Deceived

by Suzannah Daniels

  As quickly as he had begun, he was finished, and I found myself having a difficult time getting the image of his masculine physique out of my mind.

  After I finished kissing the stone, we gazed at the grounds from the parapet. The views were spectacular, and we could see for miles all around the castle.

  We spent hours exploring the grounds, and by the time we returned to the hotel, we were both exhausted.

  Paxton had returned before us, and he was watching television.

  “I’m going to get a drink,” Cade said. “You want something, Flanagan?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take a Coke.”

  He started to walk out without asking Pax, but at the last moment, he focused on his brother. “Do you?”

  “Nah, I’m good,” Paxton replied.

  Cade walked out the door without another word.

  “What’s going on between you two?” Paxton asked.

  “I like him,” I replied honestly.

  “He’s not good for you, Seren.”

  “I disagree.”

  “How well do you know him?”

  “Well enough. Between Whiskey Nights and the gym, we talk almost daily.”

  “Be careful,” he warned, focusing his attention back on the TV.

  I watched his profile a moment. Why was there so much animosity between Cade and him? Was it a simple case of jealousy?

  I lay on the bed, relaxing as I waited for Cade to return with our drinks.

  A few minutes later, he walked into the room and tossed something on Paxton’s bed.

  Paxton leaned up and stared at the comforter, trying to decide what Cade had just done. “What’s this?” he asked, picking up a packet.

  “That’s the key to your new room. You’ve got one all to yourself tonight.”

  Paxton frowned as he picked it up. Without saying another word, he gathered his things and left the room.

  “What just happened?” I asked, trying to decide whether he and Paxton had a conversation to which I hadn’t been privy.

  “I just bought Pax his own room for the night.”

  “Why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Cade’s sculpted lips turned down in a frown before he looked at me, a serious expression on his face. “I may not be doing the right thing, Flanagan, but I want to spend some time with you tonight. Just you and me.”

  I swallowed, my heart pumping furiously as my mouth went dry. “Did you want to go to dinner or something?”

  He slowly shook his head, his angular jawline stubbornly set as he watched me. “The only hunger that I can even think about right now is my hunger for you.”

  A tiny thrill blossomed in my chest, expanding and swirling as each second ticked by and I fully realized his meaning.

  This was the moment I had been dreaming of for months. So why was panic setting in?

  He crossed the room and knelt in front of me, pulling me to him for a kiss as if he couldn’t wait another moment. His tongue delved into my mouth, demanding and unapologetic as he kissed me possessively. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, my every sense filled with Cade.

  “Wait,” I whispered, pushing him back a moment as I gulped in air.

  He hovered a hand’s breadth from my face. “You don’t want this?”

  Oh, I wanted it. I would be lying if I pretended that I wasn’t nervous, but this was Cade. And not only did I want it, but I wanted our first time to be perfect. Slowly, I nodded my head. “I do,” I whispered, “but could I just have a few minutes?”

  “Sure.” He ran a hand through his short dark hair as he exhaled, attempting to slow the urgency that seemed to drive him.

  “I’m going to take a quick shower,” he said softly.

  I nodded, my breathing still faster than normal.

  After he was safely in the bathroom, I was actually relieved to have a moment to gather my thoughts. I picked out my sexiest outfit and placed it discreetly in a small canvas bag. When I tucked in the blindfold, I heard the bathroom door open. I turned to see Cade with nothing but a towel wrapped low on his hips.

  Frozen in place by his beauty, I was mesmerized. His broad shoulders tapered into a narrow waist, and every ounce of him was hardened muscle. I was unsure why his appearance had caught me so off-guard. I’d seen him plenty of times at the gym in shorts and tanks, but there was something about knowing that he was completely nude under the towel.

  Realizing that I was staring, I turned back to my suitcase, closed it, and headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.”

