by Piper Stone
As I stormed back to the bar, filling my glass to the rim, I remembered something my father had told me only days before he’d been killed.
“Remember that you will always have enemies, men who will stop at nothing to drive you into madness. However, the people you need to worry about the most are the ones you thought were your friends.”
I lifted my glass in a salute to my father. He’d been a very wise man.
Chapter 9
Devon
Jerkoff. Asshole. Creep. Bastard.
Muttering the words over and over again did little to reduce my anger. I’d let Santiago crawl under my skin all over again, pushing my fury to the limit while enticing the dark needs that had developed since meeting him. He was irritating on every level, and I couldn’t seem to break the cycle.
I tried my best not to rip the expensive dress as I removed it, tossing it into the corner of the room as if the lovely frock was worth nothing. I’d felt like a fraud standing in high heels that hurt my feet and a slinky dress meant for going dancing. The way he’d looked at me, undressing me with his eyes, had yanked me back into thinking about the contract and nothing else.
I kicked off the shoes one at a time, laughing when one of them flew into the mirror. Good. I hope the damn thing cracked. When I yanked open the drawers, I knew I’d find at least one swimsuit. Whoever had purchased the new wardrobe had thought of everything. There were three slinky two-piece suits that were entirely too provocative and a one-piece that at least would cover my breasts and ass.
As I struggled into it, I hated the fact my nerves remained on edge. I’d thought of nothing all day but how the man thought I would be able to steal this jeweled crest. Santiago’s need for revenge could get us both killed. As I stood in front of the mirror, I twisted and turned, studying my reflection in the swimsuit. I hated the look on me.
I headed for the bathroom, grimacing from the way the material shifted across my bottom. It still ached. After quickly pulling my hair into a ponytail, I yanked a towel from the closet, padding out of the room. I had no idea where the staff were hiding, but they certainly managed to avoid being in the master of the house’s presence when he was home. I didn’t blame them, considering the way he’d barked at Juan. During the day, there’d been a flurry of activity, people cleaning and adding fresh flowers, landscapers keeping the limited grass cut to a perfect three inches.
And there’d been people attending to the gorgeous pool, spending hours making certain not a scrap of debris floated in the crystal-clear water. I’d watched them, almost in awe at how meticulous they were in their work. That’s what money bought. Perfection.
I did everything I could to avoid running into Santiago, taking the long way to the pool. I’d explored the house, finding nooks and crannies, admiring artwork and sculptures. And I’d walked the grounds, even if I hadn’t been told that was within the rules.
Yeah, I was a little rebel.
Bullshit.
When I headed outside, I finally took a deep breath. The warm air still managed to make me tingle. There were no lights with the exception of those glowing from the bottom of the pool. They created a shimmer at the surface, adding to the ambiance. Various palm trees and other tropical plants were positioned all around the thick stone wall, a cabana-style house positioned on one corner. There were dozens of lounge chairs and tables, the beautiful area ready for a spontaneous party.
I tossed the towel onto a chair, taking my time walking to the massive steps located at the shallow end. The pool itself had been carefully crafted to look as natural as possible, rocks flanking the steps, a similar design at the opposite end. I could hear the splashing sounds of the small waterfall from yards away. At least that allowed me to smile.
As I stepped in, the warmth of the water was somewhat surprising and within seconds, I realized it was a saltwater pool. How wonderful. There was nothing like the way the water instantly soothed my aching muscles. I swam slowly, taking my time to enjoy the sensations as I headed for the waterfall. Even the scent of the flowers was welcoming, fragrances I couldn’t identify.
How could anyone live like this? Would you take it for granted after a period of time? Would you even bother using the pool? I moved to the other side and to the edge, folding my arms onto the surface and kicking my feet in the water. Tickling beads danced across my back creating goosebumps.
I wanted nothing more than to shove my mind into a blank state, but even as I closed my eyes, images of Santiago rushed into my mind. He had a powerful way of commanding a room just by entering. So authoritative.
So demanding.
So… intoxicating.
Ugh! I hated thinking about him at all. Even though the night before had been sinful and filthy, delicious, and passionate, I was no fool. He was simply using seduction as another way of controlling me. That’s what men like him did. I thought about his bruised hand and the blood I’d seen on his shirt. What was he really capable of? What would happen if the mission he’d planned failed? A knot formed in my stomach, my breathing suddenly ragged.
Yet another round of prickling sensations vibrated down my arms and legs. He was here. I was certain of it.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hungering.
Very slowly I lifted my head, unable to see anything in the darkness, but there was no doubt he was sitting in one of the chairs, keeping his eye on me. I swam closer to the building, scanning the perimeter. Even though my eyes had gotten used to the limited light, there were far too many shadows created by the overhang of the estate. Swallowing, I tried to ignore him, swimming a few laps, but after every one of them, I attempted to find him once again.
This was getting ridiculous.
“I know you’re here, Santiago. Why don’t you come and join me instead of hovering like a hawk?” As expected, there were no sounds, no comments of any kind. Just silence. “You know what? You are a real prick.”
