Into the Lair

by Maya Banks

  She cried out. Standing as he was, leaning over her, he had more power in his thrusts. He was deep. So deep. For a long moment, he stood there, wedged tight, staring down at her with eyes that burned.

  His fingers fluttered over her stitched cut, his gentleness in direct contradiction to every other action.

  “Don’t let me hurt you,” he said in a low voice. “Take what we give you, but don’t let me go too far.”

  She nodded.

  “Promise me. I want you. I want to fuck you long and hard, but I won’t hurt you.”

  “I promise,” she whispered.

  At that he closed his eyes, reared back and then slammed into her so fiercely that her entire body jerked. Her hands came up, grasping at air, needing, wanting something to hold on to, to anchor her as she spun out of control.

  Braden caught her wrists and pulled until her arms were over her head. His face appeared over hers, and he kissed her, his lips upside down against hers.

  “Do you have any idea how sexy you look all laid out beneath us, your body ours to do with as we please?”

  He moved to the side, gathering her wrists together with one hand as he shifted his big body. With his free hand, he cupped and kneaded her breast.

  “You like pain, but how much, Katie? You love it when I nip and bite, when I pinch and twist your nipples.”

  She moaned softly, her entire body awash in soft euphoria. She shook again as Ian retreated and powered forward, his thighs slapping against the backs of her legs.

  “Tell me,” Braden ordered. “Tell me what you want. I won’t give it to you until you do.”

  “God,” she whispered. “Please, Braden. I need…”

  “Tell me what you need.”

  “Bite me,” she begged. “Hard. My nipples, my neck. Make it hurt.” She looked down at Ian. “Harder.”

  “Oh hell yeah,” Ian said in a strained voice.

  He rammed, hard and fast just as Braden’s teeth descended, a flash of white against her skin. They sank into her nipple, and pleasure, white hot and piercing, exploded through her body. Her vision blurred, and her mouth opened in a soundless scream.

  He alternated, roughly biting and sucking the taut peaks. The friction caused by Ian’s huge cock abrading the walls of her pussy sent spears of heat and indescribable ecstasy shattering through her groin.

  Hard, rough, hot. Ian slammed ruthlessly. Braden’s mouth slid like silk to her neck, and then sweet agony seared over her skin when he sank his teeth into the column just below her ear.

  Her entire body bowed, her back arching off the mattress. She sailed in an endless freefall into a bottomless canyon. Her orgasm shattered, rained slivers of pleasure like the skies opening after a drought.

  She had no knowledge, no thoughts except the softness of the mattress as she floated gently downward. Her pussy throbbed around Ian’s cock as he continued to rock against her.

  Braden knelt up and then leaned over her as he turned her head to the side. His cock bumped against her lips and he pressed inward until she opened and let him in. He thrust, arching up over her so that he had a dominant angle.

  His hand left her head as he braced himself with his palms flat on the mattress. He was over her mouth, pumping, mimicking Ian’s movements between her legs.

  The two men fucked her ruthlessly, and she surrendered to the mindless euphoria that swept over her. Ian shuddered against her, thrust hard and then stilled, his legs shaking as he gripped her hips with bruising strength.

  Braden slipped deep, bumping the back of her throat. She swallowed, holding him there with her tongue. He pulsed and then hot liquid filled her mouth. She swallowed rapidly and sucked as he thrust frantically, his balls slapping against her jaw.

  He powered deep once more and held himself rigid as he finished emptying himself into her mouth. Then he carefully pulled away and rolled his body over her head to collapse onto the bed.

  He touched her hair, caressing softly as he cradled her head against his chest.

  She glanced down to see Ian’s eyes closed in agony as he leaned into her. When he opened them, his expression was one of complete satisfaction. He leaned to brush his lips across her belly and then stepped back, slipping from her still trembling pussy.

  His hands slid over her hips and underneath to pat her ass affectionately before he walked over to dispose of the condom. Braden reached down and urged her to cuddle into him, and she turned readily, aligning her back to his chest.

  Ian returned to the bed and slid his knee onto the mattress as he climbed toward Katie. His eyes were intent as he settled on his side to face her. Braden’s hand glided lazily back and forth over her hip, and he kissed the curve of her shoulder.

