by Mari Carr
She struggled to stem the flow of tears. If she walked into the house with puffy, red eyes they would pounce on her in a moment, demanding to know what was wrong. What would she say? Both of them were facing their own fears right now, very real fears—and she suddenly felt silly for her tears. They’d endured years of a strange form of child abuse and now they were being forced to confront one of their abusers. How could she add to their worries with her own foolish concerns?
They needed to take this relationship one day at a time. Her worries could wait. She wouldn’t add to their problems. Not now, when there was so much to truly overcome. They had to settle the past before they could look to the future. She struggled to push her own fears aside. They needed her and she would be there for them. They’d face this mission together and they would win. She refused to think otherwise. Then, they would sit down and have a serious chat about the long run.
Feeling somewhat better, she blotted her tears, fixed her makeup and headed for Jon’s townhouse.
* * * * *
“I’m home.” Carly heard voices in the kitchen so she threw down her purse and headed in that direction. Reilly and Jon were in a heated discussion, seated opposite each other at the table. Night was slamming cabinets and drawers in what appeared to be his attempt at making dinner.
“Home sweet home.” She spoke the words with a light laugh, but the men at the table ignored her joke and continued glaring at each other. Night crossed the room to place a soft kiss on her cheek, but even his face was hard and serious. She took another glance around and then groaned. The house had been a hotbed of tension and arguments over how to proceed ever since they’d told Reilly she was going undercover at the compound.
“Not this again. Jon, it’s been decided. Today was my last day at work. I’ve put in for two weeks’ vacation and I’m going to the retreat tomorrow.”
“All I’m suggesting is that you wait two more days.” Jon stood up but didn’t approach her.
She rolled her eyes. “Two more days will only put me there the day before you guys show up. How on earth can I gather any useful information in that amount of time? Besides, your mother is expecting me tomorrow.”
The day after she’d convinced them to allow her to participate in their covert operation, she’d returned to the retreat center to accept the position as office manager. They had preceded her up the mountain that day and hidden out at Night’s old observation post—armed and ready to storm the place if she didn’t leave the compound before two hours had passed, regardless of Reilly’s protests.
“You aren’t going up there to find information. Just to make sure the women are okay. Don’t you dare try to start snooping around. Lock yourself in your room every night.”
“I know all that, Jon. We’ve been through this about a million times.”
Reilly frowned. “Do what Jon says, by all means, but don’t forget—”
“Don’t forget to be such a nuisance that Cassandra is annoyed enough with me to put me on top of her list of women to train and sell.” She waved her hand in front of a fake yawn. “Isn’t there anything else you fellas talk about besides your missions? Sports, cars, hot babes? You know, guy stuff?”
Night chuckled at her jest, but Jon sat back down heavily on the chair and she took a closer look at his face. There were dark circles under his eyes and she recognized the tension in his neck and shoulders.
“Jon, I’ll only be alone for three days. I’ve been in the center before, twice now, and believe me, I don’t think anything sinister will happen to me in that little bit of time. We’re not even sure Cassandra has started her scam. For all we know, the women living there are still blissfully unaware of the danger they’re facing.”
Night reached for her hand. “Beauty, we have no way of knowing there aren’t other men besides the guards living inside that compound. There is always the chance Cassandra has other men in place who are doing exactly what we’re afraid she’ll ask us to do. Hell, maybe she has the guards doing more than just protecting the joint.”
“And, if not other men or the guards, Mommie Dearest may be initiating the training herself. She doesn’t really care who’s on the receiving end of her abuse. Carly, do you know what could happen to you in three days?” Jon’s voice was anguished and she fought to harden her heart against the sound.
“My mind is made up, Jon. I’m sorry.”
Reilly stood and she expected to see a look of victory on his face. After all, he’d been pushing for her to go back to the compound immediately. Instead, she saw the same tired resignation in his eyes she’d witnessed in Night and Jon’s faces. She didn’t know what horrors these men had faced in their past, but she could see that their jobs brought them no pleasure.
She thought of the difference she’d seen in Jon in the short time she’d known him. He’d been so distant and serious when he’d first started teaching at Lowell. As the months passed, she’d watched a funny, compassionate man emerge and her heart suddenly ached to see that man again.
Then, glancing over at Night, she decided that regardless of the outcome of this case, he wasn’t going back to work with Reilly. She didn’t care what it took to convince him; she simply wouldn’t let him continue to live such a dangerous, miserable lifestyle.
“I have to go.” Reilly placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’re an amazingly courageous woman, Ms. James, but remember your part. Don’t try to be a hero and don’t do anything foolish. Simply show up ready to work and then observe. Any small tidbits of information you can feed Night and Jon upon their arrival will make their jobs that much easier. However, I do not want you stepping out of your role. Jon’s right. You are not to go snooping around or asking a bunch of questions. Stay safe until the cavalry arrives or my life won’t be worth a damn.”
She started to laugh at his comment, but a quick glance at Night and Jon proved his words were no joke. She didn’t doubt the men would hunt Reilly down like a rabid dog if anything were to happen to her.
