She texted her friends back as she walked and then gasped when strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. She hadn’t even heard Rylan behind her.
“We have a lot to work on with you. Being aware of your surroundings at all times is key to not becoming a victim.”
“I don’t plan on becoming a victim.”
He pressed her closer to the wall and she held on to his forearms as she looked up into Rylan’s dark brown eyes.
His hand slid along her ass and squeezed.
“I can’t stop touching you,” he said to her and she caressed his chest and then reached up and cupped his cheeks. She held his gaze and felt the desperate need to be close to him and his brothers. It was getting stronger.
“I know what you mean,” she said and then lifted up to kiss his chin but he was so much taller than her he had to lower down so she could reach his skin. She kissed the gruff along his chin and cheek.
“I need a shower and change. Any chance my clothes arrived, too?” she asked.
“Remo put a bunch of things in the cottage.”
“I should call back my friends and maybe rest a little, to get ready for dinner later. I’ll have to find something to wear.”
“Mercury took care of that. You’ll wear what’s on the bed in the cottage. One of us will come get you at six.” He kissed her nose and she smiled. As she walked away he let his hand slide along her ass and hip. She felt giddy and excited. What had started off as a tricky morning of feeling like she made a mistake had turned into a wonderful afternoon of making amends, coming to an understanding, and compromising. She already knew that after their first date tonight, she wasn’t going to be sleeping in the cottage. Hell, she might never sleep there.
Chapter 10
“Mulgoff, I’m glad I caught you. How are you?” Cassidy Monclaire said into her phone. She glanced at Weiller Onsonna, who nodded and smiled.
“I’m doing well, and how are you?”
“In need of your assistance. I’m organizing a fundraising event, a private party with about twenty-five of my close friends and acquaintances next week. We’re looking to raise money for the children’s hospital in Charlotte, and Pierre Lafue had to cancel bringing his line of exquisite brooches. I was hoping that you were available to perhaps showcase some of your own jewelry, pendants, bracelets, even rings for the occasion and maybe donate a small portion of sales to the fundraising event?” she asked.
“Why, of course, Cassidy. You know I’m always willing to help the children’s hospital. Send me the details and I’ll have my assistant gather everything I need. If I have any questions I’ll let her contact you.”
“That would be wonderful. I hope you’ll have that gorgeous young woman who showcased the blue diamond the other night at the event. She was strikingly beautiful and so easy to talk to. I know my friends would adore her and purchase anything she wears.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you. I’ll send the details immediately.” Cassidy hung up the phone and Weiller smiled.
“Very good job, Cassidy.” He reached out and stroked her jaw then cupped her breast. “Be sure that our names are on your list, and remember to not kiss your husband so much when I’m around. It upsets me,” he told her as he slid out of bed and started to get dressed.
“He wants me to do that in public. You know I can’t stand him. I want to be with you, Weiller,” she said and caressed his back.
“You know that is never going to happen. I’ll see you Saturday night. Be sure to wear something sexy and think of me.” He leaned over, kissed her lips, and then got dressed. Cassidy had been a regular lay for the last year. She hated her husband, who was thirty years older and a slob. She also gave him information on her husband’s business dealings that helped him pull off a few heists of his own. He couldn’t help but to smile that he was pulling this off for Molokai. The man wanted to see Rose again, and without her men around to protect her, to interfere or enlighten her. Hopefully the plan would work.
* * * *
Rose was talking to Louisa on the phone as she headed down to the cottage.
“I can’t believe this all happened in under twenty-four hours,” Louisa stated, sounding shocked at all the details.
“Well, the men have connections, that’s for sure. They moved all my things out of the condo, they paid off my bills, they even moved all my paintings into their own warehouse somewhere. Then to top that off, like it wasn’t enough to make me lose my shit, they tell me I’m moving into their place immediately. They weren’t even in the bed when I woke up this morning.”
“What?”
“Well, Remo and Rylan were, but the others were all obviously taking over my life.”
“What did you do?”
“I flipped out on them.”
“Oh God. On Mercury and his brothers? Did you have a death wish?”
“Oh God, Louisa, they’re incredible and sexy, and holy shit, I can’t even think around them. It’s like I fall under this spell and become submissive and obedient and continuously wet, to be honest.”
Louisa roared with laughter and even Rose laughed, too.
“This is incredible. They must really care about you and be concerned for your well-being. I wasn’t given much information from my men but I got the threatening tone from all six of them and the push that when I spoke to you I needed to make you understand the rules of a ménage relationship and being the lover of men like the James brothers. You know something happened recently to Rome, I think. Pina overheard something and Niall was going over there with his medical bag and other things.”
“He was shot,” she said to Louisa.
“Oh crap. That explains a lot. Well, don’t ask any questions. Pina’s men, just like mine, have been constantly talking with the James brothers. They want you safe and you need to respect their wishes.”