  Ian put a palm to her cheek and hesitated a moment before leaning in to capture her lips in a kiss so tender that she couldn’t reconcile his actions with the animalistic way he’d possessed her.

  “No, you didn’t hurt me,” she said before he could voice the concern she could see shining brightly in his eyes.

  “Good,” he said huskily. “Because I sure as hell want to do that again.”

  Braden’s teeth sank into her shoulder, sending a shiver cascading down her spine. She closed her eyes and moaned.

  “Hell,” Ian muttered. “Give me a minute to recover before you make those kinds of sounds.”

  She snuggled a little closer to Braden even as her hands went out, seeking Ian’s body. “Give me an hour and we’ll do it again,” she said as a huge, contented yawn split her lips.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Katie came awake as her legs were spread and one long finger rimmed her anus. Her eyes widened as she processed that she was flat on her belly, her ass splayed open to seeking fingers.

  Cool gel contrasted with the spark of heat and edge of pain when another finger pushed bluntly at the tight ring.

  “Don’t tense,” Braden murmured next to her ear.

  She turned her head to see him lying beside her, which meant Ian’s fingers were the ones inside her.

  “Relax, let him in.”

  “How is your stomach?” Ian asked from behind her.

  “What stomach?” she asked as she tried to squeeze breath into her lungs.

  Braden chuckled. And then his hand smoothed over her back, warm and sensual.

  “We’re going to fuck your ass, Katie. Did Paulo ever do that?”

  Slowly she nodded.

  “And did you enjoy it?”

  She nodded again.

  “We won’t be gentle,” he said silkily. “It’ll probably hurt.”

  Her shoulders shook as a spasm overtook her. She had to close her eyes and breathe deep through her nose.

  Ian pressed a third finger, stretching her until her ass twitched in pain.

  “And you’ll lay here helpless while we fuck your ass,” Braden continued. “First Ian. Then me.”

  She whimpered as Ian worked his fingers back and forth.

  “How much hurt can you take, Katie? How rough do you want it?” Ian growled.

  “Hard,” she whispered. “I want it hard.”

  Both men sucked in their breath.

  Braden yanked her arms above her head and quickly tied them to the headboard. She jerked her head up in surprise, blinking when she saw her wrists bound. She couldn’t be in a more helpless position. On her belly, unable to move.

  Braden left her side and disappeared from her vision. Hands gripped her ankles and spread her wider. Oh God.

  The heat of a body, male flesh, covered her back. A huge cock, blunt and pressing, striving to gain entry into her body. There was no easing, no gentle wooing. He thrust forward, opening her wide.

  She screamed hoarsely, her head rearing back as her entire ass caught fire. Pain. Wonderful, excruciating pleasure. Oh God, it hurt. She’d never felt anything more exquisite.

  She panted and curled her fingers into her palms, tugging at the bindings around her wrist.

  Ian didn’t give her any time to recover. He pla
nted his hands on either side of her waist and pulled back before slamming his hips against her ass again.

  Her vision blurred. The headboard swam in front of her and she squeezed her eyes shut to try and prolong the sensation, the burn. She grabbed it and held on, not wanting to let go, fearing the sharp edge would subside as her body stretched to accommodate Ian’s size.

  He withdrew, easing out as her body clutched greedily at him. She released him with a small sigh. He paused just a moment before ruthlessly opening her again.

  “Yes, oh God, yes,” she panted.

  He hunched down over her and began riding her, his hips undulating and slapping against her ass over and over. Braden’s hand tangled in her hair, pulling her sharply back until her gaze found his.

  His eyes glittered with lust as he watched her, as he forced her to watch him. He lowered his head to hers and kissed her, his teeth sinking into her lip. She bit him back, taking him every bit as hard as he took her. Their kiss was no loving meeting of mouths. It was a battle, fierce and ungiving.

  “I’m next, Katie,” he breathed against her mouth. “I won’t be as gentle.”

  She closed her eyes and moaned. Anticipation flickered like flame to dry wood. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she taunted in a hoarse voice.

  He yanked her head back and stared at her with glittering eyes. “You’ll beg for mercy.”

  “I don’t beg.”

