Harper had no clue how to handle the new information.
Elijah believed she would give her life for theirs. That couldn’t be allowed to be considered as an option if she were ever taken.
They’d have to fuck some sense into her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Harper stared at the woman in his arms and wondered where the fuck she’d come from and how she’d developed into a small female willing to give her life to protect men she’d known for such a short time.
That she said it was bad enough, that he could truly see her making such a choice if faced with it made his mind contract in horror and something he couldn’t identify.
He wanted to shake her until she took back the words.
Glancing at Elijah, he could see the vibration of wildness in his stance, on his face. Normally, it was evident when he prepared to fight.
Harper knew he was about to fuck Gabriella Hernandez until she swore to never put her own life on the line in such a way.
“Brie.”
After dropping her statement like a bomb, the little kitten had curled up against Harper’s chest without a clue about what was going to happen to her.
She sat up and looked at Elijah, the command clear in his voice.
“Come. Here.”
Sliding off his lap, she kept her hand on Harper until he was out of reach. He found it amusing that she’d been naked for a full day and hadn’t questioned it.
As she stopped in front of him, Elijah looked at Harper. “Chair and necessary supplies.”
Nodding, he walked swiftly to the sanctuary and pulled a heavily padded curved chair from the side of the room into the center. Dropping a heavy linen sheet over it, he opened the closet and gathered lube, wipes, and a special cream.
Gabriella wasn’t getting away easily.
Placing them on a small side table, he carried it within reach of the chair. Stripping the sleep pants away, he tossed them in the hamper hidden in the closet and waited.
The object of their focused sexual attention practically bounced into the room. Unlike most women he’d known in his life, Gabriella showed the world her inner self without reservation and ended up hurt more than others for her honesty.
She had zero survival instincts.
Harper admitted it was adorable.
The moment she saw him standing naked in the middle of the room, her eyes lit up and she smiled happily.
Elijah came into the room as exactly what he was as well. A powerful male animal prepared to assert his dominance. It was a sight that inspired a prickle on the back of the neck.
Two feet from Harper, his best friend commanded her to stop.
She did so instantly with her shoulders back and her chin up. Barely five-three or so, she was small and curvy but carried herself with a grace rarely seen anymore.
Her features, so different from the women he normally chose, were what initially drew him. Full breasts and a gorgeous ass competed with her incredible curly hair and caramel skin.
It was odd that he’d never wondered more about her.
Only seen from a distance, and only ever briefly, he now knew she was responsible for the overwhelming success of a niche winery that could have struggled to survive. Her mind was almost as impressive as her heart.
Elijah circled her slowly.
Watching the man move was incredibly erotic. The first time Harper noticed it, he was barely sixteen and ashamed of the fact that he’d become hypnotized by watching his bodyguard spar with several bigger and more physically imposing opponents.
For months after, he masturbated to the memory.
Walking, fighting, fucking, or standing still, Elijah had a presence about him, a will that was difficult to define and impossible to deny.
Harper watched as he turned that will, all the power he possessed, on a small, pretty woman who loved him – both of them – more than she valued her own life.
“Brie.” She met his eyes. “If you were to be kidnapped off the street right now, if you were told that you would be raped, tortured, or killed if you didn’t provide information about Harper Delkin or his life, what would be your response?”
“Fuck you.”
“Incorrect. The response would be to spill your guts…slowly. Allowing us time to find you and get you to safety. You would tell them anything you know.”
“I would not.”
“Brie. We need to come to an understanding before we leave this room. You’re a gentle woman. The methods used to extract information from you would be extreme physically, mentally, and sexually.”
Harper saw the instant she realized Elijah was furious.
She swallowed and murmured, “And my guilt would be less extreme?”
Elijah tightened his hands into fists. It was his tell. Harper knew he was having difficulty navigating the emotions of the woman in front of him. “Once we had you, we could put measures in place to protect everyone involved.”
“It might be too late.”
“I need you to believe that I’ll do everything possible to keep you from harm’s way, Brie. I’d destroy anything or anyone necessary to get you back safely.”
“I know, Elijah.”
“Do you trust me to protect you?”
“Of course.”
“Would you give information to save your life?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Your reasoning, Brie?”
“You can’t control everything. Things would probably move quickly. In reality, you only know how you and Harper will react at any given time. You can’t determine other people, places, or situations. If I were to give up information, it could be acted on before you even know I’m missing.”
“You’re infuriating.”
“I know.” She added in a whisper, “I’m also right.”
“We’re trained, Brie. We can defend ourselves. It does not fall to you to protect us from…”
“You aren’t fucking immortal, Elijah!” Harper’s eyes widened at her scream. “I won’t be the cause of someone knowing information that allows one of you to be shot in the fucking head!” She pressed her palms to her temples. “I won’t. You can’t make me do that.”
“Brie…”
“Do your fucking worst. I can take it.”
Stepping close to her, he murmured, “Ah, but can you handle my fucking best, Brie?” She blinked up at him in confusion. “You belong to me because you love me. Not out of obligation or greed or status. You placed yourself into my care and keeping because you trust me, you love me. Is that right?”
