by W Winters
“How did the meeting with your brothers go?” Nate asks.
My heart pounds. I sure as hell should not be listening to this. Fuck. I do everything I can to block it out. Fisting my hands by my side and closing my eyes although they don’t stay closed for long.
“Not much to update on,” Declan answers.
I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure if I should come out and reveal myself or stay put. It feels like it’s too late to do anything.
As they talk, all I can think is: fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
Declan comes across the room and stands in front of his desk. His eyes travel over my empty chair in the corner of the office, and then he glances toward the adjoining bathroom. The door is open. I know it. I left it open.
“Three men were killed during the meet late last night,” Nate is saying. “Former Talvery men facing off. I’ve had some contacts say—”
I move slightly, trying to get a better look at Declan’s face. He’s shifted position and is hard to see, but then I get the perfect angle and I do. My heart is racing. I shouldn’t be in here. Declan lifts his eyes from the surface of his desk and turns his head.
He’s looking right at me. My skin blazes and I can barely breathe.
I stay as still as I’ve ever stayed, despite my pulse hammering inside my chest. True terror overwhelms me, the kind I should have felt and somehow didn’t when I learned he’d killed Travis. He turns back to Nate and doesn’t interrupt him. Did he see me?
“Blow up the bar on Fifth,” Declan says. I think it’s where the Talvery men have their meets. I’m not supposed to know about it, though. I’m never supposed to hear anything that is spoken in Declan’s office. I know plenty now, though. “Have Patrick and Barrett set up a block away.”
“Patrick’s not in town,” adds Nate.
“What about Dorian? He has experience with sniping, doesn’t he?”
Nate nods as my body goes cold. Sniping? As in shooting them?
“Fine. Have the two of them set up. Kill any of the higher-ups. No one else. Only the higher-ups.” Declan taps his fingers on the desk; I can’t see but I can hear it. I’ve learned he does that when he’s thinking. “Spread the word that Aria and Carter’s marriage was an alliance and we will keep our promise to everyone who has not betrayed us. Make sure we’re giving the impression it was only a few men who we believe should pay for what happened, only the few who gave the orders and that it’s been dealt with. Give the men the option to come to us … and turn on each other.”
Nate responds, “Yes, Boss.”
“I have work to do. We’re finished for now.”
Nate leaves quickly. The office door opens and closes with a thud. My thumb runs over my fingers, wanting me to push the door open. But I don’t know what I’d say.
I’m not given the option to wait any longer, though.
“You can come out now.” His voice is calm and even, yet it sends a fear through me.
“Declan, I—” I speak through the crack, not yet opening it and facing him.
I’m cut off by his order. “Come out now so I can see you.”
Swallowing the spiked ball in my throat, I obey him instantly but my hands tremble. “I didn’t mean to—”
“It doesn’t matter what you meant. It matters that you were here.” Still, his tone portrays a matter-of-factness, no anger, no disappointment.
“I’m sorry.”
“Put those away.” His gaze travels down to my hands, I hadn’t realized I was still holding the nipple clamps. My cheeks heat as I open the door, and I feel Declan’s eyes burning into the back of my neck with every move I make. When I’m done I come back to him, standing beside his desk where I know he prefers me.
He stands with his arms crossed over his broad chest, his thumb traveling down his jaw as he assesses me. I’ve never felt so much like a child in his presence. Struggling to say anything at all, I peer up, waiting for him.
“What did you hear?”
“Nothing.” I swallow thickly.
“You mean everything?” His brow cocks.
I nod. “I heard everything.”
I expect him to be angry at me, but Declan sits on the edge of his desk, his expression calm. “You know better. What should your punishment be?”
“I don’t know.” My palms are clammy and my heart races.
With a gentleness I don’t expect, he brushes my hair away from my face. “You need to give me better answers, my sweet girl.” His hand cups my jaw and he repeats, emphasizing the question, “What should your punishment be?”
My mouth is dry. I can’t come up with an answer. I just want him to tell me. “Whatever you think it should be.”
“I never did get to fuck you after spanking you,” he comments, almost to himself. “The next time you’re in here when you don’t think you should be, do not hide. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“You come out immediately.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” His voice is a soothing balm. As his thumb runs down my chin and lower, my eyes close. “I prefer for you to be my good girl so I don’t have to punish you.”
With my heart racing, I swallow and then whisper, “I know.” When I open my eyes, his hazel gaze is on me, swirling with a dark lust. He’s going to spank me; I know he is. With deep breaths, I prepare myself. Remembering the last time, with the ruler, I contemplate begging him to use his hand instead. I swallow down the plea, I will be his good girl. I’ll do whatever he wants. Even if the nervous prickling runs over every inch of my skin. The pain will be bad at first but it won’t last for more than a day.
“Strip,” Declan commands with a deep rumble of desire.
While I take my clothes off, he sets up two stacks of books on his desk. My focus remains entirely on him because I have no idea what the hell he’s doing. There are four to five books in each stack and he attempts to make them even.
