Web of Lies: A Brook Brothers Novel

by Delaney, Tracie

  Tonight, Dex was gonna spill what her issues with money were. And Nate was going to fix them.

  Chapter 9

  Nate grinned down at Dex gasping for breath. She yanked on the restraints securing her to the bedframe—a suggestion he’d made and one she’d eagerly agreed to. He plucked another piece of ice from a glass on the nightstand and stuck it between his teeth. Bending his head, he rolled it over her nipple.

  “Oh God,” she cried, her back arching off the bed when the cold hit her sensitive flesh.

  Nate switched to her other nipple and then dropped the ice cube in her navel. “He won’t help you.”

  He sucked the cold nub into his mouth and laved it with his tongue. Her legs writhed, and she tried to get some friction against his thigh—which he denied her.

  “Ready to tell me yet?” he murmured, his mouth on her skin, his eyes fixed on hers.

  She shook her head. Nate grinned again. Her determination in refusing to share why she needed money, what drove her to work two jobs, pushed her damned high in his estimation. She could have come right out and asked him for money—it wouldn’t be the first time a bedmate had asked for a handout—but instead, she’d remained stubbornly mute. It wouldn’t do her any good in the long run. She might not spill tonight, but she would eventually.

  “Then it’s only fair to warn you that I can keep going all night. And the next night. And the one after that. Your choice, Titch.”

  She groaned and bucked off the bed. The ice cube slithered down her body, leaving a trail of wetness behind. It fell on the sheets. He picked it up and circled it around her nipple once more.

  She hissed. “Why do you care anyway?”

  He twisted his lips to the side. “That’s a good question, Titch. One I don’t know the answer to. But soon as I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.”

  He parted her legs and trailed the ice along her inner thigh. She shivered, goosebumps breaking out all over her smooth golden skin while her little snatches of breath captivated him. He slipped his tongue between her folds.

  She gave another long, drawn-out groan, squirming beneath him, pushing her eager pussy into his face. “You’re killing me.”

  If he’d have been able to, he’d have smiled. From scared little girl to fucking sex kitten in twenty-four hours. More than he could have hoped for. Less—far less—than he craved. She’d been a great student, but she had more to give, and he was going to take it.

  She came quickly which, considering she was several orgasms into their marathon session, impressed him. With her body still jerking and trembling, Nate straddled her waist and grabbed another piece of ice. He trailed it across her stomach, on the underside of her breasts, down her neck, rivers of water running over her sweat-dampened skin.

  “Hmmm, well, if you’re not going to make this easy, I think it’s time we changed things up. I’m going for a record of orgasms with you, little Dex.”

  Her eyes widened. “I can’t.”

  He gave her a wicked grin. “Oh, you can. Want me to show you?”

  He clamped his teeth around the ice cube and inched down her body. He pushed her thighs wide and circled her clit with the ice, and then pushed the half-melted cube inside her with this tongue. She cried out both in agony and ecstasy, her head rocking from side to side, her thighs straining against his palms. He plunged his tongue inside her, over and over, taking absolutely no mercy. She would tell him in the end, if only to stop the death by orgasm he was subjecting her to.

  “Nate, it’s too much. I can’t. I just can’t. Oh fuuuuck.”

  She came again, her wrung-out body pulsing and throbbing on his tongue.

  “You’re a bastard.”

  He straddled her thighs, palming his erection with slow, regular strokes. “Ready for the next round?”

  She shook her head violently. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you.”

  He sat up with a triumphant grin that had Dex rolling her half-hooded eyes. He untied her restraints and rubbed her wrists, even though they hadn’t been on very tight.

  She sat up, too, pulling the comforter up to her neck. He chuckled under his breath, but if it made her feel at ease, and gave her the confidence to tell him what the hell was going on, he’d let it slide. Her earlier question of why he cared was an intriguing one, and he’d been honest when he’d said he didn’t know. Chivalry wasn’t his style, but something about this little pocket rocket had him absolutely fascinated.

