Veils: A Killers Novel, Book 4

by Asher, Brynne

  I lean in to kiss him, not bothering to pull my dress down. “Don’t worry about Grady. I can handle my brother.”

  His dark eyes narrow and his hands drop to my ass, holding me to him where his cock is long and hard, pressing up against my sex through his jeans. Wetness floods the new panties Noah bought me, and all of a sudden, I don’t give a shit if the pilot hears my gasps and moans. “Not sure it’s that easy, baby. I don’t think he’s going to be happy about my fucking his little sister.”

  As much as I want to act my twenty-seven years and stand strong against my brother, I have a feeling Noah is right. Especially after ignoring him for a whole week when I know he’s only been worried. That probably wasn’t my best move but I’m going to play the I was drugged, kidnapped, and beaten card and run with it.

  I drag the pad of my thumb across his mouth, remembering all the places those lips have been on me, the promises they’ve made, both verbal and non, as they worshipped me. The flight is long, almost nine hours. Since my days and nights are still jacked, I took a nap right after we took off, but now I’m wide awake and I grind myself against him but don’t say anything else about Grady. “If we only have three hours, we’d better not waste any time.”

  That’s all he needed. His hands come to my dress and he pulls it up and over my head, careful of my eye that’s still tender and the gash at my temple that I just snipped the stitches out of myself before we left this morning. With the pilot sitting just behind the door to the cockpit, I’m straddling Noah’s lap in nothing but my panties.

  He sits back, spreading his legs which spreads mine. I can feel his eyes drag down my body and my nipples pebble as a chill snakes over my skin, anticipating him and his touch.

  His fingers flex where they’re sitting heavy on my thighs. “You know, I may never get used to this.”

  I pull my hands up, trying to cross my arms. I’m good with being naked as long as there’s action, but with him sitting back and staring at me while the hum of the plane reminds me we’re hardly alone? Not so much.

  My breath quickens when he shakes his head and stops my hands. “You’re so beautiful, it hurts.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head because beautiful is not how I’d describe myself the last few weeks. I haven’t touched a lick of makeup since I landed in Uganda and Noah didn’t attempt to buy me any of it. Not that I could wear any with a swollen eye and cuts all over my face. Right now, I’m as natural as a national park, plain-faced and wavy, air-dried hair—not my best look by a longshot. “You’re just saying that because you’re about to join the mile-high club, Jarvis.”

  He places my hands at my sides and doesn’t look away from me when he drags a single finger over my panty-covered sex—wet panties at that. “Wow. I’ve got you almost naked and you Jarvised me? I need to up my game.”

  I shake my head and pull in a big breath. “If you up your game, it might be detrimental to my health.”

  “Then don’t say shit like that when I’m being serious.”

  “It’s just,” I shrug a naked shoulder and roll my eyes, “I’ve felt prettier. Bruises and stitches have a way of humbling a girl.”

  “Nothing more beautiful than finding you alive and breathing in that building.” He shakes his head and tucks a finger inside my panties where I’m more than ready for him. His eyes angle back up to mine. “You can do whatever girlie shit you do—not sure anything will top that moment.”

  I close my eyes, willing my heart not to fall apart or burst out of my chest. “You’ll kill me yourself if you don’t watch it.”

  He runs a firm finger around my clit. “No one’s ever died from orgasms.”

  I bite back a moan. “Just because you know how to start an IV and glue skin together, doesn’t mean you know everything. You just pretend to be a medical professional. All I’m saying is, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go, especially at your hands.”

  My hips jerk when he gives me more pressure before slipping his thumb inside me. I can’t help myself—I press down on the hand that I’ve come to love.

  “I’m willing to test your theory, since you’re the medical professional and I’m just a wannabe.”

  It’s all I can do to keep balanced on his lap. My eyelids fall when I murmur, “Noah.”

  But then I lose his hand and barely open my eyes when I’m up, twisted, and my back hits the sofa. My panties are on the floor with the rest of my clothes and he’s kneeling between my legs.

  I lose sight of his dark eyes as he dips a hand under my ass and lifts, wrapping his lips around my clit, making me do what I was afraid of, moaning too loud.

