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Lion's Den Ch. 01

By: Elektrical



CHAPTER 1

Max looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was as neat as it was going to be, clothes was fitting right, oh yeah she looked good. Even though she was not feeling 100% she promised Laney she would take her to Chinatown on her first day up from Texas. She was ready, she wondered if Laney was also.

"Laney babes, you ready?"

"Yeah, I am so excited," Laney squealed in glee hugging her friend.

The girls were polar opposites, but that did not stop them from forming a great friendship. Laney was a petite size 6 with long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. Max was tall, brown skinned, with a mass of long brown curls on her head, plus sized and known for laugher and mischievousness in her grey eyes. In the four years they've known each other in college; they have been each others confidants, critics, stylists, study buddies, and alibis. Laney was the only sister to six brothers and Max was an only child, so they really valued their sisterhood. They even had nicknames for each other. Laney called Max, Blue because she used to be addicted to jeans, light blue, navy blue, and all shades in between. Max called Laney, Red due to her having red hair the day they met. The girls had years and secrets between them that made their bond stronger.

They hit Chinatown and worked their way up and down the long shopping avenue. Laney was goo-goo eyed at all the sights and sounds, she had seen New York in movies and heard of how bustling it was, but her senses were on overload. For Max, despite feeling terrible at the beginning of the day she was having a great time. She was in her element in New York. All the jostling and noise gave her an intense serenity. She missed New York when she was at college; she only came home for summer and Christmas. She had taken to spending Thanksgiving with Laney's family, since her parents had started spending their Thanksgivings in Tobago, couples retreat they called it. Right now they are in the South of France, living la vida country.

As a natural course to the day, Max took Laney to Little Italy. She loved Little Italy, when she was younger her father would bring her to the San Gennaro Street Festival. She would have a blast trying to win prizes and getting her fill on sausage and peppers.

They found a restaurant that sounded appetizing, and sat down to chow. The girls chatted about everything and anything, Laney gave Max a list of things she wanted to do while up North.

"Whoa Laney, slow down, you are going to be here for six weeks, we have time. Well actually you have time. Remind me to pick you up a subway map, and reload you metro card."

"Dude you aren't gonna going to hit the city with me?

"Not all the time, you know I have that internship, part time, but nevertheless it is going to be demanding. And plus I don't want you cooped up in the house all day waiting for me to get home. By the end of you vaca you will be a seasoned New Yorker, or at least the best tourist ever."

Laney laughed, "Girl you know my parents will disown my red-neck ass, if I return to them all citified."

Max's body rocked with laughter, thinking of Laney doing a Paris Hilton on the ranch. "Let's get out of here, before they put us out."

***********

"Oh shoot!" Max exclaimed as she tripped on her shoe lacings. She wore sneakers for the comfort of a walking marathon day like today, but she hated having to retie in public. Luckily she was by an alley and could stoop down without having her ass in the way.

"Laney pause for bit gotta tie my sneakers."

Max stooped down to tie her laces, wishing that she had invested in sneakers with Velcro, a little too late. As she gave the knot a tight tug she heard a whistle, a low drawn out sound causing her to turn her head slowly. She would have whipped around quickly, but she did not want to show that she was startled. Her eyes connected with a pair of dark ones, smirking and dangerous. Max stood slowly, patting off imaginary dust off her jeans, never breaking the staring the contest. She broke into a broad smile, picked up her bags and began to walk away with Laney in tow.

Just put one foot infront of the other, she thought, walk walk walk walk. Who ever that sweet piece of man was made her stomach dance a bit. She felt like prey, an unusual feeling for her.



"Excuse me miss?" Leo called out to her hoping she would stop, but she kept walking as if she had not heard him. Oh jeez, look at that ass, I could spend all night just smacking that,

"Blue is he calling you?" Laney asked. Max just shook her head never breaking stride, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Excuse me miss?" Leo said touching her shoulder. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face. Is that real or fake? He could not decide, so he continued. "It is not very ladylike of you to be bending down in alleys like that. Didn't your mother teach you better?"

Laney gasped, disbelieving that someone could be so rude. But after all this is New York. She glanced up to Max wondering what was her friend going to do. On campus, Max had a reputation for being smart, tough, sweet, and crazy. She did not like to get into fights, but she made it clear she was not to be crossed. In the same vein she would do some outlandish things like go skinny dipping, or prank a professor. She was unpredictable, and Laney loved that about her. Life with Max was never boring.

"Sir, and it is not gentlemanly for you to be staring at my ass, and then whistling as if it was on display for you. Didn't your mother teach you any better?" Oh what an ass. Hmm look at that mouth, luscious and inviting. And those grey eyes, sensual and piercing. This close he could see the rise and fall of her chest as she spoke, and what was that, Oh snap did her nipples just get hard? Leo liked what he saw, she was something different; a black girl with grey eyes, and he thought he picked up a faint accent when she spoke.

"Touché, madame. Let me make it up to you and your friend. Come join me for a drink." He stared into her eyes trying to get a read on her. She was smiling but her eyes said nothing. She'd make a great poker player. His inability to read her had him intrigued.

"No, thank you." Max started to walk away again. She knew danger miles off, and she had no idea what this Italian boy wanted with her, but it made her uncomfortable and very cautious. She had already assessed him the moment she had turned her head, and gorgeous seemed a limited description. He was breathtaking: tall, black hair, black eyes, a mouth that could only seduce, broad shoulders, well muscled, and the slight bulge in his crotch area told her all she needed to know.

Leo was scrambling in his head for words to say to slow her down again as he took in the sight before him. Her body was insane. She was big, curvaceous, and the way her hips swayed had him mesmerized. Her skin was a rich chocolate, and she wore her hair natural and in two long braids. He felt his cock getting hard watching her make her escape, but he couldn't allow her to get away so easily. "Please, bellas, how can I face my mother when I have disrespected a beautiful lady like you, huh?"

At that line, both Laney and Max stopped and laughed. Leo liked where this was going, if he could get them to laugh he had them.

Max winked at Laney and turned to Leo, "Sure we ladies would fancy a cold drink."

"Follow me." They retraced their steps back down to alley to the door, labeled Absinthe, Leo had exited from. They walked through a very immaculate but empty restaurant kitchen, into a plush nightclub.

"Come ladies take a seat at the bar. By the way my name is Leo, and you are?"

"Max and Laney," Laney responded feeling rather giddy. This man was hot, but she could see he only had eyes for Max.

Leo noticed that they did not give last names, and smiled. Getting information from these girls was going to be like pulling teeth.

They watched Leo make their Long Island Ice Teas, while he continued to make small talk. Max kept a keen eye out for any suspicious ingredients, and decided to mess with him a bit.

"You know you have one of the sexiest mouths I have ever seen." she said casually.

Leo looked up, only to see her flashing that unreadable smile, but her eyes were all mischief.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, your lips are inviting, but I see wickedness in them."

"Wickedness?"

"Yep, wi-cked-nessss."

What the fuck? Is she flirting me? He still couldn't tell.

As they continued to stare at each other with amused looks on their faces. They heard someone enter the club.

"Yo, Leo you in here?" shouted the intruder.

"Yeah, I'm here and I got company." Leo shouted back. Max made a mental note of the tone of Leo's response, she had heard that tone many times before.

"Aye, double company. I like. I like a lot," commented a buoyant guy that could almost be Leo's twin, except for the blue eyes and low hair cut.

"Ladies, this is my cousin Pauley."

What the hell, thought Laney, is New York the breeding stable for fine ass men?

"Hello Pauley," they said in unison, causing them to laugh.

"Ladies the pleasure is all mine," he charmed while kissing their hands.

As Leo served the drinks, he motioned for Pauley to meet him in the kitchen.

When they were alone Laney blurted out, "Blue are you baiting him?" Her friend never ceased to amaze her. One moment she was walking away from him, next she was flirting.

"Of course, babes, this is the first and last time I will ever see this guy why not have a little harmless flirtatious fun, huh?" She had decided to have a bit of fun, although all of Leo's energy screamed "DANGER!" But she won't be in his company long so what could it hurt.

"Ok, I just hope you know what you are doing because you may not have noticed it, but Leo looks like he wants to devour you."

"Oh please, no body is devouring anybody," Max said sounding confident, but in that short space of time of meeting Leo her mind had already conjured scenes of him taking her rough and hard. Oh frig I gotta get out of here. This was a bad idea. "Ready when you are, Red." she said downing her drink in one.

************

Laney and Max collected their bags and walked into the kitchen to leave. The boys were in a heated discussion in Italian. Leo looked up at them and waved them over with a smile.

"Leo thank you for your hospitality, consider all forgiven and Pauley it was nice to meet you."

"You don't have to leave so soon," Leo suggested

But Max insisted politely staring right into his eyes, "Yes we do, those clothes aren't going to buy themselves. Like I said it was a pleasure."

He wondered why she stared at him like that as if she was trying to enter his soul.

"If you girls ever want to come and party here is a card for the club and your names will be on the list."

Max took the card intending to throw it in a bin as soon as they got back onto Canal Street, but Laney knowing her friend snatched it out of her hand, "No worries, I'll keep it safe." Laney had all intentions of wearing Max down until she came to the club at least one night.

*************

Leo watched the girls leave the club wondering if he would ever cross paths with Max again. He tried to ensure that by inviting them to the club, but she did not seem interested. Fuck what am I thinking? Am I trying to chase her? Oh hell no I get chased. She'll come. Leo ran his fingers thorough his hair, with a deep sigh. He did not have time for this. His work kept him busy enough: clubs and restaurants to run, soldiers to keep in line, parents to please, and money to make. The time spent with Max and Laney was the most relaxing half hour he had in a long time. But here he was back again with his thoughts swirling about her. He was curious about her, she never asked about the club, did he own it? Did he just work here? Did she secretly guess what he did? Did she care? Why would she care? She seemed rather content to just be in that moment enjoying that experience. She was not like most women. What he was able to gather from their conversation was that she was on summer break from college, she was a local, and Laney was not.

Pauley watched his cousin. His face seemed relaxed, he wasn't wearing that scowl he loved to sport. Yep a pretty lady could do that to you. He preferred his women thinner, but he could definitely see the appeal of Max to his cousin. She was just his type. He's been telling him since puberty that it took a real man to handle a woman like that, but Pauley could never be swayed, to each his own. I guess it is back to business, Pauley mused as he saw the rigidity return to his cousin's face. Gosh he needed to get him laid.

*************

"Absinthe, sounds like it might be fun Max." Laney had begun her plan to wear Max down.

"I'm sure it is but I am not going, and neither are you."

"Yes, mama."

"Don't yes mama me, we are not going. Those boys are dangerous. We had a nice mini adventure, let's just leave it like that please."

Five nights later Laney won the battle, smiling triumphantly as she applied Max's make-up.

"Red you so owe me."

"I owe you? You know you will not object to seeing that fine ass Italian man again. So keep it quiet while I sexy you up."

"I don't need any help thank you," she said snatching the brush out of Laney's hand with a smile on her face. Despite her serious misgivings she would not mind taking a look at Leo again. I should just take a picture. Plus she did want to make Laney's stay awesome, and nothing says New York living like getting into a post nightclub on a crowded Saturday night.

*************

The girls approached the bouncer with the clip-board, "Laney and Max. We're on the list."

The bouncer didn't even look down he just unhooked the velvet barrier.

Joe B. smiled to himself, so this was the famous Laney and Max the cousins put on the list. He had received strict instructions to let them know the moment they came, any day they came.

As the girls walked down the ocean blue tube corridor to get to the dance and lounge area, they were greeted by a tall striking blond hostess.

"Hello, I am Marie. Mr. Carbone would like for you to join him in his VIP booth. Please follow me."

Laney could feel Max tense up. She knew Max only came because of her, but something was out of sync, she seemed hyper vigilant. Laney on the other hand was eager to put her eyes on Pauley again.

When they entered the VIP lounge Leo rose to meet them, his face smiling, and his eyes absorbing Max. Her red strapless dress hugged every inch of her and caused her breasts to almost spill from the heart shaped neckline. Her make up was not over done, and her hair was hanging wild and curly, but that dress was sending his thoughts crazy. He wanted to take her right then and there. When he brought his eyes back to her face, her eyes were ablaze watching him.



Did he just eye fuck me? He friggin did. Oh two can play that game mister. So in retaliation, Max's openly perused Leo. From head to toe she drank him in, taking a good pause at his crotch area then flicking her eyes to his with a smile on her face.

Oh this girl was too much. Did she see how she made my cock jump? Is that while she is smiling? One hot blooded vixen.

Laney maneuvered so Max was sitting by Leo. She could feel tension building between Max and Leo, and was willing her friend to relax and behave, but with Max you can never tell, especially when mischievous thoughts get into her mind.

Leo ordered champagne, and made as much small talk as he could, with Laney being the only one answering his questions. When the champagne arrived Max had one glass and excused herself. She went onto the dance floor to release some of the sexual tension building inside of her sitting next to Leo. Some Black Eyed Peas song came on that got her grooving. A man came up and asked for a dance but she declined.

Laney could see Leo's eyes zero in on her friend, and groaned. The last guy she saw look at Max this way caused a lot of problems, until he just stopped. Oh freak here we go again.

Leo watched Max sway to the music. She was definitely in her own world. He was glad when he saw her brush off the guy that tried to get too close. Would she do that to me if I approached her? With that thought he got down to the dance floor focused on claiming her. He walked right up to her back and pulled her to him.

Max spun around with a, "What the hell!" ready on her lips, but broke into a smile when she saw it was Leo. Oh he wants to get burned.

She leaned into him and felt his erection on her ass, like it was trying to bore a hole into her dress. He dipped down and began kissing on her neck, soft nips at first, and then it got savage. She felt her pussy getting wetter, cascading down her legs. Ok I'm losing, I gotta get out of here, but how with his fingers digging into my hips.

She figured she could make him lose his concentration, so she tilted her head back and kissed him on his neck. Running her tongue down as far as it could go. This has gone on long enough, Leo thought. He growled, and yanked her off the dance floor. He took her down a long corridor and up a flight of stairs into a dark office that only source of light was a blue glow coming from a glass window that looked onto the club.

**********

Pauley had watched his cousin from the security booth. He had never seen Leo lose it like that before. That was more his style. Leo was usually cool and calm, but that girl sure got his engine revved up. He knew he took her to his office to fuck her brains out, and this was perfect because they left sweet little Laney unattended.

Laney saw Leo pull Max off the dance floor, and knew what was going to happen. The looks he was giving Max told her Laney intended to claim her, and Max seemed to be into it tonight, although that was not her friends usual M.O. She cast her eyes around the club wondering where Pauley was.

**********

Before Max could even think, he spun her around pressing her front against the door so he could unzip her dress and unhook her bra. She gasped and clawed at the wall as he assaulted her neck and back. Her breasts were pressed against the cold door, sending a thrill to her pussy. He almost lost it when he realized she had on no panties, and spanked her ass calling her his dirty girl.

Leo dropped to his knees, "Spread 'em." he commanded. She was more than happy to oblige. He drove his tongue straight into her creaming center causing her to tremble and moan. Max was losing her mind from the way he manipulated her body. He introduced fingers to the play, plunging in and out of her at a pace that caused her to cry out his name and pound the door as her body shook. She released more of her nectar on his tongue. She tasted so good, Leo lapped at her pussy until Max came again, he could not get enough. She became so still he became concerned. Leo knew he was a great lover, but the way her body responded to him made him feel like he could fly. Max slid down to the floor to join Leo. He was sporting a big ass grin like he had conquered the world, but Max was already plotting to wipe that smile off his face.

"Was my mouth just as wicked as you imagined?" he asked remembering her comment from when they first met.

"Destructive."

She swung her leg over his and straddled him, doing a slight bounce on the tip of his exposed penis. It was a large thing but she felt she could handle it. He leaned down to take one of her nipples in his mouth but she dipped back. Leo caught on quickly to what she was planning, but was not going to let that happen. He brought her wrist behind her back holding her rigid against him. Using this leverage he lifted her up and set her down squarely on his cock. Max cried out in pain and pleasure, as all the air left her body. His penis was giving her pussy a stretching, that was blowing her mind. Leo looked into her face, "Open your eyes," he commanded. Even in the dark he could tell they were squeezed shut.


Lion's Den Ch. 01



Max shook her head, still trying to catch her breath and bearings, and not wanting to see the look of victory in his eyes. "Open your eyes," he hissed while pinching her nipple. Max's eyes flew open as she cried out again. In his onxy eyes she saw heat, lust, and a fierceness that made her flood again.

"Ride me, baby, ride me."

She fixed her sparkling and teary grey eyes on his and rode him with such intensity. Her body raised and lowered on his cock as he sucked and bit on her nipples. Max's pussy was so tight and hot it was driving insane. He felt the walls of her pussy vibrating on his cock and knew he was going to lose it soon. He had to slow this down. He released her hand and pushed her on to her back, never breaking contact with her pussy or eyes. Leo got his cue to proceed when he felt Max wrap her legs around him. His pace was slow then he ratcheted up to deep plunging strokes that made her gasp and pant. He was hurting her so good, touching her deepest needs and desires, she wanted to stay and run all at the same time.

"Whose pussy is this?" he barked, "Whose Max?"

Bucking beneath him, "Yours Leo, all yours. Fuck me harder. Harder! Don't stop baby! Please don't stop!"

Leo began to feel that sweet familiar tightening in his balls.

"Cum with me. Cum with me." he chanted as his cum left him so violently he bit her shoulder as she surrendered screaming his name. They remained locked like that for awhile. When Max made any attempt to disengage herself, Leo held onto her tighter. The weight of his body on hers was not uncomfortable. In fact, it was too good. She wanted to get out from there. He raised his face so he could look down into her eyes, but she turned her head. He started to plant kisses on her neck trying to get to her mouth, but she kept her head rigid. Gosh this girl is confusing as hell. She was just bucking and grinding me, completely open, but to kiss me, she's relucatant..

Max knew she could not let Leo kiss her. She could lose her mind. She had already broken all sorts of personal codes by fucking him. How could I give into my lust like that? We can't stay like this forever, I could wait him out, but damn those kisses on my neck are starting a fire in me.

Eventually he let her go, and rolled off. Max stood up feeling the wall for a light switch so she could find her clothes quickly and get the hell out of there. It did not dawn on her until after she flipped the switch that she would be standing there in front of him in all her naked glory. She tried to shield herself, the best she could, dress quickly and make her escape.

Leo stood in utter awe as the lights came on. This was the first time he had ever gotten to see her completely naked. and having her in the flesh in front of him was better than the mental image he had conjured over the past few days. Her body was soft and remarkably toned for a big girl. Her breast stood proud with a nice sag from the weightiness. Oh and her skin, what beautiful velvety chocolate skin that had a nice sheen of sweat from their recent workout. "Don't do that Max. Don't cover yourself, we are way past modesties and I certainly like what I see."

Max could feel Leo watching her, and blushed. She couldn't resist but cast her eyes up to see his approval. She saw more than approval. Max saw a searing lust, hunger, and possessiveness that made her want to dash out, before things spiraled out of control again. She turned around and picked up her discarded bra, stooping down before him just the way she had when they first met. In the light he could see she had a tattoo on her lower back of crossed pistols. This turned him on even more.

Leo let out the same whistle as he had when he first saw her, but this time backing away, he knew if he didn't back away now he would pounce on her and that would be it for him for the rest of the night or perhaps the rest of his life.

They redressed in silence. Leo kept casting glances in Max's direction, her face gave nothing away. Her eyes seemed far away. He was afraid to ask, because he did not want to sound like a punk, but he had to know, "Max do you regret what just happened?"

She looked at him with that smiling face that gave nothing away, "No," and that was that. She kissed him on his cheek and left. He wanted to grab her arm and throw her up against the wall and start again, but he just stood there, frozen. Isn't this what every guy wants, a girl to fuck, who did not want to stay, so what the hell is wrong with me?

*************

Max walked back to the VIP booth and found Laney talking to Pauley. They looked like they were having a great conversation, and Max didn't want to break it up. So she decided to go to the balcony and have a drink. As she looked over the sea of dancers; she could see Leo coming in her direction from the corner of her eye. Max scanned for an escape. Seeing none she turned and walked past him. She did not make any eye contact but she could feel the heat radiate off his body. As they brushed passed each other his fingers grazed hers sending electricity up her body. Did he feel it too? She made her way outside for some fresh air, and walked around to the back of the club, down the back alley to get away from the crowd and smokers.

As she leaned against a wall in the alley she saw a car pull up outside the back door of the club. Leo and Pauley walked out the door and stood there waiting as two other men dragged a third who was, bound and gagged, from the trunk. She knew what she was about to witness was not going to be pleasant, but she stood there transfixed by what was unfolding. She heard Leo and Pauley ask the guy some questions. They seemed dissatisfied with the answers, and instructed to other men to beat him. After some punches the man seemed to relent and give up the information they wanted. However to add a measure of fear; Leo pulled a gun from his waist band and put it in the guy's mouth, and pulled the trigger. Lucky for the guy the gun was not loaded, but it sure confirmed to Max all she thought about Leo and Pauley. They were dangerous. The two goons threw the bound guy back into the trunk and drove off. She watched Leo and Pauley talk for a few moments before going back inside.

As Leo was going back inside he could have sworn he saw a glimpse of red in the alley, but he dismissed the thought.

Max's mind was processing what she just saw; she had to get Laney out of the club and away from Pauley. She approached Laney casually, as she did not want to attract any attention, but her heart was racing. "Hey girlie, you had fun?"

"Yeah, it was different, but fun. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, we'll talk about it when we get back home."

"Was he good?" Laney asked desperate for some juicy detail.

"He was phenomenal." she answered feeling her pussy tingle at thought of how truly amazing he was. "You ready?"

Laney was not entirely ready but she could tell Max was, so she obliged, but they will be back, so no biggie.

**************

Leo and Pauley returned to their VIP booth only to find the girls were gone. Marie confirmed that indeed the girls had left. Marie looked at their faces and saw something she had never seen there before, dejection. Good for you girls, love them 'an leave them. These two pussy hounds need a taste of their own medicine.

**************

Leo was disappointed that Max left without saying goodbye or at least waving, but he was not surprised. She was different, not clingy, apparently not that into him. Leo always left women craving his touch but with Max he could not be certain she will be back. If she did it would come back on her own terms, and in her own time. He could wait her out.



Lion's Den Ch. 02



The next morning, Laney was all smiles at the kitchen counter watching her friend drag herself down the stairs.

"Mornin, Blue," she squealed a little too chipper for Max this morning. Max was usually an upbeat, happy morning person, but memories from last night had her mind in a fog and her body aching. It was that nice after sex ache when limbs and muscles have been stretched and split. She really was surprised she could walk.

"Hey, Babes. Let me get some tea before you bombard me with questions because I have some for you."

The girls moved their breakfast and conversation to the living room. Max was still not feeling hungry, so all she had was toast and bacon. While Laney had her quintessential Southern breakfast: biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, eggs, and hair raising coffee. She was a Texan through and through.

Max told Laney everything, even about what she saw in the alley. Laney was shocked and staring at her in disbelief. "He made you come three times?"

"Lanes are you missing the point of this conversation? Yes, he fucked me into oblivion and I swear to you if it wasn't for the gangster crap I would go back and let him tear my ass up, but he is dangerous with a capital deadly."

"Blue are you certain?" she asked not really doubting her friend, but she was sweet on Pauley and their conversation was like none she ever had with a guy before. She knew he was trying to pick her up, but he was casual about it. Not pushy like those boys at college who only wanted to bang her. Pauley was a man.

"Red I would not have told you if I was not 100% sure about what I saw. Did you tell Pauley where we lived? Did you tell him your last name?"

"No not really, I just told him we lived in an apartment on the Upper East Side. Do you think they would come after us? Do you think they saw you in the alley?" Laney's heart was beginning to race now.

"No I don't think so, but I just need to be prepared in case they do. Your last name Lanes, did you tell him?" The scene in the alley told her how dangerous Leo could be, and Max knew what men like that would do for what they felt was theirs. Why did she have to say that her pussy was his? Yes it was his, but only for that moment. Maybe he would forget.



