Down to Business (Business Series) (40 page)

“It’s so hot when you act like an asshole,” I teased, pinching his nipple.

“Ow!” he laughed and dug his fingers into my stomach, tickling me again. I smacked his arm repeatedly in a fit of giggles until the front door opened all of a sudden and Lindy came in carrying an armload of groceries. She glared at us, some hair draping over right eye. “Please don’t tell me this is how you two have foreplay.”

Vinny jumped up and grabbed the heavy bag of groceries from her. “We were just getting to the foreplay, thanks for interrupting.”

“I really don’t want to listen to you two going at it again tonight. Can you go screw your brains out someplace else, please?”

I followed the two of them into the kitchen and helped put away the groceries while Vinny got a bottle of water from the fridge. “I really need a vacation.”

“Me too.” I blinked and turned to him. “You know what? We should go on a vacation after midterms are over.”

He looked to me with interest. “Where are you thinking?”

“I don’t know, maybe a weekend get-away somewhere. There are always travel deals on the web.”

He crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter, his brow furrowed in thought. “You know, I might be able to arrange something. I know some people in Atlantic City.”

My heart did a flip. Lindy and I both looked up at the same time.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Atlantic City!” Lindy cried like it was her vacation.

“Let me make a phone call,” he said leaving the kitchen.

Lindy grabbed my arms and jumped up and down. “You’re going to Atlantic City! How fun! You have to gamble for me.”

I laughed. “I can’t.  I’m not twenty-one yet.”

“I’m sure Vinny can get you a fake ID. You have to learn how to win at the roulette table for me. We are still going to Vegas for my twenty-first like we always said, so you better know what you’re doing by next March.”

I glanced over my shoulder, hearing Vinny’s voice as he talked on the phone.  I wondered if he was calling one of his family “friends”. I knew the mob had connections in casinos because I watched all the movies, of course.

Lindy and I peeked around the corner to see what he was saying.

“Yeah, I forgot,” he explained. “I’ve been busy. It’s for school, Vivian.”

Vivian! I narrowed my eyes. Why the hell was he calling her?

“I need to do this for extra credit. Running a casino has to do with business.”

He paced to my open textbook on the coffee table and stared down at it as he listened to whatever she said.

“Two weeks from now.  Have your uncle call me. I gotta go, I’m busy studying for mid-terms. Bye.”

He hung up and looked up at us. I tried to hide my annoyance, but I couldn’t help it. “She’s your great connection? Really?”

“Her uncle is a manager at the Seaview. It’s one of the best hotels in Atlantic City.”

“I’d be happy to stay at a Motel 8. I don’t need the best hotel. Why would you even involve her? Now she is going to get all nosy.”

“Would you calm down? Jesus. I was trying to do us a favor.”

“Well we don’t need any favors from her,” I snapped. “Going on vacation two weeks from now wouldn’t make sense for mid-terms since they are before then, so why would you even use that excuse?”

“If you were actually listening I told her it was for extra credit. I covered my ass.”

“Did you tell her I was going too?”

“No,” he said as if I was crazy. “It’s none of her business.”

“What if she decides to invite herself since you’re supposedly going alone?”

“Okay,” Lindy said putting her hands up. “Both of you calm down. This was supposed to be a fun weekend.”

“Why can’t we go next weekend?” I asked, crossing my arms.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Because it’s the weekend of the Rangers game she bought us tickets for.”

I threw my hands up and walked into the kitchen.

“They are center ice seats!” he yelled, following me. “What do you want me to do?”

I turned around, crossing my arms. “Tell her to take her tickets and her courtesy and shove them up her ass.”

Lindy put her arm around me. “She’s PMSing.”

“I am not PMSing,” I said, stepping away from her and looking at Vinny. “I’m just sick of Vivian. I’m tired of tip toeing around and kissing her ass.”

“Do we really have to go through this again?” he asked with a sigh. “I’m so sick of this conversation.”

