Web of Lies

by Elizabeth Knox

  “You don’t get to chicken out now, Viv,” Roman teases with a kiss to the tip of her nose. Taking her hand in his and motioning for me to follow, Roman leads her into my bathroom suite, where I have a large jacuzzi bathtub, one of the ones you have to step into. It must have been where he slipped off to earlier as the tub is already filled with water, bubbles floating lazily on the surface as the candles around the edge flicker, casting shadows on the tiles.

  “C’mon, this will help relax you,” he practically purrs as he climbs into the tub with her.

  I watch as he eases her into the water with him, her skin slick and wet. I strip my trousers off and toss them aside. Sitting myself on the edge, I leisurely stroke my cock as his hands move down her back, fingers barely skimming against her flesh as she straddles him. She grinds against him, her inhibitions lowering as she loosens up. They kiss, looking almost romantic given the setting until Viv grabs Roman, growing impatient with his tender, lingering touches and we both chuckle as she kisses him like she’s angry.

  “Want me to move this along sweetheart?” he asks when she finally breaks away, breathing heavy. Vivian nods, and as quick as a flash, Roman moves her so that she’s kneeling in front of me as he gets in position behind.

  She smiles slyly at me before her hand replaces my own. We both watch mesmerized as her tightened fist teases my cock. I cup her breasts, giving them a gentle squeeze before tweaking her nipples between my fingers. Her back arches and Roman slides his hands down beneath the water. The way she bites down on her bottom lip tells me that he’s found the sweet spot. She moans his name as he thrusts inside her, but I steal her words with my mouth. Roman’s hand tangles in her hair as he yanks her head back, grinning at her. He pushes her down so that her mouth is hovering right above my dick and she steadies herself by placing her hands on my thighs. She makes a soft mewling noise as she begs Roman to go harder. Tongue darting out, she playfully taunts the swollen head of my penis, and we both watch as it twitches in response.

  “Don’t be a fucking tease, Viv. Suck the man’s cock!” Roman growls as he spanks her, the slapping noise echoing around the room.

  “Would you like that, James?” she asks with a faux innocence that has me grinning. Where is cold and prim Viv now? I pinch her nipples in response, but she has her revenge when I almost groan as she takes me into her mouth. It’s hard to stay in control when Vivian St. Clare has invaded every thought.

  With her head in my lap and her arse in the air, I get a better view of Roman. The look on his face is a huge turn-on. He looks like he’s in Heaven as he slides in and out of her. Catching my eye, he grins and leans forward. Naturally, I find myself leaning in too. As he fucks her, he lets go of her hair and grabs the back of my head, kissing me. Vivian is wedged between us and it’s like some sort of circle as he fucks her, she sucks me off, and I kiss him. We’re all fucked up. All lost in each other. There isn’t another high like it as we’re a tangle of mouths, limbs, and pleasure.

  My orgasm builds as Viv sucks and licks me until I can’t control my own body any longer. I resist closing my eyes, trying to take it all in. As if he knows I’m close, Roman kisses me harder, swallowing my moan as I explode in Viv’s mouth.

  Viv’s fingers begin to dig into my thighs and that’s when I realise she’s also about to come. I separate from Roman and pull her up slightly so that I can play with her nipples. It seems to be the ticket as she whispers my name over and over again, body shuddering under my touch as her orgasm hits her. Roman’s thrusts seem to speed up, almost as though he’s trying to fuck his way back into her good books, so that it’s his name she’ll be calling, but this isn’t a competition. I watch the expression on his face as he fills her up and once again, my dick twitches in response. There’s just something about someone else feeling the same way I do, like my desire is mirrored in their face. We have all night and we’re only just getting started.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Vivian

  After our little entanglement in the bathroom, we shared an oddly intimate moment where Roman washed my hair while James soaped down my body. I was feeling pampered and loved in a way I hadn’t realised was possible. When the water turned cold, we got out and dried each other off, with kisses and tender touches, with the fluffy white towels. It was surreal but also felt very natural, like there was nowhere else I’d rather be.

