“Let me go.”
“Calm down first.”
“Let me go!”
He released her, and she fled the room. He looked toward Carter who still stood in shock as she covered her face. “She’s the wrong person to piss off.”
Carter leaned against the counter. “Isn’t it funny how it pissed her off about a comment made about you and not Brian? Are you guys…” her voice trailed off, “sharing these days?”
“Why do you care? Do you want to be shared, Carter?”
Carter twisted her lips. “Between you and Brian, I definitely wouldn’t mind.” He shook his head, wondering where she came from and why Brian hadn’t informed him she was there.
*****
Celine made it back to the main house in no time. She stepped through the back door, her quick steps taking her down the long corridor, around the previously occupied guest room, through the kitchen, and past the living room. When she stepped into the hallway leading to Brian’s office, a line of tea light candles halted her eager steps. Celine lifted her weight to the tips of her toes, trying to see around the corner as if a snake would jump out and bite her.
With tentative steps, she lurked around, following the path of lights. The closer she got to his office the more the candles grew. Tall, scented candles sat on elegant stands, creating a display of illuminated shadows. Standing in front of his office, she fiddled with the doorknob but found it locked. The candles didn’t stop at the door; they continued down the hall.
If she ran into some sort of séance, Celine would drop dead where she stood. It was only a few things she couldn’t be bothered with, and one of them was chanting for spirits. She rubbed her hands down her jeans as she figured out if she should continue. What if Brian was trying to be romantic? She shook her head vigorously. Brian is not that guy. What if it was something Sade’s dumbass had put together for Brian? Celine rolled her eyes. That girl was so desperate for his attention. It wouldn’t surprise her at all if Sade had set this up.
She paused her steps again, feeling indifferent about those thoughts. Celine understood that Sade took over the role as HBIC when she left five years ago, but she was back, and it was past time Sade got over it. So why hadn’t she told Brian she wanted to be exclusive? He asked, but she’d pretty much avoided the conversation. Deep down she knew why, but she wouldn’t let herself speak it out loud.
Entering his bedroom, Celine moved quietly, holding her breath.
“I love you.”
She whipped around, her hand covering her chest. “You scared me half to death.”
“My apologies.” He rubbed his hands together slowly as if he’d found the meal he wanted to devour for dinner. His tall muscular frame made his shadow look ten feet high.
There was no shirt on his chest, leaving only a defined and ripped physique on display. He strolled to Celine, pulling her into his embrace.
“I said I love you.”
Finding her voice, Celine spoke, “Brian I…”
“Don’t have to respond,” he finished. “I’m sorry I never told you how much you mean to me. I’m sorry I let you leave.”
She pulled slightly back and peered at him. “Let me leave?”
“You know what I mean. We belong together, and I can’t think of anyone but you. Celine… will you be my Queen?”
Her heartbeat increased. “Your Queen?” she asked, needing more details of what he was asking.
“Yes, my one and only, my ride or die, my Queen with a crown.” He pulled out a silver box that held a ring with a diamond the size of the equator.
“Daaaammmnn!” Celine cried out.
A devilish smile curled up his lips, and he laughed. Brian placed it on her finger without waiting for a response, and Celine stood there in shock with no rejection of it. He pulled her deeper into the room and produced another silver box, longer than the former.
“You see, I let you fall in love with another man when I should’ve made you mine a long time ago. That was my fault. I understand that you’re on a mission. You being the woman that I know, it’s in your blood. You’re loyal even after death. But I want you to be my wife. Together, we’ll avenge Caleb’s death and let him rest in peace. Then I want you with me always. I’ve had five years to live with regret, and I don’t want to live another day without you being my Queen.” Brian opened the box, revealing an egg-shaped, 300-carat flawless diamond necklace.
Gravity took over, and Celine could no longer hold up her weight. She plummeted, but Brian anticipated her response, holding her tighter in his arms. He landed kisses up her jawline to her moist lips. Celine couldn’t even remember what she’d came in the room for; her mind was lost in the moment. Her heart beating out of her chest.
Chapter Twelve
Marcus glanced at the clock on the wall.
“She’s been gone a long time, huh?” Carter said. “I wonder what she’s doing?” She shrugged. “Or who she’s doing.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel some way ‘cause it doesn’t.”
“You can be up front with me. I don’t care one way or the other. But I’m not blind, and if you and Celine are that cozy around each other when Brian’s around, he’d be a fool not to notice.”
“I see you’re the type of girl that likes to start trouble, even when there is none. But you’ll come to find that our alliances and organization is sealed tight. We don’t care about what an outsider thinks. It’s how you keep things strong. Do you know anything about that?”
When Carter didn’t respond, a slow smile crept up his face. “Sure you don’t, you’re still trying to figure life out. How old are you, 21, 22?” She bit her bottom lip. “You don’t have to tell me. I won’t pretend to care. I’m only saying this to prove a point.”
“Which is what exactly?”
“Keep up. I’m user-friendly.” A sexy grin settled on his face. “I don’t feel like repeating myself, so think about it for a minute.”
Carter sucked air through her teeth. “I heard everything you said. That doesn’t mean I get your point.”
