Edge speaks out. “It shouldn’t have to be a fight every time we encounter them.”
“Truth. But we deal with what we have to.” The words barely leave my lips as the door opens with Graylyn announcing their presence.
The League consists of thirteen members—ten men and three women. They all come from sovereign houses with military backgrounds. As expected, their greeting is cold.
The leader, Zatere, opens the conversation. “Sabin, it is with displeasure we find ourselves here.”
“And why is that, Zatere?”
“You have caused a great uproar among the Council.”
The Seven laugh. “Is that so? What have they told you?”
“You have violated their edicts and claimed a human without their approval.”
As usual, they distort the truth. “That is an incomplete truth. I have exercised my birthright and claimed who I wish to claim. Did they bother to explain that?”
Zatere’s brows knit together. Clearly, the Council didn’t explain a thing.
“The Council claims you have ignored their requests as well.”
“Zatere, let me explain.” And I do, but add in my request for the banishment of Ali’yah.
“What you tell me is the truth?” he asks.
“The absolute truth.”
There are murmurs from the League members.
I decide to take my chance and go for it. “Zatere, we need more men.”
Zatere whips around and gives me a stone-faced look that says he is unwilling to hear this. “We’ve been over this a dozen times.”
“I’m not talking about in the field. I need men here to help with relaying information to us while we’re in the field. And I’ll need men to guard Paradox as soon as the vault is completed.”
He is silent. I use it as my opportunity to sell my position. “Zatere, you know me and you knew my father before me. You knew him to be honorable and trustworthy. Have I ever given you reason to doubt The Seven or me? I know we have erred at times, but the Shaurok are not the easiest to track, nor is the Mastermind. We are getting ready to go into his turf. We need assistance on this end and we need it with those we can put our trust and faith in. And it’s not the Council. None of us trust any of them. I won’t tell you how to feel, but be wary. If they are trying to protect Ali’yah, there has to be a reason for it.”
Zatere shakes his head. “Sabin, can it be that they deem her unworthy of you?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, Ali’yah had no business breaking through my security and onto my property. That is a punishable offense alone. And since Serena is my claim, that is also punishable. She nearly killed her.”
The League nods in agreement. Alisha, one of the females speaks out. “He is correct, Zatere. The Council allowed Ali’yah to break our laws and is now defending her. That cannot be permitted to stand.”
Again, they mumble. Then Zatere announces, “We shall speak to the Council. Exactly how many men do you need, Sabin?”
“At least ten. Six for security at all times so we have a rotation of two in shifts around the clock, and four to man our sec center here. And I want final approval and vetting.”
“As if I didn’t know,” Zatere says sarcastically.
“Strong military background, with operations experience.”
“Anything else, your highness?”
That gets a chuckle out of me, but only briefly. “Zatere, we have an issue here. Something is going on in the Council and I suspect it goes back to my family’s murder.”
“I agree. We will call the Council to order and see how they answer these claims. Would you like to be present?”
“No. I think they will be more likely to blur the truth if I’m not there. Make sure you bring in outside witnesses. It may get ugly. And remember to trust no one there. The League and The Seven were formed after the death of my family. It was done specifically to protect and guard Paradox and Judgment Day. Do not forget that.”
The League departs.
“What do you think?” Edge asks.
I scrape my hands through my hair. “I don’t know. I’m not sure who we can trust anymore. I know Zatere is safe and Alisha is on our side, too. But the rest … I couldn’t guess if I had to.”
Helios asks, “So, what’s our plan? Do we hunt the Mastermind?”
I don’t know a lot of things, but I do know one. “I want to get Serena out of here. She’s guarded now, but she’s not safe. There is too much shit being thrown at her and sooner or later something’s going to stick.”
“Earth?” Helios asks.
“Got any better ideas?” I ask. My body feels like it’s so tightly wound, I’m not sure how long I’ll last like this.
“Yeah,” Helios says, “a good fighting match.”
“No time right now. Verus, logistics.”
“We have several options. Denver, Beaufort, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, or we could do the off the beaten path thing.”
