, he’s a prick. A fucking gorgeous one.

That smirk just soaks my panties every time.

I clench my legs together and awkwardly cross one foot in front of the other. This is the effect he has over me, especially with him invading my space. His spicy scent is assaulting my senses. It’s too much. Desire burns through my veins, which is dangerous, on top of anger and jealousy.

“It was an accident.” I shrug, averting my gaze from his.

His index finger rests under my chin as he bends down so our faces are level. A hunger flashes through his eyes. My breathing gets heavier as he starts to lower his head to mine.

No, Maddie, he’s on a date with another woman.

I snap my eyes shut and turn my head away from him. He takes a deep inhale and brings his lips to my ear, gently brushing my sensitive skin.

“I don’t think it was an accident. I think you might be a bit jealous.”

He’s not wrong.

My brain is screaming at me to leave, to tell him to fuck off, and forget about him. But my mom’s words repeat in my mind. “Nice is good enough for you.”

I turn my face back to his, his lips now hovering over mine.

“And what if I am?” I ask, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth.

“I thought you wouldn’t fuck me if I were the last man on the planet? I remember those exact words at the dinner table last Christmas, just before you threatened to stab me with the carving knife if I touched you again.” He chuckles.

“That’s true.” I know it doesn’t sound remotely convincing as my voice breaks halfway through the sentence.

“Is that why you’re blushing? Do I make you that angry? Or is it because you want to fuck me?”

“Both,” I answer honestly, causing his eyebrow to raise.

I’ve never been honest about how I feel about him to this point. Over the past year, I’ve pushed and pushed, hoping he will leave me alone and my feelings will disappear. But they don’t.

His hands band around my waist and he pulls me in.

“This is a bad idea, Sunshine,” he rasps.

“I know.” I lace my arms around his neck, giving him a sweet smile.

He licks his lips as he stares at mine. God, that mouth.

“You know I don’t date.”

“Well, seeing as you’re on a date right now, I beg to differ,” I retort.

“Maddie, you know what I mean,” he warns.

Sighing in defeat, I slowly remove my hands from his neck, but he catches them before they even reach his pecs.

“Look, it’s fine. Let’s just forget this. Go back to not liking each other. It’s easier.”

“There’s only one of us playing that game, Sunshine. My feelings for you are the opposite. That’s the problem. I haven’t stopped thinking about those perfect lips or those perky tits. Every time you get angry at me, all I want to do is shove my cock in your pretty little mouth to shut you up. I’ve let you push me away. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop this if we start.”

A chill runs up my spine at his declaration. This whole damn time, he’s been pushing me away for the same reason. He likes to rile me up.

“I want this. Show me what you’ve got, big boy.”

The next thing I know, my back is slammed against the tiled wall.

“You should be scared of me. You know who I am, you know what I do. Yet you still can’t help but infuriate me. It’s stupid, really,” he taunts me as he hikes my dress up, grabbing my hips. His fingers pinch into my flesh as he lifts me up the wall. I wrap my legs around him as his erection rubs against my sensitive core.

A moan escapes my lips at the contact.

“Tell me to stop, Sunshine. Tell me this is a horrible idea.”

His eyes search mine, but he won’t find what he’s looking for.

“I can’t. Don’t you dare stop.”

We stare into each other’s eyes for what feels like a lifetime; his cock twitching against me, our heavy breathing filling the room.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With that, the air is sucked out of my lungs and his lips crash down onto mine. The kiss quickly turns frantic with his tongue possessing mine. I run my fingers through his hair. He groans. I can’t breathe, but right now, I don’t care. His rough hand cups my face, and he bites down on my lip.

“Ouch.”

“Shut up, baby, you love it,” he teases before slamming his lips back onto mine.My spine squishes against the wall. His other hand grabs my ass.

“God, your ass is fucking perfect. I can’t wait to fuck it,” he mumbles against my lips, and I whimper.

Mmm, he’s an ass man.

He trails his fingers around to my front. The sensation makes me shiver as he reaches the hem of my tights. “Today, of all days, you actually dress for the weather.” He chuckles, his hand sliding beneath the band and cupping my throbbing pussy through my satin thong.

“Fuck Sunshine, you are soaking for me,” he growls, burying his head into my neck, leaving hungry kisses along my collarbone. I tip my head back to give him better access, forgetting all about where we are.

He shoves my panties to the side and parts my folds with his fingers. He starts to rub slowly all the way from my entrance to my clit. It feels heavenly. My eyes roll into the back of my head.

