by SM Olivier
“Do you have a girlfriend? Is she from back home?” Noah asked nudging him with one of his elbows.
“Is she that cute little red head at base?” Troy asked with mischief dancing in his eyes.
“Isn’t that Henderson’s daughter?” Noah asked stroking his chin.
“No, Henderson’s daughter is a cute little brunette girl,” Jaxson’s chimed in with a crap eating grin as he pulled on his coat. “Faith is probably the girl he was flirting with at the coffee shop.”
“Dude!” Kade shot Jaxson a look of annoyance.
I couldn’t hold my laughter in any longer. “He wasn’t flirting with her,” I defended my brother, although I had noticed that he hadn’t stopped texting her since we got back to the house a little over an hour ago. “He was just being nice to her because her step sister and her friends were being intentionally cruel.”
Kade gave me a grateful smile. “She just got there,” he stated as he stood to grab his own coat. “Are we about ready?”
“Where are we going?” Noah asked eagerly as he stood up to grab his own coat.
“Snowboarding?” Troy asked excitedly as he grabbed his hat and gloves from the basket we were keeping them in, near the door.
Jaxson laughed. “Well Kade and I was. We’re going to pick up Dawn and Ford on the way out.”
“We’re going, too. I want to see who has captured our little brother’s attention so thoroughly.” Noah insisted. “Blake are you coming?” he asked, looking at me, surprised.
I was curled up in the oversized recliner next to the fireplace. I had already changed into my comfortable clothing and was taking advantage of the fact that Drake was still busy with the techies. I had already enlisted Gavin’s help with warning me when he left their cabin.
“Not today,” I said regretfully. “I’ll come tomorrow. I have to finish working on Drake’s Christmas present.”
Remy chose to return to the cabin at that time. “You are letting Jaxson know about a secret?” he snorted. “I guess since it’s not Jemmy, it should be okay.”
Jaxson gasped in mock affront. “I can keep secrets. I kept Blake from you guys for years,” he said smugly.
Remy gave him a stern look. “You were just being selfish and hoarding her away from us.”
“Yeah, bro,” Noah cuffed him on the back of his head. “Not cool.”
“Well, we’re all together now,” Jaxson loudly protested.
Kade was noticeably fidgeting at this point.
“You guys better getting going.” I refrained from adding Faith is waiting for you guys. I didn’t need to embarrass Kade any further. The guys were going to do plenty of that soon enough.
“Remy you coming?” Troy asked as he slipped on his coat.
“Nah,” Remy shook his head. “I think I’m going to slip into the hot tub. I forgot how physically demanding skiing could be.” He twisted back and forth as if he was trying to work out some kinks in his back.
“Old man,” Jaxson jabbed before running out the door. “Let’s go Kade, Troy, Noah!” he called out.
Jemmy, Sierra, Rachel, Marcel, and Sam had already left the moment we got back from our morning stakeout. They had sent me several photos already.
“Want to slip into a swim suit and join me?” Remy asked suggestively as he started to enter the basement door. He had chosen one of the rooms downstairs with Jace and Troy.
I looked at the cards and binder spread around me and then looked at him. It was rare to have stolen moments with him. I can finish this later. “Sure,” I gave him a small smile.
“Really?” he asked me as if he was surprised.
“Yes, really.” I rolled my eyes at him before packing everything back up and carrying my bag to the room.
I hadn’t packed a swim suit, so I had to purchase one yesterday. I was happy to find out that the sporting goods store had a great selection in winter, but Jemmy didn’t seem as surprised. She said since there were so many resorts and cabins that offered indoor pools and hot tubs, it should be a given. Not everyone remembered to pack their swim suits.
They didn’t have as many options in the style I generally preferred. I was lucky enough to find a halter cut top, but the bottoms were more miniscule than I liked. The bright yellow was a little loud, but it was better than the hot pink they had available in the tops I preferred.
