Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7)

by Crystal Perkins

  “You’re a little overdressed, Crown.”

  “I couldn’t wait to see you, Cat. I can play in this.”

  I shake my head. “Nope. The jacket and tie need to go.”

  He closes and locks the door before doing as I ask. “Anything else?”

  I cock my head. “Hmm…okay, roll up your sleeves and unbutton a few buttons for me. Oh and pull your shirt out of your pants, too.”

  “I feel so objectified.”

  “You’ll get over it.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Quit complaining and take your shoes and socks off.”

  “That’s a little weird.”

  “When have you worn anything but athletic sandals in here?”

  “Good point.”

  He finishes all of my requests, and stands with his arms out waiting for me to inspect him. I put my arms around his stomach and squeeze his ass. “You’re actually pretty sexy in a suit.”

  “I’m glad you approve.”

  “Oh, I do. I’ll show you just how much later. It’s time for you to try and shoot at least one bad guy without killing all of your allies,” I tell him, smacking that fine ass before sitting back down.

  “I always love it when you give me a goal.”

  “Maybe tonight you’ll meet said goal, and get a reward.”

  “One can only hope.”

  “Actually, two of us are hoping,” I tell him honestly.

  We stay up even later than usual as he tries to do it. I don’t know how anyone can possibly be so hopeless. I would laugh if he wasn’t trying so hard. After he once again shoots his team member, I yawn and snuggle closer into him where we’re lying on the couch.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  “No. I want to cuddle with you tonight.”

  “Really?”

  “Mm-hmm. Cuddling sounds nice. If you want to, I mean.”

  “I’m down with the cuddling.”

  The next thing I know, I’m waking up to Brayden saying my name softly. I was having a great dream where I’d pulled his shirt up to kiss and lick his yummy abs. And my hand was down his pants stroking him. As he says my name again, I realize that it wasn’t just a dream. My mouth is on his stomach and my hand is down his pants. I look up at him with a sheepish smile.

  “I was dreaming,” I tell him as I stop stroking, but keep my hand where it is.

  “I figured that out. I honestly thought about not waking you up, but I didn’t want to take advantage of you.”

  “I think I was the one taking advantage.”

  “Nah. I was enjoying it. A. Lot.”

  “So I can continue?”

  “Only if I can participate.”

  I slide back up his body and whisper against his lips. “Please touch me, Brayden.”

  Chapter 7

  Darcy

  After that, it’s all about shifting clothes and exploring hands. Our mouths battle each other for dominance, and it’s hotter than almost anything I’ve ever experienced. Stroking him while he pinches my nipples and then caresses my breasts, feels like heaven. I know he’s enjoying it too, because he’s growing harder by the second.

  I arch my neck as his hands move lower. He nuzzles my neck, alternately kissing and nibbling until he reaches the waistband of my pajama bottoms. “Lift up, Cat.”

  I do as he asks, and he hooks his thumbs on each side, pulling my thong down right along with the pants. I have to let go of him temporarily, but I miss the heavy feel of him in my hand as I do. Until I think about him inside of me, and then I get even more wet and ready.

  “Help me take off your pants. I want you inside of me.”

  “Fuck. I don’t think I have a condom.”

  “Under the couch cushions,” I tell him. “And yes, we’re going to do just that. Fuck.”

  “You put condoms in the couch?”

  “I knew it was only a matter of time. Are you going to make a big deal of it, or are you going to let me ride you until we both pass out?” I ask as I take my top and bra off.

  “Oh, definitely the riding.”

  He pulls up the cushions and grabs a handful of condoms, tossing them down as he takes off his own shirt. Once we’re both naked, we stop to look at each other. We’ve touched each other, but we’ve never taken everything off for each other before. Brayden’s beautiful. There’s no other word for him. He’s not as built as Nate or Matt, and not as lean as Aiden. He’s the perfection that’s in between them all. And I want to have my mouth on every inch of him.

