Restrained

by Nicole Dykes

  Asher looks irritated with me and the situation, but then forces a smile in Baz’s direction. “It’s true. I forgot.”

  Baz drops his little arms to his side, frustrated as he huffs. “Fine. But this time you need to pay attention.”

  Asher stands up, placing his hand on Baz’s small shoulder. “I will. I promise.”

  Baz gestures for him to follow him in his adorable little dominant way, forgetting for the moment that Asher is most certainly leaving because he’s on a mission.

  But the sting of reality is coming. And soon.

  My family is hurting. All of them. Again.

  I swear it doesn’t matter how healed we seem to be, we’re always broken. My chest aches as I plaster a smile on my face, waving to my mom and Tony as they head out to their car. Asher is still in the pool with Baz, and Vivienne said she knows they’ll know where to find her and heads to her room.

  She trusts Asher with Baz completely. And she should. He would die before he let anything happened to that kid.

  And they need the time together because when Asher leaves, Baz is going to be devastated.

  Lincoln left before everyone else, and dinner was awkward. No one talked much after Asher and Sebastian went out to the pool.

  I’m left standing alone with Hayden as he stands behind me, and I lean against the door frame. “My family’s a mess.”

  “Look at me.” I turn to look at him, my stress melting away, looking into his eyes. How does he do that? “I know you love them, but you can’t fix everything for them.”

  I can try.

  He reads my mind. I know he does as his hands land on my hips and he levels with me. “You can’t. They’re all adults. They have to navigate this themselves.”

  “Penelope needs to get to know you.”

  He smiles and drops his hands from my hips. “Show me your room.”

  It’s a command, and I hate being told what to do.

  Usually.

  I take his hand and lead him to my bedroom, closing and locking it behind me. Baz is young and has no boundaries.

  I turn to face him, picking up where we left off. “She needs to know you. She’s being stubborn.”

  He smiles, tugging his tie from his neck, tossing it to my floor. Just smiling at me.

  Which is infuriating. “I’m serious, Hayden. I need to talk to her about this.”

  He walks to me, his hands planted on my hips. “No.”

  “What?” I stare at him, trying not to let my jaw drop. “Look, I like you a lot, and the sex is good.” He quirks a playful eyebrow. “Really good.” He nods. “But I’m not a woman who is going to completely change for any man. Ever. And this is my family.”

  “Right. You’re a strong, independent woman.”

  “You know, I felt bad about the shiner until right now.” I fold my arms. “I kind of want to make the other one match.”

  He grins and spins my body away from him, causing me to hold my hands out, catching myself against the wall as his body moves close to mine, his nose dragging along my neck. “I’d probably like it too much.”

  I roll my eyes but tilt my head to the side, allowing him access to kiss and bite my neck. “Hayden, they’re important to me.”

  “Believe me, I got that from day one.” His hands slide down my bare arms, causing goosebumps to pop up all over my skin. “But you still can’t make them do what you want.”

  His hand slides over the silky fabric of my camisole, tugging it from the top of my skirt where it was tucked in, sliding his hand over the bare skin of my stomach. I shudder. “They need me.”

  “I need you.” His words are quiet against my ear, causing me to swallow. His deep voice growls against my neck, “I’ll do what you want me to.”

  The statement coming from anyone else would seem desperate, but coming from his mouth, it still sounds confident and in control.

  His hands easily lift my blouse off, letting it fall to the floor, leaving my top half bare.

  “You drive me insane.”

  I swear I can feel him smiling against the naked skin of my back, his hand slowly lowering the zipper at the back of my skirt, allowing it to fall to the ground. “Believe me, the feeling is mutual.”

  I want to relax. Let myself escape as his hand drifts over my stomach once again and down to cup the silky fabric between my legs. “Baz is going to be heartbroken when Asher leaves.”

  I feel him nod against me. “I can’t talk about your nephew right now when all I want to know is how fucking wet you are for me.”