  And the challenge was laid.

  He let go of her head, and she slumped forward as Ian slammed into her again. Her orgasm lurked, building, each burst of pain and raw pleasure sending her ever closer. But she wouldn’t go. Not without the right stimulation. And it was killing her. She couldn’t last like this, and they both damn well knew it.

  Ian leaned down, his body covering hers, his weight blanketing her. His teeth sank into her shoulder as his body trembled with his release. She writhed, needing her own release, but Braden merely laughed softly as he left her side.

  Just as she squirmed in protest of Ian’s weight pressing her wound into the bed, he propped himself up with his hands and eased out of her body.

  She moaned and lay there limply, trying to collect herself, to steel herself for Braden’s assault. She was a fool to think she could. He was on her, fast and furious, his hands spreading her as his cock found its target.

  No, he wasn’t as gentle as Ian, and Ian hadn’t been a bit easy. Braden ripped into her and never gave her a moment to react. He knew what she needed, maybe even better than she did. He knew she wanted even more than she thought she could take.

  His thumbs spread her cheeks impossibly wide and with each thrust, he pulled completely out only to ram inside again. It was torture. She dangled so precariously close to her orgasm, but something held her back. If they would only touch her. Her breasts, her clit, anything.

  Back and forth, he opened her, then pulled away. Opened her again. Retreated and held her open before tucking his cock back and sliding inward.

  She jerked at her bonds, needing to be free. If only she could touch herself.

  And then suddenly her hands fell. Ian had untied her. Braden yanked out of her body and flipped her over. She spread her legs wide, arching upward, seeking what, she wasn’t sure.

  “Please,” she whispered, and then she remembered saying she never begged and that she’d done just that minutes ago. Her lips clamped shut, refusing to let another word pass. But they’d heard her.

  Ian leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth just as Braden parted her folds and thumbed her clit. She went crazy. Her release billowed up, and she screamed then screamed again.

  Braden lifted her, bent her legs back and thrust into her ass again. The final edge of pain sent her spiraling into a black void. Shadows overwhelmed her vision. Freedom from the unbearable pressure that had built as the two men fucked her mercilessly.

  As Braden jerked and trembled against her in his release, she floated free. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she reached for sweet oblivion. She felt so good. Wrapped in tendrils of pleasure.

  She barely registered Braden pulling free of her body or the two men carefully tending to her. Fingers brushed over her wound, light and seeking. Then lips kissed a line across her stitches.

  Ian gathered her in his arms, laying her head against his shoulder. His hands stroked and caressed her body as she snuggled deeper into his embrace.

  “That was incredible,” she murmured.

  “I take it we didn’t go too far,” Ian said into her hair.

  She shook her head. “Perfect. You were perfect.”

  His hand smoothed over her tingling ass, and she moaned all over again.

  “Where’s Braden?” she said, her voice muffled by Ian’s chest.

  Ian kissed the top of her head. “He’s coming. Getting cleaned up.”

  “Going to sleep for a while,” she said groggily.

  The heat from Ian’s body enveloped her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and dove into the comforting veil of sleep.

  Chapter Thirty

  Damiano stared out at the rugged outline of the snow-capped mountains. There was no glass to block the chill. Just a simple cut-out with a crude flap that could be drawn down to prevent a draft. This place that Marcus had brought him to was stark and beautiful, but the accommodations were lean.

  The floors were made up of packed dirt, made smooth by repeated footsteps. Just a makeshift hut erected on the ground. Sturdier than a tent but nothing that would withstand a strong storm.

  Surely they had them at this elevation. The snows would come in but a few weeks.

  Fatigued from the journey, from the weight of his worry, he pulled clumsily at the flap and turned away to the pallet on the floor. Remnants of the sedative still traveled sluggishly through his veins and tugged at him, calling him to rest.

  He might need more. What if he woke on the fringe of a shift? Marcus hadn’t seemed worried. He said they waited for Nali. Whoever that was.

  Damiano lay down on his back and stared at the poorly constructed roof. How had this place lasted as long as it had? It wouldn’t surprise him if the ceiling fell in on him during the night. Or was it day? It was a testament to his state of mind that he had no idea if it was morning or evening. He only knew he wanted to close his eyes for a while and forget all that he’d become.

