The Strand Brothers Series: Complete Set

by Lora Ann

  Wait! “Bedroom? On an airplane?”

  “Yes,” she smiled, taking my arm, “this way, ma’am.”

  We entered a small room where the queen sized bed took up most of the space. I welcomed it and nestled into the pillow. I never heard her leave or anyone else enter, but a firm hand grabbed my wrist and placed a handcuff on it. I groggily watched as the fuzzy silhouette did the same to my other wrist and then ankles. I was secured to the bed in a spread eagle position. All of the sudden a mouth was at my ear, “Aren’t you just a little worried?”

  My eyes opened wide with recognition. “Tar,” I gasped.

  “Hello there, viper.”

  “Please, let me explain.”

  “No. You were a bad girl,” he taunted.

  Well, there was no refuting that. I turned towards his devastatingly handsome face. God, I got lost in those eyes. Every. Single. Time. The jade green captivated me as I lay at his mercy. Subtext: Mercy wasn’t exactly Tarius’ forte. To prove my point, I saw the flash of a blade as he placed the tip at the top of my t-shirt and sliced right down the middle, including my bra. Fuck! I shouldn’t have thought that was so damn hot. He was merely paying me back for what I’d done to him. Though I noticed his eyes darkening as he revealed my body. Once he’d cut through my jeans and removed all clothing, I was left wide open to his now ravenous gaze. I had ogled his magnificent form in much the same way. Difference was, the drug I had used knocked him out. Then it all became clear. “You were never unconscious.”

  A ghost of smile played at his lips as he moved to the foot of the bed. Shit. I was turned on and fairly certain he could tell. “You’re bare and glistening,” his gruff voice held a trace of awe. “Holy hell, is that a clit ring?”

  I glanced away, unsure if he liked it or was disgusted. When his mouth enclosed around said ring, I had my answer. Ahhhh, he knew how to play with one, tugging and then licking. It hurt in a really good way, bringing mewls from me. He settled in between my open thighs as his muscled shoulders spread me wider. He sucked and bit along my folds, making me one hot mess. “Fuck me, Tar.”

  With his chin resting on my pelvic bone, he responded, “I don’t think so.” He entered my aching core with his finger. “At least not with my dick.”

  His mouth returned to torture my clit as he finger-fucked me. When Tar yanked so hard on the ring I screamed, he proceeded to jam his finger all the way inside me. One more time like that and I would climax. “Again,” begging, “I need to come.”

  Everything stopped. Tar sat up wiping my juices from his mouth with the back of a hand. Holding my gaze, he sucked the finger he’d had buried within me. After pulling said finger free of his mouth on a pop, he affirmed, “Payback’s a bitch.” He stepped towards the door.

  “Wait a damn minute! You can’t leave me here like this.”

  “Can,” he chuckled, “and will.”

  He walked out with me yelling every cuss word I knew. The plane began its decent with me lying there in all my glory at the hands of whoever rescued me from this predicament. While I was beyond pissed off, a part of me realized I had sooooooooo deserved it…and more. But if that fucking bastard thought he’d get that confession or an apology out of me, then he was past delusional. And one thing was clear, Tarius McNeal was focused and precise, dealing out sweet, tortuous retribution like a man trained to do so. God help me, I wanted more of him, so much more.

  Holy.

  Fuck.

  I was screwed six ways to Sunday.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Sofie

  Alex had been acting strange since we left the hospital. We decided to drive up to Lake Tahoe and stay at E’s place for a couple of days. But he was distracted. Ari wasn’t behaving any better. They were up to something, yet both were good at covering their tracks. I’d get to the bottom of it sooner or later. Having a teen around would take some adjusting, like her choice in music. I had no desire to listen to one more Taylor Swift song. Although I paused in the kitchen when I heard it switch. Oh wow, this was an oldie but a goodie, “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers. God, I loved this song. Always had. Ari wouldn’t know that though. I began to investigate and ended up in one of the guest rooms across the house. As I entered, Alex swept me up into his arms. Wait! “Your shoulder!” I cried.