  “I think I’m the luckiest man in the world. You’re gorgeous, Cat.”

  “Thank you.”

  I can’t believe I’m feeling shy right now. I’ve never been shy a day in my life. But I am with him. Not in the sense that I want to hide my body, but with the way that I like hearing the approval in his voice. Maybe a little too much.

  “If we do this, it will make it a little more real, Crown.”

  “It’s been real since we met, and we both know it.”

  He holds out his hand to me, and I take it. After kissing me sweetly for a few minutes, he takes things deeper, pulling me down on top of him as I open my mouth to his probing tongue. We sit with me just rubbing myself over him as I straddle his legs, until it becomes too much for both of us.

  “Do you want me to lie down?”

  “No. This is good,” I tell him as I lift myself up and reach for one of the condoms.

  After I’ve put it on, I slowly move down onto him. I fight the urge to just take him all at once, savoring the pleasure that I feel as he stretches me. He has my nipple between his teeth and bites down as I fully seat myself. I flinch at the slight pain.

  “Sorry. You just feel so good.”

  “So do you.”

  I start to move slow, and then fast, finding a rhythm that has us both moaning. He’s still playing with my tits as I pull on his hair. Until he suddenly grabs hold of my hip with one hand, thrusting up as he grinds me down onto him. His other hand moves between my folds, finding my swollen clit, and twisting it between his fingers.

  “How close?” he asks, barely moving his mouth from me.

  “Very,” I manage to breathe out as a wave of pleasure crashes over me.

  I ride it over the edge, yelling out his name as I arch my back and grind down on both his fingers and his cock. I’m still shaking when he starts shuddering and cursing. My name comes out of his mouth on a sigh as we both stop moving. That was…I don’t even know…amazing? Mind blowing? Best ever? All of the above? Yeah, that’s it.

  “You okay?” he asks me.

  “Better than.”

  “That was pretty epic.”

  I laugh as I tease him. “You’re starting to talk like me.”

  “I’ll say or do anything you want after what just happened.”

  “Or we could just do it again.”

  “Give me a little time to recover, and then I’ll be more than happy to make love to you again.”

  “No. Don’t say that. It wasn’t that,” I tell him, moving off of him to gather my clothes.

  “What was it then?”

  “Fucking. We fucked.”

  It’s a lie when it comes off my tongue, and he knows it. I can’t allow it to be more, though. Not with Brayden. He needs something from me that I can’t give him, and despite our “truce,” I know he won’t stop until he gets what he thinks he needs. Which means he may have to go back on his promise not to harm me. I can’t just give the jewels to him, and if love gets involved in what we’re doing, it’ll make it that much harder on both of us.

  “Bullshit. That was…I don’t know exactly what it was…but it wasn’t just fucking. We both know it, so stop pretending.”

  “What happens in the light of day, Brayden? Do you just forget that you want something from me that I can’t give you? Do we make this engagement real and live happily ever after? What?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Fucking,” I say, turning to stop the stupid tears that are threat
ening to fall. I’m not a crier. I’m not.

  “Come here, Cat,” he tells me pulling me into his bare chest, and holding me tight. “We’ll figure this out somehow. I promise. Just don’t belittle what we are, or what just happened. Please. Give me—us—a chance.”

  “I want to,” I tell him honestly. “But what if it’s all too much with everything else.”

  “We’ll take it day by day. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. Whatever it takes. Just be in this with me, and let me have you, even if it’s just for now.”

  I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it when the “now” is over, but I don’t want to say no. I can’t. What I’m starting to feel for him is stronger than I’ve ever felt for anyone else, and I don’t want to be without him. Forever was never on the table, so “now” is going to have to do.

  “Yes. Okay. We’ll do now.”

  “Score.”

  “I’m going to make an American out of you yet, Crown.”

  “Or I’ll make a Cyndryannite out of you.”

  “Not likely. How’s the recovery time, by the way?”

  He moves back a little to show me his erect cock. “See for yourself.”