“Don’t give me all that bullshit. I want to know the safest place for her. Nothing more, nothing less,” I bite out.
He’s quick to reply, “Off the beaten path.”
“An island then. Make it somewhere warm, where she can visit her underwater friends. Way off the beaten path, Verus.”
“Understood, boss.”
Flashing him a blistering look, I say, “Stop calling me that. I have a name. Use it for fuck’s sake.”
He nods, and practically sprints out of the room. I glance at Edge and he appears as though he has something that’s dying to burst out of his mouth. “What?” I snap.
“Can we tell her?”
“Jesus, you’re like a fucking animal waiting for a treat. No, you cannot tell her. Let’s wait and see if Verus can find a damn place first.”
Drey stands against the wall. I motion to him with my head. When he gets in front of me I say, “You’re staying behind for the time being. I want you to train the men Zatere finds for us. I need them competent in the sec center before we leave them on their own. And I mean competent enough to guide us into the Mastermind’s headquarters. It’s a huge undertaking. You comfortable with that?”
“Of course,” he huffs.
“Don’t fucking get pissy with me. I need the best, Drey. I’m not trying to offend you. Pull your damn panties out of your ass for a minute. We have a critical situation here. If we don’t get this right, we could be sitting ducks out there. If you don’t want to do this, speak up now.”
“No, sir, I’ve got it.”
That’s better. I’m tired of all this girly-assed behavior. “Good. I need you in the sec center to check things out to see if anything needs to be changed in order to accommodate the new arrivals.”
“On it,” he says as he marches out of the room.
Rafe’s back is to me. “Rafe? Thoughts?”
“We need a solid strategy for locating and invading the Mastermind’s territory.”
“Truth, but I want surveillance first. When Verus gets done with finding our next headquarters, I want him to send out an explorer.”
“I can do that, Sabin,” Edge offers.
Edge does have experience in MSI explorers. Maybe he can handle this. “Do you think you can get one in undetected?”
Edge’s eyes dance and sparkle. When he acts like this, asking about his proficiency is a waste of time. “I once got an explorer into the academic institution and hijacked all the exams. It went undetected for two months before any of the instructors found it. I was only ten years old at the time. This will be elementary for me.”
“Wait. Repeat that for me.”
Edge laughs. “Yeah, I hijacked the exams for all the upper level students so they didn’t have to study.” Then he grins. “They did compensate me for it.”
“You’re the one?” I heard about this when I was at the academy at the time. I was older, but a couple of years below the class whose exams were hijacked. It was the talk of the academy for ages.
“Uh huh.”
He beams. “My ass was in deep shit over it when they found out. I had to confess because if I didn’t, the entire upper level class would’ve been held back. I was interrogated for weeks when they figured out I was the one who did it. They had to redesign their security on the complink. It took them a while before I couldn’t break their cryptic codes. I never told them that I eventually was able to get back in. But I never hijacked another exam. It wasn’t worth all the bullshit. I’m damn sure I can do this, Sabin.”
I process all this about him. “Why did I not ever know this? All this time I thought Verus was the tech expert.”
“I thought you did. And Verus is. My forte is breaking into shit. Encryption is me.” He grins like a twelve-year-old who just heisted a handful of cookies from his mother’s cookie jar.
Maybe it’s Edge’s immaturity level that sidetracks me all the time, but I’ll have to tap into this side of his expertise from now on. “Okay, you’re on. Design something that can find the Mastermind and get us in there to figure out what’s going on. See if it can find out whether they even have Judgment Day. It may save us a trip.”
“On it, sir.” He hustles out of the room as I chuckle to myself.
“Who knew?” Rafe comments.
“We need to keep an eye on him. If we tap into his mind more often and make sure he stays focused, he’ll turn into a fine operative that we won’t have to continually worry about,” I respond.
“Agreed.”
“Rafe, team him up with Verus. Let Verus show him some stuff. Maybe we can end up with two tech experts. You never know.”
“What do you think the League is going to come back with?”
“I don’t care. We still have a job to do. As long as they bring us extra men, that’s all I care about. We’ve been at battle with the Council from the start. This won’t make much of a difference.”
