by J. R. Gray
“Another time.” He brushed his fingers down my throat. “I want to taste every inch of you.”
The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I trembled against him. “Only if I get to do the same.”
He stepped back into the glow of the moonlight filtering through the hangings. The light aged him, and I could see lines of worry etched into his hard face. I followed, pulled by some unseen force. I didn’t want to be out of reach of him.
“Where do you want me?”
It was a large sitting room where I hosted guests. There were chairs and loveseats around the fire place, as well as a small table in an alcove and a writing desk in the far corner. It was in the same style of the rest of the house, reds and silvers.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but I didn’t want him to think I’d led him to a place that would restrict us. “Not here.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear and left his side to open the door which led to my bedchamber. He followed me inside. With a trembling hand I reached to turn on one of the lamps. He stopped me and shook his head before pulling open the hangings on the windows. It was something I seldom did as the window looked out into a large courtyard where anyone could peer in. At this hour it was deserted. My bed was positioned so the moonlight glistened over the sheets giving them a ghostly purple glow.
He stood there, bare-chested, waiting for me. My breath caught in my throat. I’d never needed to be possessed like I did with Madden. He unhooked his belt as I crossed the room to him, and the click made me flush. He watched me as he pulled it from the loops. The fabric of his jeans caused the leather to whistle slightly, building my anticipation. I caressed the skin beneath his open fly, tracing the soft patch of hair that led into his boxers.
“Take them off.”
He looked down at me, but I was focused on his hand gripping himself as I said the words.
“Going to order me around?” he asked as he hooked his thumbs in the waistline of his pants.
“I am, and you’re going to like it.” I was sure of myself. I didn’t have to second guess how he’d feel about it. We both knew which one of us would be in charge.
“I already like it, ma’am.” He shoved his jeans down and stepped out of them to stand before me in shorts barely covering his arousal.
I didn’t make another move to touch him as I stood there. “Those off, too.”
His eyes bored into me as he slowly lowered them, revealing himself to me. His length hung heavy between his thighs. As I reached out to touch him, he dropped to his knees at my feet, nuzzling into my stomach.
“I want to take yours off you.” His fingers crawled up the back of my corset until they found the ties. He undid them one by one, loosening the fabric around me. He cast it aside and looked up at me. The height difference between us was so great his face was level with my breasts as he knelt. He stared at them for a moment, and my cheeks started to pink. But then, slowly, he lifted a hand to cup the underside of one breast and touched his lips to my nipple. My skin prickled, and pleasure washed through me at the simple touch. He parted his lips to flick his tongue over the taut peak. I thrust my hands into his hair, wanting to keep him right where he was for the rest of the night.
His fingers skimmed down the center line of my stomach to trace around the hemline of my pants as he parted his lips around my pebbled nipple, sucking it into his mouth. I let loose a whimper as his teeth met my flesh. The room was void of air, and I couldn’t draw a deep breath. Before I knew it, he had undone the clasp to my leathers and drawn down the zipper. He gripped the waist and tugged, leaving me standing there in lace boy shorts. He dropped his head to my stomach, and I could feel his labored breath over my skin as he skimmed his nose over the thin fabric.
“I want you,” he said through a gasp as his fingers traced the curve of my arse.
“You have me.” I tugged on his hair, tilting his face up to look at me.
His eyes searched mine. “No, I want to be inside you.”
“What’s stopping you?”
He ran his fingers down the back of my thighs eliciting another soft moan from me. “I’m conflicted.”
Before I could ask, he went on. “I also want to stay down here and worship your body.” He flicked his tongue out to trace the delicate line of lace at the crease of my leg.
“We have time. Take me to bed.”
He didn’t hesitate, grabbing me under the ass as he got up, carrying me toward the bed. I kicked off my pants as he laid me out, before he crawled up to hover between my thighs. He was hard and leaking when he lowered his body to mine, leaving a warm trail of sticky fluid on my stomach. His lips parted for mine again as he rocked into me, pushing his thick head up my slit. I pushed at his chest and forced my hands between us so I could get rid of the last barrier we had.
He pulled back, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just want these off.” I lifted up my ass to slide the lace down, but he grabbed my wrists and stopped me.
“I want to take them off you.”
I lay back and dropped my hands. He slid down so his face hovered over me as he gently removed them. I lifted up, giving him easier access. Once they were gone he brushed his fingers up the inside of my thighs causing heat to pool between my legs. I wanted him. He skimmed his nose over my lips, moaning softly.
“You are so beautiful.” He teased his tongue just past my folds.
I arched my back, pressing myself into his face, needing more. “Madden…”
But he didn’t give in right away, tracing a hot path over my lips with his flattened tongue. I gasped, needing so much more. He pushed his tongue deeper, finding my clit, and I shuddered with pleasure. It wouldn’t take him long to push me over the edge if he stayed there. But he didn’t. After the single taste he resumed his position over me. I could feel the heat coming off him in waves, and he was so close. I grabbed at his shoulders trying desperately to pull him down to me.
