Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas Book 9)

by Laylah Roberts

  “Saxon,” Jardin greeted.

  Duncan sent the other man a sharp nod. Saxon looked amused at that.

  “Jardin, Duncan, Laken.” He turned that gaze to her, and she had to suppress a shiver. This was the owner? Wow. “This must be Carrick and Thea. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

  “Same,” Carrick said, squeezing her thigh lightly.

  “Um, hi, Sir.” That felt weird.

  Saxon smiled. “She really is new. Hope you all enjoy yourselves. Jardin, since you’re here I wondered if you’d take care of a few issues that have arisen.”

  What did that mean?

  “Don’t you have another Dom to act as punisher?” Jardin asked.

  Punisher. He’d told her about his role at Saxon’s when he was around. However, he’d also told her that if she wasn’t comfortable, he wouldn’t touch anyone else.

  That rock in her stomach told her she was pretty damn uncomfortable.

  “He’s not in tonight. And you’re so good at it.”

  Jardin reached over and grabbed Thea’s hand, studying her face. Then his gaze moved up to Carrick. “Actually, I’m afraid I’ll have to say no. I don’t think I can fill that role when I’m here anymore.”

  She tensed, expecting Saxon to be angry. Instead he just grinned. “Well, good. It finally happened, huh?”

  He slapped his hand down on Jardin’s shoulder then strolled away.

  “Manipulative bastard,” Duncan muttered.

  “Duncan!” Laken scolded.

  “It’s the truth. Come on, a spanking bench is free. I’m in the mood to redden your ass.”

  Arousal flooded Laken’s face.

  “You didn’t have to do that because of me,” Thea said when they were alone.

  “I didn’t. Well, not just because of you.” Jardin looked to Carrick.

  She glanced up at their big, quiet man. He sent her a wink, but there was relief on his face. “Turns out, I wasn’t so keen on him touching someone else, either.”

  She gave him a small smile and Carrick kissed her gently.

  “But what about your needs?” she asked Jardin worriedly.

  “Hmm, maybe I should secure one of you to a cross and take a strap to you.”

  Um. No thanks.

  “I’d give it a go,” Carrick said, shocking them both.

  “Really?” Jardin asked. “I was joking.”

  “I’m not,” Carrick tried him. “Truth is, I think I might like a little pain with my pleasure.”

  “It will be more than a little.”

  “Well, maybe I need Thea’s mouth on my cock to help me suffer through.” Carrick winked at her.

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “About your mouth on my dick?”

  “No,” she gave him a firm look. “About trying this.”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I have a safe word. And I want to try this. I want to know.”

  “All right, then we try.” Jardin rose and held out his hand to her. “First, though. I think we should give Thea a bit of a taste.”

  Jardin led Thea to a free St Andrews Cross in the corner of the dungeon. It was quieter back there, more secluded. Which was perfect.

  He’d held a small bag that contained the stuff they’d bought today. Not for the first time, he wished he’d brought his play bag. But this would do for now.

  “Carrick will you restrain her for me?”

  Carrick leaned in to kiss Thea gently then led her over to the cross, getting her into position and securing her ankles and wrists.

  “Did you do what you were told and go without panties, Thea?” Carrick crooned to her as Jardin coated a new butt plug in lube. Tonight, they were taking her ass. He’d reserved a private room for them upstairs.

  He had no wish to fuck either Thea or Carrick in front of an audience, even if they wanted that.

  “Good girl,” Carrick praised Thea as he raised her skirt, tucking it up high into the waistband and baring her firm ass. “How are you with this, rocket?”

  She’d stiffened slightly but as he rubbed her bottom, she gradually started to relax. She still had some hang-ups about her body they were going to need to work through. This was one small step.

  “Okay, Carrick.”

  Carrick smacked his hand down on one cheek. Then the other. “You’re owed some punishment, aren’t you? For running when you should have come to us. For not confiding in us. That’s going to result in a very hot ass for you. We’re going to plug you, punish you, and, later on, we’ll fuck you.”

