Traded

by Rebecca Brooke

  “Shit. Wait—us? Elena was with you?”

  “Unfortunately, because not only did the asshole bring up business in public, he also made it very clear he knew about my deal with Tolley.”

  “What the fuck?” Brock’s shoulders rolled back like he was bracing for a fight. “You want me to handle this?” The drop in tone of his voice signaled he was done talking unless I reined him in.

  “I want you to go have a chat with Palmer. Make it clear he’s one tiny slip up away from spending months not hours in the hospital, and if that happens, it’ll be me who deals with him. While you’re there, find out who told him about the deal.”

  “Who else besides us and Tolley knows?”

  “No one. I know it was that prick, but I need to know how far that shit’s spread. Elena is pissed and I don’t like that. The other thing I don’t like is weak little piss-ants like Palmer thinking they can buy time by pimping out their girlfriends. Before you know it, every one of them will have some ridiculous reason why they can’t pay and offer something equally as stupid. We can’t have that shit.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Brock crossed his arms over his massive chest, a move design to intimidate, but I knew better. “You sure she’s strong enough for this? I know I said I thought she was tough, but maybe—”

  “Back the fuck off,” I warned. “I’ve had enough shit tonight.”

  The more I thought about that fucker running around claiming he pulled one over on me, the more I wanted to hunt his ass down. But I had bigger things to deal with.

  “I’ll deal with this asshole,” Brock said, backing up toward his car. “You should go deal with Elena.”

  “Fuck!” I took a few deep breaths trying to calm down. “Stop by tomorrow with an update.”

  “Will do,” he walked back to his car.

  I watched Brock pull out of the drive. He’d get the results I needed. Drake Palmer would soon learn what happened to people who didn’t pay their debts and ran their mouths off.

  Throwing the door open, I sent it crashing into the frame. Angry didn’t describe how I felt about the night being ruined by that little prick. None of it was Elena’s fault, yet she was the one upset. I needed to talk to her; needed to explain. Before I climbed those stairs I needed to calm the fuck down.

  * * *

  A couple of shots of whiskey later, I climbed the stairs. Even though I knew we’d have to have it out eventually, my time downstairs had given me an idea. When I reached the top of the landing, I heard the shower in my room running.

  At least she hadn’t gone back to the guest room.

  Hoping to catch her when she got out, I peeled off my clothes and went to the table next to the bed. My goal was to make her forget for a little while. To soften her up so we could talk this shit out.

  It was time to introduce Elena to some of my more exotic tastes in the bedroom.

  Grabbing the items I wanted, I lay them on the table and covered them with a small towel. The second the water turned off, I went to the door of the bathroom and threw it open.

  “Ashton,” she screamed, pulling the towel tighter to her body.

  Before she could say another word, I backed her against the vanity. Sinking my hands into her hair, I let the taste of her lips wash over me, the kiss igniting a burning heat throughout my body, the simple act of my tongue gliding into her mouth only a small representation of what I planned on doing to her later.

  Needing air, I broke the kiss and leaned back to take in the flush that had worked its way up her body and onto her cheeks. The towel lay on the floor, forgotten. In one swift motion, I scooped her into my arms.

  “Put me down,” she squealed, her words sharp.

  “Not until I erase the shit from earlier.”

  The way her body molded to mine the moment I let her legs slide to the floor made my dick jerk. If he were the brains I’d already be buried balls deep.

  “Ashton,” she attempted come off stern. “We need to talk.”

  “Later.”

  I needed more.

  Bending down, I kissed the skin right behind her ear, then sucked a path down her neck, down her chest, until my tongue slid over the hardened peak of her nipple.

  “Oh,” she moaned, her body vibrating with the sound.

  As I grazed my teeth across the tip, her hand slipped around my neck, holding my head there. I gave her what she wanted, alternately nipping and licking. Her sharp moans filled the air. Slowly, I stood and looked her dead in the eye.