  How can something feel so good that you never want it to end? I can barely think straight as I’m led over to the bed, but then again, that’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to forget everything just for one night before everything changes again. Kissing me, James pulls me on top of him and I straddle his hips. I can feel his erection pressing against my thigh, and as I slide onto his dick, Roman climbs onto the bed behind us. There’s something I’ve always loved about being on top. Maybe it’s the feeling of control or the way I seem to feel every little movement all the way down to my toes. I begin to slowly grind my hips as Roman massages my breasts from behind, paying special care and attention when it comes to my sensitive nipples. Seeing James tilt his head back as I move sends a thrill through me. I love knowing that I’m having the same effect on them both that they have on me.

  Roman stops what he’s doing, and I let out a noise of disapproval as he reaches over to the bedside table and grabs a bottle of lube.

  “Trust me, love, you’re going to thank me for using this,” he says with a soft laugh.

  James begins to move his hips underneath me and I’m lost to the feeling, not caring what Roman is doing until I feel a cold liquid sliding down between my arse cheeks.

  “Roman . . .” I warn.

  “It’ll feel good. I’ll make sure of it,” he promises as he kisses my neck.

  James grabs my hips and moves me faster and faster, sweeping me up in a whirlwind of sensations as Roman presses a finger against my rear. As he slides his finger in, it’s like everything is more. More intense. More pressure. Just . . . more.

  I can’t help the moan that leaves my throat. I hear Roman and James both chuckle and if I was in my right mind, I’d give them an earful. Instead, I just slow down, almost to a stop.

  “Play nicely,” James pleads from beneath me while Roman places a hand gently on my back and pushes me forward slightly, removing his finger.

  I can feel the bed shift as he slots himself between James and me, our limbs once again tangled like some strange sexy Celtic knot. As I feel a bigger pressure against me, James starts moving again, causing my body to be confused, overwhelmed. As Roman enters me, James thrusts, and it’s like I can feel the both of them inside me. I feel pinned. But in the best way. Slowly, we find a rhythm that works for all three of us, and it’s like we’re all just cogs in the same machine as we move together.

  James kisses me while they both thrust in and out of my body. It’s like I’m a jack-in-the-box, being wound tighter and tighter until I’m ready to burst out of my own skin. I can barely keep control over my own limbs as I begin to shake, my orgasm crashing over me, unforgiving and unrelenting as they hold me in place. The noise I make is guttural, raw, and I’m not even ashamed because seconds later their own cries are mimicking my own.

  We all stay as we are, breathing, coming down from the high. Roman moves first, and he helps me, tucking me under the sheets as he takes one side and James the other. Is this what happiness feels like? No. It can’t be. There were too many things left unsaid, too many secrets. This is only a distraction. A perfect moment before the storm.

  My limbs feel heavy, but I’m not ready to sleep just yet. I lay there in the darkness as they drift off. I wanted to forget everything tonight, but as I lay here, I can’t get the last line of the email out of my head. Secrets and Lies are the theme of your summer, Vivian. Who will you trust in the end?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lucas

  When I wake up, my bed is empty. Roman is sitting on my chaise lounge, calling someone, and there’s no sign of Vivian. I look around the room, but she’s not here.<
br />
  “Where’s Viv?” I ask with a yawn. My body aches, but in a good way, and I wouldn’t be adverse to spending the day in bed with the pair of them. I wanted to wake up feeling like this every day.

  “I don’t know. I’ve tried calling her, but . . .” he shakes his phone at me, frustrated. “I thought we had a good thing going. It was too soon. I should have known.”

  Viv’s probably just gone back to her room, the reality of the situation setting in. She’ll come around. She enjoyed herself last night just as much as we did. I get out of the bed and stretch, and as I do, something catches my eye. The metal grate for my air conditioning isn’t straight. It looks like it’s been opened. I grab a screwdriver from my bedside table and open it up.