“I’ll be fine, Reilly. Honestly. I’m not about to place myself in any serious danger.”
Jon barked out a harsh laugh and Night shook his head. Reilly was the only one to respond to her words. “Merely placing yourself in Cassandra Walker’s presence is more dangerous than a game of Russian Roulette. Bear that in mind and watch your step every minute. Never, never underestimate her.”
* * * * *
Reilly’s words were still ringing in her ears as she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. She could hear Night and Jon speaking in hushed tones in the bedroom. She was surprised they hadn’t broached the subject of her leaving in the morning again. After Reilly left, they’d had a lovely dinner and dessert and spent most of the evening simply talking about nothing in particular. The whole night had been relaxing and peaceful and she could easily imagine herself spending every night of the rest of her life in the same manner.
Turning off the light, she walked back into the bedroom and silently chastised herself for the butterflies twittering in her stomach. She wondered if the incredible pleasure of sleeping with two men would ever wear off. She loved the feeling of their hands and mouths on her and considered the fact that for the first time in her life, she could actually sympathize with a drug addict. She craved sex to such an extreme, she worried about exactly what she would give to keep them with her always.
The feelings that overpowered her on the drive home this afternoon crept back into her subconscious, but she beat them away. For the next few nights she would be sleeping alone, and she didn’t want to waste one moment of tonight to fear or anxiety.
“It’s about time you got out of that bathroom. We were going to come get you.” Jon’s words were light and he smiled at her as he patted her place beside him in the middle of the bed. It was amazing how quickly such small things had become routine. The way they slept each night, her spot between them on the living room couch, even household chores had become second nature to them as they each quietly assumed their pla
ces.
She crawled under the covers and scooted next to Jon, whom she was happy to see was conveniently naked. Apparently he felt the same should be true for her and he quickly swept her nightgown over her head.
“That’s better.” He spoke the words against her lips as he kissed her softly. She could hear Night undressing behind her and felt the mattress dip as he joined them.
“Do you mind if I steal some of those kisses?” Night slowly turned her toward him and placed his lips against hers. She marveled at the difference in each kiss. Jon kissed her as if his life depended on it and each kiss was destined to be the last. She felt such urgency in him, she wondered if he would ever feel secure in the knowledge she would never leave him. Night, on the other hand, kissed as if he had all the time in the world. His kisses were reflective of his personality and she reveled in the slow, deep, easy touches of his tongue against hers.
Jon’s hands drifted to her waist and she moved into his body, allowing him to spoon her. His hands circled to the front and rested for only a moment on her breasts before he started playing with her nipples. Night deepened his kiss as Jon’s fingers became rougher, more demanding. She pushed away from Night, desperate to catch her breath, but neither man seemed inclined to grant her even a moment’s reprieve.
“Come here,” Night demanded as he rolled onto his back and pulled her over him. She draped her legs around his waist as he dragged her lips back to his. Jon knelt between her spread thighs from behind and she gasped as he shoved three fingers inside her. Jon gathered the moisture there and brought it back to her ass.
Neither man had taken her ass since her first time with Night on the kitchen table. Her initial fears over the position seemed silly now and she barely restrained from begging Jon to take her there right now. She wanted to feel him filling her tight hole, but she knew from experience the more she begged, the more the men seemed to take a perverse delight in torturing her with her desires. Last night, they’d kept her on the precipice of an orgasm for close to an hour before allowing her release.
As she struggled to take a deep breath, Night moved his attentions from her lips to her breasts, and she felt his tongue and teeth teasing the sensitive tips. Shaking her head against the sensations building in her body, she became aware of the fact Night and Jon seemed to be completely in tune with each other’s actions. Every time Night nipped sharply at one of her nipples, Jon would thrust his finger roughly into her ass. As Night soothed the injured nub, Jon held still within her.
After several moments of the glorious treatment, they both just stopped. Night pulled back and looked at her. She felt him slip a condom into her hand. “Put it on me, Beauty.”
She grinned and quickly did as he asked. Without further ado, Night lifted her and placed his cock at her opening. With strong hands on her hips, he pulled her down until he was fully seated within her. She started to rise back up, but Night stopped her and shook his head. “Not yet, Carly.”
She was confused—until she felt Jon’s cock pushing against her ass. She started to move away but Night held her still. Both men stopped for a moment and Jon bent forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Everything,” he whispered in her ear, and her body relaxed at the sound of the word.
She nodded and Jon started to push his cock into the tight chamber.
“Breathe, Beauty.” She released the breath she didn’t remember holding. Night was motionless beneath her, yet she could feel his gaze on her face. Knowing he was studying her response made her super-aware of her facial expressions. She struggled to remain composed despite the slight pinches and discomfort she felt as Jon continued to make his way inside. When she felt the back of Jon’s thighs pressed tightly against hers, her body gave itself up to the intense feeling and she shuddered.
“Okay?” Jon asked as he bent forward to place a comforting kiss on the back of her neck.
