“Thanks, mom,” I muttered. “You know we could have walked back to the hotel. It’s only five blocks.”
She chuckled. “Normally, I’d jump at the opportunity to spend a little time outside, but in these heels, I don’t even want to walk up the lobby steps.”
The day was starting to weigh on me by the time I slipped into my room. I was ready to collapse on my bed and let tomorrow handle whatever repercussions I had coming. Before I could flip on the lights, they jumped to life. My heart pounded when I saw Kylan sitting in the armchair across from my bed. He glared at me. Behind his gaze was a burning anger that sent a chill through my body.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“How are you communicating with the brothers?”
“Excuse me? You’re the one in my hotel room. I don’t think you have the right to be demanding answers. What are you doing here?”
He tossed his phone onto the bed. An image of me taking up the screen. I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as I recognized the picture. It was one I’d sent to Dakota weeks ago. It was brazened, to say the least, but at the time, we didn’t know about the stalker. The only part of my body that was covered was the waxed slit between my legs. A single, artfully placed finger concealed my pearl and lips while my other hand cupped my bare breasts.
“How did you get that?” I whispered.
“It was sent to me about twenty minutes ago. I don’t care about the picture. We already knew someone out there had already gotten their hands on those files.”
“I don’t understand. Why was it sent to you?”
His voice was a low growl. “So, they could set me up for the next picture.”
I slid my finger across the screen. It was taken from outside the hotel. Kylan was leaning against the building, his trim physique perfectly outlined in the jogging outfit I’d come to enjoy every morning. It left little to the imagination. The first thing I noticed was the slight bulge in his jogging pants. My body quivered with desire. He was looking at his phone, the image on it the same picture from before. His excitement was from me.
“That image wasn’t just sent to me. It was sent to Dakota and Declan’s public lines as well in a group text.”
“Oh my God,” I stammered. “Did you trace the number?”
“Of course, we’ve gotten nowhere so far. This isn’t David’s doing. He’s been in DC with my sister the whole time. Has the stalker reached out to you again?”
I shook my head. “No, of course not. I’m going to be sick.”
Darting to the bathroom, I quickly shut the door and hunched over the toilet. The nausea had been real, but given the chance, I quickly grabbed the burner phone.
Me: You’ve made your point. Please stop.
Next time. I take a picture to the press.
Me: I’ll do what you want.
Good, remember you’re already on strike two.
Kylan knocked on the door. “Are you okay in there?”
“What?” I stammered. “Yeah, sorry. I’ll be right out.”
I shoved the phone back in my purse, tucking the whole thing in my makeup bag on the counter before jerking open the door and storming past Kylan. The curtains still stood partially open from earlier, my gaze quickly scanning the surrounding buildings, but nothing stood out. I don’t know what I expected to see. Perhaps a man with a scope pointed directly into my window. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. My heart was racing. I had to make a move on Kylan. If only I didn’t feel a rush of desire at the idea.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, feeling him move behind me. “Yeah, it’s just a lot to take in, I guess. I’m so sorry you’re tangled up in all of this.”
“This isn’t your fault. Well, it is a little, but not to this extent. I know that photo was taken weeks ago. I shouldn’t have been looking at it.”
I turned to him. “Why were you looking at it then?”
His eyes moved over my body. “Because any straight man would look at you.”
“Do you want me?” I asked
Kylan’s eyes danced. “I think you know that I do.”
“What did you like about the picture most?”
He stepped closer, his eyes on mine as he spoke. “Your eyes. Had I been taking the picture, I’d have done the pose a little different.”
“Oh yeah? How so?”
Kylan’s body pressed against mine, pushing me back against the sealed window. His massive hands moved up my legs to my hips while his gaze stayed locked on mine. Moving lower, Kylan’s hands found the heat where my inner thighs met. He tormented me, barely brushing against my wet panties as he parted my legs. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe as he spread my legs wider apart, lifting my skirt until it sat around my waist.
Kylan didn’t wait long as he hooked my panties and quickly tugged them down to the floor. When his hands traveled up my body, they took the dress with them until I stood naked, my legs spread apart as I struggled to hide the parted opening of my wet core. He smiled at me, devilish and seductive, as he took hold of my wrist, tugging it away from my body. He grabbed my other wrist before I could cover myself again, lifting me off my feet until I sat on the cold ledge of the window.
Taking my hands, he folded them behind my back until my fingers laced together at the base of my spine. He was careful in every move that he made, never touching the parts of my body that so desperately craved his attention. My own excitement dampened my thighs as I watched his hand move down my leg to my knee. He lifted it up, spreading me open until my foot was on the window sill. With my hands tucked behind my back, I was exposed for his pleasure. My moisture glistened in the pale light as Kylan lowered his head.
The cool sensation of his breath on my wet pearl sent a shudder through my body. Inadvertently I struggled to free my hands. Kylan moved quickly, his firm palm pressing against my abdomen and preventing me from releasing myself. A moan slipped past my lips as he blew on my throbbing clit again. He never touched me, yet I could feel the edges of an orgasm approaching.