“That’s the hard part, sort of,” Rose replied and sat on the bench outside the front door of the cottage.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this is instant. It was a huge deal for me to have sex with six men I hardly know. Hell, I’ve never done half the things I did with them in the last day and a half with any other man. I’m just scared that if it doesn’t work out then I’ll be used goods, or worse, become some easy whore just to feel an ounce of what they make me feel.”
“It’s perfectly normal and you will not become some whore who engages in orgies just to get off. These men care about you. That bond, that desire to give them every part of you as they give you every part of them is damn special. Just be honest with them, which it sounds like you have been,” Louisa told her.
“There’s something else I need to tell you, to make you understand where Mercury was coming from and his brothers too for moving me and taking over my life.”
“What?”
“I haven’t been honest with any of you for the last ten or so months.”
“What do you mean?”
“Things were bad, Louisa. I was struggling financially, to the point that I rung up credit card bills, lost the studio, and was behind in rent for the condo. I was barely having a meal a day and what I was having was peanut butter and jelly on one piece of bread.”
“Oh God, Rose, why didn’t you tell any of us? We would have helped you. There was no reason for you to have held back from us.”
“I was embarrassed and I felt like a loser. I was getting to the point where I thought I would leave town and then I get the call from Jimmy and you basically know the rest.”
“I can’t believe that you wouldn’t confide in me, or any of the others. We’ve been friends for years, Rose. You were there for each of us when we went through some crazy shit and even recently with our men and the dangers we faced.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just really need to get myself together and last night at the event five of my paintings sold.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Mulgoff set them up on display while I modeled a fifty m
illion dollar blue diamond.”
“Holy shit. What did that feel like?”
“It was nerve-wracking but I got through it.” Rose explained about the series of events and about the men she met but didn’t point out the concerns of her men. She knew that information wasn’t to be repeated and the last thing she wanted to do was piss off Mercury and his brothers or make any of them think she wasn’t trustworthy.
“Well, I need to get going. They’re bringing me on a first date since I kind of gave them a hard time about all the other stuff and never even going on a date with them.”
Louisa laughed. “Good for you. Enjoy tonight, and remember no kissing on the first date. Oh wait, you kind of bypassed all the bases and went for multiple home runs.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, wise ass. Good night.”
Rose looked around the cottage and when she stepped inside she saw a bunch of her personal belongings, including her art easel, some blank canvases, her paint supplies and other items she needed to use to paint. They were set up near the windows that overlooked the ocean and the back porch. The view was amazing, the lighting almost perfect, and she thought this spot would make a wonderful studio. She nibbled her bottom lip as her mind processed what she was thinking.
She smiled and walked to the bedroom. Her curiosity about the outfit Mercury had chosen for her to wear on their first date was getting the better of her.
As she opened the door she widened her eyes, shocked at the gorgeous black dress that hung from a hanger. It was sleeveless in a soft, clinging material that would hug her curves. It was classy and very vogue, and when she turned it around her mouth gaped open. The back was completely open and appeared as if it would hit right above her ass, and there was a sequin floral design all done up in silver and black flowers that would hug along the top of her ass, up one side of the material on her right and land at the top of the shoulder. Part of the appliqué appeared to just hang freely and she assumed when she put the dress on it would look like it was reaching out toward her spine. It wasn’t gaudy or overdone but classy, sexy, very rich, and it made her blush thinking that Mercury chose this dress for her to wear.
She looked at the shoe box on the floor and gasped. “Jimmy Choo? Holy crap.” She opened the box to find black matching heels, a bit higher than she was used to wearing, and they were stunning. She felt excited as she hurried to the bathroom to shower and prep herself. She wanted to look absolutely amazing and had no idea where they were going to bring her.
* * * *
“This is bullshit. She’s not staying in that damn cottage, and I’m not walking down there to get her. You two go and we’ll get the SUV,” Mercury said as he headed for the front door with his brothers and opened it. He stopped short.
Rome whistled low and Mercury swallowed hard. There stood Rose, her back toward them as she pressed her hand onto the SUV and fixed her high heel. Her hair was done up on top of her head and the back completely open and he thought she looked even better than he imagined she would in that dress.
“Great fucking choice, Merk,” Rylan said. He headed out the door with Remo. Falco and Slade followed.
Rome placed his hand on his shoulder. “She’s our woman. There’s no way she isn’t staying with us in our house tonight. You know that, right?”
“I’m not giving her a choice.”
Rome chuckled and then headed toward Rose to give her a kiss and to hold her in his arms.
Mercury watched her with his brothers and he couldn’t help but smile inside. He rarely showed any emotions but as she turned to look at him and then twirled around for him to see her, he felt possessive and needy.
“You look stunning.”
“You have very good taste, Mercury,” she replied. He closed the space between them and wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her close. He couldn’t resist brushing his fingers along her bare skin and then lower to her ass.
“It fits you perfectly.” He kissed her lips and she hugged him tight.
When he released her lips he gave her a wink.
