Delayed Penalty (The Dartmouth Cobras #5)

by Bianca Sommerland

  He and Silver had decided to let them put on a show. Two songs would be played in Tim’s memory, both from his favorite band. One in memory. One while the Ice Girls danced to give the fans a sense of hope that the team wouldn’t give up.

  Right now, there was only one person he needed to know hadn’t given up. He’d promised Akira he’d see her as soon as it was safe.

  He had to make it safe. So he paged his secretary and asked her to send the Ice Girls’ captain and assistant captain to his office.

  Akira and Sahara stepped into his office ten minutes later. Akira had made the same decision as Sloan—who’d taken his place as the Cobra’s assistant coach—and asked her girls to come in early. The girls, and the players, needed to be in the Forum. To see it had changed, but . . . hadn’t. Tim was still here in some way. In spirit or whatever people wanted to believe. And so was Madeline. But not in a way that should make anyone sad. They were still cheering every one of them on.

  His shorty was pale, but there was a determination in her eyes, telling him she’d resolved to be strong for her girls. In her cute little black and gold skirt and cut-off Cobra jersey, she stood at the other side of his desk, not even blinking as he went over details she didn’t need to hear. She knew what she had to do.

  And she knew that wasn’t why she was here.

  “Thank you, Sahara.” Ford stood and straightened his black suit jacket, a weak smile on his face. He couldn’t manage anything better. “I’d like a moment with Akira, if that’s okay.”

  Sahara nodded, but didn’t smile back. “I wouldn’t consider it if Cam wasn’t standing in the hall.” She paused. “But . . . are you sure—?”

  “I am. This is work. My ‘father’ understands my position with the team. There’s no reason for him to suspect—”

  “Are you sure?” Sahara’s glare proved she hadn’t forgotten all Jami had gone through because of him. She’d never held it against him before, but she had every reason to worry now. Things were all kinds of fucked-up.

  But Ford knew Kingsley. He was an arrogant bastard. And he wouldn’t think Ford would hide anything with all that was at stake. Ford wouldn’t take any stupid chances, but being insanely careful at this point would do nothing other than make Akira miserable. She didn’t comment as he and Sahara spoke, but he saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes and had to keep that alive.

  “I won’t take any chances with her, Sahara.” Ford met Sahara’s eyes. “She’s safe here with me.”

  Sahara gave him a curt nod, squeezed Akira’s hand, then walked out. He went behind her to close and lock the door. The second the lock clicked, Akira closed the distance between them. Tears wet her lips as she kissed him, her fingers threaded through his hair, her whole body shaking as he pulled her into his arms, gentling the kiss as he stroked her back. He brought his other hand to the back of her neck, and his firm grip seemed to calm her. She stopped shaking and peered up at him, as though her own reaction surprised her. Her gaze shifted from his abruptly.

  He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him again, reading her easily. “It’s okay, Akira.”

  “It’s not. There’s too much going on for me to just let go and—”

  His lips quirked at the edges. “Let go and what?”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “You know ‘what.’ I need to focus on tonight. On my girls. On how we’re going to get Cort out of jail.”

  “I see.” Ford held his smile, but understanding didn’t come without a bit of regret. He’d almost forgotten that what they shared was tentative without Cort. He didn’t need her worrying about . . . what exactly? That her time with him would be some kind of betrayal to Cort?

  Cort would want me to give her whatever she needs.

  But she might not be sure what that was.

  And I know what it’s not. She shouldn’t dwell on things she can’t control.

  Akira cleared her throat, blushing and tracing her tongue over her bottom lip. “I should probably go.” She glanced toward the desk. “You probably have work to do.”

  “Nothing that can’t wait.” His eyes narrowed as she placed her hands on his chest and tried to push away from him. He framed her jaw with his hand and tightened his grip on the back of her neck. “Going somewhere?”

  Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated. Her pulse quickened under his fingers. She wet her bottom lip again. “I should.”

  “I disagree.” With his hold still firm on the back of her neck, he brought his other hand down to the soft curve of her hip, resting it there as he stroked the delicate flesh of her stomach with his thumb. “It would please me if you’d stay.”

