Bound By Blood Read online

  Copyright ©2020 Cora Reilly

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, businesses, events and places are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

  Cover design by Hang Le

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Author’s note

  Short Story # 1

  Amo’s birth bonus story

  Part One

  Part Two

  Part Three

  Part Four

  Forbidden Delights

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Gianna & Matteo: Novella

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Short Story #2: Liliana & Romero

  Short Story #3: Growl & Cara

  More books by Cora Reilly

  About the Author

  This is a collection of short stories featuring different couples plus a novella about Matteo and Gianna.

  I don’t like to give trigger warnings because they spoil the storyline, but this book deals with a topic that might be upsetting to some readers. I can’t say more, so proceed with caution.

  Aria & Luca Gym Scene

  (from the Books for Boobies Charity Anthology, 2015)

  Aria

  Luca and I entered the shabby brick building that harbored the gym of the Famiglia, the mob family that ruled New York and most of the East Coast. Behind the rusty steel door, one of Luca’s soldiers sat guard, a middle-aged man who was busy cleaning his guns; outsiders weren’t really welcome, not that I thought anyone ever came here by accident. This wasn’t the most inviting part of New York after all.

  The guard straightened in his chair when he spotted his Capo. Over time, I’d grown used to the looks of respect and fear that Luca evoked in others. Even if he weren’t the head of one of the most notorious mob families in the country, his tall frame and imposing muscles intimidated most people. Not to mention the fierce brutality in his gray eyes. They only ever softened when he looked at me.

  Luca’s hand on my waist was light as he led me past his soldier and into the main part of the gym, a huge hall that had been transformed into a place where Luca’s men could work out and practice their fighting skills. There was a boxing ring, all kinds of exercise machines, dummies for fight and knife training, and a corner with mats where a few men were sparring. They greeted us friendly, but apart from that, they hardly glanced our way. It wasn’t the sensation it used to be that Luca took me here to teach me how to fight. Most of the men probably still found it strange or even inappropriate, but they knew better than to share their opinion.

  Men in our world preferred their women docile and helpless; easier to control. Nobody wanted a woman who could defend herself, least of all against her own husband. Not that any fight training in the world could ever make me stand a chance against Luca. My sister Gianna always said he was a beast, and she was right. I loved his strength, his fierceness, and yes, even his deadliness. Watching him fight always made wetness pool between my legs. I peered up at my husband, his broad shoulders, strong jaw, black hair. He met my gaze, gray eyes holding the same fire I could already feel simmering in my belly. His mouth pulled into that familiar almost smile, then he gently nudged me into the changing room. It was men only, seeing that I was the only woman who came here, but nobody was crazy enough to walk in when the Capo’s wife was getting dressed. Luca was a possessive bastard as his brother Matteo so nicely put it.

  The low ceiling of the changing room always made me feel slightly claustrophobic and the smell of sweat usually worsened that sensation, but today I was distracted by the burning need between my legs that had only grown worse since I’d felt Luca’s morning rod pressed into my lower back this morning. Luca closed the door behind us, walked past me, and dropped our sports bag on the wooden bench before he turned to me and pulled his shirt over his head, revealing inch over inch of perfectly sculpted stomach and chest. I wanted to trail my tongue over every ridge. From the look on Luca’s face, I could tell he knew exactly what I was thinking. I strolled over to the bench, snatched my workout clothes out of the bag, and pretended to ignore my arrogant husband. Of course it was close to impossible. There were people you simply could not ignore. Luca was one of them. He removed his pants and underwear. His cock was already half-erect, and he didn’t bother hiding it, or getting dressed. He was trying to provoke me. He knew how turned on I was by him. Sometimes I could hardly stop myself from jumping him in public.

  I slipped out of my jeans and shirt, then unhooked my bra and lowered it slowly, knowing Luca was watching me now. His gaze practically burned a trail down my skin, lingering on my nipples, which hardened under his scrutiny. I turned my back to him and then I inched my panties down ever so slowly, bending forward and jutting my butt out so Luca got a good look at what he was doing to me. My panties had only reached my knees when I felt Luca behind me. One of his hands curled around my shoulder, gently pushing me down until my hands shot out to brace myself against the bench. I knew this position was giving him an even better view. Luca brushed two fingers over my opening before spreading my wetness over my folds and clit. I shuddered and stifled a moan. I didn’t want his men to know what we were doing, though a part of me was turned on by the idea of getting caught in the act. Luca dipped his fingertip into me, then added a second. I tried to move my butt to make him push into me all the way, but his hand on my shoulder held me fast. I threw an annoyed look over my shoulder, hoping he’d get the hint.

  He returned my gaze steadily, eyes hungry but relentless. He wanted to drive me to the brink, make me beg for more. I pressed my lips together, determined to win this game. My hand shot out and grasped Luca’s erection before he could stop me. He twitched in my palm. Slowly I ran my thumb over his tip, coating it with precum. Luca let out a low growl and eased his fingers all the way into me. I almost cried out. Instead I let my head fall forward and released a long breath through my nose. Luca curled his fingers in me and pressed his knuckle against my clit. He moved slowly. Despite my best intentions, I ground myself against him, at least as much as his hold on my shoulder allowed.

