This story will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first attempt at dark, smutty romance (and I'm rather proud of the opening line). Happy reading and please don't forget to comment and/or vote!

Blurb:

Ever since Brianna Hayes has shown an interest in the opposite sex, she has been attracted to guys from the wrong side of the tracks.

Those with all the tats.

Those who get into trouble with the law.

Those who regard women as nothing but play toys.

And then there is Jay, who's in his own league. As right-hand man of mob boss Gabriel Manzoni, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Dangerous. Alluring. Delicious.

He is so wrong for Brianna that even she can't deny it, even if he might take her to heaven and back. And the heart wants what the heart wants!

Not sure what I was expecting when I barge into Jay Ellis's office, but it certainly wasn't his cock in the mouth of a pretty Asian girl kneeling in front of him while he sat at his sleek satin-black glass desk with his thighs spread apart.

"For fuck's sake, I said no inter—" The second half of the word gets stuck in Jay's throat as he turns his head and pushes away the girl. He squints at me. "Do I know you?"

What a jerk. Okay, we only met once a little over three years ago, but our first meeting couldn't have left as memorable of an impression as it had on me.

"I'm Brianna, Ethan's wife."

"Oh, yeah, right."

"And I can come back if this is a bad time for you."

He looks down at his dick that hangs flaccid between his legs. "Don't bother. I'm no longer in the mood."

While he zips himself up, I soak in his appearance. The bad boy crown still fits him perfectly. A chiseled jaw covered by just the right amount of stubble, wavy chestnut-brown hair that invites my hands to make it messy, and dark eyes the color of espresso beans. Arms sleeved with intricate tattoos to die for. And let me not get started on the abs that rope under his tight shirt.

It takes all my effort to tear my gaze off him.

The girl has gotten to her feet and wipes her mouth. Before she can turn away, Jay seizes her wrist and holds up a little plastic baggie containing a bunch of pills. "Why don't you come back a little later?"

"Of course." With a lick of her lips, she snatches the baggie from his hand and leaves without giving me the benefit of a glance.

I struggle to keep my jaw in place. "Did you just pay her with drugs?"

He chuckles. "Oh, baby doll, I don't need to pay women to have sex with me."

"Don't call me that."

"Or what?" With one smooth move, he's out of his chair. One pouncing step forces my back against the wall; luckily, my pinned up hair works as a buffer for my head. He leans closer, resting first one fist against the wall, then the other, to lock me in with his body. Our lips are only inches apart. With my stilettos, he is not much taller than me, but his frame is imposing. Crushing.

"You think because you're Ethan's girl, you got some kind of special status? That's the problem with rich whores like you. You feel you can make demands because everyone who has less money than you is beneath you." His voice carries a dangerous edge that sends fear to the hair on the back of my neck but excites me at the same time. And why does his breath have to smell like damn peppermint? "But let me tell you, baby doll, there are people in this world who don't give a damn about your dad's money or his power. He isn't bullet proof and neither are you, so don't think for a second you can come to my club and order me around." His thumb traces my bottom lip. "Your mouth looks like it enjoys cock. Maybe you should give me a blow job for interrupting a good fuck."

"Over my dead body." Despite my claim, my breathy voice is tinged with a sudden desire to taste his saltiness. I squeeze my legs together to curb the need between my thighs.

"Oh, baby doll, don't tempt me, because that can easily be arranged." As he steps back, his gaze is mocking. He shakes a cigarette from a pack and leans against his desk. "Now sit down and tell me what you want from me, or did you just come here to annoy me?"

What the actual fuck. He summoned me to this stupid club and now he acts as if I blew his perfect afternoon. I drop into the chair in front of his desk, regretting it instantly. The black leather looking comfortable on the surface is stiff as a brick. Not an incentive for any visitor to stay long. "One of your goons called me and said to come by the club straight away. That it was an emergency that couldn't wait."

"Oh, right. I actually thought he filled you in."

"Filled me in about what?"

