For a few months after her mother broke up with Jerry, he continued to come around. He was the closest thing to a father figure V had ever had and even though Regina Carmichael didn’t want to have anything more to do with him, Jerry hadn’t been able to let go that easy.
V focused on the white cue ball in front of her, lined her pool stick up perfectly, drowned out the rest of the noise in the dimly lit bar and took her shot. With skilled precision, the balls shot out in all directions. From an amateur’s perspective, it would’ve looked casual, but V took stock of what went where. She briefly glanced up at Brendon and the question was there on his face.
This was where people made mistakes. She knew if she had any chance at all of beating Brendon, simply the best pool player she knew, she had to get her shots lined up and sink them as accurately as possible. V was solids, and she lined up to drop the one ball in the corner pocket.
For the next few minutes, V was in the zone, completely oblivious to the rest of the people around her, including Brendon. She worked diligently to deliver the respective ball into the pocket she called, and before she even knew it, she was sinking the eight ball.
Never once did Brendon get to play.
“What the fuck?”
Sawyer’s terse comment broke V from her reverie and had her standing up straight. To her surprise, Brendon was smiling at her although she had just done what everyone considered impossible. Had she given him a chance, Brendon would’ve swept her just as quickly, which was another thing V knew never to let happen if at all possible. Granted, she normally didn’t get nearly as fortunate.
“Rematch,” Braydon chimed in, laughing. “Give the boy a chance, V. Let him go first, this time.”
V smiled at the other twin, and then glanced back at Brendon. “Sure,” she agreed. “After he buys me that drink.”
For the next hour and a half, Brendon and V competed back and forth, both of them damn near equally matched at every shot. Before this game started, they agreed that it was the last one. Her legs and her back were beginning to hurt, and to be honest, those heated looks she was receiving from Zane were making it damn near impossible to concentrate.
Just when she thought Brendon would take the game, he missed a relatively difficult shot, leaving her with one more ball, then the eight ball. V lined up her shot, drowned out the rest of the room and ended the game, successfully beating Brendon yet again.
When he walked around the table, moving very slowly toward her, she tried to hide her smile. And failed. He wrapped his arms around her, lifted her against his body and hugged her tightly. “Zane’s a damn lucky guy, lady. If I had my way, I’d steal you right away from him,” he whispered in her ear.
V blushed, and swatted him on the back as he put her back on her feet. “You’re a sly devil, Brendon Walker.”
Before she knew what happened, Zane had her in his arms, his mouth slamming down on hers in a kiss hot enough to alert the fire department. When he pulled back, she saw the intent in his eyes and her body reacted instantly.
Zane looked up at his brother and grinned. “You just remember she’s mine.”
Brendon laughed, and the brothers bumped fists. Zoey came over, hugging her like she was some sort of celebrity. “I can’t believe it. How in the world did I not know you could play pool like that? You’ve been my secret weapon all this time, and I had no idea.”
V laughed, brushing her hair back from her face. Not many people knew her talent, nor did she try and flaunt it. Today was an exception. These were her friends.
The thought nearly leveled her. Never had she actually taken the time to think about how close she had become to the Walker brothers over the years. She went to school with Braydon and Brendon, but they always seemed so overprotective of Zoey, she often felt like the outsider. But then again, V hadn’t needed anyone to stand up for her. She’d managed to do a good job all on her own. Based on the way most of the other kids had treated her, she hadn’t had much of a choice.
It wasn’t a secret that the town had painted her mother as a slut only out for monetary gain, and no matter how painful the thought was, it was what it was. Regina liked men; there was no doubt about that. She also had one agenda – finding the richest, most successful man to shack up with and marry. Never had it worked out for her, but that hadn’t stopped her from trying. V couldn’t even remember the number of men who came and went from their house when she was growing up. There were times she never even knew their names, which as she got older, she actually preferred.
“You ready?” Zane asked, interrupting her thoughts. V smiled, thankful for the distraction. It was a fact, thoughts of her mother and her sordid past never did much good for V’s mood.
She nodded her head and accepted the hand that Zane held out to her. Within minutes, their goodbyes were said, and they were leaving. Zane held her hand as they followed Gage, Zoey and Kaleb out to the parking lot. The threesome didn’t seem to notice anything going on around them, and for that V was grateful, especially since Beau was trailing not far behind.
V had a sneaking suspicion that Zane was up to something, but she’d tried to ignore it, knowing her nerves would get the best of her if she allowed them to. She was more than a little excited about the possibilities that this night had in store for her, but she wasn’t willing to admit it just yet. After the last night at Zane’s, V had developed some sort of shameless fascination for the two men. Although she still preferred just the two of them together if she had a say, V was willing to enjoy the distraction. She seemed to need it now more than ever.
Zane had awoken a part of her that she hadn’t even known existed. Beau played a big part in that before the assault and truth be told, she had been anticipating a replay, even while Zane had been in the hospital. On those lonely nights when she assured herself that staying away from Zane was the best for him, she still allowed herself those few sexual fantasies to fill the void that Zane had left in her life.
