by Brynn Paulin
I knew she had to feel the steel rod in my pants, trying to push through and greet her properly, but she didn’t pull away. As I tasted her sweetness, she tentatively rocked against the ridge and groaned into me. Damn, at this rate I’d come in my trousers. No complaints. Just being there with Cricket in my arms satisfied me.
“Fuck,” I gasped when I came up for a momentary breath. “I think I’ve died. Princess, you’re everything I’ve dreamed.”
She stared at me, her lips glossy from our kiss. Mesmerized, I drew my thumb along her bottom lip.
My hand slid back into her lustrous hair. “You okay?”
Fuck, if she said no…
“I never…” Grimacing, she trailed off and looked over my shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed. I gently urged her gaze back to me
She nodded. “I just… Well, I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “I was always kind of—well, not the girl any guys wanted to be with.”
“Damn idiots, but I can’t say I’m not glad.” I tipped my forehead to hers. “I like that I was your first.”
She bit her full lower lip. “Maybe my second, too?”
“Second, hundredth, thousandth…only. I’ve got you covered, Princess.” I nipped at that abused lip, tasting it for myself. “I’m keeping you. All for me.”
“Shit’s gonna hit the fan,” she muttered so low I almost didn’t hear her even though we were face-to-face.
“Why, baby?”
“Ella wants you. She’s going to flip a fit.”
“Rest assured, I definitely don’t want her. My princess has all my attention.”
“You’re pretty intense. That should scare me.”
“Does it?”
She tilted her head then shook it slowly from side to side as she considered me. “Nope.”
“Good.” Both my hands moved to cup her face, and I feathered kisses along her forehead, her nose, her pillowy lips. “I would never hurt you. Ever.”
Cricket leaned in and rested her cheek on my shoulder. “Good,” she echoed. “I’ve had enough of that in my life.”
Chapter Five
~ Cricket ~
I hadn’t meant to admit that, but Brix didn’t question me. For some reason, I trusted him, too. It was weird to me. Instant. But throwing aside my usual caution, I decided to have faith in it.
Before I knew it, we pulled up to a glass-and-steel building about ten blocks from where the gala had been held. We were in a part of the city nicknamed Billionaires’ Row. I knew of a few who had homes in the area.
I didn’t follow the lives of the rich and famous much, even though my father ran in some of their social circles, but two couples in particular had been splashed all over the papers when they’d been married in the past year. The artist, Bella O’Malley, and Chase, her Wall Street wizard husband, had the makings of a regular Cinderella story. Lily and Silas Rutherford also had a home around here, though they spent most of their time on their private islands in the South Pacific.
“Do you know the O’Malleys or the Rutherfords?” I asked. Since the couples had been so prominent in recent news, I figured he knew who I meant.
“Actually, I do. I’ve worked with Chase from time to time. When they’re in town, the Rutherfords live in my building.”
“Wow,” I breathed. And he lived here in the lap of wealth. I shouldn’t be impressed. He could have inherited it. He could be living off the family dollar. Being wealthy didn’t make anyone better than anyone else. I’d witnessed that firsthand. Still, I supposed he had some sort of job. He’d given me his card earlier. “And what do you do?”
He helped me from the limo and led me inside, past a doorman and security and across the lobby to the elevator bank. He put his hand on a touchpad beside one set of doors. A trio of beeps followed, then the lift opened. “I’m the CEO of my family’s shipping company. I’ve spent the last seven years building it up and taking it international.”
Okay, now, I could be impressed. By him and the elevator.
“Don’t let that overwhelm you,” he warned, reading my awe. “I’m just a guy who works hard and has a good head for business.”
“I think it’s more than that, but okay, whatever you say.”
He studied me. “You said you have a scholarship to MSU for science?”
Wow, he listened. I don’t know why that impressed me, but it did.
“Yes.”
“What branch?”
“Biology. I got my scholarship after presenting a project in genomics.”
