by Piper Stone
“Not a chance in hell,” I chirped then gulped loudly. “Sir. I mean sir.”
He lifted a single eyebrow before glancing away, as if contemplating my fate. “All right, but only if you give me that delicious, juicy piece of crab. If not, I’ll be forced to show everyone here just how mischievous you really are.”
I wrinkled my nose, glaring at him in the most hateful way I could manage before nodding just once. “Deal. You’re such a meanie.”
“So I keep telling you.” Grinning, he scooted the chair closer, leaning over and opening his sexy mouth.
After slathering the piece with butter, I slowly eased it across the table, brushing it back and forth across his lips. There was nothing like the carnivorous look he was giving me, as if he wanted nothing more than to rake his arm over the table, dispensing of the unwanted dishes before feasting on my pussy instead.
And I wasn’t certain I’d mind in the least.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he languished over the bite, nipping at the piece as another series of low-slung growls permeated the air around us. I could tell we were being watched by the smattering of guttural sounds all around us. Perhaps a few people would get lucky tonight because of our antics.
When he finally engulfed the entire piece, chewing slowly, he snatched my wrist before I could pull my arm away. After swallowing the crab, he brought my hand closer to his mouth, blowing across my fingers before pulling my index finger deep inside.
I was mesmerized as he sucked on my long digit, taking his time as if savoring a succulent piece of fruit. My entire insides were mush, my mind foggy as the desire for him replaced everything else. Every inch of my body was on fire, anticipation and excitement for the remainder of the evening dragging me to the edge of my seat. I wanted him so badly, to have his cock pulsing inside. I craved having him fuck me in the ass, driving his thick cock so deeply inside that I screamed.
“Mmm... So damn good yet so very bad,” he mused before moving to my other fingers, taking his time to lick off every smattering of butter.
By the time he was finished, even the light around us seemed dimmer, the music nothing but a single note being played.
“Just imagine what I’m going to do to you later, my naughty pet. It’s a shame I didn’t bring your collar and leash with me. The things I would do, the joy of showing you off. Perhaps you’d wear a furry tail as you crawled on all fours next to me.” He proceeded to lick across my hand before smiling. “My perfect pet. Every male in the room would be jealous as fuck of what I owned.”
Another wave of tremors rushed down my spine, shooting straight into my pussy. The man knew how to pull out the stops, to drive me to the very brink of insanity. All I could envision was being naked on all fours, a studded strap of leather positioned around my neck, a thick metal chain wrapped around his hand. I swallowed hard as the vision morphed into scenes from the club as he paraded me naked in front of every member. I was thrown by how much it enticed me, keeping my stomach churning as the butterflies threatened to take over.
“Then I’d place you in your very own cage that night after fucking all three holes.” When he reached over the table, shoving his thumb into my mouth, my right foot began to tap on the deck. Dear God, it was hot as hell, my pulse skipping.
“Suck me, my little pet. Later you might get the real thing, but only if you’re a very good girl.”
His splash of wicked words shattered my last resolve, my pussy clenching and releasing to the point I thought I would come right there. I closed my eyes and performed my duty, licking and sucking on his thumb, the taste of butter and spice the perfect sinful combination.
“That’s enough. I certainly don’t want to spoil you,” he said in the dark and demanding tone. When he removed his finger, there was a slight popping noise, my mind remaining on all the filthy, lurid things he was going to do to me.
And I wanted it so desperately I was ready to leave, to promise to do anything he wanted.
Shivering, I finally opened my eyes, barely able to focus. His look had remained truly barbaric, as if envisioning the very same thing I’d been.
“Yes, I can see you’d like that. You are a nasty little girl, aren’t you?” he asked in such a quiet, almost reserved way that I had to process what he was saying.
“You make me that way.”
Chuckling, he reached for his wine. “I doubt that. You’ve been a bad girl all your life. You simply needed a master to provide an outlet.”
I thought about his words as I tried to wrap my hand around my glass, struggling to keep from knocking it over. I had to change the subject, or I wouldn’t care one bit if he spanked or fucked me right there. “I adored your stories.”
He laughed softly, shaking his head. “Nice shift. That’s fine. We’ll leave the conversation about your kinky desires until later. I have plenty more, I assure you. I certainly was a handful in my younger days.”
“I bet your parents kept you locked in your room half the time. Were your brothers so mischievous? Did your father keep you under house arrest?” I asked, attempting to wipe my nasty hands on the second napkin of the night.
The silence was deafening.
As soon as I’d asked the questions, I realized I’d made a terrible mistake. Whatever had gone on in his past, he certainly didn’t want to be reminded by anyone.
Including me.
I took a deep breath before looking into his hard, cold eyes, a slight chill shifting into my system. The light switch within him was incredible and immediate, his expression stern as he pushed away his plate, fighting with his napkin as if the seasoning had permanently stained his fingers.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry.”