“Just forget it. I don’t need to go on vacation. Maybe Vivian can help you with your mid-terms, since she’s so great at solving all of your problems.” I said, leaving the kitchen. “Have fun at your hockey game next weekend.”

“God dammit, Autumn, why the fuck are you being like this?”

He followed me to my bedroom where I promptly turned in the doorway and threw my arms up against the doorframe, denying him access. “I think we’ve studied enough today. Isn’t it your nap time?”

He frowned at me, looking defeated. “Look if you want me to call her and tell her never mind, I will. I just wanted to treat you to something nice for once, but if you don’t want me to do that, I won’t. I’m sorry.”

I frowned, feeling the familiar lump invade my throat. “I know. I just hate her Vinny.”

He pulled me against his chest and squeezed me tight. “You know I don’t want to be around her, but maybe I can use this opportunity next weekend to talk to her about giving me back my share of Mazzolas.”

I pulled back and looked up at him. “Why don’t you get one of your mob friends to kill her? I promise I won’t tell where you hide the body.”

He laughed and leaned in to kiss me. “You’re nuts, you know that?”

I smiled and leaned up accepting his kiss. “It’s only because I love you.”

He shook his head and smiled. “I think I’m going to go take a nap.”

“Okay.”

I expected him to pack up his things and leave, but instead he brushed past me and threw himself down on my bed.

I watched him from the doorway and crossed my arms, hiding a smile. “You know, if you keep sleeping here, Lindy’s going to ask you for rent.”

“It’s in my wallet,” he said, pulling the pillow under his head and closing his eyes.

I shook my head and laughed. “Sweet dreams, Vinny.”

I closed the door and went back out to the living room to clean up our books.

Lindy watched me from the corner of the sofa with a smile. “You two fight like a married couple.”

I looked over at her and rolled my eyes. “We wouldn’t fight at all if it wasn’t for Vivian.”

“Who cares about that bitch?  He loves you. He wants to book a two-night stay at the Seaview, A room there is like three to five hundred dollars a night. That’s love.”

“That doesn’t matter. He has money to burn.”

“Yes it does. He never treated Vivian to a vacation. He took her to dinner sometimes, but they never went on a trip anywhere. He didn’t even want to do Cancun last year for spring break. When they fought, he would walk right out the door, every time. When you’re pissed, he fights for you. He doesn’t want to lose you I really think he loves you, Auti.”

I zipped up Vinny’s backpack and set it near the door. “I know he does… but it’s hard not to be jealous. I don’t want him to spend time with her, you know how she is.”

“I know, but do you really think he’d cheat on you?”

I contemplated her question, going with my gut feeling. “No.”

“Then stop worrying. He’s your boyfriend. He only has eyes for you, he hasn’t slept in his dorm in two weeks because he can’t get enough of you.”

We glanced over as my cell phone dinged on the coffee table signaling I got a text. The only two people who texted me were in the apartment, so I felt confused when I picked it up. To my surprise, it was from Vinny. It was a screenshot of a confirmed hotel itinerary booking for two-weeks from today for a suite at the Seaview. The message below it that read:

VIVIAN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I LOVE YOU.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Lindy asked and leaned over to see what I was looking at. She took my phone and stared at it, then touched her heart. “Aww! You’re one lucky bitch.”

I elbowed her and took my phone back. “Remember when you who told me he wasn’t good enough?”

“Well he made you cry…I don’t put up with guys hurting you. But it looks like your crying days are over. Well, sad tears anyway.”

“I’m going to go thank him.”

Lindy rolled her eyes. “Oh God, I know what that means. Do I need break out the ear plugs?”

“I’m not loud!” I said, heading toward my bedroom.

“Loud enough! These walls are thin you know.”

“Yeah well I’m making up for all the times I had to listen to you and Tyler!” I yelled back from the hall.

“I forbid you to say that name in my presence!”

