Ilya edged away. “What’s your name?”
“Ronan. I’m a friend of Ash.” Ronan unfastened his cufflinks and slipped them into his pocket.
“Ash,” Ilya spat out the word.
“Careful,” Ronan said. “I told you she’s my friend. It’s not wise to upset me.” He pulled his shirt from his pants and began to unbutton it. “Take your clothes off.”
“I-I…”
“Take. Your. Fucking. Clothes. Off.” Ronan didn’t raise his voice but the command in his tone was clear. Ilya just needed a little push.
Ronan bit back a smile as Ilya’s fingers fumbled trying to unfasten his bow tie.
“Better,” Ronan snapped. He had the mother of all hard-ons. He’d not felt this level of physical attraction for a long time. It made a change not to get turned-on solely by his sadistic tendencies. He laid his shirt over his jacket and unfastened the top button on his pants. It didn’t much help the pressure on his cock.
Ilya pulled at the buttons of his shirt and let it fall to the floor. Ronan’s gaze dropped to Ilya’s chest and got stuck. The guy looked as if he’d been hewn from marble, the smooth, hard lines of his sculptured body almost a match for his own.
“Pick up the shirt,” Ronan said.
Ilya’s jaw tightened but he bent, gathered up the shirt and put it with his jacket. Ronan stood maybe an inch taller but their builds were similar, eyes equally dark, mouths equally hard. Mentally they were opposites. Ronan could keep the two halves of his life separate. He knew exactly what he was, what he was looking for and when he found it—provided it was willing—he took it. Ilya didn’t yet know what he wanted. Ronan would show him.
He toed off his shoes and removed his socks. Ilya copied him. When Ronan pulled down the zipper on his pants a couple of inches and slid his hand inside to adjust his cock, Ilya let out a muffled groan.
“Take off your pants and shorts,” Ronan said.
He fixed his gaze on the flex and play of the muscles of Ilya’s arms and chest and followed the damp trail of dark hair to a heavily veined cock rising thick and hard out of a nest of black curls. Moisture filled Ronan’s mouth and he swallowed. Ilya’s shaft stuck out from his body, too weighty to stand straight up. His full balls cupped the base, and Ronan realized all of this guy was beautiful, a perfect body and damaged mind.
He liked that Ilya wasn’t shy. Ronan was tired of masochistic guys who whimpered before they’d even removed an item of clothing and begged him to hurt them. Ilya stood there, hands by his sides, chin up, and let Ronan take his fill. There was plenty to admire—a cock head glistening with juice, hard abs, slim hips and that willful arrogance.
“Like what you see?” Ilya asked.
Cocky bastard. “I’d prefer you shaved.”
Ilya snorted. Ronan didn’t bother making the point that Ilya would shave if he wanted him to. If they had more time, he’d do it for him now. Ronan turned his back, shucked off his pants and boxers and laid them neatly with the rest of his clothes, letting Ilya get a good view of his ass. When he turned, Ilya gazed at his face and didn’t let his eyes drop. For once, Ronan was thrown, and excitement lurched in his chest. Unpredictability could make this special.
When Ilya took a couple of paces forward and laid his warm hand on Ronan’s chest, Ronan knew he should have stopped him but he waited. Ilya dragged his palm over Ronan’s pecs, drawing the tips of his fingers tight around his nipples. Ronan watched Ilya’s face as his hand moved down, fingers twisting in the line of dark hair. Ilya’s face showed nothing, but his Adam’s apple shifted twice. Before fingers reached his cock, Ronan grabbed Ilya’s wrist and squeezed.
“Did I say you could touch me?”
Something dark flickered in Ilya’s eyes, and Ronan’s interest kicked up another gear. He blinked. Get back on track.
“I saw the way you pushed Sophia and your brother together. You want to do some deal with her father and you’d sacrifice your brother’s happiness to make it happen.”
“Sophia can make him happy. She’s from a good family. Their children will be perfect.”
Wanker. “Who made you God?”
“Someone has to take charge.” Ilya stared straight at him.
“He likes Ash better.”
“She’s not suitable.” Mr. Stubborn’s mouth tightened.
