Surrender

by Violet Paige

  Vaughn tangled his hands in the back of my hair. “This won’t change my mind.”

  I released his belt buckle, twisting the zipper until his pants were on the floor.

  I bit my lip. “It might.” I shoved the black boxer briefs over his thighs. He kicked them off his ankles. “I could be valuable to you.”

  His breath was hot against my neck. He kissed behind my ear, dragging his lips over my skin. He quickly tugged my panties to the floor before he lifted me on the counter. I moaned when his hand slid between my legs, spreading my knees wide.

  “You are valuable to me. You know that. But you’re not going to work for me. It won’t happen.”

  Maybe it was crazy, but I had already given up everything that mattered. Why couldn’t I work with Vaughn? We could be a team. Then there would never be any secrets. No more nights like tonight when he was blindsided. When I was trying to navigate a situation without all the information. His life would be our life. It did sound crazy, but was it any crazier than what I had done so far?

  He unclasped the hook on my bra and the straps fell from my shoulders.

  He lowered his mouth to my nipple. He lashed his tongue over it with a heated stroke. “You understand, Em?”

  I pressed the back of his head to my chest. I wanted more. I wanted to feel every second of every touch. Of every lighting strike. Of every orgasm. There was something intoxicating about walking through a dangerous situation that had turned me on. I couldn’t explain it, but I was surging with a new type of power.

  I lifted his square jaw toward my face. “Are you going to take me to bed?”

  “No.”

  I let out a ragged breath of pleasure when he pushed his cock to my entrance, stretching me with his incredible thickness. Vaughn gripped my hips and plunged inside me with a single powerful thrust. His hands rounded under my ass, lifting me off the counter every few seconds.

  My legs bounced wildly in the air as he pumped inside me. I sought his lips. Our mouths collided and our tongues thrashed with fierce hunger. We climbed higher and higher. Our bodies knew this dance, but every time, we found something new. Something surprising. A new reward for giving in to every impulse we had.

  Vaughn pressed his hand into the mirror, angling his hips downward in an impressive move. I whimpered with the intensity. I looked at him, but his gaze was focused on our reflection. He pressed a kiss on my lips before sliding his cock from me and settling my feet on the cold marble floor.

  “I want you to see what I see,” he growled.

  I gasped when he spun me around and planted my hands on the counter. I looked up. I caught the fire in his eyes. The animalistic intensity dripping from his body. I studied us. My nipples pointed. Our bodies flushed. Sweaty. My hair fell along my shoulders.

  Just as my eyes landed on Vaughn’s gaze again, he slowly knelt behind me. His fingers cupped the edges of my ass, opening my pussy wide. I felt exposed. Possessed.

  “Oh God.” My head rolled to the side as he pushed his tongue inside me. His fingers worked my clit, making me jerk and rock, wanting to come like this. I dared to open my eyes and watch myself.

  My breath came in short gasps as he continued to spread my folds, lick and suck, teasing me into a frenzy.

  I slammed my hands on the counter, knowing I was going to shatter. That every last thought I had would become tiny slivers, cascading through my body. The only thing I would know was him. What he did to me. What he could do to me.

  “Please,” I begged.

  He took one last slow lick before planting a kiss on my lower back and then my shoulder.

  I panted, waiting for him. Our eyes met in the mirror. The hunger. The pain. The satisfaction of what our bodies could do together.

  I was walking a tightrope. Only one more touch and I’d fall. He had left my core needy and desperate for release.

  “Please,” I moaned.

  The smolder in his eyes was enough to make me come. He made a circle at my entrance, coating himself in my juices before burying his cock inside me. I screamed out as the orgasm whacked me with a jolt of pleasure so electric I couldn’t feel my feet. My knuckles turned white as I flattened my hands into the counter.

  Vaughn’s exhales were hot and long as he fucked me harder and faster.

  “Oh shit,” I hissed, knowing another orgasm was peaking.

