by MINK
She lets out a deep breath. “Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“Never.” I say in my most serious voice. “The merc code is clear on keeping confidences.”
She smiles. “Good. Okay. So, what I did was…” She moves closer until her lips tickle my ear, and she whispers. “I paid for his daughter’s college tuition. She was really smart but had a hard year when she was a senior because of some stupid boy who’d turned her head. But then he moved on, and she realized she’d been foolish to let her grades drop. And she tried so hard to bring them back up. Her dad told me all this when we were meeting at the recording studio a few months earlier for something else. She was there with her nose in a book. Such a sweet girl. Anyway, I set up a scholarship for her to attend the music school of her dreams, and when her father found out, he offered me the song. It hit number one on Billboard and stayed there for a month.” She tugs my hair playfully. “See? I can be bad, too.”
“You beautiful songbird.” I kiss her hard. “You are so bad. Giving a girl a second chance at a future and not even bartering for the song. You just did it to be kind, and he gave you the song. You did nothing wrong.”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m a bad girl.”
Why does that phrase send steel into my cock? I don’t know, but it does. “I like it when you’re bad, little songbird.” I roll over and pin her to the bed, then claim her mouth, taking and kissing and stroking as I press my cock against her wet slit.
“Oh!” she cries.
I sit back and stare down at her. “Are you all right? Did I hurt you?”
“What?” She sits up, too, and snatches her shirt—well, my shirt—from the floor. “No, I’m fine.” She drops another kiss on my lips. “But I need to ice the cake.”
She hurries from my room wearing nothing but my shirt. It’s hot. But also foolish. I yank on my pants and grab her shorts before chasing after her. No man gets to see my songbird like this. Her tight body is all for me. I’m going to lick her until she screams every day she’ll let me.
But first, she needs to put on some damn pants when she’s running around the lodge. She’s in my cage, after all.
9
Aurora
“Heads up,” Clover says. It is what she usually says when she spots paparazzi. I freeze for a moment, and she glances behind me. “Watch out! Caveman in hot pursuit.”
I turn to see Diego heading my way. I should probably feel intimidated, but the only thing I feel is turned on.
Every inch of his chest, the one that always reminds me of that movie ‘300,’ is barreling toward me. I scrunch my nose in irritation at his lack of clothing. He’s holding something in his hand. Hopefully it’s his damn shirt.
“Can you put a shirt on?” I say tartly. The idea of everyone else seeing his chest has me being a little more on edge than I normally am.
One reason I think I’d made it so far in my career is because I wasn't a diva. I don’t have crazy demands, and I’m nice to everyone I meet. I believe in treating people with respect, no matter their status.
That also made me gullible. Something my own mom and dad used against me until Bells stepped in. They’d taken advantage of me at every opportunity, and I used to let them. Bells put an end to it. I will always be grateful to her, knowing in my heart that I would’ve never been able to cut them off.
But when I see Diego flaunting his mouth-watering body, I want to boss him around and grant zero slack. He’s mine to drool over. No one else’s.
“You have nothing on under my shirt.” Diego breaks me from my thoughts. I look down at myself, feeling confused as to why he would have a problem with what I’m wearing. His shirt is longer than most of the things I wear on a daily basis.
“Don’t Google her last Grammy’s dress.” Clover chimes in, not helping the situation. “Oh, and stay away from the last music video, too. And the half dozen before that.”
“This is actually more than I’m used to wearing, to be honest.” If he googled me, he would see for himself. I don’t want him to google me. I want him to learn who I am when I’m just being me. Not when the world tries to portray me or how I’m told to be.
“Things change.” He drops to his knees in front of me. His face still comes up to my breasts. I watch as he holds out my shorts for me to step into. I put one hand on his shoulder to balance myself as I step into them. He’s being ridiculous, but I’m finding that I enjoy his jealousy.
Diego has such a triumphant smile once he gets me to put the shorts on that I would likely do anything in the whole world if it made him always smile like that.