The other night had been a surprise. Although, most of her anticipation occurred in the dark of night while she was lying in her bed doing her best to ignore those creaks and groans of her house, she found that indulging in a little mental foreplay with two hot, sexy cowboys was an easy way to forget her more pressing thoughts and fears.
This time she wouldn’t be imagining it. Her body was completely onboard with that, especially with the adrenaline still coursing through her system. Beating Brendon Walker at pool wasn’t an easy feat and V knew, based on the way the game played out, he hadn’t let her win. Then again, Brendon wasn’t like that, so the excitement was still sizzling inside of her.
Or maybe, that really was from the anticipation of what was to come.
As long as Zane took the reins again this time, like he did every time, V knew she was in good hands. The only thing she had to bring was herself and her desire, which she was pretty sure couldn’t be stoked much more than it was right that moment.
Chapter Fifteen
♂♀
Zane didn’t bother asking the question because he already knew the answer. Opening the passenger side door of his Jeep, he waited for V to climb in before turning to face Beau.
“Her house,” he told him. He hadn’t asked V to spend the night at his house, and he didn’t want to assume anything after her insistence the night before. Despite her panic attacks, he wanted to make sure V felt as though the world weren’t crashing down around her. He was trying to keep his distance and not overwhelm her with his feelings, and giving her something familiar to hold on to seemed like a reasonable compromise. He wasn’t sure how she was going to react once they got there, but he hoped he could get her inside without having to watch her have another debilitating panic attack. In fact, his real reason for wanting to go to her house was to hopefully replace those memories with other ones.
Beau nodded his agreement and then ventured across the parking lot to his truck. Zane liked the idea of Beau coming back to her house for more than just one reason. Being that they didn�
�t know what Jake Sanders was up to at the moment, he wasn’t willing to put himself in a position like he had the last time. His brothers were worried about him, he could feel it. Knowing that Beau would always have his back made it easier on him, and probably even more so on V.
While V was playing pool with Brendon, and Travis had been giving Gage the evil eye, Sawyer, Kaleb, Zane, Beau and Ethan had had a brief discussion about Jake Sanders. The fact that the man hadn’t been found yet after showing his face on their property wasn’t promising. They knew he would be back. Based on his continued harassment of V, he still wasn’t able to let go.
Although they weren’t talking about the significant number of text messages she continued to receive from Jake, Zane found it promising that she had started forwarding them to him. He knew she wasn’t thinking about them nearly as much as he was, but he tried not to make a big deal out of it. Everyone, including his brothers, seemed content to pretend everything was cool. It wasn’t like they could do anything about it until Jake actually made a move.
In fact, Zane had mentioned as much to Beau because he needed someone watching his back. It wasn’t that he didn’t think he could take the bastard because he knew he could, provided he wasn’t ambushed the way he was the last time. Telling Beau just helped guarantee that he never got stuck in that situation again. Since Beau likely wouldn’t share the news with his brothers, he didn’t have to worry about them going on a manhunt like he feared they would do. Especially Travis.
A few minutes later, Zane was pulling into the driveway of V’s house. The instant he shut off the engine and threw on the emergency brake, he took her hand and pulled her toward him. Without asking permission, he slammed his mouth against hers, holding her head to him as he consumed her honeyed taste.
Sliding his hand into her hair, lacing his fingers in the cool, silky strands, Zane pulled her head back, releasing her mouth from his. He didn’t allow her to look away as he pinned her with his eyes. “Trust me, V. Trust me to take care of you in every way. Can you do that?” he asked and waited patiently for her answer.
She was breathing hard, and he knew only part of that was from the kiss they shared. She was getting worked up, panicking, and he refused to let her do that. Not tonight. Not with him here to protect her. And he would protect her. He cocked his head to the side, waiting and refusing to move until she answered him.
“I will try,” she finally said, still trying to pull away.
Zane pulled her hair tighter, not enough to hurt her, but enough to let her know he wasn’t going to let her pull away. Not physically and definitely not emotionally.
“I don’t want you to try, V. I want you to trust me. Tell me that you trust me,” he demanded, leaning in closer. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I trust you,” she said on a sigh. “I trust you, Zane.”
He kept his eyes locked with hers until he believed her. Before he released her, he planted a quick kiss against her lips. “Don’t move until I get to your door. Beau’s walking up the driveway now, so you have nothing to worry about.”
V nodded her head in agreement and Zane retrieved his keys from the ignition before hopping out of the Jeep and making his way over to her door. Once he opened it, he helped her out, but held her close to him, pressing her face against his chest and leaning down so he could whisper in her ear.
“I don’t want you thinking about anything else except what it’s going to feel like to have me buried deep inside of you. I want you visualizing what it’ll be like to have both of us fucking you until you can’t take any more. Understand me?” He made sure his voice remained calm and assertive. He wasn’t going to budge on this, and his control was firmly in place. Tonight, he fully intended to make sure Jake Sanders didn’t interfere. He wasn’t welcome here, nor was the memory of what he had done.
Now they just had to overcome her fear of going inside.
