Delayed Penalty (The Dartmouth Cobras #5)

by Bianca Sommerland

  “That bastard.” Silver glared at him, but her rage was all for her half brother. “I was actually starting to like him. I should have known something was up when he pulled away from me and Oriana. He took everything my father worked his whole life for.”

  Dean hated defending Ford, but in this case, he had no choice. “Ford gave his power away. Oriana kept him in as management, but—”

  “Oriana knows?” Silver slapped the hand he held out to her away, shaking and hissing at him as she shoved herself against the headboard. “So everyone thought I was too weak for the truth. Damn it, I can’t blame you. Who wants an ex-druggie making decisions? I might as well just have kept getting high and—”

  “Silver, please—” Landon took a step back, away from Silver. From Dean. His expression showed all the fear Dean had tried to get him past. “—please don’t say that. You’re better.”

  “Am I?” Silver gave Landon an incredulous look. “You don’t believe that. You don’t trust me with our daughter. You won’t leave unless someone else is here to keep an eye on me.”

  “That’s not true!”

  It was, but Dean wasn’t going to get into that now. Both Landon and Silver were hurting. And lashing out at one another because they couldn’t deal with the pain. He wouldn’t let that happen.

  “Enough.” He sat on the edge of the bed, latched on to Silver’s wrist, giving her a moment to respond to his sharp tone. To his solid grip. She resisted at first, but when he brought his hand to her jaw and made her face him, her body went soft. He pulled her close and met Landon’s eyes. “Come sit down, Landon. We will discuss this like adults. No shouting. Silver paced the floors for an hour to get Amia to sleep. Wake her up, and you’ll sleep downstairs on the sofa while I bring her to sleep between me and Silver.” Dean’s jaw hardened as Landon took a deep breath to start on one of his parenting rants. “Yes, I know neither you or Becky even slept in your parents’ beds, but Tim, all my brothers and sisters, and I took turns doing so. And none of us were smothered. Jami spent many a night on the sofa with me, and she’s clearly fine.”

  “Damn it, I get it. You know what you’re doing.” Landon paced across the room, then threw his arms up in the air. “There’s no reason to wake her up. But I’ll sleep on the floor in here before I sleep on the sofa.”

  “Because you don’t trust me.” Silver lifted her head to scowl at Landon. “Very clear. And I hate you for that.”

  Ouch. Dean stroked Silver’s arm, trying to calm her, but knowing she and Landon needed to hash things out. Apparently in the most brutal way possible.

  “You hate me?” Landon looked like someone had driven a spike into his heart and was slowly twisting it. He took another step back, knocking so hard into the dresser that several of Silver’s perfume bottles fell over, several cracking and letting out a pungent wave of spice and sweetness. “Silver, I love you. And I’m trying to—”

  “You’re trying?” Silver pressed against Dean’s side. “This is you trying?”

  Landon approached the bed cautiously. His leg touched Dean’s but he kept clear of Silver. “I am trying. But Dean’s right. Maybe I need help too.”

  Dean blinked even as Silver stared at Landon, all the righteous anger seeping out of her body. Landon’s admission shocked the hell out of him. And suddenly he was afraid Silver might say the wrong thing and ruin whatever progress they’d made. Damn it, the two of them were difficult enough for him to need therapy.

  “Landon, please come here.” Silver held out her hand, her head on Dean’s shoulder as Landon took it. She sighed as though the rage had taken the last of her strength. Or maybe she was ready to cast it aside. “I’m . . . I’m sorry I wasn’t there the last time you visited your son’s grave. I’ve been selfish.”

  “No. Silver, none of this is your fault.” Landon knelt and brought Silver’s hand up to his lips. He kissed her knuckles. “At least Dean was here to help you when I couldn’t. I know me and you planned to walk down the aisle and make this all legal, but he would make a better husband.”

  Silver’s lips quirked. “To us both.”

  Landon frowned. “Don’t start that again.”

  God help me. Dean did not want the conversation to go there.

  “Start what?” Silver arched a brow, pulling free of them to rest her elbows behind her on the mountain of pillows on the end of their bed. “I know when I have competition. I went through this with Asher and Cedric. Just wanna catch it before I’m left out again.”