  He began to move it around as I ran my hand over the wound. “Doesn’t hurt, kjære.”

  I gasped and couldn’t hold back the tears. Alex began to dance with me, singing the timeless love song in my ear. “You remembered,” I whispered with not a little awe.

  “Baby, how could I ever forget?” He ran his fingers over my cheeks collecting the moisture. “Why are you crying?”

  I buried my face against his chest, shaking my head. “It’s too embarrassing.”

  “Hey…none of that. I want to know everything about you.” He kissed the top of my head. “We have so many years to make up for.”

  I supposed that was what gave me the courage to speak. “First, they were tears of joy.” Once more, I ran my hand over his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re healed.” I paused and looked away. He grabbed my chin and held on firmly until I met his gaze. “The fact you remembered my all-time favorite love song. I was crying because we’ve lost so much time together.”

  “We have the rest of our lives to amend that, Sofie. A once in a lifetime do over,” he declared.

  I thought about that for a moment. Then realized I was looking at it all wrong. He was right. “We are so blessed.”

  “Hmm…yes, we are. Let me show you just how grateful I am.” Alex’s eyes darkened as his voice lowered.

  Holy shit! The song shifted with his desire. Maroon 5’s “Animals” was now setting the stage for our next act. Alex gave a flat-handed shove to my chest, and I fell back against the bed. He grabbed a silk tie and commanded, “Hands above your head.”

  There was a pregnant pause before I complied. I trusted him. It wasn’t that, but the fact he normally wasn’t like this. I could only assume it was more Even’s style than Alex’s. But damn, somehow having him command me made him sexy as sin. I suddenly wanted him to tell me exactly what to do. How to do it, and in which way it needed to be done. I murmured, “Tell me what you want.”

  “I plan on it,” he replied, tying my wrists to the headboard. Before I could question about clothing, he yanked my blouse open. And then he tucked the bra underneath my breasts, raising them to his starving gaze. Alex licked and sucked the aching peaks until my legs were scissoring. He sat up and shook his head. “Naughty, Sofia.”

  He eased off me and removed my pants, but left the panties in place. Next, he grabbed more silk ties and bound my ankles to the posts. His wicked grin told me this would be an experience I wouldn’t soon forget—if ever. Alex undressed with slow, rhythmic moves, making me so hot and wet I was going to orgasm from the show alone. Fuck…how had I forgotten the man could move like that? The pause beside me was so I could take in all of his glorious body. My eyes traveled from the top of his head, where his short blond hair was now wavy since it’d grown out some. I itched to run my hands through it before pulling hard as he brought me to an earth shattering climax. Licking my lips, I held his wanton gaze—fairly certain mine matched. His eyes closed as he took in a long intake of breath, and then gruffly breathed out, “Fuuuck! You can’t look at me like that and not expect me to stay off of you for any length of time.”

  Whatever the spell was Alex weaved had me so eager. That this Adonis was aroused by me, wanted me with animal—no pun intended—intensity made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. For him, I would do as he commanded willingly. Because pleasing him, loving him, was the greatest gift I could give. To know he felt the same about me was an aphrodisiac like no other. I needed and wanted to feel desired. He provided that tenfold. His desire for me ramped mine for him in a way I never thought possible. While biting my lip, I rose up to look down my body. Sure enough, there was a wet spot on my white, silk panties. In a husky vo
ice—I almost didn’t recognize—I responded, “Take what you want. All of me. I belong to you.”

  Alex hissed as he stroked his cock. The sight was mesmerizing as he grew thicker, longer. “I want your dick in my mouth.” Who the hell was this woman? Honestly, I didn’t know her. Something about Alex brought her out. Only. For. Him. This Sofie knew what she wanted and how to get it. No apologies. Though she was still unfamiliar to me, I liked her—a lot. And by the look Alex was giving me, so did he. “Open,” he demanded.