The doors reopened, and Brix ushered me into a small, light-wood-paneled foyer. “See, I don’t even know what that is. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by your brain right now. And you’re eighteen?”
I nodded. “I’ll be nineteen in a couple months—in September. Genomics is a branch of biology,” I told him. I wasn’t even sure if he wanted to know, but I needed him to understand me better. “It’s the study of genomes—that’s an organism’s complete DNA.”
“Like genetics?”
“A little different. But close enough.”
“And what’s your end game? You want to be a geneticist?”
“I want to go to med school, do the whole physician route, but I’ve considered becoming a healthcare scientist. I want to identify abnormalities that lead to inherited diseases. My mom had a rare form of cancer when she died. I was five. Her cancer wasn’t something genetically linked—at least, right now, it’s not believed to be so, but that was one of the things that triggered my interest in the field. If I can help save lives… But I’ll have to see what direction I go once I’m in college. Things change.” I shrugged, realizing I was getting fired up. Brix probably didn’t want to hear all my nerdy science talk. “Sorry,” I said. “I get carried away.”
His dark, intense gaze held mine. “You have no idea how hard it makes me to listen to you talk about the stuff you’re passionate about. Maybe, you could talk about science later in bed.”
I laughed. “Weirdo. And I’m not sleeping with you tonight.”
“Fine,” he bemoaned then turned away to unlock the door at the end of the foyer. You needed palm recognition to get up here, but there was a secondary door? Hmm.
He led me into another entry hallway. Standing there on the white-flecked, black-marbled floor, I couldn’t see much except two hallways, one leading left and the other, right.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” he said.
“Thanks. It’s sad… I can barely remember her since I was so little. But it makes me driven to make the world better for people.”
“Because she died from cancer?”
Before I could stop myself, my hand rubbed down my arm, over the long scars there. “Car accident, actually. Her fault. We’ll never know exactly what happened, if she lost control because of the sickness or her treatments. My dad said once he thought she did it on purpose. I… Well, I can’t imagine that. I was with her. She wouldn’t…” I shook my head, unable to believe I was sharing this. “Sorry. I shouldn’t be telling you this. We just met.”
Brix pulled me into his arms, and the comfort of his embrace surrounded me again, just as it had at the gala. Something about him calmed me in a way nothing and no one ever had. “You can tell me anything,” he murmured.
I didn’t know what to say, so I just hugged him back. The quiet intimacy was everything. I knew I’d remember it for the rest of my life, no matter where my path led me from here.
“Let me give you a mini-tour,” he finally said.
“Okay,” I agreed, stepping back and immediately feeling the loss of his warmth against me.
“My penthouse takes up half the building’s top two floors. Booker Grammer owns the place across the corridor. It’s a mirror of mine.”
I stared at him. Booker Grammer was minor European royalty, a prince actually, who frequently made the gossip pages, linked with some model or another. Since he was considered one of the
most eligible bachelors in the world, he was hounded by the rags. I didn’t bother keeping up with the latest celeb news, and even I knew of him.
“I see you’ve heard of him,” Brix grumbled.
“Um, who hasn’t?” I scoffed.
He growled and pulled me flat against his chest. I inhaled deeply and took in his heady scent. I could just breathed him in for hours.
“You’re my princess, so forget about him.”
I rolled my eyes, partially because I didn’t believe I had more than Brix’s momentary attention and partially because he was ridiculous. No one had ever attracted me as he did, not even some notorious royal bad boy.
“Right…like he’d even notice me if we were in the same room.”
“Trust me, everyone notices you. I don’t know what bull you’ve been sold, but you’re breathtaking. Any man who sees you is thinking of getting you naked and taking what’s mine.”
I shook my head. Okay, he was crazy, ridiculous and delusional, and maybe, I should get the hell out of here. I pressed my fingers to his forehead. “Have you seen a doctor lately?”
“Why?”
“You’re either crazy or blind. I’m not…” I sighed. “Breathtaking,” I finished in a whisper, looking away.