  Dean chuckled, moving up onto the bed and latching on to Silver’s wrists with one hand. He drew them over her head, holding her down so he could kiss her. “Those men didn’t know what they had. I bet they’re regretting letting you go now.”

  “I doubt it.” Silver sighed as Dean held her wrists and drew her nightgown up over her breasts. “But it’s nice to be with two men who actually like women.”

  “Only like women.” Landon rose up on her other side, brushed his lips over Silver’s, then lowered to take a tight nipple in his mouth. He took hold of Silver’s wrists, moving in perfect sync with Dean as though he’d sensed Dean wanted to shift his attention to thoroughly distract their woman.

  Silver arched her back, trembling as Dean kissed down her belly. “We agree to be honest with each other, Landon.”

  “That we did.” Landon cupped his hands under Silver’s breasts, moving over her so his hard thigh pressed against Dean’s side. “I’ve missed you.”

  “But you and Dean—ah!” Silver cried out as Dean thrust his tongue into her moist depths. He already knew what Landon’s answer would be. And he didn’t need to hear it while enjoying the body of the woman he loved. She tasted so sweet, was so hot under his lips. The way she tightened and released as he pushed his tongue in deep made it easy to forget everything else. He grabbed her ankles when she moaned, shifting her legs even as her hips rose to him. She was trying to get closer. Get away. Mindlessly.

  Utter perfection.

  Silver panted as he licked along the slit of her pussy. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “And doing well.” Dean smiled as he pushed two fingers into her. She tossed her head from side to side. “Don’t come, dragonfly. I want you begging.”

  Silver whimpered as Landon restrained her wrists, leaving her no choice but to accept whatever Dean gave her. Ever since making love had been safe after Amia’s birth, either he or Landon had taken her gently. And alone. This was the first time the three of them had come together in far too long.

  She licked her bottom lip, then bit the tip of her tongue. “I won’t beg. Not until you both come clean.”

  His lips curving, Dean eyed Landon as the other man sucked hard on Silver’s throat. Landon still wore his boxers and a snug white shirt with a Cobra logo centered on the chest. He struggled to remove both as he licked and sucked every bit of Silver’s skin he could reach. He seemed oblivious to Silver’s words, but Dean knew better.

  Silver wanted them to come clean. But why? Dean rose up to align his body with hers. He unzipped his dress pants and pressed hard and firm against her moist slit, rolling her to her side to face him, drawing one thigh up to his hip as he thrust in deep. Landon had moved over to the side of the bed to find something in the night table drawer.

  Dean took the opportunity to whisper in Silver’s ear as he held her tight against him, telling her what she needed to hear, but Landon didn’t. “How long have you been fantasizing about me and him together, pet? Do you pleasure yourself while you imagine how he would look under me?”

  “God, Dean!” Silver cried out as Dean drew out almost all the way. Her core convulsed as though she was nearing the edge of release. “Please . . . Sir. More!”

  “More what, pet?” He drove into her hard, then held her still as Landon positioned himself behind her, preparing her with lube-slicked fingers. “Details? Nothing’s happened. But if it did, I would still want this. I would still need you, and so would he.”

  “You don’t know tha
t! I don’t want to hear it!” Silver panted as Landon slowly pressed deep into her from behind. She fit snugly around Dean, her body reacting even as her mind retreated. He made a soft shushing sound, conscious of how close Landon was. Feeling the pressure of him filling her. And he didn’t need to hear this either. Teasing became irrelevant as Silver raked at Dean’s back with her nails. “Make me come! I’m still mad at you, and this isn’t helping!”

  “You mean let you come, don’t you, pet?” Landon kissed Silver’s throat over the mark he’d left, then grinned at Dean. “Didn’t we make a rule about never going to bed mad? Maybe we should all get up and go discuss this in the kitchen?”

  “Not an official rule, but a very good idea,” Dean said, giving Silver a slow smile. “Don’t you think, dragonfly?”

  “Don’t you fucking dare.” Silver let out a mountain cat-worthy growl. “You leave me like this, and I’ll kill you both in your sleep.”