  “I want to play with you tonight. Once we start I’m in charge. If something is too much, say so. Can you agree to that?”

  Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breaths. She searched my face, settling on my lips for a moment before bringing her gaze back up to mine.

  “Yes.”

  It was the only word I wanted to hear out of her mouth. In a heartbeat, I twisted her to face away from me and guided her down onto the mattress. Raking my fingers down her back, she shivered beneath my touch and I took a moment to watch her, not quite believing that all of her soft smooth skin was mine to touch and caress.

  My hands gripped her hips, grinding my hard length against her ass, showing her what she did to me every—damn—time. Taking a firm hold of her ass, spreading the cheeks to see the virgin entrance, my breath caught in my throat. One day I’d be the first man to take her there.

  But not tonight.

  “So fucking sexy. Every time I see you in my bed, I want you more and more.”

  I let my thumb graze over her forbidden entrance. She had no idea how much pleasure I could wring from her. She gasped at my touch.

  “I think we’ll play here a bit tonight.”

  Her head lifted from the bed and she glanced over her shoulder, uncertainty clear in her eyes. “I’ve never—”

  “I know.” I bent down to whisper in her ear, sliding my thumb over the tiny hole. “We won’t get there tonight, but I want to try something new. Something you’ve never done. Trust me.”

  “I do.”

  She lowered her head back to the mattress. Tension still tightened her muscles, but she relaxed imperceptibly with my reminder.

  Reaching over, I moved the towel to the side and took the three things I thought she’d enjoy the most. My cock pulsed at the images they stirred in my head. With a soft groan, I flipped the top on the bottle and poured the cool liquid on my fingertips before sliding them down her crease, letting my thumb slip inside.

  She clenched, holding me tightly. Starting at the base of her spine, I tasted her skin, licking a path up her back. “You taste as sweet as you look.”

  “Oh God.” Her soft moan was muffled by the sheets.

  When I felt her relax I moved my thumb, in a bit and back out again, letting her grow accustom to the sensation. She writhed on the bed when I stretched my index finger forward to brush over her clit. The moment her body pushed back trying to pull in more, I knew she was ready.

  Letting my finger slip from her body, I picked up the brand new plug and coated it to make entry easier on her. I placed the small sliver plug at her entrance, all the while using my fingers to tease her center. Fire raced through me watching the plug slip inside.

  “Oh, that’s—oh!” Her words became incoherent babble when I circled the little nub.

  “Sweetheart, that’s nothing.”

  Gripping her hips, I rolled her head to face me. I raised an eyebrow, letting the question hang in the air.

  Her eyes burned with lust. “Feels full.”

  “It’s about to get better.”

  I flipped her to her back, bending my head and sucking her nipple into my mouth, bringing it to a stiff peak. While I paid the same attention to her other tight bud, I connected the clamp.

  “Ashton,” she whimpered, her back arching off the bed.

  “You like that.”

  “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

  I connected the other clamp, the thin silver chain a delicate contrast to ivory skin and gave it a quick
tug, my dick surging at the sight of her. She was so responsive. I tried to be patient, but I’d hit my limit. All I wanted was to slide into the warm heat of her pussy and feel the delicious friction of the plug, stretching her for me.

  I entered her in one smooth thrust.

  “Holy shit,” she cried out. “Oh my God, I—”

  A quick thrust in and out and all conversation was forgotten. I captured her lips, sliding my tongue inside. My body moved in the same rhythm: taking and giving. Each groan and cry from her lips pushed me further, the tugs on the chain making her clamp down on me harder. The tight heat was almost too much to bear.

  I wouldn’t make it much longer, and by the way her body undulated against mine I knew she was close too. Gliding my hand down her ribs, I slipped it between our bodies, thumbing her clit until she went off like an explosion. Her pussy rippled around me, combined with the pressure from the plug and I couldn’t hold back. Two more sharp thrusts and I emptied myself inside her body.