  “Can I have a drink?”

  Nate grazed his knuckles down the side of her cheek. Her red locks were an unholy mess of knots, her face flushed, her eyes heavy with sated desire. She’d never looked more fucking beautiful. How had he not noticed her before? He must have had blinders on.

  “You can have anything you want,” he said gently.

  “A glass of water would be good.”

  “You got it.”

  He slipped off the bed, pulled on a pair of boxers, and padded into the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of cold water from the fridge, he then snagged a glass off the drain board.

  By the time he got back to the bedroom, she’d smoothed her fiery auburn hair into some semblance of order, and her knees were tucked into her chest with her arms hugging them. Damn, she was so young, so innocent—and he’d corrupted her. Her teeth grazed repeatedly over her bottom lip, her anxiety obvious. Maybe he was a bastard for pushing her. After all, the money thing could be something and nothing. For all he knew, she could have run up a bill on Rodeo Drive on clothes and jewelry she couldn’t afford, and now the bank was pressing for payback. But something in her eyes told him it wasn’t anything like that. She wasn’t anything like that.

  Keeping secrets had shredded him. He didn’t want that for her.

  “Here you go, Titch,” he said, pouring some of the water into the glass for her. He swigged straight from the bottle then set it on the nightstand. He sat right in front of her, cross-legged, his forearms resting over his knees.

  She eyed him over the rim of the glass as she greedily drank the entire contents. She wiped the corners of her mouth with her thumb and forefinger and set the glass beside the half-empty bottle.

  “My mom is sick.”

  As she bluntly made the statement, her chin dropped to her chest, and her eyes cut away from his.

  “How sick?” he coaxed.

  She blinked slowly and then lifted her head. “Very. She’ll die long before her time.”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Alzheimer’s.”

  Nate’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Dex was only twenty-two, so even if her mom had her later in life, that would only put her in her early to mid-sixties, surely? Very young for such a disease. As if guessing his thoughts, she added, “She’s only forty-seven.”

  Tears welled up, but Dex being the stubborn, tough, little fireball she was, she refused to let one single tear fall.

  “And the money thing. It’s for her care?”

  She nodded, her chin trembling as she stared over his shoulder. “I’m behind on the payments. With the pay rise you got me, I could have just about managed, but they’re putting the fees up.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t afford that, so I’m going to have to try and get a job back home in Wisconsin and move her. I won’t get paid as much there, but I’ve found a home that’s much cheaper. It’s not as good. Still…” A shrug. “My sister is going to be devastated.”

  “Can’t she help?”

  Dex shook her head. “She helps as much as she can, but she’s got two kids. She can’t work because the childcare is too expensive, so they’ve only got her husband’s income to rely on.”

  For the first time, she released the death grip on her knees as her hands came to her face. She rubbed hard and then offered him a wry grin. “So now you know why I was so mad outside that club. And why the price of a bottle of wine offended me.”

  He tucked a stray curl behind her ear, an idea slowly forming in his mind. A way for him to get what he needed, and for
him to help her out, without it looking like she was some sort of charity case. Dex was a proud girl. Determined, hardworking, tenacious. Independent. Yep, very independent. If he didn’t handle this the right way, the mouthful she gave him at the club would pale into insignificance to the tongue lashing she’d unleash on him now.

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  She leaned forward, her eyebrows furrowing and then releasing. “Oh yeah?”

  “Don’t look so worried, Titch. It’s a quid-pro-quo kind of arrangement. I have a problem you can help me with, and in return, I might be able to help you.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “What kind of a problem?”

  “Suspicious little thing, aren’t you?” He cleared his throat, buying time while he thought of the best way to phrase it. “My brother is getting married. Three weeks on Saturday. I want you to come with me.”

  Her eyes sprang wide open. “Me? Come to your brother’s wedding? With you?”

