Stacking the Deck (Redemption Club Book 1)

by Anne Marie Becker

  But as he led her inside and flipped on a soft light, then tugged her down next to him on the couch, his conscience warred with him. Skye, for all of her physical strength, didn’t let people past her emotional walls casually. If this was leading where he thought it might be leading—God, where he hoped it was leading—he wanted to know she was okay with this just being a physical release. Because neither of them were ready for more complications in their lives.

  His hands landed on her shoulders to stop her before she leaned in for another kiss. “You’re sure? This isn’t some kind of avoidance technique?” She’d gone silent for a while after Haley’s question about killing. Something about it was troubling her.

  “Absolutely.” She climbed into his lap and he caught her against him with a noise that was half laugh, half groan as her hips wriggled. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind a little avoidance.” She leaned forward to suck his bottom lip into her mouth.

  He grinned and returned the light nip to her bottom lip. “Sometimes avoidance is healthy.”

  “Especially if it involves exercise.” She pushed him back into the sofa and slid her palms up his torso and around his neck, then up into his hair, her nails gently scraping his scalp. His hands stroked down her back, locking around her waist. She had to feel how aroused he was. All that separated them was two layers of clothing.

  She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his, just a nibble at first, a taste that had every muscle in his body tensing. But a smart soldier waited for the right time to attack. So he let her sample, his desire building to the brink of pain as she wriggled in his lap. She kissed the corners of his mouth, then the middle, then darted that mischievous tongue of hers out to swipe at the seam of his lips.

  He had his limits. He tipped sideways, pulling her down with him until he was lying on his back with her lithe body sprawled on top of him. He shifted one hand up into her hair as the other drifted downward to her tight ass, holding her soft curves flush against his hardness.

  She nibbled her way up his neck until her mouth was next to his ear. “Jared?”

  A strangled growl sounded low in his throat. “Mmm?”

  “I’m tired of fighting you. Show me what I’ve been resisting.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  His body froze but still blasted her with furnace-like heat. Though the cushions below prevented him from pulling back, he ducked his head away enough to look into her eyes. Several long moments went by and then he shifted away. Skye stifled a stab of disappointment as he lifted her off of him and rose.

  Her heart’s steady beat sped up as he held out a hand and tugged her to her feet, then led her down the hall to his room. His bed was the predominant feature, and again, it was sparsely decorated. Still, she appreciated the clean lines.

  Seeing her curious gaze, he grimaced. “Sorry. I’ve been too busy to decorate. And I think I’m waiting until the people who are meant to share this house with me are here to make some decisions.” As he spoke, he gently walked her backward to the bed.

  Was she one of those people, or did he mean his sisters? Or some future woman he hadn’t met yet? She didn’t dare ask. Nor should you care. She didn’t want forever, she wanted tonight. And tonight was about feeling, about letting passion rule. She didn’t want to overthink it. She didn’t want to think at all. Trained to focus on surviving the moment, she’d never lived for the future.

  He nudged her back on the bed and began a slow prowl up her body, skimming her clothed curves with his large hands. She nearly yelped when his fingers made contact with a strip of exposed flesh above her waistline. But he seemed content to torture her, returning to the outside of her clothes as his hands continued their journey over her breasts, her collarbone, and up into her hair. He settled his length against her. His erection pressed against her belly, sending more tingling sensations outward.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her pelvis to meet his, the barriers of clothing merely adding to the relentless tease. “As your partner, I insist you share everything. Right. Now.” She rocked her hips into him.

  “So demanding.” He gave a wicked grin and she leaned up to press her lips to it.

  She fisted her hands in the back of his shirt and held him in place, trailing her kisses along his jawbone, blazing a trail across his skin to the hollow just below his ear before following the path of his cheekbone back to his lips. Using her teeth, she captured his bottom lip. And felt his surrender as he returned her kiss with urgency.