“What’s wrong with your face?” Tiernan says when he walks past us.
“Don’t poke the bear,” I say to Tiernan. He might be the one with all the jokes around here, but he’s also the loner. Always drifting around somewhere. You’d think he was looking for something.
“Bear? I would say he’s more like King Kong,” Clover adds. I ignore all of them, giving Diego my full attention.
“Shirt.” I give him a push. He doesn't budge at first. When I push him again, he moves this time. Not because I pushed him, but because he wanted to. The man is a force to be reckoned with. But with me, he’s different.
Once he pulls his shirt on, I can get on with icing the cake and getting it to Bells. I’ll have to take it to her since Barrow still has her holed up in his part of the lodge. The thought of someone actually keeping Bells against her will brings a smile to my face. I’ll continue to let her run with that story, but I know the truth. Bells might have her first crush ever. She’s likely going to be mad at herself about that, which is ridiculous. But that’s Bells.
“I’m going to ice this cake, and then we have a date with Bells,” I tell Clover. “You should grab some ice cream and whatever utensils you think we’ll need for our cake date.”
“A cake date sounds perfect.” She heads off in pursuit of the ice cream and whatever else she thinks we need.
I gather the ingredients and whip up the icing. Thoughts of everything that has happened between Diego and me bring a smile to my face as I spread the icing onto the cake. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so happy.
“What are you smiling about, little songbird?” Diego’s warm breath tickles my neck as his big body crowds me from behind. I allow my head to fall back against his chest, enjoying him.
“Thoughts of you,” I admit. I want him to know he’s the one who’s making me happy. That gets me a growl from him. I swipe my finger along the edge of the bowl I used to make the icing and turn in his arms so I’m facing him. I lift my finger to his mouth to give him a taste of the sugary goodness, but he doesn’t take it. Instead he leans down to take my mouth. The kiss is perfect. Possessive, but sweet at the same time.
“Got my own sweetness. That’s all I’ll ever need.”
I swear my heart melts at his words. How the heck am I ever going to be able to leave here?
“The only thing I could find was vanilla.” Clover interrupts us and holds up a container of vanilla ice cream.
“You eat it.” Diego wraps his big hand around my wrist and brings my own finger to my mouth. I suck my finger, eating the delicious icing myself. His eyes heat, but he lets me wiggle past him.
“That should work.” We put some of the vanilla ice cream over a small piece of the cake I made for Bells. Clover takes it to her first. Then a line forms with everyone else wanting some cake, too.
There is barely anything left once everyone gets a piece. I should make more. These men are not only housing us but feeding us, too. I’m sure I could write a check easily, but I have a feeling none of them would take it. I’m not even sure they need it from the looks of this place. But I do think Diego needs me, and I know I need him too.
10
Diego
She disappears into Bells and Barrow’s room with the other women, so I sit down at the kitchen counter and check my texts. My contact works fast. I scowl as I read the information he’s sent, each bit of dat
a worse than the last.
“Fuck.” I slam my phone down.
“Don’t like it?” Tiernan takes a bite of his cake and grins.
“It’s delicious.” Daphne, the red-headed journalist who showed up out of fucking nowhere stands at the end of the counter. She takes another bite of her cake and gives Tiernan a pointed stare.
“Jesus, woman.” His smartass tone dissipates as he swipes his plate and stomps away.
I go back to my phone and ignore the two of them.
“Got some news?” Daphne asks.
I pick up my fork and take a bite of cake. It’s fucking delicious. I’ve never had anything so good. She made this. From scratch. With her tiny little hands. I couldn’t be more impressed. The sweetness cuts through my irritation, at least somewhat.
Snagging my phone, I forward the intel to the guys, then dig back into my cake as I keep an eye on the hallway.
It doesn’t take long for Charles to come stomping into the kitchen again. “This can’t be real.” He sits heavily on the stool beside me.
“It’s real.” I sigh and finish off my cake, then scoop up the crumbs left behind.