  I took a moment to hang the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the outer doorknob. Then, I showered and shaved as quickly as I could. After I had dried off and brushed my teeth, I pulled the black bustier and matching panties from the bag and slipped them on, along with a pair of lace-top stockings. My black heels were tucked neatly under the vanity, and I pulled them out and slipped them on, hoping I could sashay across the room in them without breaking an ankle.

  Gazing at my appearance in the mirror, I wondered if he would approve. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. I had prepared for this moment, so why was I so nervous? This wasn’t high school anymore, and Cade had made it clear that he was interested in me.

  With my hand on the doorknob, I stilled, taking one last deep breath in an attempt to slow my thundering heart.

  Pulling the door open, I gave myself a mental pep talk and bolstered my confidence as I walked into the room.

  He wore nothing but a pair of boxers as he lounged back on the bed, the remote to the television in his hand. One lamp was on, emitting soft light into the room.

  When he turned to look at me, I instantly knew he approved. His eyes roved over my body appreciatively before he turned back to the TV and switched it off.

  Laying the remote on the night stand, he scooted to the edge of the bed, swinging his feet down to the floor. He let out a low whistle. “Damn, Flanagan. You look sexy as hell.”

  He didn’t wait for me to respond before he stood, closing the distance between us. He curled his finger under my chin, lifting my face to meet his. He opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but then he closed it again.

  “What?’ I asked, concerned by his hesitation.

  “Nothing,” he whispered. “There’s nowhere that I would rather be right now than here with you.”

  Then he bent down, brushing his lips against mine. His kiss was soft and gentle, his exquisite tenderness sending shivers through my body. He wrapped his muscular arm around my waist, pulling me tightly against him, and I slid my arms around his shoulders, feeling the hard muscles beneath my soft fingertips. His other hand fell to my hip, his fingers dipping beneath the edge of my panties as he slid his palm along my skin until he was cupping my buttocks.

  He gently squeezed my flesh as he deepened the kiss, and I melded against him, the soft mounds of my breasts spilling out of my bustier as his palm flattened against my back and pressed me against the length of him.

  “Damn, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted you,” he whispered against my lips. “What is it about you?” He pulled me away from him, grasping my face in his palms as his green eyes studied my face. “You’re just so damn irresistible.”

  I lifted my face to his, an overwhelming need to feel his lips against my own. My hands snaked around his waist, and I filled my palms with his perfectly sculpted ass. The movement sent him into a frenzy as he picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I could feel his hard-on pressing against me, and a soft moan escaped my lips. I had dreamt of being with him for so long….

  “Shit,” he whispered. “I want to take my time.” He lowered me until my feet touched the floor and gently took the blindfold from my hand. “Turn around.” I obeyed, and he tied it snugly around my eyes. “I don’t want you to see what I’m doing. I want you to feel it. I want you to concentrate on the touch of my hand.” His voice was a soft caress. “Let me look at you.”

  My heart thundered against my rib cage, and I wondered if he
heard it. A throbbing had begun between my legs, and I pressed my thighs together in an effort to quell it. I started to turn toward him, but he whispered, “Stay right there.”

  I stood motionless, unsure of what he had in mind. Then, I felt the warmth of his hands at my waist. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered from behind me as he scooped my hair into his hands and gently pushed it over my shoulder. His fingertips trailed down the center of my back and stopped at the base of my spine. I trembled involuntarily, and he chuckled in satisfaction. “You respond to my slightest touch.”

  “I’ve been imagining this moment for a long time,” I said, justifying my reaction.

  “Then I better not disappoint.” He replaced his fingers with his lips, placing a trail of searing kisses down my back as he knelt behind me. When he reached the edge of my panties, he pulled them lower, his lips hovering at the base of my spine. He splayed one palm against the flat of my stomach, the other gently kneading my flesh as his lips teased me. “You have the sweetest ass.” His tongue flickered across my bare skin at the base of my back, and I released a shattered breath as fire burned deep in my belly and a sensual tingling ripped through my lower body like wildfire.