“Give me your keys.” Zane waited while she retrieved them from her purse, still not letting her go, holding her face firmly against his chest and not allowing her to look around at anything other than him.
Handing the keys to Beau, he waited until his best friend had unlocked the front door, then he lifted V into his arms, forcing her to wrap her legs around him. He knew she would freak out about someone possibly seeing them and what they would think of him carrying her into her house so intimately, but that was part of the plan. He wanted her thinking, just not about what had happened that day so long ago.
Carrying her, Zane swiftly moved to the front porch and into the house. As soon as they were inside, Beau locked the door behind them and made his way to her bedroom. Zane wasn’t far behind, still carrying V, her face pressed against his neck.
Once inside her room, he shut the door while Beau turned on the bedside lamp, casting the room in a soft, golden glow. He didn’t let her down as he backed up against the wall, Beau joining them and pressing up against her back.
“Are you wet for me, V?” he questioned her. “Are your panties soaked from thoughts of what it’ll be like to have me and Beau buried in your sweet body?”
V nodded her head, her face still pressed against his neck.
“Look at me,” he instructed, keeping his voice firm. “Answer me.”
V looked up, and he could see the dazed look on her face, but he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with fear, and everything to do with mind numbing lust.
Holding her ass, Zane felt Beau’s hand as it moved beneath her, his fingertips bumping against Zane’s stomach as he slipped a finger into her panties.
“Awww, fuck. She’s wet. And hot,” Beau’s voice penetrated the tension filled air, and V groaned.
Zane couldn’t see what Beau was doing, but he knew he was fingering her and based on the way V dropped her head back, her eyes closing, she was enjoying it.
“Do you like that, V? Do you like when Beau finger fucks you?”
V leaned farther back, and Zane had to hold her tighter to keep her from falling out of his arms. He pressed his back against the wall and braced his feet on the carpet, pulling her into him while V leaned farther into Beau behind her. “Hold onto me,” he growled.
V leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, but before she could hide her face once again, he stopped her. “Look at me. Don’t you dare look away. And don’t you dare fucking come until I tell you to.”
Her eyes glazed over, another moan escaped, and Zane could feel Beau increasing the pace of his hand fucking into her.
“Does it feel good?” He was going to continue to question her until she answered him. He wanted her as much a participant in this as they were. Zane knew from the last time they were together just how much satisfaction V had taken from their threesome, and he wanted that again. This was about her pleasure, and Zane wasn’t about to let up on her. After she’d insisted on one night apart from him, Zane was ensuring they weren’t backtracking. He only had room to move forward in his life these days, and he was taking her with him.
“Yes,” she whispered, keeping her eyes locked with his. “So good, Zane.”
“Do you want Beau to fuck you harder, baby? Or are you ready to get naked? Remember, you can’t come until I let you.”
Knowing she was close, Zane gave her a choice. Her body had tensed, her arms were wrapping tighter around his neck, and her eyes were glazing over from lust. She was damn close, but Zane wasn’t near ready for her to come.
“Which is it, V? Beau will fuck you harder, but it’s just a tease. I’m not going to let you come yet.”
“Naked,” V breathed the single word on a hard exhale as she leaned farther into him, trying to rock her hips against Beau’s invading fingers.
With a quick glance over her shoulder, Zane directed Beau to stop with a look. When Beau moved, Zane lowered V to her feet, and held her close when she stumbled. After a minute, she seemed steadier; her breaths returning to normal and he tipped her chin up so that she had to look at him.
“I want you to strip fo
r us, V. I want to watch while you bare all of that soft, smooth skin. Then, you can do the same for us.”
The mood was different from how it had been the last time. V didn’t seem nearly as playful, and Zane assumed that was because she was at her house. She seemed just as eager, but he didn’t get the impression she would take the reins this time.
V was a very hedonistic, highly lascivious woman, and she knew exactly what she wanted. She was also shy when it came to going after it. Zane needed her to show him. He wanted her to take what she wanted because that’s what this particular interlude was about.
Zane found his own satisfaction in making her come, making her beg for more, and when Beau was there, her pleasure was only intensified. He wouldn’t deny the heightened sensuality that he felt when Beau was involved, but he knew that was due to the spontaneity. It was all about V and the satisfaction they could both bring her. This wasn’t about love or romance. This was down, and dirty, hardcore fucking in its most potent form and Zane didn’t want to waste another second.
Considering he still had his doubts about what Beau wanted, or possibly expected from him, Zane was looking to keep the attention solely on V for the night. He needed a chance to talk to Beau about what happened, but until then, he wanted to ensure he kept control of the situation. Unlike last time.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, Zane forced her back from him, ensuring she was once again steady on her feet. Once her legs were solid beneath her, Zane moved around her and sat on the edge of the bed beside Beau.
“Take it off, V,” Zane demanded.
V turned to face them, and he saw the hesitation in her eyes, but then it disappeared as fast as it came, replaced by sheer determination. That’s what he loved about this woman. She didn’t want anyone to see her vulnerability, but it was there. This wasn’t the norm for her, but she craved the intoxicating exhilaration as much as he did.
Zane (Alluring Indulgence) Page 16