“Yes.” She’d never in her entire life experienced such a feeling. She was completely surrounded by hard male flesh. She was burning up inside and out and all she wanted was more. As if in response to her silent plea, Night slowly lifted her off his cock. He pulled out nearly to the head before changing her direction and bringing her back to him. Jon picked up the rhythm and soon each man was thrusting in tandem, until they stoked the embers inside her to a roaring blaze.
She screamed with each orgasm, yet on they pressed, pushing her further and higher than she’d ever been in her life. Just when she felt certain she would die of the pleasure, she heard Jon give in to his climax.
“Christ!” he yelled as she felt him coming inside her ass, hard spurts of come filling her.
Night soon followed suit, his hands on her hips tightening almost painfully as he gave in to the pleasure she could see written on his face.
Regardless of what happened on that mountain, nothing could destroy the way she felt right now. She’d been given the most perfect moment of her life, lost in the arms of the two men she knew without a doubt she would love until the day she died.
Jon fell back toward his side of the bed, taking her with him, and she fell asleep tucked into the strong arms of her men, her lovers, and with any luck, her future.
Chapter Sixteen
Three days seemed to last an eternity. Now, standing before the door of his childhood home, Jon was surprised at how small the compound suddenly looked. As a boy, first arriving, he remembered thinking how grand the place was. The huge house with its numerous outbuildings seemed like a city unto itself and the young Jon had been impressed. Now, as he took on the sagging front porch, he realized how time and perspective accentuated the defects that had always been there.
Taking a deep breath, he recalled Reilly’s final instructions to them.
Think with your head, not your heart.
The words whirled in his mind like a personal mantra. He wouldn’t fail Carly, Trisha Jackson or any of the other women whose lives were now in grave peril thanks to his mother.
“Same old hellhole.” Night seemed to be doing his own reminiscing.
“Yep. You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Ringing the bell, he was surprised when the door was answered almost immediately. A cold chill traveled down his spine at the sight of Rex Thomas’ right-hand man.
“Sammy,” Jon said.
The years had not been kind to the large man. Most of his hair had fallen out and the remaining few strands had turned stark white. The bareness of his head emphasized the scars on his forehead and right cheek and the fact that his nose had been broken more than once. His once tremendous height was diminished a bit by a slight stoop.
“Master Jon. Master Night.” The man’s drawl, however, was still the same, still eerily devoid of emotion. They used to scare the younger kids of the cult by telling them Sammy was a zombie.
“We’ve come to see Cassandra.” As he spoke, Jon saw the thin line of wire around the doorframe. Some sort of high-tech security system? That would explain how his mother had detected the bugs on the female agents Reilly had sent. Thank God they’d had the foresight not to send Carly in wearing a wire. It had been discussed and dismissed as Reilly suspected Cassandra’s ability to detect law enforcement was based more on technology than intuition.
“Of course, sir. She is expecting you both.” Sammy moved aside to admit them and Jon felt as if he’d been transported back in time. The foyer of the house hadn’t changed a bit. The same dingy curtains hung in the windows and the panes looked as if they’d never seen a drop of water. His initials still marred the top of the entryway table, carved there when he was twelve with the pocketknife he’d received as a birthday gift.
“If you will wait here, I will tell Mistress you have arrived.”
They watched Sammy limp away.
“Mistress, eh? Cassandra’s up to at least some of her old tricks.”
Jon shot Night a warning glance and Night grimaced. The walls in this old house had ears and his friend was going to have to watch his wayw
ard tongue.
After several moments, Sammy returned. “If you will come this way, Master Jon, Master Night. My Mistress will see you now.”
Following at a leisurely pace, Jon took in each room they passed, uneasy by the silence of the place. As closely as they could figure, there were roughly twenty guards working on the compound and, according to Reilly, there were close to forty women and children staying at the facility. Where were they? The house was eerily still and quiet.
He saw a shadow move farther down the hallway. No doubt a guard. Carly had mentioned glimpsing a couple inside the house during her visits here. He couldn’t stop the pang in his heart as he wondered where she was and if she was okay. She’d spent three days alone and unprotected in this place. He still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to such a thing. If anything had happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.
Night elbowed him and Jon looked up to see him gesturing to where they were heading.
He wasn’t surprised when Sammy led them to Rex’s former office. Of course Cassandra would claim the largest and grandest room in the house. Entering the room, he braced himself to see the woman he had hoped never to lay eyes on again.
She sat behind a large mahogany desk, writing in a ledger. His first thought was that she hadn’t changed a bit and Reilly’s joke about genetics held no truth. He’d inherited all of his looks from the woman sitting before him. From his dark hair to his height, from his deep-set chocolate-brown eyes to his dimples—all of it came from her. Even now, as he studied her, he silently marveled at her impossible youthfulness. Her raven hair contained only a handful of white strands and no doubt she’s found a way to manipulate nature and forbid wrinkles from marring her still-smooth skin.
She continued writing in her book until he decided it was time to set the tone with her. Unwilling to be ignored, he cleared his throat. “Hello, Mother dear.”