The silence continued, making me think that I’d been wrong. Huffing, I swam an additional lap then moved to another location closer to one of the doors, lifting my body partially out of the water. “Yes, you’re a true asshole. You summon me when you want. Fuck me when you want. Discipline me when you want. But you can’t talk to me. What’s wrong, Santiago? Are you terrified that you might actually enjoy the experience?”
While the silence continued, I was rewarded with a sudden orange glow coming from twenty feet away. As the scent of a cigar wafted in my direction, I shivered all over again. He was such a creep, his inability to carry on a normal conversation irritating as fuck.
“I was right. You’re nothing but a bastard. Have it your way, fucker.” I knew I was pushing the limits to the breaking point. I was simply exasperated from not getting all the answers. I swam a few additional laps, unable to get the stench of the cigar smoke out of my nostrils. A few seconds later, I was finished with being the subject of a voyeur.
I finished my swim, moving up the steps and toward my towel. Thankfully, I’d positioned it a good twenty-five feet away from him. Sadly, I’d have to walk past him to get to one of the two doors. Damn it. The man continued to have control without even trying.
After drying off, I threw the oversized towel around me, as if that was going to provide any kind of real protection, then kept my gaze opposite of the monstrous man as I headed for the interior.
“Come here.”
The two deep words reverberated in the night air, my pulse quickening. “Why?”
“Because I told you to do so.”
“No.”
“Devon. Do not cross me at this point. Come. Here. Now.”
I realized my mouth was bone dry, my heart hammering to the point I was forced to gasp for air. Why did this freaking asshole have such a commanding effect on me? I inched closer, finally able to see his silhouette in the slender light of the moon.
He studied me as he puffed on his large cigar, leaning back in the chair as if he had no cares in the world. He’d lost his jacket, u
nbuttoning his bloodied shirt. I hated everything about him at that moment, including the way he had his head cocked. I didn’t need to see his expression clearly to know he was amused.
I remained quiet as I stood in front of him, as if waiting for his illustrious instructions. At some point, I’d rake my nails down the side of his perfect face.
Santiago slowly placed his cigar in an ashtray on the small table beside him, taking his time to stub it out. He took a deep breath before leaning forward. “Come closer.” He pushed his drink onto the table, twisting and turning the glass after doing so.
While I did as he requested, I still kept a few inches away from him, struggling to control my breathing.
He planted his elbows on his knees, flexing the fingers on both his hands open, touching the tips together. The man continued to contemplate what he was going to do. Reaching out, he dragged the towel away, leaving me feeling even more vulnerable. After he tossed it aside, he beckoned me with a single finger.
With every inch I drew closer to him, the more intense the heat became swelling between us, the jolts of electricity powerful. I took shallow breaths and the second he brushed a single finger down the length of my arm, I was pulled into a vacuum, only able to hear the hard pounding of my heart.
“You enjoy calling me names, dulce niña?” he asked.
I wasn’t his sweet baby girl or anyone’s for that matter. “You deserve them.”
“Yes, I believe I do.” He intertwined his fingers with mine, pulling me even closer. “However, if you believe they bother me, you’re wrong. They only arouse me even further.”
The huskiness of his voice was far too sensual, the tone sliding across every inch of my skin oh-so slowly. I could listen to him talk for hours, only that wasn’t his style. I had no idea what to say in any kind of retort. Maybe I was far too mesmerized by his sultry voice to think clearly.
“But I can’t tolerate your continued insolence. That isn’t going to bode well when I need to protect you.”
“What will you need to protect me from?”
He squeezed my hand before answering. “There are some very dangerous people who will not appreciate the fact I’m back in town.”
“The person you’re stealing the crest from. The person you want dead.”
“As I said, I’m only collecting what rightfully belongs to my family.” His slight chuckle meant I was continuing to amuse him.
“Who is he, Santiago? Why can’t you even tell me his name?” I doubted imploring him was going to do any good.
Looking away, he took another deep breath. “His name is Rafael Perez, likely considered the most powerful man in all of Spain.”
“More powerful than your father was?” I was shocked there’d been no hesitation.
My question brought a laugh as well as the man bringing my hand to his mouth, rolling his lips across my knuckles. Why was my body swaying from the gentle touch?
“While my father was ruthless in business, he made certain to cross only the lines that were required in order to keep the peace. Perez is another animal entirely. He is vicious and cruel, fearing no one or any ramifications that might be issued. A man with no conscience will never feel any remorse or regret. A truly dangerous man.”
“And you aren’t?” I asked, my voice little more than a whisper.
He continued rubbing my hand back and forth aimlessly, one foot tapping on the ground. Something had pushed him to another edge altogether. “Yes, I am, more so than I was before I left my beautiful country.” When he lifted his head, I didn’t need any additional light to allow me to catch a glimpse of his inner thoughts. He was uncertain of the outcome of his project, but there was even more.
Lines had become blurred between us.
