Her Dark Dragon (15 page)

"I found a key to a safety deposit box, listed under Cirillo Wines. So, since I now own Cirillo, good and bad, and had the key, they just added me to the list." Nico sat back in what she chose to believe was awe.

"You just walked into a strange bank, said, 'Here I am, add me to the list, and oh, by the way, I want access, now'?" He laughed aloud, shaking his head. "Actually, I can picture you doing just that. Now your clothing makes sense."

"Basically," she admitted, "but with a bit more formality." She sat back and smiled, then let herself laugh too.

"You didn't answer my calls. I figured you knew where I was when you were in the mood."

Her stomach clenched with concern and her face heated. "I'd appreciate it if you just dropped that subject."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Yes, a little, but then I asked for it, didn't I?" Danni held back the smile trying to slip forward by pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, truly. I was just so frustrated, and you kept goading me and…" Nico didn't seem to have words to explain further.

"No regrets. Next time I taunt you, I'll be prepared for the repercussions."

"Maybe we better come up with some code word for when you want to fuck, or just want to quarrel." He laughed out loud, and she did too, his blunt statement taking away the stigma of the acts of abandon they'd allowed themselves.

"I'll think about it and get back to you." The problem was she
was
thinking about it, almost all the time. Wanting to know who she was turning into, wanting him inside her again, chasing the elusive feeling he'd created within her. Changing the subject would hopefully stop her inner self from heating as she sat across from him, from her lips feeling heavy and needy, her breasts full and heavy. "Do you want to see what I found?"

"Should I? Once I see your bounty…" Nico didn't sound convinced he wanted to know or be an accomplice.

"I haven't looked yet, just emptied it out and split. I called you from the road on the way home."

"Someone will notice the key is gone, Danni. Have you thought about that?"

"Yes," she answered, a bit smug. "Hopefully not for a few days. I left the little red envelope where I found it, only I replaced the bank key with an old one I found in the junk drawer."

Nico burst out laughing, nodded his approval of her thinking, then sobered before his eyes. "Bella, you've gone too far. Pack a bag and come stay here. Any room you want, but you're not safe over there anymore. Not after this."

"Thanks," she said softly, wanting to do just that, to run to his home and his protection. "But I won't run away. Maybe the key won't be noticed." Even she knew that eventually someone was going to be very pissed off at her. Better she know what she was holding than not.

"And if it is noticed?" She gave him a shoulder shake, then grabbed the bag, and dumped the contents onto his table. She sifted through the pile, tossing her personal stuff back in the bag. Danni didn't tell him about the emotional roller coaster she'd been on since finding the key. To see all the cash hoarded, along with deeds and IOUs, made her angry. How dare they bankrupt her and expect to walk away with full pockets? That was what drove her to empty the box, afraid it might not be there if she left it and went back at a later time. Or if someone had seen her in the out-of-town bank and reported back to Robert and Felice. After that, she separated the loot into two piles.

And loot it was—cash, lots of it, plus a stack of papers. Together they sifted through the pages, finding insurance policies for Robert and Felice, paid for by Cirillo. There were a few small IOUs, all dated due at the turnover. There were several deeds to properties Danni never knew existed, the addresses unfamiliar. All bought and paid for with Cirillo checks.

"You're a land baron after all!" Nico said, as if trying to tease her from the intense scrutiny she was giving the documents. She didn't laugh. Danielle knew this would get her in deep trouble. Whether they were investment properties or places Robert and Felice thought to live in the future, she was in deep.

"Just another asset to sell and pay down the debt." Her nonchalant attitude didn't fool herself any more than it would fool him.

* * * *

Taking inventory of her, he noted she'd lost weight, had dark circles under her eyes, and generally gave him the impression she was near exhaustion. He almost reached across the table to pull her to him, then decided to refill their coffee cups instead. He sat back down, realizing he didn't feel awkward the way he expected to around her now, after their night in the barn. Instead, it was all too normal. This wasn't his normal behavior, or hadn't been, until Danni came into his life with their intimate arrangement. Now watching her as she went through the documents, he realized how deep in trouble she truly was.

This was getting way out of hand, Nico decided, gathering everything up and stacking it in her arms. He followed her to his office, moved the picture over the bar in the far corner, and opened the safe. He shuffled some papers of his own to make room, then went to the desk and took several large envelopes from a bottom drawer. They fitted the papers and cash into them before making sure they were sealed. He taped them just to make sure they couldn't be tampered with, then scrawled his initials across the tape, handing her the pen do the same. As he was putting them away, he said over his shoulder, "The combination is…"

"
No!
" she cried. He paused, turning to look at her. "I don't need to know. I trust you to bring them to the meeting."

"All right, but if you change your mind—"

She cut him off a second time. "I won't change my mind." He closed the safe and replaced the picture before turning, the bar separating them. "How about dinner tomorrow night?" She blushed and looked away. "Just supper, Danni." She thought for a long time before responding, too long for his comfort.

"What if I wanted more?" She had to hold back her smile.

"No preconceived ideas. I'll pick you up at five. We'll drive into the city. When was the last time you were in Chinatown?" He wanted her as far away from Cirillo as he could get, within reason. Unfortunately, neither was able to pack a bag and leave for a week or two.

"Years ago." She sounded relieved. "No strings. I'd like dinner. Yes."

"Good, then let's just go with what's comfortable."

"Okay, friends sharing supper." Her tone intimated more than her words. She leaned across the bar and dropped a kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks for the safe space." She turned, heading back toward the kitchen where she'd left her purse, telling him, "I'll be ready by four." Both laughed as he followed her to the kitchen. At the door, he leaned against the jamb, arms crossed over his chest.

