Indulge

by E. B. Walters

  Whoa. Who knew the quiet man was such a romantic? He opened a cupboard. This time, he removed black stockings with the same lace and a garter belt. He placed them on top of the lingerie. “Those should complete the outfit.”

  Jillian shook her head. “Sloan. The lingerie is enough.”

  “I insist,” he said firmly and started for the door. Jillian was more than happy to take the gifts even though she was starting to see through his generosity. When she reached him, she went on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he mumbled, pink creeping on his cheeks. He was an interesting man. Strong yet gentle. Macho yet in tune with everything feminine.

  “Could you do me a favor?” Jillian asked when they reached upstairs.

  “Anything.”

  “Stop blaming yourself for what happened to Lex.” She had a feeling that giving her the lingerie from his couture line was his way of apologizing. “It sounds like this Warwick guy has smart people working for him out there and they know how to get to you guys. Which brings me to the second favor.” She waited until he nodded before adding, “If Lex’s memories from last night are gone, promise me you won’t tell him about what happened here unless it is absolutely necessary.”

  Sloan shook his head. “No, I can’t do that. He’ll want to know. Any one of us would want to know. Everything he did wasn’t his fault. The drugs—”

  “Caused him to hallucinate, I know. Listen, he was furious when he thought someone tried to poison me, and the venom is not even dangerous when ingested. Imagine how he will react when he finds out Warwick had him drugged, and then the women involved took pictures of him and sent them to me. He’ll go ballistic.” Sloan still didn’t look convinced. “Give me a week. I want our wedding to be perfect. Not just for me, but for him too. It won’t be relaxed or happy if he’s worrying about Warwick. He also has an important business meeting next week. We don’t want anything going wrong with it either. I promise I’ll tell him everything after that.”

  Sloan sighed. “Okay. I’ll talk to Rake. He tends to be difficult.”

  Jillian grinned. “What else is new?”

  “Lex will be pissed when he finds out.”

  “I can handle him.”

  “Will you protect us from his wrath?” Sloan asked.

  This time, Jillian laughed. “I’ll tell him I strong-armed you into seeing things my way.”

  He pretended to think about it. “Okay. I can live with that.”

  “And if Rake proves to be difficult, call me. I can help.”

  He laughed. “Deal.”

  “One last favor.” They stopped outside Lex’s room. “Do you think we could have extra blankets? Lex is on top of the bed, and I can’t move him.”

  “Oh, I can help with that.”

  ~*~

  Hell! He had the mother of all hangovers. Lex squinted and checked his surroundings. Shafts of light crept through the edges of the slats, but his watch said it was barely seven. He wasn’t home, and last night was a blur. He couldn’t even remember removing his own clothes. Not that it mattered. Jillian was in his arms.

  She was curled up next to him, her perfect ass fitting perfectly against his crotch. Usually, she slept sprawled on top of him. The rose lingerie was new. It suited her.

  He stroked her hair. She mumbled something and rubbed her cheek against his arm. He might not be in his house, but he was definitely at home. Jillian was here.

  He stroked her hips, and she moaned, turning slightly toward him. He loved that even in sleep, she recognized his touch. He shifted, bunched the silk, lifted it out of the way, and dropped kisses on her skin. He moved up until his mouth closed on a nipple through the silk.

  She moaned, her hand sinking into his hair. “Lex?”

  He suckled hard and a shudder rocked her, but her grip on his hair didn’t lessen. He lifted his head. “Who would be waking you with a kiss this early but me?”

  She searched his face. “Are you okay?” she asked in a sleepy, sexy voice. The timbre never failed to send heat to his groin.

  “I was until you messed with my morning ritual.” He started to lower his head, but her grip tightened. He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “That depends. Who am I?”

  He chuckled. “You”—he planted a kiss on her shoulder—“are my savior. Thanks for rescuing me from that terrible lap dancer.”

  “Terrible dancer?”

  “Yep. Why should I settle for second best when I have you? I’m not sure what Sloan served, but the rest of the night is blank.” He ran a finger along the edge of her panties, slipped under the front panel, and swept along her clit. She was wet.

