Love & Seduction: A Forbidden Love Suspenseful Standalone Romance: A Love & Ruin Novel (The Love & Ruin Series Book 7)

by J. A. Owenby

  “Vaughn,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I had no idea.”

  “When you showed up unexpectedly at Sutton and Pierce’s place a few days ago. I tried, Claire. I tried to stay away, but deep down I knew I was a goner. Knowing what you’ve gone through, seeing that son of a bitch’s hands on you last night … I lost my shit. My emotions erupted inside me, and I couldn’t resist the pull any longer.” He took a deep breath, appearing relieved to finally speak the words that he’d been holding on to.

  “So the first time we’re together, I’m going to show you how I feel. I’m going to take my time and worship every inch of you and show you what it’s supposed to be like. This is so much more than sex for me. Yeah, my dick is begging for you, but I want your heart, Claire. Goddammit. I want your heart,” he whispered.

  I jumped out of my chair and into his lap. He wrapped his arms around me while I melted into him. “I don’t know how to do this. I understand how to entertain a man in the bedroom, but I don’t know how to love someone.” I sat up in order to look into his beautiful gaze that set my world on fire.

  “There’s no rush. You’ve got to get to know me, then decide for yourself.” Vaughn’s fingertips gently traced my cheek.

  “I have so many questions.” I smiled at him shyly. “Can we talk more tonight? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to snuggle up and talk about anything and everything.”

  “I’d love that. I want to learn more about you, too. For me, I’m an open book. I’ll tell you every detail you want to hear.”

  “At least I understand why you kiss me, then back away so quickly.” I placed my hands on his shoulders. “I’ll try not to mess with you so much.” A flicker of guilt passed over me. “But I have to a little.”

  “You drive me crazy, Claire. I’ve walked around with a serious hard-on since you arrived. No amount of showers is relieving it, either.” A lopsided grin eased across his face.

  I threw my head back and laughed. “After our dance, I practically ran to the shower. You gave me the quickest orgasm I’ve ever had.”

  “I’ll give you more than one. Try to be patient. I swear it will be worth it.” He tilted his head up and cupped the back of my neck, pulling me down to his mouth.

  His lips parted, and his tongue caressed mine in a slow, deep kiss. No one had ever touched me the way he did. Slow. Heated. As though he wanted to taste every bit of me so he could savor it for later.

  He shifted his hips upward, and I groaned into his mouth. “Vaughn, I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to wait.”

  Our kiss grew more desperate while I rocked my hips against the growing erection in his jeans. His fingers trailed up my bare legs, sliding beneath my shorts, and cupped my ass.

  “You feel so good,” he said, his breath grazing my ear. He nipped my earlobe, and I arched backward while he licked my neck, and I dry humped him.

  “Vaughn, we don’t have to wait. Please.” Begging wasn’t my style, but I needed him so badly.

  He stood and set me on the table, leaning me back on the cold wood. “Let me take care of you, Claire. We need to wait for sex. I have to do this right, but let me make you come.”

  That he would even want to take care of me—and not fuck me—was an alien concept, but I nodded. I would take any part of him I could.

  He leaned over, pulling up my shirt. My dark purple lace bra peeked out.

  “Purple is my favorite color.” He placed a kiss between my breasts. Then he pushed the material to the side, his lips lightly brushing my nipple.

  I reached for the pocket of his jeans. If I had something to pull on, then I might not rip his clothes off. His mouth closed over my tit, and I arched off the table as his tongue played with my sensitive bud. He massaged my other one while he skillfully sucked on me.

  “I’ve missed seeing the girls. You’re so beautiful. I wasn’t able to get you out of my mind after you dropped your dress at the wedding. I didn’t even know I had that much restraint.”

  My fingers released his pocket and slid into the waistband of his jeans as he moved to the other breast. “I believe in equality.” He gently moved my hand from his pants, then kissed a hot trail down my stomach. “Let’s get these off.”