  He wrapped a strong arm under me while he pumped in and out, racing toward his own climax. I clamped down on his cock when he let out a howl.

  “Fuck,” he whispered. His heart hammered against my back. We stood for a moment, trying to regain our balance and process what makeup sex had meant to us.

  Had we made up? Was I still angry? Had I done anything to change his mind?

  Vaughn exhaled. “Shower?”

  I nodded, frowning when our bodies were disconnected again.

  He walked to the shower door and reached inside, turning the faucets on. He pulled a couple of towels from the linen closet and laid them on the teak bench outside the shower.

  “You coming?” He motioned toward the shower.

  I walked gingerly toward the hot water. My legs had finally regained feeling. Epic orgasms had a way of robbing me of immediate activity. Vaughn held the door for me as I stepped under the water. It felt good against my skin. Vaughn lathered my back.

  “Are we good?” he asked.

  I nodded, turning to face him. “That was good,” I teased.

  “Hey, you know what I mean. The sex is always good. Are we done fighting?”

  “Are you going to let me help you?”

  His hands dropped to his sides. “No.”

  “Then we aren’t done fighting.”

  “Damn it, Em.”

  I turned back around to wash the bubbles from my body. “I’m not mad. I want to help. There is a difference, you know.”

  Vaughn rinsed off and reached for our towels. He tossed one to me.

  “Why are you so hell-bent on this?” He ran the towel over his hair.

  “Why are you so against it?”

  We turned off the light and wandered into the bedroom.

  “I can keep you safe if I can keep you out of Blackwing. I can’t control them. This I can control.”

  We crawled under the covers, our naked bodies aligning. I nestled against his chest. I loved the clean smell of soap on his skin.

  “I don’t want you to think of me as something to control. You have to realize how that sounds.”

  “I don’t want to control you. I want to keep you safe. You don’t know what you’re trying to get involved in. You have no idea.”

  “Then tell me.” I pushed up on my hands to see him. “Let me make the decision.”

  “You want me to tell you who Paul Auclair is?”

  “Yes. God, yes. That would be a good place to start.”

  “All right.”

  “All right?” My eyes bulged.

  “You’re a fucking siren. You know that?”

  I twisted my lips together. I didn’t care what he called me right now as long as he told me why we were in Paris. I wanted to know his assignment. Why Paul Auclair was his target, and what I could do about it.

  Chapter Nine

  It was the worst game of chicken I had ever played. Garrett and I used to play when we were kids. He would climb on his bike and I’d hop on mine. I loved how the yellow tassels would flap on the handlebars the faster I peddled. I’d start at one end of the street and Garrett would stake out the other end. When our neighbor Penny yelled, we’d dig into the pedals. Each one threatening the other we wouldn’t bail. I would ride so hard, I’d stand upright, urging my feet to move faster. But as I got closer and closer to my brother, the fear would start. What if he didn’t stop? What if he was willing to crash into me? How bad would it hurt when my body was splayed on the street? A thousand things rushed through my mind as I sailed toward inevitable doom. Ultimately, I never won chicken. Garrett was tougher. Or I was smarter. I didn’t know.

  Just
how far was I willing to take this with Vaughn? Underneath my new-found fearlessness, I was still that same little girl. I talked a big talk, but was I willing to crash to prove a point? I couldn’t make that decision until I had all the facts. I was going to work this like I would any case a client presented. I needed information.

  I pulled the sheet against my hip and waited for Vaughn to say something.

  He cleared his throat. “You already know Paul is the target.”

  “Yes. That was made clear today.”

  “He works for Mertech, a high-end research company.”

  “And you also work there?”

  He nodded. “I’m there as a temporary contractor. The problem is, the only position I could secure was in marketing. I’m nowhere near Paul in the building, and making a connection with him over the past few weeks hasn’t been easy. Everything has been too forced. Too obvious.”

  “Because he’s some kind of scientist.”