Nervousness coils in my stomach. I can’t stop watching him. As my bra hits the floor, and the chill of the air sends goosebumps down my arms, he meets my questioning gaze. “I’ve had a very long night already, my little pet, and an even longer day.” He pats the desk and tells me, “I have a meeting in a moment and I’m going to need you to lie there.”
I move to obey him without hesitation, grateful to not be bent over and bracing myself for a paddle or that damned wooden ruler and Declan stops me, gripping my chin.
“Let me put you how I want you,” he says and as he does, he drops his eyes to my lips and then kisses me sweetly before nipping my bottom lip.
He makes me lie down so my feet are propped on the edge of the desk. My spread thighs will be very close to his chair. When I lay back, he puts the stacks of books on either side of my waist and then he puts his laptop over my belly. It’s not touching me. He has the edges balanced on the books. Declan sits, adjusting the screen so it faces him.
My nipples are tight with the chill in the air as I lie here, completely bared to him and staring at the ceiling.
I haven’t the faintest idea of what he plans for me, but the moment his thumb brushes down on my clit, I gasp and my back arches from the unexpected touch.
I’m rewarded with a rough chuckle before Declan moves my thighs farther apart, adjusting them the way he adjusted his screen. “If you move, they’ll see your legs, so don’t you dare move.”
I stare up at the ceiling, completely unsure, my heart beating out of my chest. “I’ll be still,” I promise him. Is this all he plans for me?
“I want to play with you during this meeting. You’ll be quiet. You won’t move.” Biting down on my bottom lip, I keep myself from questioning him.
His thumb comes down on my clit again and I suck in a gasp as a spike of pleasure rides through my body.
“You will not make a sound once the meeting starts,” warns Declan. “You will not make a move. Understood?”
“Yes, Declan.” My body is tense and my bottom lip drops open with a
nother wave of pleasure as he plays with me.
“Not quite a punishment, is it?” he questions.
My head falls to the side as he rubs ruthless circles over my clit. I can barely think; every effort I have goes into remaining still and quiet. “I don’t know.”
He hums a short, quiet laugh. “Yes, you do. I’m going to toy with you and get you off. Do not interpret this as a reward. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt, Braelynn, and selfishly enjoying you as I wanted rather than denying myself.”
I nod although I then realize he can’t see me and say, “Yes, Declan.” Declan stands up to look down at me, towering over me, dominating me and appraising me. His eyes burn into mine. “Be my good girl and be quiet. It’s about to start.”
I repeat myself. “Yes, Declan.”
“That’s my good girl,” he praises me before sitting back down.
The clicks of his keyboard alerts me that his hand is busy elsewhere, leaving me wanting as I lie here helplessly.
Voices come on. I don’t recognize any of them. One man says something about alcohol sales, and another man corrects him. They go back and forth for a minute, then move on to the next topic. Declan remains silent throughout it, although his chair groans as he readjusts. It seems like a business conversation but I can’t pay attention.
Because Declan’s fingers are between my thighs. He strokes them through my slit, already slick from his prior play, pausing every now and then to toy with my clit. He tests my entrance with two thick fingers, seeing if I’m wet and then spreading my arousal up to my swollen nub that begs for his attention. My body goes hot and I struggle to stay silent.
As my release heralds its arrival, my thighs tremble. My hands fist at my side and my head thrashes. I don’t know if I can stay still. Fuck, please. Stay still.
When he brushes his fingers along my center, my foot slips. Shit—I catch it just in time. My thigh doesn’t go. My heart races and my eyes widen when his hand stops.
I wait, holding my breath, and after a moment he continues. This time, his efforts are more ruthless, his fingers curling as he enters me, stroking my front wall and bringing me closer to the edge.
I’m so close. So much pleasure has built up between my legs that the next time Declan brushes his thumb over my clit, I come undone. With both of my hands covering my heated face, I pant into my palms, doing everything I can to keep quiet. Declan doesn’t stop. He keeps going and more pleasure crashes over me. He groans deep as I come on his fingers again. This time, I moan a little. I can’t help it.
Biting down on my bottom lip, I curse myself when he stops again.
This time Declan taps on the keyboard. “Do I need to remind you to be quiet?”
I shake my head.
“Answer me verbally. My mic is muted.”
“No. No. I’ll be quiet.” A cold sweat coats my body as I gather my strength to stay still and quiet.
“Good girl.”
When he says that, I'm his good girl … I’m becoming addicted to it.
His fingers trail over me again as he leans back in his chair, gently now, and he brings me so close to the edge that I almost come again within seconds. Then he backs off. He waits until my thighs have stopped trembling and starts again. He edges me … and again. The minutes stretch out. Ten minutes, or fifteen. A long damn time to be toyed with and to have release after release denied. He constantly touches me and plays with me and I can hardly breathe with how good it feels. The cool desk beneath my shoulders is my only relief. I’m losing myself to the sensation.
My eyes pop open when I hear his zipper being undone, and I wait for him to fuck me, but he just plays with me. Both thighs are trembling now. I can’t take much more.
A small moan of protest leaves me, begging him, and then he stops altogether, his touch retreating.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. Just a moment.” Declan moves the computer.
Fuck, fuck.