  She shivered, inching a little closer to him, her expression making it clear she didn’t realize she was doing so. “What else would please you?”

  He chuckled, sliding his lips along her cheek, speaking low in her ear. “If you’d call me ‘Sir.’ And mean it.”

  A breathy little laugh escaped her. “You have to earn that.”

  “Haven’t I?”

  There was a mischievous little sparkle to her eyes as she eased back, challenge in her gaze. “Not yet.”

  He inclined his head, the smile leaving his lips, his level stare one she wouldn’t mistake. She’d told him as clearly as she could what she needed from him. Not to be in control. To let go, which she couldn’t do on her own.

  Without a breath of warning, he brought his hands down to the bottom of her little jersey and pulled it up over her head. Tossed it aside, then brought his hand to her throat. “You know your safeword. I expect you to use it if you’re afraid or in pain.” His lips slanted in a cruel smile. “Otherwise, I suggest you be very, very quiet.”

  Akira swallowed, her lips in a sweet little O, her cheeks nice and red. She bit back a yelp as he lifted her up by the hips, stepping past his desk to drop her in his big, black leather office chair.

  He clucked his tongue as he leaned over her, dragging her bra strap off her shoulder with his fingertips. “You can be quieter than that, pet.”

  “Ford—”

  “Shh.” He pressed a finger to her lips and lowered his lips to her throat. “Where’s my good girl?”

  She squirmed, then let out a choked gasp as he set his teeth into her skin, not hard enough to bruise, but enough to hurt a little. He ran his tongue over the small dents in her flesh, enjoying the fresh, clean taste of her. Breathing in the subtle scent of flowers and honey that made his mouth water and his dick strain against his zipper. He bit her again, harder, and her back arched. She whimpered as he scraped his teeth along her collarbone.

  He whispered with his lips hovering over the swell of her breasts, displayed nicely with her push-up bra. “Clasp your fingers behind your neck and lean your head back.”

  The way she complied, without even a token protest, levelled him out in a way he only ever did when a sub truly gave him control over her. Only, this was more. That kind of power was heady, but with Akira, it took him even deeper. There was nothing but the two of them. Nothing more important than the trust she showed him.

  He used his chin to nudge the cup of her bra off one breast, then caught her rosy little nipple with his teeth and flicked his tongue over the tip. Reaching down, he tapped her inner thighs for her to open for him. When she hesitated, he put some pressure on her nipple.

  Her thighs spread even as she bowed her body even more for him. He slipped his fingers into her panties, groaning at the slick silkiness of her pussy, wet folds surrounded by smooth lips he wanted to kiss just as hard and deep as he would take her mouth.

  But not just yet.

  Akira wasn’t a masochist, but he knew she enjoyed the right edge of pain with her pleasure. He dipped one finger inside her as he bared her other breast to give it the same attention as he had the first. He tugged her nipple with his teeth as he slowly fucked her with his finger. Added a second finger and licked the areola around her nipple in a slow circle. Sucked the whole nipple into his mouth. Released it and brought his mouth to her abandone
d breast to nip the side as he drove his fingers deep inside her.

  A desperate little cry escaped her. Her butt was on the very edge of the seat, lifting a little as she clung to him, urging him to go deeper.

  Instead, he drew his fingers out almost all the way. Moved just the tips in and out beyond the tightening ring of muscle. Laid soft kisses on her breasts, along her collarbone, up the length of her throat. He bit her neck again and slammed his fingers in hard.

  She started shaking. Clawing at the back of his neck. Her pussy was so fucking wet he wasn’t sure how long he could keep this going before his throbbing dick had him mindless of anything but being inside her. But he had no right to exert control over her if he couldn’t keep a firm leash on himself.

  Breathing hard, he barred one arm across her back, moving his lips, his teeth, between her breasts, putting pressure on her hot little pussy with four fingers. He positioned his fingers so they’d fit inside her, but only dipped them into her a little, the stretching more about the sensation than about getting his whole hand inside her.

