Loyalty’s Betrayal

by Mari Carr

  Cecilia put a hand on Mateo’s arm, pointing to a driveway on their right. The drive was bracketed by curved stone walls. A painted sign hung from a fluted iron bar.

  Ullswater House

  Self-catering B and B

  “People can rent the whole place and use it for parties. I think there have been some small weddings. The rest of the time, it’s a B and B. None of the rooms were booked for tonight, so I’ve secured the entire place just for us,” Cecilia explained as Mateo turned into the drive. Halfway down, there was an iron gate. The gate wasn’t tall—she could have stepped over it—but it prevented the car from continuing on.

  She hopped out and ran around to the code box. Checking the message on her phone, she keyed in the code and the gates swung open.

  “When was the last time you were here?” Dimitri asked.

  “I was still in school. When my great-grandfather turned eighty, there was a massive party. Family from all over came.”

  “All members?”

  “Yes. When there are three people in each marriage, families get big fast. That was when James and I got close.”

  They parked in the circular drive. Trees loomed around the drive, shielding the house from view from the road, though they could hear the leisurely traffic going by. The front door, on the opposite side of the house from the water, wasn’t particularly grand. An electronic keypad on the door opened when she put in yet another code.

  She opened the door and sunlight spilled out. From the front door, she could see straight through to the back of the house and the panoramic windows there. The floor of the central hall was black and white tile. The walls were painted a pale mint green and the stairs on the right-hand side of the hall were made of pale ash. To the right was a small office, used by the caretaker, the door bearing a sign that said “Staff Only.”

  “There are six bedrooms upstairs,” she said. “Down here there’s a kitchen, two parlors, and a sunroom that runs the length of the house. Four of the bedrooms have views of the lake.”

  “You don’t have to play tour guide.” Dimitri walked past her, following the black and white flooring to the back of the house. He paused, leaning in doors to check out the kitchen and parlors.

  Mateo headed upstairs with his suitcase.

  She stood uncertainly for a moment, then followed Dimitri.

  He was standing in the long sunroom. Glass double doors linked each of the parlors to the sunroom and let the light fill almost the entire house.

  “Lot of windows.”

  She looked at all the glass. “It’s lovely.”

  He shook his head, then opened the glass French doors, letting the cool breeze washing up from the water flow into the house. Her hair stirred around her face, and when she brushed it away from her eyes, she found Dimitri looking at her.

  “He doesn’t like me.” His grin said he couldn’t care less what Mateo thought of him.

  “You aren’t going out of your way to endear yourself to him.”

  Dimitri shrugged. “I’ve never felt the need to be anyone other than who I am.”

  “I’m not suggesting you pretend to be someone else. But it might help if you stopped accusing him of being a failure.”

  “I haven’t made that accusation.”

  “You’ve implied it clearly enough.”

  They both jumped at the sound of Mateo’s voice from the doorway. Cecilia hadn’t heard him descend the stairs. Something in Dimitri’s face told her he had…and he’d spoken anyway.

  “Innocent until proven guilty, Dimitri,” Cecilia said softly, hoping her words would penetrate.

  “Not in the Ukraine. And not in the Masters’ Admiralty.”

  Mateo stepped into the room, glaring. “If you have a problem with me, now would be a good time to put it all out there on the table. I did not betray the fleet admiral, nor would I ever. And I don’t need you to tell me I failed in my duties. I’m aware of that, which is why I am determined to bring the traitor to justice. I won’t rest until I do so.”

  “Or until the week runs out,” Dimitri reminded Mateo of the time limit.

  “Even after that.”

  “Well, I suppose you’ll have plenty of time, considering you’ll be out of work.”

  Cecilia closed her eyes and attempted to count to ten. She’d reached her limit with this continual game of cat and mouse. Dimitri was being purposely contrary, trying to provoke Mateo, but she couldn’t understand why.

  Time to change the rules.

  “It’s clear we can’t bridge the gaps between us with words,” Cecilia pointed out. “Perhaps it’s time to stop trying to do so.”

  Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. “The fleet admiral won’t change his mind simply because we’re not getting along. We will be expected to marry and live as a trinity.”

  “We’ve been instructed to discover the traitor in the guard. I don’t intend to disobey that order,” Mateo insisted.

  Neither of them understood her. It would be much easier if they spoke Italian, but they didn’t. So she put it in plain English. “Nor do I. We entered the Masters’ Admiralty with the knowledge our partners were not ours to choose. I’m not suggesting we walk away.”

  “Then what are you suggesting?” Mateo asked.

  She gave them a sultry smile as she glanced toward the stairs that led to the largest bedroom in the inn. “Sex.”

  5

  Dimitri was a master when it came to schooling his features, hiding his emotions. In his line of work, expressions could be as deadly as words. He’d lied to his future spouses about his line of work using semantics.

  He did work for the Ukrainian government, but not in the water department. It was more accurate to say he was part of their defense department. He didn’t sit behind a desk, pushing papers, as he’d led Cecilia and Mateo to believe.

  The truth was…he was a spy.

  Recruited out of the military, he became a part of the SBU, the security service of the Ukraine, working as a shadow within the organization to weed out corruption in the Alpha Force. Finding bad guys was his specialty and, while Cecilia may be struggling to determine the reason behind this unorthodox trinity, he understood his mission perfectly.

  There was a traitor to the society and Dimitri would find him. And no man, future husband or not, was above suspicion.

  “You’re joking,” Mateo whispered in response to Cecilia’s shocking proposition.

  “I never joke about sex.” She pointed toward the stairs. “The room at the end of the corridor is the largest, the one they use as a honeymoon suite. I think it will suit our purposes best.”

  Cecilia didn’t wait for them to respond. Instead, she started for the stairs. He and Mateo remained in the room for a full minute after she disappeared upstairs.

  While having sex with Cecilia would be no hardship—the woman was seriously beautiful—Dimitri wasn’t as keen to have Mateo in the bedroom with them.

  It wasn’t that he had issues with threesome sex, or even sex with just a man. In his line of work, he’d engaged in both in order to discover information.

  His hesitance was based on the man, not the act. He didn’t trust Mateo, which meant he’d be sleeping with one eye open.

  Then he recalled Cecilia’s proposition and grinned. They wouldn’t be sleeping. “We shouldn’t keep our wife waiting.”

  “We’re not married,” Mateo pointed out.

  He shrugged. “That’s never stopped me in the past.” Dimitri walked upstairs, Mateo following.

  They entered the bedroom together. Cecilia was standing next to the bed, and it was clear she’d been waiting to see if they would take her up on her offer. She smiled, and Dimitri tried not to acknowledge that her happy look had his stomach twisting, his heart beating a bit too hard.

  Dimitri didn’t fall in love. Never had, never would.

  So he would chalk up this unfamiliar response to a woman’s smile to lust.

  “Take off your clothes,” Cecilia commanded, her fingers already undo
ing the buttons on her own blouse.

  Dimitri shook his head as he crossed the room to her, grasping her hands. “No. That’s not how this is going to work.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, confused.

  “I don’t follow orders in the bedroom, Cece.”

  She laughed lightly, though he wasn’t sure what she found amusing. Then she reached up and patted his cheek condescendingly. “Oh, Dim. What a pity. Neither do I.”

  Her words provoked a grin. Cecilia said she never joked about sex, something he understood. For him, it was a means to an end. He had needs, and he found women who would fulfill them…his way. Cecilia wouldn’t be so easily commanded, and yet, he was looking forward to this more than he cared to admit.

  Cecilia tried to escape his grip, so he tightened it.

  Mateo stepped next to them, watching their tug-of-war. “Are you certain you want to do this, Cecilia?”

  She stopped trying to break free and looked at Mateo. “Yes. I am.”

  “But we’ve only just met.” Mateo was clearly operating under the assumption all women wanted soft lighting, romance and sweet words rather than sex.

