Acts of Salvation: An Age Gap Romance (Men of WRATH Book 2)

It hasn’t been a full twenty-four hours and I still have no clue what in the hell possessed me to offer myself up as a dog walking companion. With a full security company at my disposal, there’s an endless supply of men that could do the job—but no, she wouldn’t have agreed to just anybody and to be honest, nobody would be as vested in her safety as me.

Granted, someone else will have to watch her when I’m out of town, but whenever I’m in Dallas, it will most definitely be me.

I shake my head and chuckle to myself. Who’d of thought that I’d be so overprotective over a woman… other than my niece, of course. My niece. I cringe at that thought.

In all my years I’ve never expended energy on a woman other than a quick one-night stand. Not because I don’t love them as a whole, but because they inevitably become complicated. I don’t do complicated.

It takes up time and energy to deal with a woman’s feelings. Time and energy that’s better allotted in accomplishing more profitable or enjoyable things.

Until Cassie, I’d never met anyone who was worth deviating from that norm. It makes sense—in a totally sick and twisted way—that she would not only end up being a teenager, but my niece’s best friend to boot.

Karma is one crazy bitch.

“What’s that look for?” Aiden walks back into the main cabin of our private jet after taking a call in the bedroom. We’re on our way to California for one of Aiden’s clients.

I’m tagging along for the day to check over a security system, but I’ve made it clear I need to be back in Dallas by tonight.

Not only do I have my dog walking date with Cassie, but I also have a meeting with the Renzetti Famiglia, and someone named Johnny DeLucci.

“Come on. Spill it,” Aiden prods. “I’ve never seen you this tense. You’re usually the carefree one in our motley crew of dysfunctional men.”

How do I tell my brother what’s up without divulging who it’s about? I proceed cautiously. “It’s about a girl.”

Aiden lets out a roll of laughter while slapping his knees repeatedly. “Ohhhhh, the eternal bachelor has fallen! I thought William was full of shit, but now I see that it’s true.”

Note to self, kick William’s ass for talking about me behind my back. Even if it was just good-natured ribbing, he should have known better than to go to my brother with that bit of conspiracy theory.

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Go on. Let it all out.”

“Come on, now. You know I’m just teasing. I’m happy for you, fratellino.” Aiden wipes at his eyes. Glad to see that I’ve made him laugh so hard, he’s cried. “It’s about damn time a woman got through that thick armor of yours. You know not all women are like our mother, right?”

His words give me pause. Could that be the reason behind my never settling down? Nah.

“If anyone had any part in my bachelor ways, it was our father. After Mom, he never brought another woman home. Sure, he had his fair share of fun—something I’d rather not think about in detail—but if he instilled anything in us it’s that women were an inconvenience for anything other than fucking.”

Aiden shakes his head in disgust. “Please don’t tell me you really think that, Ren. You have a niece, is she only good for one thing?” He raises a brow in warning, letting me know to tread carefully.

“Of course I don’t think that. Obviously some women out there are worth their weight in gold, but more often than not you end up with women who are more trouble than they’re worth. Finding one who is truly special is like bagging a unicorn and I didn’t want to spend time looking when odds were I’d end up with a gremlin instead of a majestic creature.”

“Did you just compare women to gremlins?” Aiden sucks in his lips, trying to contain his laughter.

“Not all. Just most.”

“So, this woman that’s got you tied up… she must be a unicorn then.”

Visions of Cassie flit around in my head. “Oh yeah, she’s majestic alright.”

“Well, you know how rare those are. I say hang on to her and don’t let go. No matter what.” He reaches across, patting me on the shoulder. “And like I said before, she isn’t Mom. If she’s as magical as you say she is, she won’t just leave you after you’ve given her your heart.”

And therein lies the truth. My fear of abandonment has been the catalyst to every action in my adult life that revolved around women. If I kept them at a distance, never truly giving myself away, then they couldn’t hurt me when they inevitably disappeared from my life.

I look out the small window, clutching my tumbler of Jack so tightly I feel the skin around my knuckles tighten.

“Hey. Don’t close up on me, fratellino. All I’m saying is that maybe this one is worth taking the risk.” He leans back into his seat, pulling up his phone and giving me a reprieve from his words.

But the problem is that the silence is worse. It leaves me alone with my thoughts. Thoughts of Cassie and the fact that she is one hundred percent worth the risk. Thoughts of how she’s already refused me time and time again, but despite that, I know that I’ll be diving headfirst into those hazel eyes.

That woman is mine. Come hell or high water.

I’m about to lift my hand to knock on Cassie’s door when I notice that it’s been left open. Immediately this sends up red flags since this isn’t the type of neighborhood where people do that. Cassie wouldn’t be so reckless, would she?

Multiple possibilities assault me all at once, the most prominent one being that the same attacker who targeted Bella is now here—for Cassie.