  Which, strangely enough, had him thinking about Cort. He was pretty damn sure he’d never thought of another man when he was with a woman, but this delicate body he was playing with didn’t belong to him alone. And that didn’t feel as weird as it would have once.

  It was another opportunity to have some fun with her.

  Fisting his hand in Akira’s hair, he languorously continued pushing his fingers inside her, a half smile on his lips as he made her look at him. “Too much?”

  “No.” She bit her bottom lip, shaking her head quickly as he began pulling his fingers back. “No, Sir. It—it feels good.”

  “Hmm.” He let out a rough laugh and kissed her cheek. “Brave little girl—taking a man as big as Cort.” He pressed until his second knuckles strained against her. “But you can’t take him all, can you?”

  “No.” She bucked, as though wanting to take more, her little wince showing him she couldn’t. “I wish I could . . . But he said—”

  Another laugh and he withdrew his fingers, flattening his hand over her hot mound and gently rubbing the heel of his palm over her swollen little clit. “What if I told you there was a way?”

  “How? My body won’t change, and he’s—”

  Ford straightened quickly and jerked her to her feet by her wrist. He kissed the tip of her nose, keeping her off balance with a touch of gentleness, while his tone was gruff. “Put your hands against the wall.”

  She ducked her head, giggling a little as she spun around and took the perfect position to be frisked. “Do I need to ask where you got this idea?”

  He winked at her as he took out his wallet, dropping it on his desk after taking out a condom. “This is nothing compared to the games I want to play with you. Good cop, bad cop, and a very bad little perp that will do anything for a ‘get out of jail free’ card.”

  “Mmm, sounds almost as fun as being the naughty schoolgirl.”

  “At the club?”

  She wiggled her butt a little as she spread her legs a bit farther apart. “Uh-huh.”

  Weird, but the idea of her playing with Cort didn’t bug him at all anymore. Cort and Dominik? Yeah, that irked him. If Akira was gonna have two men, Ford needed to be one of them.

  But what if she still wanted Dominik? He hadn’t considered that until Cam had brought it up, weeks ago. Maybe he should have.

  Holding back a sigh, he moved to stand beside her, draping her long, slick, black ponytail over one shoulder to press his lips to the other. “You enjoyed playing with both of them?”

  “I did.” She glanced back at him, a tender smile on her lips. “Dominik and I needed that one last time.”

  Good. Very good. And not only because he wanted Akira for himself and Cort. He liked Dominik. Loved Akira. Closure was best for them both.

  “You are the most beautiful, giving person.” He pressed his eyes shut as it hit him how fucking lucky he was to be here with her. To call her his, even if only in part. “You do know I won’t be able to let you go?”

  “Why would you have to?” Her brow creased, and he cursed himself for ruining the moment. Knowing her, she’d probably wonder what else could go wrong.

  And before long, thinking about what already had.

  He didn’t give her a chance. He tore the condom wrapper with his teeth and squeezed her butt under her skirt, brushing his fingers over the damp cotton between her thighs. “I never will. And that is all that matters.”

  Stripping her completely to relish in the sight of her gorgeous body would have been perfect, but just having her shirt off was risky. Cam would let him know if anyone questionable came toward Ford’s office, but Akira might need to get dressed and get out in a hurry.

  No time to waste. The needy little sounds she was making drove him to distraction. He rolled the condom over his painfully hard dick, then shifted the little bit of cloth covering her. Positioned himself against her with one hand on her throat. Then slid in deep.

  The way her snug pussy undulated around him told him how close she was. But she’d been trained well. He could fuck her for hours and she would take it, not coming until he allowed it, enjoying every second. Only, that was the control she’d given to another man.

  He wanted her pleasure, wanted it to sweep her under and set her loose. He refused to give her the option of holding back. So he wrapped her ponytail around his fist. And used the one thing that he knew would toss her over the edge.

  “Shall I show you?” He kissed her neck, tasting her wild pulse. She seemed to struggle not to move.

  Her words were barely a whisper. “Show me?”

