Happily Ever After: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Piper Rayne

  “Then what game are you and my sister playing at?”

  I shake my head and plaster on a fake smile. “No games. I just wanted... “Fuck, what am I supposed to say? I down the whole glass of champagne in one go and then place it empty on top of the cabinet. Ignoring the slight rush I feel only moments after.

  Okay, no idea why I did that, I don’t even drink.

  I’m mindful of Elias’s unbridled attention all over me. I’ve been dodging him all this time, and now here I am in his penthouse, alone.

  “Just wanted?” he asks, watching my every move.

  “To do this,” I say, letting my hair cascade over my shoulder as I lean into him. With one hand I pick up the end of his bowtie and with the other I start to unravel it.

  Inside my heart is racing, rising into my throat. I can’t think about what will happen if this game goes too far, or how it will stop. Because it has to stop.

  His eyes are feral, burrowing into my soul, making my nerves tremble. And not in a good way. I’m afraid. I let his bowtie fall to the floor and then start to unbutton his shirt. So far, he hasn’t moved or touched me, which is a good thing, if he does, I’ve no idea if I’ll bolt for the door or not.

  “I this what I think it is?” he asks, head tilted.

  Inside my skull, my mind is screaming. No, it’s not. On the outside, I manage to nod. If I open my mouth, I’ll tell him what I really think.

  I look at him from under my lashes to see his eyes glowing again, pupils huge and dilated as I undress him.

  Finally, he leans down, and his lips brush mine. Then he’s kissing me, searing me with the heat of his mouth. He tastes of champagne and a smokiness I can’t describe. I fumble with his collar and slip my hands underneath his shirt and on to the warmth of his skin.

  There! Around his neck is a cord. It’s tied tight, so I try to work the knot loose while he crushes me against the glass cabinet, bruising my mouth and tongue with his own.

  After the longest minute, the knot won’t come undone. It’s actually hard to breathe with him bending over me. I ditch the knot and start to shove him back, but he growls, pushing harder. Inside I’m raging. I bite his tongue, clawing my nails into his chest but he shoves and bites back. I yelp as a copper tang fills our kiss. Still, he doesn’t stop.

  I manage to grab the cord around his neck and twist it, half choking him until it breaks. He ends up grabbing my wrists, pulling me off. We stand there, eyes locked on each other, panting. His hair in disarray, focus wild.

  “No… Sorry, I’ve changed my mind,” I say, breathing hard. I’ve no idea where the key went. It must have fallen to the floor.

  There’s a desire in his eyes I’ve never seen before, a heat in his gaze that makes my skin crawl.

  He gives a short laugh. “Like you have a choice.”

  This is bad. This is so bad.

  “Don’t be a dick.” I shake my head. “You’re better than that.”

  “Don’t be a tease, Rae. Why are you forever taunting me? You know I want you but all I can taste and smell on you is fucking Darius. Been keeping you entertained, has he?”

  Suddenly, he grimaces, holding my wrists even tighter as sweat prickles over his forehead. He looks like he’s trying hard to focus, like he’s holding something back.

  Fear and dread creeps through me, making my breath catch and my heart leap in my chest. “I—I don't know what you’re talking about.” I say, as I try to move away, even though his hands are still locked around my wrists. “You’re hurting me.”

  His nostrils flare and for a moment I think he’s going to hit me, but then his own breath quickens, and his eyes glaze over and close. All of a sudden, he groans and his grip loosens enough for me to break free.

  I don’t wait. I’m scrabbling for the door, my chest close to bursting. As I look back, I see Elias grimacing, teeth gritted, struggling to stay upright, clinging to the top of the glass cabinet.

  “Elias?” He answers with a moan. Shit! Against all instincts I turn and go back to him. “Elias? Are you okay?”

  “What…did you do to me?” he growls.

  “I didn’t do anything. Tell me, where does it hurt?”

  He’s panting now, skin slick with sweat as he recloses his eyes. Finally, he goes quiet.