  He drifted tiredly toward sleep. But in the shadows he saw the tiger. He saw Ty and himself as children on the streets of Prague as they looked in sympathy at the caged predator.

  “We should free him,” Damiano said fiercely.

  Ty looked at him with big, worried eyes. She twisted thin fingers nervously in front of her. “It’s dangerous.”

  He hugged her to his side in an effort to reassure her. “He is like us, Ty. He wants to be free. The orphanage was our cage.”

  The rich gold and amber eyes stared at them from behind the bars of the too-small cage. They called to Damiano in a way he didn’t quite understand. He only knew that somehow he and the tiger were connected.

  He walked forward, and the tiger’s keeper immediately issued a sharp reprimand to stay away.

  “He eats children like you!” the man jeered.

  Damiano scowled. “I wish he would eat you,” he muttered.

  “Let’s go, D,” Tyana whispered urgently. “We don’t want to be caught. I don’t want to go back to the orphanage.”

  Reluctantly, Damiano turned away and took Ty’s hand in his. But to the tiger, he silently promised that he would return.

  He turned restlessly on the pallet, the fingers of sleep pulling him deeper into the twisted myriad of his dreams. He saw himself standing on the street in the black of night, only he was alone. Where was Tyana? The streets were completely deserted, and when he looked again at the cage, the tiger was gone.

  This wasn’t how it happened. He’d freed the tiger. With Tyana’s help. He turned, his bare feet scraping against the jagged cobblestone, and there it was.

  Standing a few f
eet away, the tiger stared thoughtfully at him. Damiano froze, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. And then they were no longer standing on the streets of Prague. Damiano was on the island, in the game room, watching helplessly as Tyana fought for her life against the tiger. Why had he attacked her?

  He tried to lunge forward as the tiger ripped the crutch from Tyana’s hands, but he was frozen, paralyzed. Never before had he felt so utterly helpless.

  And then it was just him and the tiger, face to face in the rugged Nepalese mountains. Damiano stood naked before him, his hands at his sides, his palms facing forward. An eagle swooped down behind the tiger and landed on a tree branch a short distance away. From behind rock outcroppings, more animals appeared. He knew them. They were all the animals he fought so desperately when the shift came over him.

  “You are one of us,” the tiger said, startling Damiano. “Why do you fight us so?”

  “Our brother,” the eagle cried.

  “No,” Damiano whispered. “I’m just a man.”

  The tiger tossed his head. “You are flesh, but your spirit cannot be confined to your human form. Free yourself as you have freed me.”

  Damiano shook his head. Sweat beaded his forehead as he struggled with invisible bonds.

  “Damiano. Damiano! Wake up.”

  He heard Marcus’s voice from a distance. He stared back at the assembled animals. One by one, they disappeared until only the eagle and the tiger remained. Then the eagle took flight, circled once overheard and disappeared into the clouds.

  Embrace us.

  Damiano’s eyes flew open as his body jerked to awareness. Marcus knelt over him, his brow creased with concern.

  “Are you all right? Do you need another injection?”

  “No,” he croaked.

  Slowly he sat up with Marcus’s assistance.

  “What happened, D?”

  Damiano shook his head. The images so vivid before now blurred into a mass of confusion.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “God, I don’t know.”

  Marcus put his hand on Damiano’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re going to be okay. We’re going to beat this. You have to believe that.”

  He looked up into Marcus’s eyes, and for the first time let all the doubts and fears flood him. Before he’d kept a positive attitude, more for Ty than for himself. But she wasn’t here. He was alone, and there was no reason to keep living a lie.

  “I’m not okay, Marcus. I’ll never be okay. What are we trying to do here? How is any of this going to change what I’ve become? Am I looking at spending the rest of my life anticipating the next time someone sticks a needle in my arm? Will I have to forever separate myself from the people I love for fear that I might kill them?”

  Marcus blew out his breath and let his hand fall from Damiano’s shoulder. “You can beat this, D. I believe that, and you have to believe it or you’re going to lose. That’s all I can offer you. Tyana believes in you and so do your brothers. Don’t let them down by giving up. Don’t let yourself down.”