I slipped it on and pulled my hair up on the top of my head and then put on the terry cloth robe that came with the cabin. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the cabin was like an oversized hotel room, but better. They left us plenty of towels and sheets. All the bathrooms were equipped with the mini shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and lotions. They even had a fully equipped kitchen with coffee machine and coffee. All the basics were also stocked in the pantry, too; flour, sugar, powdered creamer, salt, pepper, and a few other spices.
I walked back out into the grand room and saw that Remy was already in the hot tub laying back with his eyes closed. I hissed as I stepped outside. It was positively frigid. I quickly ran to the steps and discarded my toweling robe to slide in. I sighed in contentment as the hot water engulfed me.
Remy chuckled as he pulled me close to him. “You’ll be thankful for the cold air outside in a few moments. This water is boiling.”
“Doubt it,” I teased. “Remember, I’m the girl that would prefer our thermostat to be set at seventy-three at home.”
He laughed once more. “Get some more meat on them bones then,” he joked.
“Oh yeah,” I asked saucily. “Would you like for me to be rounder?”
He laughed once more, throwing his head back, softening his features. He needed to laugh more. His hard features always relaxed when he did, more carefree and approachable. “I’m not going there with you, Blake. I love your body just the way it is, but if you were to ever gain weight, I wouldn’t kick ya out of my bed.”
I mocked growled at him as I back fisted him in the chest. “Keep it up, Murphy.”
His eyes continued to dance with laughter as he looked at me. “You can’t stay mad at me for long, Blake Lynn Thomas.”
I turned to him with a raised brow as if to say. Want to bet?
He laughed softly once more as he pulled me in front of him and kissed the back of my neck. I shivered from the pleasure that spread up to my scalp.
“You’re not playing fair,” I gasped as he palmed my breast in his hands and lazily circled my nipples with his thumbs.
“Who said I ever played fair?” He growled softly in my ear. “You know what they say. All’s fair in love and war.”
I was unable to question him about his use of the word love as one of his hands trailed down my stomach and down to my thighs. He pushed my legs open and softly traced the outside of my bikini bottoms, never truly touching my hot spot, just teasing it. An onslaught of nerve endings was making me into a hopeless puddle of languidness. His lips, tongue, and teeth on the side of my neck and shoulders warred with the feelings of his hands tormenting my nipples and my most important erogenous zone.
When I tried to touch him or turn in his arms to kiss him he firmly grabbed both my hands in one of his and stilled my movements with his other hand on my stomach. He stood up so now my chest was inches from the edge of the hot tub.
“Na uh,” he tsked in a teasing tone. “Let me have my way with you. Okay?”
I couldn’t answer him once more as the hand on my stomach slid down and under my elastic of my bottoms. He palmed my core and gently but firmly ground his palm against it.
“Okay?” he asked again.
I mutely nodded, hissing and throwing my head back as he slowly teased the outside of my lips. He continued to tease me with his hands and lips until I was to the point of begging him for more.
When I didn’t think I could take any more he slipped his fingers in me and his thumb expertly stroked my core. I gripped the side of the hot tub, feeling the warmth begin to spiral up, my breathing was coming out as gasp and helpless mews.
“Are you ready for me?” he growled in my ear.
I eagerly nodded once more. He chuckled and his thumb picked up speed and fell into a delicious rhythm. I found myself moving against his hands, and in that moment, I think I knew how a volcano felt when it erupted. I was unable to stop from crying out his name as the lights exploded behind my eyelids.
I felt myself coming back down to earth just as he pulled my bottoms down and pushed into me. He didn’t ready me like he normally did, and I hissed at the pleasure and pain his manhood gave me. I gripped the side of the hot tub as he continued to push in and out of me. He was hitting a spot that was highly sensitive, and I felt another kind of pleasure build in me.
“Ahh, Rem,” I cried out as he continued to grind his hips in that position. I opened my eyes to turn and look at him and froze as I saw Jace leaning in the doorway. I could see that he was hard from where I stood. His jeans did little to hide his erection.
My eyes widened as I searched his face. I could see that his eyes were darker and he was turned on. I dropped my barriers to feel him and felt his desire. He wasn’t horrified or jealous by what he was seeing.