  As he slid into my mouth, I could taste his pre-cum. Salty, masculine, and when I inhaled deeply as he pushed towards the back of my throat, I smelled coconuts, along with a scent that was only Alex. I groaned, so he would know how much pleasure it brought me to please him. With hands fisting my hair, he held me in place and frantically pumped his hips. All the while I continued making appreciative noises. Letting him know just how much I loved the way he fucked my mouth. Again, I’d only enjoyed fellatio with him. Every other man triggered my gag reflex and tasted awful. Not that I’d had any great experience. There had only been three men in my life: Alex, James, and a fling after my divorce with a young photographer I worked a summer fashion show with in London. A few more quick thrusts and Alex erupted as I swallowed every drop he provided. I wanted more and actually whimpered when he removed himself. He leaned forward; hauling me up as far as the ties would permit and kissing with a roughness that made me want his wicked tongue on my other lips. I needed him inside me, connecting us in way that bound our souls as one.

  He broke the kiss on, “Your turn.”

  His mouth traversed my body. Once more, he paid intricate detail to my nipples before finding his way to my waiting sex. I thought for sure he’d remove my panties and dine. While he was nipping at tender folds and my throbbing clit, he never removed the material. The effect had me so damn desperate, I beseeched, “Put your tongue inside me, please.”

  He lifted his face and glanced up at me. “You come when I say you can.” He eased the material down and flicked his tongue over the spot that craved him the most. If he did that again, I would climax with or without his permission. Bastard was fully aware and snapped my panties back into place. With the flat of his palm, he spanked my now drenched pussy. Not hard, but enough to bring my hips off the mattress demanding more. Alex eased off the bed and went to the dresser. When he came back, there was another tie in his hand and something else. He laid it down at an angle so I couldn’t see. Once more, his mouth met mine in a heated tango. He lingered along my neck, nibbling, and then whispered, “You’ve seen enough.”

  Next, the tie was placed over my eyes and secured behind my head. Apprehension filled me, “Alex?”

  “Shh…kjære, I won’t hurt you,” he vowed. “Let me show you how much your pleasure brings me the greatest ecstasy.”

  “I trust you,” I declared. Feeling his weight on the bed, I knew he was now down by my feet. The humming noise of something drew my attention. Whatever he had was suddenly on my foot. There was no holding back the “mmm” of just how incredible it felt. He gave the same attention to the other one. He worked the massager? along each leg before resting it at the apex of my thighs. “Oh!” I gasped.

  Trying to get the vibration against my more than ready clitoris, my hips arched. Alex removed it and another swat was applied to my aching sex. “Not until I say, Sofie,” he cautioned.

  “Shit baby, you’re killing me.” His chuckle was low, deep and knowing. “Bastard,” I panted out.

  Instead of responding with words, he tore my panties off. His mouth and tongue brought me to the brink of plummeting into a chasm of bliss. Annnnnnd he still refused to let me come. With his finger he began to play along my rose bud, yet again stopping just before I could orgasm. My breathing was heavy as I rasped, “You are one cruel prick.”

  There was a long pause while his weight shifted over me, speaking at the corner of my mouth. “Tell me to stop anytime, kjære.”

  “God…dammit, no! I don’t want that.”

  He moved to my throat, sucking, and then ordered, “Tell me what you do want.”

  “Ah hell, Alex, I want my cum all over you,” I confessed.

  He kissed me furiously before repositioning himself between my legs. I heard the hum once more as he spread my folds open and ran the—omigod, vibrator—everywhere but the exact spot I wanted it. He placed it in my ready core and left the toy inside me. His finger returned to my exit where it entered. With the vibrator, he began to move it in and then out of my channel as his finger mimicked the action in my asshole. I was thoroughly being fucked and loving every moment. So close to reaching the Big O and thinking how incredible it all felt, while his moans and hisses told me he was enthralled with the show. Unprepared for what happened next; I screamed and yanked at the ties holding me in place. Something so incredible and intense I didn’t have words for it. Whatever he had just placed on my clit was unbelievable, bringing an orgasm that was unlike anything I had experienced before. Alex’s “F-f-f-uuuuuuuuuck, Sofie, you’re squirting all over me,” was said in awe with a side of hell-yeah-I-just-did-that-to-her.