  “Didn’t you punish me for that the other day?” She pouted.

  “No, that was for talking bad about yourself,” Jardin told her.

  Carrick gave her another ten or so smacks before moving around the front of the cross. He gently kissed her, watching her closely. “Beautiful girl.”

  His hand reached between her legs to tease her clit. She gasped. “Carrick!”

  They’d already discussed this scene between them, each of them knew what the other was doing. Carrick would keep an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t freaking out while Jardin pushed her.

  “How are you doing, rocket?”

  “Good. Green, Carrick,” she cried out as Jardin pulled her ass cheeks apart and slid the firm plug inside her. They’d been plugging her each night, so she knew to relax and let him push it inside her. He watched it disappear, his cock straining against his black pants.

  Christ. So hot.

  Leaning in, he kissed her neck, the back of her shoulders. “Want to try the crop, baby?” he asked her.

  “Yes, Sir.” she murmured.

  “That’s my good girl. Just relax for me.”

  Luckily, there was a shop in Haven with a good range of implements and toys. He was just going to use the lightest of touches with her.

  He grabbed the crop from the bag as Carrick continued to play with her pussy, kissing her, driving her wild. Jardin smacked the crop down on her ass, loving the red imprint it left behind. He gave her three smacks in quick succession.

  “How’s that, baby?” Jardin asked.

  Carrick pulled his lips away from hers so she could answer, but his hand remained between her legs.

  “Good, Sir. Green. Oh hell.”

  “Here are some more then.” He landed five more on her ass. Arousal filled him. Having her bound, the fact she was accepting his discipline, it just fucking did something to him.

  “Two more, rocket,” Carrick told her. “Still, green?”

  “Yes, Carrick.”

  Jardin gave her the last two right as Carrick drove her up and over the edge. She cried out, her body shaking on the cross as she came. Jardin moved quickly forward to undo her wrists. Carrick dropped down to release the restraints around her ankles. Then Jardin picked her up and carried her to a chair that was next to the cross for this reason. He sat, holding her on his lap with her ass over the edge of his lap so she wasn’t resting her weight on it. He held her tightly, rocking her slightly as Carrick came to kneel in front of them. He pushed back her hair, smiling down at her.

  “How you doing, Thea?”

  “Great, Carrick.” She smiled at Carrick then up at him. “More than great.”

  Jardin chuckled. “I think I might have created a monster.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured. “Carrick’s turn next. Can’t wait.”

  Carrick wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. He only knew he wanted to try. At least Jardin didn’t have his whip with him. For this scene, they’d agreed on a belt. He’d stripped off his clothes already and, naked, he moved to the cross.

  Jardin secured his wrists and ankles to the cross as Thea moved around in front of him, in the same position as he’d been in before. Then she wrapped her cool hand around his cock. He groaned.

  Fuck. Him.

  Jardin warmed him up with his hand, smacking it against his ass. And it became almost hypnotic. It was a dull thud. A heat that built gradually. His head started to swim. Desire flooded him.
r />   “Where are you at?” Jardin asked him.

  “Green,” he replied.

  “Good. What’s your safe word?”

  “Red.”

  “Use it if you need to. Here comes the belt.”

  Thea kept moving her hand up and down his shaft. Fuck. If she kept doing that he was going to come and they had plans for her later.

  “Thea, stop,” he commanded. “I don’t want to come.”

  “Yes, Carrick.” She remained kneeling there, staring up at him with love in her eyes as the belt landed.

  Holy fuck. Yes.

  The belt packed a sting. The heat burned. And his need grew. Soon he found himself high on the pain. He wanted to come. Shit. He needed to come.

  The belt had stopped he realized as he came back to himself. Someone pressed against his back. Their heat surrounded him. Safety. Love.

  “How are you doing, Carrick?”

  “Green.”

  “Very good. I’m going to undo the restraints then we’ll get you wrapped up in a blanket and Thea will hold you while I tidy up. Is that acceptable?”