  “Now that isn’t a very nice thing for a sub to say to her Doms.” Dean clucked his tongue, easing his dick out of her hot cunt. He placed his hand over Silver’s mouth before she could say anything else to get herself in trouble. His dick didn’t appreciate the cool draft brushing over slick flesh, but it had been too long since he’d exercised any real control over Silver. There was no better time than the present to do so. “Landon, please hold her on top of you, legs wide open. We’ve been too indulgent, too gentle. That needs to change.”

  Silver’s eyes widened. As Landon shifted so she lay with her back to his chest, spreading her legs with his hands hooked under her knees, she shook her head. Her hand flattened on Dean’s chest as he knelt between her parted thighs. She blinked fast-- a nonverbal sign that she was overwhelmed—and he moved his hand. “Dean—Sir, you have been gentle. I don’t know if I’m ready for . . . it might hurt.”

  Dean studied Silver’s face, taking note of the flush of her cheeks and the way her pupils dilated even as she voiced her fear. She might be a little afraid, but the fear aroused her. If he backed off completely, she’d be disappointed.

  We can’t have that.

  He inclined his head. “If you behave, I won’t gag you.” He angled his dick to her moist slit. “Latch your hands behind Landon’s neck. We both know you can’t stop me, pet. And that you don’t really want to.”

  “Don’t speak, little one.” Landon met Dean’s eyes and nodded, his way of telling Dean they were on the same page. They often communicated this way during a scene, a brief look, a touch, some gesture either to say all was well, or not. Few words were needed with how easily they read one another. Landon returned his attention to Silver, speaking low as he ground his dick into her ass. “Safeword if you need to, but otherwise, relax and take whatever he gives you.” He kissed her cheek as she gave a short nod. “I’ll feel him through you as he pounds into you. And I want it rough.”

  Fuck. Dean groaned, tasting the beads of sweat on his lips, the aroma of his own musk, Silver’s sweetness, and Landon’s heady aroma almost undoing him. Landon smirked at him, but a long, hard thrust wiped the smirk right off the cocky young man’s face. Landon’s legs were stretched out on either side of Dean’s knees, and Dean could feel his thigh muscles tense. Silver’s hips rose to take Dean in deeper, then jerked back as Landon moved in and out. She shuddered, and it wasn’t long before she was making pleading, incoherent sounds.

  But she didn’t come. She wouldn’t until given permission.

  Good girl. Dean kept his pace going hard and fast, framing Silver’s jaw with his hand to take her mouth in a rough kiss. His balls tightened and his pulse thrummed erratically up the length of his dick. He pressed his eyes shut, determined to retain control. He never expected more from Silver than he could manage himself. Once he couldn’t hold back anymore, he’d let her find her release.

  A firm, callused hand gripped his upper thigh, and his steady pace faltered. Landon’s unspoken rule was that they didn’t touch one another. It was his fucking rule, and his timing in breaking it was horrible. That grip tested Dean’s control because it was unexpected. He cursed under his breath as his eyes shot open. Landon did not touch Dean when they were in bed together—at least no more than necessary to be with their woman. Contact was usually casual. Or unintentional.

  From the glazed, steady look Landon gave him, this was intentional. And more than Dean could take. He spoke against Silver’s lips. “Come for me, love. Let it all go.”

  Silver bucked and let out a scream that Dean silenced with a long, gentle kiss, even as violent pleasure tore through him. His breath caught and heat erupted from the base of his spine, straight through his dick as Landon’s grip on his thigh tightened. He could feel the way Landon’s cock jerked inside her, and it was almost too much. Physically, emotionally, he was raw and without any resistance. His brain tried to speak past the erotic haze, but he let the pleasure drown out any logic it wanted to throw in. Every last ounce of strength he had left went to not collapsing on Silver, to holding still as her inner muscles undulated around his sensitive, slackening cock.

  “Mmm.” Silver wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing happily as Dean carefully pulled her off Landon and lay on the bed with her in his arms, not quite ready to leave her. “May I speak now, Sirs?”

  “Not until I get my brain functioning again.” Landon laughed, pressing a light kiss on Silver’s hip before pushing off the bed. “Damn, that was amazing. Let me clean up and call Tim. I’m not sure I’ll be in any shape to play tomorrow. The two of you did me in.”