Adrenaline pumps through me as I unholster my weapon of choice, a Springfield XDM Compact. Keeping it low to the ground, I enter the apartment cautiously. Everything is quiet. No sign of a scuffle or Bruce for that matter.

Shit, did Bruce get out during the attack?

Nails clicking on concrete have me spinning around at full speed, and what I see makes my breath halt.

Cassie. In a sports bra and running shorts. So. Much. Bare. Skin.

“Are you insane?!” Cassie hisses at me while trying to keep Bruce from jumping up and licking my face.

“Are you insane?!” I wave my hand up and down, pointing out the getup she has on. “You’re wearing that in this neighborhood, all by yourself… at night. Are you asking for trouble?”

“I’m not by myself. I have Bruce and this.” She moves one of her hands to her keychain, retrieving a tube of pepper spray.

I let out an exasperated breath. “Cassie, a little tube of pepper spray isn’t going to do you much good if you get attacked from behind, or if the attacker has a gun.” I step closer, bringing her into my arms. “I’m sorry if I come off as overbearing, but you had me worried sick. I saw the door open and thought someone had taken you.”

Cassie’s body stiffens, causing me to drop an instinctive kiss to her temple in an attempt to soothe her.

“I guess I must’ve left the door open when I left to walk Bruce.” She mumbles against my chest. “It won’t happen again.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me? I told you I’d walk Bruce with you.” I bring both of my hands to Cassie’s waist, squeezing enough to make her look up at me. She feels so good in my arms—fitting like the perfect puzzle, complete with that feeling of fulfillment after having located the missing pieces.

“I didn’t think you were serious. Besides, I can take care of myself.” My spicy little angel has so much fire.

Let’s see if she can handle a little heat.

Shutting the door with one hand and spinning her around with the other, I catch her by surprise. Taking advantage of the moment, I push her up against the door and whisper into her ear. “What would you do if someone attacked you from behind, just like this… pinned you to the wall, just like this.”

She bucks her ass against me, letting out a searing hiss when it brushes against my growing erection.

Running a splayed hand up her bare torso, I revel in the goose bumps my touch leaves behind. As I inch my hand upward, Cassie’s breath turns ragged, the anticipation of what’s to come driving us both mad.

Once I’ve reached my destination, I work my hand underneath the hemline of her sports bra, cupping one of her very full breasts. God, how I love them.

A low growl escapes me as my palm brushes against her erect nipple. The flesh soft and warm under my grasp. So feminine and real.

“What would you do, my little angel, if someone touched you like this…” I let my other hand travel south, all while Cassie pants heavily, letting me know she’s just as aroused as I am. Lifting the hem of her shorts, I bury my hand lower, finding the silken folds that confirm my suspicion.

She’s wet.

Taking my middle finger, I run it along her drenched slit as she moans. “Ren?”

I halt my movement, “Yes, baby?”

“Don’t stop.”

I smile against the skin of her neck, giving it a quick bite as I thrust two fingers into her wanting pussy. Cassie throws her head back, letting out a moan of satisfaction as she grinds herself onto my hand.

My baby knows what she wants and she isn’t afraid to take it. I fucking love it.

“Sooo….” Cassie mewls, “close.”

Already? She must be as hot and bothered for me as I am for her. God knows I’m about to spill, and all I’m getting is a contact high.

I continue to thrust my fingers in and out as I angle the pads, hitting her sweet spot. Lifting my other hand up to her throat, I lightly squeeze, bringing her face to mine. Our eyes lock and those hazel eyes pierce my soul, saying a million things at once and yet nothing at all.

My chest constricts, and I feel suffocated by a tidal wave of emotion. Our eyes flicker back and forth, leaving no question that she feels this overwhelming sensation too.

Wanting to silence the thoughts racing through my mind, I plant a possessive kiss on her perfect mouth.

Biting her lower lip before sucking it between my teeth seems to be her undoing. Cassie lets out a moan as she begins to contract, pulsating around my fingers as she comes down from her high.

Fuck if that wasn’t the most intense sexual experience of my life. Not even our night at The Pearl came close to this.

“That was… intense,” Cassie murmurs as she slides out of my grasp, instantly making me feel the loss.

“Yes. I think it proves that what we have is special.” I bring my hand up to Cassie’s face, brushing the pad of my thumb against her cheekbone.

“I think that what it proves is that this”—she motions between us—“is dangerous. And it can’t happen again. I mean it, Ren.” She schools her face, hiding any trace of emotion. “This was a lapse in judgment. Nothing more.”

Her words are like daggers to my chest. If I weren’t up against the wall already, I would’ve physically stumbled back.

I clench my jaw before nodding once in agreement. “If that is what you want, then that is what you’ll have.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Looking down at the number, I see that it’s from New York. The Renzettis.

“Gotta run. I’ll be here tomorrow for our walk.” Opening the door, I look back one last time and issue her a warning. “Don’t leave without me.”

I shut the door quickly, not giving her the chance to respond. It seems my little angel is in need of a time-out.