Gregory clenched his jaw, still studying me as if digging through every layer in order to find out whatever I was lying to him about. I’d never felt more vulnerable. Sickness pooled into my stomach, shutting down all the earlier kinky thoughts.
I remained quiet, trying to find the right words to pull the other man back into the picture while he continued to stare at me.
As he leaned over the table, I could almost feel the frigid air that surrounded him. “You did know more about your father. Didn’t you?”
“I beg your pardon?” What the hell was he getting at?
The same wry, evil grin crossed his face that he always used when his armor was firmly in place. “You act as if you’ve never even met your father but the anger you have for him gives me the impression that you not only know him but have spent time with him.”
I could feel the heat rising on my cheeks because of the level of anger I felt. I also had no idea how he could have picked that out when every word I’d told him had been chosen carefully. I was angry. Furious in fact. “How dare you. We were having an amazing conversation and you go down this road?” When he continued his silent path, I realized what a terrible fool I’d been. “My father has nothing to do with why I needed your damn job or why I’m sitting here with a man who obviously doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself. I think my question simply opened a wound, forcing you to remember that for some reason, you’re the one who can’t stand his father.”
“You could never understand.” He curled his lip again, only from an entirely different emotion.
“I think I do,” I snapped, tossing the napkin and pushing back the chair. “From where I sit, it seems to me that you’re an ungrateful brat.”
He was shocked at my venom, jerking his head backward, his eyes darting back and forth across mine.
I could tell there wasn’t a damn customer on the patio who wasn’t listening, but what the heck? If he was going to toss me into the river, might as well go out with a bang. I jerked to a standing position, realizing I had to get the hell out of there.
“Sit down,” he hissed.
“Hell, no. You don’t own me, no matter what you think.”
When he reached out, attempting to grab my arm, I yanked it away just in time.
“You have ev
erything in the world because of your father’s power and influence, yet you want more. Nothing is good enough for you. Not a boat. Not a condo in the sky. And especially not a woman. I don’t know who the hell she was or what she might have done to you, but you were absolutely right when you called yourself a monster. I’m sorry your parents died in an accident. I’m sorry they aren’t here as your cash cows any longer, but that has nothing to do with my family. Leave. Them. Alone. I’m not your property. I’m leaving.”
“It’s dangerous and you will not leave.”
I glowered down at him, trying to catch my breath. “For me or for you? I’m not the one with hundreds of enemies.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Oh, my God. I was sick to my stomach, realizing that I was nothing but a thing to him. A true possession, his threat just another reminder.
The entire world seemed to be crushing in on me, suffocating in every way. I took long strides away from the table and into the crowd, pushing my way until I managed to burst through the entrance. I was shocked that there were so many people, hundreds milling the area as the sounds of music spilled out from various locations.
Dangerous.
He must have received a threat or had found out who was behind the effort to frame him. If that was the case, why were we still there? I moved as far away from the building as possible, glaring at the water as I continued heading away. The creepy crawlies returned, and I continued scanning the area as I half jogged in order to get away from the infuriating asshole.
A presence. There was someone behind me. After tossing my head over my shoulder, I could see nothing, but I knew he was there. Gregory. Always watching. Always ready to pounce.
I took off running, scattering people right and left. The stakes had gotten higher. My cop instinct told me that someone wanted Gregory dead. This wasn’t just about destroying their club or even the family’s reputation. While I had nothing to back my suspicions on, my gut told me my lover had no idea what he was up against.
That begged the question. Would I continue to do my job or try to find out who was determined to bring down the Dunmore legacy?
Suddenly, there was a loud boom, followed by several whistles. Hissing, I slammed my back against one of the small outbuildings, trying to catch my breath. I reached for a gun that wasn’t at my side, my mind programmed against loud noises. I almost laughed as I looked up in the night sky. Fireworks crisscrossed the horizon, forcing me to smile. I was trained to know various sounds, for Christ’s sake. Why the hell was I so jittery? I took another quick look for Gregory before taking off once again, weaving my way through a joyous crowd.
The anger continued building, my chest heaving as I fought to get away. What the hell had just happened inside the restaurant? Why had he shut down so completely? I could no longer think about it and I sure as shit wasn’t a psychiatrist. My God. I was so stupid. A freaking idiot.
I cared about him.
No, I was falling in love with him. A man I barely knew. A man who had no control over his emotions.
A self-proclaimed dangerous asshole.
I continued moving toward his boat for some crazy reason, hoping to find a way to hail a taxi. I had to get away from him. Him. The asshole. The man who riled everything deep within.
The man who’d awakened the woman buried deep inside.
Oh, God.
You’re a cop. You’re a cop.
As if that seemed to matter any longer.
Another cracking sound erupted from behind me, the ugly sound more of a reminder of a gunshot than any celebration techniques. On instinct, I dropped to the ground, scuttling to get to safety.
As a hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me backwards and against a massive, heated chest, I fought a building scream. I’d know his scent anywhere. I knew he’d find me, capturing me all over again. There was no way to get away from Gregory. None.