  “Yes. Fuck. Yes. Want to fuck her.”

  Jardin chuckled. “We will. As soon as you come back to yourself.”

  It was a bit of a blur. Moving away from the cross, being held by Thea. His ass throbbed, but in a delicious way. A bottle of water was pressed to his lips and he drank it down, the coldness chasing away the last of his daze. He blinked, looking up into Jardin’s face. He was staring down at him with a mix of love and concern.

  “Hey, you back with us?”

  “Yep.”

  “Up to more?” Jardin asked.

  “If by more you mean fucking my girl’s ass, I’m so there.”

  Thea groaned but when he turned to her, she was smiling. “Hey, rocket.”

  She leaned in to kiss him. “Hey, yourself.”

  “Let’s fucking go.”

  Thea had to giggle as they made their way upstairs. Carrick hadn’t bothered to put his clothes back on, stating there was no point. Jardin held an arm around his waist while holding her hand to guide them up to a private room.

  Inside, it looked like any bedroom, except the bed was enormous and everything screamed wealth.

  “Carrick, on your stomach on the bed. I want to check your ass. Thea can you get the cream out of my bag.”

  Carrick grumbled something about Jardin being a bossy bastard, but he laid himself in position. “I don’t need any damn cream.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to suck it up because I’m putting it on you.” Jardin inspected every inch of his handiwork, lightly rubbing some cream that would help with pain and any bruising.

  “Fucking beautiful.”

  Carrick rolled onto his back then winced. Jardin kissed him gently then laid back on the bed. “Thea, grab the condoms from the bedside drawer, you know what to do. You’re going to put them on us both then ride me while Carrick takes your ass.”

  Her gaze went from a smiling Carrick to an intense Jardin. She made short work of getting the condoms on. She was getting good at that. Then she straddled Jardin’s hips. He drew her down to kiss her, his finger going to her clit to tease her until she was thrusting her hips against him, wanting more.

  Needing it.

  Then he guided his dick inside her. So full. So good.

  He pumped inside her a few times before holding her still, his hands around her hips.

  Then Carrick moved in behind her. She caught her breath as he tugged at the anal plug, drawing it slowly out of her ass.

  “Fucking beautiful.” He squeezed one of her ass cheeks, then ran a finger over her back hole. “Take a deep breath in for me, Thea.”

  She felt him position the head of his cock at her entrance. Then she let her breath out as he breeched her. There was a bite of pain, a sense of fullness, and then he was inside her. Filling her. Both of them taking her.

  Pure bliss.

  They started moving. She was tossed between them. A ship at the mercy of the raging sea and the stormy winds. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Fuck, I’m not going to last,” Carrick groaned.

  “Neither am I,” Jardin agreed. He reached between them to play with her clit. Her breath caught in her chest. She needed to come so badly, yet she didn’t want this moment to end.

  “Fuck. So tight. I can’t . . .” Carrick roared as he came.

  Jardin thrust up, deep inside her. “Come, baby. Come with me.”

  She screamed, clenching down around their dicks as she reached that crest then fell over. Jardin yelled as he came soon after.

  They collapsed together. Sated. Fulfilled. One.

  Jardin’s phone beeped, and, with a groan he disentangled himself from Thea to grab it. She shifted over and slipped into Carrick’s arms. They were back in their bed at his cousin’s house.

  He opened the message from his oldest brother.

  You’re welcome.

  That was all it said. He clicked on the link he’d sent and a video clip from a news station came on.

  “And in breaking news, Derrick Silvers has been arrested for allegedly conspiring to commit murder, human trafficking, as well as manufacturing and selling drugs.”

  He texted his brother back.

  Thank you.

  28

  If the Texas Malones’ house was complete chaos, the New Orleans Malones’ could only be described as icy calm. The house was enormous. And intimidating. A stern-faced butler had greeted them at the door to help them with their bags.

  Thea walked in with Ace and Keir, looking around her with wide eyes and wondering how the hell she was going to keep the boys from breaking anything.