"Danni, please stay here. Someone is going to be really pissed. Something could happen at any time."

"I have the extra security."

"They're not in the house with you and Robert and Felice."

"No, but they're close by." Danni hesitated. "If I left now, it would be a red flag for sure. I'll be all right. I always lock my bedroom door; I have my cell phone and the pager the guards gave me. One push and they'll come." She stepped up on her toes and ran her tongue along his lower lip. "Let them do the job they're paid to do. I'll be fine, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," was all he managed to say. Watching as she walked to her pickup, he knew she had a point. One he didn't like, but it was one way to see the situation. Now he had to pray it was the right one. He drove over to Cirillo's tasting rooms and found Antonio reinforcing their future working conditions. Along with the security team being put on alert, there wasn't much more he could do.

* * * *

Their venture into Chinatown was fun for them both. They were relaxed and comfortable with each other. Nico hadn't seen Danni laugh so much in years. He wanted to be able to give her this feeling every day, but pushed the thought aside. As they were wandering through the shops, the night was catching up with them. She offhandedly asked him if he had to be back tonight. He'd answered with a quick no.

"Come with me, Nico. No questions." He would have gone anyway, realizing just how whipped he was when it came to her, but her smile made him hard and made him think about the possibilities. Once his cock came alive, his brain shut down.

"No questions." Nico handed her the keys to his truck as they walked toward where he'd parked. He wasn't sure why he let her drive. She hadn't asked. It felt odd to sit on the passenger side. Passive didn't fit him well.

She drove down the coast to the resort she'd chosen. It had small cabins with lots of privacy. It was obvious she'd been here earlier in the day. She had the key, the fire was set, champagne was chilling, the lighting already fixed on almost
nonexistent. Nico entered, and tossed his jacket on a chair beside the door, glancing around.

"I don't know whether to be flattered or concerned."

"Payback's always a bitch, my dark drago." She dropped her jacket over his and asked him to light the fire as she double-locked the door.

"Why not open the wine?" Danni asked, slipping into the bathroom.

Alone in the bath she didn't panic, rather took her time washing her face and brushing her hair. She'd thought to bring along something to change into, preferably black lace with see-through material, but hadn't. It seemed too blatant for her at this time. Maybe another time she'd try the lingerie bit, but tonight wasn't the right time.

The netsuke had been on her mind all week. The male figure lay on his back, his vivid-patterned kimono open to show his penis standing tall. The second figure was a woman, straddling his thighs, her body just about to swallow his cock. It was the only one that was two separate figurines. The woman fitted over the male to become one statue. With her head thrown back, her hair falling in long waves down her back, her eyes were closed and she wore only a smile. Her back was arched. Delicate hands were thrusting her breasts forward. It was an incredible piece of carving. The netsuke reminded Danni of independence and control. She hadn't been able to get it out of her mind since the night in the barn.

She came back to him with her hair brushed out and her makeup washed away. Danni took the glass he offered, moving to the small sofa before the fire, stretching out while he sat on the floor, his back resting on the sofa, the fire bright before them. Nico refilled their glasses but couldn't wait any longer. "What would you like, Danielle?"

"One last night to feel safe and loved, to sleep without the dreams, to wake in your arms."

"I can do that, bella."

"I know you can, Drago." She started to rub his neck and shoulders. From there it was easy enough to slip down and straddle his thighs. She started her kiss with caution. Once his hands started stroking her back, she relaxed over him, intensifying the kiss and her needs. He moved her hips over his cock, and she bit his lower lip. Danni slowly unbuttoned his shirt, still taking kisses as he moved her back and forth. Her insistence had his shirt off and tossed aside. She pulled back to tug her sweater over her head, her hair resettling around her shoulders. Her fingers released her breasts, already heavy with need, from the contraption confining them. His hands were there to support their weight, relearning their shape as she went back to kissing him senseless.

In her own unhurried timing, she stripped off her pants without fanfare, snow-white lace bikinis followed. Danni slid back over him, lower on his legs, leaning forward to unbuckle his belt, carefully pulling down the zipper over his erection. He lifted when she tugged his jeans and boxers down his legs, leaving his cock standing at attention with him pseudo nude, his pants still tangled at his ankles. She made sure he understood she left him that way on purpose, so he didn't move to change their position. Danni felt him draw a breath, while watching her sit back on her heels, her arms stretched forward, staring at his penis, fondling him with her soft hands.

She memorized every reaction to action, occasionally glancing up to find Nico spread before her, his breathing quickening, a layer of sweat forming on his brow. He watched her with a distracted amusement, as if he were committing the image to his memory, anticipating what would come next.

"Where are the condoms?" It took him a second to react, but he finally told her to look in his wallet, left side. Danni twisted over him until she found his wallet and took both envelopes before putting it aside.

Both her hands fondled his cock and balls. She was intent, watching his reactions. Her finger traced the underside of his cock, watching the ripple effect it had on him.

Danni had been fascinated by his anatomy. Tonight she finally became comfortable with him. She knew he was long and thick, but never imagined so silky and hot to her touch while erect. Using her index finger, she rubbed the drops of pre-cum forming on his head. She traced the seam on his underside and almost reached for him with her lips.

She hesitated, and a second later, she was rolling the condom down over his length and quickly impaling herself on him without warning. She stilled as her body stretched to accommodate him.

Having Nico buried deep within her, she was all but lost, having to back off, taking his hands to knead her breasts while she pinched her own nipples. As she sped up, he moved under her, rising to meet her, using her hips to guide her over him.