  “He’s not just any scientist. He’s the scientist. He’s leading Europe in bio-research. He has worked for Mertech for years off and on, traveling around the world. Aubrey just moved to join him for a more permanent position.”

  “What is it he’s working on that’s so incredible?”

  “It’s the reason I’m here. I need to copy his formulas and hand them over to Blackwing.”

  “But what kind of formulas? What are they for?”

  Vaughn sighed. I knew he didn’t want to tell me any of this. “The specific one I need to acquire changes body chemistry.” He paused. “It can eliminate all traces of any substance in the body during a test or an autopsy. Alcohol, vitamins, you name it. It’s like a masking agent.”

  “But why would that be something Blackwing wants?”

  Vaughn tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “It doesn’t matter why. What matters is that my assignment is to get a copy of the exact formula.”

  “It does matter why. If something like this can hide chemicals in a body, then what do they want to hide? Drugs? Poison?” I covered my mouth. “You said autopsies. Is it so they can get away with killing someone?”

  “Stop. This is why I don’t want to talk about it. You’re getting scared.”

  I straightened my shoulders. “I’m not scared.” I could hear the shake in my voice. “Tell me. Why do they want it?”

  “You’re right. It could be used to hide a poisoning. But this has to do with something a little more commercialized than assassination plots.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The client is Riker.”

  “As in the sports manufacturer? The sporting goods giant?”

  “Yes. That one.”

  I pushed off the bed to sit forward. I didn’t care when the sheet hit the mattress. I wanted to put the puzzle pieces together.

  “Wait. They do sponsorships.”

  “They do.” Vaughn nodded.

  “Huge athletes. Million-dollar contracts. Some of the most famous names in the U.S.”

  “Keep going.”

  My eyes narrowed. It was like the clues were there, I just couldn’t snap them in place.

  “But why would they want to hide—” I looked at Vaughn. “No.” I shook my head.

  “What do you think it is, babe?”

  I folded my knees under me. “They want to cheat. They are going to give the formula to the athletes. If it can cheat any test, then they could use HGH, steroids, even drugs and alcohol if they wanted. Think how that would help in the middle of a scandal.” I looked at Vaughn. “You’re going to do this for them?”

  “We are not going down that road. You know what I do. You’ve known. This is the job. This is who I am. You wanted to know the details. These are the details. I’m not about to start a morality debate with you.”

  “You don’t care?”

  “No.” His lips pressed together. “I am paid well enough not to care.”

  “How much?” I asked. “What’s the price to make you not give a shit?”

  “Eight million,” he answered.

  I swallowed. “Shit.”

  “Yeah. It’s a lot of money. I sleep just fine.”

  I couldn’t start another argument with him. This was the only time he had given me access to answers.

  “So what’s your plan? Have lunch with Paul in the lab and swipe the formula? Is it that easy?”

  “No. It’s more layered than that. But lunch is a start.”

  I kept pressing. “Eloise said you’ve been hesitant. What did she mean by that?”

  “I don’t want to talk about her. All right? It’s late. We should sleep.”

  “No way. You said you’d tell me. I want to know.”

  His hand ran over my stomach and eventually cupped my breast. I tried to ignore the zing that rang through my body, but I was still floating with sensation. He made a circle with his thumb, bringing my nipple to a hard point. I moaned.

  “Stop trying to distract me,” I whispered.

  “Isn’t this how you distracted me?” He lunged forward, rolling me on my back and pinning my wrists over my head.

  I felt the fire flickering under my skin.

  “You said you’d answer my questions,” I pleaded.

  “I will.” His lips crushed mine with a heavy kiss. “Tomorrow.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Tonight.”

  He continued to kiss my neck and throat. I twisted against the hold on my wrists, but he only held me tighter. His mouth met my nipple and inhaled it between his teeth. I rocked into him, wanting more.

  “I think that’s enough information,” he growled, raising his head from my chest. “You know the target. You know why. You know the payout. Ok?”

  I wiggled my hips back and forth as his hand spread my legs. “No. I want you to tell me everything. I have to know.” I could keep pedaling. I knew I could.