“I think you do.”
Footsteps came down the hallway. When Sade rounded the corner with a bag in her hand, Carter smiled. “It’s about time you came back. It only took you forever.”
Sade looked at Marcus. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He folded his arms across his chest. “What am I missing?”
“Brian didn’t tell you. That’s a first.” Sade gave him a look over. She always thought Marcus was fine as hell. But she was not getting into anything with Brian’s family. Not that they were related by blood but being bonded through brotherhood was all the same.
“Did you get what I needed?”
Sade took her eyes to Carter. “Yes, I did, and it took three visits to three stores to find it all.” She glowered at her.
Carter held her hands up. “Hey, it’s not my fault. I’d go myself no problem, but your boy toy doesn’t want to let me out of his sight.”
“Boy toy?”
“Well, what are you calling him these days?”
“I’m his bitch, and don’t you forget it.”
Carter smirked. “Really?” Her tongue snaked out of her mouth and swiped her top lip. “I just met the HBIC. Girl, you are such a loyal person. How’s it feel to share him?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Carter looked to Marcus, her grin more mischievous by the second.
*****
Brian clasped the necklace around Celine’s neck. Her hand touched the jewels where they lay on her skin. She looked at his face. “I’m so speechless right now.”
He offered up a lazy grin. “That’s understandable. I just threw a lot at you. I’m not in a rush for a response. This was more so me telling you what I’ve been thinking and where my mind is. I’ll give you twenty-four hours, then I’m deciding for you.”
Her mouth fell open. His laughter was instantaneous. She swatted him.
“I’m
not playing,” he said, laughing even harder.
Her hands slid around his neck, pulling him in for a hug. He tightened his muscular arms around her, their bodies meshing in a warm heat.
“I love you, too,” Celine said. She kissed his neck, sending warm shivers through him. Their lips met. Soft kisses gave way to moans of passion, and their tongues tangoed in an erotic dance.
Her hands slid down his chest and dug into pants, her breathlessness part-pant, part-moan. Celine bit down on her lip as she struggled to loosen his belt. With ease, he removed the accessory and stepped out of everything he had on.
With aggressive hands, he stripped her of the material that separated the two, each yank and pull making her purr and moan even more. “Brian…”
“Yes, baby.” He sucked at her lips and nibbled on her chin as he lifted her in one easy motion. Instinctively, her legs wrapped around his waist, then he was on top of her. Their bodies were lying bare, and their passion for one another increased as they engaged in exquisite foreplay. Celine threw her head back when his tongue found her nipples.
She grabbed the back of his head, her fingers caressing him as he tasted more of her. When his tongue fell to her clitoris, her legs began to tremble.
“Mmmmm,” he moaned against her clitoris, “you taste so good.” He lay a heavy tongue against her folds, pulling her at the hips to take more of her in. He savored every bit.
When her orgasm hit, she screamed. “Brian!”
He held her tight as her body sent spasms throughout. “Say you’ll be my Queen.”
She reached out and touched his lips, her body still trembling. He sucked her fingers into his mouth, sending another shockwave on course. “Say you’ll be my Queen.” He growled. “Don’t make me beg.”
But Celine wanted him to; she wanted him to beg like a pauper in need of a meal. For now, however, this would do.
“I’ll be your Queen,” she whispered.
Their motions paused, and they took the sight of each other in as the magnitude of their commitment became clear.
“Your one,” she lifted slightly and kissed his mouth, “and only.”
He entered her, causing her breath to catch in her throat at his enormous plunge. Their lips pressed tightly together; their breathing became solid as they formed into one person. Brian sped up, giving her every inch of him and then some, claiming her as his own. He gripped her butt and rolled to his back, pulling her on top of him.
Without missing a beat, she rode him, up and down, circling her hips and grinding into his pelvis. “Oh my God, Brian.”
His hands directed her in a whine dance that had them both singing praises to one another. Celine didn’t feel ashamed. Finally she could have Brian the way she always wanted him. Even though her trust wasn’t at one hundred percent, she would give it a chance.
“I’ve waited so long for this,” she admitted.
He sucked her bottom lip. “So have I.”
She moaned in his mouth.
Their bodies slapped in a rhythmic dance that flew them to elevated levels. Brian flipped Celine again and thrust into her with such vigor her ears popped as she floated to abnormal altitudes.
“I’m coming, baby,” she purred.
He took her lips and pulled, beating into her pussy as waves crashed around him. “You belong to me,” he said matter of factly.
“And you belong to me.” She bit down on his jaw and he growled. His strokes were deafening.
“Brian!” she screamed again. He came hard, spurts of his warm semen coating her walls. Vibrations, robust and heavenly, beat against their bodies. His fingers frolicked through her hair, their kissing never-ending.
“Mmmmmm.” Celine sighed deeply. Brian slipped to the side, cuddling Celine in his arms. They panted and soaked in their ecstasy as they came down off their high.
“I wish we could stay like this for the rest of the day,” Celine said.
The diamonds from her necklace and engagement ring shimmered against the sheen of sweat that covered her chocolate skin.
