“I doubt that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Slade and Falco are making love to her right now in the cottage.”
“What the fuck were you doing, spying on her down there through surveillance?”
“We still had it set up from our last guest. I took a peek to observe her.”
“She isn’t like other women and she isn’t like that Swiss asshole who stayed in the cottage who we thought was our friend and wound up screwing us.”
“No, she isn’t, but by having that surveillance set up without him knowing, I saw things, so did you, that indicated he wasn’t being honest. That instinct caught him red-handed and also destroyed his life for fucking with us.”
“She isn’t a business deal, she’s a woman we all have strong feelings for and want for more than sex.”
“Hence, why I was watching her on video.”
“You’re trying to side track me here. Be honest and tell me what you haven’t told the others about all of this?” Rome said to him.
“I’m gathering proof, but I have a feeling that Hiatte worked out a deal with Molokai and set us up. Considering his reaction to Molokai at the event last night, I would say that Molokai didn’t come through on his end. Hiatte is pretending that he thinks Molokai is trying to steal from him and may have been responsible.”
“But you don’t think that?”
“Not when the cargo plane that brought the stolen items to Dubai was paid for by Hiatte and his company name.”
“Why the hell would he do that?”
“To help destroy our name, sabotage our company like we’ve been thinking, or to throw us off.”
“Throw us off?”
“Yeah, set these little fuck-ups up so we look bad and then when whatever it is they’re really taking from that government facility goes missing, we get blamed. Our company gets destroyed and we lose everything.”
“Holy fuck. It’s a hundred-million-dollar deal. We’ve been working on this with Hiatte for months now, and those two government officials as well.”
“That’s why I called Nicolai. I think Hiatte and Molokai are planning to steal that shipment, take our security out and then make it look like we screwed up or worse, that we took the stuff from the government. They’ll lock us up so fucking fast and throw away the key, we’ll never see freedom again.”
“How can you be sure about this?”
“I can’t be. I need Nicolai’s connections and his ability to get answers discretely. This is going to take time. We weren’t scheduled to do this job for months and I have several meetings with those government guys and Hiatte to bullshit through and try to come up with answers.”
“You can’t not tell the others. It will help them to understand your intensity with Rose. Shit, what about Rose and her doing business with Mulgoff, who may or may not be connected to Molokai and this operation?”
“I’ll handle it when he calls her.”
“She’s pretty upset with you and this instant control.”
“Tough shit,” Mercury said and stood up.
“Merk, it’s okay that she got to you. She fucking got to all of us.”
“I can’t lose focus here. There’s too much at stake. Too many responsibilities running the business and keeping the security details perfect for each new event we book. There are several tonight and tomorrow,” Mercury stated.
“We never talked about sharing one woman. We’ve seen its success with our friends and what a ménage entails. I think we’re more than ready to give this a try if we’re all on board.”
“I made love to Rose with all of you, did I not?”
Rome widened his eyes.
“You’re holding back.”
“I’m being smart.”
“You’re scared, just like I am. I don’t know shit about dating one woman. Hell, I’m going to piss her off and I know it, but it doesn’t make me say I’m not going to try a hundred percent to make her happy. I don’t want her with any other men but my brothers.”
“Hopefully she doesn’t stray. By keeping her close it makes it more difficult.”
“You’re that distrusting? I thought I was bad and Slade too, but you take the cake.”
“Because I’m in charge of this family and when one of you hurt, I hurt. I’m not taking any chances and I won’t be forced to let down my guard no matter what. Now, if there isn’t anything else, I need Rose in here so we can get her bank things in order and deposit her check.”
“You opened an account for her?”
“She obviously needs help organizing her money. Get her and tell her to come to me.”
Rome got up and shook his head. He had never seen Mercury like this. He was fierce, putting up a wall around his heart even more so than the rest of them. Rome realized that this thing with Rose was different and special, but he did have his fears too, and only time and actions were going to prove if it would last.
* * * *
Rose was smiling when she came back into the house with Slade and Falco. Rome had told Remo and Rylan that Mercury wanted to see her. Rylan smiled and opened his arms. When she came right to him and hugged him he inhaled her scent, kissed her neck, and could smell his brothers’ cologne on her. He ran his palm along her ass, knowing she wore no panties.
“Have fun checking out the cottage?” he asked.
Slade pulled some water bottles out of the refrigerator and handed one to Falco and one to Rose. When she pulled back to grab the water Rylan held her hips in place.
“She may need another tour in a little bit to decide if she likes the potential the cottage has,” Falco said and took a sip from the water bottle as he approached and ran his hand down her arm and then gave her ass a tap.
“Falco.” She rubbed her bottom.
“We can give her a tour when she’s done talking with Mercury,” Remo said and winked.
“You each have a punishment to dish out to her,” Slade said and Rylan squinted his eyes at Slade.
“What happened?” he asked, pulling her more snuggly against his chest. Rose took a sip of the water bottle and then placed it down on the counter.
“Seems our woman held a secret from us last night out of a little fear of being too intimate,” Slade told them.
