Twisted Devotion: A Fae Paranormal Romance

by Jessi Elliott

  I search the cupboards for the rest of the items to make the cupcakes and get to work, mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another. Then, I combine them and pour them into a muffin tray to go into the oven.

  It’s midnight when the cupcakes come out, and the kitchen smells of sugar and vanilla. I toss the ingredients into the standing mixer to make the icing while the cupcakes cool on the counter, and then I go digging through the rest of the cupboards to find some sprinkles to decorate.

  I stick my finger in the bowl of icing once everything is combined and scoop out a good amount, shoving it into my mouth and closing my eyes to savor the sweetness.

  “What on earth are you doing?”

  My eyes snap open to find Jackson leaning in the doorway. I pull my finger out of my mouth and shrug. “Making cupcakes.”

  His eyes dance around the room before landing on me as he walks into the room and stops at the island where I’m working. “It’s after midnight,” he tells me, as if I can’t read the digital clock on the stove.

  “Yeah,” I reply, “and I wanted to make cupcakes.” I touch the top of one to check the temperature. They’re still too hot to ice.

  Maybe I should stick them in the freezer for a few minutes.

  “Okay,” he says curiously. “Is there a reason?”

  I press my lips together, debating whether or not to tell him. He already knows about my past . . .

  “I saw my foster brother today,” I say. “Kyle’s working downtown at a café to pay for grad school.”

  Jackson’s eyes widen slightly. “Oh, that’s . . . are you okay?”

  His concern makes my chest swell with warmth, along with a foreign sensation that makes me shift back and forth on my feet. “I, um, don’t really know. It’s brought a lot of shit up I didn’t want to think about again, but it was nice to see him doing so well for himself after everything he’s been through.”

  He nods. “Of course.” His eyes flick to the icing-covered rubber spatula in my hand. “So the middle-of-the-night baking is, what, a distraction?”

  I sigh. “Probably.”

  Jackson comes around the island, and I turn to face him, pressing my back into the edge of the counter as one of his hands grips the granite, brushing my hip. “It smells good,” he murmurs, dipping his face closer as he reaches past me and swipes his finger through the icing then lifts it to his mouth, slowly closing his lips around the digit before he sucks it off. “Mmm.”

  Holy fucking hell.

  My cheeks flush hot and my heart beats against my chest.

  When he reaches to do it again, instead of opening his mouth, he holds his finger in front of mine. “Open,” he says.

  Pulse racing, my eyes lift to his and immediately get lost in his hooded, golden gaze. My lips part, and he wastes no time pushing his finger into my mouth. Feeling brazen, I close my lips around him and lick the icing off, swirling my tongue around his finger.

  Jackson sucks in a breath. “Fuck me,” he mutters, pressing me against the counter so I feel just how much this is affecting him. He pulls his finger out slowly, and I nip at it, smirking softly when his lips part in shock. “I want to lift you onto this counter and taste how sweet you are.”

  “Jackson,” I breathe, shaking my head.

  His eyes shine with heat, his gaze searing me where I stand. “You want a distraction. I’m happy to give you one.” He’s so close, I can see the shadow of stubble along his jaw.

  My eyes narrow slightly. “I’m not going to lose our bet because I’m in need of—”

  “Me,” he cuts in, pressing his erection against my core. “Just like I need you.”

  I swallow hard, clenching my jaw to keep from moaning. It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to grind against him. “You’re testing my resolve. Unfortunately for you, I want the money more than I need to be sated.”

  He licks his lips. “Really?”

  To prove my point—and to get him back for that wicked move—I slide my hand down his chest and palm the front of his pants, rubbing his growing erection.

  “Kelsey,” he hisses, pushing closer and dropping his forehead to mine. “Fuck the bet. I’m calling it off.”

  I pause my movements, my eyes going wide. “What?”

  “I want you,” he says, skimming his nose along my cheek as he wraps his fingers around the nape of my neck. “Fuck the bet,” he repeats.