  “Em,” he slid a finger between my velvet folds. “This is getting too dangerous.”

  I bit my lip. “I’m not going to back down.”

  “Good, baby. I’d be disappointed if you did.” I could see his devilish grin.

  “Vaughn,” I let out a long moan as he slid a finger deep inside me. My eyes closed and for a second, I forgot what I was supposed to do other than let him take me under.

  “You’re mine, Em. I don’t want to lose you because of Blackwing.”

  I shook my head. “You won’t.”

  I was sore and exhausted. Emotionally drained. Reeling from facts and lies. But there was still an ache inside me. An ache so deep I needed him again.

  His finger pumped in and out as my back arched, pointing my breasts to the chandelier over our bed. He kissed my throat.

  “It’s what they want. They want you.”

  “No,” I moaned. “They can’t have me. I’m yours.”

  He worked faster, flicking my clit with certain strokes. “Then let me take care of this. I need to keep you safe. I have to protect you.”

  The ache for him made my thighs slick. My knees fell open wide as I swiveled my hips, trying to stave off the orgasm.

  “I am safe.” I could barely get the words out. I tugged against the restraint, only feeling more turned on. “You do protect me.”

  “What do you want?” he groaned, pulling his fingers from me. I cried out from the emptiness.

  “Fuck me, please,” I begged. “I need you.”

  He moved in between my legs as his cock pushed inside me, stretching me, filling me.

  “Ahh,” I whimpered, feeling the fullness of him buried inside me.

  I didn’t want him to let go. I didn’t want to be free. I wanted to be his. He moved in and out, fucking me with the kind of certainty I knew only existed between us. I was his.

  His lips met mine in the dark. Ravenous kisses. Insatiable kisses that kept us up for hours. Every time I thought I’d come, he’d back down and make me beg for more.

  “Please,” I whispered, knowing the exhaustion would knock me out tomorrow. I’d be lucky if I made
it across the street for my usual cup of coffee with Marie. Instead, I’d be curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and French movies, napping off and on while my body recovered from Vaughn.

  “No,” he growled. He plunged inside me again and I tried to twist my body. I wanted more pressure. More friction. More everything.

  My breath came in short pants as he slid his cock from me and kissed me slowly, deeply.

  “Please,” I begged again.

  God, this game had gotten dark and dirty, but I wasn’t backing down. I wanted it. He would never leave my unsatisfied, but I had no idea how long he wanted to play. How long he would want me to beg and to writhe.

  “No.” His teeth grazed my nipple and I bucked toward him. I’d take the pain with the pleasure, if he would give it to me.

  “Oh shit,” I whimpered when his teeth clamped against it. He sucked hard, drawing tiny cries from my throat.

  His fingers swathed through my slit and I jerked from the contact. “Please,” I pleaded again.

  “You’re so fucking wet, baby.”

  I nodded. “Fuck me,” I groaned, with a new sensuality in my voice that I kind of loved.

  He positioned his cock at my entrance and I hissed with want. I was a quivering mess. My clit was throbbing. My pulse was racing.

  “I want you to come,” he commanded.

  “Yes,” I nodded as he plunged into me. “God, yes.”

  It was an explosion of color and darkness at the same time. He steadied his body over mine as his hips thrust repeatedly. His grunts were primal as I cried out with the glittering rain of my release. The last quake echoed in my core and I sighed exhausted and sated.

  Vaughn’s body stilled as he pumped his last wave inside me. We watched each other in awe.

  His fingers uncurled from my wrists. I slowly pulled them over my head, making tiny circles in one direction and then the other.

  “I think you made your point.” I rolled to face him. I traced the sharp angle of his jaw. He kissed my knuckles.

  “What was the point?”

  “I’m always going to be yours. I’m not leaving. I’m not working with Blackwing behind your back. I’m yours.” I stopped when my finger hit the bottom of his cheek. “But we have to do something.”