“Slade, I said I was sorry, and I explained my thought process.”
“You held back,” he replied.
“What’s going on?” Rome asked.
“We don’t need condoms with her. She has an IUD,” Falco told them.
“What?” Rome asked.
“You didn’t tell us? Why?” Rylan asked, cupping her cheek.
“I was holding back. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal to want to try and stay in control when basically I gave up complete control of my body to all of you. I had anal sex. We haven’t even had a first date. In fact, I think the spankings were unjustified,” she said and looked at Slade, then Falco.
“Hell no, they weren’t, and you loved them, too. You were coming like a faucet,” Slade stated and she covered her face with her hands and pressed against Rylan’s chest. He chuckled.
“Okay, now we know we can be spontaneous and not have to worry about packing protection,” Rylan teased and ran his hand under her skirt to her bare ass.
She shoved it down. “Rylan.”
They all chuckled.
“Mercury wants to see her in the office, then she can meet me in my room and I can prove to her that in our beds is the best place for her to stay instead of the cottage.”
“Oh really?” she said to Rome as Rylan released her.
“Don’t you sass him, girl. The man is not the kind to tease,” Remo warned her. She nibbled her bottom lip and then reached for the water bottle. He took her hand.
“We’ll make plans for a first date, okay? Then tomorrow we do those self-defense lessons.”
“Are we back at that again?” she asked and started walking away. Rylan grabbed her hand and walked with her.
“You need to be prepa
red for the unexpected. All women do, because screaming for help or getting the opportunity to call 9-1-1 may not be options. Now come on, Mercury isn’t a patient man.”
She turned around and waved at the others as Rylan walked her to Mercury’s office.
“Here she is.” Rylan gave her a wink and then he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
* * * *
Mercury came around his desk and looked at Rose. The top two buttons of her blouse were undone and he could clearly see the top of her deep cleavage and the lace bra she wore. She didn’t say a word to him as he leaned against the desk and took in the sight of her. His heart was racing, his cock instantly hard, and he couldn’t understand why this feminine beauty had such an effect on him like no other woman ever had.
“Was the cottage to your liking?”
Her cheeks blushed and she glanced away. “It’s very nice and has an amazing view.”
“So you’re fine with staying there instead of in our beds with us?” he asked.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I just wanted some control.”
“Did you not get that control you wanted?”
She widened her eyes at him. “It will be fine. Thank you for offering it as a compromise as I get used to all of you.”
“You seemed to get used to Slade and Falco rather quickly at the cottage.”
“What?” she asked.
“I said that I wanted you here to watch over you and to keep close eyes on you to ensure your safety. The cottage is under surveillance.”
“So you were watching me with your brothers?”
He saw that twinkle in her green eyes. She was pretending to be angry but it aroused her.
“Yes.”
She looked away. “You’ve always been a control freak?” she asked and he wanted to chuckle but that would let her know she affected him so greatly he could hardly think. He was a control freak. He hated feeling vulnerable and she made him feel that way. She got to him instantly. She was his weakness. He finally found the one thing that weakened his resolve, his manhood, his ability to fight. He wasn’t going to give in to it. No way.
“I’m in charge of this family, the businesses, and all the employees. My brothers are my responsibility, just as you are now.”
“I don’t want to be a responsibility.”
“You’re more than that, and you need to get used to how I do things and get used to me being a control freak. Now come here.” Enough talking. He needed to touch her, kiss her, control her.
She walked toward him and then he stopped her, took her hands and brought them behind her back. He clasped both feminine wrists with one hand so easily it both aroused him and gave him concern for her well-being. She would be helpless against an average size man, never mind one the size of him or his brothers. That protective feeling pounded against his chest.
He used his free hand to undo the buttons on her blouse. Her lips parted, her eyes glazed over and he realized she was submissive and liked being ordered around despite her verbal need to fight it. Perhaps she was hiding things still from him. Her blouse opened and he saw the love bites from his brothers against her breasts that poured from the skimpy bra she wore.
“Mercury.”
He shook his head. “You’re so lovely, Rose. Feminine, sexy, gentle, and soft. I know I’m hard, and that my brothers are too but it’s our way of life and the profession we’re involved in.”
“I’m beginning to understand that.”
“Good. Accepting it will make things run more smoothly. I want honesty. Do you like the way this feels? Me restraining you and exposing you to my eyes only?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know I would never hurt you, physically or emotionally?”
She raised one of her eyebrows up at him like a wise ass and he once again hid his chuckle and remained serious. Her face went serious too and she sealed her lips.
“I need you to trust my brothers and me. To accept our advice, as well as our desires and need to claim you.”
“I was going to ask you for advice when Mulgoff calls me about the gallery event. I don’t know business like that.”
His eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this at all. He gave a nod.
“Of course I will help you. After we deposit that check of yours and clean up your accounts so everything is in order, we’ll talk about it.”
“Deposit my checks?” she asked.
He pulled her closer and cupped her breast.