I
slowly opened my bedroom door to find Vinny lying on his back, shirtless in my bed. I walked over to the bedside table, set my phone next to his, and climbed on top of him. His hands moved up and down my sides and he kissed me.

“Thank you.” I said, pressing my forehead against his and looking into his eyes.

“You’re welcome.” He whispered back.

“There’s only one problem.” I sat up straight, pulling my shirt off.

“What’s the problem?” His gaze chased up and down my body before he reached up and slid my bra straps down my shoulders.

“My boss might not give me the time off. He can be a real pain in the ass.” I teased with a smirk and tossed my bra aside.

He swallowed and his gaze turned playfully seductive. “Do you want me to send some of my guys to kick his ass?” he murmured while his hands cupped my breasts. “You know, I have the mob connection like in the movies.”

I choked back a laugh and moaned instead when he pinched my nipples between his fingertips.

I reached down with a smile and unfastened his jeans. “I don’t think that will be necessary…”

“Are you sure?” He sat up on his elbows and his warm tongue moved across my left nipple, sending a tidal wave of heat through me. I arched my back and pulled at a handful of his silky black hair, which he retorted with a bite to my nipple. I cried out as searing pain translated into pleasure. I raked my nails over his shoulders, leaving faded pink lines on his perfectly tanned skin. 

“I’m really…really…sure…” I said, between breaths.

My heart pounded as he rolled me onto my back and sat over me. He pulled my pants and underwear down and his eyes turned devious as he reached over to my bedside table where I kept our condoms. I smiled up at him before I caught a flash of silver and white out of the corner of my eye. I glanced over to see the fuzzy white handcuffs Lindy bought us as a gag gift being dangled over my head. I had only used them one time and it wasn’t for sex. I had fastened his wrist to the headboard as a joke while he was napping so he could not go to work.

My heart pounded extra hard as he took my wrist in his palm.

Anxiety pinched at my stomach. “Vinny, what are you doing?” I said, releasing a nervous laugh.

He grinned at me, looking like a dirty cop as he slid the cold metal cuff around my wrist. It closed with a soft click.

“You’ve been a pain in the ass today. I think it’s time for some payback.” He reached for my other arm and I giggled and hid it behind my back. He pulled it out and lifted both of my arms over my head, sending a ripple of excitement through me.

“Vinny!” I tried to lower my arms and realized he had cuffed both my wrists around one of the bars on the headboard. My jaw dropped.

He chuckled at me and took his phone off the nightstand. “Make that face again.”

I gasped and laughed. “Vinny, quit! No pictures. Someone might see.”

“Just make the O face again. It was priceless,” he said with another laugh and held up his phone to my face.

I narrowed my eyes at him and gave him my best bitchy face.

He took a picture. “Hot.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist and used all the strength in my thighs to push him off me. Shock hit me like a splash of cold water as he tumbled off me and onto the floor.

“Oh shit!” I yelled, lifting my head and trying to see where he landed. “Vinny?! Are you okay?”

He stood up beside me laughing. “That was fucked up.”

A knock on the door startled us both. “Are you guys okay? What the fuck was that loud bang?”

“Were having some rough sex, is that okay with you Lind?” he shouted.

She screamed and complained about needing her earplugs before she stormed off.

I laughed hard and continued to do so even after he was back on the bed and lying next to me.

“Are you done?” He asked smirking, his head propped on his hand as he watched me.

I shook my head, rubbing my cheek against my shoulder to wipe my tears of laughter since my arms were still restrained. “Your face was priceless!”

I mocked his shocked expression and laughed again.

“You know you’re not in a good place to taunt me. I could retaliate in a tickle assault…or worse.” He wiggled his brows at me and his hand clamped over my thigh. The arousal I felt at being completely at his mercy shocked me.

“Go easy on me. It’s my first time in cuffs.”

He grinned, pushing my thighs apart. “This will be your first warning, Ms. Malone.”