  He was performing the most alluring form of torture as his every move teased me, making me squirm with my need. I arched my back, pressing my buttocks toward him. He pulled my panties lower and pressed a kiss to the soft rounded flesh. His palm skimmed along my inner thigh. “Spread your legs,” he whispered. I obeyed and was rewarded with his fingers skimming my heat through the sheer fabric.

  The hand that rested on my abdomen dipped into my panties until his finger parted my flesh. I tilted my head back as his fingers slid along my folds, creating delicious tension in my lower body with the movement.

  My breath came out in pants as he teased me, each stroke testifying to his skill. “Cade,” I whispered, unsure how much more torture I could take.

  He responded by kissing my hip, his fingers increasing their pace as they teased and taunted.

  “Oh,” I moaned in anticipation of the ecstasy that would soon follow.

  “You like that, don’t you, Flanagan?”

  I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded my agreement, the blindfold still in place as I concentrated on his movements.

  One finger probed at my entrance as his other hand continued to build the tension within me. As my body accommodated him, he began to thrust faster until I screamed with my release, my world exploding in shards of bright light as my muscles clenched around him. My chest heaved as I tried to regulate my breathing. Once I began to relax, he slowly withdrew, pulling my panties down my legs until I stepped out of them.

  After removing the blindfold, he stood and pulled me toward the bed, and I kicked off my heels, grabbed a condom from my suitcase and laid it on the nightstand. After his large frame sank into the mattress, he guided my movements until I straddled him. I smoothed my palms over his muscular chest, and he watched me with hooded eyes as I bent over him, leaving a trail of kisses over his pectoral muscles.

  Cupping my shoulders, he pushed me up until he could see my face. He reached out and twisted his finger around a strand of my hair. “I just want to look at you,” he said, his voice low and hoarse. My fingers trailed along his well-defined jawline, skimming along the rough stubble of his unshaven face. He squeezed my breasts, their fullness overflowing the edge of the lingerie. With one quick motion, he jerked the fabric down, freeing me. His thumbs caressed my nipples until they hardened, and he pressed his erection against my core. “Damn.”

  He watched me as he leaned back into the pillow, his chin angled toward his chest as he massaged my flesh, feeling the weight of my breasts in his hands.

  His eyes opened into slits as his hands moved down my sides, gripping my thighs as he slowly rotated his hips upward.

  I scooted back, pulling his boxers down. My fingers closed over his shaft, and he released a shattered breath as I squeezed. It pleased me to know that I could affect him just as much as he could affect me.

  He pulled up into a seated position, contracting his abdominal muscles. I smoothed my hand along the ridges while he reached out and touched me, his finger sliding into my crevice. “You’re ready for it, aren’t you?” he asked as my hips undulated in response.

  “Shit.” He blew a breath out between clenched teeth as he snatched up the condom and ripped the packet open. After rolling it over his rock-hard length, he guided his shaft to my core. He worked his hips slowly, allowing my body time to accommodate his size.

  Once our bodies created a steady rhythm, he flipped me on my back, one arm holding his weight as the other gripped my hip. Eager with his need, he began to pump furiously. I closed my eyes as our bodies slammed together, delighting in the sensation.

  Then he lifted his hips and plunged deep inside me, holding me steady against him as his body went rigid, every last muscle contracting as pleasure ripped through him.

  Slowly, the spasms relented, but he didn’t release his hold on me. Finally, his grip loosened, and he pulled me down beside him, tucking me into his side. “You scare the hell out of me,” he whispered.

  “What?” I asked, lying motionless as I tried to decipher his meaning.

  “I used to think that if I could have just one night with you, I could die happy. One night will never be enough,” he whispered. “I’m not sure I can let you go.”

  “Who said you had to?”

  Chapter 10

  Ossified

  Cade

  I woke to find Flanagan’s naked body nestled into my side, her cheek resting against my chest while her hair tumbled wildly around us. My arm was already snaked around her protectively, but I pulled her even tighter against me, my palm resting on her slender hip. I gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, not wanting to wake her. I just wanted to lie here and savor every moment of having her in my arms. It had been a long time coming, a moment that I never expected to see. Maybe last night had been selfish of me, but during our many conversations at Whiskey Nights, I had become entranced by her.

