Standing, Lahana sashayed over to the balcony’s railing and looked down. “As usual, there’ll be plenty of pomp and circumstance for the little princess. Whatever she wants, she gets. Although, I’m surprised a man as virile as Darius Knight is willing to marry a virgin, when a woman like me has so much more to give him. Maybe I’ll offer him some action tonight before he gets tied down to you.”
More confused than ever, Tahira got to her feet and approached Lahana. “Cousin, what are you talking about?”
“Seriously, Tahira, you really should get out more. I can’t believe you’re still a freaking virgin.”
Lahana pulled a small vial from the front pocket of her capris. Opening it, she dipped the fingernail of her pinkie into a white powder, then brought it to her nose and sniffed. Tahira’s eyes widened when she realized her cousin was using cocaine. Hobnobbing with the rich and famous for years had exposed Tahira to drugs and alcohol, although she’d never partaken in the former and only imbibed on the latter in moderation.
“What are you doing? Stop!” She grabbed Lahana’s arm, causing her to drop the vial, spilling the white powder onto the concrete balcony.
Her eyes filled with fury, Lahana lunged at Tahira, her hands grasping her neck and squeezing. “You bitch!”
Stunned, Tahira stumbled backward, grabbed her cousin’s wrists, and tried to break free. Fueled by the drugs and rage, though, Lahana had the upper hand. She pushed Tahira against the hard, wrought-iron railing, and it dug into her back. “I should have had him rape you first. Then your hero wouldn’t have had time to save you. You would’ve been disgraced. But, no, the precious princess wins again.” Her face was red and sweaty as spittle shot from her mouth, hitting Tahira in the face. “Do you know how long I’ve had to live in your shadow? Everyone bowing to you, calling you ‘Your Royal Highness’ like you were something special? Well, you’re not. You’re just a naïve little prude. But you’re always first in line for everything and the rest of us are second best, right? Everywhere we go, men give you all the attention because they want to marry a princess. That’s why I planned Jamaica. You and Nala would’ve been out of my hair, and after my alleged escape, I would have been in the spotlight, getting all the attention I deserved!”
Gasping for air, Tahira clawed at Lahana’s hands, arms, and face. She twisted and struggled against the hold. She swung her fists, but they landed harmlessly. Her lungs burned for oxygen. Lifting her leg, she brought her heel down hard, hoping to hit Lahana’s toes that were exposed by her sandals. The other woman merely grunted in pain, but it had done the trick to distract her and loosen her hold just enough for Tahira to rotate her body. Bringing her arm up, she was able to elbow her cousin in the face, knocking her back a few steps.
Panting, she glanced toward the open French doors, wondering if she could make it inside before she was attacked again. She’d no idea Lahana hated her so much she would hatch a scheme to have her and Nala raped and sold as sex slaves. They’d grown up together. Traveled together. Shared secrets with each other. Sure, Lahana could be bitchy at times, but so could half the women Tahira knew.
One of the chairs was in her way, but she could toss it aside and run past. However, it was too late. With a roar, Lahana rushed her, but Tahira sidestepped toward the door and shoved the other woman away. Too her horror, Lahana’s momentum flipped her over the railing. She flailed her hands, trying to grab something . . . anything to stop her descent. Her screams were deafening as she fell thirty feet to the ground below.
Shouts and screeches came from the garden area, but nothing could drown out the sound of Lahana’s body landing on the stone terrace below with a heavy thud. In shock, Tahira stood there, staring at where she’d seen her cousin last, shaking and unable to go to the railing and look down. The blood had drained from her face, leaving her lightheaded, and she wavered on her feet.
Behind her, the bedroom door flew open, banging against the wall, and suddenly Darius was there. “Tahira!”
His strong arms scooped her up and carried her inside, as she slammed her eyes shut, trying to erase the image of Lahana falling. Several people entered the room, but the only other voices she recognized were Ian’s and Amar’s. From their hushed tones, it was obvious her cousin was dead.