My eyes closed as I gasped, helpless against his torture. As quickly as Kylan had started, I felt the hot breath stop and his hand move away from me. A wave of disappointment crashed into me as my eyes flew open again. Gone was his devilish grin. It had been replaced by a primal desire I knew all too well. My cheeks flushed a deep red, his eyes moving down my body as I freed one of my hands. If he wanted a show, I would give him one.
16
Kylan
My mind was racing.
What the hell was I thinking?
This was the exact sort of thing I was supposed to be avoiding, yet I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her. She was even more exquisite in person. I wanted to touch her to confirm that she was real. Her skin was radiant under the dim lighting. Yet, I couldn’t rip my eyes away from the show unfolding in front of me. My now rock-hard cock wouldn’t let me.
She didn’t change positions from where I’d placed her moments earlier. Her wet body was exposed for me to watch as her fingers ran down her abdomen to the swollen pink pearl throbbing for affection. It didn’t have long to wait as she slid her fingers around it, leaving the tip exposed as she found her slick opening. I couldn’t feel my own shaft throbbing for attention, her eyes moving to where it struggled against my pants.
Her tongue darted from her mouth, licking her lips as she watched me unzip my jeans, reaching in to free my member. She sucked in a sharp breath, her delicate fingers moving to pinch her erect nipples as a droplet of pre-cum glistened on my tip. The first stroke made me shudder with pleasure. Knowing she was watching my every move, I ran my thumb over the end, another thick drop appearing for her pleasure. My eyes locked on hers as she beckoned me closer with a single finger. My shaft was inches from her body.
Audrey reached for me with her wet hand, stroking my cock as she coated it with her sweet nectar. I shuddered as the desire coursed through me. Little prickles of euphoria shot from my core and out my limbs. A steady vi
bration started low in my abdomen as Audrey worked my shaft. It had been months since I’d been with a woman and never anyone as beautiful as her. I wouldn’t last long. Watching her work her body in unison with mine was about to push me over the edge.
She felt the shift in me, her throbbing clit engorged with the same desire that swept over me. Pulling me closer, Audrey brushed the tip of my cock against her swollen body. The heat made me gasp as I grabbed her wrist. Before I could move one way or the other, she let go of my cock and shoved me backward. I nearly toppled over the bed in shock before catching myself. As graceful as a cat, Audrey climbed down from the window and slipped back into her dress.
The only change in her demeanor from twenty minutes before was an enticing flush that covered her cheeks. I stood there with my mouth hanging open like a fool. My cock urging me to go after her again and try my luck, but the sly grin on her face told me I would fail. She liked playing games with me. Rage and excitement mingled together as I struggled to sheath my sword again.
“You’re a tease,” I hissed.
“You’re the one who was looking at the dirty picture. I just wanted to give you the live-action shot.”
“Here, I thought you loved the Hartley brothers. I guess I was wrong about you.”
“You don’t know the first thing about love. I can love more than one person at once, thank you very much.”
My mouth dropped. “Oh, you can?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I wasn’t saying a damn thing about you. Simply that it’s possible to care about more than one person at once.”
“I never said anything about feelings,” I stammered.
“You did when you brought up Dakota and Declan. I love them beyond words. I still have needs, though, and you can’t deny the attraction between us.”
There was nothing I could say to argue with her. Hell, I could still feel the attraction straining to get out of my pants. It didn’t change the fact that we were supposed to be working together, not fooling around. Plus, she’d admitted to loving a man that I despised. While the idea of sharing her provided a delicious rabbit-hole of fantasies, they didn’t include Dakota Hartley.
“So, what are we going to do about our little predicament?” she asked.
“Well, I tried to give us both a happy ending, but you pushed me away.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “The stalker who seems to like following the men in my life and me.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, I am not a man in your life. I’m here to do my job, and that’s it. Tonight was a mistake. I can see that now. I should have kept things professional.”
“Well, Mr. Professional, like it or not, my stalker seems to think that you and I have a connection. So, call yourself whatever you’d like; right now, you are in as deep as the rest of us. Have you made any effort to catch this guy?”
“Of course I have! This new number is a burner phone, just like the last one. Without a federal search warrant, we can’t do much else.”
“How long would he have to be using the same number for you to track it?”
“I don’t know, at least four weeks. Once you reach a certain point, the information becomes repetitive, and you can narrow it down to a location.”
“Wow, how is that legal?”
“I didn’t say it was,” I said. “We have our methods, but there are some laws that not even my team can get through. Like I said, after four weeks, it gets easier, and the legalities of it all get a little greyer.”
“So, you can play both sides of the fence if you’ve got a reliable number?”
“Yes, but he’s smart. Even if we had a number to track, it could take us up to a week.”
Audrey fell silent. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she sat down on the armchair. I’d spent most of my time with her in an argument or watching from a distance. It was strange to be working in tandem, but something about it felt right. We could make a good team if there was a way to get past our differences. Too bad we couldn’t screw away our anger and be done with it. My mind drifted back to her body, but I quickly shook away the desire. There was no time for fun anymore.
She hesitated. “What if I could get you a number?”