“Mmm, yes, keep going,” I moan, rocking my hips with his rhythm. “Oh, fuck,” I shout as he slides two fingers inside me. My walls tighten around them. His other hand shoots up and muffles my moans.

“Keep that pretty little mouth shut for once,” he says, removing his hand, as I nod in response.

“I mean it, otherwise I’m going to have to find other ways to keep you quiet.”

Those words, the demanding tone, send waves of pleasure straight to my core. He ups the momentum of his fingers. I have to bite down on my lip so hard to stop any noise coming out I’m sure I’ll pierce the skin. His thumb circles my clit. The sound of my juices as he slams in and out of me fills the room. I’m so close to the edge that it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him.

“I want to taste you. I’m fucking starving. The service is too slow here,” he rasps.

He scans the room, as if sensing my inner struggles about where we are. His hands come back to my hips, and I tighten my legs around him. He walks us over to the main door to the bathroom with my back slamming up against it. I shoot him a questioning look, and he gives me that grin of his.

“Hook your legs over my shoulders,” he commands, and I do what he says. When I land on shaky legs, he drops to his knees before me, looking back to me with burning desire. I feel suddenly unsure of myself.

Not that he gives me much time to think as he shoves my dress up and rips my tights and panties down in one swift movement.

“Fucking hell, don’t ever wear tights again,” he growls, yanking up one of my feet and slipping the boot off and then the other, followed by my underwear, leaving my long legs on display.

He resumes his position between my legs, grabbing one and then the other, settling them on his shoulders. My body weight is resting on him as I lean back into the door. My hands are splayed either side of me against the door to keep my top half up.

“God, you don’t know how many times I’ve imagined doing this,” he says, peppering kisses along my inner thighs, sending me straight back into pure pleasure.

His tongue connects with my clit, and he laps it up. Alternating between licking and sucking, his fingers take me by complete surprise as they start thrusting in and out of me. Remembering his rule, I throw my forearm up to my mouth and bite down to muffle my moans.

The pressure builds, blood pumping in my ears, my whole body on fire. I snap my eyes shut and let the feeling roll through my body.

“Eyes on me. Watch me devour you as you come all over my face.” His breath flutters against my pussy.

I snap my eyes back to him. His striking blues are filled with pure hunger as his mouth sucks on me. Everything becomes too much. He hits every right spot. My walls clench around him as he laps up my orgasm.

“Oh my god, Grayson,” I scream out. Fuck the rules. I continue to ride my orgasm.

He slows up the pace as I pant up against the door.

Fuck.

An emptiness consumes me as he slips his fingers out and carefully guides me down onto my trembling legs. I’m a complete mess.

He yanks my dress down to cover me up and stands, but stays only inches from me.

He tucks my hair behind my ear and brings his lips down onto my swollen ones, the taste of my sweet juices still smeared over him.

“I-I—” Words fail me. He’s literally fingered the words out of me.I cup his massive cock through his pants and ask, “What about you?”

“You think that was all just for your pleasure?”

His deep laugh echoes in the empty room and it makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“We’re doing this again, Sunshine. You can do whatever the hell you want with me.” He runs his hand over his face, letting out a ragged breath.

What the fuck is going on?

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into me. I plant my lips onto his for a soft kiss, but he quickly turns his head to the side so my lips graze across his stubble.

“What the fuck, Grayson? You’ve just fucked the words out of me and are now turning away from a fucking kiss. Are you serious right now?”

Hurt flashes across his face as my hand connects with his chest to push him away from me. He doesn’t budge, though.

“Move, Grayson. It’s ok, we won’t do it again. I get it you probably have a one-and-done rule and I’ve just used my ticket. I won’t cry about it. Go back to your date. You can stick your dick in her to finish yourself off.”

I bend down and pick up my clothes and boots from the floor and storm past him toward the stalls.

“For fuck’s sake,” Grayson mutters behind me, but I just roll my eyes and continue on.

Flinging open the stall door, I waltz in and turn to close it. Grayson’s strong arm flies out and holds the door open. He looms over me like a madman.

“Get out.”

“No,” he says.

“We’re done.”

He crowds me.

“Maddie, I want you. Make no mistake about that,”he says, stopping a breath away from me.

“So why not kiss me?”

“That’s complicated, Sunshine.”

“Well, I don’t do complicated.”

“Oh, I think you do. But here, let me uncomplicate things just for you,” he whispers against my lips, cupping my blushed cheeks in his hands and sending tingles down my neck.

I close my eyes and sink into the gentlest of kisses. Our mouths explore each other in the most sensual way.

I could stay like this forever.