  He flipped open the button on my shorts, and I lifted my ass off the table so he could pull them down. He tossed my clothing on the floor and stared at my throbbing core. Vaughn brushed a finger against the satin fabric of my G-string, and I whimpered in response to him. “I’ve thought about this moment so many times.” He tugged on the strings and removed the only barrier between himself and my throbbing pussy.

  “Jesus, you’re so wet.” His gaze darkened with desire while he spread me apart. “So beautiful.” His gaze connected with mine, and he slid a finger inside me. He leaned over and placed his hand on the table. I bucked against him, reveling in the pleasure. His thumb located my clit and slowly began to massage me.

  “Oh God.” Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back and allowed him to stoke the fire deep inside my belly.

  “I can’t wait to watch you come.” He pulled his fingers out of me, my body immediately calling out for him.

  I propped up on my elbows while he pushed my legs apart and kneeled on the floor. He grabbed my hips and tugged me to the edge of the table. In one quick move, he buried his tongue inside me.

  “Vaughn!” I threaded my hands through his hair as he sucked and licked my sensitive flesh, sliding his finger into my pussy. His mouth devoured me as though I were his favorite dessert, and I lost myself in his touch. My hips rocked against him, and I lay back on the table while he continued to thrust deep inside me.

  “So goddamned good,” he said, pumping into me harder.

  He zeroed in on my clit until I couldn’t hold on any longer. I dug my fingernails into his shoulders while I released, and everything except him slipped away. No more danger. No more worries. No more fear. Only this amazing man in front of me.

  My chest heaved while he stood and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He leaned over me and placed a sweet kiss on my forehead. “Are you feeling better?”

  I laughed softly and cupped his cheek in my hand. “Thank you. It was one hell of a teaser and pre-show of what’s coming.”

  “I’ll show you the rest of the house really quick, then we need to pick up the food.” He handed me my G-string and shorts, and I slipped them back on.

  “This doesn’t seem fair to you. I feel a little guilty. Better, but guilty.” My attention landed on him, but he was all smiles.

  “Don’t feel bad. You gave me a blow job at the wedding.”

  “Not really. It was like twenty seconds or fewer. You didn’t even get off.”

  Vaughn chuckled. “Oh. I did.”

  I laughed as he held up his hand. “Well, hopefully I inspired some good alone time.”

  Feeling a lot better and more focused, I followed Vaughn, and he showed me the guest room, hall bath, and the master bedroom.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to brush my teeth. Although I’d love to have the taste of you on my lips for the rest of the night, I’m afraid ZW would smell you on me the minute he arrived.”

  I giggled. “I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

  Vaughn grabbed a clean black T-shirt and headed to the master bathroom.

  I made my way to the living area and peered around the long blackout curtain. The neighborhood was well taken care of and quiet. I would love to have a place like this of my own. Maybe someday. Until then, I was grateful for my sister. The only thing I had to do now was not let on that my heart was slowly falling for one of the men she said was off-limits.

  11

  At six o’clock sharp, the doorbell rang. I ran down the stairs from my bedroom to answer the door, my tennis shoes smacking against the hardwood floor.

  Vaughn quickly blocked me. “I’ve got it.”

  “But it’s just Gemma and Mac.” I rolled my eyes at him when he didn’t budge. “Fine, I’ll
let you do your job.”

  He flashed me a big smile, then gave me a quick peck on my lips. “Have fun tonight, and don’t worry about anything. You’re safe.”

  “Thank you.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and gave him another kiss. I kept my distance while he opened the door, but the minute Gemma, Mac, and Zayne stepped in, I hurried to them.

  “Hey! Thanks for inviting us over. We brought alcohol.” Gemma held up a bag and giggled. “I think we all need a girls' night.”

  One thing that I loved about Gemma was how stunningly beautiful she was, yet she had no idea. Her long red hair cascaded down her back, and her bright-blue eyes sparkled.

  She and Mac had opted for comfy T-shirts and shorts, as well. We were in sync tonight.

  “I’ll take it.” Vaughn took the sack. “We’ve got pizza in the kitchen and a full bar. Follow me.”

  Apparently, Vaughn was an excellent host.

