by Stone, Piper
With his incredible brawn.
With the way he kissed me, as if there was no other woman on the face of the earth he wanted more.
Tonight was no different. I slid my arms around his neck, intertwining my fingers in his hair, crushing my chest against him. There was no danger, no fear of the unknown or even my terror of the ocean. There was only the two of us locked in a fragile state of glass.
Sebastian ran his hands down my back, cupping my bottom, continuing to grind his hips. His cock was throbbing, pressing into my belly, making my mind foggy and my raging need intensify.
As he thrust his tongue inside my mouth, swishing it back and forth, I could no longer breathe. He issued several growls, the sound rumbling with the hard crash of the waves against the yacht. Everything was surreal, breathtaking.
And maddening.
When he finally broke the kiss, he pushed me against the railing. Now the terror from before swept through me like a firestorm. “Don’t. Please don’t hurt me!” I struggled in his arms, gasping for air, lights flashing in front of my eyes.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Kendra.”
“Let me go! I’m afraid. I can’t do this.”
He wrapped one arm around my waist, intertwining the fingers of his other with mine, both holding onto the railing. “Shush, little pet. As I said, nothing is going to happen to you. I hope you can trust me. I don’t make promises lightly and I always keep them. While you might not believe this, I do have some honor.”
His words were whispered directly into my ear and as he nuzzled my neck, my breathing became easier. “I just…” Trust. He threw the word out as if it was for sale. I couldn’t forget how I’d gotten here. He held me tightly, calming my nerves.
Breathe. Just breathe.
But a crazy part of me wanted to trust him.
“Just look at the ocean. It’s beautiful,” he said in a hushed whisper. “There are some of the most incredible mammals living in the depths of the sea. Dolphins and whales, fish in every color of the rainbow, and the most beautiful living coral you’ve ever seen in your life. Once you’re in their world, you never want to leave. Everything about the ocean creates a feeling of utter peace, the water warm and soothing.”
“I just can’t…”
“Then close your eyes and dream. Imagine.”
My body still shaking, I did as I was told, trying to keep my eyes shut as I allowed images from books and magazines to float into my mind. And he was warm, the feel of his sculpted body crushing mine allowing me to feel safe. Slowly, I was succumbing to his soft words of encouragement, accepting the small level of trust he was offering me.
And I knew he wouldn’t allow anything to happen to me.
“I can imagine just how beautiful it is,” I whispered.
“But not nearly as beautiful as you.”
A smile crossed my face, a feeling of joy. His words were more truthful than any he’d said to me. And I felt beautiful. He didn’t release his hold, allowing me to enjoy the moment without fear of falling over. Then my inner voice reminded me that this wasn’t a romance in the making.
“How did you find out about my past?” I asked quietly.
“I do have connections, Kendra. Powerful ones. They are needed given our level of business. I had to know who you were and what drove you to our company.”
“You thought I was a plant.”
He chuckled, still nuzzling against my head. “It’s possible and that’s happened before. We are working on a very large deal and the owner of the company we are purchasing is having second thoughts. The timing was too coincidental.”
“I’m not working for anyone else. I don’t want anything but the truth.”
“While I have difficulty trusting myself, I do believe you. I haven’t lied to you, Kendra. I have no reason to lie.”
I didn’t know what to think. “Then why am I here?”
His breath seemed to change, becoming more scattered. “That’s something I’ve been asking myself since the airplane. I’m afraid that the truth has nothing to do with your deception or with business, although we do have some to conclude while we’re here.”
“Then what is it?”
He turned me to face him, still keeping one arm around me as he cupped my face. “The answer is as simple as I wanted to get to know you, all three of us did, and without interference.”
His words were almost as powerful as the man himself, but I was forced to remind myself that he could be lying to me. Nothing seemed real any longer.
“You really believe that the people you’ve called your parents your entire life have been lying to you?”
“I know it sounds crazy. Hell, my sister thinks I’m nuts, but she’s two years younger. I know in my gut that the Sheffields were forced to take care of the two of us. I’ve had dreams my entire life about my real parents, vivid images of the two of them. But they’ve always been the same. How else would you explain my visions?”
He tensed, taking a deep breath. “And you’ve tried every other typical method to find them?”
I took a deep breath, the mist no longer aggravating. “Every method. When I finally confronted the Sheffields, they made all the assurances that you would expect, but I could tell in my mother’s eyes that she wanted to confess. My father simply gave her a hard look and she clammed up. But I know in my gut that Addy and I were taken away from our real home. I just don’t know why, and I’m determined to find out.”
“By writing exploitive articles on every entity you believe is crossing the law? Why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me? There has to be more to this.”
I wasn’t prepared to tell him my thoughts but for some reason, I had the urge to admit what I’d kept a secret my entire life.
“I think my parents went into witness protection, but for some reason, they didn’t want to bring their children with them.”
A look of surprise crossed his face. “You’re serious.”
All I could do was nod. I had no evidence, not a single reason other than my dreams to believe what I’d told him, but in my gut, I knew I was right.