  After her car accident, I’d had nightmares that Hawk and I hadn’t been able to get Flanagan and Amber out of the car in time. It made me appreciate Hawk’s line of work, and the repercussions that I knew he sometimes experienced. Part of me was certain that Hawk and I were meant to be within hearing distance of the accident that day, a road that could’ve easily been abandoned for long stretches at a time.

  He and Amber had decided that their fate had been sealed that day, that they had been brought together because they were meant to spend their lives with each other. Part of me wondered if the same had been true of Flanagan and me. She and I had already known each other, but after seeing her in such distress that day, I had wanted nothing more than to protect her, not just from the accident but from everything that would threaten her well-being.

  Damn, I couldn’t stop looking at her. It wasn’t just her beauty. It was everything about her. I craved her, her conversation, her company, her body.

  I wanted to keep her in my arms forever, but I was conflicted. I had other things going on, things that I couldn’t ignore.

  Listening to her soft, even breathing, I imagined what it would be like to have Flanagan as mine, to hear her whisper words that were only meant for me, to listen to her laughter after a smartass remark, to hold her like this as we both drifted to sleep.

  My pull toward her couldn’t be any stronger if we were tethered with a rope. It was as if the universe was pushing us together, and despite the fact that I had tried to keep a barrier between us, the day I found out Pax had run off to Ireland with her was the day that barrier crumbled at my feet like a century-old wall that was no longer capable of keeping out invaders. Over the last few months, she had slowly stolen little pieces of my affection during our almost-daily interactions. Little bits of laughter, occasional stolen glances filled with an intense attraction, a gentle brush of skin against skin…all these things had accumulated like tiny drops of water
leaking through a dam. Now, the dam had burst, and I didn’t know how to stop the flow of feelings that had overtaken me.

  Even worse, I no longer knew if I wanted to.

  It would be so easy to give in to my need to be with her.

  She stretched beside me, and once she became fully awake, she smiled at me. From her smile, I could tell that like me, her first thought this morning had been what passed between us last night.

  “Morning,” she whispered. She kissed my cheek and rose from the bed.

  As she crossed the room to her suitcase, I watched her, admiring the way her hair cascaded down her back and drew my eyes toward the sweet curve of her ass. Even now, I felt myself hardening as I remembered last night’s activities.

  “I’m going to take a quick shower. This is our last day in Ireland, so we need to make the most of it.”

  “If you want to make the most of it, come back to bed.” I patted the spot she had just vacated beside me.

  She cast a knowing grin over her slender shoulder. “A little anticipation won’t hurt you.”

  “Damn, Flanagan, I’ve been anticipating for far too long. Now that I’ve had a taste, I want to take a bite. And you’re just dangling in front of me like a carrot on a stick.”

  A peal of laughter floated in the air as she turned and looked at me, giving me a full frontal view of her delicious body. “I’m pretty sure you took a bite last night.”

  “And I’m still hungry.”

  “We have to take advantage of daylight. It’ll be dark by seven. There’ll be plenty of time for sampling then.”

  After she cleaned up, I followed suit while she dried her hair.

  When I stepped out of the shower, she was combing her long tresses, a towel wrapped tightly around her. I paused behind her, giving the towel a gentle tug. It immediately loosened and fell to the floor.

  “Cade!”

  Standing behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest while my hands cupped her breasts. She met my gaze in the mirror as I teased her nipples until they hardened. I pressed a kiss to her neck as one hand slid down her flat abdomen and stopped just shy of the one place that I knew she’d want me to touch the most. She tilted her head back against my shoulder, bringing her hands on top of mine. When she tried to push my hand toward the apex of her thighs, I chuckled softly against the tender flesh of her neck. “A little anticipation won’t hurt you.”