  “I thought I smelled something yummy.” Mac stepped up and gave me a big hug. “Girl, I needed to get out of the house. This is so awesome.” She flipped her brown hair behind her shoulder and winked at me, her grin full of mischievousness. She smoothed her plum-colored top and rubbed her flat tummy for emphasis.

  Gemma hugged me next, and I stood there, grinning at them like an idiot. I’d forgotten what it was like to have female friends—or friends period. I hoped this would lead to some great friendships.

  “Pierce and Sutton are away on business, so we have the place to ourselves. Well, except for Vaughn and Zayne. Let’s head to the kitchen.” I led them through the living room and toward the alluring smell of the food.

  “I tell ya what. Having sexy-as-hell bodyguards around all the time never broke my heart when I toured with Gemma and Hendrix. I still remember when Pierce introduced Vaughn and Zayne. I thought I’d just melt into a big puddle on the floor,” Mac said in a hushed tone while we walked.

  Gemma’s soft giggle reached my ears. Although I wholeheartedly agreed with Mac, there was no way I could admit that one of them had lain claim to my heart.

  “Oh!” Mac rubbed her hands together and flashed us a toothy grin. “Girl, I’m sure you’ve heard how I love to eat, but now I’ll show you. Our lunch the other day was child’s play.” Mac grabbed a plate, loaded three large slices onto it, and moaned while she took her first bite.

  Vaughn and Zayne sat on the kitchen counter near the fridge and scarfed down their food. For a fleeting moment, Vaughn and I locked eyes, then he tore his gaze away. We had to be careful. We were surrounded by intelligent and highly intuitive people. If our secret was found out too soon, it had the potential to upset the delicate balance of our relationship. Vaughn and I needed time to get to know each other and take it slow. At least that was what the logical side of me said. The hormonal side of me wanted to rip off his clothes and fuck him senseless.

  “You gonna save some for the rest of us, Mac?” Gemma asked, laughing and grabbing a slice for herself. “Thank you for dinner, Claire.”

  “Do you ladies want something to drink?” Vaughn asked. “I can make anything you want.”

  Zayne wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Yeah, if you’re taking orders, I’ll take a whiskey neat.”

  Vaughn arched an eyebrow. “Get it yourself, man. I’m asking the women.”

  Zayne slapped Vaughn on the shoulder and laughed. “What’s up with you lately? You seem preoccupied and … sensitive.”

  “Fuck off,” Vaughn muttered under his breath.

  Mac and Gemma exchanged looks. Panic bubbled inside me, but I refused to acknowledge Zayne’s comment. Not now, at least.

  “I brought some wine for everyone,” Gemma chimed in, easing the tension in the room.

  “I’ve got it here. I’ll open the bottles for you.” Vaughn hopped off the counter and busied himself with pouring us each large glasses of Malbec.

  “Um, you’re hired, dude,” Mac said, eyeing the full glass and giggling. She slurped some off the top and grinned.

  “Mac makes her drinks so strong they would grow hair on your chest. When I started drinking, I’d be drunk halfway through the first one. They were so strong.” Gemma shuddered and laughed, nudging Mac in the side with her elbow.

  “Then we went on tour together, and we all drank every night.” Darkness flickered in Mac’s expression while we situated ourselves on the barstools.

  “We had some really great times on that tour, but some difficult ones, too,” Gemma added, the bright light in her blue eyes dimming.

  “Can I ask what happened?” I took a bite of my food and waited for Gemma to reply.

  Mac nodded at her. “Go ahead. I’m cool with it.”

  Gemma sipped her wine and played with a loose pepperoni on her pizza. “I don’t know what Sutton has told you, but a member of the band died when we were in Colorado.”

  I shook my head and folded my hands in my lap. “I didn’t realize that. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up anything difficult to talk about.”

  “No. This is good, actually. We need to talk about it sometimes. Besides, you need to know you’re not alone.” Gemma paused before she continued. “I need to back up a little bit for it to all make sense, though.”

  I took a large gulp of my wine. Something inside me told me I might need it.

  “Gemma moved up from Louisiana and had started college here in Spokane. We ended up roomies,” Mac began.

