Taken By The Mafia Lord

It seemed like Arianna had been dreaming when he pressed his lips against hers. She froze up, her body unmoving until Elijah deepened the kiss and a moan left her mouth.

Arianna was stunned, her eyes widening. This was the first time she had kissed a man on the lips - the pecks she gave Big Joe didn't count at all.

Her heart pounded in her chest with a concussive force that made it seem like she would suffer a heart attack soon. Arianna loved watching soap operas and each kissing scene had always made her crave that emotion. She wondered what it would feel like to have the lips of the love of her life on hers. Only now, she didn't know how to describe it.

Her toes curled on itself and she felt this urgency to respond so she wrapped her hand around his neck while the other fisted his shirt, pulling him closer.

Elijah must have seen that gesture as her permitting him because he boxed her in, his hand wrapping around her waist while he braced himself on the seat.

Nothing mattered to Arianna at that moment except the feel of his lips on her. If she knew how exhilarating kissing was, perhaps she would have dated more. Or perhaps, it felt more wonderful because it was with the right person. Was Elijah the one for her?

Heat pooled in between her legs, Arianna took his lower lip in between her teeth and nibbled gently before sucking on it. Elijah groaned, his hand digging into his waist as she kissed him wickedly.

However, all good things must come to an end because Arianna felt the basic need to breathe. The both of them pulled apart, their chest heaving heavily as if they had run a marathon.

Arianna glanced up and when her eyes met Elijah's, heat rushed her cheeks. Gosh, she just kissed him? Oh my God!

"Where did you learn to kiss like that when you've never had a boyfriend?" He asked, his face just a mere inches away from hers.

"I don't know. I guess watching romantic movies finally paid off," Arianna replied breathlessly.

"Yeah, indeed. It did," Elijah said, smoldering heat in his gaze that made Arianna's breath hitch in her throat.

She took away her gaze asking, "You said you were not going to touch me without consent, yet you kissed me when I didn't ask you to?" 

"It was your punishment,"

"Punishment?" She was surprised.

"For not trusting me," He explained, still staring intently at her even when she turned her face away. Did he like her face that much? 

"Oh," Arianna said, tugging her hair behind her ear. But all that did was to give Elijah a view of her sexy neck that made him gulp. Arianna was the epitome of sexiness.

"I might be many things, but my intention towards you is pure. I truly want to help you, Arianna," 

Arianna sensed the sincerity in Elijah's words and that was what made her even more scared because she was slowly falling for him. He was everything she wanted in a man, except that his line of work worried her. 

She knew how the criminal world worked and it was all violence and vengeance. Ruth's husband had paid the price for it and she has seen how Ruth lived with it. Arianna was afraid to give her heart only to lose it. 

Her father who loved her, left her, Arianna wasn't sure she would take it if Elijah stirred up her world only to crush it. She can't love someone she would lose. 

Her attention was drawn when she felt the heat of Elijah's mouth on her neck and she let out a blissful sigh. It felt like home.

Elijah continued to kiss up and down her neck, suckling on her delicate skin. It wasn't until a moan escaped her throat that she realized what she was doing and her decision. 

"I'm sorry, I can't do this," Arianna apologized, getting off the seat and forcing Elijah to stand up straight as well. She put some space between them and didn't look him in the eyes, knowing that made her weak. 

"Why?" Elijah asked her, unable to understand why she was holding back, "You feel attracted to me just as I am to you. Forget about the whole damn permission thing, not when you've been eyefucking me. Nor do you have someone in your life or do you have someone in your heart..?" there was a cautious look in Elijah's eyes as he realized that possibility. 

"No!" Arianna shouted when she saw the way his gaze narrowed at her, "There's no one in my heart... but you," Arianna had to swallow past the lump in her throat confessing that. 

For a while, Elijah didn't say a word, he just stared at Arianna in disbelief upon that confession. An uncountable number of emotions flickered through his eyes. 

"Then...." Elijah said, stepping towards her while she stepped backwardly. Yet he didn't stop moving until he successfully backed her against the kitchen Island. 

Arianna looked behind, there was no way to go and upon turning around, there was Elijah who boxed her in, looking like a predator and she was the prey. 

"Why can't you do it? Why can't you love me, Arianna?" Elijah finally asked the question, pressing his body up against it. He was aroused by her. 

The lump in Arianna's throat grew, what has she landed herself into? She really didn't want to hurt him. 

"Speak to me, please, Arianna. Your silence hurts more," Elijah looked so vulnerable it made her chest constrict. 

This was crazy! Arianna screamed in her mind. This was absolutely crazy! They barely knew each other, how could he love her that much? If it wasn't the fact that this man risked his life saving her, Arianna could have sworn this was a scam. 

"You're right. I like you," Arianna finally admitted her feelings for him, "However, I'm scared," she said. 

"Scared of what, Arianna?" 

"Don't you get it? You're in constant danger because of your work," She laughed, "I don't even know what you look like. Not that I care about your facial appearance or something," Arianna said and noticed the raise of his brow.

Elijah was ready for a little argument or would she say, truth game especially when she rejected Big Joe because of his height. Although that's not entirely the reason - they forced her against her will for Christ's sake. 

"Okay, I do care about what you look like," She finally said the truth, "But the point is, there's going to be intimacy between us and I can't do that with a man who hides his face away from me"

Elijah palmed her face, keeping her gaze on him as he spoke, "I keep my face hidden from you, not because I don't trust you, it's for your safety, Arianna. There are many people I've offended and they would do everything to get the picture of what I look like from you,"

"Then what's the point of even keeping your identity from me when they would still torture me to get the truth?" Arianna asked, a bit of panic creeping inside of her. 

"You're not the only woman I've been with, Arianna," 

It seemed like someone stabbed a knife into her chest when Arianna heard that statement. Although he told her initially that he had been with other women, it didn't hurt then the way it hurt now. What was happening to her? 

"They've questioned them and found nothing relating to me. My enemies already know it's my modus operandi to keep my lovers in the dark and wouldn't even bother with you at all thinking it's the same case," 

"Funny but Isn't it the same case?" Arianna sneered, "I don't even know what you look like?" 

"You know what my eyes look like," 

"What?" 

"My real eyes, that's what you're staring into right now," Elijah said and Arianna looked up, stunned. 

Those electric blue eyes were real. And for some reason, it comforted her that she was the only one who knew that. Not even the other women. 

"Oh God, no," Arianna suddenly groaned to his surprise, "Isn't this more reason why we shouldn't be together. You're a flame, Elijah and I'll only get burned being with you," 

"Not if we leave together," 

"What?" Arianna did not hear right. 

"My enemies would not be able to reach you if we leave the country together," He offered her a chance to be with him. 

"You must be joking," Arianna couldn't believe what was happening. It was surreal. 

"No, I'm not, Arianna," Elijah said, then sighed, "I'm tired of this life; I'm tired of running without looking over my back. I want to rest now with the woman in front of me," 

Arianna didn't blink, she just stood dumbfounded. She knew what he was offering and that shocked her more. He was willing to give up his life for her. What charm have you placed on this poor soul, Arianna? 

"So tell me, Arianna, would you run off with me? For better, for worse?" He offered, stretching out his hand. 

Arianna smiled down at him and took his hand, "I do,"