“We can stay here as long as we want to. Who do you think run things around here?”
Celine smile before she licked the corner of her mouth. “I know you run things, Big Poppa, but I never got a chance to tell you why I searched you out in the first place.”
“Oh, you got sidetracked.” He joked.
“You can say that again.” They laughed. “Wow, I can’t believe this just happened. I can’t remember the last time I felt this elated.”
His embrace tightened. “You don’t know how good that is to hear.”
“I almost hate to ruin it,” she shook her head, “but it has to be done.”
He glowered and sat up on his elbow, looking down at her face. “What’s going on?”
“Let’s take a shower first.”
“Can it wait?”
“It’s waited this long.”
“That’s true.”
“But we better get to it.” She looked up at him. “I want you all to myself tonight.”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
They showered and dressed. It took another hour because Brian couldn’t keep his hands to himself. And Celine couldn’t resist him.
“So, tell me what’s going on.” A smiled still played around his lips after taking her in the shower then in the doorway of the bedroom.
Celine’s face turned serious. “That bitch you got in the guesthouse, I saw her in a limo outside of Zeus’s warehouse the day we got into the gunfight.”
The smile on his face dropped, his features turning into a grimace. “Celine, are you certain?”
She tilted her head to the side and stuck her lips out. “What do you think?” Her hands slid around her neck, and she unbuckled the necklace.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking this off, I might have to kick somebody’s ass, and I don’t want this around my neck when I do.”
He stepped to her. “Hold up. You won’t be kicking no ass. You won’t be lifting a finger unless it’s necessary now.”
“Says who?”
“Baby, you’re my Queen, nobody touches you. No one gets close to you. So if this bitch is who you say she is, and she better pray you’re mistaken, then Sade will deal with her. She brought her in. She’ll take her out.”
Chapter Thirteen
Celine smiled brightly. “You are so sexy when you’re demanding.” She sauntered toward him.
“I hope the fellas don’t think so because I’m demanding most of the time.”
Celine snickered, sliding her hands up his chest. She leaned in, placing a soft kiss on his lips. Brian grabbed her, snatching her body against his and forcing his tongue down her throat. A guttural moan bellowed from him.
“You know kissing me like that only ignites a fire in me,” he divulged.
Celine licked his lips. “And you know I like it when you rough me up like this.”
“Woman, if you don’t turn me lose, I’ll rip these clothes off, and we’ll never leave this room.”
“Says the man who has me in his clutches.”
A lazy grin pierced his lips. “Oh yeah, so you’re right.” He released her but not without hesitation. “I guess I’ll let you go, for now.”
“I’m still taking this necklace off. I’ll put it back on when you take me out tonight.”
“Making demands already, just like a Queen.”
Celine laughed. “Well… you know how I do.”
She placed the elegant necklace in its box and grabbed his hand, strolling from the room. When they opened the door to the guesthouse, the voices they heard momentarily paused.
Seconds passed before Celine appeared in the kitchen with Brian on her heels. Celine sashayed to the kitchen island and hopped her butt onto its marble top, turning to face Carter.
“She’s an imposter.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Sade queried.
Celine cocked her head in Sade’s direction. “How many tim
es I gotta tell you to speak when you’re spoken to?”
Sade shut her eyes and rolled her head, placing her hands on her hips. “You just accused her of being an imposter. I don’t remember you speaking to anyone specific or did I miss that last part?” She waited for a beat. “Furthermore—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Celine shouted. “Your girl that you brought here works for Zeus.” Celine rolled her eyes and returned her focus back to Carter. “Tell them, Carter.”
Celine waited for her to lie so she could smack her across her lying face.
Carter looked from Celine to Sade, to Marcus, and finally to Brian. When her eyes drifted back down to Celine, she glared at her. “I work for Zeus.”
“What the fuck?” Sade swore.
Carter didn’t take her eyes off of Celine. She didn’t know how Celine knew, but she wanted to find out. Brian looked to Sade. She could feel his glare pulling her toward him. When she glanced up, the fire in his eyes told her that she had fucked up major this time.
“Kill her,” Brian commanded.
Marcus took out his gun. “Not you,” Brian thundered.
Celine reached beside her and pulled a steak knife out of the block that held the kitchen utensils. “Sweetheart,” Brian said.
“I’m on my best behavior, baby. I’m just making sure I’m here in case Sade needs backup.”
Sade swallowed hard and pulled her gun out.
“You need me.” Carter’s words were directed at Brian.
“I have everything I need. You are not one of them.”
“Zeus wants to meet you. Thursday afternoon at a place on mutual grounds.”
This peaked Brian’s interest. “What makes you think I give a damn about what Zeus wants?”
Carter tried to keep up her strong façade, but truth be told she was scared shitless. She hadn’t expected to be put on blast. This turn of events had her on the defense. “He said if you don’t show up, then the war would continue; no holds barred.”
Brian’s wicked smile sent a shiver through Carter. Standing before her now, he was no longer the sexy, charismatic man she’d met the night before, even when she thought he might blow her head off. No. Now he seemed more devilish if that was even possible.
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