“Oh, Princess, you are.” He reached up and deliberately ran his thumb along the side of my face over the silvery, vine-like network of marks. “You think these diminish your beauty? They don’t. I didn’t even notice them at first. And if I had, they still wouldn’t have detracted from how gorgeous you are.”
God, he was so…overwhelming. I could barely breathe as he said things like this. I prayed he wasn’t playing me. “I’m going to stand by my conviction you’re crazy.”
He grinned then grabbed my wrist and nibbled on tender inner flesh, sending a shiver through me. He kissed along my arm, along the scar, his eyes never leaving mine. My thighs clenched, and I pressed them together as a quiver rolled over my pussy.
If he wanted to prove a point, he was. My breathing shattered as I watched him, felt him, my insides melting.
“Brix,” I gasped. Fuck…
He straightened but didn’t let go of my wrist. His thumb stroked over one of the silvery lines. “This is part of you. I hate that it happened to you, but it doesn’t detract from your attraction. Fuck, if I was any more turned on by you, I might need to seek medical attention.”
I swallowed hard. “Well, I am going to be studying to be a doctor.”
He grinned, his eyes flashing with devilish satisfaction. “You can definitely practice on me.”
I shivered, imagining it. Brix smirked. He knew exactly what he did to me, and I mentally kicked myself for giving him the knowledge of that power.
“So that tour…” I prompted and tried to get my breathing under control. He laughed, obviously seeing through me.
“Right. It’s two levels. The downstairs layout is in a bit of a circle. Here to the left is my home office, library and the screening room—do you like movies?”
“Love them when I have time.” I glanced that direction, seeing the glassed-in office and library areas. I supposed the door at the back of the second room led to the home theater he’d mentioned.
He nodded. “The hallway circles this center portion that has a guest powder room, the kitchen and the utility room, as well as storage. The rest of the rooms are set up bordering the building’s outer walls to take advantage of natural lighting. Down the left hallway, we have three of the bedrooms and the stairway to the second level. The passage ends at the open living room and dining area that take up most of the front of the penthouse. Down the left is the guest suite and that hallway also dead ends at the living room and dining. Upstairs is a great room, gym, a small kitchen and breakfast area and the master suite.”
“You know, if you ever give up billionairing, you could be a real estate agent. Now, you don’t even need to show me,” I laughed.
He smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind. But…you should see everything—especially upstairs. I want you to feel comfortable here. You’re welcome everywhere, though I’d prefer you not to touch anything in my office.”
“I don’t know why I would. I wouldn’t want anyone to touch my work, either. Besides, it’s none of my business.” I didn’t really understand what he did, anyway.
While we spoke, I followed him down one of the hallways. The living room was enormous with an all-glass wall overlooking Central Park. A wide terrace lay beyond it, a shimmering pool catching the city’s lights. To my right was the spacious dining area he’d spoken of. A counter and stools separated it from a beautiful kitchen appointed in stainless steel and stone.
“You have a pool?”
He nodded. “It’s maintenance and some offices below us. Booker and I are the only ones with terraces and pools.”
My parents had wealth, but our home couldn’t come close to this.
He pulled my hand, guiding me toward the steps. “I spend most of my time upstairs,” he said.
At the landing, I saw why. The great room up here was…relaxed and homey. Everything seemed less stiff. Not that his whole penthouse wasn’t comfortable and well-appointed. It just seemed this was his actual home where he could kick back and be himself.
Brix pulled at his tie and dropped it on a table near the landing. While he toed off his shiny dress shoes, I set my small clutch beside his tie, staring at his hand as he loosened the top two buttons of his shirt. My tongue flicked over my bottom lip while I followed the line of his neck up to his strong jaw.
“Can I get you a drink? I have wine, beer…”
I shook my head. I wasn’t old enough to drink and had never been too interested in it.
“Pop or water?” he added.
“Coke?” I asked.