  My breathing quickens as my restraint threatens to snap. The heat between my legs is throbbing so hard it’s almost painful, and I want nothing more than to hop onto the counter and open myself to him. But I need that money, and I’m not going to throw it away for an orgasm.

  I bite back several expletives before I force out, “I’m not giving it up.”

  Jackson growls low in his throat. “I’ll give you the money right now. I don’t give a shit about it.”

  I choke on a laugh. “Now you’re making it sound like you’re paying me for sex.”

  His grip on my nape tightens, and he forces me to meet his gaze. “Don’t you ever for a second think you could be used like that. Especially not by me.”

  My eyes go wide. “I . . .” Breaking off, I nod.

  “Good. Now, the cupcakes are going to have to wait because I need to taste you—now.”

  Before I can respond, he pushes the things on the counter out of the way and lifts me onto the granite, wasting no time as he peels my sweatpants off in one quick pull. His jaw clenches sharply when he realizes I’m not wearing anything under them. Lifting his gaze to mine, he murmurs, “You’re trying to kill me.”

  I turn my face away to giggle, and the sound turns into a moan when Jackson drops his mouth to the inside of my leg and trails his lips along my thigh. His breath tickles the sensitive skin at the apex of my thighs, and I realize very fast that it’s not going to take a lot to set me off like a firework.

  Chapter 14

  I am so right.

  Jackson teases me to the brink of orgasm several times before diving his tongue deep inside and swirling it around as he massages my clit with his finger. I come apart around him in no time, moaning and panting with my bare ass pressed against his countertop.

  It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever done. And it’s not about to end now.

  Jackson helps me off the counter, my legs shaking a bit, and holds my sweatpants out to me.

  I grin at him. “Should I bother putting them back on?”

  “Probably not.”

  Jackson leads me upstairs and opens the door to his bedroom, pulling me inside before he kicks it shut behind us. Then he promptly pins me to the closed door and slams his mouth against mine. Devouring my lips, he entwines his fingers through mine and lifts my arms above my head, holding them there as he presses himself flush against me.

  My eyes flutter shut as I angle my face to deepen the kiss and nip his bottom lip. He responds in stride, pushing his tongue into my mouth and teasing it along mine. With the urge to bury my fingers in his hair, I tug on my hands, but he holds them firm against the door and kisses me harder, making my head spin.

  When we break apart to breathe, he lowers my arms and pulls his hands free before lifting one to my face. His grip on my chin is firm but gentle. His eyes are like pools of honey, trapping my gaze. “I want to be very clear with you, Kelsey,” he murmurs, and my eyes drop to his mouth before snapping back to his gaze. “You make the calls when we’re at work. You decide how to proceed in the safest, most effective way.” He lowers his lashes, leaning in so close I almost think he’s going to stop talking and kiss me again. “But while you’re here, in my bedroom and in my bed, I’m in control.”

  My mouth goes dry as I stare at him in shock. “I . . .”

  Jax’s thumb traces my bottom lip, still tingling from his kiss. “Wasn’t expecting that?”

  I manage to shake my head.

  The corner of his mouth tilts up. “If you tell me you don’t want this, I’ll drop it right now. But I think you want it as much a
s I do.”

  I blink at him, at a complete loss for words. I know what I should say, but it’s the opposite of what I want, deep down.

  I’ve effectively taken control of making sure Jax stays alive. He’s grown better at listening to me while we’re at the facility, clearly understanding that doing so is in his best interest. Jackson’s self-preservation has always been his most in-tune trait.

  Now, he wants control of the situation—of me.

  Dear lord, why do I want to give it to him?

  “Look at me,” he demands in a soft tone, and my gaze snaps back to his. “Good girl,” he praises, his thumb brushing my jaw.

  My skin heats under his touch, my stomach dipping at his words.

  Good girl.

  His breath tickles my cheek as he says, “I can practically see the wheels turning in that gorgeous head of yours, Red.”

  “Yeah,” I breathe. “You . . . you’re asking me to—”

  “Submit,” Jackson says as if it’s the simplest thing in the world.

