by Leeah Taylor
“Your father was a dick.”
“Wasn’t my father.”
Never really was. Lucien was more father than Julian ever lived up to.
She swallowed, letting out a tiny breath, before moving to straddle his hips. He stayed on his back, hands behind his head, watching her fingers graze over nuances. The touch so light he had to see it to know it was there. She traced down his right side, following the path of a lengthy line stretching from his armpit down to his waist.
“And this one?”
“Damien is also a dick,” she arched a brow and her contempt for his brother gleamed through. “And I’m clumsy with a sword.”
She bit back a smirk. “You guys played with swords?”
“Julian insisted on it.” He rolled his eyes. “I surely didn’t excel.”
Skilled with his fingers. In tune with his own body. Knew exactly how to use every facet to please. But he was not any good with his hands and any weapon in them. Even a gun felt clunky, but he kept one close because Frosts had enemies. Sometimes being fast and strong wasn’t enough.
With his scarred canvas explored, her fingers moved to the intricate lines, grazing through the vibrant colors. The touch more probing. Tickling the sensitive skin of his side as she followed the lines of a bright orange dragon wrapped over his right shoulder.
“Do you like pain?” she asked.
“Are you asking sexually or in general?”
She shrugged lazily. “Both.”
“There’s a carnal built in desire that craves it, but do I welcome it because I need it?” He shook his head. “I welcome it because I like it.”
The pretty shade of pink crept up into her cheeks as hooded eyes met his. “And what about giving it?”
Does she even know what she likes? I could help her figure it out. A thrill rocked through him. If she let him, he could show her an entire world of pleasure. He moved a hand to her hip while using the other to push himself up to face her.
“Tell me,” He reached up and tugged her mess of hair free to let it fall around her face. “What do you like?” Eyes wide, she swallowed. “Oh, Riley, I already know you aren’t as innocent as you look.”
She huffed. “I like being in control.”
“Mmm,” He gripped to the back of her neck, pulling her closer to press his lips just below her ear. “And?” he bathed the spot with hot breath, and she gasped with the slightest whimper. “Why did you run?”
She went rigid, swallowing hard as her stare met his. “Because I wanted to.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Now, if you didn’t want to take your shirt off all you had to do was say so.”
Her ability to go from uncertainty to willingness was more fluid than him. She grabbed her tank top at the hem and pulled it over her head.
“Because I was meant for bigger and better things.”
“That so?” Tangling his fingers through the hair at the base of her neck, he tugged back gently. “What is the big bad alpha princess meant for?”
She let her head fall back, giving him full access to the one spot she should guard. He grazed the pulsing heat at the base of her neck with the pad of his thumb. Fixated on the subtle beat under his touch. The smallest itch warmed in the back of his throat.
“To be the only ruler and queen of my world.” She breathed out.
Pressing his lips to the spot, he smiled. “Any room for a king in your world?”
Fingers grazed over his chest, and a delight pricked through him. She was a match to the gasoline for his desire. Not the kind blazing with fury and desire for a link. But the kind searching for a home and it found the cozy warmth it needed and craved.
“This will be nothing as simple as a good romp.” She whispered.
“Only if you want it to be.” It was a lie. There was no going back once he crossed the line. He kissed to her collarbone, and the tiniest hitch in her chest had him throbbing. “Tell me what you want.”
An ocean of possibility swallowed him up. Apprehension oozed from her and thickened the air. He trailed his fingers down her spine to the clasp of her bra to unhook it and dragged one strap down, pleading for an answer.
Tell me, baby.
She grazed her lips over his, “Show me what I need.”
Entirely too dangerous.
She was fierce and confident. Her thirst, and eagerness, to give him the power to show her everything was refreshing.
A rumble vibrated in his chest. “Didn’t anyone teach you to be wary of taunting monsters?”
“Didn’t anyone teach you to be wary of stalking a tigress?”
“Hmm,” he lowered his mouth to her nipple and flicked his tongue out. She sucked in a tiny breath. “You have to know how to make them purr.”
A vibration rolled steadily in her chest, and the sound shot straight to his dick. Throbbing and pleading to join in the fun. He wasn’t ready to give in yet.
Bringing his lips back to hers, a smile plastered from ear to ear, he still only grazed them. “So, you do purr.”
Wonderment stared back at him. “Not supposed to.”
Is that so?
“And who are you supposed to purr for princess?”
She brushed her lips over his jawline. “Cats.”
“Who filled your head with such silly ideas?”
It was fleeting in the way she bristled then relaxed as if trying to keep her secrets buried down deep. Keep him from knowing them all. But it was too late because a million little tells flashed in her gaze.
You can keep yours if I can keep mine.
“Why are you still talking?” she whispered. “I thought you were the one who took what he wanted?”
He grabbed her at the hips and flipped her under him. Her little gasp wasn’t helping the hard ache between his legs and he wanted to prolong the moment as long as possible.
He tried to resist. He tried to be realistic. But he couldn’t do it anymore. If he crossed the line, and she left anyway, so be it, but he wasn’t waiting to watch her walk away without tasting her.
