Desolation Road

by Feehan, Christine

  There was a collective gasp. “He was a minor,” Code said. “That’s a prison made of serial killers, cannibals, pedophiles, all the worst possible criminals with life sentences. Minors don’t go there.”

  “Sorbacov knew everyone at that time. His candidate by that time was president. Sorbacov ran the secret police. He could do anything he wanted, including throw a fourteen-year-old boy into the worst prison he could think of.”

  “How did he get out?” Alena whispered; her voice slightly hoarse.

  “He was trained as an assassin and inside the prison he’d made a name for himself. He was too tough to kill. Inmates left him alone. Guards were leery of him. Sorbacov checked on him, and in the end, wanted him back. He decided he could use him if he could find a way to control him.”

  “How did Sorbacov do that?” Ice asked.

  “He found someone else Rurik was willing to trade his soul to protect. He left the prison and continued to work for Sorbacov running high-risk operations. We crossed paths a couple of times, but Rurik is difficult to spot if he doesn’t want to be seen. The bottom line is, he needs a home, and this is it or he’s on his own. He needs an anchor. He’s willing to accept me as his president and abide by the rules. He insists on a unanimous vote. So, Alena, if you can’t give a yes, then you can shut him out.”

  There was no doubt in Absinthe’s mind why Czar was president of Torpedo Ink, why he had taken charge of all of them at such a young age and managed to get them out of that hellhole alive. Had Czar not revealed to all of them that Rurik wanted a clean vote, then Alena would have cast a no. She couldn’t now. None of them could, not with what he’d endured. Not with him winning the contest fairly, losing his sister and then going to a worse hellhole than what they’d all been put through. None of them could be that petty.

  The vote, of course, was unanimous, just as Absinthe knew it would be. Alena was the first one out of the room, muttering that she had a cake to bake. The rest of them scattered to get the gifts together or find decorations under Lana’s directions. Lana was busy texting everyone about where she might go to find dresses. Czar headed home to Blythe to help her get their place together for the wedding.

  Absinthe made his way to the back part of the clubhouse where all the bedrooms were. Scarlet waited for him in his assigned room. She was on a laptop, the sounds of kitten noises playing while she mimicked them, making his cock jerk the moment he walked in. He grinned at her when she hastily closed the lid. They had been playing pet every other day so she would get used to it slowly. He wanted to make certain she was comfortable in the role. Evidently she enjoyed it enough to want to try to perfect her role.

  “What are you doing, ledi?” He brushed a kiss on top of her head. All that silky hair fell like a red waterfall, tumbling down her back. She looked so beautiful she made his heart ache.

  “Passing the time. Did you get everything worked out that you needed to?”

  Her lashes were long, curled up on the edges, tipped that same bright red as her hair. He picked up her left hand. “This hand is a little bare, babe. I had a little talk with Ice. You do know he’s a famous jeweler, right? I told you that. He makes one-of-a-kind jewelry for various stores. Not just things for us, but high-end jewelry stores. In any case, Scarlet, I’m very much in love with you and I’m formally asking you to marry me.”

  She blinked. Her lashes fluttered. “We talked about marriage, Absinthe. I said, yes, of course, but …” She hesitated, watching him carefully.

  He really loved her all the more for her quick intelligence. “I mean now. I want to marry you now. Today. Be my wife today.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and nibbled on her knuckles.

  Suspicion crept into her eyes. “What happened? What did you find out at your happy little meeting that you haven’t told me?”

  “I want you to say you’ll marry me today because you love me enough to throw caution to the wind, not because you’re afraid, or you have to, or for any other reason. I want to be wanted for myself, Scarlet. Be moya literaturnaya ledi. My wife. My kiska. Be all those things for me because you want me. Because you need me as much as I need you.”

  He didn’t take his eyes from hers but transferred her fingers to his mouth, scraping his teeth along the pads, so gently, back and forth, willing her to choose him.

  “I don’t know how you do that, Absinthe,” Scarlet said, her eyes darkening with desire. “You get to me every single time. I must be out of my mind, because I don’t just jump off cliffs, I have to think things through, but with you I seem to just go for it. You want to get married today, I don’t know how we’re going to do it legally, but I’m all for it.”