  He lets go long enough to clip, “You’re going to have to at least try to be quiet.”

  “If you stop, I’ll Jarvis you again.”

  I can actually feel him smile against my sex as he licks me, from opening to my clit, and this time I gasp.

  “That’s it.” He reaches up and presses his thumb between my lips, the same one he teased me with just moments ago. The taste of me on his skin is tangy and sharp as he presses in on my tongue. “Suck. The more you do, the more I give. That’ll keep you quiet.”

  My eyes go wide and I pull his hand away from my face. “You can’t be serious.”

  “As a deadly orgasm.” He hitches a brow. “We have to look the pilot in the eye when we step off this plane and he works for Crew. Show me what you’ve got, Lover.”

  Lover.

  It feels so good to be back to this. So good, I might have that airport T-shirt framed.

  He doesn’t look away from me when he reaches down to give my clit one lick. “I know you can suck. I’ll never forget that night for the rest of my life.”

  Shit. He’s right.

  And I want him. Now. Before our bubble pops because I don’t know what’s to come when we get back to Virginia. I need to get home to Moose and my job. We haven’t even talked about that yet.

  I bring his hand back to my mouth, but instead of doing what he said, I put the tip of his thumb between my teeth and bite.

  “My wicked lover.” He grins when I bite harder. “I love it.”

  I circle the tip of his thumb with my tongue and he loses the grin. Then, and only then, do I do what he asked. No, he didn’t even ask. I do what he demanded.

  I suck.

  He goes back to my clit.

  And just like always, Noah is a man of his word. The more I suck, the more he gives me. When I take a moment to catch my breath, he leaves me hanging on the edge of a cliff so high, I’m teetering.

  So I get down to business and I don’t stop, because if he stops, I might prove another theory—I’ll die on the edge of an orgasm.

  When I come, Noah presses his thumb in my mouth and there’s no way I could make a noise if I wanted to. Then his mouth replaces his thumb and his cock replaces his mouth. Surging into me with as much fuel as it’s taking to get us home, he takes me hard. He’s bare and I’ve never had that aside from him. I love that there’s nothing between us and that he hasn’t ever had that either.

  He sucks my tongue when he comes, pressing into me where I’m naked on the sofa and he’s completely dressed besides his cock that’s buried inside me to the root.

  Breathing each other in—hearts battling and blood pumping—he gives me as much weight as I can handle now that my ribs are barely tender anymore.

  “Gracie.” He works to catch his breath, his hand framing my face. “You can tie a man in knots and not even know you’re doing it.”

  I pull my leg up and wrap it around his ass. “You’re pretty overwhelming yourself, Noah.”

  He kisses me one more time before pulling out and taking my hand to pull me to my feet. After tucking himself back in his jeans, he hands me my clothes and I head straight to the bathroom.

  Now, all I have to worry about is Grady. I don’t want to be the cause of trouble in bromance-landia.

  Chapter 21

  The Honeymoon is Over

  Jarvis

  “Let m
e talk to him. Maybe get him home, assure him I’m going to be okay, you know, all the things. Then, when Maya is around to help me defuse the situation, I’ll tell him about us.”

  She’s repeated the same thing for the last thirty minutes but she’s out of time. We’re taxiing to a stop and from where I’m sitting, I see Crew, Asa, Grady, and Maya waiting for us outside the main office of the small airstrip we fly out of in Manassas. I don’t take my eyes off them when I mutter, “Whatever you say.”

  “Yes.” She pulls at my hand and I look down at her sitting next to me. We both look thoroughly fucked and I’m not even sorry. Her dress is rumpled, my shirt is wrinkled, her hair is a wavy mess, and I didn’t try to fix mine. I don’t like her plan and she knows it. I’ve spent the last hour-and-a-half since she redressed explaining that I’m not going to hide behind a fun-sized woman who only weighs a buck when it comes to anyone, let alone a friend. She made sure I knew she was almost five-four and well over one hundred pounds, which I doubt. She puts a hand to the side of my face as the pilot exits the cockpit. “Thank you.”