"No, but I did mention the ranch, and where we went to university."

"Ok, means we might still be in the clear." Max paced pensively calculating a way to protect them only to see her friend's eyes brimming with tears.

"Laney don't cry this will be fine. Do you want to go back to Texas?"

"Oh hell no, and haul hay all day. I came to New York for an adventurous vacation. Next time I'll have to be a little more specific to God about what my idea of adventure is. By the way, how did it feel to throw caution to the wind, and not plan everything out?" Laney grinned at Max.

"Level insane. I was so caught up in the moment he could have asked for my soul. I did not even suggest a condom. I'm sure all will be well but, I have officially used up all my grace, with that dumb move."

***********

The girls decided to get over last night by going out to Coney Island. Max had been there once with her father when she was five. She and Laney played all day, rode all the rides, and had some of Nathan's Famous hot-dogs. They stayed out on the beach until sun set, then made their way back home. It was a perfect day, a perfect distraction.

They walked into the building arm in arm talking so giddily about the day they had and the stuffed animals they did not win that they barely heard the concierge call them.

"Ms. La Costa." Rick called out several times before she heard him.

"Yes, Rick. I am so sorry. I did not hear you, or see you for that matter."

"Oh I saw you coming up the street and dipped in the back to get these," he said presenting them with two large bouquet of flowers. Ah someone had an admirer. He liked Max, she was always polite, stopped and talked to him and the other guys, never made them feel like part of the furniture. She was always looking out for his girls' education. Her parents were just the same, real salt of the earth people.

Max and Laney took the cards out of flowers and read them. They looked at each other and fell out laughing while breathing a sigh of relief. They were from Laney's parents. A not so subtle reminder for them to keep in touch. They immediately took out their cell phones and called their parents to check in. They chatted about that day's activities and Max's internship that was starting tomorrow. At the end of the conversations, both parental units were satisfied.

The look of relief on their faces was not lost on Rick. He wondered what was up, but the girls did not say anything, so he didn't pry. He did, however, make a mental note to check in with Señor La Costa at the end of his shift.

************

As Max waited for the elevator to reach the 15th floor of the law firm, she wandered what was she doing there. She wished now she had just decided to be a bum this summer for once in her life, but then again that was not her at all. She came from a family of high achievers. Her abuelo was a politician in Colombia; her uncles and aunts on both sides were engineers, doctors, home-makers, professors, and lawyers, and her cousin's weren't doing too shabby either. Her father, Antonio, was a businessman and spoke seven languages, and her mother, Tara, was a director for a non-profit and spoke three languages herself. Max looked at her pedigree as a source of constant intimidation and inspiration. She herself had mastered seven languages before leaving high school. In college she was not slouch either, Max enrolled in a five year master's program in Political Science and Women's Studies with a minor in Arabic.

She adjusted her blouse and skirt one more time before entering Mr. McCleary's office.

"Hello, Ms. La Costa nice to see you again." He extended his hand giving her a once over as he did so.





Max did not care for his lustful gaze, especially since she would be in his presence daily. So she stared right back to let him know that she knew where his mind went.

McCleary watched Max stare at him, not in that doe eyed scared way, but blatantly defying and daring him to try some shit with her. Just who the fuck did she think she was? Just because her daddy was some big shot client, spoiled little princess thought she had some balls. I'll just have to teach her some manners.

Max saw McCleary's eyes go from a warm blue to icy and knew she was going to have a fight on her hands. Oh frig just what I need a pervy boss to add to my troubles with Leo. And although it had only been two days, she knew trouble was coming from that direction.

"Alright Mr. McCleary where shall we begin?" she continued never once breaking eye contact.

"Well I have reviewed your resume again and I think the international law department could use you, you language skills can be a huge asset to them. I know right now they are working on some filings for a Russian client and would prefer not to outsource the translation of the documents."

****************

Max took her shoes off as soon as she got into the lobby of her building. She was two weeks into her internship and loving it, but the heels were killing her.

"Oh Rick, how do women live in these? They are killing me," Max complained leaning on the front desk. "You would think with all the technology, they could make pumps that felt like flip flops or sneakers." 

"Girl my wife has the same complaint, but then again she has my hands so I have the pleasure of getting to massage her lovely piggies when I get home."

"Well, I don't have a hand waiting for me upstairs, but I do have a pedicure appointment I am not going to missing. See ya later?"

The house is too quiet, Max thought as she entered.

"Laney, get your lazy ass up, we gotta hit the spa. Laney! Laney!" she called out getting no response.

On the kitchen table was a note from Laney saying that she went shopping to get her mother and sister some stuff she saw in Chinatown. Oh frig! Laney may have gone to Chinatown, but Max knew she had all intentions of going to Little Italy too. Max called her on her cell, no answer. Texted, still no reply. Max debated if she should go looking for her. Max knew that Laney wasn't over wanting to see Pauley, but she had hoped Laney would have stayed away. Ah well gotta bite the bullet and go.







*************

As she approached the alley she found herself getting nervous. Not a feeling she was completely familiar with. People did not make her nervous. Her father taught her how to be confident in all situations, all except this one. She saw some guys loading beer into the building, and walked right in, the bouncer who was working the front door the night they came saw her go past him, but did not try to stop her. Joe B. had gotten an earful of gossip about the fuck fest she and Leo had in his office.

Max tensely walked up to Leo's office door and knocked,

"What!"

At that response she steeled herself and answered just as loudly, "It's Max. I'm looking for Laney. Have you seen her?"

Leo dropped his pen and stared at the door. It was right against that door he first tasted her, had her creaming and calling his name. Now she was back, but it was not for him. This girl had a lot of nerve. He wanted to rush and open the door, but just keep looking at it until she snapped him out of his reverie.

"Well have you?" Max barked.

"No." He had not seen Laney, but he sure did hear her when he visited Pauley's apartment earlier. "You can come in."

"Nah, that's ok." The old poem "The Spider and the Fly" popped into her head.

"Come in." Leo was not going to let her get away that easily.

Was that an order? Oh this guy, she thought exasperatedly. As she entered she was overwhelmed with flashbacks of their night in here. She ran her tongue anxiously over her lips, giving him all sorts of thoughts of what he wanted to do with her mouth. When she caught him staring at her mouth with that lustful smile of his she smiled back trying not to reveal what was going through her mind also. It was too late to hide anything. Her eyes had given her away. She saw determination in his eyes, not unlike the last time he brought her back here. 

He was scoping out her casual attire. She looked sexy in anything she wore. Her shorts stopped mid thigh revealing thick long inviting legs, and her top was a loose cotton peasant style blouse but he could clearly see the outline of her breasts. His mouth began to water. All the alarms in her head were going off. It was time to leave, but she remained planted, getting wetter by the second. His eyes had locked in on hers, hypnotizing her. Turn! Run! Run! Her mind screamed at her, but as she did, it was as if he leapt over his desk and pounced on her.

"Oh no you don't," he growled, pinning her to the wall. He was so hard for her. He had been hard for her for weeks and had to resolve to handle it himself while the memories of her taste, voice, and smell drove him crazy. He was definitely not alone; Max had been exploring new heights of self pleasure since she met him, but since that night in his office her trusted "friend", Tomás, had not been able to hit the spot. So she gave up on buying new batteries.

"Get off of me," she countered, trying valiantly to get away, but he kept increasing the pressure on her wrists. She was strong, but he manipulated her like a rag doll.

"Feel this." He brought her hand down to grab a hold of his penis. "Every time I think about you this is what you do to me. Is it fair? You kept me waiting weeks before you come my way again and then you want to bolt."

"You're hurting me!" she yelled, but he did not see fear in her eyes, only need and longing. She wanted him too.

He let her go and began taking off his clothes. She slumped to the floor, feeling drained and horny from their little outburst. She studied him as he took off his clothes. He was truly a beautiful specimen even in a relaxed get up. Today he wore a pair of dark blue jeans, a light blue button up Polo shirt; he looked so unassuming. His broad chest led down to and incredible 6-pack abdomen, whose muscles rippled and flexed with every movement, she was enthralled. When he was done Max thought she was going to die. She had never been so captivated by a man's body before.

"Please undress." was all he said, but she could hear the restraint in his voice. Max stood up on her shaky feet and rested her back against the wall, kicking off her Keds. She reached for the button on her shorts, but stopped to look him in the face. His black eyes were consuming her as her fingers moved automatically to reveal inch by inch of her beautiful body. He stepped closer as each article of clothing was removed. When she was done she knew she had no where to go so she put her hands on her hips to size him up and wait for him to make the next move. He did nothing but stare, caressing her body with his eyes over and over again to the point where she felt he was touching her. All he wanted to do was worship her body. Leo loved Max's confidence. He never had to reassure her she was gorgeous or sexy, she was chocolate sex and soon he would have her melting for him. Leo wanted to leave Max craving him with careless abandon, so she would never wait two weeks again before she came back to him.

Ever so gently he began using his fingers to stroke her up and down her neck, her arm, her back, her butt, her thighs. Leo was stoking her fire good. It was the most incredible foreplay Max had ever received and he was not done yet. As gently as he caressed he began to suck, eliciting a series of moans from her. He sucked and touched everywhere except her nipples and pussy, she was going to have to beg for it. Max's knees began to shake with pleasure, but she needed him to take her over the edge.

"Leo," she whispered as tears sprung into her eyes. "Leo, I need you to use something."

"Huh? Ok." Leo was finding it hard to remove himself from her, but had to respect her request. He got a condom from his desk drawer and quickly donned it, and returned to pleasuring his woman, starting with her bellybutton. Max never knew this was an erogenous zone, but the proximity of his mouth to her pussy was too much to bear.

"Leo finish me please. Please."

He ignored her, driving her insane. When he brought his face back up to her shoulders, she grabbed it and brought his mouth to her nipples so quickly; he just latched on like a hungry new born. Her aggression sent him into overdrive. Alternating suckling and teasing the nipples, he felt her body begin to quake and knew just what to do to short circuit her brain. Max was on the cusp of an outrageously massive orgasm when he entered her, bringing her to unspeakable ecstasy. She hooked one leg behind him and giving him deeper access to her. He pumped into her until he could feel his own release coming. He came with a loud roar so hard inside of her Max came again, her toes curled as she moaned and pulled his hair. Before she could get away this time he crushed his mouth against her open one. Max's orgasmic mind submitted to Leo's kisses with a frenzy that left their lips feeling sweetly bruised.

Leo pulled off the condom, and drew her down to the sofa to lie next to him. Being with him felt right, if only for the moment. They both dozed off to sleep, but awoke when Max's phone started going off. She scrambled for it, it was Laney. Max was ready to tear into her but she couldn't do it there. She dressed in haste while Leo watched.

"Tell me something about yourself?" he inquired sincerely. He wanted to crack her like a safe.

"No," she said while spinning like a top looking for her panties. Max was not interested in getting to know Leo anymore than she did, and right now she was pissed with herself for having sex with Leo again. Lust you are very evil and Max you are very weak.

"Why not?"

"Because you are dangerous and I don't need the kind of drama that comes with the life you live." She really needed her panties.

"How do you know I am dangerous?"

"I just do." she said looking him squarely in the eye.

"Were you in the alley the night you came to the club?"

"Yes I was, and I saw what you and Pauley did, but it just confirmed my suspicions." 

"Your suspicions?" he queried tossing her panties to her.

"Thanks. Yeah, not to sound all judgmental, but I figured you had to be connected in some way. You and Pauley are too young to have gotten the seed money for this club legitimately, plus we're in Little Italy. Two plus two does equal four. Also, when I got home I Googled you. The hostess introduced you as Mr. Carbone. So I got my Sherlock on and read about your father and uncles. There isn't much about you in the media yet, but keep it up and there will be."

He looked at her in disbelief at her frankness, "So why did you come back here?" She was frustrating him.

"I was looking for Laney, but seriously thanks for another lovely memory." she said coolly and dismissively, but always with the smile that drove him crazy. She hoped that he would get the point that this would be their last encounter. 

Did this chick just dismiss me? She was one cool customer, he thought trying to convince himself, but deep down he knew it was just a defense mechanism. He was hoping that after what he just did to her she would be more receptive to seeing him again, because she was just the kind of girl he needed: strong, beautiful, forthright, sexy, and smart. His mother would love her.

"Max," he called out to her as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She looked up at his blazing eyes, and could not differentiate between the lust and anger. "Since you like being so honest and shit, I just wanted to let you know that I don't give up easily. You are someone I want; we can do this the peaceable way or the hard way. You decide." With that he slammed the door.

Max could not believe her ears; did that bastard just say that shit? She paused while debating with herself as to the best approach to this situation. The negotiator in her won. She ran back up the stairs pushing the door open, she knew returning to the lion's den was dangerous, but she had to give it a try.

He was putting on the last of his clothes, and did not turn around to acknowledge her presence. She leaned casually against the door frame waiting until he finished.

"We need to talk."

"Max, if you're here to tell me something other than what I want to hear you can save your breath."

"What do you want to hear, Leo? That I love you, I can't live without you, or I belong to you. Yeah those words would be sweet if they were true. We have been together only twice. What the fuck is wrong with you? It was just sex, great sex, but just sex. I would like to believe you are a logical man so I will give you several reasons why we cannot be together and you will choose one and live with it. One; I am only in town for the next two weeks. Two; in your line of work, love is a liability. Your enemies will use your love and devotion to anyone to destroy you. If you want love, either give up the life or get dead because I will not be your weakness. Three; you don't really know me. You are just lusting, and pussy is pussy so please find another." Max's inner negotiator had lost all calm.

Leo could not believe she was standing there trying to bargain her way out of this. She talked like she had done this before, but he had to put up a brave front. "That's all you have? All of that is bullshit." He said knowing he was lying. All her points were valid, but right now he was angry and frustrated.

"How about this point, I do not love you and I do not want you." All sense of diplomacy out the window.




Lion's Den Ch. 02



"Oh fuck, we know that is bullshit. The way your pussy was creaming all over my cock, you may not love me, but you sure as hell want me."

"Leo let me be," were her last words to him before exiting.

***********

"Laney, what the fuck? We spoke. We had agreement. I told you those boys are dangerous, do you have a death wish because I don't. No good can come from this."

"I know. I tried. I was resolved to letting it be, but Pauley was still in my head and I thought if I just hung out with him for a day then he would be out of my system. It seemed harmless."

"Laney there is no such thing as harmless fun with guys like that and I am so sorry I even agreed to drinks that day. I went looking for you and ended up taking a tumble with Leo, again. You know what the bastard said to me after? He said I will belong to him. Who says shit like that? Crazy, possessive, stalker men that's who," Max answered her own question. 

Laney felt like a total shit, but she just wanted to have a New York fling and Pauley seem like an ok guy, never mind the danger. It wasn't like she was trying to be his girl or anything. Max wasn't trying to be Leo's girl either, but unlike Pauley, Leo was tripping out. What did Max do to that man? Max was not into relationships she loved her books and learning. Perhaps she released all her pent up sexual heat on Leo, and that fractured his mind. Even Pauley had told her he had never seen his cousin so sprung over a chick. Poor bastard, Laney thought sadly.

"I figured Leo wouldn't mind if I just wanted to shag, he's a Manhattan playboy after all. His craziness caught me by surprise, and when guys get like that can be unpredictable, and put a real kink in your life." Max threw her hands over her eyes. "Laney, I know guys like that, have all my life, my father is a guy like that." 

Laney's eyes popped open. She had known Papa La Costa for four years, and she had never seen him as threatening or dangerous. He was always full of smiles, even when admonishing Max.

"I am going to tell you something about my family that I have never told a soul. Red what I am about to tell you has to stay in this room."

Laney nodded her head in agreement.

"Before I was born my mother was on a Peace Corp mission in Colombia. The village she was stationed in was near to a poppy field. Most of the villagers worked in the field, and factory processing heroin. My mother got sick of the villagers not having fresh drinking water, because the owner of the field had diverted a nearby river to irrigate his crop. She went into the factory and found my father, he was the owner. She got all up in his face and threatened to burn his fields down. He felt like he was about to kill her on the spot, when she looked up at him with a broad smile and said please. That smile saved my mother's life that day, but it also started them down a journey that almost destroyed all of us. My father began courting my mother by being extra kind to the villagers to win her favor. He rebuilt the school, built a clinic, put the workers on shift hours instead of working them to the bone. He began to change because of her. It took him some time but eventually he wore her down. One date turned into another, which turned into a night of passion which turned into me.

When my mother found out she was pregnant. She lied to my father. She told him she was leaving Colombia and going on another mission. He lost it. He told her she belonged to him and no man could ever have her even if he had to kill her himself. He kept her under armed guards all day. One day he had an emergency in Bogota and had to go taking all her guards except one. The villagers drugged his dinner and smuggled her out of the country. When my father got back and discovered my mother was gone, he killed the guard.

He returned living and working conditions to the way they were before my mother came. My father used all his political connections to find my mother. All the while, my father had been acting erratic over losing my mother, his enemies were watching and waiting to pounce. My mother sent a letter to my father to tell him she was safe and all was well, but she was never coming back to him. One of my father's enemies bribed the mailman so he could read the letter first. He traced my mother postmark to Jersey City, NJ and sent some men after her. He knew that if he could present my father with my mother's corpse he would destroy him. My mother was in Jersey City with a friend. She could not go back to Atlanta pregnant, her father would have killed her himself. 

On her way to the market one afternoon, she was snatched by some goons. However, when they saw she was pregnant they thought better of killing her, and decided holding us for ransom would be better. They sent pictures to my father in Bogota, and tried to force his hand, but my father had some friends in New York, so he called them and asked them to find us and kill the kidnappers while he would settle things on his end. It took them five hours to locate and save us. However, they were not to let us go, when they received a call from my father that all was clear they put us on a freighter to Cartagena. My mother seriously wanted to kill my father at that point. He felt the same, because my mother not only left him, but she never told him about me. In his eyes we belonged to him. He kept her under heavy guards and never left the house.

When she was six months pregnant the stress caused her to collapse. We almost died. He really loved my mother and realized that she was not cut out for this life. It was then he decided to go legit. He began to clear up whatever debt was out there, blood and financial. He got a visa and came to America with my mom, a month before I was born. Although he had made all these changes in his life, his past is like a specter in our family, as a result he trained me to defend myself in hand to hand combat, guns, knives, and survival training. Do you understand now why I feel the way I do? Aside from the dangerous stuff they might be great guys, but I don't ever want to be in a relationship where these skills are an asset, or someone's love for me makes them vulnerable. Plus you know I am not into that lovey dovey crap."

Laney sat riveted. In all the years she has known Max, she had never heard this part of her history before and could understand why. But then it made a lot of things click about Max's personality and her confidence. Hell I would be that confident too if I knew I could kill you is a split second.

**************

Max sat in her office staring out over Manhattan, it had been one week since her last run in with Leo, and still he had not made his move. Perhaps he had taken her points to heart and decided to back off. Even as Max thought this she knew better. Leo was not the type to give up. Wow, she thought, I have one more week here. Then it is off to France to relax. She had not told her father about Leo because she wasn't sure how things were going to play out and did not want to alarm him. She knew her dad still had connections in the underworld, but she really did not want it to come to bloodshed over her dumb choices.

There was a knock on her door cutting into her thoughts. It was McCleary. She had been doing amazing at staying out of his way or being alone with him, but he was still had his leers. She rolled her eyes, "Can I help you?" 

That stuck up bitch is rolling her eyes at me.



"I just stopped by to tell you that your evaluations due by next Wednesday. If you can get them in before then that would be awesome. Also, remember you are meeting the Russian clients at JFK on Wednesday. Their flight lands at 9am, a car will pick you up at your home. Also you are required to be at the reception dinner thing for them on Thursday. All the documents are in order just waiting to be signed." Grudgingly he had to admit to himself, she was awesome at her job.

"Okay, thank you." Max checked her watch to see how close she was to departing. Fifteen minutes, just enough time to do at least one eval., then it is off to BAM to take in a show with Laney.

***********

After the show the girls strolled arm in arm along Flatbush Ave. There was a Caribbean restaurant Max wanted to try. As they were crossing the avenue, a car slowed down and the window rolled down, stopping the girls in their dead tracks. It was Leo. He stared at them with a scowl on his face. Max just shrugged her shoulders and moved along with Laney. She was determined not to even give Leo the time of day. The girls walked into a bodega to throw him off their real intention. They strolled along the aisle picking up useless items to buy some time. When they got to the counter they could see the car was still across the street.

Max turned to Laney. "What do you want to do?"

"Well, I am hungry and I suspect that he does not want to hurt us, he just wants you, so let's just go to the restaurant."

"All righty then. Let's make the best of this night. If he wants to stalk that is on him."

********

The girls sat down in the restaurant determined to have a great time and it was not hard. The food was delicious and spicy, which made Max long for Colombia. She went there every spring break since she was seven. The restaurant's atmosphere was lively. There was a live calypso singer and people dancing. Max and Laney got invited to dance by some handsome Trinidadian guys and were more than eager to. They ended up staying out later than they intended. They left the restaurant at 2am, laughing and tipsy from the rum and Cokes they were enjoying. When they exited the restaurant they ran right into Leo, who was giving Max a hateful glare having seen her gyrate and dance with that guy all night. He would have busted in the place and yanked her out, if he did not believe that she would have gotten him arrested right there. Plus, he got to see her genuinely laugh; she looked so sexy and free. Max looked past him and continued down the street toward the subway. At that point Leo had had enough, he yanked her hand spinning him to face him.

"Damn it Max, I have given you space and time. This shit ends now. Get in the car. You too Laney."

"We are not going anywhere with you Leo and you are right. This shit ends now. I do not want you, so get the fuck over it." She turned to leave when she heard someone calling to her.

"Ms. La Costa, you left your credit card."

Oh shit! He had heard her last name. There was no way to recover from this. She looked at him and walked to get her card. Max felt doomed, after weeks of keeping her identity secret, it was all falling apart. 

It all clicked for Leo at the same time. He got her full name, Max La Costa and from what Pauley had told him they were living in the Upper East Side. He could put his boy, C.J., on this and in no time he would know all he needed to know about Little Miss La Costa. He hopped in his car and sped off, what was one more night of freedom going to hurt.

Laney and Max looked at each other as if their whole worlds had fallen apart. It dawned on Max that she had to formulate a plan. She just had to look at this as life or death. She hailed a cab and told Laney the plan.

**************

When they got to the apartment they packed an overnight bag and toiletries. Max grabbed some cash that they kept in the safe. She was glad Rick was on duty, because he could pass a message onto all the other doormen for her. Under no circumstance were they to acknowledge the girls lived there. Rick knew for certain something was up and called Señor La Costa as soon as the girls exited.

Max wrote her parents a coded postcard and dropped in the post. She and Laney then took a train to Montclair, NJ where her father kept a safe house. Laney at this point stopped being surprised at the things Max revealed. They got to the house and went to bed although neither could sleep.

Max got up and climbed into bed with Laney.

"Red do you think I am overreacting?"

"I would in a normal situation, but I keep thinking about your parents' story and if your gut says he will try and grab you then I'm with you."

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to Texas until school starts."

"Nah we got one more week here, and then we are off to France. Darling, this is our last summer until we really become adults and this one is for the books. It has definitely been more eventful than I could have planned, but imagine us telling this to our daughters. Also, you know I can shoot too, so if it ever comes to that I have your back."

"Thanks, sis."

And they both drifted off to sleep.

***********

Laney woke up to the smell of coffee coming from the kitchen. She did not have time to explore the house last night, but that smell was drawing her to the right spot.

"Hey sugar, you slept well?"

"Surprisingly yes."

"Good, we have a lot of shopping to do to replace our clothes for France that we left in New York. Plus, I get to show you Montclair so you can get around when I am at work."

"You are going back to work in the city, are you nuts?"

"I am not nuts, but I just can't peace out on them my last week."

"Ok, but please be careful."

"I will mama."

********

Shopping was a blast. Laney loved Montclair. She found the pace there more to her liking. In the evening the girls placed calls to their parents; neither letting on there was any trouble. They were leaving for France on the late flight on Friday, so all they had to do was lay low for six days. 