“What are you talking about? You said that he hadn’t contacted you. As a matter of fact, I get a copy of every message you get, and I haven’t seen anything.”
“I didn’t say that I could get it, just that I might be able to. I have friends in low places, too, you know.”
“What makes you think he’s got a number that he keeps around?” I asked.
Audrey shrugged. “I don’t know, okay? I’m starting to think this whole conversation was a bad idea. I don’t know what I was thinking. I won’t be any help. I’m sure you know what you are doing.”
There was something she wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t want to push the issue. We were finally to a place where we could communicate without it becoming infuriating, and I didn’t want to start slipping backward. The evening had already been a hectic one. I turned and headed for the door. She was beginning to look tired, and I didn’t blame her. I could feel the fatigue starting in on me as well.
“Listen, we can talk tomorrow on the plane. Get some sleep, okay?”
She nodded. “You aren’t going to tell anyone about this, are you?”
“Of course not; this was between me and you, no one else. Whatever the stalker wants, I will help you figure it out, and we can chalk tonight up to too much wine and close quarters.”
“Thank you, Kylan,” Audrey whispered.
My name on her lips made my heart race, but I said nothing as I gave her a smile and opened the door. In a few seconds, I’d made my way down to the elevator. I was too worked up to go to sleep, but I knew the hotel bar was still open. Maybe a stiff drink would help clear my mind. Finding a seat near the bar's end, I quickly started to drown my sorrows in bourbon. It wasn’t long before a familiar shape took form in the seat next to me.
“You look like hell,” Derek said.
“Thanks. I thought gay guys were supposed to be nice?”
“Oh, please, I’m no stereotype. I can’t help it if I’m honest. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had a tussle with our favorite little minx.”
“Jesus, she is one hell of a woman,” I whispered. “I’m starting to understand how your brothers fell for her.”
Derek chuckled. “That explains the drinking. Audrey is an interesting creature, to be sure. She has an entirely taboo concept of love, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t work for her.”
“What the hell am I doing?” I asked. “Everything about Audrey is a bad idea. I never should have gotten close to her.”
“To know Audrey is to love her. I’m just surprised that she’s interested in you back. Men are always chasing after her, but it’s rare for her to like one back.”
“I can see why your brothers were so willing to share her. It’s like a tenth of her time is worth a hundred times that with another woman.”
“The trick to Audrey is not to try and control her. She likes her independence. Once she gives you her heart, though, it’s yours forever.”
“Trust me, there is no room for Dakota and me in the same heart. You’re younger than us. That grudge runs deep.”
“You know, a few months ago, Declan was telling me the same thing. He didn’t think it was possible to share with Dakota, especially not when he loves Audrey so much. They managed to work it out, and if it’s meant to be, you will too.”
“I wish I had your optimism. I think whatever little tryst Audrey and I have going, it will end long before the campaign trail does. I’ll make sure of that.”
“Are you trying to convince me of that or yourself?” Derek asked.
“Have you always been such a smart ass? I thought you were on my side here?”
“I’m not on anyone’s side. As far as I’m concerned, if Audrey is happy, then I am. She deserves to find her own path, the same as I did. The least I can do is hav
e her back.”
“Do you honestly think there is room in her life for me? I don’t see how that’s possible. Even if it was, your brother hates me. I wouldn’t put it past him to end things with her just because she digs me.”
“You underestimate everyone. That’s your problem. Dakota has come a long way, thanks to Audrey. He isn’t the same man that you knew, just like you aren’t the same one he met years ago.”
“Maybe not. Tell me this, does he still like to hold a grudge?”
Derek cringed. “Listen, no one is perfect. Dakota and Declan make their relationships with Audrey work because they don’t interfere with each other’s feelings. Maybe you should give it a try. Don’t think about either of my brothers. Think about what you want with Audrey.”
“I wish it was that easy,” I grumbled.
“And I wish men wouldn’t over-complicate things,” Derek whispered with a smile.
I shook my head and finished my shot. Derek said nothing else as he left, clapping me on the back as he went. The brothers made it work because they were just that, brothers. I wasn’t a part of that circle or that family. Everyone saw me as an outsider and the enemy when it came to the Hartleys. Audrey was as good as one of them with her deep ties to the family. I could never be accepted as one of them.
17
Declan
I didn’t bother to look up when I heard someone approaching.
Seeing me in Dakota’s offices had become customary for his staff. The small building sat nestled in the heart of the city. As he worked his way through the political ranks, his team would grow. The additional lofts upstairs were already in the process of being converted to more offices for myself and the team I’d brought on to help me. While I was in no hurry to move the point of operations away from my home office at the apartment, Dakota was looking to the future.
The meeting didn’t come as a surprise to me. We had a lot to go over for the coming months. The clicking heels stopped near me. I glanced up and rolled my eyes at the woman. She wore a red dress most would consider risqué for the political trail. She was Molly Klaus though, so no one questioned what she wore. At least not if they wanted to survive until the next day. God only knew what she wanted with me; we had no common ground beyond my brother.
Wicked Dynasty: The Untouchables | Book Two Page 10