“Yes. I love you so much.”
“I love you, Brie.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Do you believe in my love for you?” She nodded. “If anything happened to you, I would obliterate entire cities in retaliation. I would carve a path of death to the people who hurt you. There would be no hesitation, no guilt as I bathed in their blood.”
“Elijah…”
“Silence.” He gathered a handful of her hair and tilted her head back. “You are Gabriella Lenora Hernandez. Many things to many people. Artist, friend, lover. You are not a lamb to be slaughtered. I am Elijah Mathias Eklund. I am also many things. Protector, friend, lover. I am he who slaughters in our relationship, Brie.”
Tears flowed from her eyes.
“You sharing information to save your life has a slim chance of resulting in the death of Harper or myself.” Gabriella sobbed painfully hard. “If you do not share information and unknown persons take your life, I give you my word that it will result in the brutal death of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. I will see it done personally.”
She broke, throwing herself against him, hugging him hard.
“You can dig in on anything…but this, Brie. I love and respect your mind and heart. I will consider your thoughts on all but your safety. You will not take my place. You will not take Harper’s place. Tell me you understand.”
“Please, Elijah.”
“Tell me you understand, Brie.”
&
nbsp; “I understand what you’re saying.”
“Clever, Brie. Tell me you understand that your life is as important to me as my life, Harper’s life, is to you.”
“Elijah…”
“Bring it, Harper.” Carrying a small tub of cream, he stopped beside Elijah. “To avoid chafing tender skin.”
They worked together to smooth the organic blend into the soft flesh of her nipples, cheeks and pucker of her ass, inner thighs, outer folds, and inside her pussy.
The change of course made her sway on her feet.
“It will also stimulate the nerves,” he added when she was coated thoroughly. “Something that will feel more like a curse than a blessing by the time we’re done.”
She blinked up at him and he used his thumbs to wipe her tears.
“You’re a beautiful woman. Brilliant and kind in ways I’ve never experienced. You don’t know death, torture, and pain as I do. In this, you will allow me to lead.” Bending, he kissed her fiercely. As he lifted away, his smile was slow. “You will come as many times as your body allows, Brie.”
Harper returned to the chair, reclined, and held out his hand to Gabriella.
Confused and heartsick, she glanced at Elijah who nodded once. Then she walked to the chair and let Harper pull her astride his body.
“Put his cock inside you, Brie.” With shaking hands, she did and started to lower herself, her hands on Harper’s shoulders. Elijah gave her a sharp spank on one rounded ass cheek. “Wait for instruction.”
“I have you, Gabriella.” With just the head inside her, he held her waist, supporting her weight since only the tips of her toes touched the terracotta tile beneath the chair.
Then the cream started to do its’ work and her eyes widened.
“Do you feel it, Brie?” Elijah asked. “Do you feel the blood moving closer to the surface? It’s a similar effect to spanking without the wait.”
“I-I…yes.”
He gave her a spank on the opposite cheek and she put her head back to inhale deeply.
Stroking the flat of his palm over her throat, to her breast, and down her torso to her clit, Elijah delivered another spank to her clit. The orgasm took over and Harper felt warm wetness coat the tip of his cock.
“I said as many times as your body allows, Brie. You are not to hold them back. You are not to breathe through them. Stay in the moment. Stay with us.”
Shaking as her body did what it wanted, she nodded with her teeth gritted.
“Very good.” Elijah stroked up to roll her nipple and asked, “Do you want more of Harper’s cock?”
“Please.”
Green eyes focused on him intensely. “Give her all of you.” Harper lowered her until their bodies sealed snugly. She pulsed around his shaft and his eyes rolled up in his head. “Don’t move.”
Gabriella’s hands alternately squeezed his shoulders and massaged them. She stared at him and Harper lifted his hand to cup her face.
Her hips reflexively rolled on him and Elijah slapped her ass. “Don’t. Move. Brie.”
Petting her hair, he bent to kiss her forehead. “You are loved. You will be protected. You must understand, Brie.”
“Elijah…” She raised her face to look at him.
“Ssh.” He claimed her mouth and Harper wanted to move as badly as she wanted him to move. Against her lips, he murmured, “Take her, Harper. Show no mercy.”
Bracing her hips in his hands, he withdrew enough to drive hard inside her. Short, brutal strokes that worked their groins against each other, causing friction on her clit that caused her to flex around him.
With a sharp smack to her ass, Elijah commanded, “No holding back, Brie.” A shiver worked its’ way over her. Inhaling sharply, she stared at him as he crouched beside them. “Watch.”
A strong hand slid along the side of his neck and Elijah’s mouth devoured his own until he was desperate for everything. Licking inside, coiling their tongues together as Elijah gripped his hair, the feel of Gabriella’s pussy pulsing around the length of his dick as he fucked her.
So much stimulation.
The orgasm that took her made her hands grip him roughly. They broke the kiss to watch her in the clutches of it. Panting, whimpering, her heartrate through the roof, she stared at them through half-lidded eyes.