*********

Leo hovered over his boy C.J. as he researched and hacked data bases looking for the La Costas' address. Whoever this Max La Costa is, he is in a whole heap of trouble for Leo to be waking me up this hour of the morning. He got four listings for La Costas in the Upper East Side. Leo sent his crew out immediately. When they got to Max's building Rick understood why Max ran, but he couldn't figure out how she could have gotten mixed up with thugs like them. Rick turned them away, denying he knew who she was or ever seeing her. They seemed to accept his answer and left. Leo's crew called him back with news that they could not find her. Leo figured there had to be another way. So he sent them back to the neighboring buildings and hit the jackpot. The doorman across from Max's building sold her out and made a pretty penny doing so, not only telling them that she did live there, but that he saw her and her friend taking off a few hours ago.

Leo was irritated by the news he received. Something about this just did not feel right. He tasked C.J. with hacking all the transit video feed from the past few hours and run it through facial recognition software. He had to get out of C.J.'s basement, besides the musty spoiled food smell, he was beginning to truly feel like a crazy person. He could not decipher if he wanted her because she did not want him or if there was something really there between them? He had never felt the kinds of intense feelings he had when her was fucking her. He had never wanted to make love to a woman like he did her? He reasoned that he had to have her, but how if she did not want him? He knew who he had to talk to.

**********

Isabella Carbone could not sleep. Something was wrong with one of her children. Mother's instinct she told her husband, Carmine, who was none too glad she woke him up with her pacing. When she heard Leo's car pull up she knew she had been right. She opened the door silently and drew him into her arms. Leo's face looked drawn and dark and it concerned her more that she could say. She was just glad it was not a business issue. In their line of work, more often than not late night calls to the house like this spelt nothing but trouble.

"What's her name dear?"

Leo looked up in surprise, but then again his mother always seemed to be able to read her children. "Max La Costa."

"Tell me about Max La Costa."

Leo spilled to his mother all that he knew, which was barely anything, but more than that he told her how she made him feel; like how he could tear up the world looking for her. He also told her that she was adamant about not being with him, because of his business.

When he was done Isabella gave him the best advice she could, "It has to be her choice. Not everyone is cut out for this life and if she is telling you she does not want it, you cannot force it on her. What did you plan to do if you found her? Kidnap her? Son, we have always given you everything, taught you to take what you want, and not to let life make you her bitch, but you can't do that with love. She is one force to be reckoned with. I reconciled myself with who your dad was a long time ago and made it work for me, but it was my choice."

Leo sighed. Knowing his mother was right did not make it less painful. He had to let her go. He kissed his mother and went back to the club, but not before calling C.J. and stopping his search for Max.

*********

Isabella climbed back into bed with her husband.

"What did Leo want?"

"He fell for the La Costa girl, but she doesn't want him."

Carmine sat up. "Shit. Fuck. Are you sure it is her? What did he do? Did he threaten her?"

"Yeah, it's her. I saw a picture. He told her that she would be his and kinda stalked her a bit. And although he did not say, they had sex." Isabella was smiling, she liked Max's parents. They would make greats.

"What's a bit Isabella? And stop, I can see your mind working."

"He scared her into running."

"Oh shit. I've gotta call her father. I gather Leo had no idea who she was or it would not have gone so far." This was not the kind of headache Carmine needed right now. 

"I'm not so sure Carmine, he's smitten." she shook her head and snuggled down under her husband.



Lion's Den Ch. 03



Laney had been in Montclair all week prepping for their trip to France, so Max decided to surprise her by taking her to the shindig her company was having for the Russians. It was being held at some exclusive supper club in Manhattan, so they gave her department a half day to get ready. Laney met Max at Penn Station and they hit the salon and spa. All their fine dresses were left at the apartment and they did not want to buy any replacements, so they decided to take their chances and go. When they got there, Mark, the other concierge was on duty. He gave Max a letter, which they had been holding for days. The letter had no postmark which told her it was hand delivered. She knew who it was from before opening it and it confirmed her worst thoughts, he knew where she lived. Hmm, a new tactic, non aggressive, non invasive. Just what was Leo playing at?

Max sat in her living room and read the letter. She could not believe those words were from the same man that had terrorized her dreams and fantasies. Was this for real? In the letter, Leo expounded on how he felt about her, and how sorry he was he terrified her. It broke his heart to know she felt compelled to run from him, and he hoped that one day she would forgive him. The last line simply stated, "I've finally seen reason." Max didn't know why, but she felt sad and empty, her emotions were running amuck, this is want I wanted, right? If she was going to be honest with herself she could admit she felt drawn to him. He was more than his job and his looks. He was a man, and he had bared his soul to her in words. She tucked the letter away in a drawer in her bedroom and got ready for the soiree.

When Max and Laney walked into the ballroom, everything stilled for a moment. The girls looked jaw dropping divine. Laney wore a lilac taffeta strapless fitted gown with silver accessories. She pinned her hair in an up do style with a diamond butterfly pin. Max's daffodil yellow, one shouldered chiffon floor length gown, made her look like a cocoa Greek goddess. The gold accessories were the icing on the cake.

Max plastered a smile on her face and got ready to work. She told Laney to circulate and make friends, while she joined the Russian contingent. The Russians were a chatty and flirtatious bunch, all marveling at her grasp on their language.

After two hours of questions and smiles she needed a break. She poked around the hall until she found an empty room. It was hard doing business with thoughts of Leo circulating in her head. She lay down on the lounge chair to rest her eyes a bit. Not realizing how tired she was, she fell asleep. She did not hear the door open, but she did feel a hand sliding up her dress, which made her bolt up. Mr. McCleary was smiling down at her in the most lecherous way.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"About to teach a little teasing bitch some manners," he slurred, clearly drunk.

Max did not care, drunk or not. This man was not getting away with what he just did. "You are not fucking serious."

"I see I'll have to tame that mouth too, huh." He leapt forward trying to grab her head. He was determined that she would be bobbing on his cock before the night was out.

All Max's training kicked in. She released a chop to McCleary's throat, his head snapped back, leaving him gasping and stumbling. Still he would not go down. In fact, he came after her with more ferocity. Max upper cut him, dropping him on his back, then kicked him in the groin before making her escape. She left him twisting on the floor in agony.

Max's adrenaline was pumping; she could feel and hear every pulse racing. She needed to steady herself before returning to the party so she ducked into the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face. Still, she felt shaky. The only place she wanted to be was in the Leo's arms. Her thoughts did not make sense to her. Why Leo?

Max returned the party, and found Laney having a cheerful time with one of the young Russian businessmen. She slipped Laney, a note "Gone to see Leo." Laney knew it was coming. Since the letter Max had been quiet and now her face looked flush like she had been running a marathon. Laney nodded and mouthed, "Good luck." Having had her fair share of heartbreak and relationships, she got that tug of war between the heart and mind. Max could physically defend herself, but had no real defenses for her heart, and whatever Leo wrote in that letter got to her.

Joe. B saw Max get out of the cab and was dumbfounded. Those other broads on line had nothing on this girl. She looked liked she had just stepped off a runway. He could definitely see why Leo was so taken with her. He let her in with a nod.

Max made her way across the crowded dance floor to Leo's office. She was about to knock when the door swung open. Leo had gotten the call she was here. He thought for a second they were punking him, but they knew better than to mess with him. Leo spotted her moving so gracefully across the dance floor and got butterflies in his stomach; a feeling he had never felt before with such intensity.

Being this close to her left him speechless. She looked different, like an angel, fragile and ethereal.

"Hey, baby," was all he could get out before she crumbled into tears before him. He wrapped her in his arms and held her tight until her sobbing died down. "Wanna tell me what this is all about?" he asked leading her to the couch. He was concerned because this was not his tough as nails Max, something was definitely up.

"I don't know where to begin. I got your letter today. You really laid it all on the line, and it made me feel foolish."

"That was not my intention." Leo's voice was a whisper.

"I know. I have been dodging my feelings for you all this time so I came to tell you face to face, where I stand. Leo Carbone, I am not in love with you, but I like you more than I want to. I think about you all the time, you are in my dreams, my nightmares, I smell you on my skin, hear you in my head, and I don't want any of it. I look at you and I lose all reason. This is not good for me. I like my solitude, but you have taken that from me. Tell me how to get over you. Tonight at this work thing my boss tried to force himself on me, but I got away and the only place I wanted to disappear to was your arms. With you, I fear that you would make me love you and I will lose control of my life. But he terrified me, and it all became clear. So please, tell me you hate me, and the letter was all a lie, please." She was so wracked with emotion her voice broke.

"I won't lie to you Max."

"Please Leo." There was so much pain and conflict in her eyes he had to look away.

"You are what I have been missing in my life. I love you, I know I don't know you, but I know the very essence of you. That may not make sense to you, but it does to me."

The vulnerability and rawness in her eyes were killing him. He bent down gently and kissed her. Max responded to his kisses and pulled him closer to her.

"Let's get out of here." He wanted to make love to her, but not in his office where he took her two glorious times before. They got into his car and drove across the bridge into Park Slope. All the while Max played in his hair gently running her fingernails against his scalp. Leo's whole body shivered as Max's finger play turned him on. They stopped outside a beautiful white three story brownstone. "Welcome to my home."

Max got out of the car pleasantly surprised. She thought he would live somewhere more fortressed or flashy. There are many sides to this man. He led her through the lower level into a playroom and bar area; it was definitely a masculine space.

"Do you like what you see?"

Max nodded, concerned that her mind was imagining her living there.

"Let me give you the grand tour." He took her through the entire house ending with the master suite on the third floor. "Max, I want to make love to you. Would you allow me to do that for you?" He hoped she'd say yes for both their sakes, he was dying to be inside her again. "I want to make it up to you for all the times I hurt you or scared you." He felt vulnerable before her, but could not let the night pass without letting her know how he was feeling. "Princess, have you even given thought to what I am going through? I don't want to feel open like this. It's uncomfortable and scary. Most days I feel like an ass. You were right, being in love is distracting, and that is dangerous, but I'm willing to risk it. So risk it with me baby."

Max was in awe at his honesty, hearing him say those things were better than reading it. She put her hands up and began unpinning her hair. He stilled her hand and did it for her. As her hair cascaded down her back, he placed gentle kisses on her neck and shoulders. He raised her hands and pulled her dress off, leaving her standing there in her heels and underwear. His breath caught in his throat. Her sheer black strapless bra was accompanied by a matching tong. He was committed to taking his time, but it would take all his control not to throw her on the bed and fuck her like a madman. His normally brazen Max looked so timid in front of him, he chuckled to himself. It was like his love was taming her.

Max could not breathe. He was moving so achingly slow, building her want. He left her to turn the stereo on some slow rhythms, she recognized as Afro-Cuban Jazz. This man would never stop surprising me. As she rocked slowly to the melody, he put his arm around her waist and moved with her, their bodies melding into one. This is perfect, they both thought in unison. When the third song came on she turned around so they were face to face, so she could look into his eyes. He locked eyes with her and gave her a long passionate kiss that melted her, but she was hungry for more. She broke from his mouth and began to unbutton his shirt.

"Slow down, baby, we have all night." He pulled away from her, knowing that if she continued all his resolve would be shattered.

"I want you, Leo. Give yourself to me. Don't hold back anymore. I trust you."

With her final statement he threw restraint away and attacked her. Tugging off her bra, he devoured her breasts, the dark chocolate peaks were so sensitive Max whimpered.

"Don't stop," she rasped tugging on his hair.

He backed her up until her the back of her knees hit the bed. Max allowed herself to freefall onto the mattress. Propping herself up on her elbows, she watched as Leo undressed. He took his time and, although Max was getting impatient, she was enjoying the show. When he was naked she whistled at him in the same way he did to her. His response surprised her. He blushed.

"Oh sweetie you're blushing," she teased.

"You would blush too if you had a sexy thong clad female whistling at you."

"I believe I would, so let's remedy that." Max put her legs straight up and removed her underwear and slingshot it to him. Leo caught it and inhaled the crotch.

"I see my baby is ready for me."

"Never stopped," Max responded opening her legs slightly.

He growled, and walked away to nightstand to get a condom.

"Turn around I want to see you put it on."

"What?" Leo was always a little shy about being watched putting on a condom. He usually did it with his back turned.

"I think it is sexy to watch you put it on."

"You are weird, but I like you so watch away." Leo turned his penis toward her and watched her face. Max was wide eyed and licking her lips and his dick got even harder.

Leo could not wait anymore yanked her legs to him, bringing her ass to the edge of the bed. Looking straight into her eyes, her plunged into her.

Max loved the way Leo was beating into her body, she grabbed her nipples and twisted them bringing her to a quick orgasm, but she had so much more to give to him tonight. Leo felt Max's quick orgasm, and threw her legs on his shoulders to get deeper into her. She knew she was short circuiting before him, as she felt jolts of lightening fly through straight to her pussy. Her body shook and bucked as her eyes rolled behind her head. Seeing her lose control and feeling her spasms around his cock, brought Leo to his own blinding climax. He pumped until every drop was out of him.

When he had regained some sense he collapsed on the bed next to her, rolling her into his arm. Kissing her on her forehead he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Fine baby, just fine," she murmured and dozed off to sleep.

An hour into their sleep Max's phone went off; it was a text message from Laney. It stated, "Russian. Millennium Hilton, Rm. 613." Max sighed. I guess Lanes getting her freak on tonight too. Max sat up, Leo was still asleep, his breathing steady and deep. She studied him, getting turned on more and more with the rise and fall of his chest. She decided to wake him up in a most wicked way, a jaw breaking cock sucking. Max crept over to Leo's, nearly drooling on his penis as she hovered. She opened her mouth and licked it liked a popsicle, going slowly up and down, until it started to stiffen. At the first sign of the beast awaking, Max engulfed the whole head, eliciting a sharp intake of breath and moan from Leo. He was now awake too and loving the sight before him. Hmm this girl has all sort of repressed freakiness in her. He had had many blow jobs before, but this one was off the charts.

Leo raised his hips off the bed to get deeper down her throat, but Max just pushed him back down. She was in control and she was not going to let him forget it. She pulled her mouth off his cock with a pop and blew on his shaft, causing him to beg for the warmth of her mouth. She went back to sucking on his cock like her life depended on it. He felt himself cumming and tried to pull away, but she held on, vibrating her jaw on the sensitive tip until he erupted in her mouth. She swallowed all of it, leaving him drained. Leo felt like she took the life right out of him. Max got off the bed smiling at her handiwork. She sauntered off proudly to the bathroom for a shower.

She stepped into the glass enclosure and turned on the hot water. Max had turned herself on something terrible with the blow job she had just given Leo, but she wanted that moment to be just about his satisfaction. With the hot water cascading over her she masturbated herself in the shower. Her eyes were shut so tightly as she gratified herself that she did not notice Leo had opened the door and was watching her.

Leo thought he was mistaken when he heard moaning coming from the shower, but after the third sweet sound he had to see what was going on. The sight before him instantly reenergized him. This little vixen is trying to get off without me; there will be none of that. Leo watched the show Max was putting on. Getting jealous of her fingers he slapped her hand away and pinned her too the wall. "Don't you dare! That pussy is mine and I don't share, not even with you. What do you want, Max?"

"I want to cum." His fierceness moistened her even more.

"Stop that."

She was rubbing her thighs together, creating friction against her clit. "I can't. I can't. I can't." He watched her use her thighs to bring herself to an orgasm, he had never seen anything like that before. She was trembling while pressed against the shower wall, her breasts shaking, as each tremor took her. His cock was like steel. When she was done, he dragged her wet body to the bed and threw her face down. He was horny and pissed she came without, him. I'm going to give her a lesson in obedience. That ass is mine.

"Get on your knees dirty girl. You know you're gonna get punished, right?" <Smack> "I asked you a question." Leo loved the feel of her ass cheek bouncing his palm back.

"Yes, Leo."

"Head down, ass up. You are going to count each smack. If you lose count, we are starting again." <Smack> "Did you hear me."

This submissive position was intensely sexually frustration for Max. "Yes, Leo."

<Smack> "One." <Smack> "Two." <Smack> "Three." By the fifth smack Max was crying and shaking from an impending orgasm. At ten Leo pumped his fingers in and out of her sopping pussy, bringing her to the brink, and then he took his hands away. He leaned in and ran his tongue up and down her spine, making her beg for release, but he withheld it. He put the tip of his penis at her entrance taking shallow pokes. When she thought she could not take any more he spit into her asshole. He thrust his penis into her pussy while he forced his finger into her ass. She had never had anyone put anything in her butt before, but that did not slow her down.

Max could not take anymore and gave into the orgasm that had been building for awhile. While she screamed and creamed all over her his cock, he pulled out and sank it into her open ass, she arched back, allowing him to wrap his hand around her hair as he rode her. Her butt was so tight; Leo did not think he could last long. She was moaning and calling his name to give it to her harder.

"Don't stop, my lion, don't stop. Ride me harder, Leo harder."

Each push and pull motion was taking them to new heights. Max had never experience that much pleasure in her life, and just to add another level he twisted her head back and kissed her while they both came. Her three holes were radiating. Leo fell on her back, never dislodging himself from her tight butt. When he mustered up the strength, he rolled off her and pulled a sheet over them. Max was out for the rest of the night.

**********

Leo looked in smiling awe at the naked body that lay curled up under him. He had had some wild nights in his life, but not in his bedroom. He never brought girls back here. They christened his space perfectly. He knew she was a hot one, but only in his wildest dreams did her ever think she would put it down on him like that. He was getting hard just thinking about the blow job, hmm now that is something a man could get used to.

Max stirred below him as all thoughts of last night began to fill her groggy brain. She jumped up in a panic, almost knocking him in the chin.

"Whoa, girl what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing." she replied laying back down.

"Max, I know that face. All kind of shit is wrong. Were you gonna bolt if I was not here?"

"Yeah, I woke up feeling like I was somewhere where I shouldn't be."

"Ok, but that is bullshit. You belong here with me. Capice?"

"Capice." She stifled a yawn. Leo saw it, knowing the working he put on her body last night still had her tired and sore.

"Rest."

While in the shower, Max realized that she could not put on her ball gown from last night, but was pleasantly surprised to find a t-shirt and boxer for her on the bed. She dressed and went downstairs. Leo almost burned his hand when she entered the room. She look incredibility sexy in his clothes, her nipples were hard as pebbles, and calling to him. He looked away, willing himself to show some restraint, and went back to tending the bacon. Max was a little perplexed by his behavior until she looked down and saw what he was looking at. She quietly removed the clothing beginning her seduction.

"I'm sorry you didn't liking seeing me in your clothes," she said faking teariness in her voice. He could not believe she was so emotional this morning. He turned around to apologize and explain but instead dropped the plate. Max was standing there, with her hands on her head buck naked. This is a very wicked woman, and she is all mine. Max realized she must have gone too far when his eyes went from open and warm to black slits. She turned to run, but he grabbed her and lifted her up. He placed her on the dining room table. If she wanted to play, he could play.

"Lie back. Knees up." His voice was edged with anger. She had really pulled on his heart with her fake voice and he didn't take kindly to being fooled.




Lion's Den Ch. 03



Max debated obeying. Leo looked pissed, but her fear was causing her pussy to flood even more, all over the table. Max laid down. What was the worst that could happen? She had texted Laney and told her where she was, so if she did not return, Laney would tell her dad.

Leo looked at Max on his table. He watched her pussy get slicker and slicker. He decided to get a little nasty with her. He grabbed the loaf of French bread; he had intended to serve with breakfast and sat at the end of the table. He ripped the bread dipped it into her open pussy. "This cunt juice is remarkable, Max. You should have some." He tore another piece of bread, scooped up some of her honey and fed it to her.

Max could barely breathe. This was taken getting eaten to a whole new level. Leo took his time, feeding himself and feeding her. When he was done with the bread he could not believe she was still pouring out. He put his tongue into her cunt and ate her, rolling her clit between his tongue and teeth made her buck up off the table, grab his hair and ride his face. He was lost in getting her off. When Max finally came, Leo knew all of Park Slope had heard her. He looked at her open vessel and jacked off onto her naked body. When he was done, her grabbed her face pulling it close to his, "Max, don't ever trick me again. I may not be so pleasant next time." Max registered the warning, but was still in her euphoric high to completely care.

They walked silently to the shower. The hot water was a welcome to their exhausted bodies. They soaped and rinsed each other down careful not to start anything more for the morning. When they got out, Leo saw he had missed two calls from his father. He gave Max some new clothes and went out in the hall to return the call.

"Hey Pops, How's it going?"

"I need to talk to you. Can you come out now?" The tone in Carmine's voice troubled his son.

"Yeah, give me a few."

Max was dressed when he returned, and was towel drying her hair. She put it in two braids, which made her look innocent. Max looked in the mirror. You are way past innocent girl. You have entered some dangerous territory. You let him fuck you up the ass, devour you like a meal, and shit, you hit and miss with the condoms. Are you insane?

Leo watched conflicting expressions flash across her grey eyes, and figured something was up, but didn't want to press the issue.

"Max I've gotta go see my parents. Wanna come with?"

"Uhhhhhh, sure, why the hell not, but I have to be back in Manhattan by 3 o'clock." She had texted Laney and told her to meet back at the apartment for that time.

"No problem, but first we have to swing by your place to get you something to wear that won't give my father a heart attack." Leo was back to his jovial mood, but he had something on his mind.

Leo got Max to her apartment building in record time. He knew she would decline to bring him up so he never asked, and she was relieved he didn't ask. She noticed Laney was not back yet. Hmm she and the Russian must have worn each other out. She left her a quick note, saying where she was going.

Max looked at Leo as they drove up to his parents place. All the time wondering what the hell was she doing. Meeting the parents was adding another string to this already complicated web in her head. She could not wait to get to France.

Leo's mom opened the door and greeted them with hugs and kisses. Isabella found Max more striking than her photo. She grew up beautifully, she thought.

"Carmine, Leo is here and he brought a friend." Her tone was that of warning to her husband.

Carmine stepped out of his study and had the same thought as his wife. Their son had chosen well. He could tell she had her father's ways about her, and all her mother's feminine charm. Carmine stepped to her and greeted her in Italian, telling her she was stunning and he hoped to see more of her. She responded to him in Italian, leaving Leo's mouth agape. He did not know she could speak Italian, how did his father know? Leo glared at her, feeling he was being left out of some secret."

"Leo, come join me in the study, let's leave the ladies to chat?" Carmine winked at Isabella and left the room.

Isabella took Max to the kitchen, speaking to her as she prepared lunch.

"I know your mother and father, Max. Very fine people."

"I figured as much, the way your husband outted me in front of Leo, I knew something was up. Is Signore telling Leo about me right now?"

"Sì, with your father's permission. Leo came to me the other night with a picture of you and told me what he had done to you, frightening you and just being plain foolish. I knew who you were instantly and told Carmine, who placed a call to your father. Your father confirmed to Carmine that you had sent him a message saying you had gone into hiding until you could leave the country, so imagine our surprise when you showed up here today arm in arm with Leo."

"You are not the only one surprised," Max muttered.

"Child, did my son force you?" Isabella was ready to give Leo a good whack.

"Oh no," Max answered quickly sensing the older woman protectiveness of her. "I went to him willingly. I needed to talk to him, to purge him from my system, but my plan may have backfired."

Isabella laughed, "Carbone men are difficult to get over, especially when they let down that macho exterior and show you who they really are. Do you love him?"

"I don't know. It doesn't feel so simple. I figured when I fell in love I would know, the birds will all burst out in song with me." Max hung her head in despair. Fucking Disney.

Isabella gazed at her for a long time. Poor child. She is in love and doesn't know it. Maybe her trip to France will help sort her head. "Are you hungry? Lets' eat."

"Ravenous." Max realized that the last thing she ate was herself on some bread.