“Shall we start our date?”
“Or we could skip dinner and the plans and just throw her over my shoulder, take her back inside, strip her naked and have our wicked way with her right on the kitchen island,” Rome suggested and they all chuckled but she swatted her hand at Rome.
“You won’t be throwing anything over your shoulder. You’re still recovering,” she said to him. Rome got very serious and Mercury knew it was the talk about his shoulder and not being healed yet. He discussed his concerns at helping to secure their safety at less than a hundred percent. Mercury tried to reassure him.
“I can handle more than you think. Now let’s get moving,” Rome said to her and waved his hand for her to get in first. She looked at Rome with concern but got inside and slid along the seat. Falco walked around to the driver’s side and Mercury took the front passenger seat. The others got into the back with Rome and Rose.
* * * *
Rose took in the sight of the men all decked out in designer dress pants, dress shirts, ties, and dinner jackets. She looked at Rome, who sat next to her and he looked pissed off. She’d said something that upset him. She turned in her seat and took his hand. He glanced at her.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I can take care of you, bad shoulder or not,” he snapped at her. She swallowed and ran her other hand along his thigh.
“Of course you can. You’re filled with muscles and have capabilities I know nothing about. I just meant that throwing me over your bad shoulder wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. Besides, I would come willingly if you asked me to make love to you on the kitchen island.”
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“Keep teasing me and watch what happens tonight when we get home,” he said and she nibbled her bottom lip and then slid back into her seat and looked at Remo and Rylan. Then she felt Slade’s hand slide up the slit in her dress and against her knee and thigh.
“You look incredible. It’s going to be torture having to wait until after dinner to remove this dress and make love to you.” Slade kissed her neck and she closed her eyes and exhaled. God, she would love to skip dinner.
Rome and Slade remained holding her hands as Remo and Rylan seemed to just stare at her as if memorizing her face. When the SUV finally stopped Mercury stated to remain inside while he checked to make sure everything was ready.
The door opened and up front Falco got out of the SUV. Locking gazes with Mercury, Slade got out first and then offered her his hand. When she got out of the SUV they were outside of Torenzi’s Italian restaurant. It was crazy expensive. The place was booked months in advance and the chef so famous people came from all over the world to try his food. She took in the sights, the exquisite details of the landscape, the paver walkways, the fountain in the front and then large stone walls covered in greenery blocking what was hidden behind the restaurant. The only way to see would be to actually dine here and they were. She couldn’t help but feel both excited and intimidated.
She felt the palm against her bare back and then Slade kiss her bare shoulder.
“Ever dine here before?”
She snorted and chuckled. “Sure. Often,” she said.
Smack.
She gasped and turned to the left. Rome narrowed his eyes at her.
“You’re just adding up the spankings, aren’t you, wise guy?” he said to her and she swallowed hard. Rome was as hardcore as Mercury and apparently not over her comment about him not picking her up over his shoulder because of his injury. It was an obvious sore spot and he was itching to have his way with her. She eyed him over in his black blazer, the pale colored shirt, and no tie. He looked wealthy, capable, but his expression and eyes daunting, intimidating. She looked away from him as Slade guided her to the front entryway where a man in a tuxedo greeted them and welcomed them back to Torenzi’s. She couldn’t help but wonder who they came here with. Was it another woman? The thought made her feel instantly jeal
ous and she tried not to show that.
As they entered the restaurant it was very crowded; however, the host guided them down a hallway and then up the back stairs. It was as if they were going to have their own private area to dine in. As they came to the top of the stairs, all the while Slade holding on to her hips, stroking her skin and making her pussy spasm, the doors opened, soft music played in the background, and the rooftop came into view along with the sun that was beginning to set over the ocean and a private view to die for. It was breathtaking, with the garden of greenery, flowers, and extravagant décor surrounding them.
She felt her eyes tear up as her senses went into overdrive about the various aspects of the scene and how wonderful it would be to paint this, just the way it was. There were candles in the corners and she could only imagine them all lit up as evening set in, but the sunset and the view had her pulling from Slade and walking closer to the balcony. She barely heard them talking to someone behind her and then warm hands landed on her hips. Lips kissed her shoulders on either side and she couldn’t help the emotions she felt. They did this for her. All of this for her. The fancy restaurant, the private balcony, the spectacular view they surely knew would pull on her artistic strings and inspire her.
As she turned to look at Mercury and Falco, who had their hands on her, and to Slade, Rome, Remo, and Rylan, who looked pleased with themselves and then serious, the tears fell.
“You don’t like it?” Rome barked.
She chuckled and wiped her eyes.
“Are you kidding me? I love it. Absolutely love it. It’s so beautiful, and the view spectacular and the décor, the fountain, the landscape, the atmosphere, that sunset and oh God, I would love to paint this scene, to remember it always.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and Mercury reached up and wiped them away.
A Shot of Love Potion [Love on the Rocks 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 15