  She gasped as he slipped a hand between them to touch her. Just like that, the advantage shifted. He pressed her back against the bed and devoured her. There was no better word for the way he filled her senses and fed off her at the same time. Hot. Wet. Slick with need. Those were the sensations that hit her all at once. He was in constant motion, his hands, his lips, his tongue. All touching her in some way, all seeking more contact. And still more.

  When he gripped her wrists with one hand and pulled them over her head, trapping them there, she moaned and surrendered her body to pleasure. She tightened her legs around his waist and used her heels to command his pace. He laughed against her breast, the air cooling and pebbling her nipple tighter beneath her shirt.

  “Relax. Let me enjoy you.” His words were spoken against her abdomen as he slid downward. When she forced her body to relax, he released her hands and she slid her palms over his shoulder blades, anchoring him to her. She wasn’t letting him leave until she was ready.

  Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized she’d read about this in some romance books, but she’d never had this with a man in the past. This… She sighed. This was oh-so-much better.

  Because her body, her soul, had been waiting for him.

  The thought caused a niggling of alarm, which she buried. Instead of listening to the cautionary voices, she threw herself into the glorious moment, opening to him in every way. Leaving no doubt as to what she wanted from him.

  He responded with a renewed onslaught. One hand moved along her side, down to her waist where his fingers found the edge of her tank top and dipped beneath, then traveled upward again to cup her breast over the cotton of her bra. As if there were a string attached to her nipple, the brush of his thumb, even through the soft material, caused her to arch her back and press the mound into his palm. A moment later, he’d removed her shirt and bra. As he tugged off her pants, his mouth slid in a searing path along her inner thigh.

  Oh, God, yes! She wanted his heat on every part of her. In her.

  Skye was like a firecracker in his hands, burning fast and dangerous.

  He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve this beautiful woman, but he’d do it again and again and again if it meant the same result.

  When he brought her close to climax, he rolled over to his back, pulling her on top of him, then reached down and pulled her knees up on either side so she was straddling him. “You want to be in control?” He smiled up at her. “Show me.” He wanted her to run the show, to control the speed and how far they went. At least, this time.

  She quickly accepted her new position of power, and chose to torture him slowly and thoroughly. Her fingers tugged his shirt up and off. He lay there, letting her drink him in as she traced his muscles with her fingers. The slow grin that spread across her face made his entire body tighten with need.

  He did his share of drinking as well, getting downright drunk on her as his gaze caressed her curves—every curve. The proud tilt of her chin, the gently rounded shoulders that looked delicate but could carry the weight of the world, the two precious round globes hanging like ripe fruit, and a slight nip at the waist before flaring at the hips. As his gaze lowered, those hips rocked against him. His hands gripped them to hold them still.

  Too fast. He wanted to slow things down. He wanted to savor this night. Who knew how many more they’d have together?

  Her heated gaze traced the contours of his chest and moved lower. She licked her lips and he felt
his erection reach for her. He muttered his thanks to the gods that he’d tucked condoms away close by, just in case. In case his dreams about Skye came true.

  “There’s a condom in the drawer. Just let me—” The rest of his words came out in a hiss as she leaned across him to the drawer, putting a pert, rosy nipple right at the level of his mouth. There was a God. He pulled a nipple into his mouth and she cried out—a half laugh, half moan.

  “I thought I was in charge,” she said. He thought he might go off like a rocket as her questing fingers brushed his erection through his jeans. “These pants need to go. Like, now. Forever. You should be naked, always.”

  “Likewise, sugar.” He lifted her off him a moment and made swift work of removing the remainder of his clothing. She watched as he opened the package and rolled the condom into place. Her eyes widened. “Can I try next time?”

  Next time? He wanted to shout his approval. “Anything you want. I’m yours to experiment on.”

  “I think I’m going to like this partnership.” She climbed back on top of him, but he resisted sliding into her. He wanted her wet and writhing for him, but resisted the urge to take charge again. Besides, watching her have her fun was more sensual than anything he’d ever seen before.