  She lay there, panting, a dazed look in her eyes. I pulled the plug from her, eliciting a groan, and carefully removed the clamps. There wasn’t a part of her that wouldn’t be sensitive tonight. Taking the toys to the bathroom, I grabbed a washcloth to clean her up. I ran the warm cloth over her body while she lay there, unmoving, completely sated.

  I knew you were perfect.

  By the time I climbed into bed next to her, she was sound asleep. I coaxed her over into my arms and, just like always, the minute her body touched mine, she curled up against me.

  There was something in that gesture, and I knew things had gotten further than I’d ever expected them to. Elena meant more and more to me each day.

  Was it love? I didn’t know.

  But I was willing to find out.

  

  The mountain of paperwork never seemed to end. The reality was I needed to spend more time at my other two establishments. Lately, I spent most of my time in La Tratoria, neglecting The Bluewater Grill and Indigo. It was the first restaurant I opened and would always be the most special. However, the other two also earned me money; something they wouldn’t continue to do if I neglected them.

  Leaning my head against the back of the chair, I remembered the way Elena looked wrapped around me this morning as she slept, all of her delicious curves on display. She’d fallen asleep, so we hadn’t talked. I’d have to try after work.

  The knock on my door pulled me from my fantasies.

  “Come in,” I called out, sitting up and leaning forward on the desk.

  Miller’s head popped around the door. “Hey, man. Thought I’d stop by and see how Elena’s doing.” He waggled his brows up and down.

  I pointed to the door. “Back the fuck off or shut the fuck up.”

  He laughed. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

  “And what makes you think I’m telling you anything?”

  “You tell me about every chick you fuck,” he said sitting down on the sofa in the corner of my office. “What makes her different?”

  I turned back to the computer screen.

  Great guffaws of laughter burst from Miller as he slumped down on the couch clutching his stomach. “You . . . you . . .” He couldn’t speak.

  “What the hell are you laughing at?” The sound didn’t stop which annoyed me. “You know what? I don’t want to know. Just get out so I can get some work done.”

  When he got himself under a bit of control, he spoke. “I was right about you that night at Dad’s.”

  “Right about what?”

  “You want her, and not for a quick screw. You want that woman long-term.”

  “Says who?”

  He smirked. “It’s written all over you.”

  I no longer held the relaxed position of someone who didn’t care. My hand was clenched around my bicep, my fingers tapping against my arm.

  “Fine. I want her. Happy?”

  “Not really. It’s the first time you’ve wanted someone longer than the time it takes to play and get yourselves off. What gives? What makes Elena different?”

  A good question. What made me want to give her the world on a silver platter when the most I cared for a woman before was whether or not she was interested in what I liked. “She’s different.”

  I was saved by another knock on the door. “What?” I snapped, irritated with all of the interruptions.

  Brock stepped into the room, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might break under the strain. He acknowledged us as he stepped into the room.

  “Who pissed in your cheerios?” Miller was still having trouble keeping himself from laughing.

  Brock growled at Miller. Before he had a chance to strangle him, I redirected Brock’s attention to me. “What do you have for me?”

  No small talk, no preamble.

  “Palmer is completely aware of how he should and shouldn’t behave in the future, if he wants that future to be a bright and happy one.”

  “I had a feeling he’d understand once you’d had a nice discussion with him.” As much as I hated doing any of the business at the restaurant, the whole situation needed to be handled immediately.

  “We had a nice long chat about how he remembers hearing certain things about Elena.”

  That sobered Miller up. “What happened with Elena?”

  I sighed, not wanting to explain it but knowing Miller wouldn’t let it lie if I tried to push him off. “Some dipshit client approached us outside the movies last night, wanting to talk about the money he owes.”

  “Jesus Christ. I hope you told him to fuck off.”

  He was now sitting up straight, his eyes bouncing back and forth between Brock and myself. Miller was almost always a hothead. He probably would have done a lot more to Palmer.