  Nate grinned. “Thanks for the recap, Titch.”

  “But… but why? Why me? We’re practically strangers. Weddings are for friends and family.”

  Irritation crept over his skin that she could cast aside this weekend as though it was nothing. Odd really, because her comment was accurate. They were strangers. He’d only noticed she existed a week ago, but a week was a long time in showbiz. During that time, he’d grown to care about her. It occurred to him how well she’d get on with his family, how easily she’d fit in. But he must remember he’d be showing her a mirage of his true self. Sharing his reality wasn’t a possibility.

  He kept his inner thoughts to himself, though, instead sharing a crooked smile and a hint of the truth.

  “Let’s just say we’ll be strangers together. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. But we’re no longer close. I find going back to New York… difficult. Having you there to distract me,” he gave her a lascivious look that sparked a flash of desire in her eyes, “would make my visit back home more palatable. Believe me, I’m getting the better end of the deal.”

  She grazed her bottom lip with her teeth and nodded sagely, considering his request. “So, how can you help me?”

  “I’ll clear your debts—”

  “No. I can’t—”

  “Wait.” He lifted his hand in the air to stop her interrupting, as he’d known she would. “I’ll clear your debts with the nursing home and cover the percentage increase in fees, as well as whatever that crappy grocery store pays you. It’s the other half of the deal, and you’re taking it.”

  To him, it was peanuts, but to her, it meant everything.

  She shook her head violently. “No. I can’t let you do that. I won’t let you. It’s too much and—”

  He put a finger over her lips. “You know, I’m envious. You share such a closeness with your mom, a deep love that, despite her illness, cannot be denied. I was only twelve when I lost my mom. I’ve never gotten over it. That bond between a mother and their child… it’s so special. Let me help, so you get to have that with your mom for as long as possible.”

  He kissed her to stop her responding. He would not take no for an answer, and by getting her aroused, she’d be pliable and more likely to listen. The more he thought about having her by his side in New York, the greater the idea appealed to him. Sneaking off into quiet corners to steal kisses or, where privacy allowed, easing her to her knees so she could suck him off and release the tension that would ride him hard for the entire weekend. If only she knew: he was definitely the winner in this deal.

  He pressed her into the bed, his hands already searching, seeking, his mouth feverishly taking what he needed from her—to forget—because since he’d first put his hands on her, the constant voices in his head had quieted. A soft appreciative noise sounded at the back of her throat, drawing a growl of acknowledgement from him.

  His dick throbbed from the number of times they’d fucked over the weekend, but as blood rushed to his groin, it throbbed for a different reason. God, he wanted inside her. Like a fucking drug, she’d gotten him hooked with a few delicious samples.

  He quickly donned a condom. “You’re coming to New York,” he demanded. “And you’re coming all over my cock. You don’t have a choice, Titch. With either one. You’re going to take the deal, no argument.”

  He thrust inside her, silencing any further refusals. She cried out, probably because her pussy was as sore as his dick, but as he moved, her nails raked down his back and her eyes took on that wild ‘you can do anything to me just don’t stop’ look. The one that had him squeezing his eyes closed so he didn’t come in thirty seconds like a fucking horny teenager.

  The lack of visuals didn’t make a difference. With zero control over his body, he climaxed, his head pressing into the pillow, his lips against her damp neck as pure pleasure rushed through him. Her walls clamped around him, drawing out his own gratification.

  “Nate.” She spoke on an exhale, her drowsy voice the sweetest thing he’d ever heard. It wasn’t a question, just a statement of appreciation, one he felt more deeply than he’d imagined possible, given that he was such a shallow bastard. He pecked her lips then rolled to the side. He clasped his hand around hers and squeezed her fingers, staring at the ceiling.

  “Say yes, Titch. To New York, to the money. To all of it. Just fucking say yes.”

  He held his breath. If she refused again, he didn’t know what his next move would be. He’d used every tool he had. She had the power now. She took a breath, and he closed his eyes in silent prayer.