“So we’re talking at least five numbnuts showing up here to try and take out your pop princess?”
“I’m thinking there’s probably one they missed. Maybe a true professional. Not sure.” I toss my fork onto my plate. “Could have flown under the radar.”
“Could be outside right now.” Charles grits his teeth.
I shoot a glance out the window at the snowy landscape. “Freezing his balls off if he is.”
“The first assassin made it.”
“And that damn redhead.” Tiernan strides in, his eyes on his phone. “She made it. Her and her questions and her legs, and ...” He runs a hand over his face. “Her everything.”
Charles raises a brow at me, and I shrug. Must be something in the water.
“She made it, but I checked her route. She got as close as she could in a Jeep towing an ATV, then hopped on the ATV with chained tires and made it to us. Not easy.” Charles glances outside, too. “The snow should stay thick, but the road will thaw soon. Probably tomorrow around noon, if I had to guess. Then the plow from Frozen Falls will clear it.”
“And then we’ll have five or six killer clowns at our doorstep.” I grab my plate and toss it into the sink, then frown when I realize I almost broke it. “Fuck.”
“We’re all on edge.” Tiernan shakes his head.
“Not true. I feel great.” Charles smiles.
When I think about my sweet songbird, I feel pretty damn good, too. I re-take my seat and go back through the list of amateurs on my phone.
“I think I want the arson guy. He seems like fun.” Tiernan smirks. “Real fucked up.”
“I’ll take the sharpshooter and the knives expert.” I could use a warm-up.
“I guess I get the leftovers. The block-headed brawler and the wannabe ninja?” Charles grumbles. “I should’ve called the arson guy.”
“Too late.” Tiernan pulls a blade from his side and flips it expertly in the air. “Time to go hunting.” He turns and strolls out.
“Barrow’s going to be pissed he missed out.” Charles cracks his knuckles.
I stand and cast another glance down the hall. “If this guy is obsessed enough that he’s spending money on B-team players, it’s only a matter of time before he realizes he needs to step it up. And when that happens—”
Charles holds up a hand. “The Brotherhood knows better than to show up here.”
“I’d like to think the Scorpions would know better, too.” I sigh heavily. “Then again, you see the trust fund on this idiot? He’s paying low-dollar right now, but it’s only because he doesn’t know there are better players out there. Once he finds the cream of the crop, he’ll pay for it.”
“I hope you’re wrong.” Charles rubs the bridge of his nose.
“I’m not.”
“I know.” He glances down the hall again. “But we’ll be ready. No one’s going to hurt our women.” He holds out his forearm to me. “We’ll handle it.”
I accept his grip and give him a nod. “Let’s take out the trash, then plan for the professionals.”
“Right on, brother.” Charles squeezes my arm. “And do you think your Aurora could make us some more cake?”
“Where the hell have you been? Why is there blood? What is—”
I stop my songbird’s mouth with a kiss.
She melts against me as I pull her close. I’ve come back victorious from two death matches, and my blood is running high.
I can’t resist her, can’t stop myself from backing her up until her knees hit the bed. She drops with a soft sigh, and I pull my shirt over my head and kick my pants off.
“I need you.” There’s nothing else I can say.
She scoots back on the bed and pulls off her shirt, her body revealed to me as she lies back and spreads her legs. “I need you, too.”
I fall on her like a wild beast, sucking, biting, kissing, licking—I want to taste every inch of her skin, so I do. But then I grow impatient to be inside her. I have to feel her squeezing me, feel her alive and writhing beneath me.
“Please,” she pants as I line my cock up at her entrance. When I surge inside her, she moans and arches, her body welcoming me home. I take her hard and deep, making her mine again and again as I kiss her mouth.
She’s everything I’ve never deserved, but I can’t stop now. I can’t let her go. And I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt her. I’ve killed before. It was simple then. It’s even simpler now. This beautiful, fragile, amazing woman needs me. I’ll always be there for her. I’ll always protect her.