  You can hear a pin drop.

  “Elias?”

  When he opens his eyes, they’re black as night. “You should run,” he says darkly.

  Fuck.

  I run.

  I just about make it to the door when he’s upon me too fast and too strong. I’m thrown across the room before I can even scream. I must have hit the wall or something and blacked out, because the next thing I know he’s on top of me trying to pin me down, a monster with midnight eyes clawing at my clothes.

  My lungs burn in my chest as I try to scream though his hand is over my mouth. I bite and struggle against him. He parts my legs with his knee. He’s so heavy and a lot, lot more powerful than me.

  No, no, no…

  No! I’m not going down without a fight.

  There’s a second when he’s exposed and I take it, bringing my leg up and ramming my knee as hard as I can into his groin. Elias might be a fighter, but he has all the human vulnerabilities.

  As soon as he doubles over, clutching his privates, I’m up running for the door like the wind can’t catch me. The door falls open and I plough down the stairs and into the solid chest of someone much bigger the me, who wraps their arms around holding me tight

  My breath catches and I let out a scream.

  It’s only when I hear him speak and inhale the scent of citrus and wood, that my world turns again. Tears burn my vision. I bury my head into his huge form and let out a sob.

  He came for me.

  My Darius.

  When we get to the foyer and I’m certain Elias isn’t coming after me, I let Darius sit me down on a lobby chair and get me some water.

  “Hey, hey, Rae, look at me. Are you alright? What did he do to you?” Darius asks, crouching until he’s at my level, looking into my eyes.

  “He…” I shake my head. I don’t really want to speak right now.

  “Did Elias touch you? Did he hurt you?”

  “I’m fine, he just turned. One minute he was normal, the next... I don’t know… I’m sorry, I don’t really want to talk about it. My head hurts.”

  “Okay, you don’t have to. Do you want me to take you home?”

  “Can we go to your place, please?” I whisper, looking up. Darius nods and kisses the top of my head, reaching down to scoop me up in his arms. I let him, not caring that I could actually walk.

  Every embrace and every touch we share, gives me hope. I know it can’t last. This is the calm before the storm.

  Before I have to find Dylan… wherever he is.

  “How did you find me? Nadine?” I ask Darius, as he carries me out of the nightclub hotel. From the way he’s holding me I can hear his heart beating steadily, soothing my own.

  “Alexei. He gave in and told me where you were. Agreed you might need rescuing,” he says.

  “Oh,” is all I manage to say.

  So, it wasn’t Nadine. Elias was definitely not himself. On top of it all, I didn’t even get the damned key. I’ve no idea what to do about that but I’m too tired to care. All I want to do is curl up and sleep, wrapped up safe in Darius’s arms.

  But tomorrow is the fight, and even if I do get my brother back I’m going to lose the one I love.

  Nadine is right, love is fucking overrated.

  12

  Darius

  Back at my place, Rae sleeps while I shower. She passed out in my arms on the way home, only waking again to let me change her out of her dress and into a t-shirt of mine.

  A brief glimpse of her just in a pair of panties and bra, had my cock stirring but I managed to contain myself until I left the bedroom, letting the ice-cold water take care of the rest.

  When I emerge, she’s tucked up under the sheets, head complete
ly submerged under the covers. It would be damned cute if it wasn’t for the reason behind it. Just seeing her so vulnerable has my blood boiling with the need to protect what’s mine.

  You’re not going to be able protect her after tomorrow. If you lose the fight, you’re as good as dead.

  I squash that and any other black thoughts and sit on the edge of the bed, watching her chest rise and fall. I promised myself I’d sleep on the couch tonight. Rae’s had enough male attention to last her a lifetime recently, but it’s difficult not to lay down beside her. If I had a dying wish, that’s what I’d want to do.

  I lean over to adjust the covers so she can at least breathe, and turn the light out before heading over to the couch. I’m just getting comfortable when I hear her murmur.

  “Darius?”

  “I’m here. I’m on the couch.”