Darius sat down on something, settling her on his lap, and holding her trembling body. She clutched his shirt and buried her face into his neck as tears poured down her cheeks. His heart was pounding in his chest as fast as hers was. He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. “Shh . . . it’s over, sweetheart. I’ve got you. Shh . . . I’ve got you and I’m never letting you go. I love you.”
38
Three Weeks Later - Florida . . .
In the penthouse of the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Tahira’s nerves had butterflies taking flight in her stomach. She stared at her reflection in the mirror in the master bath, as her wedding dress hung from a hook on the closed door. She’d pulled her hair down from its fancy updo and put on the elegant, white peignoir set her mother had given her for this special evening. Tonight was when Tahira would give herself to her new husband in every way. Their wedding had been postponed several weeks, due to Lahana’s death. Not willing to bring shame to the family of the king’s brother, the palace had released a statement saying the young woman had fallen to her death in a horrible accident. As a result, the wedding would be rescheduled so the engaged couple could mourn their loss with the rest of the royal family.
The only witnesses to what’d really happened had been Darius, Ian, and a few other men from Trident Security. By the time those in the gaming area had realized what was happening, most had only seen Lahana’s fall, not what had preceded it. When questioned by Amar and Darius, Diallo had admitted Lahana had often borrowed his phone when they were out together, saying she’d either forgotten hers or its battery was dead. He’d never thought anything of it, and they’d believed him.
They were still trying to track down how Lahana and Secada had met each other. The woman had often traveled to various cities around the world, partying with Diallo and Farid or several girlfriends, so there were many possibilities. Darius had said he suspected it was during one of the several trips to Dubai Lahana had taken during the past two years. As one of the biggest party cities in the world, it catered to anyone with money—whether it was legally obtained or not.
Tahira still couldn’t believe how Lahana had turned on her. The woman had obviously been good at hiding her jealousy and hatred. Who knew how long she’d harbored them? Tahira and her family would be dealing with their grief and hurt from the betrayal for a long time. Lahana had not been the sweet, fun girl Tahira had grown up with, but that was how she wished to remember her.
Instead of having the grand wedding that’d been originally planned, Tahira had convinced her parents to allow her and Darius to have a much smaller church wedding here in Clearwater Beach, with just family and friends—including Darius’s father. Everyone had understood their need for a more understated celebration. She’d still been in shock the first time Darius had said he loved her, but he’d repeated many times since then, and so had she. Tahira wasn’t certain what exactly had made him realize what she’d already known was true, but she would be forever grateful. The last thing in the world she’d wanted was for them to start their marriage with that still unsaid between them. As soon as the words had first registered in her mind, she’d studied him for a moment and had known he wasn’t just saying the words to comfort her. While most of the time, his aura had been muted, that was no longer the case since that fateful day. Now, whenever Darius was filled with passion and desire—which was quite often when they were together—the reds, pinks, and purples swirled around him. There were times he’d camouflaged his body’s wants and needs from his expression, body language, and words, when others were present, but he wasn’t able to turn off his aura during those moments. She’d known exactly what he was experiencing since she’d been feeling the same things.
Taking
a deep breath, Tahira put her hands on her stomach, willing the butterflies to settle down. Darius would never do anything to hurt her—that wasn’t the problem. Tahira was just afraid she wouldn’t live up to his expectations. They’d taken more classes at The Covenant and had even been cleared for certain types of BDSM activities. She’d found she was quite fond of spankings and sensation play. While Darius had given her many orgasms over the past six weeks, he hadn’t allowed her to give him any in return. She’d even suggested one night, that under all the circumstances, and that they’d professed their love for each other, that she’d be willing to not wait for their wedding night. However, Darius had adamantly refused, stating that it had been important to her all her life to wait, and he wasn’t going to be the one to screw that up for her. Unfortunately, for him, that had meant lots and lots of cold showers.
Turning, she opened the door, stepped out into the bedroom, and froze in her tracks. The lights were off, but dozens of votive candles were lit and glimmering around the room. Several vases of flowers had also been added while she’d been taking the bubble bath Darius had insisted on. Now she knew why—he was so darn romantic it made her heart swell.