The way she felt around him was incredible.
She started to lift her hand, caught herself on his chest, inhaled deeply to gain control over her body, and tried again.
Raking fingers through Harper’s hair, she cried, “Please…”
Gathering her close, he kissed her until she was moaning into his mouth and then supported her so Elijah could kiss her as well. Touching them both was strangely important to her in ways it had never been with their women in the past.
Already, she could barely lift her arms.
“You love me, Brie.” She nodded against the side of his face. “You love Harper.” Another nod. “I love you both with all of me. I need you to understand the strength of it.”
“I do. I do, Elijah.” Her voice was barely audible.
Their faces were close, the three of them huddled as Harper continued to thrust inside her. He could feel the way her body spasmed, coiling for another climax.
“You matter to me, Brie. You matter. Your life is not forfeit to save ours. Tell me you understand.”
“Please. Please, Elijah.”
He exhaled slowly and looked at Harper with a small shake of his head. When he stood, she tried to hold him, collapsing on Harper as she fell down the rabbit hole of physical pleasure while her emotions raged out of control.
Gripping her tight, he drove her through to the other side and she petted his skin, kissed his shoulder, and murmured words he couldn’t hear.
Watching Elijah drizzle oil across the top of Gabriella’s ass cheeks was one of the most erotic sights he’d ever seen. The force of his thrusts made the taut bubble ripple.
Elijah took his time rubbing it in, smoothing it along the crease, and all around the pucker he imagined was clenched from the stimulation of the cream and her orgasms.
Entering her with two fingers, pushing deep, Gabriella gasped and bit Harper’s shoulder. Then she came and the slickness of her body was audible in the quiet room.
Pulling from her, she sobbed as Elijah explained, “When two men take a woman at the same time, it’s important to be careful, Brie. The inner flesh of your pussy and ass is tender, easily chafed, bruised, and torn. Harper and I will never harm your body.”
Her fingers kneaded Harper’s chest. She murmured quietly and he felt her tears on his skin. Pressing deep, he stilled. Her entire body trembled.
Elijah watched her as he used a wipe on his hand and stripped. Harper held his breath watching him lube his length.
Crouching over them, he growled, “However, we will take you hard and repeatedly. We will not stop until you forget where you end and we begin. There will be no quarter given until you submit to me, Brie.”
Placing his cock at the entrance of her ass, Elijah’s eyes met his. The wolf that lived inside him prowled the green depths. It had never failed to make Harper breathless.
Then he pushed hard and deep in the first thrust.
Gabriella gasped with a long wail and her entire body tightened like a bow as she absorbed the pressure and the fullness.
Since the morning they talked to the only woman in their history to capture Elijah’s interest, he’d refused to touch anyone else, including Harper himself.
Feeling him through the thin layer of skin that separated the two entrances of her body was spectacular. Holding Gabriella tight to his body, he let his head drop back on the chair so he could catch his breath.
Filling her completely, they remained still. She panted between them, her body shaking hard. Elijah kissed her shoulder.
“From the time Harper was a small child, I’ve worked with him in self-defense. Until he was almost eleven, he believed the lessons were games. That was the first time a
faction attempted to take him in retaliation for his father’s work. Working together, we disabled two full grown men, killed another, and captured one for questioning.”
“Please. I love you.”
“I know, Brie.” Pressing deeper, he lowered his chest to her back. “There have been more than twenty attempts on his life since he assumed leadership. At all times, he’s able to aide in his own defense. I made sure of that to improve his chances of survival.” She tried to hug Harper but she was physically and emotionally drained. He held her hard. “Should anything happen to me, I know he has a better chance to save himself.”
“No, no, no.”
“Over the years, others have been taken to use as leverage. Some broke quickly while others took days. All of them gave up crucial information about Harper, the company, and the workings of his security team. Every single one of them, Brie.”
Harper said softly, “The methods used range from amputation to gang rape. Some are barbaric in their pursuit of information, of access.” He kissed her hair. “Do you think less of those innocent people for saving their own life, for stopping the pain they were in, Gabriella?”
She turned her face to his chest, weeping.
Resting his head against hers, Elijah said, “If you’re taken, you’ll be traumatized. The less damage you sustain before we get you back, the fewer people I’ll have to gut once you’re safe. Play dumb, share meaningless information first, but if you’re threatened, you tell them whatever the fuck they want to know.”
Inhaling carefully, he turned her face and kissed a cheek that was wet with sweat and tears. “Tell me you understand, Brie.”
“You’ll be careful.”
“I’m the best at what I do, Brie. Harper has been personally trained by me for thirty-five years. He’s also very good at what he does. Trust me. Tell me you understand.”
There was a long pause and her heart pounded against Harper’s. “I understand.”
“Do you submit to me, Brie?”
“Yes, Elijah.”
He watched as Elijah closed his eyes and exhaled quietly. After several deep breaths, their gazes locked over Gabriella.
“Now you receive only pleasure, pretty girl.”
Radiance Page 27