“But, Sabin, there’s something wicked going on there.”
“There always has been.”
We share a look and Rafe knows. He asks, “You think it’s Ali’yah, don’t you?”
“I think she has something to do with it, but she’s not smart enough to act on her own.”
“Then who?”
“That I can’t answer. It kills me because my family had no enemies that I am aware of.” I walk to the window and glance out to see Serena sitting by the pool. What the hell! She’s wearing a bikini that barely covers her intimate parts. My cock surges to life and tries to force its way out of my pants. Shit. Rafe is talking and I have no idea what he’s saying because all I can think of is ripping that top off her and taking her nipples into my mouth and …
“Sabin? Did you hear what I said?”
My arms stretch out across the windows and I lean against them, fantasizing about the woman I’m eye fucking. Swallowing my desire, I clear the knot out of my throat and say, “Uh, what?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? I’ve been yapping my fool head off at you for minutes and you haven’t heard a word.”
He walks up behind me, takes a look at the scenery, and says, “Get the hell out of here. Your concentration turns to shit when you look at her. You’re worthless, you know it?” Then he stomps out of the room. I hear a deep chuckle and I spin around to see Helios leaning in the corner. I forgot all about him.
“I was waiting to see if you wanted to spar, but I can see you have a different kind of sparring on your mind.” His head dips down and then back up. I follow it and realize what he means. The outline of my erection is clearly visible in my pants.
Then his smart ass mouth says, “I think you’ll be working off those frustrations through other means.”
Before I can think of a clever reply, he’s gone. In several long strides, I’m through the door and by Serena’s side. “Come with me.” My tone is harsh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Come.” Her bright green eyes cloud with confusion, but she rises from the chaise. My fingers shackle her wrist and practically drag her up the stone staircase that leads to my quarters.
“Dang, can you slow down a bit?” she huffs.
I pay her no attention. When we get inside, I kick the door closed, and face her. I fight for breath as I absorb the sight of her. Her breasts are barely covered by two miniscule triangles of flimsy cloth. Nipples are visible as they almost punch their way past the fabric. What is she thinking wearing this? My finger twists the string between her breasts and it snaps.
She gasps. “I love this bathing suit. Why’d you do that?”
“This is no bathing suit. It is indecent and you should be ashamed to be seen in so little. You are nearly naked.” My mouth tightens onto her dusky nipple before I hardly finish the sentence. It stiffens against my tongue and I flick it as my fingers tease the other one. I feel her hands grab onto my shoulders, I suppose to steady herself. But I can’t get enough of her scent. She is positively delicious. She smells and tastes like the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever eaten. And I’m getting ready to sample her everywhere.
My fingers slip beneath the strings that hook the two triangles of the bottom of her suit together. It barely covers her ass and pussy, and she can’t possibly ever wear this in public again. In one twisting snap, the thing pops in my hand.
“Hey!” she protests.
I cover her lips with mine, swallowing her complaints as my tongue invades the cavern of her delectable mouth. The challenges I expect melt away as her tongue glides along mine and I deepen the kiss, tasting heaven as she engages in it. Hands dive into my hair, fingers coiling and tugging. She’s not gentle as she yanks it, and it turns me on when she does. Our kiss heats up further when her hands move to my shirt and tries to pull it off. Unfortunately, it has to be removed over my head, so I break off our kiss. Deep sea green orbs follow my every move. Once my shirt is gone, her greedy hands slip under the waistband of my pants. She lifts her gaze to mine when she hears my chuckle.
My voice is hoarse with desire when I speak. “It would be easier if you’d unfasten them.”
Her head ducks back down and my pants open up to her heated touch. When her fist closes around my erection, I swallow my growl of ecstasy. The tension in my body increases as I focus on staying in control. There are too many things I want to do to her before anything happens to me. I enjoy this for only a few moments and then my hand covers hers, bringing her motion to a halt. “Stop. Stop. As much as I love this, there are other things I want to do.” After I kick out of my shoes and pants, we walk to the massive bed and I tell her, “Never wear things like that in public anymore. No one should ever see what I see.” Then, before she can object, I push her back and begin my exploration of her.