“You’re such a selfish shit,” Ronan said in a quiet voice. “You use one of his friends to spy on him, you pay to make Ash’s passport disappear. I wonder what you arranged in Paris to spoil things.”
Ilya flinched, and Ronan had his answer. “What?” he snapped.
“The desk lost her message.”
“You fucking bastard.”
Ilya’s shoulders sagged. “Are we going to fuck or not?”
“Oh, you’re going to get fucked. The question is how much I’ll hurt you.”
Ilya’s teeth worried his lower lip.
“Do you want to be hurt?” Ronan asked.
There was no answer.
Ronan narrowed his brows. “Do you want to be hurt?”
Ilya swallowed. “Yes.”
The answer was quiet but there. Ronan hadn’t lost sight of the fact that the best punishment was to walk away, but Ilya wasn’t the only selfish one. Ronan wanted him.
One step to yank Ilya into his arms. Their lips connected, tongues tangling while hands pawed at each other’s butts. Their cocks rubbed together as they rutted. The rough friction of Ilya’s hair and rigid cock bruised the fragile skin of Ronan’s balls and made him shiver with barely controlled lust. Ilya smelled of soap and expensive aftershave and he tasted of champagne. Ronan nipped the edge of his tongue and as Ilya gasped into his mouth, Ronan savored the coppery tang of blood.
Ilya moaned and bucked harder against him, and Ronan cupped and kneaded buttocks as firm as his, rocking his hips harder and faster against Ilya’s. They panted into each other’s mouths, breathing each other’s air as Ronan edged him back toward the bed. He slid a hand between their bodies and wrapped his fingers around Ilya’s cock, pumping up and down.
“Fuck, fuck,” Ilya gasped.
Ronan shoved him onto the bed. “Lube, condom?”
Ilya scrambled back, stretching his long body to reach into a bedside table. He offered both, but Ronan only took the condom. “Lube yourself.”
Ilya’s hesitation was minimal. He squirted the gel onto his fingers and then brought his knees up and spread his legs.
Shhhit. The sight of Ilya pressing slick fingers into his own asshole while he squeezed his cock with his other hand made Ronan’s fingers fumble as he rolled on the condom. That’s a first. Ilya’s breathing grew choppy, and Ronan could see him shaking. The guy would make himself come, which was not the point, pretty as it might be to watch. He pulled Ilya’s fingers away from his shaft and shoved his knees under Ilya’s thighs as he positioned his cock against the puckered entrance. Ronan didn’t wait, didn’t ask, just pushed straight inside, one long, hard, ramming thrust that buried him to the balls. The ensuing jolt raced up his spine and ignited a fire in his brain.
Ilya shuddered, tensed and then released a long groan as he gazed into Ronan’s eyes. Ronan didn’t move. He hoped Ilya thought he was giving him time to adjust to having a fat cock shoved up his ass, but Ronan was having problems controlling himself, which was very unusual.
“Forgotten what to do?” Ilya asked.
Ronan laughed. Not often a sub managed that.
Ilya moaned. “Shit, I felt that laugh all the way down your cock.”
He squeezed his rectal muscles and Ronan gritted his teeth behind closed lips.
“Don’t hurt me. Just fuck me,” Ilya whispered.
“Why shouldn’t I hurt you?”
Ilya’s jaw twitched. “Yeah, why not? I deserve it. I broke my mother’s heart, disappointed my father, pissed off my brother. Why not hurt me?”
“Miss anyone off that list?”
“She’s your friend, but I’m sorry. I can’t see how it could work out
.”
“Is that your problem?”
“It’s my family.”
Ronan withdrew his cock until just the tip remained inside Ilya. “Your family would be lucky to have Ash as part of it. She makes Noah happy. That’s all that matters.”
He thrust back hard, and Ilya cried out. The sound was one of pleasure not pain. Ronan pulled back again, drawing his cock slowly through the nerve-rich tissue. Ilya rocked up into his thrust and then they were moving together, each penetration met by a forward buck of Ilya’s hips. Ronan plunged into him, in and out, faster and harder, his shunts growing more frantic. Ilya had his fingers wrapped around his cock, jerking off as he stared into Ronan’s eyes. His gaze was so compelling, so intense Ronan felt it as a warm caress around his heart. Oh God, no.