  “I think it’s time to try the bed,” I tell him with a smile as I walk towards my bedroom.

  “Brilliant idea, Cat. Absolutely brilliant.”

  * * *

  Brayden

  “You’re running out of time, Bray.”

  “I’m well aware of the timeline, Noah.”

  “Yet you’re not pushing her for the answers you need.”

  “Leave it alone.”

  “You’ve been sleeping in her room every night for the past month, and you can’t get her to tell you where the jewels are? Have you lost your touch?”

  “I haven’t lost anything, and it’s not like that. She’s not like that.”

  “You really like her, don’t you?”

  “I love her,” I tell.

  “Bloody hell. Are you willing to give up the crown for her?”

  “I can’t.”

  He looks like he wants to punch me, and I take a step back without even realizing it. “If she’s not worth more than a monarchy, then you don’t really love her. You should stop leading her on.”

  “Umm, weren’t you the one telling me to seduce her secret from her just a minute ago?”

  “When I thought it was just sex, yeah. But if you’re in love with her, she’ll know it. I don’t want you to destroy her.”

  “You two really are getting along now, aren’t you?”

  “Something like that, but I mean it. Don’t fuck with her like this. It’ll end badly for both of you.”

  “I’m trying to avoid a disaster, but as you pointed out, I’m running out of time. My coronation is set for a month from now, and you know I promised my dad that I wouldn’t be crowned without recovering the jewels.”

  “Would he want you to break the heart of the woman you love in order to keep that promise?”

  “Probably not, but he’s not here to confirm or deny that, is he?”

  I don’t try to hide the bitterness from my voice. My dad wasn’t supposed to die yet, and no matter what anyone tries to tell me, I know there was nothing “natural” about it. He was murdered, and once I get the jewels and the keys to the kingdom, I’m going to find out who did it and make them pay. Darcy could help me with it, but I’ll be lucky if we’re still speaking by the time I’m crowned.

  “I miss him too, you know.”

  I do know that. Noah’s father was a good friend of my dad’s, and when he died, we took Noah in. My dad stood in for him everywhere he could, while taking time alone with him to reminisce and keep their memories alive. I know his death was like a double blow to Noah after he’d already lost his own father.

  “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You’re like a brother to me, but Darcy…well, she’s something I never expected in my life. I’m having a hard time dealing with loving her while knowing I’m possibly going to have to destroy her.”

  “So don’t. Make it business only again, or give up on the jewels.”

  “I wish I could do either of those things, but I’m not man enough.”

  “At least you’re admitting it.”

  “Some best friend you are. You’re supposed to say that I’m more than good enough for Darcy.”

  “Sorry, but you’ll never hear that from me.”

  “What would I do without your blunt honesty?”

  “Listen to me telling you the same things.” I turn at the sound of my cousin’s voice, and can’t help but smile. Jenysis is a force to be reckoned with, and both Noah and I have the scars to prove it.

  “Jen, what are you doing here?”

  “Dear old dad said it was time for a visit, which coincided nicely with my plan to come here and kick your arse.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Noah told me all about your plan, and how you’re now going off the rails. I mean, couldn’t you just shag her once and be done? She’s a commoner. We don’t get involved in more than a tumble with them. You know this.”

  “Hey. I’m a commoner, too,” Noah reminds her.

  She waves her hand at him. “Ten years in the palace makes you anything but a commoner.”

  “Why does it matter, Jen?” I ask, knowing the answer, but not willing to let Darcy be talked about like she’s less of anything.

  “We’re a monarchy, Bray. That’s why it matters.”

  “Will married Kate.”

  “You’re not Will, and our people are not British.”

  “Neither are you, but you choose to live there.”

  “You know it wasn’t a choice. Mum and dad said we had to move there after the jewels were stolen. Just another thing to hate your Darcy for.”

  “You love London.”

  “I do, but I don’t like having choices taken from me just because some stupid girl needed to rob us. Or my parents breaking up because of it.”