  “Why? Where? I can’t see you,” she says in a strangled, panicked voice.

  Fuck, she even sounds broken.

  I sit up so she can see me, training my eyes on her silhouette in the moonlight. My eyes adjust, and the world brightens to reveal her sweet face. “Rae, I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Good. I er...” she starts, pausing to bite her lip. “I don’t want to sleep alone. Will you hold me?”

  I release the breath I’m holding and get up, making my way back to the bed. She budges over to give me some room. I slip in beside her and she scoots herself back into me, resting her butt against my crotch while I close both my arms around her.

  Some part of me must have hoped to spend my last night with her, while the other part, the demon that loves the cage, still wants to go and rip Elias’s pathetic head off.

  I’ve no idea what he did to her to make her look so afraid, but whatever it was it was fucking inexcusable. The thought of what could have happened makes my blood run cold. If it wasn’t for Rae needing me to take her home, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from doing to him what I’ve wanted to for a long time.

  Tomorrow, I get to do exactly that. Even if I have to fight Alexei at the same fucking time, I get my wish.

  Slowly, I bring a hand up and tuck the length of Rae’s glorious hair to one side so I can kiss the base of her neck. Her sweet scent surrounds me, calming me. I’ve no idea how I’ve lived without her until now.

  If I can’t have this every night, tomorrow I don’t want to win.

  The night vanishes quickly and a soft, orange glow spills in through the skylight the moment I’m aware of her, entangled in my arms, her luscious body draped over mine.

  While we slept, she clung to me like she never wanted me to let her go. Halfway through the night I think I woke up to her whimpering, but I stroked her soft skin and kissed the top of her silky head until she went back to sleep. It was the worst sleep of my life, given that her limbs were constantly jutting into me as she moved throughout the night, but I would do it all over again just to have her here like this.

  Except, I’m as hard as anything and every time she moves or makes a little noise, I have to stop myself from rolling her over and fucking her sweet little ass awake. The scent of her, the feel of her soft curves, is driving me damned crazy.

  Of all the days to be horny as hell.

  She moans again.

  Fuck, that’s it, I need another cold shower.

  I try to extract myself but it’s like she’s stuck fast to me. Every time I get one arm or leg back, she’s burrowing closer. So close I can feel the heat from between her legs on my thigh. It’s enough to make my cock twitch.

  I want to sink myself in to her, take her slowly and surely as the sun rises. I want her. Now.

  “Rae,” I say, gruffly. I need to get her off me before the primal part of me takes over. I usually have rigid self-control but she’s testing that limit and I’m not sure if I can go the distance.

  “Rae, I need to get up.”

  She makes a hmm sound and slowly opens her eyes. Something of hers brushes my straining erection, and I realize it’s her hand when a shy smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. A mouth that would look glorious around my cock right now. Fuck. I need that shower.

  “‘My my, someone’s glad to see me this morning.”

  I chuckle and move to sit up but she’s too fast. She straddles me before I can even put one foot outside the bed.

  I’m already shaking my head. “Rae, last night—”

  “Was so horrible I need you to erase the memory.”

  I laugh. “Is that doctor’s orders?”

  She grins and tosses her hair, some of the life and light in her eyes returning a little. Seeing her back to her old self satisfies me in some way that I don’t hesitate to reach for her, pulling her down to meet my lips for a kiss.

  As her breath catches, she melts into me until all I can feel is the softness of her mouth and the warmth of her body exploring mine. A little moan from her, as my teeth scrape her lower lip, pushes me to the edge.

  Of all the mornings to lose control.

  The fuck do I care.

  The beeping of my phone cuts through the haze as if waking me from a dream, but I don’t stop. Not until Rae sighs and breaks away first.

  “It’s fight day. Maybe you should get that?” she says.

  “Fuck no, get back here.” I don’t want to face reality right now. A few more minutes...

  She smiles but glances at the screen as it flashes on the bedside table. “It’s Alexei.”