  My eyes flutter closed, feeling the slickness between my thighs. “I’m worried.”

  “Let me help you with that because you can’t fix them, Lola. Let them feel.”

  I turn around, facing him and looking into his eyes. “You don’t think they’ve felt enough?”

  He removes his jacket, tossing it behind him and rolling up his white sleeves to the elbow. And although I would rather he would just remove it and the vest over it, I'm looking at the veins in his forearms and the scar on his hand as he drops down to his knees in front of me. The sight is beautiful because Hayden is a man that kneels to no one.

  “We can’t stop feeling, Lola.”

  My hands rest on his broad shoulders as he slides the thong down my legs, letting me step out of it, but he doesn't touch me. “When all you feel is pain, you just want it to stop.”

  “But then you shut out all of the good.”

  I close my eyes, letting my head loll back and lean against the wall, waiting for his touch. I stand there, my body ready for him, the wetness pooling between my legs as I clench my thighs together.

  But still, no touch comes. “Hayden?” I breathe.

  “I was angry for a long time.” I don’t open my eyes. I only listen to his words. “I hated everyone. I didn’t trust anyone. I shut down.” Warm air comes from his mouth across the intimate spot of my body, and my eyes fly open as I look down at him, my body trembling for his touch. “And then you came along. And pissed me off.”

  I wonder where he’s going with this as he blows across the wetness between my clenched thighs.

  “And made me feel again. Now all I want to do is feel.” His tongue slides down my wet slit and I groan, leaning my head back, my hands threading through his hair. “I want to feel everything with you.”

  I moan his name as his tongue flicks over my clit and then slides down again. He hardens his tongue and pushes it inside me, making my fingers dig into his scalp. “I want to feel everything with you too.”

  His tongue slides up, swirling over my clit before moving up my stomach and my chest, standing tall before me as I unbutton his vest and the white shirt, pushing them both over his wide shoulders to the floor.

  “Don’t ever try to deprive the ones you love from feeling anything close to this.”

  “And if we end up only hurting each other?”

  He unfastens his belt and slides the button of his slacks through the loop. “As long as the good outweighs the bad.”

  “It wasn’t with Asher and Viv.”

  He smiles, sliding his zipper down and pushing his pants and briefs down in one quick motion, freeing his hardened cock and taking my mind as far away from my family as possible. “Only ones that knows that is them, Lola.”

  He kicks away the rest of his clothes and pulls me to him, guiding us back to my bed as he sits down, pulling me on his lap. I cup his face in my hands. “I don’t care right now.”

  He chuckles, reaching between us and bringing the head of his cock to my entrance, but not pushing in. “You take control.” His hand slides down my back. “Make me feel something good, Lola.”

  His words set me on fire as I move my hips, guiding him inside of me, only the tip at first, and then inch by inch my body accepts him. I set the pace, moving slowly, almost too slow as we both feel every movement. Every inch. Every shudder.

  It’s euphoric as my forehead rests against his, my hands now gripping his shoulders as his hands rest on m
y hips. He gives me all the control. My head dips down, and I find his lips, craving every ounce of him. He starts to thrust with each roll of my hips, meeting my pace, our bodies working as one, hitting deep inside me and making my pussy clench around him, wanting to squeeze every last bit of pleasure from him.

  “I’ve never wanted anything this badly.”

  He smiles against my lips. “What do you want, Lola?”

  He’s fully seated inside of me as I freeze, allowing him to fill me completely, stretching me. “Right now?” He nods, his lips pressing against mine and then sliding down over my throat. “I want to come.”

  He smiles against my neck, and I feel his cock twitch inside me, making me bite my lower lip and groan. “What else?”

  I lean my head back, enjoying the feel of his stubble on my skin. “I want you to come inside me.”

  One of his hands palms my breast as his thumb swirls around my hardened nipple. “I’m definitely close to that.”