  I lean down to kiss her one more time before we stand and the pilot barely makes eye contact with me when he sticks out his hand for me to shake, saying, “I’ll get your bags.”

  I pick up my carry-on and put my other arm around her waist, pulling her to me. “Just so you know, whatever goes down with Grady, I’m not sleeping anywhere but next to you tonight.”

  Her eyes widen into saucers. “What?”

  I lean in to kiss her parted lips, which she doesn’t return. “You heard me. Come on, let’s get off before your brother boards to drag you off this thing.”

  “Noah,” she calls but I’m one foot out the door pulling her after me.

  I hold tight as she tries to twist her hand out of mine, and as she’s walking down the steps, I turn back to look at her. She closes her eyes and exhales before I give her another tug and help her down the stairs even though she doesn’t need it.

  The second her feet hit the tarmac, I let go because everyone has descended upon us, her brother—my friend—leading the pack.

  “Shit. Look at you.” Grady only has eyes for his sister and pulls her into his arms.

  “Careful with her ribs,” I warn and he loosens his hold on her instantly.

  He throws me a look before turning back to the woman who’s had my full and undivided attention for over a week. He tips her face back to inspect her bruises and cuts, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe it. I should’ve come to take care of you. I’ve been going crazy.”

  “She still needs to rest, but she’s better,” I announce.

  Gracie closes her eyes.

  Crew shakes his head and stares at his feet.

  Grady tosses me a frown.

  Asa and Maya look confused.

  But Maya breaks the silence and moves to her youngest sister-in-law and pulls her into her arms. “I think you look great. Rested and healing. Just as beautiful as always. Your sisters were determined to be here but we convinced them to hold off a few more days. And Cayden and Chloe wanted to come but it was naptime. Bev is at the house with them but they were bouncing off the walls, excited to see you.”

  Gracie smiles and says her first words. “I’m excited to see them, too.”

  Crew shoots me a glare and moves into the group to give her a hug. “You look good, Gracie.”

  Asa follows suit. “You’re a tough one. Never would’ve known what you went through.”

  Gracie waves everyone off. “I’m fine. Really. Noah took great care of me. I just needed some time.”

  “Noah?” Maya looks confused.

  Grady narrows his eyes. “Noah, huh?”

  “Fuck,” Crew mutters under his breath but no one pays him any mind.

  If I wasn’t thirty-one-fucking-years-old, I’d feel like I just got caught sneaking into her bedroom window by the way everyone is acting. Even so, there’s nothing more I want to do right now other than kiss the hell out of her.

  “Yes,” Gracie confirms and glances at me. “Noah.”

  “Your first name is Noah?” Maya accuses. “I’ve known you all this time—you spend time at our house, are an uncle to our kids, eat dinner at our table… I thought your name was Jarvis and I just wasn’t allowed to know your last name or something.” She glares at her husband. “Why didn’t you tell me his name was Noah?”

  “Because he doesn’t go by Noah. To anyone.” Grady crosses his arms. “But apparently Gracie.”

  Maya’s eyes shoot to Gracie.

  Asa shifts and stuffs his hands in his pockets. Right now, I want to wipe the smirk off his face with my fist.

  Crew hikes a brow that might as well be an entire dissertation as to how he told me so.

  Gracie takes a step into the middle of this weird circle of my demise, putting herself right between her brother and me. “I’m sorry I didn’t take your calls. I had a headache for days. I slept all day, would get some fresh air at night on the balcony—” she switches her attention to Crew, “—which by the way, I love your apartment in Paris. It’s beautiful. Thank you for letting us stay so I could … you know … get back on my feet.”

  Crew nods. “No problem. You can go back anytime you want—I’ll make sure it’s available.”

  “She’s not going back—” Grady snaps at Crew.

  “I’d love to go back,” Gracie interrupts. “I didn’t get a chance to see the city and Noah said he’d show me around.”

  “Ahhh,” Maya drawls.

  Asa has the fucking nerve to laugh out loud.

  Crew sighs.