“Why can’t you go into a room in your house? I overheard the conversation you had with Frances.” I could tell instantly my question hadn’t just caught him off guard. He was furious. I almost backed away when he started speaking, fearful of what he would do, but his grip had tightened.
“My father and brother were murdered in my father’s office. I was the one who found them.”
I felt as if I’d been pulled into a horrible vacuum, yanking into his pits of hell. “I am… My God, Santiago. I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Devon. Rafael was the man responsible. You wanted to know the gory details, well, you might as well understand how difficult it was for me to return to Spain.”
“Were you forced to leave?”
He nodded. “Yes, given an ultimatum if I wanted to live. Now it’s time to take out my revenge. Don’t worry, my beautiful guest. You will not be in danger’s way. I will make certain of that. Whatever happens, you will be well taken care of, returned to the United States.”
“Wait a minute. You’re prepared to die.”
He pulled me closer, absently kissing my hand. I was struck by how calm he was. I was also surprised that I wasn’t anymore terrified than what I was. There was no doubt he’d do everything in his power to protect me.
“I don’t have a death wish if that’s what you’re asking. However, I’m a realist. Rafael is a powerful mafia leader, the strongest in Europe at this point. He had my father murdered in order to take over my family’s share of power.”
I could tell by the odd sound of his voice that there was more to the story. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, Devon. Perhaps I should have told you the truth from the beginning; however, I needed your help.”
“The theft of the crest is bothering you that much.”
“Yes, it is. I hope you can understand that.”
I thought about his words, able to accept them because he’d dared to open up to me. “Yes, I can, but you need to heal, Santiago. The need for revenge has eaten you up inside. Ask yourself if you want to spend the rest of your life that way.”
“I am certain you are giving good advice.”
“But you’re not ready to take it,” I half whispered. A few seconds passed, the sensations as he caressed my hand building to a frenzy.
“Remove your swimsuit, sweet Devon.”
His command caught me off guard. The guilt for surviving must be eating him alive. At that moment, I felt so sorry for him, wishing that I could help rip away his armor. Only he could make that happen. “What are you going to do?”
“Do not question me. That can never happen again.” He let go of my hand, easing back in his chair, pulling the glass into his hand. I couldn’t take my eyes off the way he licked the rim before taking a gulp. I’d also been able to tell how aroused he truly was, his thick cock pressing hard against his pants.
I backed away by several feet, darting a look over my shoulder before complying with his ridiculous request. I’d already been seen in a compromising position. What would it matter if it happened again? I closed my eyes as I removed my swimsuit, my fingers chilled to the bone and making it difficult to fight the dense material. After I stood completely naked in front of him, I expected him to drag me over his lap, spanking me like a bad little girl.
When he rose to his feet, tugging then yanking his shirt over his head, my legs began to quiver, my nipples hardening. As he kicked off his shoes, slowly unfastening his belt then his trousers, I could feel trickles of pussy juice slickening my inner thighs.
And when he was completely naked, I was forced to blink several times. I walked backward until the moonlight cast a warm haze over me. As he followed, standing only a few inches away, I was finally able to admire his gorgeous physique. He was muscular in all the right places, every inch of him carved as if out of the finest stone. Long legs and chiseled hipbones eased into six-pack abs and a broad chest. The way the light breeze shifted through his shoulder-length dark hair made my mouth water.
He was enigmatic, his strong jaw adding to his aristocratic features. But every part of his soul was as black as the way his eyes looked in the darkness. He took his time walking closer, cupping both side
s of my face. “You drive me insane.”
“You mean I challenge you.”
Chuckling, his hot breath cascaded across my face, creating the kind of burning desire that shouldn’t be acceptable but every part of me tingled. I was so alive, my pulse skipping. The man had a way of generating a firestorm within my body. When he rubbed his thumbs across my cheeks, I could feel a round of heat rising from my jaw. “I will break you, Devon. It’s just a matter of time.”
“You will never break me.”
A sly smile crossed his face as he dropped his head even lower. “Challenge accepted. This isn’t about romance, Devon. You don’t give a shit about flowers and walks on the beach. This is about conquering you exactly as you’ve always craved.”
His words smashed into me like a pinball hammer, cracking open the last of my armor.
“No. That’s not true. I—” But I was never able to finish my rebuttal.
He’d kissed me before but as his lips pressed against mine, I was instantly lightheaded, fearful I would slide to the ground. As he brushed his lips back and forth, taking his time in every action he took, I wrapped my hands around his wrists. I could feel his heart pounding by the simple touch, accentuating the force shared between us.
He pulled me onto my tiptoes, stretching my neck as he parted my lips, darting his tongue inside. I arched my back, my body swaying. The hint of bourbon staining his lips was even more of a magnetic draw. While I was still embarrassed by my reaction to him, there was no denying the dazzling vibrations. I wanted him to kiss me, devour me. I longed to feel his hard body pressed against mine.
Exhaling into my mouth, he pushed the lightheaded feeling into overdrive, and I was forced to cling to him, digging my fingers into his skin. He pushed his tongue further inside, dominating mine as the kiss became more intense, a growl erupting from his throat.