Serena’s hair is my aphrodisiac, so I wrap it around my hand and draw her head to the side as I run my nose up and down her lovely neck. “You smell of strawberries and sunshine. Have I ever told you that?” She murmurs continuously between breaths, which delights me, but her skin is the cream the strawberries should be served in. To touch her is to touch a priceless gem. Nothing is as beautiful as Serena. And it’s hard to believe how exquisite she is.
Seeing her in that insubstantial swimsuit has only whetted my appetite for her, but having my hands the real thing is more than I could ever want or hope for. Moving to the hollow at the base of her throat, I lick and suck, but then I make a line down between her breasts. She arches her back and moans. One hand fists my hair and the other grasps the sheets. Her responsiveness drives my passion, like kerosene on a fire. My mouth lands on one peaked nipple and I pull it between my lips, tugging and sucking, while my finger tweaks the other.
“Sabin. More. More.” The hand crumpling the sheets now squeezes my shoulder and she pants now.
“You shall have more. All you want and then some.” My fingers press into the soft flesh of her hips as I move down her body, trailing wet kisses interspersed with nipping and sucking all the way. My teeth mark her, and at some points my mouth draws blood to the surface of her skin. She squirms and I scold her because
it’s difficult to hold her at times.
“Can’t help it.”
“Yes, you can,” I whisper against her strawberry scented flesh. And then I inhale her. She is so heavenly; I will never get enough. “You have the softest skin I’ve ever touched and the sweetest I’ve ever tasted.”
By the time I reach the juncture of her shapely thighs, she gasps for pleasure and air. “Serena, do you want to come?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Fast or slowly.”
“Fast. Now.”
“Open your legs for me. Wide.”
Her pink, glistening flesh beckons me, and all I want to do is taste her until she begs me to stop. As much as I would like to tease her all night, I also want to please her. But I won’t make her come as fast as she wants. I nuzzle her sex and inhale. She’s glorious. “You are gorgeous, Serena. Soft and slick, and you taste like a luscious berry.” I slide a finger around her without touching what she wants, and she moans. Then I dip it inside, and she’s wet. Extremely wet. “You’re so ready, aren’t you? And you want this?”
“Yesss.” Her arms stretch out to her sides and it’s taking all of my self-control not to plunge deep inside of her right this second.
Moving my finger in and out, I gaze at her, while her excitement increases even further. Her nipples are a rosy hue, and she opens her mouth to moan. I lower my mouth and blow a steady stream of air across her sex and she sucks in her breath.
“Your mouth. Put your mouth on me, please.”
I take two fingers and run the backs of them over her, up and down, over and over, never touching what she wants me to. “I’m going to suck your clit until you scream my name.”
“Oh, god.”
I wrap my lips around her tiny bud and suck, moving my fingers inside of her. She tastes so sweet I don’t want this moment to end. But an intense orgasm has her bucking against my mouth and hand, leaving her twisting around my face, and saying my name like a mantra.
“Sabin, Sabin, Sabin.”
She doesn’t stop. So I crawl on top of her and before she comes down from her orgasmic high, I catch my name with my mouth, taking it in, wrapping my tongue around it in awe. She kisses me back, our tongues sliding against each other, flaming my desire. Situating myself between her thighs, I take my cock and tease her opening. I love every sound she makes, every moan and sigh and I love the way her hands grab my ass, nails digging in as she tries to get me to thrust into her. I finally give her exactly what she wants, driving myself in deep to her, “Oh, god, yes.” She matches my rhythm, and her hand moves to my face, touching it, caressing it, and then something changes in me. This is no longer a woman I want to fuck. This is a woman I want to make love to. Something blossoms inside of me and grows until my heart clangs loudly against my ribs. So I slow things down and drag this out.
The Hart Brothers Series Box Set (Including the bonus book Sabin: A Seven Novel): Freeing Her, Freeing Him, Kestrel, The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, Sabin: A Seven Novel Page 134