He tilted his head and rubbed the scruff on his jaw under my ear as he spoke. “Do we need protection?” He words stuttered, like it took every ounce of effort he had to hold off with me naked beneath him.
I shook my head, wrapping a leg around his ass so I could lift up into him, trying to feel every last inch of skin against me. “I want to feel you.”
He drew in a shaky breath and reached between us to grip himself. His tip brushed over my entrance, and I melted. Every touch was like a jolt of electric pleasure infused into my veins, and like an addict, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. He nudged his hips forward trailing his tip over me. I clawed at him, needing more.
“You’re killing me, Madden,” I said as he teased another pass between my lips. This time he pressed hard, massaging his head over my clit. I tilted my hips, begging for more of him with my body.
He laid his forehead over mine. “Killing you? I don’t think so, but close to death will suit my purposes.” I could see the playful glint in his eyes.
“Do I have to order you around again?” I gasped and grabbed his ass as he circled himself over the tight knot of flesh.
He looked me in the eyes. “Your wish is my command, Mistress.”
I wasn’t sure if he was teasing, but the idea of telling him what to do to me struck a chord deep inside, and I was willing to try anything at this point to get what I needed.
“I want you to fuck me. Now.”
He groaned over my lips and lined himself up, pausing only for a second before he eased himself inside. He didn’t stop until he was fully sheathed, and he stilled for a long moment. His girth stretched me wide open, and I squeezed down around him, reveling in the feel of him filling me so fully.
“I want to live inside you and never leave.” He pulled back and drove forward seamlessly, finding a slow, punishing pace that tightened the knot in my stomach until it was intolerable.
“I might be okay with that.” I rocked up into him, meeting each of his thrusts as I pulled at his muscular arms.
H
e grabbed my thigh roughly, pulling my leg around him, changing the angle so he could force his length deeper. The new position caused his tip to hit all the right places making me writhe against him. He brought me to the brink but didn’t let me come, changing his strokes to short jabbing ones. He swelled inside me, and I dug my fingertips into his flesh, knowing they’d leave bruises. The action seemed to heighten his desire as he let out a low groan.
Madden pushed one hand between us, tracing his fingers around his base to coat his fingers before he spread my own silky lubricant over the outside of my lips. The light touch was torturous, leaving me whimpering. Working his way toward my center he found my clit, kneading his fingers around it in slow circles. He dragged his lips down my throat and found my breast. His teeth pinched and tugged my nipple before he soothed it with his warm tongue. Between his fingers and his mouth, I was hovering on the edge, completely under his control.
“I want to feel you come around me.” The tone in his voice almost did me in. Pleasure mounted deep in my stomach, and he pushed me over the edge with his fingers against my swelling clit. I exploded in ecstasy, and my muscles gripped him, pulsing with every wave of my orgasm. I threw my legs open, welcoming him deeper as I rode out the seemingly endless release. He gasped against my neck, and his strokes faltered telling me he was close.
I knew it wouldn’t take much to throw him over the edge, so I turned and nibbled at his ear as I whispered, “Come for me.”
He shuddered in silence, giving a final thrust before his own orgasm seemed to wreck his whole body. He collapsed on top of me, our hearts pounding together in sync.
“Jocelynn.” He exhaled slowly and kissed up my neck until he found my lips.
I cupped his face with my hands, keeping him there. We kissed with him still inside me, throbbing with the last of his release.
“I don’t want to move,” he said into my lips.
I tightened my legs around him, holding him there. “Then don’t.”
He maneuvered us around a little until I was half draped over him, and his tip was still nestled half hard inside me. I reached for the blanket and pulled it over us, giving in to sleep.
The next voice I heard was not the one I wanted to wake up to.
“It’s like I have to give you pointers on how to sneak about.”
When I peeled my eyes open Madden was bare-arsed and face down sprawled between me and where my brother sat eating a bowl of fruit. I threw a blanket over Madden, smiling to myself as he snored lightly, then pulled a sheet up over myself before I climbed out of bed.
“I wasn’t expecting my nosy brother to pick my lock.” I took a seat across from him and dug into the extra bowl waiting for me.
“You left it unlocked.”
“Shit. But why are you here?” A third bowl sat in front of the empty seat. As simple a gesture as it was, it told me Jacob had accepted Madden.
“I had to make sure you made lecture this morning. I don’t want to have to deal with you sobbing for days over that one. Better to head it off at the pass and keep you in line.”
“I don’t sob.” I stood, leaning over the table to kiss his cheek. “I love you, brother mine.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Eat, then wake him up so I can sneak him out of here then meet you.” He shoved another spoonful into his mouth.
“Can I wake him up with my lips?” I batted my eyelashes like all the women Jacob hated.
“Only if you’re putting on a show for me, and even I can’t handle the idea of us getting that close.” He made a face.
I burst out laughing. “God, no. You already know too much about me.”
“If you want to have morning fun, which is the best way to start the day—I should know.” He winked, and I gagged on my food. “Then you need to train him to get up an hour early.”
“I am not taking notes on this from my brother.” I shuddered.
“Taking notes on what?” Mad had one eye open and was staring at us both.