  “I suspect none of us are virgins, Mateo. We’re facing a lifetime together, and I have no intention of spending it refereeing your pissing contests. If we can’t speak civilly enough to get to know each other, perhaps sex will help break the ice, no?”

  Mateo frowned.

  “Have you been in love with every woman you’ve taken to your bed?” she asked, taking another tact.

  He shook his head.

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  Rather than respond, Mateo reached for the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it over his head in one fluid motion. Cecilia’s mouth opened in obvious appreciation.

  Dimitri knew he could compete, so that didn’t give him pause. What caught him off guard was his own physical attraction to the other man.

  Mateo was the stereotypical Spaniard, tall and lean with a stylish haircut that was longer on top and a short, trimmed beard, both dark brown. His high cheekbones drew attention to his black, piercing eyes. Like Dimitri, Mateo obviously appreciated the need to stay in shape for his job. Dimitri imagined the two of them shared similar workout routines.

  Despite his earlier hesitance, Mateo showed no reluctance in joining them in bed, evidenced by the erection tenting the front of his gray jeans.

  Cecilia attempted to pull free of his grip again, and this time, Dimitri let her. Rather than resume disrobing, she reached over to run her hand down the center of Mateo’s bare chest.

  “Very nice,” she murmured.

  Mateo snickered, amused by her obvious ogling. He flexed, tightening his pecs, provoking another “ooo” from Cecilia, his quick wink proving he was making a joke. Dimitri grinned, surprised to discover Mateo had a sense of humor. It had been absent until that moment.

  She ran her fingers along his stomach and back up again, stroking his nipples, watching them tighten. Then she turned to Dimitri, her raised eyebrows daring him to take off his shirt as well.

  There was no denying she was used to running the show. More the pity for her.

  Rather than take off his own shirt, he began to unbutton her blouse. Cecilia didn’t put up a fuss or attempt to stop him. Her raised chin proved her confidence wasn’t feigned. She knew her worth and wouldn’t hide. It made her even more attractive to him.

  Once her blouse was open, he slid it off her shoulders. Mateo had stepped behind her and made short work of the hooks on her bra. Between the two of them, they had her topless in seconds.

  Dimitri couldn’t resist touching her full, firm tits. Using his thumb and forefinger, he pinched her nipple, giving it enough of a squeeze to capture her attention, to cause her to gasp.

  She narrowed her eyes briefly at the unexpected twinge of pain, but her flushed cheeks and heavy-lidded eyes told him what he needed to know.

  He pinched the other nipple, harder. Mateo stepped closer to her, his chest against her back, letting Cecilia know he was there, ready to protect her. The dark look he gave Dimitri was one of warning.

  So they weren’t in this together.

  That wouldn’t work.

  Regardless of his feelings for the man, they couldn’t bring their disdain for each other into this room, or they risked hurting Cecilia.

  Time to recruit Mateo to the cause.

  Dimitri slipped down the zipper on Cecilia’s skirt. This time, she did protest.

  “Your shirt,” she insisted.

  He ignored her request, pushing her hands away. When they returned once more to stop him, he lifted his gaze to Mateo. “Hold her hands behind her back.”

  Mateo hesitated, then—to Dimitri’s surprise—reached for Cecilia’s wrists, clasping them together at the base of her spine.

  She flashed Mateo a glare—one of anger, but of arousal, as well. Mateo recognized the look and retained his grip, his attention returning to Dimitri.

  “Get on with it,” Mateo muttered.

  That was when Dimitri realized all three of them were alphas. Cecilia hoped that sex would do the job their words wouldn’t, but that seemed highly unlikely, given their dominant personalities.

  He tugged her skirt and panties down, delighted when she kicked them—and her shoes—off without further complaint. She was naked, her hands held behind her back in such a way that thrust her breasts forward.

  Dimitri bent and sucked one of her turgid nipples into his mouth, tightening the suction until she moaned.

  Mateo held her secure with one hand, the free one wrapping around her to toy with the other breast, plumping the flesh, squeezing it firmly.

  Cecilia threw her head back, resting it on Mateo’s shoulder as they played with her tits. She pressed her legs together, her hips twisting slightly, betraying her arousal.