He pulled me aside, dragging me into the shadows and away from prying eyes. When he yanked me around to face him, I struggled to get free. “What do you want from me?”
“I want to protect you. Do not fight me, Valentina. You need to listen to me very carefully. Both our lives are in danger.”
“What is going on that has you so angry? Who is doing this to you?”
I’d never seen him so beside himself, completely out of character. While there was continued rage, there was also guilt. When another popping noise occurred as well as the sound of applause, we both looked up at the sky.
The beautiful display of fireworks was breathtaking, strings of firelit color cascading down toward the river.
“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself in the middle of. Damnit, I could have lost you. I can’t allow that to happen again. I won’t.” He shoved his gun into his pocket then cupped both sides of my face.
Again.
The single word he’d issued stuck out like a sore thumb. I could see actual terror on his face, the kind of fear that made a man do crazy things. There had been someone else, a woman from his past. Every word he said resonated in my ears yet none of them made any sense. Did this have anything to do with the woman from his past?
When he pressed his lips against mine, I could no longer think clearly.
The kiss was just as passionate as the one before, only more desperate in nature, as if he wanted to devour me. I melted against him, lightheaded and uncertain of what I was doing. The taste of him was incredible, the scent of his exotic cologne filling my nostrils. The way he held me close was so protective.
And for a few seconds, I never wanted him to let me go.
Boom! Bang. Bang.
Another round of fireworks ended the kiss, his anger for the world illuminated in his eyes from the dazzling display of bright lights. I could tell he was scanning the crowd, making certain that we weren’t being watched. He was even more nervous than before. When he looked at me again, he shook his head. “We’re going back to the boat,” he huffed.
“You don’t own me. We can’t do this, Gregory. I’ll find a way home. You don’t need to take care of me.” I tried to pull away, yet he refused to let me go, his fingers digging into me.
“Stay low and keep moving.”
There was no arguing with him. He kept a firm grip on my arm, taking long strides toward the boat, snarling as he was forced to shove his way through the crowd. While I wanted to pull away, to find safety anywhere but here, I knew in my gut that I wouldn’t continue fighting him.
I couldn’t. He’d stained my very soul.
After scanning the docks, he dragged me onto the platform, growling under his breath.
When we were on board, he forced me down into the salon, giving me a stern look before closing and locking the door.
“You are going to stay right here. I’m going to do a sweep of the area to make certain we haven’t been followed. Lock the door behind me. Two taps then three before you open that door. And do not fuck with me on this. I will hunt you down.”
The agonizing sound of his voice was disturbing as hell, but the realization was clear. This game was coming to an end.
But I continued to believe I was the one who needed to unravel it.
I nodded, moving directly behind him and locking the door. As I leaned against it, I took several deep breaths. Everything about the case seemed as if it was being derailed, as if both Gregory and I were merely being pushed around like pawns. I walked stiffly toward the couch, trying to remain calm as I put the pieces together in my mind of what I knew.
I allowed every detail I knew to sweep through my mind as well as everything that Gregory had told me.
The pieces didn’t add up. Either Gregory was a flat-out liar, or he truly had no idea what the hell was going on. The list of his enemies was long, but who would go to so much trouble and why? And why was the captain so dead set on taking down a legacy? What had happened in his past to make him so insistent? I had to come at this case in an entirely different way or I’d continue to be pulled into the
muck.
Five minutes slipped past.
Another five.
Jesus, I was sick to my stomach.
I didn’t know all the players. What was the real reason the captain hadn’t told me who’d asked for the entire case to go undercover?
In order for a precinct to receive an okay, it would...
The first knock drew me on my feet, the second pushing me closer to the door. When there was a hesitation, I placed my hand on the door, then jerked back. Finally, three knocks in rapid succession. When I unlocked the door, Gregory burst inside, his eyes locking with mine.
His despondent sigh seemed to permeate the space.
He began to pace the floor, going back and forth as he brushed his hands through his hair.
“Did you find anything?” I asked as I backed away from him.
“Nothing.” While he issued the word, I could tell he remained uncertain. As he slipped the gun from his jacket, he continued his hard gaze, his eyes sweeping down the length of my jeans.
I’d never felt so uncomfortable in my life.
“You ran away from me. You disobeyed me and you will be punished,” he growled.
“I don’t deserve punishment,” I managed. “You did everything you could to push me away and you did it on purpose.”
He laughed as he removed his jacket, placing the exquisite linen piece across the back of the leather couch. As he took calculated steps closer, he rolled up his sleeves. “I simply allowed you to see a portion of me no one ever does. Why the hell did you run? I told you it was dangerous to venture out by yourself. I also told you that I was no good for you. Whoever you really are, Valentina, you’re not safe.”
“Why?” I insisted.
“Make no mistake. Whoever my enemies turn out to be, they will hunt you down simply because you are mine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Autumn
You are mine...
The words hung in the air for a few minutes, forcing me to collect my thoughts. His face was as pensive as before, his chest rising and falling.