“And you believe that one of the entities you’re passionately written about is responsible.”
“I know it’s crazy. I get it. My sister refuses to talk about the possibility, but she has no memories other than being with the Sheffields. I remember conversations that I’d overheard, arguments handled when I was supposed to be asleep. I also remember men dressed in suits in our house on more than one occasion. Those aren’t the kinds of dreams that a little girl has unless they’re based on real scenarios.”
“That’s farfetched, Kendra, which will make it difficult to find the truth.”
“Farfetched or not, one day I will find out the truth. Don’t you think I know there are no baby pictures in the photo albums? There were no baby toys remaining in my closet or a single piece of clothing for younger girls. My life started one sunny spring day when I awakened in a bedroom that I didn’t recognize.” I sighed, seeing his expression. “Anyway, the crazy girl inside of me thought that one day I’d find the people responsible.”
He pulled me closer, rubbing my back. “Look, maybe I know a few people you can talk to.”
“Your friends are that powerful and connected?”
“They are.”
“Then why haven’t you turned to them about answers regarding your father and why do you think your father was murdered in the first place?”
He chuckled as he rubbed his thumb across my face. “There is no disputing the fact my father pulled the trigger, but I think he was under duress and forced to do so. The reason the nagging remains is because my father was a successful businessman, worth a significant amount of money. While I learned after his death and when I was older that he’d experienced some financial hardships, that didn’t address some of his behavior. I was a child, but I knew just how careful he’d been in handling his affairs. He’d also been entirely different weeks before his death, taking phone
calls during the night, working even longer hours. His death was convenient. A few years ago, I started asking questions and was stonewalled. By the police. By my father’s attorney. By everyone I asked. So, I continued my own investigation.”
“That’s why you refuse to tolerate deception of any kind.”
His laugh was more pronounced, but I was able to hear the sound of a man hurting. “As I said, you are very astute, Kendra.”
“I can understand your reasoning, but why is it on your mind now? Does it have something to do with whatever resistance you’ve come up against with regard to your business?”
As he smoothed his hand down the back of my hair, he kept his eyes locked onto mine. “You’ve been paying attention. Because of the threat I received about my father. The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of his death. Someone wants me to remember. There is a reason. Why did you choose this moment to return to Chicago to try and garner evidence against Extreme?”
“The person responsible for leaving me the first tip months ago about Extreme sent me a second.”
“Saying what?”
“Whoever provided the information from before sent me information about the loan opportunity as well as an indication that you were about to enter into some business decision that would give me the evidence I needed.”
“And you’re certain it was the same person?” He sucked in his breath, obviously angered by what I’d told him.
“Yes, at least it came from the same email address, although it was a gmail address that had been created in order to keep the person’s identity anonymous. What are you getting at?”
Sebastian glanced out at the ocean. “I’m not certain, Kendra, but you were led here under false pretenses for a reason. And if I had to venture a guess, I’d say it was to finish something that had been started years ago with my father.”
“A vendetta of some kind?”
He led me away from the railing, cupping both sides of my face and lowering his head, brushing his lips back and forth across mine. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now, you can continue to consider the three of us as monsters. I’ll understand that. However, my decision stands. You belong to us, at least for now. Whatever the future holds for Extreme, you will be long gone from our worlds. There is far too much danger. Someone is planning an act of revenge and I refuse to have you in the way.”
Danger. While I wasn’t ready to accept that someone had duped me entirely, I also realized that Sebastian believed what he was saying.
He’d gone against too many people, created too many enemies. Now someone was prepared to do everything it took to bring down the entire company.
As well as the three men involved, but in particular, the broken man standing in front of me.
No matter what lengths they went in order to do so.
“There is nothing more I can do tonight. I plan on feasting on every inch of you. And I suspect that Chase and Dax feel the same. You’re still our prisoner, our beautiful and very disobedient prisoner. I’m going to enjoy learning every inch of your body.” When he gathered me into his arms, cradling me against his chest, for the first time, I didn’t fight him. He was a powerful, enigmatic man, yet through the slender crack in his armor, I’d been able to catch a glimpse of the real man inside.
And not only was I even more attracted to him than I had been before, my hunger off the charts, I felt more than just empathy for the ugliness in his life.
I cared for the man, the one with the gruff exterior and booming voice.
One of three who’d been in my fantasies long before I’d arrived in Chicago.
I longed for their touch, their kisses, and their brutal ways.
At least for tonight, I would surrender to their desires.
The rest would unfold all on its own.
Or it would crumble straight into hell.
Chapter 11
Kendra
Deception was a difficult word, but one I’d lived with my entire life. Sebastian had as well. While I didn’t know Chase’s or Dax’s stories to any degree, the three of them had bonded together as a family for a reason. I’d been able to see just how strong that bond had been when the soldiers had charged onto the ship. While a smaller part of me still longed to be able to turn off my growing feelings for them, it was becoming more difficult with every passing minute.
This wasn’t about love at first sight or even lust. The connection the four of us shared was deeper, as if we’d been brought together by some insane twist of fate. And nothing surprised me any longer.