  His smile started somewhere in his gut and just kept moving up. He tackled her, throwing her down to the mattress, barely managing to sweep the laptop out of harm’s way as he kissed her, pinning her under him. His hands went to the sweet pearl buttons of her prim blouse, opening them to reveal the sexy fire-engine-red bra surrounding her glorious round breasts. He had that bra unhooked and both breasts out, while he kissed her over and over, using his hands to pinch and tug at her perfect nipples.

  He dropped his hands to the waistband of her jeans while she was fumbling with his, trying to free his cock. He got hers open first. “Lift up, baby,” he mumbled, his mouth still over hers, desperate for her. She obeyed him and he shoved the jeans as far down as he could over her rounded ass. He knew those cheeks so well now. The size and shape of them. He’d shaved her little curls and left a landing strip. He left her mouth to kiss his way to her breasts, tugging with his teeth on her nipples, back and forth, then sucking.

  She was barefoot, so he just shoved her jeans as far down as he could and then dragged them off of her, one leg at a time. He just needed his cock out enough to get to her. The sight of her laid out naked, sprawled under him, her skin red from his teeth, excited him. The door behind them opened and Ice waltzed in.

  “Sorry, Scarlet,” Ice said, sounding more distracted than sorry. “I’m making you a present and I need to see your nipples really quick. Nice timing, if I do say so myself.” Ice came right up to the side of the bed and peered down at them, his eyes on Scarlet’s breasts. “Nice tits, woman. You have really great nipples.”

  “Worst timing ever, get the fuck out of here,” Absinthe objected. Scarlet tensed under him, but he draped his body over hers and glared at his Torpedo Ink brother. “She isn’t a fuckin’ exhibitionist, Ice.”

  “Yeah, I get that. I just needed some sizing. Sorry, honey, I’m really not into touching.” Ice lifted his hand and sauntered out.

  Scarlet put her hand over her eyes. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I might not be able to ever look at him again.”

  “When he’s naked and fucking his woman at the parties right in front of you it won’t matter,” Absinthe said gruffly, kissing his way down to her fiery curls. He licked his tongue across her clit and then her bare lips before dipping it deep. She was hot and slick. Evidently, Ice’s visit hadn’t cooled her need of him.

  Before she could object, he caught first one leg and then the other and wrapped them around his waist, opening her body to his fully. Pressing the head of his cock into that wet heat, he looked into her green eyes and grinned. “Today’s our fuckin’ wedding day, ledi. You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.”

  Behind him the door opened again. Scarlet groaned. “Hurry. Just hurry.”

  Absinthe rammed home. A tight fist of scorching-hot, wet silk closed around his cock. He ignored Preacher, who had walked in and was standing close to them. He just kept driving into her. With every hard thrust, her breasts jolted and swayed. She looked like a feast laid out in front of him.

  “Absinthe, you drink the pineapple juice every morning I recommended to you? And take the special blend of powder I make up for you?”

  Scarlet kept her eyes glued to his. Absinthe grunted his assent, never looking away from his woman’s eyes. So far, she hadn’t run screaming from him. His brothers were
n’t helping. He knew what they were doing. It didn’t occur to them they were doing anything wrong. They didn’t view sex as anything private; in fact, they preferred to watch one another’s backs so they knew no one could hurt them or the ones they cared about.

  “You allergic to anything, Scarlet?”

  Scarlet moved with him, her body growing hotter and tighter, a fresh wash of liquid scorching his cock. She shook her head, her gaze never leaving Absinthe’s.

  “Good, good.” Preacher wandered out.

  Her breathing turned ragged. His turned labored. He caught her hands and slammed them to the mattress, rising above her for a better angle. Then she was crying out, her body clamping down around his, her orgasm taking him with her, his release blasting through him like a rocket.

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Absinthe, you couldn’t wait a couple of hours? I need to get her ready for her wedding. You know, the entire spa treatment. Get out of here,” Lana snapped.