  “You’ll like it even more if you’ll let me try something.”

  She looked down at him, her eyes sparking with curiosity. “What?”

  “Put your hands on the top of the headboard to brace yourself.”

  “Brace myself for wha—”

  He put his hands under her arms and lifted her until her hot center was over his mouth, then he feasted on her. His tongue delved into her, then lingered on the bundle of nerves that would send ripples of pleasure through her. He blew against her moist clit and she shuddered, her thighs quivering around his head.

  “Oh.”

  She was so damn sweet. Like nectar. All for him. The thought had possessiveness streaking through him. He suckled the nub and licked until her breathing was irregular. She was panting now. Begging. For him. One of her hands reached down and gripped his hair as if she were holding on for the ride. With a last lick, he sent her over the edge. He slid her back down over his body, then tugged her hips into place and found her center. He drove in deep.

  She cried out with pleasure at the contact against her sensitive nub and collapsed against him. Her lips curved against his as he filled her. She wiggled her hips, clenching against him and he hissed out a breath. Christ, she was so tight. So hot. He wanted to make this last, but couldn’t wait anymore.

  “Ride me.” He issued the order through gritted teeth, trying to hold back the desire to push into her and let himself go. He wanted this to be good for both of them.

  Her eyes locked with his, unashamed and unwavering—the confident, sassy Skye he’d seen on the Malibu rooftop.

  The one he’d fallen for in that first moment he’d seen her.

  Fuck, he was a goner.

  But then she began to move and all thoughts fled as his nerve endings zeroed in on pleasure. His hands locked onto her hips for dear life. Her breasts bounced softly, her eyes slid closed, her mouth opened on a moan, and her head fell back as she came apart again. His last thought before he followed her into the void was that he’d never see anything more beautiful than Skye Hamilton, in all her naked glory, letting down every last defense. For him.

  When the phone rang early the next morning, Jared ignored it. When the second volley began, he nuzzled the warm, sweet-smelling neck his nose was pressed into, muttered a soft curse and rolled to his back.

  Beside him, Skye shifted and moaned but didn’t open her eyes when she spoke. “Your caller is most definitely not the good, so he or she must be the bad.”

  “And he’ll be the ugly if I get my hands on him,” Jared said, pushing into a sitting position as he saw that it was Dev calling. He answered, but as Skye tried to slip out of bed, he wrapped his free arm around her to anchor her to his side. He was gratified she didn’t put up even a token struggle. She simply snuggled up, her head on his chest as if it belonged there. Christ, he was such a sap.

  “This had better be good,” he said into the phone, growling because he hadn’t had time yet to get his feelings sorted out. Last night had been incredible. And he already wanted more.

  Dev grunted. “Someone didn’t get his beauty sleep. Guess I don’t have to ask if Skye’s with you?”

  “She is.” At that, Skye looked up at him, propping her head on the back of her hand, her palm right over his heart. The idea of waking up to this every day was tempting, especially now that the fantasy of her in his bed, naked, was replaced with the real thing. But that wasn’t realistic. He had a stable life to create, for both his sisters’ and his own sake.

  “That’ll save you some time, then. The police are looking for her.”

  “What?” His entire body must have tensed because Skye frowned and pushed into a sitting position.

  “They found a dead woman at the ranch, with a message pinned to her.”

  Jared felt his insides go cold. “Was it…?”

  “No, it wasn’t Chelsea. Jesus, I’m sorry, Jared. I didn’t mean to scare you. I certainly would have shown up in person and handled things more delicately if it had come to something like that. And it won’t. We’ll find your sister. But this mess is growing more complicated and more dangerous.”

  “Who was it?”

  “The girl was identified as Erica Dubois. I just emailed you the coroner’s report. She was twenty-two years old. Moved to Los Angeles a couple months ago.”

  “But found dead on an Arizona ranch? Skye’s ranch?”

  Skye’s face was pale as she mouthed the question. Who?