Remy paused and looked over my shoulder. He tensed slightly, and I pushed both mine and Jace’s feelings onto him and he lovingly caressed my back. “Do you want him to join?” he asked softly in my ears.
I was shocked to find myself nodding.
“Tell him,” Remy commanded.
“Join us,” I didn’t recognize the voice that came from me as Remy continued to slide in and out of me.
Jace kicked off his boots and looked at me intensely. “Are you sure?”
I pushed my desire onto him and watched as his eyes widened and his nostrils flared slightly. He wasted no time in throwing the rest of his clothing off, not caring that they were in a pile on the deck. I was turned on watching him advance toward us in all his naked, turned on glory.
“Sit,” I patted the edge of the hot tub as he climbed up the steps.
He did as I asked, and I wasted no time putting him in my mouth. My movements matched Remy’s movements; as he pushed in, I went down on Jace’s manhood. When he started to withdraw some, I bobbed back up. The taste of Jace and the feeling of Remy was beyond erotic.
As Remy’s movements increased so did mine. Remy roared out his release and my body responded to his pleasure as Jace tensed up under my hands. I cried out my own release and looked up at Jace, seeing his eyes hooded and filled with desire as he watched me.
I vaguely felt Remy rub something between my legs before he grabbed my hips and guided me back some. In a lust filled haze, I saw Jace join us into the tub. Remy kissed the back of my neck and picked me up before guiding me onto Jace’s lap. I sighed out my pleasure as I felt both of them guide me down onto Jace.
I didn’t think I could possibly feel any better than I already did, but they proved me wrong as Jace and Remy rocked me back and forth on Jace. Their hands and lips were everywhere.
“Now Jace,” I cried out as I took over the rhythm and began to wildly ride him, seeking my own pleasure once more.
Remy chuckled as Jace lightly bit my shoulder. “So greedy,” he said huskily as his hands dug into my hips and matched my movements.
I screamed into his chest as I felt the ball of warmth deep down unfurl and erupt into fireworks within. Jace groaned out his own release, and I felt his warmth spread within me. I went limp and wrapped my arms around Jace, afraid I might drown if I let go. My whole body was shaking. My senses were in overdrive.
Jace pulled me in closer as he leaned back with a contented sigh. Remy took a seat next to us and put my foot in his lap. His hands began to rub my foot.
“Well that was a first,” Remy teased with a contented smile, his eyes nearly closed.
“No kidding,” Jace muttered as he kissed the side of my neck. “I didn’t mean to walk in on that. I thought you guys had gone skiing.”
I smiled lazily and closed my eyes. “Though it wasn’t your intention, I can’t pretend to be sorry.”
Jace and Remy’s laughter was music to my ears.
Chapter 24
“Isn’t that the same guy that was here yesterday?” I asked Kade and Jaxson as I put one of the notecards face down in front of me.
I had vaguely noticed the guys yesterday, but nothing seemed…off to me then. Today, I hadn’t been so focused on catching the first glimpse of my mother. I had forced myself to relax and immersed myself with getting Drake’s Christmas present finished.
Jaxson looked up from the book he was reading for English. He frowned. “Honestly I can’t remember,” he stated with a shrug.
Kade looked at him in contemplation, then slowly nodded. He winced for a moment as if he was trying to desperately recall a memory out of reach, but it flitted away just as quickly as it arrived. “Yes, but maybe he’s here for the free wi-fi too.” He didn’t sound all to convinced.
I closed my eyes and tried to ‘reach’ out to him. Nothing. Just a void. I frowned. He was absent of all feeling. That wasn’t normal, at all.
“He’s been reading the same page for the last ten minutes,” I whispered as I stood up.
“Where are you going?” Jaxson asked in concern.
“I’m going to get us more tea and coffee,” I told him although that wasn’t the only reason. What good was it having my gift if I didn’t use it to its fullest potential?