“Don’t argue with me. We’ll do it later. First I need to get a few things out of the way.” He covered her mouth and kissed her, determined to make her moan with need and desire to have him inside of her. He needed to be as close to her as possible.
Mercury released her hands and then pressed her blouse down her arms and used the sleeves to tie her wrists together.
“Mercury,” she gasped when he released her lips.
“Not a word,” he ordered and then unclipped her bra in the front and cupped her breasts then lowered down to feast on them. The images of her making love to his brothers with no protection, just flesh against flesh, filled his head. He shoved down her skirt and she gasped. He released her breasts and undid his pants, shoved them off of him then lifted her up into his arms so she straddled his waist. He felt her wet pussy press against his cock and belly as he turned her toward the wall and lowered down then thrust into her cunt in one quick stroke.
“Oh.” She moaned, tilted her head back and he let her lean on her shoulder blades because her hands were tied around her back.
“Mercury. Oh God, Mercury, I want to touch you and can’t.”
“You like being restrained. You like being told what to do and getting your ass spanked. You give up control to me now and I promise I will not fail you ever. Ever, Rose. I swear to you.” He scrunched his face and ground his teeth as he thrust faster and deeper into her cunt.
“I trust you. Oh God, Mercury, I feel it. I don’t know how but I know that what you say is real. I need you, Mercury, and your brothers.”
He cupped her neck and cheek and kissed her on the mouth. She tightened her thighs against his hips and began to counter his thrusts. Their bodies slapped together and he released her lips and suckled her neck as he stroked as fast and deep as he could get when he heard her cry out her release.
“Mercury. Holy God, Mercury,” she exclaimed and he growled against her neck as he pounded into her pussy and came hard.
He pulled back from against the wall and hugged her tight. He ran his hands down her arms and undid the knot. When her blouse and bra fell to the rug she hugged him and he wrapped her up tight, feeling how feminine and delicate she was and how in need of protection as well. “I’ll never fail you. Never,” he said, stroking her cheeks and then kissing her lips several more times before he lowered her to her feet and helped her clean up.
* * * *
“This is still my own account though, right?” she asked Mercury as she sat on his lap at his computer a few minutes later.
“Yes. I have a good friend at that bank and you can sign online and close the other accounts then re-open new ones with our bank. That way we can help you with anything you need. It’s all under your name and you are the only one who can withdraw money or move it around. We can help you when you need to budget something out or monitor your spending. The one thing we can do without your permission is send you money so you have funds to go shopping or do whatever you want.”
She felt the tears reach her eyes and then they fell. She looked at him. And he narrowed his eyes, gripped her thigh as she sat on his lap then cupped her cheek.
“What’s wrong?”
“Things got out of control quickly, Mercury. I didn’t mean to get into debt like that. I just kept painting and hoping that I would get discovered and took those odd jobs bartending to cover the minimum payments. Next thing I know, I’m eating one meal a day, and not even a good one. Just half a piece of bread and peanut butter and jelly an
d I’m like how the hell did this happen. I couldn’t tell my friends. Not anyone, and not when they were all so successful. I was stupid and living for a dream and feeling like I have nothing else to offer.”
He stroked her cheek and clenched his teeth. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. You may not see it as a character builder right now, but surviving on your own the way you have makes you stronger inside than most people. Those who have gone hungry, who have been at rock bottom and work their way back up and even excel are usually the most successful people. You’ll be a famous painter soon enough, and you’ll never go hungry, never feel pain with my brothers and I around and taking care of you. We believe in you. Understand me?”
She nodded her head and then pressed her lips to his.
They heard someone clear their throat and Rome stood there holding her phone and obviously hearing what she told Mercury. She shyly looked away.
“It’s your phone, Rose. It’s been going off for a while now.”
“Oh, I forgot about it. Thank you,” she said, got up off of Mercury’s lap, feeling his hand glide along her hip as she met Rome. “Thanks,” she said.
Rome reached out and stroked her cheek. “I have to go lay down. You’ll be here when I wake up?” Rome asked her and she nodded and smiled. He pressed his lips to hers and she slid her hand against his chest and then watched him walk away.
She looked at her phone.
“My friends are wondering where I am and it looks like the word is out that I spent the night here with you and your brothers.”
Mercury leaned back in his chair and held her gaze.
“Good. I’ll take care of the rest of this stuff. You go finalize plans with the others for the rest of the week.”
“Plans?”
“Yes, plans. We have a first date dinner to arrange for tonight, self-defense instruction on the mats with Rylan, Falco, and Slade, and shooting lessons with Roman. Your art supplies and things should be arriving momentarily. I’ll have the staff put them in the cottage for now until you decide where you want to hunt for a new studio.” Her lips parted and she stood there speechless.
“Move it, or I’ll cash in on those punishments like Slade and Falco did.” She swallowed hard turned around and headed out of his office, feeling overwhelmed, shocked, but entirely too giddy for a woman whose life was being taken over by a control freak sex god. Jesus, he’s going to be the death of me.
A Shot of Love Potion [Love on the Rocks 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 14