Leo was pacing his father's office trying to digest what his father had just told him. Max's dad was a gangster just like him; retired, but a gangster nevertheless. Oh that explains a lot; her secretiveness, her knowing way of speaking about my business. She's more than perfect for me. I wouldn't have to lie to her. Carmine also explained the nature of the relationship of the La Costas to the Carbones, a relationship that Leo had put in jeopardy. Antonio La Costa had made it clear to Carmine that he would not tolerate any more threats coming from his son. If Max wanted to be with Leo that would be her decision. The men ended their phone conversation amicably, but an understanding was there.

"Son, you hungry?"

"Starved." His stomach telling him all he had to eat today was pussy and bread.

The air around the lunch table was tense. Leo wanted to release a barrage of questions on Max and she ate quietly waiting for hell to rain down on her. Carmine spoke to Max warmly, asking questions about school and her internship. At the mention of her internship, Leo's jaw gritted. He knew there was something he wanted to talk to her about and since she was being so chatty he saw his opening.

"What was the name of your boss again?"

She glared at him, refusing to answer.

"Your boss, cara?"

Carmine flashed Isabella a worried look and she shrugged having no clue what was going on between Max and Leo.

"Leo, leave it alone. What's done is done."

"And if he tries that with another intern who couldn't get away, what then?"

Leo had successfully guilted her into revealing his name. "McCleary."

"Thanks, now was that so hard."

Max wanted to fly across the table and slap Leo. She did not want his parents to know what had happened. Hell, she didn't want her parents to know, but the thought of some other woman not being able to defend herself against the likes of McCleary made her cave. She knew that she may have just signed his death warrant and had to live with that.

To change the subject Isabella asked Max about her grandfather in Colombia. Max informed her that she had plans to see him in April, but was super excited about leaving for France tonight. Max noticed her slip, and shot her eyes up to a glaring Leo.

Wow. Max really had not told him anything about herself or her life.

"Hmmm," he muttered.

"Hmmm, nothing. Laney and I are going to the South of France, for two weeks. I haven't seen my parents all summer and it would be nice to get out of New York for a bit."

"To get away from me is more like it." He spoke sharper than he intended.

"Sure, that is a factor too, but I was going before I met you."

Carmine and Isabella were amused looking at the young lovers. Lunch progressed silently and quickly.

Max kissed Isabella and Carmine goodbye, thanked them for their hospitality, and promised to express their well wishes to her grandfather. Leo sped to Manhattan. If she wanted to be rid of him, then he wanted to be rid of her.

"Leo you are being childish."

"Me childish?" he sputtered incredulously. "I am not the one who has held back every piece of vital information about their life, even the trivial crap you guard like gold. I felt like an ass knowing my parents knew more about you than I did and I have been tearing that ass up for days now."

"Okay, ask me anything you want to know?"

"Why do you speak Italian?"

"My father thinks languages are a gateway to life's possibilities."

"How many do you speak?"

"Seven and a half; English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, and German. I can read, write, and speak them all, but I'm learning Arabic.

"What the hell! Your father is no joke."

"No he isn't. You'll see when you meet him." Leo smiled too himself, all was not lost; she wants me to meet her father.

"What up with the tattoo? Pistols don't seem very lady like?"

"First off, I am no lady. I am a woman. Secondly, an AK47 would not have been as sexy. I am a gun aficionado." Max took her love for guns seriously.

"Is aficionado a fancy word for freak?"

"Whatever, I loves my guns," Max mimicked a character on South Park. "I can even tell you what gun you had in your hand the night at the club."

"Hmm." Leo was intrigued; this girl was getting hotter by the minute.

"Don't hmm me, it was .45, KP345 to be exact, made by Ruger, it first came on the market in 1987. Want me to go on?"

"Damn girl, you are seriously into that shit." Leo was rock hard. His chick was a badass, sexy, and smart. That turned him on.

Max laughed. Revealing stuff to Leo was more fun than she thought it would be. She was beginning to feel relaxed with him.

"When is your flight?"

"Eleven p.m. What wanna chauffeur me?" she joked.

"Yes." He was serious.

"Okay, drive a bigger car. It'll be me, Laney, and a ton of luggage."

********

When Max arrived back at the apartment Laney was waiting for her all smiles and giggles. Max flopped down on the couch and told Laney about her night, starting with her incident with McCleary. Laney Laughed. She had seen McCleary throughout the night giving her dirty looks.

"Poor bastard."

"Poor bastard, indeed. Leo's got his name."

"Red, I met the parents and they were pretty awesome. Actually they turned out to know my parents. His dad called my dad and told him what was going on and he apologized on behalf of his love sick son. All in all an eventful day. What about you Lanes, how did your night go?"

Laney divulged to her that it was her client's son who took her to the hotel.

"He was amazing. You have to teach me Russian."

"What about Pauley?"

"Pauley who?" They both fell out laughing.

*******

Leo hauled the ladies' luggage unto the curb for the porter. He tipped the man handsomely as Laney led him to the counter, giving the couple time to say goodbye. He held onto Max for a long time not wanting to let go. She buried he face in his chest, deeply inhaling his scent. She did not think it would be so hard to let go. He made things more difficult by kissing her. His tongue snaked in her mouth, instigating moans from her. Leo was turning her on, as she was him. She whispered to him, "I'm going to check-in, then let you fuck me. Comprende?"

Leo gagged, my girl. While she went on line he went to park the car.

He stood in the terminal looking at her; he could hardly wait to see how she was going to pull this off. And all that off, he thought scrutinizing her. She really looked liked a diva tonight. Her hair was pulled back tightly in one; she had on long dangling diamond earrings, body hugging jeans, a D&G off the shoulder black top, and six inch black peep toes. On her right wrists she wore about 20 bangles, a mixture of silver and black. Her face was made up and she sported silver rimmed D&G sunglasses. He marveled at the many fashion sides of his woman. She felt him looking at her and gave her ass a little shake.

After she was checked in, she told Laney what she was going to do and that she would meet her at the gate. They had forty-five minutes before boarding. That would be sufficient. She walked off toward the bathrooms, knowing Leo was following. She led him quickly into the handicap stall and began to get undressed. Only intending to remove her pants, she stood in her heels and top, but Leo was having none of it. He wanted her stark naked, except for the heels and diamonds of course. In the small space he had her model for him, showing off her delightful goodies. When his eyes had had their fill, he bent her over and told her to grab the railing. The flare of her hips was an erotic site. Leo his condom in record time. He slid his shaft into her slowly delaying both their gratification, but Max could not wait. She backed up on him taking his whole length into her. When she felt his public hair against her ass, she began to dance on his dick, gyrating to a rhythm all her own. Leo had never felt or seen anything like before. Her movements caused her vagina to milk, stroke and twist him at the same time. He knew if she did not stop he was going to blow faster than he wanted so with great effort he pulled out of her. Max felt so empty without Leo inside of her. She mewed like a cat in heat and was satisfied when Leo placed his cock at the opening to her anus. A thrill ran through her as she waited for Leo to press in a bit, that was all she needed to slide right back to the base of his penis. Max resumed her ministrations, extract a growl and moan from Leo.

"Don't stop, princess. Don't stop," was all he could chant.

Max was not going to stop until she reached her climax, and may not even then. Leo slid his hand into her dripping folds to stroke her clit. He rotated and pinched the hard nubbin, until he felt her begin to shake. He grabbed her hips and hammered roughly into her, her dam broke and rivulets of cum ran down her thighs. Leo came with a howl. He eased himself out of her, and dropped to his knees. He could not let the opportunity pass to taste her, and taste her he did. First licking the length of her legs to get every drip to her nectar then he pushed his tongue into her pussy. Her erratic panting and hissing indicated that he was hitting her sweet spot good. Leo sucked and prodded Max until he was satisfied. For Max, the sensitivity of her clit from the previous orgasm had her on edge for more. Leo's expert eating had her grabbing his hair and screaming for him to stop.

"Uncle! Uncle! I give." Despite her pleas Leo did not stop, until he was good and ready. Max's legs were jelly. She had to hold onto the door for support. Leo watched in pride as his woman still shook from the fucking she had received.

Over the loudspeaker they heard, "All passengers for British Airways flight 237 to Marseilles, please report to gate 45 for boarding."

"That's me," she whispered. Her body felt raw, it was a little too late to rethink the wisdom of her idea.

He knew they had little time left, so he dressed her. Max was weak and she just wanted to board the aircraft and go to sleep.

Max and Leo gave each other a long languid kiss at the security station, and reluctantly parted ways. Two weeks on two separate continents should be enough space and time for her to get it together, but who knew what the future would hold. 



Lion's Den Ch. 04



Max and Laney both drew a deep sigh of relief as the plane touched the ground in Spain. Flying first class definitely has it perks. The exhausted girls were happy to snuggle down on their reclining seat-beds, and sleep through the flight. They woke up in enough time to retouch their make-up and prep for the landing. They had to switch flights in Spain but it was just an hour long flight to Marseille then the vacation would be in full swing. Laney had never been to France, and was excited to swim in the Mediterranean, eat French food in France, and above all else, shop. Max was eager to see her parents, but having to explain to them the nature of her relationship with Leo was going to be difficult.

As the van pulled up to the villa, Max's stomach did a flip. Her parents were on the stairs beaming at them. Laney was the first to exit and run into their welcoming arms. Max, on the other hand was apprehensive until she saw her father's face. He grabbed his daughter and gave her a reassuring hug, which relieved all her anxiety. The girls were led through to the patio where lunch was waiting for them. Lunch was like a seafood feast.

Laney and Max were ravenous and tore into everything. Señor and Señora La Costa asked about the flight, ease of connection, and Laney's family. They avoided talking about Leo, but planned on doing so after the girls had rested. Max told them about the internship and meeting the Russian clients. Her father realized that she never mentioned what her boss did to her, but thanks to Carbone he had been informed and was guaranteed the situation would be handled to his satisfaction.

Damn, my little girl had one hell of a summer, but look at her she's resilient. That's daddy's girl. Antonio looked at his daughter smiling. Most men in his position could only see potential in a male heir, but Max was amazing and made him proud. He spent all her childhood and teenage years training her to survive in this world, hoping all along she would never need it. He had known something was going on, thanks to his updates from Rick, but when the coded postcard arrived he almost hopped on a plane to the States. A cooler head prevailed when he re-read the card. She knew how to hide, and defend herself, and if Leo was a true threat to her she would drop him without a second thought. Antonio was glad it did not come to that, especially when he found out Leo was a son a long time friend. The world is truly small.

Laney and Max excused themselves to get changed for swimming. The weather was perfect and they both had been fantasizing about getting into the sea. For Max being around the sea was always good to clear her mind. The girls had a great time frolicking in the water, until Max began to feel queasy. She was sure it was all the sea food they had eaten so she left Laney and went back up to the villa for an antacid. However before she made it back to her room a wave of nausea swept over her causing her knees to buckle. Her mother rounded the corner catching Max trying to steady herself on the wall.

"Mom, the room's spinning. I'm feeli...," was all she got out before puking out her entire lunch in the hallway.

"Max, speak to me. What is going on?" Her mother touched forehead, and found her skin clammy and her color ashen.

"I don't know. I was fine then I wasn't," she said trying to take the fear from her voice. "I probably just need to lie down. It's been a long day."

Tara helped Max get to her room, changed and tucked her in. She studied her daughter intently. Max had never had a weak stomach. The child could eat anything; she cringed remembering their trips to Thailand and Africa. Max would always find the most unappealing things to eat. A suspicion crept into Tara's mind, but she wouldn't discuss it with Antonio until she talked to Max.

Max slept late into the next morning. When she woke up she found everyone on the patio having breakfast. Still uneasy she had toast and bacon, her favorite simple breakfast. After breakfast her father called her and Laney to his study to have the dreaded talk. Max hoped in vain he would have let it slide. Laney sat with her back extra straight, she hated having serious discussions with her own father, she always felt he could see through her eyes and know all the naughty things she had gotten up too. Max sat Indian style on the couch trying to be as comfortable as she could be in an uncomfortable situation. Antonio wanted to put the girls at ease, but it was difficult to with the tension he was feeling inside. Tara perched on the armchair next to her husband. Max laughed inwardly looking at her parents; they always presented a united front.

"Ok, Max," her father began, "take it from the top."

Max told her father how she met Leo in Little Italy in July, what she saw at the club, the incident on Flatbush Avenue, their running to Montclair, the letter and the visit to his parents. She figured those highlights were good enough. She was definitely not telling them about the sex.

Antonio looked at his daughter with an amused smile on his face. He knew there were some details and key points missing from her recap, but he decided to let her have her secrets except one. "Max, what happened with your boss, McCleary?"

Oh shit this man is going to die twice, she thought. "He had been watching me since I started at the law firm. The night of the dinner the asshole decide he was going to teach me a lesson. I fought him off and got away. It's done."

"No, honey, but it will be." Antonio was certain his friend would make it right on all counts.

Laney had never seen the dangerous side of Papa La Costa before and was kind of scared, and happy he was on her side. He was not a man to be crossed, legit or not.

Antonio was satisfied with the girls' account of the events, and sent them on their way. Laney breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to her room, to get ready for some shopping. She wanted to be far away from Papa La Costa's eyes for awhile, she might start confessing all of her crazy activities to him.

When Max got back to her room she found a package on her bed from her mother. She was pleasantly surprised until she opened it. Her mother had gone to the chemist and gotten her a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test! Oh frig, oh frig, oh frig. Nah I couldn't be. Could I? Oh shit, I did miss my period. How could I not notice? Max's mind was racing a mile a minute. How in the world could I be so dumb? My father is going to kill me.

"Mom! Mom!" Max called out to her mother trying not to sound a panicked as she was feeling.

Tara wiggled from her husband's embrace. After all the years they have been together he had never lost his passion and desire for her. He vowed the day she decided to marry him that he would live his life making up for the terror he put her through, and has not disappointed since. She knew why Max was calling so eagerly, but it was not the time to tell Antonio.

She had peed on the stick and was waiting for the result. She had already called Laney into the room, but needed her mother there as well. All three women sat nervously waiting for the results to show. As the plus sign appeared, Max felt herself go cold. One shitting time, oh let's be reckless Max, let's live on the edge Max, you're such a dumb dumb. She asked to be alone so she could formulate a plan. One thing Max was good at was planning. A plan was her safe zone, her surety of success.

**********

"Two fucking weeks, cuz," raged Pauley. "She will be gone two fucking weeks. So man the fuck up and get to work. People need to see your face."

It had been two days since Max left town but Leo was hold up in his house moping around. Pauley had had enough of Leo's depressing behavior. Although it was quite funny seeing his cousin in this novel state, it was bad for business,

"Alright, I'll come out but I'm not staying all night."

"That's good enough."

Leo went down to Absinthe first, then onto two other clubs he owned with Pauley, Coconuts and Verde. Pauley managed the other two clubs quite efficiently on his own, so Leo's trips there were less frequent. Absinthe was his baby anyway. By the end of the night, Leo was fed up seeing the same old skanky chicks at the clubs. This made him miss his hot thick body chocolate goddess something wicked. She could not come home fast enough for him. She let him know she did not want any communication between them for the next two weeks so she could clear her mind. Of course she let him know this through a text when she got on the plane. These two weeks are going to be so shitty, he thought grumbling.

***********

Max drew up a two column chart; one heading was I am keeping the baby the other, I am not keeping the baby. She had some vital questions she needed to answer under each column, Do I tell Leo? If I don't tell Leo how do I protect my child? What about my education? Can I emotionally afford a child? Where will we live? Max's head was spinning with thoughts of them being a family. Is this what I subconsciously wanted? I mean frig I didn't protect myself all the time. This is too much I need some air.

Max ran down to the beach, hoping the sea air would calm her nerves, but all it did was remind her of the distance between her and Leo. A distance that felt choking, with the knowledge she was carrying his child. She started crying staring out at the expanse of water before her. Antonio had seen his daughter go down to the beach and wanted to talk her more about the Leo situation. He wanted to know if she was in love with him. Max was not callous with her heart or trust so if she was feeling anything for this boy, it was important.

Antonio could not believe his daughter was crying, it was so unlike her. He put his arms around her and let her cry into his chest. "It's ok, no llores mi princesa es tan solo semanas."

"Papi, I know it just two weeks. Estoy embarazada de su hijo. Lo siento, papi, lo siento." Max blurted out the truth to her father.

Antonio wished to God he had heard his daughter incorrectly. "You're pregnant, hija? Are you sure?"

"Sí, metomóuna prueba de embarazoesta mañana."

"That's what all that commotion with your mother was about?"

"Yes," Max replied hanging her head in shame. She knew telling her father was going to be hard, but she was feeling like she wrecked his world too, along with hers.

"What happened?" Antonio felt he knew his daughter and this unexpected pregnancy was definitely not like her.

"I just wanted to have a moment in life where I threw caution to the wind. I wanted to not think or micromanage everything. Leo presented as the prefect escape. I didn't expect it to get so serious. It feels like a tornado has swept through my life."

"Ok, baby girl, what's the plan?" Antonio's heart was breaking for his daughter but it was more important to let her know she was loved, and not add any further stress. He thought about what stress had done to her mother, how he had almost lost them both. He could not go through that again. "Do you love him, negrita?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I don't want to, and I don't want him to love me either, but he says he does. I am scared that he will lose himself in what he feels for me and it will cost him his life. History has a way of repeating itself, and he is so much like you daddy it is scary. When I look into his eyes I remember you guy's story and I freeze. I don't want him to feel compelled to give up his life for me, but I don't want to be a liability either."

"My child, my sweet baby, your mother and I never shared our story with you to be a deterrent. We thought it would inspire you to know that love, regardless of how complicated, can conquer all. Apparently it had the opposite effect and I am sorry. Love is beautiful and insane and can make you reckless," he said rubbing her belly, "but sweetheart please don't short change your life because of fear."

Max had heard everything her father said, and was taken aback that he was not angry with her, but still had one more question to ask. "Papi, would you hate me if I terminated this pregnancy?"

Antonio could not believe what he was hearing, all his Catholic upbringing rising to the surface. "Max, I would not hate you, but I would be so disappointed. I don't believe in abortion, but I know that the ultimate decision is yours. However, if that is what you decide, don't ever tell Leo you were pregnant. It would destroy him."

Max threw her hand around his waist, "Thank you daddy, I love you and I'm so sorry for all this."

"Hush child, what else are children for but to give their parents angina. Come let's put some food in you." He cracked a smile to lighten the mood. Max laughed, grateful her father had taken the news without threatening to kill her or Leo.

The weeks in France flew by so quickly. At the end of the vacation Max was sure she would have come to a decision about her, the baby, and Leo, but she hadn't. She just couldn't come up with a flawless plan. Her mother, father, and Laney had been great support, almost smothering sometimes. As soon as she saw the lights of JFK her stomach did flip flops. She knew Leo would be waiting for her at the terminal, and suddenly felt conscious about her body wondering if he would look at her and be able to tell she was pregnant.

**********

Leo was pacing the terminal with two dozen red roses, and a mix cd. He wanted her to know just how much he missed her. Pauley had advised him on making the mix cd. In his words, Girls love shit like this bro, put some real panty droppers on it. The last time he had done anything like that was in high school. If this did not work he was going to give his cousin a beat down.

Leo spotted Max coming down the corridor she was talking to her parents animatedly, she was an absolute vision. He loved to see her like that, super relaxed. The only time he really sensed her let go is when they were having sex. Damn I can't wait to have her in bed again. Those chocolate legs wrapped around me...Whoa buddy, we can't meet her parents pitching a tent. Think pure thoughts. Pure thoughts asshole. Pure thoughts would not come especially when she was so close.

Max stopped talking to her parents, as her eyes roamed the baggage claim area for Leo. Their eyes met and she could not stop her feet. She took off running and leapt into his arms wrapping her legs around his hips. He held her as their lips got reacquainted. This was better than Leo could have ever imagined. His girl had come home, happy and hungry to see him.

Max felt Leo's bulge on her groin and moaned. "I see you have missed me. Are you going to give me the best homecoming ever?"

"Max please stop talking like that, your father is watching us, and I can't shake his hand with my cock poking at him."

Max laughed, and pecked Leo. "Think about trees, grass, anything."

Antonio and Tara watched their daughter run into the arms of the man she just spent two weeks trying to decide if she loved, and knew instantly, even if she didn't. Max was in love with Leo, head over heels.

"Mommy, Daddy this is Leo." Max said sheepishly. She was a little embarrassed at her display of affection to Leo.

Leo took Antonio's hand and shook it with vigor. Max laughed knowing he was nervous, and really wanted to impress her father. Max's mom embraced Leo and kissed him warmly on both cheek. She winked at her daughter and mouthed, He is a cutie. Max was glad this part was done. As the men gathered the luggage, Max told her mom she was going to spend the night at Leo's.

When Max got into Leo's car Antonio was staring at him with such intensity he almost told Max to go home with her parents. He then nodded to Leo and put his wife in the car. The nod spoke volumes, Leo knew he had Antonio's permission, but also there was a warning there.

Max found it hilarious and sweet that Leo made her a mix cd. "Dude, this is so junior high," she joked.

"Really, but there is nothing junior high about the songs on that cd, pop it in."

She did just that, eager to see what Leo had in store for her. The first song that came on was, Bed by J Holiday. This was one of her favorite songs. The lyrics and melody got her hot every time. All the songs progressed in that manner, by the time they pulled up to the brownstone. They were on fire for each other.

"Leave the bags," she panted, having been squirming for him since she saw him. "Take me inside and fuck me like you have not seen me in two weeks."

"What the hell woman. I can smell you cunt juice from here. You're like a cat in heat. "

"Oh heck yeah, do you know what it was like spend two weeks waiting for a beautiful cock to fill you."

Leo laughed, "No can't say I have, but I have been dreaming night an day about a sweet juicy pussy, that cums for me on command."

"A pussy like this?" Max asked, flipping up her skirt to reveal her wet panties.

"Woman if you don't get your ass in the house I will tear you up on these stairs, and I don't care who sees."

"Promises. Promises." Max retorted flipping up the back of the skirt flashing him.

With that he smacked her ass and pulled her into the house. They were undressed before they made it to the bedroom so they began their reunion in the hallway. Leo grabbed Max and pulled her to the floor on top of him. She spread her legs and took him into her vagina with a sigh. She was careful, remembering the baby. "Ohh, Leo I have missed this, I have missed you." Max hoped Leo did not notice how careful she was being.

She began riding slowly with her hands on Leo's shoulders. He was aching for a go at her nipples; they were protruding and calling him. He dipped down pulled one into the mouth. Max hissed and bucked a little harder on his cock.

"That's it girl, give your man what he has been waiting for."

"I'll give you what you want, are you going to give me what I want?"

"What is that you want, cara?"

"I want you to love me forever." As instantly as the words left her mouth, Max regretted them. She stopped moving. She got so lost in him, in the moment, words just spilled from her lips. Oh balls! Do I want him to love me forever? Why do I say dumb stuff when his cock is in me?

"I love you now and forever, Max. Do you believe me? Do you believe me?" he asked drawing out each syllable of the question while thrusting up into her.

"Yes," she squeaked out with tears running down on her face. Regrettably she did believe him.

He held onto her hips and rocked her, watching the tears running down her face did something animalistic to him. He was determined to claim her, to mark her, to let her know she always had a home in his heart and bed. Her cocoa skin beckoned him to put passion marks on it. The harder he sucked the more inflamed she became. Speeding up her pleasure ride she broke the skin on his back drawing blood, marking him in her own way. The stinging in his back encouraged him to bring them over the edge. They came with their eyes locked onto each other, knowing that they were completely bonded.

Morning found Max and Leo entangled in each other's arms in the hallway. Leo smiled happy they had christened another place in his house. Max woke up to Leo placing gentle kisses on her body. When he got to her stomach she flinched. What the hell is wrong with me? He is the father. I should tell him.

Leo, felt Max's body flinch and got pissed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked getting off of her. "I thought we got past all that shit last night."

Shit. "What are you talking about?" Max inquired innocently.

"Think I would not feel you flinch from me. Every time we get together you pull away. I'm here for the long haul, are you?"

"I can't do this right now Leo." Max got up and went to the bathroom to puke and shower. She needed to get last night off her and clear her mind.




Lion's Den Ch. 04



"Max don't fucking walk away from me. We need to talk about this now. Do you love me, or are you just in this to get dicked." Leo was so steamed he wanted to hurt Max.