  Dimitri needed more. Kneeling in front of her, he glanced up, waiting until he had her attention.

  “Open your legs.”

  “Take off your clothes.” Cecilia wasn’t finished trying to get her way.

  He gave her a devilish grin, then bit her upper thigh. She tried to pull away from his teeth, the action opening her legs enough that he could place his hands between.

  Without preamble, he thrust two fingers inside her soaked pussy. The juices of her arousal allowed him to slide in too easily, so he added a third, wanting her to feel his presence there.

  Her hips jerked toward him, an invitation to move. He didn’t take it, simply filling her with motionless fingers.

  Instead, he took her clit between his teeth, nipping at the sensitive flesh. Dimitri wouldn’t give her anything she wanted until she begged.

  Cecilia attempted to take matters into her own hands, pushing down on his fingers.

  “Hold her still,” Dimitri demanded.

  Mateo released her breast, using one arm in a vise-like grip around her waist while the other kept her wrists restrained.

  Mateo’s immediate action took Dimitri aback. It was as if his future husband knew exactly what Dimitri wanted and how to achieve it.

  Mateo wasn’t obeying him—Dimitri was as certain of that as he was of his name—but then why the instant response?

  The answer hit him like a kick to the stomach.

  Because Mateo wanted the same thing.

  Wanted their woman gasping, out of her mind, begging.

  Cecilia’s struggles increased. “Take off your clothes. Both of you! Fuck me. Now.”

  Mateo’s chuckle confirmed Dimitri’s suspicions, then his words solidified it.

  “You’re going to have to ask us much nicer than that, mi cielito.”

  Cecilia stilled for a moment. “Mateo.” Her tone was softer, but not yet submissive. If anything, Dimitri could almost see the wheels turning in her beautiful brain, trying to determine how she could get what she wanted without having to ask nicely.

  Dimitri decided to add fuel to the flames, taking her clit back into his mouth and sucking hard. Her inner muscles cl
enched against his fingers, causing him to acknowledge his own discomfort. His jeans weren’t particularly tight, but damn if they weren’t causing him pain right now. His dick was rock-hard and aching, constricted by the pants.

  A quick glance at the tight lines around Mateo’s mouth told him he was suffering as well.

  “Move your fingers. Fuck me with them.”

  The more Cecilia demanded, the easier—and harder—it was for Dimitri to refuse. He held them still.

  “I’m murdering both of you the second you fall asleep,” she threatened.

  Mateo laughed. “And here I thought Dimitri was the one I needed to worry about.”

  Dimitri chuckled, his hot breath tickling Cecilia, who gasped.

  “I…God…” she cried. “I think I’m coming.”

  Dimitri withdrew his fingers, shaking his head with a “tsk.”

  Cecilia trembled with unslackened need, first in pain and then in full-blown anger. “What are you doing?” Her question was too breathless to pack enough heat.

  Dimitri rose from the floor. “Ask nicely.”

  She snarled, an honest-to-God snarl, that might have been frightening if it didn’t turn him on so much. Dimitri reached out and grasped a handful of hair, tightening his fist around her soft tresses and tugging it hard enough that she had to look up into his face.

  He expected her capitulation. After all, she was obviously hurting. What he didn’t anticipate was the sudden self-satisfied gleam in her eyes. He narrowed his gaze and studied her face in confusion before his eyes shifted to Mateo’s.

  The other man’s pained expression caught him off guard. Then he noticed Mateo was moving, rocking his hips back and forth against Cecilia’s ass.

  Glancing down, Dimitri realized Cecilia had freed the other man from his jeans and was currently stroking his erection with the same hands he was holding in place behind her back.

  She wiggled her ass toward Mateo’s dick, and he swallowed loudly.

  “Ask nicely, tesoro,” she whispered to Mateo. “And I’ll let you fuck me while Dimitri watches, alone with his hand.”

  She was a wicked enchantress, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Mateo was going to give in. After all, it was a way to get what he wanted and make Dimitri suffer.