  “He did, did he?” For the first time since we stepped off the plane, Grady gives me his full and undivided attention, shooting death daggers at me over the head of the woman I plan on sharing a bed with tonight and give zero fucks as to how her brother feels about it.

  I step forward, flush to Gracie’s back, and wrap my hand low around her hip. “I did. And I plan to make that happen as soon as she can make time and feels well enough to get away.”

  “Grady—” Maya tries in a low voice.

  He puts a hand up to his wife and speaks without looking at her. “I’m good, Maya.”

  “Oh … kay,” Maya stutters but I don’t take my eyes off my friend.

  “Gracie likes to travel. She not only wants to see the world—she wants to leave it a better place. She should be able to do that.” I look down at her and give her a squeeze. “Right?”

  She cranes her neck around to look up at me. It’s intimate and one that lovers share. She smiles like she’s never been happier and I think my fucking chest might do something that only happens on the Hallmark channel or in chick flicks.

  I’m not proud of it, but it is what it is.

  Gracie confirms what I already know about her and what I’ll lay my life down to make sure happens. “Yes. That’s right.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  I look up at my friend who’s staring at me. The man who’s gone to bat for me more times than I can count, who had to sell the idea of me to Crew and Asa back when I was beyond fucked up, and the man who looks as if he wants to murder me right now.

  “Are you fucking serious?” he growls.

  “Grady—” Gracie steps in to put her hand to his chest.

  Grady, with care, puts his hands to Gracie’s shoulders and stoops to look into her eyes. “I love you. I would do anything for you. There’s nothing more I want in this world than for you to be happy. Do you understand? Nothing is more important to me than you finding peace in your life.”

  Gracie exhales a relieved breath. “Thank you.”

  He shifts her to the side and I don’t take my eyes off her because when I catch a glimpse of her face, she’s confused.

  Then I learn lesson number one of being with Gracie Cain—when she’s around, I don’t see anything, or anyone else.

  Hands down, nothing ever catches me off guard. So when I feel it, I’m more surprised than anyone.

/>   “Motherfucking asshole!”

  The women scream.

  The men move with muttered fucks and shits.

  His fist catches my left eye and I take two steps back before dropping my bag. “What the fuck?”

  “What the fuck is right!” he roars in my face and fists my shirt. I grip his forearms but don’t fight back. “Of all the women all over the fucking world, my sister?”

  “Let me—” I seethe but he pulls his fist back and gets me in the jaw this time, catching my bottom lip.

  “Grady, stop!” Maya calls.

  The taste of copper fills my mouth and I turn to spit.

  “Noah!” Gracie screams.

  “Hold them back,” Crew demands and Asa goes to Gracie and pulls her back, which pisses me off.

  I wipe the blood from my face and put a hand up to my friend. “Do your worst, man. Whatever you do, it won’t compare to what I’ve been through in the last week. I’m not going to fight you—I just need you to listen.”

  He pulls his arm back and swings again but this time I veer and catch his forearm, shoving him back.

  “Grady—” Crew starts but Grady keeps his attention on me.

  Grady is no slouch and can lay out any recruit on the mat—any day, any time. When he slams a hand into my chest, it’s no nudge. He pushes me back, over and over and over with every claim he makes. “You told me you were taking care of her. You told me how badly she was beaten. You were the one who fucking told me she was almost raped!”

  “Grady, stop,” Maya begs.

  But I’ve had enough. I close the small space separating me and the man I call my friend, but who’s also the one trying to stand between Gracie and me. And I’m not going to fucking let that happen.

  I put my hands to his chest and shove before getting into his face. “You don’t know shit, Cain. I might’ve told you but you weren’t there. You didn’t find her.” I push again. “You didn’t take care of her.” Another jolt to his chest. “You didn’t see every fucking bruise and cut on her body,” one more and his grave expression cements into his features, “and have to sit, tortured, while she didn’t speak to you and wonder if she was really raped or not.” This time I grab him by the shirt and pull him to me, eye-to-eye. “And for your information, asshole, she’s a grown woman and can do whatever the fuck she wants. We were together before she left for Africa and that’s not going to change.” I push him one more time and he steps back into Crew.