  “Is any of this stuff super expensive? One-of-a-kind? Priceless?” she asked Carrick.

  “I imagine most of it is. Intimidating, huh?”

  She nodded. Jardin turned to look at them. Then he glanced around. “I grew up with it all, so I don’t take much notice. Cold, isn’t it?”

  She couldn’t imagine him growing up there. “I’m sure we’ll get used to it.”

  Ace and Keir turned to give her incredulous looks. “Just don’t touch anything,” she told them. “Or run around in here. Definitely no water fights inside.”

  “Actually,” a masculine voice stated from behind them. “That sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps if we’d been allowed water fights, this place might have more of a lived-in look.”

  They all turned toward the man standing there. He looked like an older version of Jardin, with streaks of gray in his dark hair. He was polished and nicely put together, his slate-gray eyes cold.

  Regent Malone.

  The man she had to thank for getting rid of Derrick Silvers. Apparently, there was no way he could wriggle out of the charges. There was too much evidence against him, and all witnesses were being protected. Which she guessed was also Regent’s doing.

  Soon after Jardin had broken the good news, they’d packed up to drive back to New Orleans, stopping for just one night in Lafayette so they could retrieve her mother’s necklace. She still welled up thinking about the fact she’d gotten it back.

  “Thea, Ace, and Keir, this is my brother Reggie.”

  Regent sighed. “It’s Regent, not Reggie. But I’m pleased to meet you all.” He gave them all a small nod. “I trust you’ll all be at dinner.”

  “Yep, we’ll be down as soon as we’ve unpacked,” Jardin told him.

  “Good. Gerald has prepared something special for all of you.”

  God, she hoped it wasn’t foie gras. As though he could read her mind, Regent sent her a small wink. She was so shocked she just stood frozen there as he turned away.

  “I’ll have Gerald put away all the priceless artifacts and buy some water pistols in preparation for this water fight,” he called back.

  She turned to Jardin. “He won’t really, will he?”

  “Get water pistols, sure. Actually participate? Likely not. Couldn’t see Regent Montclair Malone ac
tually operating a water pistol. But I will.”

  “Me too,” Carrick said.

  Ace and Keir stared at them, then a big smile crossed Ace’s face. “Awesome!”

  She hoped Gerald really would put away all the priceless stuff.

  “Don’t worry, rocket,” Carrick told her, placing his arm over her shoulders. “We’re not living here forever. We’ll find an equally stuffy place to call our own. It’s the New Orleans Malone way.”

  “I heard that!” Jardin said.

  To her relief, dinner was hamburgers. Regent sent her another of those knowing looks. The boys dug in excitedly. To her surprise, they were taking all these changes better than her.

  Dinner was nothing like it had been in Haven. Nobody yelled over each other or tried to steal their food. And Regent and Victor ate their burgers with knives and forks. She’d had to nudge Ace to stop him from staring.

  It did look pretty bizarre, though. Especially since they, along with Jardin, were all wearing suits. Only Carrick and Maxim were dressed more casually. Maxim reminded her more of his cousins. There was a teasing grin on his face and his eyes danced with amusement whenever he looked over at her.

  “So, Thea, you worked for Jardin?” Maxim asked.

  “Um, yes.”

  “It was an office romance then?” Maxim sent Jardin a look.

  “Nothing happened until after she left,” Jardin said.

  “Ran from you.”

  “She didn’t run from me.” Jardin scowled at his brother.

  “We were running from that asshole, Silvers,” Keir spoke up.

  That shut Maxim up.

  “Keir, don’t say asshole,” she whispered.

  “That’s what he was, though,” Keir replied.

  “Keir is quite right,” Regent said, wiping his mouth with a cloth napkin. She was glad she didn’t have to do the laundry. “He was an asshole and more. But you don’t have to worry about him any longer.”

  “Thank you,” she told him sincerely. “For taking care of him.”

  “He threatened our family,” Regent answered, taking a sip of red wine. “That will never be allowed.”