"Leo I don't know. France was supposed to help me clear it all up, but it just did not happen. Can we just take it easy this week? I am going back to school on Sunday, why rush to cement things?" Max was trying to wrap her mind around their little conversation last night, at this point she was hesitant to confess she loved him. She was still petrified it would be destruction of them both; her independence, his life.

Leo's icy slits glared at her. "I think you are a game playing bitch. Perhaps you were using me to get daddy's attention by fucking around with some trouble. And fucking we did, up the ass, in your mouth, with no condom, but what the hell, a slut like you has probably been on the pill since you were twelve, but whatever I am done with trying to get you. See your way out."

Max stood naked looking at Leo in disbelief, and trying to control the queasiness in her stomach. He was the man who had, just hours before, promised to love her forever. She slowly redressed following the path of her clothes to the front door and walked out.

Leo cursed himself as soon as the words left his mouth. You fucking imbecile. If he knew anything about Max, she could shut someone out very quickly. She would not beg for him, she would take her dismissal in silence, and never come back. He could not believe his anger had taken such hold. He was seething and full of regret.

Max walked up to Prospect Park, with tears streaming down her face. She could not process what just occurred with Leo. Why couldn't I just say I loved him? I feel things for him that I have never felt for any man. I care for his well being, but is that love? And the things he said, how can I love a man who only sees me as a whore? What if he is right about my daddy issues? Maybe that's my thing...I like dangerous controlling men. What the freak is wrong with me? I can't stay here. I need to go home to North Carolina. I need to put all this crazy behind me, finish my year, graduate, and go to Colombia for awhile. There's the plan.

Max caught the subway, back up to her parents' apartment. They were surprised to see her arrive without her bags, but figured Leo was going to bring it later. After she showered, she bought a plane ticket for later that night to Wilmington, North Carolina. Tara and Antonio were about to have their siesta when Max called out to them. She told them that she was done with Leo and would be heading back to N.C. that night.

"Why in such a rush Max?" her mother asked sorely disappointed that her daughter and Leo had not been able to make things right between them.

"I've got something I need to do before school starts," she replied knowing her parents understood what the something was.

"Hija, are you certain? Once it's done it's done."

"I understand, Papi, but it is what's best for all involved."

Antonio was at a loss, just last night his daughter seemed so happy to be going off with the man she loved, now her face was sad and resolute as she was about to make the worst decision of her life. Whatever went on between her and Leo was her business, but damn if he did not want to kill him right now. He sighed sadly, "What time is your flight? Maybe we could do dinner before you leave?"

"That would be nice," she answered meekly, knowing she was breaking their hearts.

Dinner was strained for the first few minutes until her dad broke out into song, when the live band began to play some old Spanish song he knew. He grabbed her mother and spun her round and round on the dance floor. Max looked on feeling pangs of jealousy. She wanted to have with Leo what both their parents have, but it seemed not to be written in the stars for them. When dinner was over she kissed her parents good bye and caught her car service to the airport.

Max left word with Rick that when her bags arrived he should keep them downstairs, it made no sense to haul them upstairs only to bring them down a few hours later. When Leo arrived with Max's bags Rick was a little surprised, he was the same guy who dropped off the letter for Max some weeks ago.

"Is Miss La Costa in?" Leo asked hoping he would get a change to apologize.

"No, she is not, is there a message you would like to leave?"

Leo wondered why they were putting Max's suitcases in the storage room, but didn't ask any questions, the guy at the front desk did not seem to like him nor interested in volunteering any information. On a hunch he called C.J. to check all flight manifests going to Texas or North Carolina tonight.

"Damn Leo you should be a P.I." C.J. found Leo's obsession with this rich Upper East Side girl interesting. From their days in school together he knew of his friends taste for big black girls but this one was different. C.J. had continued his investigation into her, even after Leo had told him not to. He discovered almost everything about her, but would not reveal it to his friend unless he asked or it became necessary. "I found her. She's heading out to N.C. tonight. Want me to put a Homeland Security flag on her name?"

"No asshole, just give me the airline and time?"

Max got to the airport just in the nick of time. When the car got to her terminal she rushed in to do an electronic check in. Thank God for technology, she thought as she tagged her own bags and put them on the carousel. Suddenly the hairs on her neck stood up, she knew she was being watched and by whom. She finished up and proceeded to remove her belt and jewelry ignoring the feelings and emotions that swept through her. She wanted to turn around and confront him, but wanted even more to be out of New York, to be rid of him. Two weeks didn't do it, perhaps an entire school year would.

Leo watched Max move with that fierce independence that he loved and loathed at the same time. She was one strong willed filly and he couldn't break her. He wanted to; he wanted her to need him, to want him, to see him as her champion. Leo walked toward her thinking he was going to catch her off guard, but he should have known better. As his hand reached out to her, she spun around with the most seductive smile, and if it were real he would have melted.

"Don't you dare fucking touch me. You have lost all right. Do you think you were that good that one touch from you would have this slut riding your cock again? And if you came here to apologize, don't. You have every right to say what is in your heart and mind. Thank you for delivering my bags." Max's tone was cold.

Leo knew he did not have a leg to stand on, but it didn't stop him from trying. "Max, what I said to you this morning was cruel and untrue. I love you, and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if give me another chance."

Max laughed a harsh bitter laugh and eyed Leo up and down, "Aren't you tired of making promises you can't keep? We are done. There is no getting around that, no wooing me back, I have a life to live and it does not include you. So you know what? Deuces." Max threw Leo a sideway peace sign and walked off.

Leo stared at her until she was out of his line of sight then walked out of the terminal devastated, and desperate to do damage.



Lion's Den Ch. 05



After being out of her condo for two months Max was grateful to be back. She made a mental note of all the things she needed to do, get new plants, buy food, unpack, do laundry, and go to the doctor. She sighed at the last item on her list. Rubbing her belly contemplatively she began cry. "Hey little man, what is your mama thinking? You father hurt me badly, but I can't punish or blame you can I? Whatever we were or weren't to each other is irrelevant, you are a part of me. From here on out it's just going to be you and me, can you handle that? It will be ok. Let's eat."

Max went to the supermarket to fill up the fridge and get some plants. Now that she had decided to keep her baby, she formulated a new plan. She went to campus to speak to her dean.

Professor Moore was awesome and had a genuine affection for Max. On her first day at the university she met with him, and told him he needed to do something about her foreign language requirement.

"Dean Moore, my name is Maxine La Costa and I need a waiver on the foreign language requirement."

"Ms. La Costa that is a rather unusual request. You cannot get a waiver because you're are bilingual." He responded assessing her bi-racial heritage.

"Thank you, Dean but I speak seven languages fluently, as well as read and write. So spending my parents' money learning to conjugate verbs seems like a waste." Max was determined to get her way and Dean Moore could see it in her fiery grey eyes.  

"Ok, Miss La Costa, let me make a deal with you, I will grant you your waiver if by Friday you can present to me and the other language professors a ten minute piece of your choice in the language of your choice."

When Friday came Max entered the room dress like a Shakespearian actor, she did the soliloquies of Julius Caesar in Russian, Macbeth in French, Romeo & Juliet in Italian, and Midsummer's Night Dream in Chinese, then thanked the audience for their attention in German. The faculty gave her a standing ovation. Max got her waiver, since that day Dean Moore had become her advisor.

Max knew he would be in his office since the first day of school was about a week away. She knocked and waited for a response. He was another person she did not want to disappoint, but she knew he would help.

"Come in."

"Hello Dean," Max smiled.

"Miss La Costa how goes it dear?" he asked hugging her.

"I am great and pregnant," Max blurted trying to treat the situation like she was pulling off a Band-Aid.

"Huh? Come again?" Dean Moore was sure he had misheard. Max was a super sensible girl, always had a plan she was working, and pregnancy had never been part of her plan.

"Yeah, I'm pregnant and I've decided to keep him, but I need to put a plan in to action to ensure I'll still graduate in May."

"Ok let me hear it." Dean Moore knew the only role he could play with Max was supporter right now. Having had a daughter go through this situation in high school he was a seasoned vet in unplanned pregnancies. He was just glad Max had such a great foundation before all this; she was four years into a five year master's program.

"I have completed all my requirements to graduate except my thesis and my internship. I can complete and present my thesis before we break for Christmas, and I can fulfill all my internship hours before April."

"Max that is an intense plan. Is this good for the baby? How far along are you?"

"I'm not too sure. I have a doctor's appointment after I leave here. I just needed to know if I can count on you."

"You have my support, but if I see you are stressing out or anything, all this will come to an end and you will graduate when you are able. Comprende?"

"Je comprends. Thank you so much." Max hugged him and headed out to the doctor.

*****************

Antonio could not sleep during the night, he kept thinking about his grandchild that will never be. Tara was rubbing his back thinking on the same things.

"My love, we must not torture ourselves with these thoughts. Maxine is grown."

"Woman, how can you be so calm about this, that is our grandchild. Would you have done the same thing?"

In the twenty three years Tara had never been asked that question, and was not sure if her honesty would help her husband, but she couldn't lie. "Yes, I thought of it when I found out I was pregnant with her. I was a black girl in a foreign country, no family around, and you were a dangerous cartel boss, it seemed that it would have been for the best."

Antonio turned to look into his wife's eyes. "Why didn't you?"

"When I was going to get it done, I suddenly felt I shouldn't but I still had to protect us. That is why I left you."

"Are you happy with the life I have given you?" Antonio was a little hurt by Tara's confession, and needed to be reassured he hadn't screwed up her life, and by default, their daughters'.

"Come here my love," she tenderly drew her husband to her breast, "I have never regretted a day with you, even when I saw the ugly sides of you. I loved you then and I love you now. Get some rest we are having lunch at the Carbones tomorrow.

**************

Isabella was moving like a fury in the kitchen. They had not seen the La Costas in awhile and this business with the kids had made it necessary for them to reconnect.

"Woman slow down before you make me sick," Carmine joked. He loved to see his wife excited like this. The years had been good to them, their friendship and love had gotten deeper and stronger.

"Don't talk to me Carmine our guests will be arriving soon. Go to the cellar and get some wine."

When Carmine was coming from the cellar he heard the doorbell. He opened the door with a great smile on his face. "Hey, old friend," he took Antonio's hand shaking it with vigor, and double kissing on the cheek. "And you Tara, just get more beautiful with time."

"Thank you Carmine. How are you?"

"Alive and well. What else could a man ask for, except for the love a beautiful woman to prolong that life."

They laughed and made their way to the kitchen.

Tara hugged Isabella and donned an apron to help her in the kitchen. The men went for a stroll around the grounds to catch up on business and family. When lunch was ready they sat in the outdoor dining room. The conversation flowed nicely until it hit the evitable subject, Leo and Max.

"I can't wait to see Max later this week," Isabella chirped. Both Tara and Antonio stopped eating.

"She's not here; she went back to North Carolina last night," Tara responded.

"Oh, that's too bad. I thought she was staying in the city for a week and leaving on Sunday?" Isabella was confused, something was amiss.

"That was the plan, but she came home yesterday morning and told us she was going back to North Carolina in the night. Young people," Antonio said shaking his head trying to close the subject.

"Young people nothing, did she and Leo have a fight?" Isabella was ready to call and scold Leo.

"I suspect so," Tara replied.

"Gosh I wish he was here so I could wring his ears. I am sorry. I just want them to make it work so badly. To see them together is magic, they have that spark and fire, but they are stubborn." Isabella was near tears, thinking of how the lovers were missing their chance.

"Oh, don't start the water works woman, they are still young, and they ain't no Romeo and Juliet." Carmine closed the subject raising an eyebrow to Antonio.

Lunch went on for two more hours. Tara gave Carmine and Isabella the gifts Max had left for them. They bid good-bye sending hellos to each other's child.

********

The doctor informed Max she was two months pregnant, and the baby was due at the end of March. He gave her an astounding list of things she needed to do to get ready, first things first get some vitamins and supplements. She decided to tell her parents about her decision and plan tomorrow, tonight it was just all about her and her baby.

Max called her mother and father in the morning and told them she was keeping the baby, but swore them to secrecy. She let them know flat out that Leo was not going to be part of her life and her baby's. Antonio was overjoyed with the news, he did not pursue any other line of questioning with her. However he was interested to know what would make Max be so adamant about keeping Leo away. Tara heard her daughter's words and it was like history repeating itself. She had made the same kind of decision twenty-three years ago and it did not go over too well. She decided she would not attempt to make Max see reason, but let it all play out. When they got off the phone Max's overjoyed parents looked at each other and an understanding passed between them. They were willing to put their relationship with the Carbones in jeopardy to keep Max's secret.

**********

As the days passed Max fell more and more in love with the young one growing inside her. Those days turned into months, and true to her plan Max worked on her internship during the day and her thesis at night. The schedule was pretty grueling, but Max was going to prove she could do it all...alone. Not alone really, but without a man. She had Laney, who lived across the hall from her, as big help. Her parents were coming out to spend Christmas and help get the baby room together. Max was grateful that she had gotten a three bedroom condo.

Her presentation before the thesis committee in December went great. She took four weeks off her internship, at the command of Dean Moore, to rest. Rest for more than two weeks would normally drive Max to homicide, but she had plenty to do with preparing for the baby. It was all very exciting and sad, at the same time. She was wondering what it would have been like to do all this with Leo.

***********

Pauley had never seen Leo like this. Leo was always the voice of reason, which allowed Pauley to be the hot head, but now those roles were reversed. Leo was out of control. His body count was rising, and that was definitely encouraging some unwanted attention. For the smallest infraction, soldiers were getting some serious punishment. Pauley needed to put a stop to this before they both faced time. He spoke to his uncle and they decided sending Leo to Italy for a season would be the best solution. Carmine had been hearing the reports about his son for months and knew what he was doing for business. He tried to get Isabella to talk to him, but she couldn't get through. He stopped coming by for Sunday dinner, and when she did see him all she saw was the ghost of her former child. This Leo was leaner, face harder and eyes like black ice and distant. She agreed wholeheartedly with her husband, Italy would do him some good.

***********

Antonio and Tara were ecstatic to see their daughter in all her maternal glory. They saw her on Skype weekly, but nothing could beat seeing her in the flesh. Max did not realize how much she would have loved having her parents around; she did not mind the smothering at all. Since she had phoned and told them she was keeping the baby presents and items had been continuously arriving at her apartment.

*******

Leo called C.J. to put a track on Max's travel. He knew Christmas was coming and she would be back in New York during her break. He told his parents he would go to Italy after Christmas, and they acquiesced, glad they did not have to fight him. Plus it would have been sad to have him away during the Christmas season. C.J. informed Leo that Max was not coming to New York for Christmas but her parents had flown out to be with her. Leo was disappointed. He figured she needed a few months to cool off, and he would try to win her back during Christmas, but damn she was proving to be more stubborn than him.

C.J. was never one to feel bad for Leo. Leo was a guy that had everything and got what he wanted, but the agony on his face was too much for C.J. No man should have to endure that kind of heartache. He was still secretly keeping tabs on Max. He noticed her semester schedule was strange. Also she had some interesting charges on her debit card. He was formulating an idea but didn't draw any conclusions until he started checking her parents' finances. They also had some purchases that supported his suspicions. Leo's girl was pregnant.

Leo decided since he could not see Max during the holiday he would just leave for Italy early. He called his parents and told them his plan, went home and packed. He passed by the La Costas' apartment and left her presents with Rick.

Rick was surprised to see Leo. The man was still carrying a torch for Max, and it would have been sweet if Rick liked him for her. She was a good girl who deserved a good man; still he would overnight her packages to North Carolina.

********

Max went to bed leaving her parents fighting over the putting up of the crib and furniture in baby's room. Her father was so funny. For all his money he always insisted on doing stuff like this himself. Max had painted the room yellow and green since she did not know the sex of the baby. She referred to it as him, because she did not like saying "it". She did some changes to the adjoining bathroom to make it more baby friendly. She had the regular sink removed and put in a farm sink that could hold a baby's tub. Everything was taking shape nicely.

Neither Max nor her parents were expecting any deliveries so when the package arrived they were all suspicious. Antonio called Rick, he confirmed he sent the package and told Antonio who it was from. Max noticed worry flash across his face when talking to Rick.

"Papi, what's it?"

"The package is from Leo. He left it with Rick."

"Leo?" Max asked shocked.

She had not communicated with him since she left New York. For the first two months she was back her phone was inundated with countless texts and messages from him, but all that stopped now. Although, she thought about him daily, she had hoped he had forgotten about her. She needed him to forget about her, it would make all this so easy. "Dad could you put the box in my room please."

"Yes darling, but are you sure." Antonio worried about Max's stress level. He remembered what happened to her mother when she was stressed during her pregnancy.

"I'll be good," she followed her father to her bedroom. When he left she stared at the box. If I open it would that mean I accept his apology? If I send it back would that be too rude? Max, deep sighed and opened the box. She could tell he had put a lot of thought into the items, but decided not to keep them. She repacked the gifts and had them returned to his home.

Tara saw the box repacked at the front door and was troubled. She knew her daughter was stubborn like a mule, but cruel, was not her style. She had to get to the bottom of what transpired between her and Leo, but knew she had to do it gently. "Max let's get out of here and have a Christmas Eve spa day."

Max knew that tone, it was not a suggestion it was a command. She had been waiting for her one of her parents pry, they had been extremely patient.

While they laid on the massage table he mother's questioning began, she knew it was serious because her mother was speaking in Spanish. Although Tara was fluent, she usually only spoke in Spanish for serious and emotional topics. She believes Spanish has a better command of emotions that need to be expressed in words.

"What happened between you and Leo when we came back from France?"

Max had thought about that morning about a million times and couldn't make sense of what transpired. She told her mother, starting with the drive back to his place, the sex, him telling her how much he loved her, then what surfaced in the morning and the names her called her.

Tara was listening filtering what she could tell her husband. She tried to listen rationally but was now enraged that Leo would disrespect her daughter like that. She wanted to punch him in his face, and was more convinced that Max made the right decision. Despite her husband's volatile nature, he had never verbally derided her.

"Alright baby girl."

When they got back home Antonio gave his wife a questioning nod. She just smiled and nodded back. He would get the cliff notes when they went to bed.

Christmas Day went by superbly. Max's parents went all out for their daughter and grandchild. New Year's passed great too. Max was getting loads of rest and the baby's room was almost finished courtesy of the parents. They spent two more weeks with her after the holidays, and then headed back to New York. During their last week they went with Max to her see her doctor. They gushed on and on when they saw the sonogram, and was happy to take the picture to put on their fridge.

************

Leo sat on the veranda at the villa contemplating his next move with Max. The holidays had been lousy, not being in New York with his family or seeing Max. He was resolved that being without her was not an option. His behavior for the past few months had been reckless; he had endangered himself and Pauley, not to mention their income streams. Italy had been good to him. It gave him some perspective on who he was, and what he wanted. Come hell or high water he was getting his Max back. First he had to hit New York to see his family, make some amends and then he could devote some time to wooing Max.

*********

Laney stood in Max's living room trying to convince her to go out with her for Valentine's Day.

"Come on Blue, you have not been out, really out in a long time."

"Because I am a house Lanes, a massive house." Max was feeling fat. She was big but now with someone living inside of her she felt enormous.

"You look gorgeous. You are pregnant and glowing, plus I bought you a really nice fancy red number so please get ready."

Max relented, she really had been feeling like scaling the walls these past few days, and the dress was lovely. She dressed in record time. After all the doing was done she had to admit to herself that she did look good. Damn I am one hot mama.

"See what did I tell you?" Laney remarked seeing her friend. "Tonight is going to be awesome."

Laney had spoken too soon, as she opened the door to leave, they walked right into Leo. Jaw dropping fine, tanned, sexy ass Leo.

"What the fuck?" Laney spat out, and tried to shut the door.

Leo put his foot in the doorway and pushed his way in. He assessed Max and his emotions swung from anger to confusion back to anger. He started to pace back and forth running his hand through his hair. I must be hallucinating. I must be hallucinating.

"Laney please leave us."

"Oh hell no Leo! You better leave."

"I am not leaving. Max explain yourself." Leo had steam coming out his ears.

She could not believe his tone. "Explain myself? Explain myself? Who the hell do you think you are? Leo you are the one who dismissed me out of your life like some common ho, yet you think you get to come into my home and question me. Get the fuck out."

"Oh no Miss La Costa you're not getting off that easy. Yeah I fucked up. Yeah I hurt you. It's all on me, but I apologized and apologized. I called you, texted you but I guess you were too eager to move on to care." He gestured at her belly for her to get the point.

"Leo, we are done, have been for months. Why now? I loved you and you broke my heart. Shattered it actually, but I moved on. Had to or my grief would have killed me. You spoke of love, and gestured it so grandly, but you know nothing of love Leo. Love is putting the needs of the other person in front of your own, and putting your ego in check. I never wanted you to love me, I know how love can destroy, but no, you had to insist and declare it. But don't worry I am not leaving you to take the blame alone, I am just as guilty as you. I didn't want you to love me, but I didn't stay away. I gave into the basest of my needs, and got burned in the process. Leo this thing between us was doomed from the jump so let us move on before we do more damage." Max had lowered her tone so he could hear how serious she was.




Lion's Den Ch. 05



"Damage? Princess do you know how damaging and enraging it is to not see your woman in months and when you do see her she is pregnant with another man's child?" As livid as Leo was he could not help but observe Max. In awe at how beautiful and glowing she looked. Pregnancy added to her in all the best ways.

Max's mind went into overdrive. Oh this could not have turned out better than if I planned it, he does not think the baby was his. Bingo!

"Leo like I said I had to move on." Her face became serene as her mind worked out her story.

"Who is he Max?" Leo was in so much rage he wanted to strangle her. She should be standing here pregnant with my child.

"You don't know him. He's a marine that was stationed at Le Jeune. I met him at the club in September. We had a good week of fun then he got deployed to Afghanistan." Max's lie was getting quite elaborate.

"So, he doesn't know about the baby?" Leo was thinking that he loved Max so much he could raise another man's child with her. Anything to have her back.

"Yes, I wrote him and told him. He's super excited to meet his son."

A son. That statement gutted Leo. This was too much for him. He had to get out of there and regroup. He set his shimmering eyes on her, "This is not over," and stormed out slamming the door behind him. No way, in hell is some man gonna have my woman, child or no child.

*******

C.J. had come through for Leo thoroughly when he came wanting information on Max. He handed over the dossier he had been working on for months. Leo was slightly pissed that C.J. had gone behind his back and done this, but was equally grateful. Leo scanned the file for what he needed, Max's home address in North Carolina. He was going to surprise her for Valentine's Day. C.J. chuckled, knowing it was Leo who was in for the surprise, but he kept his mouth sealed, messengers get killed, especially with news like that.

*******

When Leo got back to the hotel after seeing Max in her knocked up state he pulled out the file C.J. had give him on Max and her family. He read through everything this time and some stuff struck him as strange. She said she gotten pregnant in September but there was a trust set up for Baby La Costa early August. Plus there was a host of baby items purchased by her parents way before September. He felt the heat rising in his neck. Max lied to him. She truly hates me, but I'll be damned if she keeps me away from my child. Knowing Max's proclivity to run Leo hopped in his car and parked outside her condo all night.

*****

Isabella was floored when Leo called them with the news. Carmine was happy, but concerned that Max did not tell Leo or them about the baby. Family meant everything to him so he got on the phone and ripped into his son.

"Leo what the hell did you do to that girl to make her keep our grandbaby from us?"

"Dad I fucked up royally. I called her out her name in the most disrespectful ways, because my ego could not handle her."

"Leo fix this." Carmine hung up the phone on his son. He was furious.

**********

Against Max's wishes Laney called her parents to tell them Leo was there. They insisted on coming out. Antonio and Tara were worried about the stressful situation Leo was creating for Max.

********

Leo watched Max and Laney pulling out of the driveway next morning. Unknowingly he was following them to her doctor's office. Since last night Max had been concerned about how her blow up with Leo was affecting the baby. As she sat on the table she thought she heard someone calling her name. She looked to Laney to see if she had heard it also. She had.