“Fuck, fuck, I’m coming,” Ilya gasped.
White flecks of cum exploded from Ilya’s cock and he shot his seed over his belly in long, hard spurts. Ronan gave in to his own urgent request for release and let the switch flip in his head. His orgasm started in his lower back, raced up and then down his spine to ignite his balls. Ilya relaxed his hand on his spent cock and Ronan’s cock took the baton and ran. Ronan gasped in ragged bursts, his body dripping sweat as he emptied himself. And when the last spasm had faded and he should have pulled out, stood up and walked away, he allowed Ilya to pull him close and kiss him.
Ronan lifted his mouth to say, “You’re going to be missed downstairs.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
Ronan let himself be pulled back down.
* * * * *
Ash sighed as she looked around the ballroom. It was hard to keep smiling. Pointless searching for a plant to hide behind when she’d need an elephant to provide cover. Ronan had disappeared. Dalton was here, though she felt sure he was avoiding her. Arkady was circulating and talking to his guests, although every so often when he came near her, he smiled and nodded as if he was happy to see she hadn’t run. Ilya had disappeared as well, and Noah hadn’t seen her, though a little voice asked how that was possible when she was in a dress the size of a car. Ash couldn’t help but conclude he didn’t want to see her. Hence the need for an elephant.
“What a ridiculous dress.”
Ash turned at the sound of Valentina’s voice and put a smile on her face. “Thank you so much.” That usually worked to confuse, and judging by Valentina’s wrinkled brow it did this time too.
Valentina sniffed in disgust. “You’ve a lot of nerve turning up here. You’ve caused this family enough grief. You should…”
Her voice trailed away as she fixed her gaze over Ash’s shoulder.
“I wish I had some duct tape,” Noah said. He stepped to Ash’s side and looked deep into her eyes, taking her hand with a worried smile. “Only a moron would fail to understand if it hadn’t been for Ash, we’d never have known what happened to my sister.” He took hold of both of Ash’s hands and raised them to his lips. “And for your information, Valentina, I chose this dress, and Ash is the most beautiful woman here.”
Valentina stalked away and Ash sighed.
“You look lovely,” Noah whispered in her ear. “If only the dress was a little bigger, I could crawl under your skirts and do wicked things.”
Her cheeks burned. Noah moved to stand in front of her, and Ash thought her heart might burst through her ribs it pounded so hard.
He took a deep breath. “I understand why you didn’t want to speak to me, I really do, but I was worried about you. I imagined you under a bus, attacked by sharks, eaten by piranhas. From now on, you’re not allowed to go anywhere without your phone. Even the bathroom. Sometimes I just need to hear your voice.” He waited. “That was a hint.”
Ash gulped.
“Are you going to apologize?” he asked. “Think carefully.”
She smiled. “No. Are you?”
“No.” He held out his hand and Ash put hers into his. As their fingers curled together, she heard him exhale. “Did you see me with a woman in a yellow dress?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “That’s Sophia. Ilya was plotting for me to propose. It’s not going to happen, but I wanted to tell you in case the conniving shit tries to convince you otherwise. Ilya that is, not Sophia.”
“Okay.”
Noah scooped up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, gave it to Ash and then took one for himself.
He tightened his grip on her hand. “Seeing your mother…was it very bad?”
Ash bit her lip and nodded.
“Was it the first time since you were a child?”
“Yes.”
“What did she want in exchange for information about Natalia?”
Ash raised her eyebrows. “How did you know?”
“Because she could have spoken out long ago if she hadn’t wanted to save it for a final bargaining tool.”
“You’re right. She saved it for something simple and yet impossible. She wanted me to tell her I loved her. I’d never said it to her before and she knew I wouldn’t mean it, but she still wanted to make me say it. So I did. It was easier than I thought because I knew she hadn’t really won and that was all that mattered. But then she gave me the name of your sister and I thought—the bitch has won after all.”
“No, she hasn’t.”
Ash smiled.
“So you found him.” Arkady slapped Noah on the back.
Noah started. “Father, this is—”
“Yes, I know. Ash and I have had a little talk. She’s promised me a dance later. We’re almost ready to go in to dinner and I can’t find Ilya. I saw him slip away with Ash’s companion.”