Darius stood barefoot next to the bed, still wearing his tuxedo pants and nothing else. Her eyes roamed his muscular chest, shoulders, and arms, taking in each of his colorful tattoos, as her pulse increased and her clit throbbed. She’d study the beautiful ink later, but for now, beneath the silk material, her nipples hardened and begged for his touch. He was the most handsome man she’d ever known, and he was all hers—forever.
A few days after Lahana’s funeral, on the night before they returned to Florida, he’d arranged a special dinner at a secluded restaurant in Diado. After dismissing the wait staff from their private dining room, Darius had gotten down on one knee and proposed to her, the way she’d always dreamed her soul mate would ask her to marry him. Instead of replacing her grandmother’s engagement ring that she’d been wearing, he’d given her a simple, but stunning diamond and emerald choker. In a few days, they’d be having a ceremony at The Covenant, when she would formally accept the collar which would announce to the BDSM world that Darius was her Dom. While they wouldn’t be playing at the club often, they would still be joining their friends there on occasion.
Holding his hand out, Darius crooked his finger. “Come here, Princess, and let me look at my beautiful wife.”
She glided across the room, her bare feet sinking into the luxurious carpet. Taking his hand, she waited while he looked his fill. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You know, that’s what I thought the first night I saw you at the estate, when the Omega Team was on your security detail for that AIDS fundraiser. You were coming down the stairs in an emerald-green gown, and everyone stopped and stared. You were stunning, and I think my heart and lungs seized for a moment before starting up again. Then I remembered that there was no way in hell I’d ever have a chance with you, because we were from two different worlds.”
Taking a step closer, she shook her head. “We are not from two different worlds, Darius; we are from the same one. We may have been raised an ocean apart, but we have the same values, the same ethics, the same needs, and the same desire. We are soulmates. I figured that out long before you did.”
He put his arms around her waist, and the last bit of distance between them disappeared. His cock grew thick and heavy against her lower abdomen. “Yeah? How did you know that?”
“Hmm. Maybe someday I will tell you. We have other things to do tonight. Kiss me, please.” She ran her palms up his chest, enjoying how the coarse hairs tickled her. Going up on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Your wish is my command, Princess. But don’t get used to topping from the bottom.” They both chuckled at his attempt to sound stern. He was still a work in progress when it came to disciplining her like the other Doms did with their subs, but neither of them minded. Each couple had to figure out what best suited them.
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers, and she immediately melted in his arms. Her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to tangle with hers. He grasped a handful of her hair and used it to angle her head the way he wanted. Leaving her lips, he kissed and suckled his way down her neck. She felt him slide the satin and lace robe from her shoulders and down her arms until it fell into a pool at her feet. Seconds later, her nightgown followed until she was standing completely naked before him for the first time, despite their playtimes the past few weeks.
Darius took a step back and his gaze raked her body from head to toe and back again. “I didn’t think you could ever be more beautiful than you already were to me, but I was wrong. Are you nervous, sweetheart?”
There was no need to lie to him. “Honestly, I was before I came out here. But, now, seeing the love in your eyes, there is no reason for me to worry. I know you will be gentle yet passionate, and I trust you implicitly. Playing with you these past weeks has also helped. Now, I want to know what it is like to make love with you. To belong to you in every way.”
He held his arms out to his sides. “Then undress me.”
Her eyes lit up like she’d just been given the best birthday present she could ever wish for. Stepping forward, she somehow managed to undo the button of his pants as her hands shook—not in fear or trepidation, but in anticipation. While she’d felt him through his clothing, she’d never seen him completely naked. Her mouth watered as she lowered the zipper, then pushed his pants down to the floor. The boxer briefs he wore bulged with his manhood, and she tucked her hands underneath the waistband at his hips, sliding the material down until his erect cock sprung free. It was long and thick and magnificent.