  “Don’t hold back. Say what you really feel,” Darcy says from behind me.

  “Oh I will. You can count on that.” Shit. Noah should’ve never told her what’s going on. She better keep quiet, at least around her dad and my mum.

  “I can also count on you omitting some facts, can’t I? Like the fact that you were being stalked around the time of the theft. Isn’t that a more plausible reason for your family to move?

  “You bitch.”

  “Takes one to know one.”

  “I bet you wouldn’t be so smug if I had a saber in my hand.”

  “Oh, I think I would. You wanna have a go?”

  “Um, Darcy, you should know that Jenysis is a highly skilled fencer,” Noah tells her.

  “So am I. How about it?”

  “I’d quite fancy a chance to cut you, so yes, let’s.”

  I look back and forth at the two of them as they try and stare each other down. They’re both redheads, but that’s where the similarities end. Darcy is in a loose band t-shirt and her leather pants, while Jen is wearing an elaborate designer top and wide leg pants. Darcy’s bright orange hair is short and sassy, while Jen’s long hair has subtle shades of red and is styled to within an inch of its life. Knowing them both, I wouldn’t even begin to try and bet on a winner. They’re the fiercest women I’ve ever met. Well, maybe Reina Corrigan is fiercer, but thankfully, she’s not here right now.

  “Here,” Noah says, coming back into the room with the rapiers. I hadn’t even noticed that he’d left.

  “Thanks,” they both say at once, and then head out the French doors before facing off.

  It’s a pretty amazing sight to see as they square off. They’re evenly matched as they battle one another. They’re jumping on top of chairs, flipping over tables, and doing a bunch of other shit that looks like it came from some old movie. I can’t take my eyes off of Darcy as she wields that sword. It’s fucking hot.

  “You better not be thinking about how hot Darcy looks,” I tell Noah, never taking my eyes off the action in f
ront of us.

  “I’m not.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re looking at Jen.”

  “Seriously? You know Jen is like a sister to me.”

  Darcy falters for a second, giving Jen the opening she needs. She slices her blade across Darcy’s thigh, and then pushes her to the ground as she cries out. I start to move towards them, thinking it’s over, but Jen has other ideas. She pulls Darcy up and puts her sword at her throat.

  “What the hell, Jen? You won the pissing match, now let her go.”

  “No. She’s caused this family too much trouble already. She’s going to tell you where the jewels are or she’s going to die.”

  “How is killing her going to get Brayden the jewels?” Noah asks, and I can hear panic in his voice.

  “Either way, we’re rid of her. I say it’s a win-win situation.”

  “You’re not winning anything,” Faith says, kicking the sword out her hand, and slicing her across the arm with Darcy’s. I didn’t even see her pick up the other sword, much less come outside.

  Now she’s standing over Jen, looking like an avenging angel. Her heeled boot is on Jen’s throat, and the sword in her hand is hovering just over her rib cage. My cousin’s trying to struggle, but it’s no use. Faith isn’t budging, and in fact, she looks like she’s enjoying this whole thing a little too much.

  “Let her go, Faith. I’m fine.”

  “You wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t walked in. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over there are useless.”

  “We were in shock for a few seconds, but we would’ve stopped her,” Noah says.

  “Darcy could’ve been dead in a few seconds.”

  “What is going on in here?”

  I turn to see my uncle rush outside. He’s understandably upset to see his daughter on the floor with a sword being held over her. He sees Darcy, and seems to grow even paler.

  “Jen and Darcy were fencing, and then Jen was holding her and threatening her. Her friend, Faith, stepped in.”

  “Jenysis? You were going to harm Darcy?”

  “Of course I was. What is wrong with everyone in this family? She stole our jewels, and won’t tell Brayden where they are. Shagging her and being nice doesn’t seem to be working. I figured a little force would do the trick.” Well, there goes the secret keeping. Thanks Noah.