“Ronan?” Ash asked in surprise.
“Would you go and retrieve him, Noah?” Arkady asked. “Try upstairs. Knock.”
Noah sucked in his cheeks and nodded to Ash before he walked away.
Arkady turned to Ash. “I’ve made sure there’s a place set for him at the table. I’ve never done that for a gatecrasher before. I hope your friend is a good man.”
“Ronan is one of the kindest guys I know.”
“Perhaps he can teach Ilya to be kind too.”
Ash hesitated and they exchanged a look of understanding. “Does Noah know?”
“I think not. Ilya has hidden his sexual preferences by conducting occasional affairs with women. It’s not something he’d talk to me about, though I wish he would. He’d find a sympathetic ear.” He gave a little smile. “Has Noah told you what happened in Afghanistan?”
The question caught Ash by surprise. “Yes, but I won’t—”
“No, no.” Arkady shook his head. “I wouldn’t wish you to. If Noah wanted me to know, he’d have told me. It’s enough for me that he’s spoken to you.”
Oh God. It’s going to be okay, Ash thought. Noah’s sweet father didn’t seem to hate her after all. Perhaps Ilya could be persuaded that she wasn’t the devil incarnate.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Noah’s steps slowed as he approached his brother’s bedroom. He’d understood what his father had hinted at and wasn’t sure what he thought. Ilya gay? It didn’t make sense. He’d had loads of girlfriends. Though come to think of it, none had lasted, but then none of Noah’s had either. Noah raised his fist to knock, but the door opened before he made contact.
He glanced between Ronan and Ilya and then at the rumpled bed behind them. Ronan smiled, but Ilya looked like he’d swallowed a rancid pig. Whole. Funny, Noah felt the same. He could almost see cogs whirling in his brother’s head as he tried to think up an excuse before coming to the conclusion there was no point.
“Father sent me,” Noah said. “Dinner’s about to be served.”
“And that’s why we’re on our way,” Ilya snapped.
Ronan turned and put his hand on Ilya’s arm. Noah couldn’t see the look Ronan gave his brother, but the tension fell from Ilya’s face. Noah was impressed. He hoped Ronan had threatened to beat the crap out of Ilya if he didn’t lose the attitude.
They set off down the corridor, Ronan walkin
g slightly behind.
Noah pinned his brother with a glare as he stalked beside him. “Why didn’t you tell me? I feel like an idiot for not knowing.”
“No one knows.”
“Father does,” Noah said.
Ilya stumbled to a halt. “Really?”
“He saw you leave with Ronan and sent me to find you. Guess he thought it was time I knew as well.”
“I’m not gay.” Ilya carried on walking down the corridor.
“You’re just into S&M?” Noah had hardly uttered the last syllable before Ilya pinned him up against the wall, shoving his bow tie into his neck.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ilya barked.
Ronan grabbed Ilya’s arm and yanked him away. “God, Noah. Don’t ever volunteer as a spy.”
Noah rubbed his throat and straightened the bow as he watched comprehension sweep over Ilya’s face, and then his brother turned to Ronan. “Shit. You and Noah?”
“No,” Ronan and Noah said at the same time.
“Not like that anyway,” Noah added.
“Then what?” Ilya choked out.
“Noah and I have played a few games, but sex was a step too far for him.”
Noah faced Ilya. “Are you gay or bi?”
“Bi, and so is Ronan.”
Oh fuck. Noah hadn’t expected that. “Does Ash know?”
“That I like women as well? No. I watched and waited, thought at one time about making a move, but decided she needs one guy who wants only her. It was better for her to think I’m gay.”
“I can’t get my head around this,” Noah muttered.
“Yeah you can,” Ronan said. “You can get your head around anything if you want it enough.”
“So, this is why you didn’t want Sophia?” Noah asked his brother.
Ilya gave a slight nod. “One of us has to marry, and marry well for the sake of the family. What are the chances of finding a woman who’s prepared to share me with a guy?”
“You selfish fucker,” Noah snarled and stepped in front of Ilya. “Fine if I marry a woman I don’t love just so you can have what you want? You’ve no right to—”
An Ordinary Girl Page 30