  Brock took the seat next to Miller. “Palmer and Tolley bet at the same place downtown. Sports. Not your place. Miller,” he added. “Way Palmer told it, Tolley was in there boasting about how he pulled one over on you. That no one in their right mind would want his dumbass wife.”

  I slammed my fist down onto the desk. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me? How has someone not seen to this asshole before? He must have enemies.”

  Brock shook his head and I knew he was as puzzled as I was as to why Dominic Tolley was still walking, let alone breathing. In our business, guys with big mouths didn’t last long. It only took one piece of information to fall into the wrong hands, and the whole house of cards could come crashing down.

  And trust me—no one wanted to be that guy.

  “How did Elena take that?” Miller asked.

  I scoffed. “Not well. Claimed I was using her as a fucktoy and didn’t really want her.”

  “Jesus. That some fucked up shit. What the hell are you going to do about it?”

  I moved to face Brock. “I want you to pay that bastard a visit today. Make it very clear that he’ll owe me every goddamn dollar if he doesn’t stop sharing our deal with the fucking world. If I didn’t think I’d take it too far I’d visit myself. But we need this guy breathing.”

  Brock stood. “Will do. I’ll make sure he understands.” There was no mistaking the menace in his tone.

  Once Brock closed the door behind him, Miller moved to the chair in front of my desk. “What are you going to do to fix shit with Elena?”

  “I fixed it last night.”

  “No, brother, you put a Band-Aid on it. Something that big doesn’t get sorted overnight. If she means as much to you as I think she does you need to make it very clear that she’s your priority. That you want her above anything else.”

  “And how do I do that?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Take her somewhere she’s never been. Do something that shows her you pay attention. That she’s on your mind.”

  Maybe Miller had a point. “When did you get so soft?”

  “Fuck you. I paid a lot of attention to Mom and Dad. We work in a business that would scare the shit out of most women. You find a good one, you’ll want to k
eep her. If you want to keep her, you need to show her that you won’t let the business interfere with your life with her. That you can separate the two. Keep her safe.”

  A plan began to form in my mind. Something she’d never done and probably wouldn’t get the chance to do again, unless she stayed with me. The question was whether I could pull it off or not.

  CHAPTER 20

  Elena

  “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

  My eyes opened slowly to find Ashton sitting on the side of the bed. In a suit he was sexy; in a pair of jeans and a tight T-shirt, he was what dreams were made of.

  “Morning.” A quick glimpse at the window and I got confused. “Umm . . . or night? What time is it?”

  “It’s almost three in the morning.”

  He pulled back the covers and I did my best not to swallow my tongue at the way his jeans stretched across the curve of his ass. I sat up and attempted to straighten the rumpled mess that was my hair, making myself somewhat more presentable. In comparison to him, I’d never come close. He gripped my fingers and pulled them up to his lips.

  “Don’t. You’re always beautiful.”

  He left no room for argument, although it didn’t stop the blush from staining my cheeks.

  “Thank you.” Still not great at accepting compliments, I attempted to change the subject. “Why are you up and dressed?”

  Picking up the bag at the end of the bed. “I have a surprise. I need you to get up and get dressed.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Get your sexy ass out of that bed and get dressed. I’ll wait for you downstairs, otherwise we’ll never get out of the house.” His heated gaze traveled down my body. Reaching down he adjusted himself, staring at me longingly as he sucked in a deep breath, before walking out the door.

  I sat for a moment, feeling my heart dance in my chest as I wondered what on earth he could have planned. There had been so many surprises—each one more wonderful than the last. I pulled the sheets up to my face and grinned.

  “Hurry up!” he called from the stairwell.

  Jumping from the bed, I washed up quickly and threw on the jeans and T-shirt Ashton had left on the bed. I’d been too busy staring to notice the outfit earlier. Pushing my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I took the stairs two at a time. It might be the crack of dawn, but it had been a long time since anyone surprised me. And with Ashton, each surprise was better than the last.