  I tightened my grip on his cock and started pumping up and down. Luca’s fingers sped up. I could feel myself getting closer; my arms started shaking and my breathing was coming fast. Then without warning, Luca pulled his fingers out of me and released me. My legs almost buckled. I jerked up, whirled around, and glowered at Luca.

  “We are here to teach you how to defend yourself. Maybe the frustration you’re feeling now will give you the necessary motivation to fight.”

  I crossed the distance between us and fell to my knees. Luca’s hands shot out to grip my head and stop me, but my tongue darted out and licked the precum off his tip before he could do any such thing. After that, he only raked his fingers through my hair and moaned quietly. I only took his tip into my mouth while my hand worked his shaft; that’s how he liked it best. Occasionally I’d pull back to lick the underside of his cock from bottom to top. Luca began thrusting lightly, a good indicator that his release was getting close. With an audible ‘plop’ I let his
cock slip from my lips and stood. “And this should distract you enough for me to land a few good hits,” I said with a wicked grin.

  “Aria,” Luca growled. “Don’t leave me hanging like that.”

  “From what I see, you’re not hanging at all.”

  Luca tried to grab me, but I jumped back and snatched my gym clothes before I darted away to the other end of the changing room. Luca didn’t chase me but his expression was that of a jaguar watching its prey. He looked so damn sexy that it took all of my self-control not to throw myself at him. Instead I calmly put on my workout shorts and tank top. Luca watched me the entire time.

  I raised an eyebrow and nodded toward his erection. “I thought we were going to work out.”

  Luca shook his head with a chuckle. “What’s become of the shy girl I married?”

  “You corrupted her,” I said with a smile.

  Luca put on black sweatpants and a tight white shirt. I approached him, suddenly insecure. Did he think I’d become too forward?

  “Did you prefer her?” I asked, trying to sound teasing but failing spectacularly.

  “I love you exactly as you are,” Luca said. He grabbed my arm and pulled me against him before he kissed me firmly.

  Luca frowned when he pulled back. “That sounded fucking cheesy.”

  I grinned. “You’re turning into a softy.”

  “We’ll see about that. Let’s go before I cancel our training and have my way with you right here on the bench.”

  That didn’t sound too bad, but Luca took my hand and led me out of the changing room, probably to show me how good his self-control was.

  We headed straight toward the sparring mats as we always did. When we faced each other, my eyes darted to Luca’s crotch even without intending to, but his bulge was gone, which shouldn’t have disappointed me as much as it did. The Capo could hardly prance around with his erection in front of his soldiers. Luca’s eyes flashed, but he didn’t give me the grin he reserved for when we were alone. His face remained the hard mask he almost always wore when he was around his soldiers. I wasn’t sure why Made Men thought showing any kind of emotion that wasn’t anger or hate was some kind of weakness. Luca motioned for me to attack him. As usual, I tried to land a hit, which was impossible with his fight experience and reflexes. My third try landed me flat on my back with Luca crouching over me. His hand brushed my mound through my shorts, only the barest touch, but it sent bolts of lightning through my body.

  It hadn’t been an accident. Luca’s eyes said it all. I let him pull me to my feet and made sure to brush past him in a way that my hip touched his groin area.

  After that, it was pretty clear that our fight training had turned into a game of who could drive the other wilder with secret touches. The other men in the gym seemed oblivious to our activities, or they knew better than to pay too much attention to us. My body was practically bursting with need when Luca finally ended our session. I wanted to drag him into the changing room with me, even if that meant I’d lose our little game. But one of the men came over to us, a teenage boy at his side.

  Luca sent me a look of regret. “He’s a new initiate. I’ll have to talk to his father and him for a moment.”

  I smiled. “I’ll go ahead and shower.”

  It was the last thing I wanted but it would have been rude for Luca to disappear without a word. I gave both man and boy a smile as I walked away. Once I was inside the changing room and had closed the door behind me, I let out a sigh. My panties were sticking to my skin and not just from sweat. After I’d listened for sounds that I wasn’t alone, I undressed, grabbed a towel and then headed for the shower stalls. I turned the water to cold and hopped under the stream, gasping for breath. The cold didn’t help with my desire. I wasn’t sure if a cold shower worked like that for anyone, or if that was only urban legend. I turned up the heat and tried to relax. I lathered myself in shower gel but as my fingers brushed my folds, I couldn’t resist. Who knew how long Luca would be gone? I needed some relief now. The second I touched my clit, I slumped against the wall and exhaled, my eyes falling shut. I was already close; all the teasing touches had driven me to the brink. I rubbed myself faster and my legs began shaking. God, I was so close.