  I curse and take the phone from her as she hands it to me. She doesn’t get off from on top of me though, so I’m mildly distracted when I answer.

  Alexei’s voice cuts in straight away. “The undercard is off. Main fight only at 6pm. Don’t be late.” Then he hangs up.

  “Fuck.”

  Concern clouds her face. “What’s going on? What did he want?”

  “They’ve cancelled the undercard,” I sigh. “Fuck.”

  “What? Can they do that?”

  “They already have, your brother’s not going to fight tonight which means—”

  “I’m not going to get him back.” Her brow furrows. “Did they say why?”

  “No, but I imagine Elias is pissed after last night. This is his way of punishing me.”

  “You mean he’s pissed at me. He must think it was me who drugged him so he would lose the fight.”

  I arch a brow. “He was drugged?”

  She nods. “I think so, it was like he was struggling not to pass out…” She pauses, frowning.

  “Rae?”

  “If the undercard isn’t happening, I’ll just have to find my brother and get him back another way. At least he’s alive, that’s all I care about.”

  I run my hand over my chin and mouth, trying to think. “I can find out where they’re keeping him. Alexei mentioned he was ready and it makes sense they’d have kept him close for the event. There’s no way they’ll have time to move him out, not before it starts. My hunch is he’ll be somewhere in the underground vaults. If I can go down there now and look before the fight…“

  “No, this is my problem. Thank you for trying but I need to do this on my own,” she says, sounding defeated.

  “I’m helping, you don’t have a choice. We have at least seven hours before I have to be at The Pit, we can do a lot in seven hours.”

  “You’re still going to fight?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Of course, you do, look at me.” She frames my face in her hands, until I do as she asks. “We can leave here right now, you and me. Fuck the Twins, they don’t own us.”

  She’s wrong on that one. They do own us, me at least, and if we run then Rae’s family will pay the price, her brother included. “I wasn’t going to tell you, but Alexei knows who your father was. If he does, so does Elias.”

  “Shit, so my cover is blown?”

  I nod. “If I back out of the fight tonight, they’ll kill you.”

  “Not if I’m already gone.”

  “Then they’ll come after
you, destroy your family instead. Rae, this is the only way.”

  She scowls at me as she drops her hands from my face, biting her bottom lip. “So just like that you’re going to give up? The Darius I remember wouldn’t do that.”

  “The Darius you remember doesn’t fucking exist anymore,” I growl.

  The words slip out harsher than I intend, and she glares at me as though all of a sudden seeing me with new eyes.

  After a second, she climbs off me and the bed. I watch in silence as she gathers her clothes from the chair. I start to say something, but my stupid pride gets in the way. I sit there while she flicks her hair and storms off into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

  Moments later, I still haven’t moved and she comes out fully dressed in the strapless number she was wearing last night. She strides over until she’s next to my side of the bed, her blue eyes hardening with determination.

  “I’m leaving. Help me find my brother, and then come with me.”

  “Rae,” I sigh. “No.” There’s no fucking way I’m leaving here with her. Don’t get me wrong, I want to but the Twins will only hunt us down. If I stay and fight, they’ll leave Rae alone. I’m sure of it. As I get off the bed, she moves back to let me off, the smell of jasmine filling my nostrils as I brush past her.

  “Coward.”

  I stop heading to the bathroom and turn to look at her. She really knows how to push my buttons…

  Fuck. She’s got under my skin.

  “Go home, Rae,” I say in a low voice.

  With a mask of defiance, she comes right up to me until she’s inches away, eyes blazing. There’s a heat and energy that sparks between us as she pushes her tight body against mine.

  “No.” she says. “You feel it too.”

  My demon bays to get out, clawing at the mental hold I have on him.

  Mine.

  “Fuck, Rae,” I croak, taking a step back and then another. I can’t be this close to her right now.

  “Why fight it?” She goes to take a step and I shake my head.

  “Rae,” I hiss. “I am this close to fucking you senseless. You don’t want to be in the same room as me right now. Do not tempt me, babe. Not today.”