"Ethan was shot." Jay lights the cigarette and takes a long drag, his gaze fixed on my face. "He's in the hospital, but I don't think it's too serious. From what I was told, it was a clean through-and-through, though it was in his chest, so his lungs could've collapsed."

I blink at him with irritation. So Ethan is back to his old ways and considering that he still hangs with Jay, he is likely dealing drugs again. "To be honest, I have no idea why you called me. I haven't seen Ethan in three years and would've already divorced him if I had known his whereabouts."

"Well, legally, you guys are still married and you are his next of kin. Ethan has no other family."

My forehead wrinkles. "What about his brother?"

"Dead."

That's news to me, but then again, a lot can happen in three years. "Look, I'm not sure what you want me to say. Under the law, I'm responsible for his medical bills, but that's about it." Who knows if Ethan even wants to see me.

"I'm afraid that's not how that works in our organization." Jay takes another drag, twirling the smoke around in his mouth. "Family is important, so I expect you to take care of him. I mean, it's for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you apart. As far as I can tell, you are both still alive, and this is a time Ethan needs you."

"He walked out on me. After only three months of marriage. And then he dropped out of school to return to a life on the streets that he preferred over our joint future. As far as I'm concerned, I don't owe him anything."

With a sigh, Jay crushes the rest of the burning cigarette into the ashtray. It only takes a few steps to close the distance between us; by the time he lowers himself to my level, his eyes have turned such a dark shade of brown that his pupils are no longer distinguishable from the rest.

Without skipping a beat, he cups his hand around my head and pulls me closer, making it impossible for me to breathe without taking in his woodsy aftershave. "Look, you seem like a smart girl, and I didn't think I needed to spell this out for you. As his wife, I'm holding you accountable for him. He will be staying with you until he has fully recovered, and that's starting as soon as he can sign himself out of the hospital."

"What if that's not acceptable to me?"

"Trust me, you don't want to go there." He strokes his fingers down my cheek and along my jawbone. The touch is gentle, but the darkness in his eyes leaves no doubt that it's intended as a threat. "You have such a pretty face. It would be a shame if something horrible happened to it."

I want to look away, but his gaze holds me hostage. He traces the curve of my neck, his nails edging along the opening of my blouse. All I can do is soak up his masculine scent. I should swat his daring fingers away now circling the outlines of my nipples that poke at him provokingly from under my shirt, but the parts of my brain that are usually in control of my muscle functions are paralyzed.

Being so close to him makes me feel alive.

Geez, Brianna, get a grip on your hormones.

He is a predator, a criminal of the worst kind, with an entourage of thugs who will dispose of me in the Hudson River without a second thought. Next to him, Ethan is a choirboy.

Shit, then why do I want to taste his tongue in my mouth?

I clear my throat to oust the friskiness from my voice. "What about the cops? Hospitals are required to report all gunshot wounds."

"Don't worry, Ethan knows how to handle the police."

"Then I should probably go and check on him."

"That might be wise before we will both do something we might not be able to explain to your husband."

My thoughts exactly.

With a curt smile, I get out of my chair. Shit, my panties are soaking wet.

Jay snaps his fingers in front of my face. "You listening?"

"What?"

"I said that before you go, I need your driver's license."

My forehead wrinkles. "For what?"

"Have to make sure you are twenty-one before I can invite you back to the club."

For real? That Asian girl didn't look like she was out of her teens. Since fighting him over this isn't worth the battle, I take my license out of my wallet and drop it on his desk.

He picks it up and turns it around to read the address. "Not gonna lie, I took you more for a woman who lives close to 5th Avenue to maximize all the shopping opportunities."

"Nope, I like the Westside more."

"Cool." My license disappears in the back pocket of his tight jeans that can't hide the bulge between his legs.

Not that I should notice these things.

I hold out my hand. "You saw my age, now give it back."

He snorts. "But that's my insurance policy, baby doll. You know, in case you disappear on me or abandon your poor husband at the hospital, I need to know where you live."

You can also follow this ongoing story on REAM or KINDLE VELLA. Links can be found under my profile or you can DM me. The completed story will become available as an eBook and paperback later this year.