“Notes on how best to go about getting laid in the morning. Believe me you don’t want to know.” I grinned, loving the way he looked all sleepy.
He pulled the blanket over his head and muttered into the pillow. “Did your brother come in here and…”
“I can see why she likes you. You have a great arse,” Jacob said before I could reply.
Mad groaned. “They always tell you families are the worst part of being in a relationship, and I am getting screwed from every angle.”
“You’ve not been screwed yet, but if you want to see how good it feels up the arse I could help you out.” Jacob gave a toothy grin, and I reached over and smacked him.
“You say that like I haven’t.”
I looked between them for a moment, then hit my brother. “You have enough conquests. Stay away from the one I like.”
He rolled his eyes and huffed. “If you insist, dear sister.” He turned to Mad seamlessly. “Come eat, and then I am getting your arse out of here before we all get in trouble, and if you sleep here you need to be out of here before first bell. It’s so much easier to sneak out before the servants are about.”
It was my turn to groan. “I have to walk him out of here so early?”
Jacob dug in the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a ring of keys. “No, but if he wants to spend the night in your bed he will drag his arse home that early.” He tossed the keys at Madden. “These should open all the necessary doors.”
“You trust me that much?” He looked from the keys to Jacob.
“No, but she does, and it’s good enough for me.”
Mad pulled the sheet around himself and sat up. “Bathroom?”
I nodded toward the other door in the room, and he collected his clothes and disappeared inside.
“You’re turning into a softy. Keys?”
“I called in a favor to get an extra set. You owe me.” He tipped his bowl to his lips, drinking the remaining nectar.
Mad reappeared a moment later and inhaled the contents of his bowl. Jacob wiped his mouth and watched with one eyebrow raised. I glared at him, knowing what he was thinking.
“Let’s go. I’m going to have to take you a rather roundabout way, but it has to be done.” Jacob led the way out to my sitting room, and when Madden headed for the door he grabbed him by the arm. “Not that way.” Jacob instead pushed one of the bricks on the fireplace. For a long moment nothing happened, but then the stones started to rumble, and the back side parted opening, revealing a dark passage.
“Really?” Madden glanced back at me. “And you didn’t show me last night?”
“Over what we did?” I raised a brow.
He looked a little sheepish. “You act like the two are mutually exclusive.”
“It leads to his room. It’s rather boring.”
Jacob sighed. “You had to give away the intrigue.”
The fire had burned low enough so it could be easily stepped over. When they were in the passage I called out hastily. “Let me know when you get out, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry,” he called back.
Chapter Twenty-One
Madden
I was playing with fire. I knew I was, and yet I had to know more. The meeting place was different. Another long hike through the city to a seemingly abandoned part and then we went underground. You’d never know by looking at it, but the city was built over the shell of a much older city. Underneath, there were passages, abandoned buildings, and the lessers. Those not even fit in the eyes of the Akillies to be servants, and the people who wanted to live outside the law. Or perhaps those who rejected the government like the Red Stars did.
I suspected this was a lot closer to home than the first building I’d gone to. Every step I took in the two inches of water echoed off the curved walls and made me tenser. The note I’d received told me two rights then to walk past thirteen turn-offs before taking a left. I checked my comm. I was going to be late for the ball tonight. I’d promised Jocelynn I’d be there, even if she
couldn’t spend the night with me.
Sweat started to bead on my forehead. It was a lot hotter down here than on the surface. At this rate I was going to have to shower before I went out again. I took the turn once I found the right passage and walked right into two men standing there. Both had red badges on their jackets. I straightened up and tried to look them in the eyes, but they both also wore silver polarized glasses.
I waited for them to speak, but they seemed content with silence.
“I was told to come here?” I was also sure I sounded like an idiot.
“Wait,” one of them said and pressed his fingers to his ear. “Are you ready for him?”
I slid my hands into my pockets and did as I was told. No sense in stressing since I would already be late.
“All right,” the guy spoke into something. His wrist maybe. Then he looked down at me. “You’re going to press this into the back of your neck. It’s a way for you to get in touch with some of our leaders, without risking them coming onto planet.”
My mind started to whirl as he spoke. Speaking to people off planet? Couldn’t I have used a comm for this?
“There is no risk for you, but it will take you into an altered sense of reality. It’s normal to feel slightly nauseated the first time.”
No risk for me? Who was there a risk for? I really didn’t like this. I swallowed past the lump in my throat and tried to listen to the rest of what he had to say.
“Don’t ask. It’s tech we don’t share. If we find you trying to steal, duplicate, or even suspect you’ve spoken about it to another living soul we’ll eliminate the risk.”
“Eliminate the risk?” I asked.
“By any means necessary.” He held out the device, and I took it.
“Just press it to the back of my neck?”
He nodded.
“Where am I doing this?”
They stepped aside to reveal a tiny lounge area. “We’ll protect your body while you’re in.”
“Protect my body?” Panic rose up in my throat like bile. This wasn’t a good idea. I could feel it in my gut. I never let anyone have control over me. Not again, not since what I withstood as a child. I had a hard time even sleeping without one eye open. “And if I refuse?”