  Absinthe groaned, collapsing over his woman, looking over his shoulder. Lana was draped artfully against the door, speedily texting on her phone.

  “You’d better not be taking pictures of my ass,” he warned.

  “I should be. That’s blackmail material right there,” she quipped. “Get off that girl, you lunatic. I’ve got to get her ready for her bridegroom. He used to be a gentleman.”

  “He’s a gentleman.” Absinthe glared at her. He was still carefully shielding his woman, but mostly trying to recover enough to move.

  “Not when he’s wearing out the bride on the day of her wedding and I presume he plans on wearing her out all night tonight as well.”

  That much was true. He leaned down and bit Scarlet’s ear gently. “Hell,” he whispered. “I do plan on keeping you up all night. She’s right.”

  “I’m all for that,” she whispered back.

  Scarlet looked so beautiful dressed in the gown Lana had somehow managed to find for her, no doubt with the help of the famous Drake sisters of Sea Haven. The dress was classy and very elegant yet so sexy that as she walked toward him, he could barely breathe. The entire bodice and long sleeves of the dress were lace. The lace continued in rounded panels, draping down the skirt of the dress. Each panel was separated with a rounded sculpted accent of cutout stitching woven just like the lace. Beneath the lace was a sheath of darker emerald.

  She wore white lace stockings on her legs and emerald heels on her feet. At her ears were emeralds surrounded by diamonds. The neckline was almost square, from shoulder to shoulder, all lace, and around her neck was a choker of emeralds with a golden ring every few links. Absinthe knew instantly Ice had given a shout-out to his need for control in the bedroom. He knew his brother had made a similar collar of rubies for his kiska as well. Her hair was up on top of her head, and down the back in a complicated twist with tendrils falling around her face.

  She stood beside him, smelling like a dream, and he knew Preacher had been at work again. Besides being the one who would officiate, he was a chemist and could somehow manufacture perfect scents that enhanced natural attraction. Preacher smirked, holding a worn book open while they stood beneath the arbor. Absinthe would have liked to have gotten a good look at what that book actually was.

  Behind them, all of Torpedo Ink was present, even Steele, Breezy and their son, which meant Adrik was in a hospital somewhere. To get him to go, Steele had performed some kind of miracle. Blythe’s children were seated between Czar and Blythe, taking up one row of chairs. Destroyer, the newest member, stayed all the way at the back, probably grateful, like Savage and Reaper, that the ceremony and reception were outdoors, but he didn’t show it. Destroyer had no expression on his face at all.

  Absinthe, after that first sweep of his eyes he couldn’t help, taking in his surroundings, making certain everything was safe for his woman, kept every one of his heightened senses alert for every tiny nuance of the moments as they went by. He didn’t want to forget one single detail. He fixed his gaze on her. Walking toward him. Standing beside him. Shivering slightly. The way she looked. Smelled. The way the breeze moved in her hair and ruffled those stray pieces of hair around her face. The way the sun hit the emeralds at her throat and ears, dazzling his eyes, but nowhere near as beautiful as his bride.

  Her fingers trembled slightly when he took her hands and turned her to face him. Preacher began to speak. He was short and to the point, asking them to repeat their vows, asking Absinthe if he took Scarlet to be his wife. “Hell yes, I do.”

  Blythe cleared her throat.

  Preacher glanced at her over his book. “Sorry. Aleksei Solokov, we have to be official here, or it isn’t legal, and we want your woman tied up good and tight so she doesn’t run the first time she realizes you’re totally fucked up.”

  “Preacher.” Blythe glared at him.

  Torpedo Ink roared with laughter. Even Scarlet tried not to laugh. Absinthe was grateful for the humor. She stopped being so nervous.

  “Sorry, Blythe. Aleksei Solokov, do you take Scarlet Foley to be your wife for better or worse, in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, to love and cherish until death do you part?”

  “I do.”

  “Scarlet Foley, do you take Aleksei Solokov to be your husband for better or worse, in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, to love and cherish and obey in the bedroom—wait, where did that come from? Absinthe? Until death do you part?”