  Perhaps it could be, a voice taunts my thoughts.

  He slides his hands into the pockets of his black slacks, and my eyes immediately go to the flexing muscles in his arms.

  Arms that want to take control of me.

  I turn my face away, out of his grasp, and move away from the door, needing to put space between us so I can think clearly. “You want me to do everything you say.” My tone is dry, inching toward defiant.

  Yeah, I don’t think I can do this.

  “While we’re in here, yes,” he clarifies. “Like I said, nothing outside of this room will change.”

  I cross my arms. “Don’t you remember what I told you the day I got here?”

  He cocks his head at me, his eyes inspecting mine. “That comment you made about never spending a night in my bed?” He chuckles again. “I think we’re past that, Red.”

  “I haven’t been in your bed.”

  Jax smirks. “And that’s a damn shame. I think,” he says, stepping closer, “it’s about time we rectify that.”

  “I’m a little confused,” I tell him, chewing my bottom lip.

  “About?”

  “What exactly I’m to gain from,” I pause, swallowing past the dryness in my throat, “submitting to you in the bedroom.”

  His eyes glimmer in response, making heat swirl low in my stomach. “An entire world of pleasure lies on the other side of one little word, Red.”

  I suck in a breath. “I . . .”

  He trails his hand up my arm, raising the hair there and making my skin tingle with warmth. “Say yes, Kelsey.”

  Pressing my lips together, I trail my gaze up his torso, stopping at his mouth. “I don’t know what I’d be saying yes to.”

  “Me taking care of you. If you’ll have me, I will make sure your needs are met tenfold, and that your needs and desires are put above all else.”

  My eyes go wide, and I squeeze them shut. “I don’t know, Jax . . . ” I’m not inexperienced when it comes to sex, but I also haven’t been around as long as he has. He’s got years of practice on me. The thought makes my heart race as I lick the dryness from my lips.

  His hands drop to my shoulders and he searches my eyes. “Have I overwhelmed you?”

  “A little,” I admit. “Of all the thoughts I’ve had about you, I never came up with this one. A sexual control freak.” I laugh once.

  He cocks a brow. “You think about me a lot?”

  Of course that’s the part he focused on.

  “My life kind of revolves around you during this security arrangement, so yeah.”

  “Right,” he draws out the word, his lips quirking. “You’re going to stand there and try to get away with saying you only think about me in a professional capacity?” Doubt deepens his voice.

  I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Nope.” I force my gaze to his. “I think about you going down on me while I lie awake in the bedroom across the hall from you with my hand between my thighs.”

  When his cheeks flush, a sense of victory washes over me, and I can’t help but grin.

  “I knew it. I knew you were dirty,” he says.

  I roll my eyes. “Says the guy who wants to do kinky stuff to me.”

  His grin matches mine now. “Fair enough.” He presses his forehead to mine. “So, let me.”

  I graze his nose with mine. “One night,” I whisper, my eyes slipping shut as I lean in until my upper lip brushes his bottom one.

  His laugh is a soft breath against my lips as his hover over mine. “After one night, you’ll be hooked. It will never be just one night.” His voice holds a promise that both excites and terrifies me.

  “We’ll see,” I say flippantly. Jackson can think whatever he wants. Once this arrangement has run its course, I’m leaving this place, leaving Rockdale, and there’s a good chance I won’t ever come back.

  “We’ll see?” he echoes, his hands sliding down my arms, then taking my hands in his. “So, you’re saying . . . ?”

  I kiss him hard and slow, kiss him until my head spins and my heart pounds, and then I say the one tiny word that gives myself to him completely. “Yes.”

  His lips slowly curl into the most devilish grin I’ve ever seen. I’ve either just made the biggest mistake of my life, or the best.

  Jackson takes my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks, and kisses me softly. It’s a whisper of a kiss, really. His mouth barely grazes mine, but it leaves me warm and tingling all over.

  Jackson drops his hands from my face and rubs them up and down my arms. “Please try not to look so deer-in-headlights.” With a light grin, he tweaks my chin and wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my head.

