Page 26 of The Mafia Bachelor

Mmm.

Minutes later, I wander out to the pool area in nothing but swimming shorts. There’s no one else there, all having been longer changing, so I sling down my towel, and dive into the cool water. It’s refreshing as it envelops me and I swim the longest length of the large, oval pool, before noticing movement from the corner of my eye.

Avery.

I stand up in the shallow end, where it’s only waist deep. Avery has paused under the arches leading to the bedrooms, watching me. She’s in the teal-coloured bikini I sent her, that shows off her perfect tits in a way that makes me desperate to touch them. My cock stirs. She’s wearing that bikini for me.

“Avery.” It’s an invitation, and she takes it as such.

She’s looking at my chest.

I raise my eyebrows in challenge.

“I didn’t realise you had so many tattoos,” she says, a little breathless.

“Come and take a look,” I suggest softly. Just for her ears. “I can give you a tour.”

She gives a half snort, half laugh, but approaches, eyes on the Celtic knot tattoos that cover my chest.

“These are testament to my Navvy heritage,” I explain, pointing at the shovels, bricks, boots, and other objects woven into the Celtic lines down my arm. “And the leaves and deer are for Highgate.” I gesture to my other arm. I don’t bother explaining the knives, or the devil’s number that is twisted into every part. She knows.

She stares and stares, and eventually, smirking, I turn so she can examine my back too.

Then an unwelcome giggle intrudes, and the moment is broken.

Avery is my choice for dinner. She’s the only option for me.

We have as romantic a meal as you can imagine, and our conversation is easy. Too easy. It’s simple to listen to Avery talk about her life, and I don’t even mind revealing the inner workings of the Archway mafia to her. And after we’ve eaten every lick of dessert, I take her hand and we walk down the beach. We’re not fully away from my parents, who are no doubt listening in somehow, but it feels secluded. Intimate. Her little hand in mine as we stroll along the water’s edge. She’s in the green dress I sent her, that sets off her dark-brown hair and skims over her curves, just as I envisaged. And the sight makes me fecking ravenous for her.

She’s in that dress, belonging to me. She’s mine.

I’m holding that back, because this feels more dangerous than any gun fight. I don’t want to scare her off. Keeping it light. Or as light as a date after a simulated attack can be.

“I should ask you about important things on these dates.” Avery looks out at the water that sparkles under the moon. “You know.” Her glance says, “because I’m pretending, remember?”.

“Like what?” I can’t help being aware that my mother is watching every move we make.

“Do you want children?” She peeks up at me nervously.

I’m pretty sure I want whatever she wants. “Do you?”

“Not fair, I asked first. And besides…” She flicks her gaze towards my parents a short distance up the beach.

“Ahhh…” I half laugh, because I should have started this conversation myself. Then I could have her answer first. “Yes,” I say eventually. “I want kids.”

“But you haven’t married. And you’re forty.” She raises one eyebrow and we continue walking.

“I hadn’t met the right person.” I keep my gaze steady on her. “There’s a part of me that knew I’d start a family at some point. When I think about the future, I see it with a family. That’s in my bones. But I…” I shake my head. “It’s bloody sometimes. It’s dangerous. What about you?” I’m keen to steer this away from myself, not least because I’m far more interested in her than my own messy life.

“I’d like to have kids. I thought I’d want to have a career first, and all of that, but it’s been so hard just to find a job.”

We share a secret smile, even as a thread of what a dirty bastard I am traces through me. She is technically my employee, and I can’t stop thinking about how I want to bend her over and rail her. Pull her down to the sand and on top of me. Fill her up in every sense of that filthy word. Give her any number of babies she wants.

“You’ve lost interest in the law?”

“I thought it would be a good, reliable job. That’s what everyone said it would be, but things are changing fast.”

“Kids are second choice then?” I ask, one eyebrow raised.