  A strong hand curled around my wrist and pulled my hand away moments before I could reach my peak. I groaned in frustration and my eyes shot open, only to find Luca in front of me, naked and with a raging hard-on, his eyes flashing with hunger. I almost came because of that look. He raised my hand to his lips and sucked my fingers into his mouth, but his gray eyes burned into mine with the same need I felt.

  “That’s my job,” he growled.

  I shivered in delight. He grabbed my thighs and lifted me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Luca positioned my opening above his erection but he didn’t lower me. Instead his lips claimed mine, and he kneaded my butt cheeks. I ground my pussy against his abs, hoping it would get him moving. His tip brushed my folds and I sucked in a breath. Luca growled into my mouth but he still didn’t move. Of course he had no trouble holding me upright.

  I raked my fingernails down his back, pulled back from his mouth and whispered into his ear, “I need you now.”

  “You do, hm?” Luca murmured as his lips traced my throat. I ground myself against him once more and felt his abs constrict under me. This was torture for him too.

  I kissed the spot under his ear. “Don’t you want to be inside of me? I’m so wet.”

  Luca’s fingers on my thighs tensed. He caught my lips for another kiss, and then finally started lowering my body. His tip eased into me, then slowly the rest of his shaft followed until he filled me to the hilt. I threw my head back with a moan and Luca let out a low groan. We stayed like that for a moment, relishing in the feeling of being united like that, almost reluctant to move.

  “Fuck, you feel so good, Aria,” Luca rasped. I shivered at the sound of his voice and goose bumps covered my body despite the warm water.

  Luca gripped my butt and supported my back against the shower stall before he started to slide out of me. He halted with his tip against my opening again. I parted my lips for a protest but before I could utter a word, he slammed back into me. I dug my fingers into his shoulders as I cried out in pleasure. I didn’t even care if someone heard us. This felt too amazing.

  Luca claimed my mouth, silencing my next moan as he thrust into me hard and fast. My back rubbed against the tiles and Luca’s grip on my butt was almost painful, but that only heightened my pleasure. I wrapped my arms around Luca’s neck to pull myself even closer. Our bodies were pressed against each other so tightly I could feel Luca’s heart pounding in his chest. We locked gazes, and I knew the look in Luca’s eyes had only ever been for me. Our breaths were coming faster and as Luca slammed into me again, I fell apart. I tensed and moaned into his mouth, and seconds later Luca’s own release followed. Afterward, we still clung to each other as the water slowly turned cold. I slid my legs down, even though I wasn’t sure if they could hold me yet. I leaned against the stall just in case.

  Luca released my butt and leaned over me, stopping the water from splashing my face. He kissed me again, lightly this time, and our eyes met. In the beginning, I’d found his gray eyes cold and terrifying, and I knew it was what others still saw in them, but not for me, not anymore.

  “What are you thinking?” Luca murmured. He turned the shower off but didn’t move away from me.

  “That I love you.”

  Luca raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you were thinking?”

  “Not in those exact words, but it always comes down to it,” I whispered before I grasped Luca’s neck and pulled him down to me for another lingering kiss.

  Aria

  Romero, Lily, Gianna, Matteo, Luca, and I had gathered on the roof terrace to celebrate New Year’s Eve as a family. It was becoming a beautiful tradition.

  “I love New York at night,” Lily said as she leaned back against Romero who had his arms wrapped
around her waist, looking at her as if she was the center of his world. Those two were such a harmonic couple, I’d never seen them argue.

  “It’s grown on me. I thought I’d hate it but I really don’t,” Gianna said, propping her elbows up on the railing. Matteo bent down and whispered something in her ear that made her slap his arm but she was obviously fighting a smile.

  “New York is home,” I said quietly. Luca squeezed my hip and our eyes met. Because of him, this city had become a place of happiness and the home of our small family.

  “Ten, nine,” Matteo began the countdown to midnight, quickly handing us glasses with champagne.

  “Four, three, two, one,” we finished together, grinning.

  We clinked glasses and toasted the New Year. I took a sip, loving the way the New York sky bloomed with fireworks. Luca pulled me in for a kiss and I relaxed against him, relishing in this moment. I had so much to be grateful for, not just Luca and Marcella, but also my sisters and their husbands. We’d all found love and happiness in a world that rarely granted either. Matteo grabbed Gianna, cupped her head, and kissed her passionately. At first she tried to push him back but then she returned the kiss with the same fervor. Those two… I shook my head with a laugh.

  “Get a room,” Luca muttered.

  They finally pulled apart, neither of them embarrassed. They were a match made in hell, is what Luca always said.

  Gianna shrugged and pulled me into a hug before she moved on to Lily. Celebrating with them was the most wonderful gift I could imagine, even as my chest squeezed tightly when I thought of Fabiano. I hoped he’d find happiness too.

  We watched the fireworks in silence, Luca’s arms creating a warm cocoon around me.

  “I can’t believe the kid doesn’t wake with all the fireworks,” Matteo said, shaking his head.