  “Yes.” He thrust in and out, angling his dick until she shuddered and stopped trying to hold still. Then he bit her shoulder and placed his hand on her ass, sliding his fingers under her panties, along the crease between her cheeks until he reached the small, tight hole. He pressed down and let out a low growl as her pussy squeezed around him. “Show you how you will take all of him. How you will take us both.”

  * * * *

  Akira couldn’t hold back much longer. She wanted to show Ford she could be a sub with him, and yet, he was making it hard to do what she was supposed to. To submit as well as she had for Dominik. And as a Dom, Ford had to want that.

  At first, she hadn’t really believed that he’d trained as a Dom for any reason but to appeal to her, but there was no mistaking that look. That tone. He might have started out for all the wrong reasons, but this was natural to him.

  Cort had a naturally dominant personality, only it wasn’t quite the same. Not in a bad way, just . . . different. His lines weren’t as clear. Or weren’t now, anyway. That could change.

  As long as it’s what he wants.

  She hadn’t thought much about Cort before, which almost made her feel guilty, but not enough to stop. She wasn’t sure she could stop.

  Knew she didn’t want to.

  The slow drag of Ford’s dick, the way he pushed into her, brought her focus to the way every inch of him played at her body. It was like he had some secret manual telling him what buttons to push to drive her insane. A manual she hadn’t read, so she had no way to prepare for the way her nerves flared, the way her muscles jumped, her whole body quivered. His finger slipping deeper into her back hole added a grittiness to the pleasure. Some part of her said it was dirty, naughty, but that turned her on even more.

  More so when his chest rumbled with laughter as she lifted her hips to allow him to penetrate her deeper in every way. Another bite on her neck had her making a pleading, high-pitched sound she couldn’t stop. He covered her mouth, speaking low into her ear. “Your pussy is so fucking tight, but here? We’ll have to work on opening you up for him.”

  Oh my God! She was torn. She should want Cort here with them, but Ford had made it okay to be alone with him. Had included Cort in a way that made now perfect, and later an erotic fantasy that would come true. She became a candle so hot it couldn’t retain its form. Sp
illing free and held together only by his hands, his kiss, his body. Her thoughts scattered as another thrust rocked her core, causing all that liquid heat to ripple out and flow all over her, through her veins, over her sweat slicked skin.

  She shuddered as she felt Ford find his own release, then whimpered as he drove in hard, dragging out another aftershock of pleasure. When he drew out, she groaned, her body so sensitive the motion had her twitching and clenching down on the emptiness.

  Incredibly, it didn’t take her too long to find her bearings again. She ducked her head, smiling a little as he helped her fix her clothes. After getting her jersey back on, he even had her sit on his desk, facing away from him so he could comb through her hair with his fingers and do it up in a neat braid.

  “I used to do my mother’s hair when I was a kid.” A wistfulness curved his lips as she turned to him. “Guess I haven’t forgotten how.”

  Pressing one hand to his cheek, she studied his face. “You must miss her so much.”

  “I do. Sometimes I wish . . .” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m grateful that she didn’t suffer. That she didn’t have to see how things are between me and Kingsley. She wanted me to be a better person than I was. Maybe I can be that for her now.”

  “You can. You’re already much better.” She leaned forward to kiss him. “You’re someone I’m not afraid to love.”

  “Yeah, well, you probably should be.”

  “I’m not.”

  His brow furrowed. He stared at the floor. “I’ll do my best to make sure that’s not a mistake. But you have to go back to Dominik—at least for a little while. Once this thing with my father is over, once Cort is cleared—”

  “But he will be? I mean, does he have a good lawyer?”

  “The best. Sebastian made sure of it.” Ford pressed his tongue into the center of his top lip thoughtfully. “I don’t think Cort knows about Tim, though. Since he was working with my father, he might blame himself. Might think he deserves to be punished.”

  That brought Akira’s thoughts back to the questions she couldn’t ask on the phone. She had to ask them while she had a chance. “What was Cort doing for your father? I don’t understand.”