  In the middle of the laughter, no one noticed that Preacher didn’t correct the mistake. No one noticed but Scarlet. She looked directly into Absinthe’s eyes. “I do.”

  “Do you have rings?”

  “Ice hasn’t finished them yet, but we have substitutes,” Absinthe said. “He made me a laminated one for Scarlet.” He pushed it onto Scarlet’s finger. “Your ring will be beautiful, I promise, baby. Ice is the best.”

  “Just fuckin’ kiss her and let’s eat,” Reaper said.

  “You owe me lots of money for that bad word, especially during a wedding,” a little voice called out.

  “That’s little Emily,” Absinthe whispered to Scarlet, “Czar and Blythe’s youngest daughter. I’m pretty sure she has enough college money collected from Torpedo Ink swearing to go all the way through her master’s program at any school she chooses.”

  Scarlet laughed softly. “Your family is a little nutty.”

  “They’re your family now too.”

  “I pronounce you man and wife, kiss your bride and hurry up before we get mobbed,” Preacher said, waving his hand at them.

  Absinthe took his time, stepping close to Scarlet, cupping her face with gentle hands and turning it up toward him. His heart felt as if it stood still, or maybe it was time. Her bone structure was so perfect. Those high cheekbones. He turned her face slightly, so the curve of her cheek and the pout of her lower lip were spotlighted by the rays of the sun. Her hair blazed that brilliant red that made his heart flutter and his soul ache.

  “I’m so in love with you.” He murmured the truth softly against her lips, that generous curve that took him to paradise every time he kissed her. It didn’t matter how gentle or rough he was, it was every time. This time was no different in spite of their audience.

  He touched his lips to hers and, just like always, it was as if he’d touched a match to dynamite. To an explosive. Flames leapt between them. Fire roared in his belly. Licked at his skin. Rushed through his veins. She was raw fuel for survival when he thought there was nothing left for him.

  Her arms slid around his neck. She kissed him back, adding to the thunder in his ears and the lightning whipping through him. Her body melted into his, pressing close. Emotion welled up to blend with the genuine physical reaction. She was a fucking miracle.

  “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Solokov. That’s it,” Preacher declared, “we’re good. Time to party.”

  Torpedo Ink let out a roar of congratulations and the party was on. The music started up and the barbecue was lit. For the next couple of hours, they danced together, Absinth
e holding her as close to him as possible. The children danced around them, laughing and holding hands, happy for them, their faces beaming.

  He tried to keep Scarlet on his lap while they ate, but she insisted on sitting beside him, paying attention to the introductions so she’d remember everyone’s names and put them together with how they looked. They cut the cake and fed each other a piece. He was much more erotic about it than she was, having her suck the frosting off his finger. She obligingly did it for him, making his cock as hard as a rock.

  He was quite happy to abandon the party and take his bride home early, long before the setting sun. His family had given them gifts, laying them all out on their marriage bed at home. His brothers and sisters tended to be a little on the kinky side, so he was looking forward to seeing what they’d been gifted.

  FOURTEEN

  “Scarlet, it’s your wedding night, you tell me what you want to do. We can celebrate any way you’d like. I’m up for anything.” Absinthe was being truthful; she heard it in his voice.

  She looked at the presents laid out over their bed. Each was so Torpedo Ink. She was beginning to understand Absinthe’s brothers and sisters. A large fiery-red pillow trimmed in white piping was made of crushed velvet and had been pressed down like crowns with covered buttons of darker red. It was gorgeous. On the front of the pillow was beautifully embroidered, Absinthe’s kiska.

  “That’s for you to sit on when you’re not resting on the rug by the fire. You can sit on your pillow while I’m reading or when I have other things to do in the evening, but I want you waiting in here for me.”

  Scarlet ran her hand over the pillow. “Who made this for me?”

  “Lana did. She actually made your dress as well. Not the lace, but the sheath beneath it. She has this little thing with materials. She didn’t like the sheath and said it wouldn’t suit you, so she found material at one of the shops and put it together for you. She’s quite good, isn’t she?”