  “Dev, I’m going to put you on speaker so Skye can hear.” He pressed the button as he told Skye about the police finding Erica’s body. “What was the message pinned to the woman?” he asked Dev.

  “Erica found her redemption. Yours awaits at the Hunting Grounds. I’m coming for you, Skye.”

  “What the hell are the Hunting Grounds?”

  “I was hoping you knew.”

  “Not yet.” But they’d sure as hell find out, as well as how it linked to this so-called Redemption Club and Robert Stone. And Ryan Stone and Finn Tucker. And Chelsea and Loretta. He sighed. This puzzle just got more and more complicated. “And, yeah, I know. Keep you posted.” He hung up.

  He wanted to pull Skye against him again and hold her, but he could see she was already mentally pulling on her battle armor. And probably blaming herself for someone else getting hurt, as she’d blamed herself for her parents’ deaths.

  Her brow scrunched in thought. “I don’t know anybody named Erica. Why would someone kill her to get to me? Why do they want me?”

  Screw it. She wanted to be tough and independent, but someone was out to get her, and he needed to feel her, feel that she was safe and healthy. He reached for her and tugged until she toppled against him. His arms wrapped around her.

  “Shh,” he soothed. “Just give me a moment.” She stiffened, but as he stroked her back, her body melted into his. “I need to hold you. It could so easily have been you or Chelsea or Loretta lying dead at Three Fortunes.”

  She sighed, her warm breath heating his skin. “We have to find Finn. And castrate him.”

  “Agreed.” Not letting go of her, Jared reached with one hand for his phone, scrolled through his emails and brought up the coroner’s report Dev had emailed. But it was the picture of the woman that had his skin turning clammy. “Shit. I know her.”

  She pulled out of his arms to sit against the headboard beside him. She took the phone and examined the picture. “She looks vaguely familiar. How do you know her?”

  “She’s the young inebriated woman I escorted from the Malibu party. I put her in a cab and that was the last time I saw her. That’s also when I saw your ranch truck parked on the side of the road with Mark in it.”

  “That’s why s
he looked familiar to me. I saw her near the pool with Finn Tucker before she started raising a ruckus and caught your attention.”

  “It has to be Finn who’s at the root of this. Why would a powerful man like Stone stoop to direct threats?” Stone struck him as the type to have others do his dirty work and avoid any ties to it. Openly challenging Skye didn’t ring true of Stone’s modus operandi with women.

  He scrolled through the pictures in the file until he came to a photo of the message that had been left with Erica’s body. “We’ve heard the redemption theme several times, but the Hunting Grounds is new. Any idea what it is?”

  “I haven’t heard of it. Unless… God, you don’t think Finn is hunting girls, do you?”

  “If so, and if Chelsea and Loretta are part of this, they’re in more danger than we thought.” But at least there was hope they were still alive.

  As Skye handed back his phone, it chirped with an incoming text.

  “It’s Emily,” he told Skye. He scanned her message. “She served Ryan drinks at Legacy Lounge last night, and overheard him talking about Redemption Club.”

  “So he is hiding out there, he’s just refusing to talk to us.” Skye pushed off the bed. “Let’s go ask him about the Hunting Grounds.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Skye spotted Ryan lounging poolside, next to a stacked redhead in a barely-there bikini who couldn’t be much more than eighteen.

  “Guess these guys can get any woman they want.” Skye muttered the statement under her breath as she and Jared walked around the Olympic-sized pool to get to the man with jet-black hair. Ryan Stone. The thirty-year-old kept in shape, but his face and trunk were soft around the edges, evidence of someone who lived a life of luxury and indulgence. And too much time on his hands to both work out and party.

  “These women aren’t what they truly want,” Jared said. “They’re ornamental. Or maybe it’s just Finn’s tastes that run to the deviant. Hopefully, we’ll get something from Ryan if we push a little.” If Ryan’s father hadn’t already warned his son to be on guard.