"He wouldn't?"

"Max you know he would, he's been cracked and I think seeing you pregnant last night tipped him over the edge."

"Open the door and let him in." As much as Max wanted him out of her life she did not want Leo to get arrested.

"Are you sure?" Laney cocked her eye to Max. She had heard from Pauley that Leo had been on a self destructive streak since Max left him. And seeing him last night confirmed to her just how far gone he was.

"Yeah he wouldn't hurt me." Max was not so sure about that, but she had to do something.

When Leo saw Laney poke her head out he charged into the room. His face was hard and dark. Seeing Max had his head and heart see-sawing. He wanted to shake and spank her for lying to him. He wanted to kiss her and celebrate their child. He wanted some sign she was not still mad. He wanted to see some remorse in her face, but Max had none. She kept her grey eyes like steel on his.

Laney glanced at her friend, who shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes as if to say, go ahead and do it he's here now. She broke the silence in the room, "Okay Leo shoot. I know you have questions, and I'm gonna answer them the best I can."

Leo's countenance was that of a broken man. Her heart almost went out to him, but he did her friend dirty so she wouldn't allow herself to feel for him.

"Is the baby mine?" He began, speaking slowly.

"Yes."

He drew a deep breath, "How long has Max known?"

"Since France."

"Since France? Since France. Since France, oh shit since France." Leo rubbed his face in his hands realizing what his rage put in motion all those months back. He had lost out on the experience of watching his woman swell with his child; he lost out on doctor's visits, and sharing the experience with his family. Now he had to figure out how to make them a family.

"Max I am so sorry. But no matter how much you want me out of you life I'm not leaving you, not now, not ever."

The doctor walked into the room and observed the tension filled situation. He had advised Max since she started seeing him, that she should tell the father but she was adamant not to. Now he could tell the father had found out and it was not going well.

"Hello, I am Dr. Morales." He stretched out his hand to greet Leo.

"Hello, Dr. I am Leo, the baby's father." He said throwing an icy glare to Max, who shifted uncomfortably on the bed.

"Ok, shall we get started? Max you know the drill."

Leo stood in awe and jealousy as Dr. Morales poked and prodded his woman's inner most parts. When he began the sonogram, Leo's heart raced and tears came to his eyes as he heard his son's heart beat for the first time. He looked at Max and grinned, his life was beginning to make sense. However, Max's face remained impassive. She was not ready to take her walls down.

************

Antonio could not believe that Leo showed up in North Carolina. He was going to kill the son of a bitch. As soon as he exited his hotel room, Leo got accosted by Antonio.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Wasn't my daughter clear enough? She ran away from you still you follow her, and put her baby in jeopardy. Do you have a death wish? Because I could make that happen."

"With all due respect Mr. La Costa, that is my child too."

"You may have planted that seed but I'll be damned if I let you get anywhere my grandson."

Leo gritted his teeth, "Again Mr. La Costa, with all due respect, that is not your choice."

"We'll see Leo. We'll see. Now I am going to check in on my daughter, and you get the hell home, back to New York."

"I am not leaving my woman and child." Leo was dead set staying and no amount of strong arming by Antonio would make him leave.

Antonio was too enraged to register the air of déjà vu.

******

The doctor put Max on bed rest for a few days because he found her pressure to be higher than normal. She was pleased at least she could do it at home. She and hospitals were not friends, she was even doing an at home water birth. Dr. Morales went as far as to instruct Leo to stay away from Max during this time.

With Leo being so close, Max's parents refused to go to their beach house. They were staying the same hotel as Leo which was close to Max's condo that way they could watch them both.

Antonio found the young man drowning his sorrows in the hotel bar and wanted to lay into him again, but seeing the devastation on Leo's face he remembered his past pain. When Tara left him he drank himself into a stupor every night. The thought of not being with her ever again made his world feel unreal.

"Leo, mind if an old man takes a seat."

"Nah, join me." Leo was grateful Antonio's demeanor was less hostile and welcomed any opening he could get.

"You and I should form a club, "The Our Woman Ran from Us and Didn't Tell Us They

Were Pregnant Club."

Leo looked at Antonio in disbelief. Mrs. La Costa had done a runner like Max. "Hmm like mother like daughter."

Antonio laughed and told Leo his and Tara's love story. With the additional detail that the people who rescued Tara and Max from the kidnappers were the Carbone crew.

"Your father, at my request put Tara on a ship back to Colombia to me. She hated me it seemed, but time gave way for the love she once felt for me to resurface. I am not saying that will be the same for you and Max, but I need my daughter to be safe and happy and if that is with you then so be it. However, if she is done with you, you need to be a gentleman about it and bow out gracefully. Be a great father to your son, and leave all the rest."

Leo considered Antonio's sage advice as he downed the last of his bourbon.

********

Bacon? Max woke to the scent wafting into her bedroom. She trotted down to the hallway to find her mother and Laney in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and what breakfast would be complete without bacon. "Morning yall."

"Morning Babes."

"Morning Blue, how you feeling?"

"Great, much better," she replied reaching for a strip of bacon. "Hmmm, much much better." They laughed, each glad to have things return to normal, the past few days had had everyone on edge. "Where's dad?"

"He's around town somewhere," Tara dodged the question because she didn't want to mention Leo just yet, and the tentative relationship Antonio was building with him.

After breakfast, Tara suggested they go to the hotel's indoor pool for a swim. The pool was a great place for her to broach the subject of Leo with her daughter.

"Max," she began tentatively, "Leo is still in town. How does that make you feel?"

"Honestly Mom, I'm glad, we need to talk and get some things straight." Max had given a lot of thought about Leo and their son during her forced rest period. "At this stage, I don't know what I want from Leo for myself, but where our son is concerned he needs to be in his life. For the time being that is all I can concede."

"Child, concede in an interesting choice of word. This is not a war."

"Yes mom, it is a war. That man makes me lose my mind. Every time I'm around him I'm battling for my sanity and my heart."

"Max, I am not going to push the topic further, but ponder this. I ran from your father, because I was desperate to protect you and my heart. It is difficult to be in love with men like your father and Leo. They impose themselves in your life and make demands you aren't willing to concede," she smiled using Max's word, "but they love like their lives depend on it, because it does. Once they give you their heart, they are done for and when we leave they are destroyed. I know he hurt you, and I'm not happy about that, not in the least, but I also know you have the capacity and strength to forgive him. The ball is in your court, but I tell you this, if I had never forgiven your father I would have lost out on the most amazing love and life. And you have to remember he is not Ari."

Max was so lost in thought thinking about what her mother had told her that she did not notice Leo enter the pool or Laney and her mom leave. He hoisted himself on the edge watching her swim. She looked so graceful. His woman was carrying his child. Should I be getting aroused by this sight? He wondered feeling his cock harden. He hadn't had her in such a long time, being so close to her had him feeling ravenous for her. Max surfaced, but seeing Leo there startled her and she ducked below the water. She has to come up sometime, Leo thought smiling.

Having a baby inside of her made her feel limited, but being in the water was liberating. She felt embarrassed, Leo was looking at her massive form, but she had to get air at some point soon. Max broke the surface and made her way to the stairs. Oh frig now he will see my fat ass trying to get up these stairs, where the hell is my mom and Laney?

Leo met Max at the top of the stairs with his arm outstretched and towel in the other. She reluctantly took his hand and felt a jolt of electricity pass between them. Max allowed him to wrap her, all along his eyes never left hers. Her stomach had a million butterflies in it.

"Hey gorgeous," Leo broke the silence.

"Hey you." Max was feeling unsure about being there alone with Leo, but knew she they had to talk and clear the air.

"Come with me." Leo took her hand and led her into one of the unused sauna booths and locked it. "Sit, baby."

Max sat cautiously feeling her nether reasons heating, What the hell, am I getting wet? Body you are a traitor, he just touches you and you begin to puddle. Man up!

Leo could not stop admiring her body she had on pink and white tankini, and her belly was protruding above her boy shorts. He reached out and touched her, rubbing her belly. His first contact with his son. The baby suddenly moved inside of her.

"I guess little one knows his daddy is here." Max looked up at Leo who had tears in his eyes, and made a decision she hoped to never regret. "Leo let's wipe the slate clean. I don't want to raise Luca with there being animosity between us."

"You've chosen a name for him already?" Leo was feeling the weight of loss not being involved with naming his son. "Why Luca?"

"Because he brought light into my life. His middle name will be Fernando, and now you know about him he will have your last name." Max spoke in matter-of -fact tone to Leo, trying not to let her guard slip.

"Max I am sorry for all that went down between us. I loved you, so intensely and so deeply I needed you to feel the same way. I was hooked from the very first time I met you. I felt my insides churn at the very thought of you. Then I found out about the relationship between our families, and it seemed like fate. You were perfect for me...still are." Leo paused to let his words linger. "That morning I had had enough of being rejected by you. I flipped out, and never gave you a chance to explain. If I had who knows where we would have been today." Leo wanted to put it all out there for her.

"Leo, I know you are sorry and I forgive you, really I do, but I am not ready to let you get that close to me again. When we began I was not sure what I was feeling for you, other than attraction and lust. After we made love when I returned from France I knew I loved you, I just could not articulate it. Especially because I knew I was pregnant and didn't want you to feel obligated to me, or put you in more danger, and a host of other reasons. All designed to safeguard my heart. I am sorry, I should have stayed and fought you...fought for you. But your words cut me to the core and I just couldn't." Max got up to leave and Leo held her wrist.

"If I had not come to North Carolina would I have found out about Luca?"

"No," Max whispered. "You didn't want me, why would you want him?"

"Why didn't you answer my calls? I tried to talk to you so I could apologize." Leo gaze bore down on her wishing he could go back in time.

"Making a clean break from you was for the best. Everything between us happened fast, way too fast." Max took a deep breath. "I did not want to hear apologies. I just wanted to move on past this, raise my son and enjoy life."

Leo looked deeply into Max's eyes, "Cara, who hurt you so badly, I mean besides me?" He was steadily stroking her inner wrists with his thumb like he was trying to draw the truth out of her.

Max gave Leo a wry smile. "Is it that obvious?"

"Max even with the kind of life we lead, you are too mistrusting of relationships to not have been hurt by some bastard."

Max decided to tell Leo about her and Ari, perhaps it would make him get it.

"Ari and I met when I was sixteen. In fact, he was the birthday gift from my father."

"What the fuck! Your father gave you a man for your sixteenth birthday?"

"No," Max laughed. "It was not like that Ari was my Krav Maga instructor."

"Krav Maga?"

"It's an Israeli fighting technique. Lots' of grappling, hand to hand combat, body on body contact." Max smiled. "I had had crushes before but the things I was feeling for Ari was way beyond a crush. When we were training my thoughts were down right indecent. His body was amazing, his accent was sexy, and when he would grab me I would lose my mind." Max had to slow herself down seeing Leo's eyes narrowing. "We studied together for two years and my intense crush grew into love. On the night of my eighteenth birthday I went in for my last lesson, and to let him know I wanted him. During one of the moves where he was teaching me how to groundfight I kissed him, and he responded in kind. He confessed that he had wanted me for a long time. That night I gave him my virginity." Max saw the vein in Leo's neck jump and she paused. "Do you want me to continue?"

"Yes, but I don't like where this is going," he said tightening his grip in her wrist.

"Oh hush, you asked for it, but don't worry I'll keep the details to myself." Max could feel the heat rising in her as she remembered the first night she gave herself to Ari. She definitely was not going to tell Leo that she got the tattoo with him and put the Krav Maga symbol on one of the guns. "I jumped all in...heart, body and soul. We saw each other in secret for months because I knew my father would not approve. One day I went to his apartment to surprise him and I met a woman there who told me she was his wife visiting from Israel. I tried to hide my shock and explained to her I was one of his students. She did not seem to buy my story and I swear I felt like the ground was opening to swallow me. My heart was shattered that night I vowed to never let another man get so close to me again. I put all energies back into my education and never looked back."

"Damn, so I had to pay for that asshole's bad behavior?" Leo was angry at the man he never met, but grateful that Max had shared something of her past with him.

"And your own." Max replied quickly.

Leo nodded in agreement, "Did you mean what you said earlier about wiping the slate clean?"

"Yes. Let's begin anew, for Luca's sake." Max couldn't stop herself, she reached out and stroked his face. Leo drew a sharp breath; her searing touch was stimulating him. He waited so long to reconnect with her, to have her touch him with tenderness and love.

He grunted, "Cara, please don't start anything we can't finish."

She shushed him and pulled his face in for a kiss; a deep, passionate kiss that was rocking both their worlds and increasing their craving for one another. "I've missed the feel of you Leo and I am horny as hell." Max's eyes were flickering with need.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am. Please, don't read anymore into it." Max was lying to him and herself. She knew being with Leo ignited a passion and desire in her that could consume them both.

"Can we do this? We won't hurt the baby?"

"No silly, now please do me, before I do myself."

"There will be none of that," Leo snapped. Having sex right now when they were trying to figure out the flow of their relationship was probably a dumb move, but he didn't want deny her a release. It was like a reward for sharing.

All Max's body image issues went out the window. Lust can do that to you. Her top was the first to come off. The sight of her enlarged breasts sent Leo into overdrive. He drove into them sucking on the sensitive buds. Max's moans were encouraging him to ravish her.




Lion's Den Ch. 05



'Leo," she panted, "take off my bottoms please."

Happy to oblige Leo slid the shorts off and stuck his face in-between her thighs and inhaled. Oh how he had missed her pussy. His tongue flicked her clit making Max arch her back.

"Do it Leo!" He didn't need to be invited twice. He went to work eating her, giving her the best tongue job he could. Max wove her hand into his hair and rode his face into a wondrous orgasm. Leo smiled proudly at his woman, she was still twitching and oozing she sweet nectar. He wanted to feel that nectar coating his cock.

"Leo, sit down." Max was ready to pleasure her man. She knew what he wanted. Max sat on Leo taking him into her tight hot sheath. He cussed at the grip she had on him. When she adjusted to the feel of him, she began to move up and down while clamping and releasing him. He placed his hands on her breasts and played with her nipples, pinching and twisting, causing her to lose control. She rode him faster and faster. Her screaming and tears brought him to his own orgasm. He shouted her name as he came in her. They remained like that for awhile. She turned around and kissed him. The kissing and her rocking of her hips against him sparked another round in him. When she felt him reawake inside of her, she smiled. "The beast is ready for round two." Max tightened her grip on him.

"Damn girl, we have months to make up for, you think you were getting off so easy? Grab the bench." His voice was thick with desire.

She trembled knowing what was coming. Leo sunk his slick penis into her ass.

"Push back baby." Max was eager to be taken. She missed having Leo filling her. He put one hand on her shoulder and the other in her hair and fucked her until she was incoherent. Her orgasm built slowly, and then it crashed over her leaving her feeling shattered and fully exhausted. Watching his woman climax did it for him. Leo came with such force he fingers dug into hips. She belonged to him. They belonged to him. Whatever was to come they were his home.

********

Max wrote out an invitation to the Carbones to be there for the birth of the baby. She sent it along with two plane tickets to show them how sincerely sorry she was for not telling them about the baby sooner.

******

Avoiding the elephant in the room, Max and Leo had not discussed anything beyond appointments, due dates and food. Things had been going so smooth since their reunion, neither wanted to rock the boat, but the conversation had to happen.

"Hey hon, we need to talk." Max knew she had to put it all out there so Leo would know where she stood.

Leo looked at her face and knew it was serious. "Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like what you are going to say?"

"Well that would depend on how you take it. We are not moving back to New York for a while."

"What's awhile Max?" He asked trying to process what she was saying.

"Who knows? My father gave up the cartel for my mother and they made it work. Your father stayed in the life and it worked for your parents. We have to find a way to make this work for us. We are not together, but we have to be the best parents for Luca. The idea of raising our son in New York City does not work for me."

"So awhile is more like forever? And what do you mean we are not together?" Leo was not angry, just irritated that Max still had not completely melted after all his patience.

"Leo, I've been very clear with you about what this is, just sex. I did not want anymore."

"Uhhhhhh woman! What more do you need to let me in? Most women will kill for a man who loves them, devoted to them, who will move heaven and earth for them, but you are so scared and guarded you're gonna lose Max. Lose me forever." Leo took care to keep his anger in check this time, appealing to her heart not his ego.

"Leo," Max let out a puff of air, "Let's just raise our son and be friends. I think that is the only way to save us both."

"Save us from what Max? Living happily ever after? Do you hear how crazy you sound? You know if I thought you were freaked about the life I lead I would totally get it, but that's not it."

"Leo I am freaked. I don't want to be that woman who can't sleep at night because her man is up to God knows what all hours of the night. I am not going to be a prison bride either. I am not worried about the danger where I am concerned, but you and now Luca."

"Max, don't you think I will do everything in my power to protect you and our son?"

"I know you will try, but you cannot plan for the unexpected. My father couldn't."

"I am not your father," Leo walked away from Max exhausted by her stubbornness.

********

Max and Leo was a contrary pair, for all their issues they could not stop sleeping in the same bed. After their last big debate Leo tried sleeping on the couch in some great protest, but was so fitful without her under him he sheepishly returned to the bedroom. Max heard Leo returning and without even turning over flipped the comforter to welcome him. Having him in bed with her was so comforting. Yes it made her hot for him as all get up, but she was trying to find emotional balance in a no-sex relationship with him. The best part was that he wasn't trying to push her, but his exercise of such restraint was almost insulting.

It was during these times that Max and Leo really got to know each other. Laying bed, with nothing to do but talk, was quite an experience if not frustrating. Leo and Max declared an open question policy, nothing was off-limit, including business.

They were lying in bed having one of their conversations when her contractions began. She shot up at the first sharp pain, gripping onto Leo's arm. The look on her face drained the blood from his.

"Max what's wrong?"

"The baby's coming!" Her eyes were panicked. "Call the beach house, Laney, the midwife, and Dr. Morales."

Leo was grateful that they had gotten all the stuff ready for the birth early. He was trying not to panic, but his heart was pounding as he was paced waiting for their parents to arrive. Max seemed fine between contractions but when they occurred he could see the strained tension in her face. Thank God Laney was over there. Watching your woman go through labor is not easy.

By the time the midwife arrived, the parents were already there, looking at her very expectantly. Despite all the literature Max provided them, they still were not on ecstatic with the water birth in the house, but assented to her choice. Max decided to get into the pool when the contractions were coming hard and fast. All the while Leo rubbed her back to ease her discomfort. When the time came for her to get into the pool she was more than ready to get the baby out of her. The fathers retired to the kitchen, leaving the women and Leo to attend to the birthing.

Max squatted down when she felt a contraction take hold, and her vaginal walls opened, actually tore, with the most sheer pain.

"He's coming. He's coming. I can feel him. Leo climb in."

Leo positioned himself to receive the baby. At the next three contractions Max pushed, bearing down, as her felt their son leave her body. They had brought their son into the world together. Max cried looking at her son. Luca Fernando Carbone looked liked café au lait version of his father, with his jet black hair and Roman features, but he had her eyes, clear and grey.

********

Four weeks after Luca was born Leo made preparations to leave North Carolina. It was breaking his heart to leave them.

"Hey baby girl." Leo spotted Max watching him from the doorway, she had just come from the shower and looked deliciously moist. "Come on don't look so sad, we are doing this your way."

Max nodded and rubbed her head in his chest. They had not had sex since in a long time, and Max was feeling severely aroused. Leo could hear her purring. She tugged at his t-shirt trying to pull it over his head. Packing will have to wait.

"Max stop." Leo could not go down on this road with her again. Despite the fact he was about to burst in his pants he stepped back from her.

"What the hell?" Max was sexually frustrated and ready to fight Leo for denying her a release. He was looking extremely sexy in some jeans and white t-shirt that was just fitted enough to show her his pecs. She wanted to rip off his clothes and rape him.

He lifted her chin so he could look down into her face his dark pools radiating with love and honesty. "I want a life with you Max. Not the occasional romp. Plus you were very clear about the "No Sex" policy. You can't just flip the switch when you feel like it. It's all or nothing." Leo had to get out of the room fast or he would ravish her. Her sexy pouting lips were begging to be sucked. Plus he could see her breasts from her barely closed robe. Those lush cocoa globes caused him to envy his son.

Max wanted to stamp her feet like a petulant child, but she had another way to throw a tantrum. "Ok fine." Max dropped her robe and strutted off to the bathroom. Leo watched her sashay into the bathroom, her swaying ass, the tattoo, that beautiful chocolate skin he wanted suck and mark, her hair cascading down her back, he imaged wrapping his hand in it as he fucked her. With those images running through his mind he lost all self-control.

He rushed after her into the bathroom and hoisted her up as she wrapped her legs around him. He brought her to the wall and pressed her against it letting the water pour over them. He tugged down his soaked jeans, and pushed into her.

"Is this what you want, Max? Is it?" Leo growled at Max, wanting to fuck her in to submission.

Max's breasts were heaving against his chest. Her nipples were sore from breast feeding Luca but as they rubbed against Leo's t-shirt, volts of delight shot through her. "Leo please don't stop."

"Like I could baby. I've missed your pussy." Leo panted.

She knew her orgasm was going to be quick and hard, and made no secret of it as she panted his name and scratched his back. Leo did not cum because he wanted to prolong their pleasure. If this was going to be their last time for awhile, he wanted her to remember him, to crave him, to feel how much he loved her.

He carried her back to the bed. Their wet bodies writhing against each other created a symphony of erotic sounds. He kissed every part of her body while telling her how much he loved her.

"Max I belong to you. Now and forever. If it takes the rest of my life, I will make you mine." He plunged deeply into her sealing his promise.

Max stopped moving below him and fixed her grey eyes on his. With her quick reflexes she flipped Leo, so she was straddling him. She rocked her hips slowly while piercing him with her eyes. What she was about to say was not going to be elicited by some in the heat of the moment question. She grabbed his chin and leaned into his face. "Leo, I am going to give this a shot but if you ever lose your God given mind and disrespect me again, I will leave you. I cannot take being hurt by you again, I will fuck you up. I'd rather be a widow than a divorcee. Do you understand that?" Max knew that the only way to make a relationship with Leo work was to be clear. She realized that was the mistake she made before. Her uncertainty led to misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

"I got ya." Leo knew that Max meant every word she said, and silently vowed to not fuck up his second chance. He placed his hands on her hips encouraging her to rock faster. Max rotated her body on his cock, gripping him and releasing him. She was in such a euphoric state having him inside her. He teased her nipples with his wet thumb. Eliciting a moan from her. Max arched back placing her hands on his thighs, she rode Leo hard.

"Max! Oh shit Max!" was all Leo could chant. Max's tight sweet pussy was devouring him. Leo's cum shot out of him with such force he flew up off the bed and attached his mouth to Max's nipples.

His reaction set off a series of orgasms in her, causing her to see stars, as she screamed his name. They sat embraced barely breathing and kissing on each other. Their bodies were now wet with pleasure and perspiration.

They continued to make love until they were worn out. Leo finished packing and left his sleeping Max a little gift.

Max woke up to feed Luca, and noticed the ring on her finger. She stared at the sapphire wishing it could all be so easy.



Lion's Den Ch. 06



Leo could not wait for the flight attendant to let him know he could turn on his cell phone. He knew Max was up by now and had seen the ring he left on her finger. He was anxious to hear her response, although he wasn't too confident she would say yes. He had bought the ring in Italy, but the time never seemed right to propose until their conversation before he left. In fact it was Max who mentioned marriage first, saying she would rather be a widow than a divorcee. He had spoken to Antonio and had received his blessing with pretty much the same warning. His parents were also pleased at the prospect of Max joining the family in a more permanent way. Leo's stomach did a flip as he was allowed to turn on his phone. He indeed had a message from Max.

"Hey hun, lil' man apparently knows you're not here. He has been fussing more than usual so when you get this message call so he could hear your voice."