  Gently bringing me down from the heights I had just reached with soothing strokes and soft kisses, removing everything. Only thing he left was the makeshift blindfold. When his mouth was on mine worshipfully, I could taste myself on his tongue. He moved to my side and pulled me onto his chest. “Rest for a little while, my love.”

  *****

  I awoke to running water and sat up expecting Alex to walk out of the bathroom. Instead, I was greeted by Ari. “Oh,” I gasped, covering my breasts.

  She giggled. “Boobs are boobs, Mom. Not like I don’t have my own.”

  Well, she did have a point. Shaking my head, I crawled out of bed and followed her into the bathroom. She turned off water and affirmed, “You have about an hour to get ready. Your clothes will be waiting on the bed.” She closed the door behind her. So mysterious…what were they up to I wondered, sliding into the delightfully scented water. Tropical was my favorite, though I’d never shared with Alex it was because it reminded me of him.

  Unsure of how to do my hair or makeup I wrapped towels around my hair and body, padding towards the bed with hopes that the clothing would clue me in. The dress was my design. Its simplicity made it elegant: white, knee-length, and silk with tiny pearls along the hemline and neckline, which was scooped. It was sleeveless, meaning I would need the matching sweater for the evening. I curled my hair and brought it up on the sides, leaving it hanging down in the back. I’d never been one to overdo makeup, so I went with light powder, eyeliner and mascara with a blush colored lip gloss. Satisfied with how I looked and chuckling to myself, you look like a bride.

  Ari looked beautiful in soft pink chiffon. Wow, she looked so much like Alex I paused bewildered. She clutched my hand. “We’re to meet Dad at Regan Beach in about twenty minutes.”

  “Then we best get moving,” I declared.

  *****

  We arrived just before sunset. Lake Tahoe was gorgeous on any kind of day, but spectacular didn’t even cover the beauty when the sky was painted in hues of purples and pinks over the calm, deep blue waters. Like Alex’s eyes I realized as we grew closer. Parking was easy to find at the little wedding chapel. I worried my lip as we walked towards the beach.

  Ari inquired, “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure I should’ve parked there. Maybe I should go move the car?”

  “No!” she shouted. Stunned momentarily, I could only stare at her. She cleared her throat. “Sorry. It’s just Dad is waiting.”

  I nodded still wary of what those two had up their sleeves. All of a sudden, there was music playing as I recognized Kenny G’s “The Moment.” Such a beautiful song, eons ago when Alex and I were not much older than Arianna, I had shared how this song was perfect for our wedding. Of course, I wanted him to play it for me since he was a talented saxophonist. We continued our walk towards the water. Ari looped her arm through mine as I notice
d she had a brighter than usual smile. My heart began to stutter as I came face to face with Alex, who was playing the sax. My hand went to my mouth, stifling the gasp, as it all became clear what this was.

  Our.

  Wedding.

  I was marrying the most romantic man alive. How he had pulled this off and remembered all the finite details from so many years ago left me speechless. Once he finished the song, he set the instrument down and joined me. There was no stopping the tears spilling down my cheeks. With gentle strokes he wiped them away and queried, “Good tears?”

  “Very,” taking a cleansing breath, “good, Mr. Strand.”

  As the sun set, our vows were spoken. Our daughter was too young to be an official witness; however, the chapel owners were more than willing to oblige. I was positive they had done this for more than one couple throughout the years. The minister pronounced us, “Husband and wife,” and then added, “You may kiss your bride.”

  Alex pulled me to him and placed the tenderest kiss I’d ever had the honor of receiving. In that moment, I felt his vows all the way to my soul. He spoke reverently against my lips, “I promise to love only you. To cherish you all the days of my life. To honor you with everything that is in me. From this day forward and forever more, you are mine. I am yours.”

  I reached up and caught his tears with the pads of my fingers. “You were once the love of my life, and then the storm came and tore you away. I was adrift—bereft without my other half. When fate returned you to me, we were so broken. I couldn’t see how we could possibly be repaired. But love has a way of pouring into those pieces and filling them with more than you ever hoped for.”

  Our lips met again, passionately. The minister politely coughed and then glanced over to Ari. “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sevn Strand.”