Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Ivy’s POV

We gathered at the Thorne estate’s private dining room, our usual sanctuary where crystal chandeliers cast warm light over marble tables. Armed guards maintained their watchful positions around the perimeter of the family compound, but they respected our need for privacy during our weekly gathering. My friends were practically vibrating with curiosity about my wedding night with Caleb, and I was more than willing to indulge them with every romantic detail of how tender and passionate my mafia don husband had been.

"Enough about me," I said, turning to Zoe with a knowing smile. "How’s domestic life treating you with Finn?"

"Ivy, Finn is absolutely divine," Zoe practically glowed. "He brings me coffee in bed every morning, plans these incredible surprise dates, and treats me like I’m the most precious thing in his world."

"Finn’s always been a true gentleman," Nora nodded approvingly from her seat at our private table.

Ruby shifted her attention to Gemma. "What about you and Hunter? I thought you two might hit it off."

Gemma shrugged, though I caught a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. "We went out a few times, but I couldn’t relax around him. When nothing physical happened, he basically told me he wasn’t interested in waiting around for me to figure things out."

"God, I’m so sorry, Gemma. I had no idea he’d be such an ass about it. Xavier tore him a new one when he found out," Ruby apologized, genuine regret coloring her voice.

"It’s fine, really. At least he was upfront about it," Gemma said. "Besides, I can’t stop thinking about Dominic. His mother cornered me at the wedding and said some things that got me thinking. We had lunch today and he seemed so sincere when he apologized. I told him we could try being friends, but now he’s invited me to stay at his family’s safe house and I have no idea what to expect."

"That sounds promising, Gemma. You’ll be able to see if he’s really changed," Zoe suggested, though her tone carried an edge I recognized from our years navigating the dangerous world of mafia relationships.

Nora raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you so supportive, Zoe?"

"Who says I’m being supportive?" Zoe’s grin turned wicked. "I’m thinking she can test his resolve. Drive him absolutely crazy, make him beg for her attention, then pull back when he least expects it."

Gemma’s eyes lit up with mischief. "I’m listening. What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Are you going there tonight?" Zoe asked.

"Looks like it. I already packed and my bags are in the armored car," Gemma sighed.

"Ruby and Lila had to do the same thing with their men, and look how well that worked out," I pointed out encouragingly, remembering how dangerous courtships worked in our world.

"Here’s what you do," Zoe leaned forward conspiratorially. "Wear the most seductive pajamas you own and parade around in front of him. Tell him you can’t sleep and ask him to keep you company. Tease him until he’s practically coming out of his skin, then suddenly get tired and leave him hanging."

"I like where this is going," Gemma’s smile turned predatory. "I think I can work with that strategy."

"Your turn, sweetie," Zoe turned to Lila. "You called this emergency meeting. What did our sexy Capo do to you?"

"Well, for starters, he did this." Lila pulled down her collar to reveal an enormous purple mark on her neck. "Not that I’m complaining, but..."

"Christ almighty, Lila! That man’s going to devour you whole," Nora exclaimed, making us all burst into laughter. "Look at the size of that thing! It’s making me hot just looking at it."

"He definitely has that raw, primal energy that runs in mafia families," Zoe observed with appreciation. "But he told you he could be gentle, right? So what’s the problem?"

"He is gentle, but there’s something else I can’t quite put into words," Lila’s cheeks flushed crimson.

"What do you mean you can’t explain it?" I pressed gently.

"He walked me home after the wedding and we kissed," Lila’s voice dropped to almost a whisper, her face now matching her neck. "It’s just that I don’t know how to..."

"Wait a minute," Nora interrupted, studying Lila’s expression carefully. "That was your first kiss, wasn’t it? I recognize that look, Lila. You’ve never kissed anyone before."

"Yes," Lila whispered, looking like she might cry from embarrassment as we all stared at her in shock.

"Hold on," Ruby said slowly. "Are you telling us you’re a virgin?"

"Well obviously! If I’d never even kissed someone, what do you think the chances are I’ve done anything else?" Lila snapped, her embarrassment making her defensive.

"But surely you’ve at least explored your own body?" Zoe asked bluntly, and when Lila shook her head, Zoe’s jaw dropped. "Holy hell! And we just threw you to the wolves with a guy who screams sexual intensity!"

Despite the tension, we couldn’t help laughing at Zoe’s outrage.

"The thing is, guys usually run when they find out I’m inexperienced," Lila admitted sadly. "Beckett, the one you set me up with, basically ghosted me the moment he figured it out."

"What the hell is wrong with Xavier’s associates? Have they all turned into complete jerks?" Ruby fumed.

"Well, I can’t complain about Jude. He’s incredible," Nora said, drawing our attention. "But we’re not here to talk about me. We need to help Lila. So did the Capo figure it out and bolt?"

"No, he doesn’t know the full extent, but he suspects I’m inexperienced," Lila explained. "When he touched my chest while we were kissing, I kind of freaked out." She went on to describe how Daniel had sensed her inexperience and told her about his preferences in bed, how he liked things rough and intense. "Then he said since I was obviously new to all this, I should take time to think about whether I really wanted to get involved with him. But how can I make that decision when I have no idea what any of it is actually like?"

After Lila finished her lengthy explanation, we sat in stunned silence, processing everything she’d shared.

"Lila, how did this happen? How are you this age and have never experienced any of this?" Ruby asked gently.

"I grew up in a tiny town with very traditional parents, especially my mother. She controlled everything I did," Lila’s voice grew thick with emotion. "And I was never the pretty girl, you know, not until you all helped transform me."

"You’re our beautiful butterfly," Zoe pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Lila, physical intimacy can be amazing, but you’ll only discover what you like through experience," I said carefully, drawing from my own journey with Caleb. "Start with this: how did kissing Daniel feel?"

"It was incredible. My stomach fluttered and I felt this tingling sensation between my legs that I’d never experienced before," Lila tried to explain despite her obvious discomfort.

"Say the word properly, you prude," Zoe demanded. "Come on, repeat after me: pussy."

"Zoe!" Lila looked mortified.

"Honestly, Lila, you never struck me as the shy, sheltered type," Gemma commented.

"I’m not sheltered exactly. I understand how things work, I just haven’t done them," Lila clarified. "I came to college here specifically to escape my mother’s suffocating control. My father supported my decision, but she didn’t speak to me for months afterward."

"Then this is phase two of your transformation," Zoe declared. "We’re going to help you shed these outdated inhibitions."

"But first, you absolutely must tell Daniel you’re a virgin," I insisted. "Especially since you’re going to his place tonight."

"Oh God," Lila buried her face in her hands.

"Lila, you need to watch some educational videos," Zoe suggested excitedly.

"No porn, Zoe," I laughed, remembering our disastrous movie marathon before our own first times. "That definitely didn’t help us."

"You’re right, that was a terrible idea," Zoe giggled.

"Lila, you enjoyed his kiss and his touch. That’s your body’s natural response," I explained. "If you hadn’t liked it, you would have felt uncomfortable or wrong. The fact that you found it pleasurable means something."

"But what if he runs away like Beckett did?" Lila asked anxiously.

"Beckett was an immature idiot," Ruby said firmly. "But Daniel is a grown man who knows what he wants. A little inexperience isn’t going to scare him off."

"You really think so? Because I definitely want him to kiss me again," Lila admitted.

"Look at you, already smitten," Zoe teased. "Tell him exactly that. March up to him tonight and say ’Here’s the situation: I’m a virgin, but I want to kiss you again’ and then grab him."

We dissolved into laughter, but I could see Lila seriously considering Zoe’s bold suggestion.