  “What the fuck? Now is not exactly the right time for maintenance. Our girlfriend is missing,” Roman says sarcastically, standing with his arms crossed.

  “Firstly, she’s not ‘our’ anything.” Roman snorts as I say that. “And secondly, I know where she’s gone.”

  The blue diamond, the rubies, and all the other trinkets I stole are gone. She has Brie’s phone and now she has enough collateral to get her wherever she needs to be without using her own cards, which we can track. Vivian St. Clare has disappeared.

  Roman watches me carefully, the worry slipping from his face. “Where?”

  “After daddy,” I murmur. Just what was she planning on doing? Dragging David St. Clare back by his collar?

  Sighing, Roman replies, “I guess we’re starting in Thailand then.”

  I turn and stare at him. He may have looked concerned earlier, but the cool and collected Roman was back.

  “You knew?” I ask.

  He shrugs. “Of course, I did.”

  “And you didn’t tell her?”

  “You think she’d let me near her if I did?” He smirks. “I don’t interfere. I simply lay out the breadcrumbs. It’s up to you if you follow the trail.”

  Breadcrumbs? Roman knew more than he let on and I think I was finally figuring out why.

  “It’s you, isn’t it?” The pieces were beginning to fit together and make sense. But I still had questions. Why had Vivian come here? What had she been looking for?

  “I don’t know what you’re on about.”

  I snort, “Of course, you don’t. Innocent Lord Huntington, playing with his peers like they’re nothing more than puppets.”

  Roman stands, looking impatient, and goes to open the door. “Fine, Lucas. Stay here.”

  Lucas.

  Lucas.

  Not James.

  It was him all along.

  I sigh. “And what happens when we get to Thailand?”

  “We make her ours,” he says it so simply as if there was never any other outcome.

  “And if she says no?”

  “Then we’ll just have to convince her.”

  “What a tangled fucking web you’ve woven,” I comment. He’d brought us here. Brought all the secrets and lies to the surface. Brought the three of us together and now we were about to go traipsing over the globe for a goddess with a quick tongue and a sadness shrouded in secrets.

  “But isn’t the prize worth the game?” The corner of his mouth quirks up into a smile.

  I can’t disagree, because there is no one like Vivian St. Clare. “Yes. She is.”

  To be continued . . .

  About the Author

  Alice La Roux is a dirty minded, mouthy Welsh author who is still trying to find her genre while dabbling in erotica, fantasy and horror. She owes her husband, best friend and sister everything― without them she wouldn’t be writing. She’s a bookworm who reads anything and everything and is addicted to social media. If you want to stay in touch and get the latest updates (or just see pictures of her dog) then don’t forget to stalk her!

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/asmadasAlice/

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/AliLaRoux

  Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicelaroux/

  Of His Own Accord

  A Defender Of Angels Short Story

  Courtney Lynn Rose

  To every friend I have that has ever served in the military: Thank you for everything you have done, everything you have sacrificed for our country and its citizens. You are the angels that protect humanity and you don’t get enough credit.

  Trigger Warning

  This book contains adult themes and situations that are intended for readers 18 and older. These themes and situations could include but are not limited to, extreme violence, sexual abuse/assault, vulgar language, and explicit sexual encounters.

  Prologue

  Logan

  It’s been twenty years since I’ve set foot in my hometown. Nags Head, North Carolina, is more tourist centered than I remember as I step off the bus with my duffle bag over my shoulder. It’s not like I haven’t stayed in touch with my family all these years, but my parents didn’t need to be bogged down with my military life. The moment I joined the Rangers, I knew I’d never be able to tell them anything about what I did. Instead of coming home all the time, I worked my ass off and stayed with my men.

  Now, I’m home.