  “Yes—on one condition.”

  Nate twisted his head to find Dex lying on her side. She blinked up at him, her jaw set in a determined fashion.

  “Hit me with it.”

  “The money, it’s a loan. However long it takes, I’ll pay you back. I won’t take no for an answer. That’s my condition, and if you don’t agree, it’s a deal-breaker. So, do we have a deal?”

  His lips twitched. Christ, she was unique, someone to cling on to with everything he had.

  He held out his hand. “I believe we do, Titch.”

  She let out a sigh of relief and shook it. “Good, because I’m too tired to go another round, either verbally or physically.” She cast aside the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

  Nate leaned up on his elbow. “Where are you going?”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Tomorrow’s Monday. I have work.”

  “So do I. What’s your point, Titch?”

  “I need to get home. All my things are there.”

  “Then I’ll take you in the morning.”

  “I have to be in work by eight.” She glanced at her watch and groaned. “Fuck, it’s two in the morning.”

  Nate offered her a slow grin and a wink. “No point going home now then, is there?” He held out his arms. “I don’t want you to go. Stay, please. I’ll make sure you get to work on time. Promise.”

  After a pause, she got back into bed, defeated, and snuggled up to him. “What’s going on here, Nate?”

  He kissed her temple. “I don’t know, Titch.”

  And I’m shit scared to look too closely.

  Chapter 10

  Dex stared at the stack of work piled high on her desk with a sense of despair. Since Nate had dropped her off at the office on Monday morning after one of the most exciting and exhilarating weekends of her entire life, she’d come back down to earth with an almighty bump. Whether Bernard was still furious Nate had gotten one over on him, or her boss sensed a flush of happiness in her that he was determined to stamp out, he hadn’t given her a moment’s breathing space all week.

  Not that it mattered. Dex hadn’t heard from Nate. At all. And that was giving her more sleepless nights than coping with a big baby like Bernard.

  With a sigh, she picked up the first file. Opened it. Closed it again. Gave another sigh. It was as though Nate had stolen her motivation, as well as her attention. His easy dismissal of what they’d shared made her feel cheap, like it ha
dn’t meant a thing. Except to her, it had meant far too much.

  Did his silence mean he’d changed his mind about New York? If he had then she had a problem, because Nate had already cleared her debts. Jennifer had called on Monday afternoon to thank Dex for promptly paying her arrears.

  As she tried to work through the reason for Nate’s lack of contact, her phone rang. Bernard. With a sigh she picked it up. Before she could say a word, he barked, “Get me a coffee. Now.”

  He slammed the phone down. Dex gritted her teeth but complied without question. Someone must have ticked him off. Best keep her head down, not draw attention to herself, and scour the internet for alternative jobs that paid as well.

  Or, just as likely, win the lottery.

  She made Bernard’s coffee, ensuring she added exactly the right amount of cream and sugar otherwise she’d be subjected to a hissy fit and a tongue lashing. With a tap on his door, she waited for the curt, “Enter,” like he was a goddamn king, and stepped inside.

  “Here you are, Bernard,” she said, setting the cup on the left-hand side of his desk. Never the right, even though he was right-handed. Go figure. He didn’t even look up from his computer as he stabbed angrily at the keys. “Can I get you anything else?”

  He glared up at her then. “Yeah, you can get the fuck out of my sight. I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day. Think you can manage that, girlie?”

  Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him.

  “Of course,” she murmured.

  She turned to leave… and hard stopped. Nate was leaning his shoulder against the open door, a pair of Aviator sunglasses hiding those glacier-blue eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. His dark hair was rumpled and messy, like he’d just rolled out of bed. God, he looked delicious enough to eat. But then she hardened her heart against him. After a week of absolutely no contact, it was no less than he deserved.

  “My mother used to tell me manners cost nothing,” Nate drawled. “You should try it sometime.”