"Fuck," Leo cursed under his breath. She did not mention the ring or give a response. Did she not see it? Of course she did, that sapphire was no joke. What are you up to Max? Leo knew Max's crazy streak, and she could do anything when she felt cornered. Like take their kid and run to Colombia. He wanted to call and tell her never mind about the proposal, but decided against it. If Max was not going to mention the ring then he wasn't going to either.

"Hello, Luca, it's daddy." Leo never tired of addressing himself as daddy. "Remember I told you I was going away for some days. Don't give your mother a hard time. I'll see you in two weeks." 

"Hey Leo, I want you to take note that your son not only ruined my girlish figure, he is sucking the life out of my breasts. He's going on soy soon if he keeps this up."

Leo shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his cock jumped at the vision of his naked Max breast feeding their son. "Luca, those breasts are just on loan to you. They belong to me, so handle with care. And Max there was nothing girlish about your figure, you are all woman babe. By the way did you use that cream for your breasts when you woke up? I had a good go at them and now Luca, so you must be extra sore." Leo had learned some new stuff since the birth of his son. Weird shit, but he was glad to learn. It made him feel proud and a part of them. After not being there the first few months of Max's pregnancy he was not going to be left out of any more experiences. He realized that to his core he was a family man, and although Max was not asking him to, he was seriously considering a new occupation.

Max wanted to laugh at hearing the concern in Leo's voice, but it was no laughing matter. To her he sounded so domesticated. She wondered if family life would make him lose his edge. It would be her worst fear brought to life.

"Max? You still there babe?" Leo hated it when Max went silent on him. That meant she was thinking about something that most likely he did not want to hear.

"Yeah I'm here. I just want you to know that as soon as the plane hits that tarmac you better have your game face on."

"I got ya. It'll be fine. I was doing this long before I met you."

Max cut him off, "Yeah yeah yeah, and you will be doing it long after me." 

"Oh hell no Max you're never leaving me!" Leo laughed realizing he might have said that a little too loudly, as the neighboring passengers gave him queer looks. His voice got very serious and low, "Max, I'm coming back to you."

"I got ya." Max replied with his favorite response. "I love you. We'll chat when you get home." Max felt very strange as the words slipped past her lips but she meant them.

******

With Luca tucked in and down for the night Max had time to think about the ring on her finger. A ring she was not sure she wanted yet, but still had not taken off. As tumultuous as their relationship had been so far, she knew Leo was her match. If they got married it would be a forever deal, nothing short of death could end it.

She tucked the marriage thoughts away to offer a silent prayer for Leo. Max had every right to be worried about Leo. She had been overhearing snips and bits when Leo was talking to Pauley, and gathered that trouble was brewing. Last night during their nightly talk Leo told her what was going down in New York.

A couple of bosses were arrested the day Luca was born and chaos had broken out in a massive power grab. Voids needed to be filled and Carmine, being the peacekeeper, was pulled in to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. Leo was going back to maintain the peace in his districts and help Pauley with his. He was upfront with Max about how dangerous some of this undertaking would be. It was not his intention to worry her, but prepare her just in case it all went to shit. He also informed her that in the event of his death she and Luca would inherit everything. It was a difficult conversation to have but necessary.

******

Pauley was waiting patiently for Leo's flight to land in Newark, NJ. In order to keep a low profile for awhile they decided it would be best for Leo to fly into EWR. When they saw each other they double kissed and hugged.

"Cuz it is good to have you back. Your pop's been holding on for as long as he could without you, but the pressure is mounting."

"What about your situation?"

"It is stable for the time being, no more encroaching, but we need to push back. Hard."

"Ok, anything else I need to know?"

"Nah. How's you know who and you know who?" Pauley asked cautiously. No one outside their family knew Leo had a kid and it was agreed to keep it that way until the dust settled.

"Well. All is well on that front. And it might get better if I get a yes."

"You seriously want to do that? You know there is no taming one like her?"

Leo laughed at Pauley. "You have no idea. But she is mine."

As they approached the car Leo handed Pauley a little electronic device for sweeping for bugs. 

"This is new? A gift from your friend?"

"You know it." It was one of the many gadgets that Max kept in her "playroom" as she called it. After their conversation about what was going down in New York Max gave him full access to her toys, and taught him how to read and write coded messages just incase. Leo smiled as he remembered the first night Max took him into her inner sanctum.

******

"Max what is in the room with the coded lock?" Leo was terribly curious about what was behind that door. He had seen Max and her father go in and out of it. He knew it used to be the third bedroom, but what Max had beyond those doors was a mystery.

"My playroom."

"Your what? Is that some kind of S&M thing?"

"Wanna see it?" Max led Leo into her gun room. Leo looked around amazed. He had never seen a private collection of that size. He had his own assortment of weapons, but Max's impressed and concerned him at the same time. Aside from all the guns he appreciated the room as quintessentially Max; tough, feminine, private. Her armory was mounted against pink French toile wallpaper. All the woodwork was black. In the center of the room there was a square display case that contained her antique firearms. 

Max looked at Leo's awe struck face and giggled. "You do remember me telling you, I like guns and weapons?"

"Yeah, but I really thought maybe it boiled down to a few hand guns and a subscription to Guns & Ammo."

"That is so lightweight."

He looked at her beaming face and playfully admonished. "Max, you might need therapy."

******

Leo and Pauley's first stop was at Leo's parents' house. Isabella, Carmine and Salvatore, Pauley father, were waiting for the boys to arrive. Isabella cooked a big meal, more out of nervousness than really expecting Leo to be hungry.

"How's your lot?" Isabelle inquired.

"Good. I'm waiting for it to get better." Leo winked at his mother.

"It will. Now eat up before it goes cold. Pauley you too." Isabelle retired to her bedroom to give the men a chance to talk.

Leo took out another one of Max's devices from his bag, and placed in on the table. It jammed all electronic signals, coming in and out of the house including cell phones. The men proceeded to discuss business, and strategize how to get things under control.

******

Max took a picture of her hand with the ring on it and sent it to Laney. She needed a sounding board.

"Is that what I think it is? I am coming over." Laney was in shock. She had had the opportunity to observe Leo over the past few weeks and was quite impressed with his fathering skills. He was even less intense with Max, except now with this ring thing. Leo sure was one determined fella.

"Hey girl come join me let us reason this thing out," Max said patting the bed. She was glad her friend was home and came over immediately.

Laney snuggled down next to her friend. "Two questions before we begin. One, are these clean sheets, I know you and Leo must have had some good good-bye sex this evening," she said scrunching up her face. "Two, am I going to be replacing Leo by sleeping with you until he comes back."

Max laughed and wacked her friend with a pillow. "These sheets are fresh, take a whiff. And oh please don't act like you have not missed sleeping with me."

"You have the best bed!" Laney exclaimed. "Well anyway, I am spending the night."

"Have you had dinner yet? I am hungry."

"Pizza and beer?"

"Yeah so I could get Luca drunk on my breast milk."

Laney laughed. "I forget that you are still eating for two. Pizza and beer for me and I'll get some other liquid for you."

"Sounds like a plan."

As the girls snuggled down under the down comforter they both realized how much they missed alone time with each other. Laney grabbed Max's hand and took a closer look at the sapphire. It was a gorgeous emerald cut. "Girl are you ready to do this?"

"I don't think so. I am kinda okay with how things are going now. I love Leo, but is that enough? Maybe I could say yes and be his fiancée forever."

"Girl you know that is not going to work. The moment you say yes Leo will set a date."

"Yes he will." Max laughed at the image of Leo picking out bridesmaids dresses.

******

"Yo Leo, what is popping Papi?"

"Hey Romeo. How are things?"

"Easy breezy brother. You?"

"You know, just trying to stay alive. Tell me something though bro, why is your fam pressing in on Pauley's turf? I thought we settled all that shit ages ago."

"It was all copacetic until, your boy Peretti decided to sing like a canary."

"What?"

"Carlo Peretti got picked up before the sweep. It was because of him all that shit went down. You don't know?"

"Nah, I was out of town. How did you find out?"

"I have a link in the Feds. And I passed that info onto Ty who apparently was just waiting for an opening to make his move. I figured if I knew then you lot knew. Sorry man."

As Romeo filled Leo in on all he knew Leo could feel his veins throbbing in his head and neck. He had not anticipated there being a rat. But it did make matters kind of simple, he just had one person to focus on now. Peretti.

"Well what done is done, but I need you to send a message to Ty for me. Tell him I said to step off or I am coming for him." Leo's cordial tone disappeared. He and Romeo went way back, and had a good business relationship. Something he knew Romeo would never threaten, not even for family. In his world money trumps family.

******
Peretti was mid level but he knew enough to bring everyone down like dominoes. Leo figured it would only be a matter of time before the Feds came looking for him. Somebody had to shut Peretti up.

As Leo was pulling out his parking spot cell phone rang. Just the person he did not want to talk to, Max. He considered letting it go to voicemail. But thought better of it since they had not spoken since he landed.

"Hey Babe."

"Hey Hon. How's it going?"

"Difficult and getting more and more so. I just got a piece of news that makes matters worse for all involved."

"Anything you care to share? The line is secure."

"I found out the catalyst for the busts. Some coward ass bastard named Peretti. He got hauled in on some Russian prostitution racket and is giving us all up."

"All as in you too?"

"Yeah."

"How much time we have left?"

"I don't know. But don't worry all my affairs are in order in case of an arrest."

"I am not worried." Max jokingly lied. "I just don't want to have to mail you soap-on-a-rope."

"Oh that is not funny." Leo chuckled despite the serious nature of their conversation.

"Where is Peretti being held?"

"I don't know. I was about to make some calls to put some feelers out before you called."

"Okay. We'll chat later. Love you. Stay safe."

"Love you too."

******

Max paced the floor thinking about what Leo just told her. Luca was too young to have a father locked up. Carmine was too old to go to jail. Pauley was too pretty to go to jail. And if Peretti knew of all their dealings they could be facing some serious time. Max racked her brain looking for a way to protect her family. She wrestled with the options in front of her and picked a solution. Weighing the possible outcome she made a call.

"What's wrong?" the voice on the other end answered with concern.

"I need a favour."

"Tell me."

"There's a guy in federal custody I need you to get to."

"Name?"

"Peretti."

"Timeframe."

"Now."

"I'll let you know when it's done."

"No need. I'll know." And just like that both lines went dead. Max looked in the mirror. She felt fully justified in protecting her family, but knew this good deed would not go unpunished. She just hoped she would be strong enough to handle the fallout.

******

Leo put the word out on Peretti. Everyone was tasked with hitting up their connections for info. No one seemed to know where he was being held. Two days had passed when the news hit that street that Peretti was dead. One shot to the head and another to the heart. Leo called a meeting but no one took ownership of the hit. Some suggested that perhaps it was the Russians. Leo was not completely convinced. They would have made it known it was them.

He called Max to tell her the news of Peretti's mysterious demise. Also, since there would be no corroboration the arrested bosses would be released. For the time being trouble was at bay.

"So how long until you coming back to Wilmington?"

"You miss your man?" Leo teased

"Yeah I miss you. Luca misses you. I think even Laney misses you."

"Give me two weeks. I think everything will be relatively back to normal."

"I'm holding you to that Leo."

"I got ya. Tell Luca hello for me."

"Tell him yourself. He's up."

Luca spoke to his son. Just hearing him coo made him want to get on a plane to see them. These two weeks needed to go by quickly.

******

Carmine patted Leo on his back as he looked out on the gathering of friends, family and business associates. They were throwing a "Welcome Back, We All Ducked Jail" party at Absinthe. The speedy end to their problems had everyone feeling celebratory. Leo however was not feeling it and Carmine saw that. 

"Son, what is the problem?"

"I don't know. I just have a feeling something is wrong."

"What could be wrong? Peretti is dead. The capos are out. Order is restored. Don't buy problems. Perhaps you should go home. I know Max would love to see you."

Leo considered what his father was saying, "You know what dad you maybe right. I'm out. Make some excuse for me."

******

Max thought she heard a noise on the baby monitor. She looked towards Luca's room and saw a glow coming for under the door. She reached for the gun under Leo's pillow and carefully got off the bed. She nudged the door open with her foot with the gun pointed straight ahead at the intruder. Leo spun around when he heard the door open and got the shock of his life.

"WHAT THE FUCK!!"

"You what the fuck! I almost killed you." Max said lowering her weapon.

"You walk around the house armed?"

"Of course! Don't you?"

"Yeah but that is different."

"Different because I am a girl? You sexist pig." Max laughed.

"Come give this sexist pig a kiss." Leo grabbed Max around his waist and pulled her in close. Gosh she smelled good.

Max felt her whole body relax as her lips connected Leo's. She missed him and by the rise in his crotch it seemed he missed her too.

"Let's go make this a real homecoming," Leo suggested pushing Max backward towards their room never breaking contact with her mouth. She shimmied out of her robe revealing her naked body below. Seeing her nipples made Leo smile. He'd been longing to have her body pressed against his. It pleased him to know that she felt the same way.

"Damn girl you've sprung a leak," Leo commented as his hand slipped between her thighs.

"Are you gonna plug it?" Max invited opening her legs.

"No I'm gonna break your pipes." Leo pushed her down onto the bed.

Max looked up at Leo as he undressed. The fire in her eyes told him he needed to hurry up before she ripped his clothing off. She licked her fingers and began rubbing her nipples and inhaling deeply.

"Max stop." Leo's command was deep and sharp. Watching Max getting herself worked up was bringing him to a climax. He grabbed the base of his cock to slow it down. But lost it when she began dipping her fingers into her cunt and licking off her nectar. He leaned over her and came on her breasts and stomach.

Max grinned as she rubbed his ointment into her skin. "Now that's done let's get ready to wake the neighbourhood."

Leo grabbed Max by the knees and pulled her to the edge of the bed. "I see princess you are still testing me."

"You kept me waiting." She replied putting her legs around his hips. 

"And now?" As he said those words her plunged into her hot channel. She was speechless. Her mouth formed an O, but no sound came out. This was worth waiting for. Leo was merciless as he rode her. Max just panted and gripped the sheet above her head. The sound of their bodies colliding and the deep penetration of Leo's cock had Max nearing an orgasm that threatened to snap her back. She could feel it growing in her belly. As it shot through to her toes she tightened her legs around Leo. This caused him to introduce shallow strokes which just added to the intensity of her orgasm.

Then the words he waited for bolted from her lips. His name being screamed over and over again and being begged to stop.

"No sugar. I'm not stopping." Leo increased his pace feeling his own orgasm rising within him. He threw his head back and increased his grip on Max's backside. With a grunt he filled Max with his jism. When he was done he lowered her legs and collapsed besides her holding her hand. It was then he noticed the ring. She has not taken it off. I better leave that discussion for the morning.

The sun had barely begun its ascent when the cries from Luca woke them both up.

"You go back to sleep. I've got him."

"Thanks, but unless you've started lactating you are of no use to him."

"True." Leo laughed. "I'll go change him and bring him to you."

"Wonderful that will give me an extra five minutes."

Leo had missed his son. It was nice to be back and falling into their family routine. Max figured that she could squeeze a shower in before Leo brought Luca. The hot water did her limbs good. It also gave her time to process Leo's early arrival. Okay he's back and he wants an answer. Are you ready for all that would entail? It's great making the decision and keeping it private, but once it's out there. It's out there. Max's thoughts were broken by a tap on the shower door.

She opened it giving Leo an eyeful.

"Morning Boys."

Leo's lustful gaze swept over Max as she dried her skin. He could not help but reach out and touch her. Bringing his hand to her neck to draw her in for a kiss. She moaned in his mouth and took the baby from him.




Lion's Den Ch. 06



"Go and shower while I feed Luca. He'll suck then he'll go to sleep." Max winked at Leo.

Leo came out of the shower with an erection like iron. Through out the shower he kept imagining Max naked and ready for him. Legs spread. Mouth filled with filthy words. And when he walked in to the bedroom that is what was awaiting him.

"Come here Lion. Come touch me. Stroke me. Fill me with your cum."

Leo needed no other invitation. He got onto the bed and told Max to close her eyes. Last night was all about giving it to her hard and fast. This morning he was going to seduce her. 

"Close your eyes." His gentle asking was new and intriguing so Max complied.

And with that he began to trail his fingers over every inch of her body. Every spot he touched felt hot. Max wanted to open her eyes to see his face but knew he would not allow it. Even when he got off the bed she kept her eyes closed. He would have to command her to open it.

He returned to the bed with jar of cocoa butter which he proceeded to rub into Max. He started with her back. His strong hands made Max jelly. When he moved to her front he attempted to be clinical about it and restrain himself. His walls began to crumble as Max's moans increased indicating impatience. He massaged her breasts, but his gentleness with her nipples served to excite her further. Her tongue made peek-a-boo appearance to lick the lips she was biting. When it came out again Leo dove down and sucked it into his own mouth. They remained in their heated embrace for awhile heightening their arousal. With a gentle nudge Leo with his knee Max spread legs.

"Open you eyes tesoro." She looked deep into his eyes as he slowly sunk himself into her. "Stai bene?" He asked as a tear slipped from her eyes.

"I'm good. Real good." Max had never felt so connected to Leo.

Leo took his time, letting his penis caress Max's velvet glove. It was heaven for both of them. Their intimate copulation brought them to a simultaneous climax.

With their fingers intertwined they snuggled against each other. This gave Leo the perfect opportunity to bring up the proposal.

"I see you have not taken it off." Leo said stroking Max's ring finger.

"You see correct." Max replied with a smile on her satiated face. "I meant to thank you for my push present."

"Your what?"

"Isn't this what it is? You got me gift for giving you a son?"

"Woman! I gave you a ring to ask you to be my wife?" Leo's heart began to race.

"And I was supposed to know that, how?"

"It's on your ring finger."

"Oh yeah it is isn't it." Max replied feigning surprise.

"So what's your answer?"

"Answer to what? You have not asked me anything."

"Maxine Francesca La Costa, my baby mama, would you do me the honour of being my wife?"

"For how long?"

"Forever, you minx."

"Well in that case...yes."

Leo squeezed Max even more to him. She could not see the look of relief on his face, but the sigh and kisses on her neck told her everything.

******

Both Max's and Leo's families were elated at their impending nuptial. They set the date for New Years Eve. With only six months to plan the wedding Max went into full planning mode. Leo was in charge of selecting the venues for the pre-wedding and day-of events. 

This was an idyllic time for them. Preparing for a wedding, caring for their son and Leo's monthly trips to NY seemed to have a synchronistic flow. One morning during their daily wedding update meeting an enormous bouquet of flowers arrived. Ever since they had announced their engagement friends and family had been sending them congratulatory gifts.

"Hey Max this one is for you." Leo called out as he signed for it.

"Who's it from?"

"I don't know, probably one of your language professors." He thought so due to the non-English writing.

"Huh?"

"Yeah take a look at the card." Leo walked into the kitchen with the stellar arrangement. 

Max looked up to take the card and immediately her face blanched. The arrangement told her immediately who had sent it. Ari.

"Son of a bitch!" thought Max. Ari had duplicated the bouquet he had given her after their first night together. Leo studied Max face as she read the card. He could tell she was seething. Colour had risen from her chest up her neck to her face. "Who the hell could send Max into such a rage?" he thought.

"Max what is it?" Leo was concerned as Max tore up the card and threw it in the trash.

"Nothing. Gimme a minute." She needed to wash her face and cool down. Max knew Leo had questions and she could not dodge them all.

When she returned to the kitchen Leo could tell she was calmer but her mind was elsewhere.

"Now are you ready to tell me what that was about?"

"Not really, but I'd rather get it over with." Max stared out to the backyard as she spoke. She could not look at Leo just yet. "The card was from my ex, Ari."

"What does that punk want?" Leo remembered what Max had shared with him about Ari.

"The card said he wanted to congratulate me on my upcoming wedding and the baby."

"Why did that piss you off?" Leo was being careful not betray the ire he was feeling. He'd spoken more to his sister about his relationship with Max and she warned him to keep his temper and possessiveness in check.

"I don't know it just felt invasive. The flowers were the first arrangement he ever sent to me." Max finished telling Leo her version of the truth.

Leo gritted his teeth at the nerve of Ari. Yet he had a feeling Max was holding something back.

Max felt Leo hand loop around her waist to reassure her all was alright. She felt like there was a stone in her chest. She knew Leo detested lying, but in her mind it was an acceptable risk. Ari had actually written:

You're welcome and congratulations on the wedding. Tell Luca his Uncle Ari says hi. Be seeing you Max.

She could never tell Leo verbatim what was in the card. Ari would not hurt her physically, but he could wreck her world if it got out that she asked him to kill Peretti for her. 

******

"Dude did you pack everything in the car?" Max asked surveying their home.

"Max I know you are accustomed to concierges and bellboys but I can manage."

"Oh I know you can, but I gotta do one more check."

"Then go then. I just hope you know you have OCD." Leo sent her away smacking her on her bottom.

Max laughed and walked back into the house. They were heading up to New York to finish all the final details for the wedding. She was nervous not just for the wedding, but it would be Luca's debut into their other world.

******

The lights of New York spiked Max's heartbeat. As much as she loved North Carolina, New York was home. She always thought she would return here after graduation, go to NYU for her Phd, live as a posh-bohemian, but in just over a year plans had changed drastically. She was now a graduate, mother, and wife-to-be. The car ride to Brooklyn did nothing to diminish her nostalgia. Perhaps raising Luca here would not be that bad.

"Ta da!" Leo declared as they walked into the brownstone.

Not only had Leo baby-proofed the place, he had redecorated to include pictures of them. It was definitely a far cry from the heady bachelor pad Max had first encountered.

"Oh I love it Leo!" Max exclaimed. She really did appreciate the lengths he had gone through to make his place their home.

"I am glad you do, cara." He beamed from head to toe. His family was home.

"Let me give Luca his feeding then I can really so you how much I love it." 

Max and Leo made all kinds of crazy love while Luca slept. Leo was concerned that Max would recall what went down between them the last time she was there. But nothing came from his worry, instead it seemed like all was forgotten. Life was getting better and better.

******

Max stifled a yawn as the sun streamed in over her naked body. Leo was on his back and she had one leg swung over his with her hand over his chest. The rhythm of his heart made her stomach flutter. As many times as she had woken in this position it never ceased to amaze her. Leo was hers. All hers. She tried to shimmy from Leo's slumbered embrace, but he tightened his arm around her opening his eyes to look at her.

"Morning babe."

"Morning. Can I go pee?"

Leo laughed releasing her. He spent so many nights in this bed without Max that he thought for a second he was hallucinating and wanted to keep the vision as long as possible.

When she came back from the toilet Max was greeted by the sight of Leo's rigid manhood calling to her.

"Well good morning to you Mr. Woody. Can I be of service? Is this what you want?" Max asked getting on her knees taking him in to her mouth. Having just brushed her teeth the mint added nice tingle to the tip of Leo's cock. Although he had received some amazing head the night before, starting his day with his dick in Max mouth was heavenly. 

Max's throat muscles tightened around Leo's cock. She loved hearing him groan and cuss when she performed a swallowing technique. Max freed his cock for a moment to attend to his neglected balls. Leo could feel a surge of desire rise in him as he twisted his hand into her hair. Hearing his familiar grunt Max quickly returned to his leaking rod. His hips bucked up off the bed and he unloaded his semen. Spurt after spurt filled her hungry mouth. Max tried to swallow as much as she could while still sucking on the sensitive tip. With his energy zapped and penis deflated Max smiled at her handiwork.

******

Leo smiled looking over at Max as they drove out to Long Island for their engagement party. The memories from her mouth servicing him this morning had him feeling tingly.

"You know I owe you for this morning?"

"Owe me for what? It was my pleasure."

"Yeah I know you love sucking the life out of me." Leo glanced at Max's grinning face. She was a sexual deviant, but he knew her buttons. "Hike up your dress."

"What?"

"You heard me. I said hike up your dress."

"Leo stop playing, you're driving." Max was less afraid of them crashing than she was of being with their parents and smelling of sex. Also, of people watching them. The road was not as busy as it would be during the summer, but still there were some cars on the road.

"Max I will pull this car over and fuck you right here right now, so don't test me."

The threat made her nipples harden even more. She complied and raised her dress up.

"Give me your panties."