“Touch me, Tahira.” His voice was suddenly gravelly, and it sent chills down her spine.
Reaching out, she tentatively wrapped her hands around him, feeling the veins, sinew, and his pulse against her palms. A liquid pearl appeared at the tip, as he grew even harder. A strangled groan escaped him, and he covered her hands with his own. “Tighter, sweetheart. God, I’ve waited for this moment for so long.”
So had she. But before she’d realized he’d moved, she was scooped up in his arms and laid out on the bed like a feast. And that’s exactly how he was looking at her.
“Sorry, but if I let those innocent hands touch me like that for too long, I’ll go off like a rocket. I’ll let you explore to your heart’s content later, baby, just let me get us past this first time.”
He lay down beside her, and his mouth immediately latched on to one of her nipples as his fingers played with the other one. Tahira’s back arched of its own accord as sparks coursed through her body from her breasts to her clit. “Oh, Darius!”
His five-o’clock shadow rasped against her skin, as he licked and sucked on the rigid peak. His hand left her breast and trailed down her torso, leaving goosebumps in its wake. When his fingers slid over the trim strip of curls, just above her clit, and into her wetness, he froze a moment before his head shot upward. His eyes were wide as he stared at her. “You’re bare there?”
She nodded and giggled at his stunned expression. “Yes. I hope you like it. I have been told it makes a woman more sensitive and that men like it too. Angie and Kristen assured me the spa we went to the other day was discreet and sanitary. Apparently, the owner is a member of The Covenant.”
“Remind me to send them flowers or something tomorrow. And I don’t just like it, I love it.”
He sat up and moved until he was lying down between her legs. Placing his hands on her thighs, he spread them wide. She felt a few seconds of embarrassment, her cheeks heating, as he just stared at her, but that fled the moment his fingers teased her smooth labia. “Beautiful,” he said, almost reverently.
Leaning forward, he licked the length of her slit, and Tahira nearly came on the spot. “Easy, sweetheart. I can see it won’t take much to send you flying. I want to taste you and have you cum in my mouth before I make love to my wife.”
&nb
sp; When his tongue did something wicked to her, she bucked her hips. “Yes! Please! Again!”
With his experience, he worked her into a frenzy with just his lips and tongue, alternating his attention between her core and her clit. Tahira grabbed handfuls of the sheets as she squirmed beneath him. Panting, she begged for release. Since the first orgasm he’d given her, Tahira had become addicted to them, but this one threatened to leave all those others in the dust.
When one of Darius’s fingers delved inside her, she detonated. Fireworks went off behind her closed eyelids, and she screamed as the climax took hold of her and shook her relentlessly. But Darius didn’t let up. Using two and then three fingers, he stretched her, preparing her to take his cock deep within her. When he sucked on her clit, it sent her over the edge again, this orgasm stronger than the last.
Her chest heaved as she floated back down. Darius crawled up her body and kissed her. Tasting herself for the first time on his tongue and lips was intoxicating. Pushing up on his arms, he held himself over her and stared down. “Are you ready, sweetheart? I’ll try to go slow and be as gentle as possible. It shouldn’t hurt but tell me if it does.”
She knew what he was saying—with her hymen already broken, there wouldn’t be any sharp pain or blood when he thrust inside her. She reached up and caressed his jaw. “I am ready, Darius. Make love to me.”
“Bend your legs and put your feet on the bed.” After she followed his instructions, he held his cock in his hand and rubbed it against her slit. His gaze returned to hers before he pushed inside. Her body yielded to him as he stroked in and out, going a little further with each pass. Her walls stretched to accommodate the invasion. Each time she felt a little twinge of resistance or she gasped, Darius pulled out then slid back in again. It felt incredible, and she thanked God she couldn’t remember the moment her rapist had penetrated her. But even if she had, Darius would be erasing it from her mind. His love had healed her, and she would forever remember their first time together as husband and wife. Nothing would ever take that away from her. She was his and he was hers—forever.
Forty Days & One Knight: Trident Security Omega Team Book 2 Page 25