  “Which is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, honestly. Mac and Hendrix were exactly what I needed to heal. I was brutally raped when I was fourteen, and after that, I shut down. I only left the house to go next door and visit my neighbor, Ada Lynn. She passed away almost a year ago.”

  Tears welled in Gemma’s eyes, but she continued. I’d noticed Vaughn and Zayne had stopped eating and were paying attention to the conversation.

  “I’m sorry. It’s obvious she meant a lot to you,” I said gently.

  “She was the best,” Mac added and patted Gemma’s hand.

  “Anyway, after I moved to Spokane, a guy named Brandon bullied me. He nearly raped me, but I gave him a good spray in the face with the mace that Mac and Hendrix had gotten for me. Brandon backed off … for a bit. Little did we know he was planning his revenge.”

  “His name still makes my stomach churn,” Mac chimed in. “Disgusting fuck.”

  “We had no idea how sick he really was until he kidnapped Mac and held her at gunpoint in an abandoned warehouse.”

  “Shit! Mac … I … I.” I shook my head in disbelief. There was no way these women didn’t carry heavy scars from their horrifying experiences.

  Mac held up her hand, halting any additional sympathies. “Girl, you’ve had your own shit. Mine was only for a few hours, thanks to Gemma. You don’t have to say anything. I know you feel our words to your very core. You’ve lived them, too.”

  I nodded. “How did he end up letting you go?” I asked.

  Mac pointed at Gemma. “It was all her.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. Pierce helped.” Gemma’s hand trembled as she raised her glass to her lips. “I offered to trade myself for Mac’s life. Brandon wanted me, not her. It worked. Pierce had taught me self-defense, and we had a plan in place before I turned myself over to him. In a nutshell, it worked and he’s in prison now.” Gemma’s shoulders slumped forward.

  I understood exactly how hard it was for them to share all this with me.

  “But Dillon, Brandon’s father, isn’t. He’s a million times worse than his son and in hiding. He’s the founder and leader for a society that organizes rape. The men offer their daughters, nieces, granddaughters … any underaged female they associate with. Since the men were aware of a girl’s schedule, it allowed for the rapist to show up when she was alone. If there were any suspicions, the members would cover for each other and offer an alibi.” Gemma swallowed hard. “I was one of their victims.”

  Stunned, I wrestled for the right words to say, but there were none. “Shit. I didn’t realize you’d been t
hrough so much.” I reached over the island and squeezed her hand.

  “The society is also huge in the human-trafficking business.” Mac’s nostrils flared. “When I went on tour with Gemma and Hendrix … it was Dillon who ordered a hit on Gemma and me. We were supposed to testify against him and Brandon. Pierce and I were the only two not struck down by the spray of bullets. Pierce and I dropped to the stage floor and crawled to help the others. Check to see who was still alive.” Mac choked on her words, tears slipping down her face. “I thought I’d lost them all.”

  My heart split wide open. My eyes stung with unshed tears as my mind played out what that must have been like. I would die inside if I lost Sutton, Mom, Dad, and Pierce. They were the only steady and safe lifeline I had right now. I grabbed a napkin from the center of the island and dabbed my eyes.

  “You didn’t, though.” Gemma wrapped an arm around Mac’s shoulders and consoled her best friend.

  “You two have been through a lot,” I said. “At least you were together and could talk about it if you needed to.”

  “It’s made a huge difference,” Gemma confided. “One of the things that’s helped me the most was starting a safe place for young women to heal after rape. The shelter is located in Louisiana, where I’m from.” She paused for a moment. “Claire, although it might feel as though the world has come to an abrupt stop, it is possible to be happy again. Please know that it’s within your reach.”

  Her words struck a chord deep inside me. Hope blossomed in my chest. If Gemma and Mac had lived through hell and come out on the other side, maybe I could, too.

  “I’m glad you’re both doing better. It’s encouraging. Sometimes …” I stared at my uneaten pizza and picked at the cheese-filled crust. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m capable of feeling anything again. Other than fear.” I resisted the strong urge to peek at Vaughn. Although he had broken through some of my walls, I wondered if I would be able to really give him what he deserved.