  She sucked in a breath, but still watched him with an expression he couldn’t describe. “I’m not sure if that’s a challenge in your eyes,” he said, pulling her panties down to her knees. “But I’m game if you are.”

  “Surprise me,” she said in a voice that made him want to shock her.

  He pushed her panties to her knees and left them there. “No,” he said when she tried to dislodge them by moving her legs. “They stay there.”

  “Is that an order?”

  “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

  A gleam that said she was intrigued entered her eyes. Just in case she tried to get rid of them, he knotted them around her ankles.

  “Hey, careful. Those babies are one-of-a-kind.”

  He pushed her legs up with one hand, almost folding her in two, and slid a finger along her pussy. She fell back against the pillows with a moan. Her response to his touch was like music to his ears. He shifted lower, his senses appreciating her scent and the sight of her glistening pussy. At thirty-nine, he’d bedded his share of women, but none had a body like Jillian. And she was all his. To play with. To love. To spoil.

  “I’ll buy you more in every color, then rip them off you just so I can do this.”

  She cried out as his mouth replaced his finger. He savored her juices, the taste of her intoxicating. It was a good thing that years of gymnastics and daily workout regimen had made her nimble, or her position would be intolerable. She gripped the headboard, her eyes closing, her hips lifting as she pushed against his mouth. He worshipped her with his tongue, mouth, and teeth.

  With every sound of pleasure she made, heat shot to his groin, his dick getting harder. He rubbed his face in her pussy, drove his tongue inside her as she shuddered and rocked her hips against him. Her breathing became erratic.

  “God, Lex. Yes.”

  He gave her what she wanted, sucking on her clit, plundering her with his tongue. She tried to push his hand aside and remove the panties constraining her, but he wasn’t having it. He grabbed her ankles. His other hand headed in the opposite direction. He slid two fingers inside her just as her muscles contracted in the perfect orgasm.

  She cried out, the sound echoing around the room, her body convulsing. Grinning, he released her ankles and removed her panties.

  Jillian watched him with luminescent eyes, her skin flushed. She sat up, removed the lingerie, and threw it without looking where it landed. He couldn’t explain why his hands were unsteady. She caressed his cheek.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered, and warmth curled in his chest.

  He did, taking his time. He trailed kisses down her neck and lower until his mouth closed on her nipple. She arched, her hands sliding across his shoulder, nails digging into his muscles. He nuzzled the valley between her breasts before laving the second nipple with his tongue. When he nipped it, she gasped. He was ready to explode.

  “Now, Jillian,” he whispered in a voice he didn’t recognize as his.

  “And always,” she finished, reaching for him, stroking his erection.

  He loved how she said that, making their union something more powerful and unique, something better than themselves. He hitched her legs around his waist and slid inside her, slowly.

  She gasped at the invasion even though he knew she would
stretch and accommodate his girth and length. He was a big man, but he would never have to worry with her. He paused to savor her warmth and the way she hugged every inch of him. Her muscles tightened, inviting him to indulge himself.

  He began thrusting, his movements slow and sensual. Each drive was deeper, sending sensations up his shaft to the base of his spine. He linked their hands, his eyes locked with hers as he rocked his hips.

  Her mouth opened in a moan. Legs lifted higher as she met his thrusts. He picked up speed. She matched him. He let go of her hands and gripped her butt cheeks. She cupped his face and kissed him. Everything ceased to matter except Jillian and this moment.

  She hit the eye of the storm and went still, then wailed his name as another orgasm rocked through her body. The look on her face at that very moment was priceless. He surged into her once, twice. Then his senses exploded as pleasure shot up his spine and he joined her.

  He didn’t move until she stopped shaking. Then he rolled with her and tucked her to his side. He pressed a kiss on her temple. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  Jillian chuckled and stretched, rubbing her leg against his. “Best morning.”

  He grinned and savored the moment. Jillian drifted off to sleep, her head on his chest as though listening to his heart. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and watched her.