“Coming right up. Feel free to look around.” He headed for the kitchen while I kicked off my heels then meandered toward the overstuffed couches, enjoying the plush, cream-colored carpet beneath my toes. There was a smaller terrace here, and I wandered over to peer outside. Down to the right, I saw the downstairs patio I’d observed from the living room.
“There are private terraces off the guest and master suites, too,” Brix said, coming up beside me and handing me my drink. “I like to have my breakfast out on this one when I can. In cooler weather, it’s glassed in.”
“I don’t know if I’d ever leave the penthouse.” Especially, if he was here.
I took a quick sip of my drink, coughing slightly when the bubbles tickled my throat. Nice, Cricket. Smooth as usual.
His warm palm rubbed circles on my back. The casual, comforting gesture reignited the flames licking inside me. My breathing increased with the unfamiliar desire, and I met his eyes in the reflection of the glass, finding him staring at me. I bit my lip. My gaze skittered away, taking in the whole of our picture in the window. He stood tall and powerful beside me, his muscular arm around me and his wide chest and shoulders making me feel tiny. I was about a foot shorter in my stocking feet and less…powerful. Definitely more curvy. Frumpy in the words of Ella and her friends, but not the clod of a giantess they always portrayed me to be. It was strange yet refreshing to feel almost dainty beside him.
His stare burned with a hunger that matched mine, but I couldn’t figure out why.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered.
I met his eyes in the window again then turned to look up at his face. “Just noticing how we look together.”
“We look perfect together. Made for each other. Belonging with each other.” His voice held such conviction. I wanted it to be true. I desperately wanted that. Since I was little, I hadn’t felt as if I belonged anywhere. With him, I clicked, like we were two puzzle pieces meant to connect.
Brix took my soda and set aside both our drinks. He gathered me tight to him. My back pushed to the glass, and the fingers of one of his hands buried in my hair. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over mine. I groaned, opening my mouth to him. My whole body went soft and liquid.
He devoured me, tasting every bit of my mouth as I returned the kiss with equal fervor. Brix didn’t seem to notice my inexperience. Besides the kisses in the limo, I had zero practice with intimacy. But I had a ton of enthusiasm.
He lifted me easily, shocking me. My legs automatically locked around his waist as I clung to him, and my dress hiked between us. The hard ridge of his cock pressed against my virgin flesh. I whimpered, overwhelmed by the sensation that pulsed to my core. I had never wanted anything as much as I wanted him right that moment.
Brix rocked into me, and I cried out, overcome by the contact to my throbbing center.
“Like that, Princess?”
“Yes, oh God, yes. Do it again,” I begged.
“There’s no way I could stop. I need you to come in my arms. I want to see you fall apart for me.” He nuzzled along my neck and up to my ear. His lips brushed my ear. “I’ll always put you back together again,” he whispered. “I’ll always take care of you.”
I gasped. “Brix…”
“Yes, love.” He rocked against me again, this time not stopping. I moved with him, letting him guide me with his hands cupped under my butt. His fingers slipped inside my panties so he was skin-to-skin with my ass. I couldn’t believe I was here, doing this, but there was no way I wanted to stop this moment.
Suddenly, my core tightened and tension trembled inside me as if poised to plummet over a cliff. My breathing grew choppy, almost panicked, as I teetered there, unsure of what was about to happen. All at once, the explosion happened, tremor after tremor raking along my limbs.
“Brix,” I screamed.
“Fuck. So beautiful,” he gasped. His face buried in my neck. His breathing seemed as harsh as mine as he shook. “You’re mine, Cricket,” he murmured. “Completely mine. I’m never letting you go.”
It probably should have scared me, but it didn’t. My hands had clamped onto his muscular shoulders, digging in while we’d… What had that been? Perfect. That’s what it was. We’d…connected. I released the grip and stroked my fingers along the nape his neck, feeling the corded muscles that led to his powerful back and shoulders.