  He pinches my nipple, causing my pussy to tense tightly around him, making us both moan and sending a shiver through my body, warning me that I’m nearing the edge myself. “Anything else?”

  I shake my head because in this moment, that’s all I want. Him.

  “Feel every single second of it, Lola.”

  The command steals my breath as our lips crash into each other, and we move together, one of his hands teasing my nipple the other gripping my hip as we fall over the cliff simultaneously, taking in every thrilling second.

  I don’t want any more pain for my family, but maybe Hayden’s right. By trying to protect them, I’ve stolen this away.

  And this, this feeling right now with him, safe in my bed with pleasure soaring through every part of my body, it’s worth every bit of pain I've endured to get here.

  I smile, looking at Lola as she sleeps in her bed next to me. Last night was intense, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

  Yeah, her family is a lot, but it’s apparent how much they care about each other.

  I hate that Penelope had so much contempt for me, but no part of me can blame her. I know how she grew up.

  I understand the distrust.

  Lola is completely out, and I need coffee, so I grab my dress slacks from the floor and slip them on, running a hand through my hair on my way out of her room. I quietly tiptoe to the kitchen, but quickly notice I'm not alone.

  Her youngest brother, Asher, is sitting at the table with cereal in front of him, smiling smugly at me.

  “Morning.” I try to be civil even though I recognize this little shit.

  He’s me. Ten years ago.

  All guys in their twenties are shitheads.

  And it doesn’t matter that he grew up with wealth and privilege. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t. We’ve both experienced pain and abandonment in some form or another and didn’t know how to deal with it.

  I understand him.

  He doesn’t say anything as I make my way to the coffee, not needing him to say anything. Not needing his acceptance.

  “You in love with my sister?”

  The question does, however, catch me off guard. Christ, I didn’t even get a chance to pour a cup of coffee. I turn around to face him. “I haven’t known her long.”

  He rolls his eyes at me as if that’s the stupidest thing I could have said. “That’s not what I asked.”

  “That’s something I should probably discuss with her first.”

  Again, his eyes roll. He’s a tough kid. I recognize the suffering in his eyes. I also know that underneath that is fear. Fear of everything.

  He stands and walks to the sink, rinsing his bowl and then turning to look at me. “Don’t hurt her.”

  “I won’t.”

  He smiles mockingly, staring deliberately at the black eye his sister gave me. “Good because she’s tough, but if you do, between Linc and me, they won’t even be able to identify your body.”

  I can respect that. “Noted.”

  He nods his head and walks out of the kitchen, I follow, watching him pick up a bag next to the sofa and slinging it over his shoulder. “Tell Lola thanks for letting me stay here last night. I needed to hang out with Baz.”

  “She’s upstairs. You should tell her yourself.”

  He waves me off. “Nah. I hate good-byes. I gotta go.”

  I follow him to the front door. “What about Baz? Did you tell him?”

  He turns around to face me, his chest puffed out. “I love that kid, and you don’t know me, so you need to know that.”

  “I already did. You should tell him goodbye.”

  “I’ll never say goodbye to him.” He pauses. “I’ll be back. Don’t forget what I said.”

  “Homicide. Got it.”

  He laughs, turning back around.

  “I do, you know?”

  He looks at me over his shoulder, a grin on his face knowing I'm talking about loving Lola. “I know. I’m glad.” His hand finds the handle. “She’s special. She’s strong for all of us but weak when it comes to herself. You look out for her, and I like it.”

  Not that I needed it, but it appears I have the kid’s approval.

  No other words need to be said as he leaves. I return to the kitchen, barely getting two cups of coffee brewed before feeling familiar hands slide around my waist.

  “Good morning.”

  I turn around and kiss the tip of Lola’s elegant nose. “Good morning.”

  “I really like waking up with you here.”

  I liked it too. “Asher left.”

  Her face falls, but she doesn’t look surprised as I had her a cup of coffee. “When?”