Not the dozens of candles positioned in the suite or the bottle of champagne sitting in ice, four flutes positioned in an attractive display. Not the trays full of food, their sterling domes protecting some of the items. And certainly not the attractive display of desserts and chocolates. A feast for royalty.
Only I was a plain girl from an entirely different world, a woman who’d been hell bent on destroying three men’s lives. I’d searched so long for truths that I’d been wearing blinders for years. However, I refused to be naïve on any level. This could be nothing more than an elaborate guise, a successful attempt to keep me away from the business deal that Sebastian seemed fearful of losing.
Whatever the case, tonight I felt like a princess.
As Sebastian eased me onto my feet, he refused to let me go, intertwining his fingers in my hair as he nipped my lower lip before pressing his mouth against my jaw, inching ever so slowly toward my neck.
I moaned the second he raked his teeth back and forth across my skin. Remaining lightheaded, I was forced to grip his arms as he slowly lowered the spaghetti straps off my shoulders, trailing his fingers down the length of my arms until he was able to free them from the slender confines. As the air hit my nipples, they immediately hardened, aching as my desire increased.
The sight of Chase and Dax, their expressions ones of extreme lust, created a series of shivers, goosebumps popping along my arms. There was no doubt what they were going to do to me. Both men had glasses of champagne in their hands, Dax licking the rim before taking a gulp. Just the sensuality of his actions was enough to force my body to sway.
Sebastian dragged his tongue from one collarbone to the other, his growls floating between us. I managed to push his jacket over his broad shoulders. He laughed before yanking it all the way off, tossing it toward the other side of the room. But he refused to stop, cupping both my breasts, every sound more primal than the one before as he licked and nipped my skin.
“Oh…” The sound escaped my mouth, a series of purrs following. If this was what being a princess felt like, I never wanted the dazzling moments to end.
When Dax walked closer, my breath skipped, the scattered sound making him smile. He moved behind me, sliding my hair away from my neck as he lowered his head, brushing his lips up and down. When he breathed into my ear, lights floated in front of my field of vision.
I closed my eyes as Sebastian engulfed my nipple, my breath shallow. The electricity shooting between the three of us was powerful, driving the intensity of our combined desire to new heights.
“Are you wet for us, darling Kendra?” Dax whispered, nipping my earlobe.
“Uh-huh.”
“I think it’s time you call us your masters,” he added with a dark chuckle.
“Yes. Yes, sir.” The few words were all I could manage, another burst of bright light surrounding my periphery of vision.
“She will learn,” Sebastian huffed before biting down on my nipple.
The pain was instantaneous, and I dug my fingers into Sebastian’s arms, but the discomfort turned almost immediately into raging pleasure. A series of moans slipped past my pursed lips, the feel of Dax’s fingers dancing down my back incredible. I was floating on air already, no longer able to feel my legs.
“You are one bad little girl,” Dax whispered then yanked my hair, tugging my head back several inches. The move forced me to open my eyes, watching as he took a sip of his champagne then lowering his head, p
ressing his lips against mine. Roughly, he pushed them open and the trickle of cold bubbly flowed into my mouth, tickling my senses.
With his own low-slung growl, Dax captured my mouth, the kiss becoming a roar of passion within seconds.
When Sebastian pinched both nipples between his fingers, I cried out sharply into the kiss, trembling all over. The entire room seemed to be spinning and the second Dax broke the kiss, moving away entirely, I reached out for him.
“Don’t worry. There will be much more,” he said under his breath.
I blinked several times in an effort to focus, watching as Chase approached, taking the time to remove his shirt before closing the distance. He was stunning, muscular in all the right places. It was the first time I noticed a tattoo crawling up his arm and over his shoulder. The richness of the colors captured my eye, the dragon one of the most beautiful creations I’d ever seen.
He wasted no time in his approach and as soon as he was closer, Sebastian moved away, but not before raking a single nail down my cheek. Everything about the man was possessive, but with his friends, he was comfortable, allowing himself to enjoy the moment.
“You won’t need this any longer,” Chase said in such a husky voice that I had to strain to hear him. As he yanked on the dress, tugging it over my hips, he twisted his mouth, taking several deep breaths. “So damn beautiful.”
The way he said the words created a wave of heat blooming on my cheeks. I’d never had a man look at me that way, as if I was his entire world. I couldn’t understand why I was special to them. They could have anyone they wanted.
Chase used the most delicate touch as he brushed his fingertips down my arms. “I’m going to enjoy devouring you once again.”
My gaze settled on Sebastian, whose eyes almost never left me, as he yanked his shirt over his head, tossing it the same way he had his jacket. No longer did I feel the same level of humiliation or anger as I had before. I wasn’t able to deny my feelings for all three of them. Whether or not this was more about our physical connection simply didn’t matter.
As Chase pulled me into his arms, forcing me onto my toes, I ran my hands up his chest, marveling at just how hot his skin was become. The slight touch seared my fingertips, adding to the fire burning deep within me.