Mafia Queen (The Manning Sisters #1) (6 page)

“Wow, Dakota, it’s beautiful,” Lis said as she looked at the one story house nestled in a small cove.

“Thank you,” he responded with a smile. “Let’s get inside. It looks like it may rain.”

As she followed him through the front door she was surprised by the openness of the place. “Wow, it’s even more beautiful on the inside.”

Dakota grinned as he led her through the open living room and into the connected kitchen. “I wanted everything to be where I could see it. Too many rooms give too many places for people to hide.”

“How long have you had this place?”

“About three years. I built it as a refuge from reality, but it turned into home.”

“What happened to your house in the city?”

“I sold it. I was never there so I didn’t see the point of keeping it. Most nights I was at the mansion anyway.”

“Wait, what? You stayed at the mansion most nights? Why?”

“To watch you,” he answered honestly. “I was always keeping my eyes on you. And not just because it was my job.”

Lis looked at him for a moment before she dropped her gaze to the floor and sighed. “I really have been blind when it comes to you.”

“Lis, I haven’t been with a woman in three years. You are the first person, other than my family, that I have brought here. You are the only woman I ever want here,” he told her then ran his hand down her hair. “I have something I want to ask you.”

“Oh? What’s that?” She asked and smiled at him.

When he dropped to one knee in front of her she inhaled deeply. “Elisabeth Manning, I am asking you for your hand in marriage. Not because it’s my duty, or because it’s what’s best for the family. I am asking because I am in love with you. I am asking because you make me happy by just being near me. I am asking because with you, my life will be complete. I love you, Lis, and I always will. Please say you’ll marry me.”

Lis’ eyes filled with tears as she looked into the eyes of the man she’d loved for a decade. Unable to find her voice, Lis nodded and watched Dakota’s face light up in sheer happiness. When he grabbed her left hand and slid a ring on her finger she gasped loudly.

“This was my grandmother’s ring. I wanted you to have it because she was one of the strongest women I knew and you remind me of her.”

Lis looked at her hand and gasped again. The platinum band held a diamond solitaire surrounded by tiny sapphires. The stones were the exact same shade of blue as Dakota’s eyes. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”

“You’re absolutely beautiful,” he told her and rose to his feet. “I promise I will make you happy and keep you safe.”

“I know you will and I promise I will make you happy and keep you safe as well.”

When he pulled her into his arms, she melted against him. “Lis, I want you more than I have ever wanted anyone or anything in my entire life.”

Lis smiled at his words and pulled out of his arms. When her eyes met his there was a fire in them that he had never seen before and he knew that she felt the same way. Instead of saying anything, Lis grabbed the hem of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head and his breath caught in his throat. As she reached for the button on her jeans he grabbed her hands and shook his head.

“I want to take my time with you. I want to show you what you make me feel. I want to savor every inch of that delectable body and make you scream my name.”

Lis slowly licked her lips as his words made her body respond in a way no one else ever had. As his arms snaked around her, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a small kiss on his neck. His shudder from her feather light kiss caused her to smile and kiss him again.

Looping his hand into her hair, he tilted her head back and locked his mouth on hers, savoring her taste as his other hand stroked down her back to her hip. Without breaking the kiss, he released her hair and grabbed her other hip, lifting her off the floor. Her legs instantly wrapped around him and her core pressed against the bulge in the front of his jeans.

With her wrapped securely around him, he made his way to his bedroom. He opened the door without breaking contact with her and kicked it shut behind him. As he sat on the bed, she started slowly moving her hips, the friction of denim against denim caused them both to moan loudly.

“Lis,” he said breathlessly as he broke the kiss. “If you don’t stop I’m going to embarrass myself.”

She instantly stilled on him and pulled away slightly. “I’m sorry,” she apologized and he shook his head.

“Baby, I have been waiting for you for so long that the feel of you wrapped around me is driving me mad. Never apologize for that.”

He gently picked her up again and laid her on the bed. After he joined her he started trailing gentle kisses across her stomach and up to her lips. His hands started to explore her body as his mouth latched onto hers again and she shivered under him.

Unhooking the front clasp of her bra, Dakota broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. As his hand latched onto one breast he dipped his head and took the dusky rose nipple of the other one into his mouth. Her body arched off the bed as he clamped his teeth gently around it and pulled slightly while he pinched the other one between his thumb and forefinger and gently twisted it.