  “Not long ago. I’m sorry, I just never want to hide anything from you ever again.”

  She smiles, taking a sip of the hot liquid, hissing and then putting it down on the counter, evidently deciding it was too hot. “I figured he wouldn’t be here when we woke up. Did he say anything?”

  I don’t want to hide anything from her, but I’m not ready for that conversation. “He wanted me to thank you for letting him stay.”

  She smiles. “Baz wanted a sleepover.”

  “It was probably good for him.”

  “Yeah.” She looks pensive as she peers through the door at the sunrise. “It’s strange because Asher complicates everything, but I swear, I'm going to miss him.”

  “Has he thought about moving out here?”

  “I’ve tried to put it out there.” She sighs. “I’m starting to think I made a huge mistake encouraging Viv and Baz to move here without him. He’s angry, and he should be.”

  I don’t want to lecture her, but our conversation last night is at the forefront of my mind. “He could have followed.”

  “He has too much pride.”

  I shrug. “Maybe they needed a break.”

  She picks up the coffee again but doesn’t drink yet. “The thought of them together terrifies me.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s too much like our mother.”

  “Your mother is fucking great. He should be so lucky.”

  She laughs, nudging me in the ribs. “Please tell me you don’t have a thing for my mother.”

  “She’s actually a mother. You know how much I craved that when I was a little kid?”

  Okay, maybe even as an adult. Nora is nurturing and caring. Makes people feel safe and warm with just a look. That’s something I never had. She looks saddened by that. “You’re right. And Vivienne is amazing.”

  “So, you’re worried he’ll hurt her?”

  “He would. He has. And they’re just not good for each other.”

  The woman is infuriating—the definition of a control freak—but she just wants what’s best for her family. She has a huge heart, no wonder she’s tried to guard it for so long. “Isn’t that for them to decide?”

  She won’t admit it, but I know she’s thinking that over. However, she changes the subject. “Penelope sent me a text this morning.”

  My body stiffe
ns as I wait for her to continue. Trying not to show my apprehension.

  “She wants a DNA test.”

  Surprised, I look at Lola. “She does?”

  She nods. “She does. And she doesn’t want to be around me until she knows one way or the other if, and I quote, ‘that fucker is lying yet again.’” She sighs. “I guess that’s a start.”

  I can’t hide my smile. “She sounds like me.”

  This makes her laugh. “Yeah. She does.”

  No matter what plan I had to get to know my sister, the way it went was not at all what I anticipated.

  But this is what I needed.

  “Do you need anything else, Mr. West?”

  Hayden turns to Gretchen as she stands in the doorway of his office. I’m on the leather sofa against the window, looking over my notes for hotel number three as he answers her with a smile. “No. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend.”

  She gives him a curt, professional nod, her lips thinning when she looks briefly my way and then leaves.

  Hayden grins at me, climbing out from behind his desk to join me.

  I no longer hate how badly I need him. I wouldn’t say I'm used to it, but I definitely don’t fight it. The DNA test came back this morning.

  “Penelope is never going to stop hating me.”

  “Yes, she will.” I lay my head on his shoulder. “Trust me. You’re her brother. She knows that now. You weren’t lying.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t there.”

  “That’s not fair. You didn’t know about her.”

  He’s laughing at me. “Isn’t that what the oldest sibling is supposed to do? Blame ourselves for things we couldn’t control?”

  “You’re annoying.” He pulls me closer to him. “She wants to meet you for coffee tomorrow. I would say that means she won’t hate you forever.”

  “Or she wants to punch me.”

  I shrug. “You can take a hit.”

  “What do you want to do this evening?” I smile and quirk an eyebrow as his lips slide over my neck. “You wanna go for a swim?” He whispers in my ear. “I definitely want to fuck you in the pool.”

  I tense. I wish it was because my mind is lost thinking about his hard body pressed against mine in the pool, but my heart beating rapidly has nothing to do with Hayden.