Indebted to the Mafia King

*Heidi*

Opening my eyes to find myself in Cal's bed with him by my side is even better than any dream I've ever had. His scent is all over the room and the sheets, and the heat radiating from his body is almost too much for my sleepy mind to handle.

He looks even hotter after waking up, and I need to control myself not to jump on him. Which, eventually, I end up doing anyway.noveldrama

I'm on top of him before I know it. Having morning sex feels somewhat different, and I'm slightly embarrassed that he gets to see me with my puffy, sleepy eyes and disheveled hair, but he doesn't seem to mind and is eager to please me.

Our skin is damp with sweat after I ride him and give us both a morning to remember. I roll off him and stare at the ceiling, too tired to stand up and get started with my day.

"I really have to go to work," he tells me, his tone expressing how annoyed he is to have to leave this place.

I don't blame him. I wish he didn't have to go either. I wouldn't mind having the day off, to spend it entirely with him without a care in the world. It's not like I have much to do anyway, other than look for locations for the bookstore. I might have to call Granny and ask her for updates about the insurance situation. I also owe them a visit, so I should plan to do that soon.

"Okay..." I say softly.

After a couple more minutesof cuddling, Cal finally gets up from the bed and heads for the shower to get ready for his day. I remain in the same position, memories of last night invading my senses.

Suddenly, a thought pops into my mind. Did I say what I think I said to him before I fell asleep last night? I cover my mouth, hoping that it wasn't real, that it was part of a dream.

I told him I love him!

God.. that had to be a dream.I couldn't have really done something that stupid, could

I? "Fuck,” I hiss, glad he can't hear or see me.

Why the hell did you do that, Heidi?

I have no idea how Cal managed not to freak out and leave me here by myself. I should've woken up to nothing but an empty space beside me in bed. Any other man would have done that. So, how come I didn't scare him with my confession?

As if on cue, Cal steps out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his chest and toned abs on display, little droplets of water shining on his skin. He smirks at me, crossing the room and heading to his closet. Seeing him like this is enough to make me forget what I was freaking out about.

He comes back wearing jeans, a black shirt, a pair of boots, and a leather jacket. His hair is wet and loose, curling around his ears. He's so effortlessly sexy.

I'm still naked, wrapped in his sheets, feeling self-conscious all of the sudden. "I should probably head home too," I say as Cal walks toward me and presses a kiss to my lips.

"You can stay here as long as you want," he tells me. "I'll be home later tonight. We can watch a movie or something if you want."

The offer is tempting. I really don't feel like going home. I could stay here, doing some research on my phone while I wait for him. I could also call my grandparents, catch up on my favorite TV show, and make something for us to eat for dinner. "Are you sure?" I ask. "I don't want to impose."

Cal shakes his head, kissing me one more time before pulling away. "You're not. Make yourself at home."

And with that, he walks out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I hear the front door closing, and as soon as he is out of the apartment, the whole place suddenly seems too big for me.

So, I finally get out of bed, grabbing my dress from the floor and putting it back on. Then I go to the kitchen to make something for breakfast. I settle for eggs and black coffee. I'm really not that hungry, and it'll be lunchtime before long anyway.

Walking to the balcony with my mug and plate in hand, I enjoy the sun warming my skin, its unseasonable heat embracing me like a comforting hug. My mind is still reeling over the fact that I told Cal that I loved him and he didn't mention it this morning. Was he pretending I didn't say anything? Was he doing that so I don't feel embarrassed? Why didn't he bring it up? Should I even want him to?

Maybe I should just pretend thatit didn't happen at all. That would probably be best for both of us-and whatever we have going on between us. I'm not ready to stop seeing him, that's for damn sure.

I finish my breakfast and call my grandparents. We spend over an hour catching up, and before I hang up, I promise them I will come to see them sometime this week.

Then I lose track of time as I start looking for places to rent in New York. Not to mention the amount of time I spend on websites that sell vintage decor and on Pinterest, looking for inspirations for the bookstore.

Only when I hear my stomach growling do I realize how late it is. I order some food to be delivered, and after I eat it, I finally head for the bathroom to take a shower. I should have done that as soon as I woke up, but I was busy with everything else, not to mention that I could still feel Cal on my skin, and I wasn't too eager to get rid of that feeling yet.

I turn the hot water on and step inside. The warm water washing over me instantly relaxes me. I wash my hair and take my time to scrub my skin. Surprisingly, Cal has a lot of products in his shower, which intrigues me.

I wonder if he leaves them here for other women, for when he brings them in, but I don't allow myself to delve on that for too long. I shouldn't be worried about what Cal does with his personal, romantic life. Most of them aren't girly anyway.

Beside, he never promised me anything. We're not exclusive, even if it sometimes feels like we are.

Getting out of the shower, I dry off and wrap myself in a towel before walking back to his bedroom, looking around for something to wear. I could put my dress on again, but it feels dirty after taking such a great shower. My eyes fall on his closet door, and I ponder if I should grab something of his to wear. I don't think he would mind. It astonishes me how comfortable and at home I feel in his apartment, and even though he told me to make myself at home, I also don't want him to think I'm imposing.

I can't be naked the entire day either, so I finally decide to walk into the closet. Only then do I realize how big of a closet it actually is. It looks like just a small room at first, but now that I'm inside, I'm struck by how many compartments this closet has neatly divided for shoes, shirts, suits, jackets, and accessories.

It'd be a dream to have such a closet in my apartment.

Looking around, I find a pile of shirts that seem to be a bit worn out and grab the one on the top. It's a simple white shirt with a NY Knicks logo in the front. It only comes down to my thighs, but since I'll be staying inside, that won't be a problem.

When I decide to return to his bedroom to find my underwear, something odd catches my attention. At first, I think I'm hallucinating. But as I move closer, I confirm I'm not imagining things. I hesitate before cautiously stepping toward the wall to my lert, where the shelves stretch from top to bottom.

"No way..." I whisper.

The entire wall is packed with all sorts of guns and ammunition. It's like I'm suddenly in an action movie, everything neatly arranged as if he works for the fucking military or something.

Shock and disbelief hit me all at once as I try to make sense of what I'm seeing. I can't seem to pull my eyes away from the sheer number of weapons lined up, glinting under the dim light of the closet.

"What the fuck?"

What is Cal doing? Why does he have so many weapons? Why does he have even one weapon, for that matter?

My belly twists as I realize I've been wrong all along about him. Everything seems to be clearer now. I should have trusted my instincts. I shouldn't have fallen for his charms. Are those for protection-or something else?

Could Cal be the one people need protection from?

I look through the doorway of the closet into the sprawling, impossibly expensive penthouse apartment. I think of his car, his fancy clothes, his life of luxury... as the owner of a dingy bar.

I suddenly realize there's no way he's just a bar owner. He's up to something. Something bad.