Heat pooled between her legs as he continued to play with her breasts. Never, in all her sexual experiences, had she been as turned on as she was by him. “Please,” she said breathlessly and he lifted his head.

As he took in her flushed face he smiled a little, but didn’t say anything as he dropped his head back down to her breasts. Gently biting and sucking, he trailed his free hand down her stomach to the clasp of her jeans. After popping the button open, he slid his fingers into the waistband and started slowly stroking his way down until he was touching the soft, damp hair that covered her.

“So ready for me,” he whispered. “Not yet though.”

She groaned a little when he removed his hand, but her groans turned to sighs as he unzipped her jeans and slid them off her hips. Left only in her blue lace panties, she looked like a goddess stretched before him. His hardness pressed uncomfortably into his jeans, but he knew if he took them off he’d take her fast and hard.

“Dakota,” she whispered breathlessly as his hands stroked up her inner thighs and over the crotch of her barely-there panties.

“Yes?” He asked, never taking his eyes off her. Her body was so responsive to his touch and it was driving him wild with need. “Tell me what you want, Lis.”

Her body arched off the bed and she gasped loudly as he slipped a finger inside her panties and gently stroked her throbbing nub. “Do you like that, baby?”

She moaned and bit down on her lip as he continued his gentle strokes. When he pulled his hand away and slowly pulled her panties down her hips she opened her eyes and watched him. “I want you, Dakota. I want you like I have never wanted anyone in my entire life.”

“Mmm. I’m glad,” he said as he dipped his head and gently kissed her inner thigh. “Be patient, love, and we will both get what we want.”

Before she could respond, he locked his lips around her and gently scraped his teeth across her most sensitive spot. Her hips bucked off the bed and he slid his hands under her, lifting her to his mouth as he feasted. When her legs started to shake he sucked harder, causing her to erupt in his mouth as she shouted his name.

“Beautiful,” he said as he looked at her flushed, sweat covered skin. “Now, I am going to
show you what you do to me.” He stripped in a matter of seconds and covered himself with a condom before climbing onto the bed. As he nestled between her legs, her hips rose.

“Please, Dakota. Please,” she said breathlessly as he nudged her open with his pulsating head.

Giving in to her pleas, and his own uncontrollable need, he lifted his hips and entered her in a swift, deep thrust. She instantly closed around him as he stilled inside of her. “Oh, God, baby you’re so tight,” he moaned as he started moving inside her.

As he increased the pace, she met him thrust for thrust. Her legs locked around him and she dug her nails into his back as her pleasure grew. When she clenched tightly around him, he felt himself start to lose control. Grasping her hips, he lifted her off the bed and pounded into her hard and fast.

Lis felt Dakota stiffen above her and she knew that he was coming so she let go and came with him. Their cries of pleasure bounced off the vaulted ceiling and echoed around the room just as Dakota’s phone let out a shrill ring.

“Jackson,” Dakota answered after the fourth ring.

“Well, well, well, Mr. Jackson. It seems you have been on quite the adventure the past couple of days,” a male voice said.

“Who is this?” Dakota asked and pressed his finger to his lips, letting Lis know to remain quiet.

“You know who I am. You have seen me on several occasions over the past three years,” the voice responded.

“Michael Morrison,” Dakota said, knowing exactly who it was now.

“Five points, Mr. Jackson. Now that we have established we know each other, let’s get down to business.”

“How did you get this number?”

“Your good friend, Collin, gave it to me,” Michael answered. “Not that he intended to, mind you, but he did nonetheless.”

“What do you want, Morrison?” Dakota asked, even though he already knew.

“I want Elisabeth,” Michael answered. “I want her to come to me and I want our families to merge.”

“Not gonna happen,” Dakota told him through gritted teeth.

“Well then, we have a problem,” Michael said and Dakota stiffened. “You see, my father and hers had a deal. She and I would marry and we would control both territories.”

“I know about your little deal, Morrison. What I don’t know is why you thought Elisabeth would be a pawn in your little game.”

“Oh, but she was, until you had your little conversation with her. Yes, I know about that conversation. It was my restaurant, after all,” Michael said and chuckled. “I also know about the little crush you’ve had on her. Lusting after a fifteen-year-old child? Disgusting. You would never be able to keep a woman like her happy, you know that,
right? Elisabeth requires a guiding hand and a large bank account.”