Without any back talk she took the panties off and handed it to him. He moaned, licked the crotch then tossed them out the window. Max head whipped back in horror as her underwear now lay on the L.I.E. However, she knew better than to protest. Whatever Leo had up his sleeve would be worth losing a panty over. 

"Spread your legs."

To get more comfortable Max slid her seat back and put her legs on the dashboard.

"Now you are going to feed me your cum. And don't be stingy because I am very hungry."

Max dipped her fingers into her pussy. It had been getting wetter and wetter since Leo began his game. Now as her fingers began to stroke in to get some juice for Leo it flowed, the seat beneath her was getting soaked. Thank the Lord for leather. She gave him her fingers to suck. She dipped in and swirled it collecting as much as she could and gave him it to suck again.

"Undo your buttons. I want to see your breasts."

Max's skin was beginning to feel charged. Her fingers fumbled with buttons. When her breasts were freed he reached over and thumbed her nipples. Max bit her lip and squirmed in her seat. She went back to feeding Leo to try and neutralize the sensations that were building. Leo could see that Max was trying to control herself, so when she put her fingers in his mouth he sucked on it and would not release it. The sucking motions mimicked what her would do to her nipples if her could. Simultaneously he pinched her nipple. This caused Max to scream out and writhe in her seat uncontrollably panting his name. Tears ran down her face as she soared to brain frying heights. She was definitely adding to her list of best orgasms.

The only thing that broke the reverie and brought them back to reality was Luca. Max's scream had startled him out of his sleep. Leo and Max looked at each other and laughed. She cooed and sang to Luca until he dozed off. She tried in vain for the next few minutes to make herself look presentable.

The whole clan was meeting in Long Island for their engagement party. Isabelle had begged to throw the event at her home and Max was happy to not have to plan it. She knew many of the guests were coming just to see the girl that snagged the elusive Leo Carbone. She had already been warned about the potential cattiness.

Leo pulled around to the stables so Max could get to the house without being seen. He really had done a number on her, and she needed somewhere to put herself back together. They called ahead and asked Tara to meet them to take Luca. Leo took Max upstairs to his old bedroom which had a private bathroom. She stripped down so she could see all the damage done to her dress. 

"Leo I could kill you!" Max shrieked. There was a huge cum stain on her dress from where it ran down in the seat.

"Why didn't you raise it higher, you know you spout like a fountain?" Leo was lying on his bed watching her throw daggers at him.

With that comment Max dropped her dress and came out to fight him. She jumped on the bed and began to punch him. He easily flipped her on her back and restrained her hands over her head. Max now wished she had thought better of fighting with Leo as she was at a naked disadvantage.

"Ok I give." She said defeated.

"I don't think so Max."

"You wanted a fight. We gonna have a fight, but just the way I prefer to do it with you."

Max felt his hard-on nudging her. "See that? I come with my own weapon."

She thought about his tool ploughing into her and readily gave in. When he felt her relax he eased off the bed to undress. The piece by piece revelation of his body heightened Max's arousal. She kneeled on the bed watching him and fingering herself. She could feel another orgasm building, and tossed her head back to let it wash over her. Her hands were yanked from her pussy, and sucked.

"Only with my permission Max. Now bend over."

Max bent over with her forehead on the bed and her arms outstretched. Leo placed his hands on her hips and pushed into her with a deep sigh. He stroked her slowly and Max luxuriated in the feelings of euphoria coursing through her. Leo pulled out of her yearning pussy and pressed into her ass. This is what Max had been waiting for.

"Oh yessss baby. Deeper. Ahhh just like that."

"Fuck me Max." With that command Max rolled her hips taking more of Leo's dick each time. When he bottomed out he wove his fingers in her hair and rode her hard. Max was speechless and breathless as she allowed waves and waves of orgasm crash over her. Leo spanked her as she drew his strength again. He pulled out to deposit the rest of his spunk down her back. He loved to watch it paint her skin.

"Damn baby, don't we have guests to meet." Leo commented lying next to her playing with her slit. He loved the silky feel of her juicy pussy. They were both exhausted and still in a haze.

"I am sure your mom is doing a great job."

"Still we gotta act like mature adults and appear."

"Cool but my dress is still ruined."

"Look in my closet and find something."

"What! Are you mental? I am not going to our engagement party as a crossdresser."

"Just look would ya."

Max got up and looked in the closet. Much to her surprise Leo had some dresses in there. Her dresses, shoes, underwear, jeans.

"Leo what the hell is this?"

"I figured that if ever we come to Long Island, I would not have a hard time convincing you to stay if you had some clothes here."

"Great plan, but you sound like a crazy person."

"See what I put up with all day. You and your plans, it's rubbing off on me." He teased.

******

Leo and Max walked into the party holding hands and grinning at each other. Max looked stunning in a mauve 50's style dress, she paired with a silver ballet slipper. She accessorized with silver jewelry. Leo wore a grey suit with a light grey shirt and mauve tie. Max had laughed at how matchy matchy they looked. 

Most of the guests were there already, and could not wait to question the couple. Isabella had outdone herself. Max started to wonder if she should have just let Isabella do the wedding also. The woman had a touch and Max did not hesitate to let her know when saw her. It was October, but the weather was unseasonably warm. Isabelle was making great use of this by turning the patio into the bar and out door lounge.

"Isabella this party is fantastic. I can't thank you enough. The flowers are amazing. Everyone is having so much fun. Look at Luca, just sucking up all that attention." Max kissed her mother to be with gratitude.

Leo escorted her from group to group introducing her to various cousins and extended family, but he was saving a special introduction for last, his sister.

"Hey Tori!" he said sweeping her into his arms.

"Hey Bro. Dude your son is awesome. I got to hold him for a while and he was all smiles. And is this the lady of the evening?" Tori let go of Leo's arm and gave Max a curtsey.

"Apparently so. Victoria it is so nice to finally meet you."

"Girl I could not miss this for the world. I flew in just for the party, but I'll be back for the wedding." Victoria assured them. She grew up in New York, but anyone who met her would not guess. She was all California. She was a sophomore at CalTech, and an devoted surfer. Her skin was toasty, reflecting her love for the sun.

They stood together chatting for awhile until they were interrupted by Carmine tapping his glass.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate this joyous occasion with us. Isabella and I could not be more happy to welcome Max into our family. She is everything and more we could have wanted in a daughter. And you know must take a special woman to reel and keep Leo. To the wonderful couple, Salud!"

"Salud!"

A succession of speeches followed, with lots of requests for more children.

******

Max stared at her blurry face in the mirror running through all the up coming events and holidays. She was so engrossed in her thoughts it took her few moments to recognize another face was reflecting back at her. The smiled she was forming to greet Leo was cut short when she saw his eyes. She had not seen his face this dark in a long time, and it worried her.

"What's wrong?" she forced out.

"What do you need to thank Ari for Max? And why the fuck does he think he'll be seeing you." Leo's voice was calm and cold.

"Huh?" she stalled trying to conjure a lie. How the fuck does he know?

He stepped closer to her and Max felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "I said, what do you need to thank Ari for?" Leo had given the taped up card to C.J. the night of their engagement party, and he just texted him with the translation.

"I don't know. It was just a figure of speech." Max voice quivered and she knew he knew she was lying.

"Bullshit Max! Enough with the lies." Leo voice grew stronger as his hand twisted Max's face to his. Her eyes registered fear and he tightened his grip. "I had the card that translated Max, so speak."

Tears ran down Max's face as she spilled the truth out to Leo. "I called Ari and asked him to kill Peretti."

"YOU DID WHAT?!!" He blasted releasing her roughly. "You called your ex to handle my business for me. Do you know how that makes me look? Do you Max?" Her tears did not to assuage his rage. Leo wanted to wring her neck.

"I did it for you. For us. I just wanted you home safe, alive and out of jail." Leo barely heard the last words as he threw a look of disgust her away and left the house.




Lion's Den Ch. 06



******

After a morning of tears and repeated phone calls to Leo's cell, Max rang her father.

"Papi, can I come over?"

"Si, niña." Antonio could hear the distress in her voice so he didn't even bother to ask if she was okay.

It took Max awhile through sobbing and pacing to get out the story.

"Hija, why didn't you call me before calling Ari. I could have told you this was not going to end well." Antonio spoke softly but he wanted to shake Max for being so foolish.

"Papì, I knew it would not go over too well if he found out, but the immediacy of the situation had to be dealt with. If I did not have Peretti killed Leo could be in jail today."

"All that is well and good Max, but you and Leo had a full disclosure policy, no?"

"Sì."

"Alright and you knew you violated it by not telling him what you intended to do. You did not tell him after you did it. Also, you brought your ex boyfriend into it to deal with his problem. You in essence told Leo he was not man enough to protect you or himself, and that another man could."

"I know how it would have looked that is why I never intended for him to find out."

"Child you know better than that. Secrets always come out."

"How are you going to fix it, hija?" This was the first time Tara chimed in. She was still trying to process Max having Peretti killed. This is the kind of life decisions she had always feared Max would have to make.

"I don't know. I've been calling Leo on his mobile and he's not picking up."

******

Max found Leo hours later at Absinthe. He was sitting in his office drinking and staring at the crowds below. He saw her come in and was tempted to have her thrown out. His fury had not quelled since her left her, in fact it increased the more he thought of what she had done. Max lied to him, over and over again. The glass in his hand snapped as she stepped into the office. Max rushed to him as she saw the blood pour, but he yanked his hand away and walked over to his desk. He needed to put as much distance as he could between them.

"Give me your hand before you bleed to death."

"Max I don't have time for this right now. I need you to leave." Leo stated in a restrained voice. 

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Get the fuck out." Leo banged his hand on the desk. "Max get out before I do something I may regret."

"No, Leo. You gotta hear me out."

"I aint gotta do shit Max. You fucking lied to me. I let you in and you lied. Time after time. You're not dumb. You knew what you were doing could fuck us up, but you did it anyway. I would ask why, but I don't give a shit right now. You are a fucking liar and I have no use for liars. We're done."

"No we are not done Leo. We can fix this."

"Fix this how Max. You tell me how I forget this betrayal and I'll do it now. I never thought I could feel for you as I do now. I can't stand to look at you so get the fuck out." As he said those words he grabbed her with his bloody hand and pushed her out the door. Max tried to resist, but did not want to cause any more of a scene. She felt defeated and weak.

******

Max drove around the city for hours. She was angry at Leo for not seeing reason in her actions. Angry at Ari for starting the ball rolling on his suspicions. Angry at herself for opening the door for all this in the first place. When she finally stopped she realized she was in front of Ari's apartment. She pressed the code into the keypad and heard the welcoming click. She was half surprised that it still worked.

Max walked into Ari's apartment and there he was, sitting at his table shirtless and reading. Without even looking up he greeted her.

"Shalom, Max."

"Shalom fuck all Ari. Do you know what your little stunt did? It cost me everything. Leo's done with me."

"Was it my stunt or your lies Max? See Max I know you. I know how much you like your secrets."

"Fuck you Ari." Max spoke as she removed her shoes, and braided her hair. "You are the last person who should be talking about secrets."

"I know you Max. Not just every inch of you," he looked up eyeing her lasciviously, "but the way you think too. I knew you would not tell him, and that would be my way in." Ari rose from the table and walk over to the sparing mat. He knew what Max wanted. She was angry and needed to let off some steam. And who better to fight with but than the person you blame. Ari however, had other thoughts he knew that after Max got physical like that she loved a nice hard fuck.

"Your way in? What the hell are you talking about?" Max followed him to the mat.

"Max I've never stopped wanting you, but I gave up hope that I would ever have the chance to be with you again. That is until you called. Years without communication then you call needing a favour."

"And you thought that I would be ever so grateful that I would what Ari, fuck you?"

"That would have been a start." With those last words Max lunged at Ari. He was ready for her attack and blocked the shot. They went back and forth like this for awhile, but Max was losing. 

Her anger was clouding her judgment in more ways than one. Everytime Ari pinned her to the mat. She could feel her pussy respond to him. The years had aged him beautifully. His tattoos began to glisten under the sheen of sweat from their exertion. His curly dark hair begged for her to grip it and draw his face down to hers. Max's eyes traveled down the happy trail on his stomach as he pinned her again. This time he would not let her up. The sexy black wrap dress she had worn was undone and she lay exposed beneath him. He wanted her to say, uncle. Then he knew the fighting was over and it was time to get deep inside of her. His eyes searched her face for an opening, but she gave none. Max used Ari's uncertainty against him and swung her legs around him flipping him over. She rocked back on her knees a sat on him. She shrugged out of the dress. So now she was just in her bra and panties.

Ari's hazel eyes drank in all that was before him. The growth in his loins was dying for a release that only Max could give him. He ripped her bra off. Max gasped as he latched on to her breasts. His sucking and licking triggered her lactation, but he did not care. Something about Max always brought out the animal in him, and with the dam broken after years of waiting he was not slowing down. Max cried out and whimpered as Ari probed her deep with his fingers. He liked to finger her with her panties on. It made him feel he was somewhere forbidden. He knew the right pace of stroke to get her off. Max felt the orgasm building inside of her, endorphins coupled with adrenaline had her bucking against his hand in no time.

Ari savoured the feel of Max's heat and moisture against his palm. His finger felt the tightening of her cunt so he spread them pressing against the slippery walls. This resistance trick of his always sent Max into overdrive and this time it did not disappoint. Max leaned back and fucked his hand while the other manipulated her nipple. Ari had turned Max into putty. His dick relished the sight of her sweating, panting his name, struggling to come down from her pleasure high. He was so turned on by watching her he came in copious spurts on Max's sexy black tongs. Max disengaged from Ari and rolled onto her stomach. He looked down at the tattoos, a remnant from their past and kissed them. This stirred Max out of her fog. She had to get out of there, things had already gone too far. Anymore kisses and she might be have more than his hand deep inside her.

"Ari stop," Max weakly eked out.

"You don't mean that princess," Ari protested massaging her ass. He wondered if Leo had a chance to pop that cherry or was she still timid about that.

"I do. This was wrong. I gotta go." Despite Max's shaky legs she pulled herself together enough to get her dress on. She stuffed her bra in her purse, as to not leave any evidence at Ari house.

When she got to the door Ari grabbed her hand to pull her in for a kiss. She pulled herself away.

"Ari, I really fucking hated you for what you did to me, and doubly so now for messing with my life again. Why couldn't you just do the job and let that be it? Leo's done with me so you could go ahead and brag to him what we did tonight. He won't care. There's no more damage to be done."

With that Max was out the door. Ari leaned against the door feeling the weight of regret for everything he had done to Max.

******

Max walked around the brownstone in the dark. It was a long night, and tomorrow was going to be even longer with cancelling all the wedding stuff and telling the parents. Max figured she would shower and get a few zz's before going to get Luca. She entered the bedroom and began undressing on her way to the shower.

"You smell like sex." Leo voice startled her. Max knew that he was drunk and still drinking as she heard the ice clink in the glass.

"Okay." Max responded carefully. She did not want to fight with Leo, but she wasn't going to back down either.

"Okay? That is all you have to say."

"That is all there is to say. We're done, remember." Max proceeded to the shower to wash the scent of Ari away. She silently praised herself for the good sense of throw her panties away on the way home. In this state there was no telling what he would do.

Max turned on the shower and sat on the floor to let the water rain down on her. She looked up as she felt the cool air on her back. Leo stared down at her. If his eyes could have bored holes in her they would have.

"Can I help you?" Max stared ahead at the tile as she spoke.

"Who were you with tonight?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I deserve to know. You're still wearing my ring."

"Oh, I am aren't I? Here you go." She slipped the ring off her finger and passed it to him.

"I don't want no fucking ring Max. I want to know where you were." Leo slapped her hand away.

"No you don't."

"You were with him, weren't you?"

"Yes, Sherlock. I went to see him. What of it?" Max's eyes blazed at Leo. And his rage tipped as her grabbed her by her hair and pulled her up. Max scrambled up quickly and stepped out of the shower to avoid the pain.

"Get your hands off me you fucking psycho!" Max struggled but Leo was having none of it. For someone drunk his reflexes were surprisingly quick. He dragged a wet, naked Max to the bed and threw her face down. Before she could fly up Leo pulled both hands behind her and cuffed them. Max hollered at Leo to stop the madness, but he ignored her.

"Max I'm fed up with this craziness. You lied to me. You put your trust in another man, Max. How could you?" Leo paced the floor rubbing face and hair as he spoke. Everything about him was disheveled. His clothes were creased and unkempt, eyes were blood-shot, face was unshaven, left hand haphazardly bandaged, and hair was a mess. He looked like a madman.

"It wasn't about him, Leo. It was about you, and me wanting you to be with me and Luca. How can you not see that? You think I should have just stayed out and let the chips fall where they may with Peretti. Alright, but it would not just be you affected. Your father, your uncle, Pauley. You think those two old guys could do a bid? Get out of you ego for a second and see sense." Max screamed at Leo.

"Out of my ego, Max? Don't you think that stunt was a little power play? You didn't tell me to protect me. Bull shit! You didn't tell me so you could have this secret over me. It's you not giving up all of you. Sabotaging us. Tell me I'm wrong?"

"You're wrong," Max replied with a voice hoarse from screaming. 

"Liar." Smack "You've" Smack "gotta" Smack "stop" Smack "lying" Smack "Max" Smack "to me" Smack "to yourself." Smack "Liar!" Smack "Liar!" Smack "Liar!" Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack

The power behind each slap increased with each word. Leo was pissed. When he was done Max was sore and sobbing. She knew what Leo had said was right. From the moment she picked up that phone to call Ari it was destined to come to a head, and she did nothing to preempt it.

"So is the wedding still on?" Leo asked Max putting the ring back on her finger.

"That is up to you." Max responded mildly defiant. After tonight she knew there was a change in their relationship. Leo walked around the bed and stooped down to face her.

"I love you Max, and you almost suckered me into breaking us apart. Don't ever cross that line again. You say that you would kill me if I ever broke your heart. Ditto. You feel me."

"Yes." Max's voice was feeble. She had been seeing Leo's romantic calm side for awhile and forgot just how hard he could be. She didn't want to admit it, but she was kinda turned on.

******

The clock alarmed at 5am, so Max could make it over to her parents before Luca woke up. She got out of the bed gingerly, her ass was still smarting from the spanking Leo gave her. He was not in bed and she breathed a sigh of relief. She went to the bathroom and pinned to the mirror was message from Luca telling her that he went to pick up Luca and breakfast. That pretty much meant don't go anywhere. She wondered if Leo meant to keep her prisoner in the house. Regaining his trust was going to be tricky.

Max took the moment of privacy she had and called Laney and filled her in on what happened yesterday. 

"Rise and shine sleepy head."

"Blue you must have lost your mind calling me at this God forsaken hour."

"I'm sorry. At least kinda."

"This better be good."

"Lanes he spanked me!" Max squealed.

"You calling me to talk 'bout yall S&M freakiness?"

"NO! We had a fight because I had Ari do something, and lied about it."

"You did what! Do you want to fucking die?"

"Of course not, but..."

"But nothing! You knew it would blow up in your face. Is that what you wanted?"

Max drew a deep breath. Laney and Leo both had her number. "It started out as a good deed, but became so much more. All blame does lie at my door, but he's not giving up."

"No more tests Max. I'm not sure you will survive. He's your guy, accept it and live happily ever after. You know I had my reservations, but it's him. I am happy for you, so don't fuck it up. You will regret it." As Laney advised Max she realized that even for herself she had a regret that she just could not shake.

******

"Morning Leo," Antonio greeting him civilly. "I'm surprised to see you instead of Max. Is she ok?" His inquiry was pointed. He liked Leo well enough, but Max would always be his concern. Plus after what she did he was expecting a violent fallout between her and Leo.

"Yeah she is great. I decided to let her sleep-in while I picked-up lil' man. I'll have her call when I get back." Leo kept his voice light dismissing Antonio's cold demeanour.

"Morning Leo." Tara appeared holding Luca. "He just woke up and I gave him his feeding. I'm sure he'll be out like a light before you get back to Brooklyn. Where's Max?"

"She's back at home."

"Oh?"

"All is well. We're good. We thrashed it out and got to an understanding. The wedding is still on. Thanks for watching Luca. We really appreciate it." Leo kissed Tara on her cheeks and nodded to Antonio as he was loaded with Luca's stuff.

******

When the door closed Tara blew up at Antonio. He remembered the last time she was this angry at him was when he had had her shipped from the U.S. back to Colombia. Antonio was no fool he knew it was coming since Max had dropped off Luca. He had caught her looking at him with a strange look on her face. She was just waiting for Luca to be out of the house.

"What fuck have you done to my little girl? Did you hear her? Talking all nonchalantly about asking Ari to kill Peretti? And you standing there without a look of surprise on your face. Well for a matter of fact I was surprised. I know you and Max have yall gun hobbies and crap, no big deal really, but our child is a killer, a very cold unremorseful killer Antonio. Is this what you wanted all along? Pretending to be out of the game all the while grooming our daughter to run her own cartel? Answer me you son of a bitch. Because I fucking need answers." Tara's usually jovial eyes were rigid slits.

"Tara," Antonio reached out to touch her.

"Don't you dare."

"We raised Max together. Yes, I've had more influence in her life, but that is because I saw so much of me in her. Getting her educated and trained was a way to channel her nature to a positive path. One summer in Colombia Max and Alex heard that one of the farmhands molested one of the village girls and I mean she was a girl, no more than seven years old. Max and Alex decided to avenge the girl. Together they stalked and killed him. Alex delivered the deciding blow, but with Max's full support. When my father found out he congratulated them. He called me into his office to smoke cigars and plan Max's future. Max is not a sociopath. I know that is what you are thinking. Max is our brilliant, skilled, caring daughter. I was not grooming Max to be an assassin, but she is not afraid to pull the trigger if need be. She is going to be alright.'

"Is that it?" Tara stood silently as Antonio spoke. He had never told her of Max's first kill, and she was not sure if she could stomach it. She walked away to their bedroom to pack, she needed some space. In all their time together she had never felt so betrayed. By both her husband and daughter. She knew that somehow it made sense to them to keep such a large secret from her, but she could not see it.  Tara don't act dumb is not like you did not open this door when you stayed all those years ago. You knew what kind of family you were getting involved with. Tara felt fully responsible for all that Max had become. 

Antonio followed Tara to their bedroom, looking in amazement as she hurriedly shoved clothes into her suitcases. He knew he took a risk telling her Max's secret, but it was time for all the truth to lay bare. Although every fiber in his being wanted to stop her he knew Tara needed space from him, and he was going to give it to her, but not for long. Tara walked past him without as much as a sideway glance.

******

Leo walked in the apartment with a sleeping Luca. A smiled curled on his lips seeing Max laying on floor dressed in a wife-beater and boy-shorts sleeping just a soundly as their son. He took Luca to his room and returned to the living room to lie next to her. The rise and fall of her chest mesmerized him. His eyes roamed over her stomach. He envisioned her being pregnant again, this time with a little girl. He knew Max was not the barefoot-and-pregnant-all-the-time kinda chick, but having their house filled with the sounds of children was part of his plan. His eyes moved down from her stomach to her crotch snugly hugged by her satin boy shorts. 

"So are you just gonna stand there all day staring or are you gonna take what's yours?"

Max's voice startled him.

"Glad to know you know who you belong to." Leo replied beginning to undress.

"What happened last night after I left Absinthe?" Max spoke softly. She left her eyes closed to avoid staring into his eyes.

Leo paused his actions. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, when I left you were hella pissed, off the rails and bleeding."

"Yeah I was pissed. And still am but, I got a lot of my system last night." Both their minds flashed on the spanking he gave her.

'Ok, but why the change?"

"Pauley."

******

"Aye Bro!" Pauley knocked and walked into Leo's office at the same time. "What the fuck dude, your hands is bleeding." Pauley was immediately concerned for his cousin.

Leo looked up. His eyes were blood shot and frosty. He mentally debated whether he should tell Pauley about Max or not, but Pauley beat him to it.

"What did Max do?"

"It was Max who solved our problem."

"What!?" Pauley exclaimed in disbelief.