  He didn’t know how long he lay there until his stomach growled. He eased from underneath her head, covered her, and looked around for his clothes. They were neatly folded and placed on the chair. He couldn’t remember entering this room or undressing. Had his friends carried him inside here?

  Lex got dressed, pressed a kiss on Jillian’s lips, and grinned when she stirred. He left the room, made a call to the hospital to check on Douglas, and then followed voices to the kitchen.

  Sloan was making breakfast while watching ESPN. He lived on oatmeal, and veggie and fruit smoothies with an occasional steak. “Where is everyone?”

  “Outside. Dom is barbecuing. You want breakfast?”

  “Not yours. I’ll have whatever they are having. So what the hell were you serving last night?”

  Sloan poured the oatmeal into a bowl and threw him an unreadable glance. “Why?”

  “I blanked out and can’t remember a damn thing.”

  “You should go easy on my special brew.”

  “It should come with a warning, my friend.”

  Lex headed outside. Dom was flipping steaks and frying eggs. The rest of the gang soaked in the morning sun, sunglasses covering their eyes. They looked like they hadn’t slept in decades. He had Jillian to thank for his mental state. Making love to her had cured his hangover.

  Lex rubbed his stomach. “I’m starved. When is the food going to be ready?” A collective groan came from the guys. “What happened to you guys? You look like shit.” He slapped Rake on the back. “What’s your excuse?”

  “Screw you, Fitz.”

  Lex laughed. “What did I do? You don’t drink or have sex.”

  “He was planning to last night,” Rod said.

  “Drink or have sex?”

  “Sex.” Rake slouched lower in the lounge chair. “But it didn’t happen because of you.”

  “Come and get it,” Dom yelled, waving Lex over, but Lex didn’t move from Rake’s chair.

  “Why me?” Lex asked. Instead of answering him, Rake got up, grabbed a plate from the deck table, and stomped to the grill. Lex turned his attention to Lucien and Aiden, both hiding behind their sunglasses. “What happened last night? Where did all your women go? From my counting, you could have easily gotten four each.”

  “We can’t pull that shit with Jillian in the house, mate,” Aiden said. “New rules starting last night. No scantily dressed women around when fiancées and wives are in the house.”

  Lex was touched, but not surprised. They were honorable men.

  “I like it,” he said.

  “We hate it,” several of them said in unison, and Lex chuckled. He grabbed a plate and headed to the mammoth grill where Dom was serving steak, eggs, and country potatoes.

  “Where’s Jocelyn?” She was not the type of woman you told what to do. “You didn’t kick her out too, did you?”

  “No, Jillian did that,” Rake said and smirked. “It was hilarious.”

  “Asshole,” Cade mumbled.

  “More like an ass-wipe,” Rod added.

  Rake gave them the finger and went back to his chair. Lex was used to their ribbing. He was more concerned with what happened between Jillian and Jocelyn. “Did she fly back?”

  “No, she’s in town on business,” Sloan said.

  “Did you catch where she’s staying?”

  “Rake dropped her off,” Sloan answered, joining them.

  Lex glanced at Rake, who stared right back at him.

  “Why do you want to know?” Rake asked. He was in one of his moods.

  “None of your business.”

  “Jillian chewed our asses last night, so I’m not enabling you if you’re thinking of paying Jocelyn a visit behind her back,” Rake shot back. “Your woman is a pain the ass, Fitz, but she’s the real deal and I respect that shit.”

  Lex glanced at the others, and they all nodded.

  “Stay true to her, bro,” Dom said.

  “If you want to mess with other women behind her back, don’t do it here on my island,” Sloan said.

  “Or anywhere else. We”—Cade pointed at the others—“won’t enable you.”

  “I’ll leave the fighting to you guys,” Rod said, stretching. “Jocelyn is at the Montage, Beverly Hills.” The others glared at him. “Hey, I’m just cracking the door for him. If he walks through it, that’s not my fault. I’ll court Jillian if he’s stupid enough to lose her.”

  “And I have a thing for blondes, so count me in,” Lucien said.

  Lex glanced at Aiden and smirked. “No comment?”