“Now who says I’m not already taking what I want?”
“Then take more.”
He grazed her lips. “I’ll only take as much as you give. Until you say stop.”
“And if I don’t say stop?”
Don’t test me, baby.
He only smirked. Her brief glimpses of over confidence were all he needed to know she was in every facet a true alpha. A little dominating vixen. When would she turn the tables and prove it?
Until she did, he was in charge.
He settled back on his knees between her legs and tugged on the button of her jeans.
“Shall we test my theory?” He asked, pulling them off.
Got the black lace right.
She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling, but the light reached her eyes all the same.
“And what theory was that?”
Hooking his fingers into the top of the lace, ready to prove his theory, he grazed raised lines over her right hip bone. Narrowing his eyes, he trailed his gaze down to the spot where three deep dark lines glared back at him. It shouldn’t bother him. Not in the way his chest pulled tight and mine flashed through his mind.
Not an ounce of rational reasoning for it. But it was there all the same. Someone hurt her, and a fury boiled below the surface.
The way she watched him said it all. She was waiting for questions. The kind to pry into the secrets that weren’t his to reveal.
She lifted one shoulder as if to dismiss it. “I wasn’t wary enough of an actual monster.”
It made him crave to curl up next to her to cradle her into his chest and prove not all monsters were created equal. Some knew where the line needed drawn. And some knew where to draw a line for their line. A warning line to keep them accountable.
Sex and pain could go hand in hand, but it came with its own set of rules. He had no plans for anything to go far eno
ugh for rules. Sex was as much fun with pain as it was without it.
But he had questions. He needed a line.
“Riley—”
“I didn’t let it get to that point. I gave as good as I got. It’s that simple.” She sat up with her fingers working the button to his jeans while staring up at him with a hooded expression. “If I were afraid of you, I wouldn’t have come back here with you. I have a mind of my own. I know what I want and don’t want.”
She pressed her hands into his chest and shoved him back until his backside hit the bed. “I’m a big girl. No means no. Yes, means yes.” She dragged his jeans off. “And I want to fuck you means I want to fuck you.”
There’s my little switch.
“That so?”
Slipping her fingers into the top of his boxers and giving them a tug, she nodded.
“And what if I say no?” he teased.
“But you aren’t.” she smiled, daring him to speak now as she straddled him.
Gripping to her hips, he chuckled. “Oh, I knew it.”
She lowered down with her lips over his.
“What’s that?”
He lifted his head enough to keep the whisper between them intact. “You’re a sexy little vixen switch.”
“Hmmm, and you were testing the waters.”
“Nah, I was just having fun.”
Like the vixen he knew she was, a grin spread across her face. “You forget, I’m the alpha.” She rocked her hips with confidence, proving at least one thing as she rubbed herself against his length. He was dead right. She was drenched through long before he invited her into his bed.
“Oh, but Riley,” digging his fingers into her hips, he easily flipped her on her back with a thrust. She hissed with her head falling back. “So am I.”
“You don’t play fair.”
His brow went up. “Does that mean stop?”
She hooked her legs behind his back. “If you know what’s good for you, better not.”
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
He pulled out a bit and her legs tightened around his back, glaring up at him. Daring him to try. If he let it happen, they’d be dangerous together, and she’d be worth it.
He laughed, pulling back more. “Don’t like that, do you?”
She hissed. “I’m warning you.”
Nipping at her throat, grazing a fang over the delicate skin, Riley whimpered. “What are you going to do, hmm?”
Let’s see how far you’ll go.
A tiny growl escaped her, and she rolled him with a strength he wasn’t expecting. A scratching sting bit into his chest where her fingers, little claws peeking out, pressed into the skin to leverage herself to work her hips. Cobalt diamonds blazed down on him, but it only made him throb harder.
“I’ll take what I want.” She breathed out.
He became consumed watching her take what she wanted to fulfill her pleasure. It was the forwardness and readiness to take it he found invigorating.
“Can take whatever you want,” he held to her hips, her hands slid over his and let him guide her into his subtle thrusts. Each one coaxing out a tiny moan from her lips.
Tugging her at the arm down to him, he met her halfway and claimed her lips once and for all with his hands slipping over her cheeks. Sweet as he knew they’d be. Sweeter even. She fought for dominance, to taste him back, and he was hooked. Done.
“I knew you’d taste like candy.”
She moaned, burying her face into his neck. “I hope you have an insatiable sweet tooth.”
Wrapping his arms tight to her frame, he rolled her underneath him and drove into her with a need to be in charge. He buried his lips into the tender spot below her jawline. If her lips tasted like candy what did the life flowing through her veins taste like?
“Tell me no, Sweets.” He murmured, keeping a slow and steady rhythm as he nipped and licked at the spot.
Savoring the saltiness lingering over his taste buds, salivating for more. Tasting as good as the pet name did on his tongue. He needed to sink so deep, he’d become irrevocably lost in her. Inside and out. He wanted to curl up inside of her and never leave. Convinced she was made for him. She tasted like perfection. A warm place to call home.