  “Jackson?” I murmur against his chest.

  “Hmm,” he responds, making my lips twitch.

  Time for talking is over. “Can we have sex now?”

  He peers down at me and tilts my chin up, sealing his lips over mine. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  I squeal in surprise when he lifts me off the floor and carries me to his bed. The very bed I vowed I’d never end up in. I barely have time to finish that thought before he lays me down and climbs over me, reaching for my bra. His fingers skim the underside of my breast, and I suck in a breath, making him pause. His lips quirk as his eyes flit from mine to where his hands rest.

  “Sensitive?” he murmurs curiously.

  I nod, gasping softly as he slides his hands under the stretchy fabric and cups my breasts in his hands. “Oh god . . .” My eyes roll back as my head hits the mound of pillows at the top of the bed.

  Jackson leans in, pressing his mouth against my clavicle. “I’m going to take care of you. Just breathe.”

  I let out an uneven breath, keeping my eyes shut as he rolls my nipple between his fingers, pebbling them and kicking up my pulse. My hips arch off the bed, hitting his pelvis, and my eyes fly open at the feel of his rock-hard erection between us.

  Jackson chuckles deeply, stirring the hair at my temple. “Don’t look so surprised,” he says, circling my nipples one at a time, teasing and tweaking them until my cheeks are flushed and warm. “This isn’t the first time you’ve made me hard and it sure as hell won’t be the last.”

  I reach for him, but he quickly slips his hand out of my bra and captures my wrists, guiding them above my head and holding them there. “What are you—?”

  “Hold them there,” he instructs, holding my gaze. “Don’t move.”

  “I . . . okay.”

  He presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Good girl.” He eyes the zipper at the center of my bra before tugging it down so slowly I can feel each of the links coming undone. It takes less than ten seconds for him to push it open, but instead of pulling it off, he uses the material to secure my wrists together and to his headboard.

  Holy hell.

  Jackson just tied me to his bed—with my own bra.

  My heart hammers against my chest, threatening to burst free at any moment.


  “You’re okay,” he murmurs, tilting my chin up. “I’ve got you.” With that, he dips his face down and kisses me hard, pushing his tongue into my mouth, and devours me until I see stars.

  “Jax,” I moan against his lips, arching my back to grind against his cock through his pants.

  Jackson groans deeply, the sound echoing through me as he makes quick work of tugging his shirt off and removing his pants and boxers, tossing them onto the floor beside the bed.

  My eyes follow the hard lines of his chest, the subtle V indents on his hips, and his . . . “Holy shit.”

  He smirks. “I know right?”

  I roll my eyes. “Cocky much?”

  His eyes drop to his erection then lift back to meet my gaze. “Very much, as you can see.”

  “You—”

  “I am about to make you come so hard you scream my name, so if you don’t mind, I’d enjoy getting back to the task at hand.”

  My brows lift. “I’m a task?”

  Jackson’s expression is filled with amusement—and lust, so much so it’s making the heat between my thighs throb with an aching desire. I want him badly. More than I should, and far more than I want to admit—or ever plan to.

  His lips graze my ear as he whispers, “You, Kelsey Young, are one of the most stunning creatures I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

  Before I can respond, he reaches for the table beside the bed and grabs a condom, rolling it on with impressive speed. When he turns his attention back to me and seals his mouth over mine, my eyes shut on their own. My pulse races as he settles between my thighs, and I gasp against his lips as he enters me in one hard, deep thrust. His mouth drops to my neck and teases my skin with his tongue as he pulses inside me.

  “You’re so tight, Red,” he moans. “Try to relax.” He rolls his hips, pushing in deeper, and I tug on the restraints, desperately wanting to hold him, to dig my nails into his back.

  I clench around him as he thrusts again, slowly growing accustomed to his size. He reaches between us and circles my clit with his finger, making me cry out with pleasure.

  “Oh god,” I mutter, breathing hard as he picks up the pace of both his finger and his cock.