I’m silent as Declan picks me up as if I’m nothing, grasping onto him and wanting to plead with him but I stay silent. He bends me at the waist, his arms bracing me before he lowers me over the arm of a chair. “This is going to be quick,” he murmurs in my ear, his warm breath trailing down my shoulder, and then he thrusts into me with all his thick length. It all happens so quickly, I’m barely aware of it until he’s inside of me. Declan fucks me hard and deep, using me like the fuck toy he said I would be.
My entire body is weak by the time he comes inside of me and I’ve come yet again, at least the fourth time since he started all of this.
“Fuck, Braelynn,” he murmurs. Declan rests me on the chair, zips his pants up, and goes back to the meeting. The leather is cool beneath me and thank God it’s leather because the warmth leaks out of me and onto the chair.
Sated and weak, I clean it up and clean myself off, still attempting to calm my breathing.
When I’ve finished, Declan pats his lap. I hear, but when I raise my eyes to look at him, he’s not looking back. He’s casual, though stern, facing the monitor. He pats his lap again and taps on the keyboard, I assume to mute his mic again.
“Come here,” he orders. “Crawl if you have to.”
Another click on the keyboard.
I obey. I crawl to him, and he pats his knee. I rest my head against it while he pets my hair. His touch is soothing, possessive, yet everything I need. My heavy eyes close as Declan strokes my cheek and time passes allowing me to recover.
There’s a tink that forces my eyes open.
A pen dropped, and Declan bends down. I offer it to him, and Declan takes it, his fingers brushing against mine, but he looks deep into my eyes. “Do you need me to hold you?”
I shake my head, taken aback.
“If you did, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.” A simper plays on my lips. “Good.” A warmth I haven’t felt with him takes over as he kisses me once.
“If you need me, squeeze.” He puts my hand on his thigh. “Understood?”
“Yes.”
He sits back up and returns to the call, but his hand never stops moving over my hair and that warmth never leaves me.
Declan
She’s already seen and heard too much. Most is intentional and a setup, in case she is an informant. The information will identify her and it’s not true. But some things … like the meeting yesterday … I should not have let her hear that conversation.
My family has only dealt with that particular situation one of two ways.
A quick death or marriage. All their wives have been involved in matters they shouldn’t have. And none of them can be forced to testify. If Braelynn isn’t an informant, but she hears things she shouldn’t … there’s only one of two ways we deal with that.
All morning the consequences of what our relationship has evolved into have bothered me. They’ve whispered into the back of my mind that it’s going to come to an end. It would protect my little pet. She wouldn’t have to worry if she overheard conversations. It’s her worrying that’s the problem, I’ve come to decide. I take it as my responsibility to ease that.
Time is not in our favor, but it will certainly help.
Knock, knock. My gaze lifts to the door and then to the monitors on my left. I hadn’t noticed Nate coming down the stairs.
I call out, “Come in.”
Nate closes the door quietly after entering, his custom-tailored suit looking more rumpled than I’m used to seeing on him.
“What is it?” I ask him and then click over to my schedule. The night is nearly free and what I do have on my calendar can be pushed back. Nothing is pressing, so I’m not sure why the hell Nate has that look on his face. There’s always a tell about him when he’s stressed.
“Your brother called a bit ago.”
“What for?”
“He said he wanted a quick conference. He has orders.” There’s something about Nate at the moment that I don’t care for. There’s an anxiousness about him.
“Call him,�
�� I order him and lean back.
Nate does as directed, calling on his burner. As it rings, my thumb trails over my stubble. If Carter has orders, something’s changed.
“Boss,” Nate says in greeting as the line is picked up.
“Is my brother there?” Carter questions.
“I’m here,” I call out. Nate places the phone down gently on my desk and resumes standing, his hands clasped in front of him.
“Declan.” Jase’s voice comes through next. I get the impression it’s a fucking intervention.
“Fuck, if this is about dinner, it’s a bit of overkill.” I let out a short laugh, but my brothers are silent. “I’ll be there next week.”
I bite my tongue before telling him I may bring Braelynn. I’m not certain I should. Things have been difficult and I don’t know whether it would make things better or worse to involve my family. I want them to meet her, though.
Carter speaks first. “It worked.”
“What worked?” I question and I’m the only one. I take it I’m the last to know.
“Whoever you set up with the numbers.”
My blood goes cold and I peek up, Nate doesn’t even look at me.
“What numbers?” I ask. They can’t be talking about the books. Denial sinks its claws into me, holding me steady as Carter confirms the unwanted thoughts.
“We got in the transcript this morning. We notified Nate in case she came in. Braelynn, isn’t it?”
Betrayal sinks deep into the marrow of my bones. My world turns blurry, reality bends and spins in front of me. Taunting me. Laughing at the very thought that I believed her.
She said she wouldn't hurt me.
Every doubt I ever had screams at me, demanding I acknowledge they were right.
Of course she stayed last night rather than leaving. It’s the only reason she ever stayed.
“She’s working for the feds. Now we know.”
Nate’s statement brings my focus back.
I clear my voice and sit up straighter, my shoulders stiffening as I tell my brother, “Send me everything. I want to be sure it’s her.”