“Do you even know the woman you’re talking about?” Dakota asked in disgust.

“Oh, I know her. I know she’s a lame lay and easily manipulated. I know that she is happiest when she’s shopping and spending daddy’s money. I know that she will never fall for the likes of you.”

“Then I was right, you don’t know her at all. Morrison, I want you to listen to this very carefully because I am only going to say it once. I am taking over the Manning family operations. I am going to be in charge of all transactions from here on out. I am going to be the one marrying Elisabeth Manning and taking charge of the territory. Any business deals you had with the Manning family died when you had Richard and Bianca murdered.”

“Well, I am sorry to hear that. You can’t protect her forever, Jackson. She will be mine, even if I have to kill you to make it happen.”

“Bring it on, Morrison,” Dakota said and hung up the phone.

“Dakota?” Lis asked softly. He was shaking with rage and she was afraid he’d do something to get himself hurt.

“I’m okay, Lis. I just need a moment to calm down,” he told her.

When she reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder he felt a wave of relief wash over him. She was his and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

“Dakota,” Lis said quietly and he looked over his shoulder at her. When their eyes connected he saw the concern in hers and he immediately turned to face her.

“Baby, it’s going to be okay. I promise you that he will not get to you.”

“I’m not worried about me, Dakota. I’m worried about you. You were shaking and your shoulders tensed and I thought you were going to crush the phone in your hands. What did he say?”

Dakota sighed as he laid back in the bed and pulled her into his arms. “He said that he would have you even if he had to kill me to make it happen.” Lis stiffened in his arms and tried to pull away, but he held her tighter and kissed the top of her head. “Baby, I will not let him get to you and I will not let him take me from you either. You agreed to marry me and now you’re stuck with me for a very long time.”

Lis nodded against his chest, but she knew he couldn’t guarantee that. She knew that the life they led was dangerous. She also knew that she would stay by his side and fight this battle with him. “Dakota, I’m not going to hide away like some scared little rabbit. I am going to stand beside you, and we are going to lead the family together.”

“That’s my girl,” he said and kissed the top of her head again.

“Dakota, make love to me again,” she said shyly and he smiled.

“Your wish is my command, my Queen,” he said as he proceeded to do exactly what he wanted.

***

“Wake up, beautiful,” Dakota said as he gently shook Lis from her sex induced sleep. “We need to head back to my parent’s before it gets dark.”

“Hmm,” she said quietly and he grinned. He was going to have fun waking her up every morning, but right now they needed to get back and work out the details of what needs to happen.

“Baby, we need to get back. We have a lot of planning to do and a short time to do it.”

Lis opened her eyes and looked at him for a second before she smiled and raised up. When the sheet covering her slipped down and her firm breasts poked out, Dakota’s mouth went dry. Her nipples were red and hard from his attention earlier and the sight caused his dick to harden painfully in his pants.

“Looks like part of you wants to stay here and have your way with me again,” she said as her gaze caressed the bulge. “I know we have to get back, but it feels like a safe slice of heaven here.”

“We can come back any time, love, but for now we have to get back.”

Lis nodded and hopped out of bed. Once she was dressed, Dakota put her hand in his and they left the house together.

“Dakota, does anyone know where your family lives?”

“Nope and I want to keep it that way,” he answered and she nodded.

“I don’t blame you. I want to keep it that way, too.”

“Lis, Collin was the mole and I think he played a part in your parent’s murder.”

“Why do you think that?” She asked and tilted her head to look
at the sky.

“He left the club for a few minutes while we were at the bar that night, but I never knew where he went. He’d been sitting beside you during our conversation and heard the entire thing. When Morrison called me earlier he mentioned part of that conversation, but no one that worked at the bar was ever close enough to overhear us.”

“Oh,” Lis said and held Dakota’s hand a little tighter. “I’m assuming Collin is how Mike got your number.”

Dakota nodded as they stepped onto the back porch of his parents’ house. “He is, but that will have to wait. For now, we have a wake and a wedding to plan. I love you, Elisabeth, and I will be beside you through everything. Never doubt that.”

“I love you, too, Dakota and I wouldn’t want anyone else beside me through all that is to come.”

Dakota smiled as he opened the door and they stepped inside. As the door closed behind them, Dakota was struck with a feeling that something was going to happen. He didn’t know when and he didn’t know what, but he did know that as long as Lis was beside him he could face whatever life threw at him.