  “We Brits keep our cards close to our chests, Fitz. By the time you realize what I’ve planned, it will be too late. Remember that when dealing with one of us.”

  Lex frowned. He was pleased they were looking out for Jillian, but he wondered if Aiden was warning him about Jocelyn. He’d introduced her to Lex.

  CHAPTER 13

  Jillian closed her eyes and let the incessant chatter from the pool deck fade into the background. She loved scalp massages. Simi was firm, yet gentle. Today, he wasn’t in a hurry to finish with her and move on to the next customer, so he was taking his time. She sighed and smiled blissfully.

  Simi and his girls had arrived at the penthouse and set up shop on the patio right after Lex brought her home from Sloan’s. They were by the door to the steam and sauna rooms, which gave them easy access to the sinks.

  While his mani-pedi team had done Jillian’s toes and fingers, the esthetician had worked on her face. Now she was on the last stretch, having her hair washed and trimmed. A few feet away, her bridesmaids were getting their mani-pedis and facials. Sophia was splashing in the pool. Troy was in his element as the host. Jillian didn’t know what she’d do without him.

  Memories from last night drifted through her head. She refused to feel guilty for not telling Lex the truth about the drugs and what Warwick had done to him. Weddings were supposed to be fun. Worry-free. Hopefully, his friends would take care of this mess with Warwick without involving him.

  Simi finished with her hair and stepped back to study his work. “Beautiful. Tomorrow, we go for the perfect hairstyle for a tiara. Take a look at some of these and tell me what you want.” He placed a tablet in her hand then started collecting his things. “And remember, I’ll always be available when you need me to stop by.”

  And charge her an arm and a leg. She might splurge for her wedding, but she wasn’t sure home visits were necessary. Jillian found the right hairstyle. It was perfect for her hair length. Before she could stop herself, she clicked on an icon and was soon searching for her family video channel at an online video-hosting site.

  She hated the
idea that someone close to her was a traitor. But could Warwick and his minions have gotten the information somewhere else? The most likely place was her family channel. Ricky didn’t have a filter and could have answered a fan’s question without weighing in the consequences. Hell, they might even know her favorite food and that she’d been so insecure as a child and had hated sharing her things, including her family. She’d hated girls hitting on her brothers, or using her to get closer to one of them. That was why she’d never gone for a threesome. Why she was possessive of her things and those she loved.

  Their videos had gone viral because of the piece Rod had done on her. Some people wanted to know when they’d be performing again. There were no mentions of Jillian, but some of Ricky’s responses had her sitting up and scowling.

  “Why are you frowning? You didn’t like any of the styles?” Simi asked, entering the room by the sauna.

  “Oh. I do.” She quickly went back to his website and showed him the one she’d chosen, then gave him directions to the Fitzgerald mansion in Palos Verdes. After he promised they’d be there by eight, she escorted him and his team to the elevators.

  Jillian came back and paused by the door to watch Troy with Sophia. The man was truly amazing. He’d refused to discuss the events at Eros, except to say that Dom and Ron had taken the men off his hands. There was more to him than met the eye.

  Sophia ran to Jillian to show off her new nail polish. Jillian oohed and aahed. Her niece gave her verdict on Jillian’s white-tipped toe and fingernails—they needed color.

  “We should head to the Montage soon,” Jillian reminded Troy. “My grandmother expects us at one, and it’s”—she checked her watch—“twelve-thirty.” Her father and the rest of the family were meeting them there.

  “Mr. Fitzgerald is on his way,” Troy said. “He said he’d like to escort you.”

  Not a bad idea. Even though her Armenian relatives clammed up around Lex, this was a chance for all her family to get to know each other. That meant the new, the old, and the future—Lex. He and her father might even get a chance to talk. She hadn’t received a call from Cian or Ricky about the venom incident, which meant her father hadn’t told them yet. He probably knew they’d go ballistic and make lunch a nightmare. Ricky had no filter, like her father. As soon as he learned about the viper’s origin, he’d start his independent investigation, asking people point-blank if they’d brought snake venom from their country.