I grabbed my phone and opened my camera. I ordered my drinks, glad that the line wasn’t long as I pretended to text someone but snapped a picture of the man instead. I then sent the picture to Jace.
Blake: Can you get the techies to do a facial recognition of this guy? He was here yesterday and he’s back again. My gut tells me something isn’t right.
Jace: Please be careful. Giving it to them right now. Stand by.
Blake: Thanks. I will be.
I had no intentions of being careful, though. I smiled at the barista as she greeted me.
“Hi, may I have two medium frozen white mochas and a large hot tea?” I ordered.
“Sure can,” she said in her chipper voice. “That’ll be nine dollars and fifty-four cents.”
I handed her a twenty and smiled. “Thanks.”
I walked over to the pick-up counter and grabbed a handful of lemon and honey packets for Kade’s tea while I waited. I only had to wait a few moments before my order was up. I grabbed them and then headed back towards the couch. I could see the man surreptitiously watching me.
My heart was racing, and I felt my nerves gripping me. I sat down in the seat across from him before I could chicken out or change my mind. I was going to face him head on before he could pull any barriers up against me.
“Tell me why you are here,” I compelled him aloud. To anyone watching I didn’t want to look too suspicious if I would have done it silently.
“I’m looking for Miranda Cornwall- Allen,” he responded after a moment. I had taken him by surprise. He hadn’t had time to erect his barrier. I felt his attempt, but it was too late.
“Why?” I pushed my will on him further.
“For the same reason you are, Blake.” I could see the struggle behind his eyes. I wanted him know who he was messing with. I wanted him to know the extent of my gift.
“So, you know who I am?” I asked as I casually took a sip of my drink, even though my insides were quaking.
“We know who all of you are. We followed you all up here. We knew you would lead us to her.” The man was turning red from his struggle. He looked and talked like he grew up on the streets of New York. His accent was thick. He could have easily been an enforcer for a mob family in the past.
“Who do you work for and how did you know to follow us?” I demanded.
Jaxson and Kade had moved to stand behind me.
“Horatio,” the man said reluctantly. “He knows how impenetrable your base is, but he knew eventually you’d lead us to her. He knows you’re looking for Dr. Hazel Cornwall. He knows Miranda has her. We sat and watched you
until you left. We knew you would mobilize soon enough.”
“How many followed us up here, and do you know where she and Dr. Hazel are?” I asked. “Are you gifted?”
“There are four of us. We are waiting for you to lead us to her. We all are,” he seemed just as surprised by his last admission as I was.
“What are your gifts?” I demanded. “Where are the others?”
“I am an empath. Joey is watching the laundry mat. He can transform into inanimate objects. Jr. works at the bookstore,” he grinned and I felt a chill run up my spine. “For now. He can resemble whomever he wants. Moe is at the library studying. He is able to shatter anything by touch, even your little boyfriend’s force field.”
“What happened to the guy who worked at the bookstore?” Kade asked in a horrified whisper.
The man laughed with no humor.
“What happened to the guy who worked at the bookstore?” I repeated as I pushed my gift on him.
“He’ll be found when spring thaws all the snow,” he glared at me.
“Thank you,” I stood up calmly although I felt like throwing up. I leaned forward and glowered at him. Our noses almost touched. “We never had this conversation. You will instruct your friends to leave us alone. No one is to harm any of us. If they don’t listen to you, you will kill them. If you find out anything before we do, if you see her before us, you will call me.” I rattled off my number. “If you repeat any of this or try to warn any of your friends, I want you to find the tallest mountain and dive off of it. Do you understand me?”
His eyes were blank as he nodded.
“What did I say?”
He repeated everything back to me verbatim. As he finished, my phone began to ring.
I saw Jace’s name on my screen. I looked back down at the man. “If you ever see Horatio again, end him and make sure it looks like an accident.”
I left Jaxson and Kade gaping at me as I pushed past them and went to go outside. I was in desperate need of fresh air. I barely noticed my lack of a coat as I stepped outside. I closed my eyes and took in great gulps of air. The cold was uncomfortable against my lungs. I felt weak.