I tell her with each thrust, with each mumbled bit of praise. “My beautiful songbird.”
She moans and wraps her legs around me. When I suck the spot below her ear and squeeze her perfect little breast, she comes for me, her body tightening like a coil. I can’t hold out, not when her pussy is coaxing me to spill my seed. So I do, giving her all of me as I grunt and kiss her mouth, as I show her who I am.
And when we can finally breathe again, when we find air and each other’s eyes, she looks up at me and says, “I missed you. What’s with the blood?”
I laugh as I kiss her again, my benevolent queen who has no idea the river of blood I’d spill just to keep a smile on her perfect lips.
11
Aurora
It doesn’t take long for Daphne to literally come knocking at my door. I get it. She came here for a story. I’d promised her one, and now she’s come to collect on that promise. The woman is determined, I’ll give her that. I know she had to climb mountains to get here. It wasn’t some quick flight and cab ride over. Daphne has a drive inside her. I can see it. I’m not sure I’ve ever had that.
My voice and looks are gifts. I was born with them. At one time I’d thought I was doing what I wanted. Now I’m not so sure. I do love to sing, but lately I don’t love everything else that comes along with it. Maybe I could release songs on my own whenever I feel like it instead of renewing my contract. My current one is done. I’m sure my agent is already looking for or working on a new one. I mean, Taylor Swift just did her own indie album and it was a hit. I could do that, too.
I crack open the door and meet Daphne’s gaze. Before I can say anything, the door is shut again. Diego’s big hand has come down on it.
“You can’t just answer doors, songbird. It might not be who you think it is.”
“She knocked and said her name,” I point out. It’s also not like it’s the front door. It’s just the door to our room.
Diego is on edge. I thought I’d worked most of it out of him. I have a high endurance. You have to when you’re on stage for hours belting your lungs out while dancing at the same time. But he’s been giving me a run for my money. The man can’t get enough of me.
“I thought everyone that was bad, you’d just...” I run my finger across my neck.
“I only need a m
oment of your time,” Daphne interrupts. Ah. Now that is a lie. A reporter never wants only a moment. I think their definition of the word is different from others’.
I motion to the door, silently asking if I can open it. I kiss his bare chest over his heart. We’re actually aligned perfectly when we’re standing together. I watch some of the tension drain from him as he starts to open the door.
This time it’s me that shuts it. “Go put some clothes on.” I motion at his bare chest. He smirks. An actual smirk forms on his lips, and I want to kiss it. Luckily for Daphne, my Diego does as he’s asked and ventures off to find a shirt.
I open the door again. “Aurora Davenport is in a serious relationship, and it is not with Kent Kingston,” Daphne says as she tries to get a peek inside. She slips right into reporter mode.
“That was a statement, not a question. So are we done then?”
She lets out a small laugh, then her face goes serious. “I’m far from done. Kent Kingston is going to get his due. Along with all the other people that allow him to get away with the shit he pulls. This isn’t just about him; it’s about all of them. He’s only a small man on the totem pole. I won’t rest until I take down every last one of them.”
I take a deep breath as I contemplate her words. I’m not even the one she’s investigating, and I’m scared of her. Then she gives me a bright smile. In a snap, she goes from wanting revenge to being happy. All in the blink of an eye. She’s going to fit in well with the men around here.
“Diego is mine,” I blurt out. It’s best that I clear that up for her.
“Noted.” She wiggles her brows at me while giving me a knowing smirk. I peek over my shoulder to see Diego finally has a shirt on now. I didn’t even bother to ask what happened when he’d come back covered in blood. I knew he’d taken care of whatever threat he needed to make sure I was safe. Is it terrible that I was turned on by the fact that he’d gone out to protect me and came back to claim his prize? Well, if it is, I don’t really care. Whoever was out there had the intent to hurt me, so I have a right to protection and everything that comes along with it. Especially when it includes orgasms.