  Walking through the bus station, I spot my parents sitting on a bench. As I walk over, my mother’s eyes meet mine and fill with tears.

  “Logan,” she says with a sigh as she stands, and I bend down enough to hug her. “You look so good.”

  Shaking hands with my father, I smile. “Good to see you guys.”

  “You could have seen us any time you wanted,” my father says gruffly. “No one told you to stay away.”

  “Don’t start, Pop. Can we at least have five minutes before you start in on me?”

  He grunts and starts walking toward the exit. Mom keeps pace next to me and loops her arm through mine. “You know we don’t have room at the condo, but the girl that is renting the house made up one of the rooms there for you.”

  I roll my eyes with a sigh. “Mom, I can find my own apartment.”

  “Logan, the house needs repairs and stuff that your father is too old to do. It’s the house you grew up in, and Beth is a nice girl. Moved here about a year ago, works really hard. You’ll like her.”

  Great, just what I need coming home. Sharing space with some chick that’s probably going to be a pain in my ass. “Alright, Mom. But I’m still going to look for an apartment. I like my space.”

  “Well, once the house is fixed up, you can do whatever you want. Deal?”

  Shaking my head with a chuckle, I nudge her with my hip. “Deal.”

  Chapter One

  Beth

  “Sasha, if you don’t come take this trash out, I am going to lose my mind,” I yell down the hall as I grab the three dirty cups she has left in my living room just this morning.

  Usually, I’d be working at the diner on a Saturday morning, but my landlords’ son is coming to live here for a while. Apparently, he’s been in the military for a long time but now he’s home. They said he’s going to help repair the house, so I’m not going to complain. This old beachfront is in desperate need of some TLC and I do what I can, but I work two jobs to take care of Sasha and I. There’s not much time left for anything else.

  Sasha comes into the kitchen in her sweats and a tank top, her raven black hair piled on her head in a messy bun. For a ten-year-old, she has more sass than most thirty-year-olds. When I told her about the landlords’ son, she rolled her eyes. She’s not big on anyone in the military. I can’t blame her, though. I had Sasha when I was fourteen. When she was four, my boyfriend enlisted in the Marines. When Sasha was six, he went out on his first deployment. He came home in a casket and all Sasha has of him is a picture, a medal of honor, and a folded flag.

  For the last four years, it’s just been us, and she’s never had a steady life. I hadn’t seen my parents since I was fourteen when they kicked me out, and we haven’t seen her father’s family since he was killed. Last year, we moved from Raleigh to here, and this is where I’d like to stay. Sasha likes having the beach
right at her front door, and I enjoy the peaceful solitude we have here.

  The doorbell rings and Sasha huffs as she grabs the trash bag and stalks out the back door.

  Hurrying through the living room, I open the door, and my eyes go right to the man standing behind my landlords. I’m pretty sure my jaw drops a little, but I do my best to recover. Stepping to the side, they come in with cheerful hellos.

  “Beth,” Edna says as I shut the door, “this is my son Logan. Logan, this is our tenant Beth who I was telling you about.”

  He holds his hand out and hesitantly, I shake it. Logan is muscle from top to bottom. Both his arms are covered in tattoos, his hair is light brown and cropped short. He’s got a five o’clock shadow, defined features, stands damn near a foot over my five-foot five frame, and has the most piercing green eyes I have ever seen.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I say quietly.

  He smiles, and I swear, my panties are instantly soaked. “Thanks for taking me in.”

  “It’s no problem.” The back-door slams and Sasha tries to slink past everyone. “Don’t even try it, little girl. Have some manners.”

  She mumbles under her breath and comes to stand next to me. “Hi, Mrs. Edna.”

  “Hey, honey. This is Logan, he’s gonna stay with you and your mom for a while.”

  Sasha looks up at him and gives him the sassiest smile I think I’ve ever seen. “Great.” The sarcasm dripping off her is so thick you could sink in it. “Can I go for a walk?”