I want her to be mine. Shit, I need her to.
She let her head fall back, giving him full access without understanding what she was doing.
“Yes.”
“Just don’t know when to listen for your own good, do you?” He bathed the spot in hot breath and she shuddered and mewled. A hand gripped to his neck, coaxing him to give in. The itch warming in the back of his throat tempting him more. “Fuck,” he growled. “Don’t you dare jerk away. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Not unless she wanted him to, but even then, he wasn’t sure he could. Not her.
“I give as good as I get.”
She couldn’t give him permission like that because he’d cave and give her whatever she wanted. Push her to the limit until she was a sweaty, writhing mess beneath him. He might anyway to provoke her sexy razor-sharp claws to peek out again and graze his skin.
Fuck it.
He buried the bite without warning. Prepared to grip tight to keep her from jerking away. She only gritted out a hiss with her hips bucking up to meet his thrust. Nails scraped and stung down his backside.
Warm and cloyingly sweet like liquid chocolate in her veins, he drank deeper as her panting turned to small gasps.
“Ollie…” Riley whimpered.
He let go, searching to claim her lips again because they belonged to him now. Whatever it took, she didn’t leave when they inevitably conquered the threat his baby brother posed. He needed her to stay. Craved everything she meant for him.
The first delicious tightening of her warmth consumed him with a fresh sensation. Like nothing before. Dragging him down into an addicting constriction of heat he’d never get enough of.
Entirely addicted.
He growled, deep and guttural with his next thrust and she swallowed him up with her back arched from the bed.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” he roared, fisting the sheets when her pleasure took hold and squeezed him hard enough to see stars.
Collapsing on the bed beside her, pulling her into his chest, he didn’t bother to untangle himself from her. More than happy to stay buried between her legs the rest of the day.
He swallowed hard. “A warning would have been nice.”
She laughed, catching her breath. “Now where was the fun in that?” she peeked up at him with the red creeping up in her cheeks. Can’t fool me now, baby. “Don’t tell me the famous Sterling sex king has never been with a cat?”
“Fuck no, I haven’t. Somebody neglected to let me in on the secret.”
She giggled. “Surprise.”
He searched her. Taking in her sated red cheeks. Her ocean staring back at him with every unsaid word between them. It wasn’t fair, all of it hinged on Damien and Juliette making amends. Why did his future have to need dictated by them? Fuck them. He loved his Doll. He loved his brother. But Riley might easily mean even more. Something he lost a long time ago and craved to have it back. She had the power to heal all the broken bits in his soul. Soothe and tame the black parts of his heart.
“Stay.”
It sounded desperate and vulnerable, and he wasn’t afraid to admit he was. She was more than anything he’d found in one hundred and fifty years. More than Drew. Deep down he knew she was even more than Lily. His heart thudded in his chest with the wound trying to rip open as the name faded away.
“Hey,” she cupped his cheek. “What just happened?”
He cleared his throat. “Nothing.”
She half smiled. “Guess it’s safe to assume the game is over.”
“Eh,” he sighed. “You remind me of someone. No, wait, you remind more of someone. Like, her but more. I—”
She smirked. “This is not a good look for you.�
�
“What isn’t?”
“Awkward.” She softened. “I just hated seeing this sudden pain flash in your eyes. Especially after the mind-blowing sex. Make a girl all—”
“Oh god, no you were—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “You’re still being awkward. I’m teasing. I sure as hell am not at all self-conscious about my ability in this bed.”
He chuckled, trying to shed any remnants of the memory, nearly sucking him down into his own darkness. “You’re impossible.”
“I’m thinking you like that about me.”
He turned on his side and tucked the hair out of her face. “Stay.”
“And if I ran?”
“I’m good at chasing.”
“I’m good at hiding.”
“I’m good at tracking” He pushed her back into the bed with his lips on hers. Tasting her again because there was nothing better than her taste on his lips. Sweet like candy. “Three years ago, if it weren’t for my concern for your safety, I’d have tracked you down. All it took was one glimpse at your picture and I was hooked.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “If you only knew how many times, I toyed with the idea of finding you because of the way Jules talked about you. I wanted to stop running, and I knew you could give me that.”
He leaned his forehead to hers as he dragged his fingertips down her cheek. “Stay so I can, Sweets.”
The endearment rolled off his tongue, and he loved the sound of it. Candy just for him. Perfectly sweetened. A rare sugar.
“My father will come for me and—”
“And he’ll have me to deal with when he does. Running is no life, Sweets. Stay here with me. Explore this between us with me.” He brushed his lips to hers. “Let me be the reason you can finally live without looking over your shoulder.”
A playfulness lit up in her eyes. “You just love the sex.”
“It’s a perk,” he smiled. “But I’m pretty sure I could love your soul, Riley.” Pulling her closer, he pressed a kiss into her forehead. “Stay.”
“I have secrets.”
“I know, so do I.”
“I’m not ready to share them.”