  Dean rolled his eyes as he lazily stroked Silver’s back. His mind couldn’t come to grips with how far away Landon was. He did his best not to react to it and go with the conversation as though Landon not being in the bed didn’t matter. “Don’t tell my brother that. He’ll assume you’re sore and blame me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, why would he—” Landon cut himself off. His eyes narrowed. He gave Dean a curt nod. “Right.” He cleared his throat. “I was joking anyway. I said I’d play.”

  From bed to business. Which shouldn’t bother Dean at all. He’d wanted Landon invested in the game again. “That you did.”

  Landon nodded, then shook his head and disappeared into the bedroom attached to the master bedroom.

  Silver’s fingers curled around the collar of Dean’s shirt. She peeked up at him, her tongue touching her upper lip in thought. “You know I appreciate how much you’ve been there for him while I couldn’t be?”

  “I care about him too, Silver.” Dean kissed her forehead, almost wishing he could remind her of Landon’s request that she not speak until he returned. But he wouldn’t impose speech restrictions just because he didn’t want to hear what she had to say. He saw the hesitation in her eyes and could pretty much read what she hadn’t said. Best she say whatever she was thinking out loud. “What is it?”

  “I was only half joking before. When I brought up Asher and Cedric.” She lowered her gaze, then swallowed hard. “I’m not sure how I feel about you and Landon . . . I mean, if you—”

  “A very big ‘if,’ pet.” Dean absorbed the “if,” then shelved it. No point in even considering what would never be. His lips formed a stiff smile she couldn’t see as Landon returned to the room in a towel, changing in to a fresh pair of dark blue flannel pajama pants while covered, as though he didn’t strut around bare-assed in the locker room every day. As though Dean had never seen him naked before. Refusing to let it bother him, Dean eased Silver onto a pillow, sitting up so he could strip off his shirt and pants. He pulled his boxers up for Landon’s sake. They’d all slept in the nude before, but he had a feeling his doing so now would make Landon uncomfortable. He let out a dry laugh as he settled into bed beside Silver, Landon on her other side. Whatever closeness had been between him and Landon before was gone. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

  Chapter Seven

  There was something different about waking up next to a man. Akira smiled as she leaned up on her elbow and watched C
ort’s big chest rise and fall. She’d spent the night with Dominik on the cruise—maybe a couple of times after—but it wasn’t the same as being with Cort. The bed wasn’t just warmer, more comfortable. The whole room seemed brighter. And unlike all the times with Dominik, they were in her space.

  Which meant she had all the control. She got a say in what happened next.

  Or what didn’t.

  And she wasn’t so sure how she felt about that.

  She almost laughed at herself as she glanced over at her phone on the nightstand. Calling Dominik to ask what she should do wouldn’t go over well. Dominik probably wouldn’t be too happy about her having Cort spend the night. Even though nothing had happened.

  You don’t need Dominik to tell you what to do. Get the man some coffee or something!

  Coffee. Right. But did he even like coffee? She couldn’t remember their talking about it. There was still so much she didn’t know. Having him here would give them a chance to get to know one another better, but she didn’t want to wake him up just yet. He seemed so peaceful.

  The clock on the nightstand read 9:00 a.m. Which was late for her even on the weekend. Unheard of on a Thursday. She couldn’t go back to sleep, but she refused to disturb him. She didn’t know what his schedule was like. And she didn’t have anything to do until the game tonight.

  Pulling on her housecoat, Akira slipped out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her as she caught the sound of raised voices in the kitchen.

  “I said I was sorry!” Luke made a sharp, aggravated sound, and Akira paused in the hall by the doorway as he paced across the kitchen, his attention on Jami and Sebastian who were sitting at the kitchen table. “What the fuck do you want from me?”

  “Why did you have to act like such an asshole to Max? Him leaving had nothing to do with you!” Jami slammed her fist on the table, moving to stand, then dropping back down as Sebastian put his hand over hers and shook his head. “Sebastian, you were fine with Max. Tell me you don’t agree that Luke is being an idiot.”