Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge Book 1)

by Nichole Greene

  22

  Lilith

  Connor stays nestled between my legs as the aftershocks of my orgasm ebb through me. When I look down I see his brilliant green eyes shining up at me. His hair is mused from my fingers running through it. I pull him to my face and kiss him hard and deep, loving my taste on his tongue.

  “Are you ready?” He reaches into the night stand for a condom.

  “Yes.” I nod. “Are you?”

  “Hell yes. I’ve been ready since the first moment I saw you laying out by the pool. Especially when you walked away giving us the finger over your shoulder.” He rips the foil and rolls the condom on.

  He teases me with the tip of his dick before slowly sliding in. I flinch at the slight burn and pinch I feel when he fully enters me. He kisses me and groans against my lips.

  “Fuck, you feel so good. Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” I roll my hips against him. The pain is gone and now all there is an ache building. “You feel so good, Con.”

  He takes a shaky breath and begin to move, not slow but not fast either. He sets the perfect pace, heat builds between my thighs and when he tilts his pelvis and drags his cock along my clit I come so hard everything goes black for a minute. He keeps thrusting, a little faster now until I feel his cock surging inside me, filling the condom with his release.

  He kisses me and then pulls out, tying off the condom and throwing it in the trash. My legs are still shaking from the intensity of the last orgasm he gave me when he crawls back in bed beside me. He pulls me to his chest and kisses my forehead.

  “You okay? How’s your back?”

  “I’m great, it’s great. Everything’s great.” I mumble sleepily. I drift off to the vibrations of his gentle laughter beneath my head.

  When I wake up it’s still dark outside. I look around for his phone or a clock but don’t see anything. I slide my leg between his and am surprised to feel he’s hard again. I decide to wake him for another round, I’m sore but can already feel myself becoming more and more turned on.

  I slide down his insanely perfect body. Kissing a path from his chiseled jaw, over his sexy neck. He twitches when I flick his nipple with my tongue. Then I press open mouth kisses down his abs to that sexy V before finally flicking my tongue over the head of impressive cock. It juts straight up, long and thick and proud.

  He lets out a long moan when I wrap my lips around him and take him deep into my mouth. His hands tangle in my hair and his hips move off the bed. I hum in pleasure as he hits the back of my throat.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he whispers over and over, “fuck, yes Lily. You suck my cock better than anyone ever has. I’m gonna come.” He warns me but I stay locked around him, ready for the warm earthy taste of him to fill my mouth. His abs flex as he comes.

  He grabs me under the arms and drags me up to his face. “That was the best fucking wake up call I’ve ever gotten.” He kisses me hard. “You can do that anytime, Lily.”

  “I like when you call me that. That you only call me that when it’s just us.” I say against his chest. “I used to hate that name but for some reason from you it sounds right.”

  “Good. I like it, too.” His fingers run up and down my side. “Are you sore?”

  “A little bit but I could probably go again.” I look up and wiggle my eyebrows at him. “Do you know what time it is?”

  He flicks a button on his fancy watch. “It’s only 1 am.” His stomach growls at the same time mine does. We both chuckle. “Do you want ice cream? I have a couple pints in the freezer.”

  “That sounds amazing.” I sit up and tuck the sheet over my breasts. He stands up and pulls on a pair of sweatpants, turning on a lamp before he goes and shooting a wink over his shoulder at me.

  I reach over to the other night stand and grab my phone. Ivy and Z both sent me texts telling me they were going to need details in the morning. Normally I’d be itching to crawl beside Z and tell him all about everything but I realize this time I don’t want that. I want to stay in this room with Connor. In our little bubble where we both let the walls down. Where I see the sweet, sensitive Connor. Where he sees the shy, vulnerable me.

  A warmth settles over my chest thinking about how sweet and gentle he was with me. It definitely hurt but then it didn’t. It was amazing to feel him moving inside me, to hear him moan my name as he came apart inside me.

  “What are you thinking about?” Connor comes back in with a pint of mint chocolate chip and two spoons.

  I blush and look away, feeling a little too vulnerable.

  “My fingers? My tongue? My giant cock?” He asks with a wicked smile and his dimples fully on display. Dimples have always seemed so innocent to me, until Connor came along with his dirty mouth.

  “You know,” I grab a spoon and scoop a bite, “your dick is bigger than I was expecting.”

  “Really?” He drawls dryly.

  “Yeah, I figured you had such a huge ego and were such an asshole you had to be compensating for a micropenis.”

  “You’re a real piece of work, Lily,” he chuckles. “My cock and my ego are equally large.”

  We eat quietly for a few minutes. Each of us stealing glances at the other.

  “Okay,” Connor swipes his hand through his hair, “I just have to ask this. How are you, emotionally? Any regrets or anything?” He looks at me out of the corner of his eyes, almost like he’s too nervous to make full eye contact.

  I pull the container out of his hand, putting both spoons in it and set it on the nightstand. Then I crawl into his lap, straddling him. I put my hands on either side of his face and tilt his head so we’re looking eye to eye. “No regrets. You made it so good for me.” I kiss him slowly at first until he grabs me by the hips and pulls my core over the erection tenting his sweatpants. We spend the rest of the night tangled naked together, learning each other’s bodies and connecting soul deep together.

  I left Connor asleep and naked in bed which took a lot of self control on my part. I pad down the hall quietly since it seems everyone else is still asleep. After sliding open the door to the room I know Z took I crawl into bed beside him.

  “Hey, Z,” I poke my best friend in the ribs, “wake up.”

  He grumbles incoherently and wraps one of his huge arms around me.

  “You smell like a dude.” He says sleepily while nuzzling my neck. “Did you have sex last night?”

  “Yeah,” I giggle, actually fucking giggle, nervously. “It was really good. Shockingly good.”

  “I told your friends I’m gay last night,” he says into the pillow. “They think I should keep fucking with Connor today.” Then his head pops up and he looks at me incredulously. “Griff and Levi had bet going about me being gay.”

  “Oh, yeah. They do that. It’s crazy. They bet on me and Connor all the time, too. Not little bets either, big bets. Like a thousand dollar bets.”

  “Rich kids,” he scoffs playfully.

  “Right? Must be nice.”

  “What must be nice?” Levi says from where he’s got his arms pressed against the door frame.

  “Being rich as fuck,” I say over my shoulder at him.

  “Oh, it is. Definitely.” He’s shirtless as usual and wearing a pair of basketball shorts. “I’m gonna go get a workout in downstairs. You want to come Z?”

  “Yeah, let me get dressed. Be out in five.” Z sits up and rubs his eyes. “You coming, too?” He smacks my ass.

  “I don’t know,” Levi says with a deviant smirk and vulgar hip thrust, “I bet she’s sore from her workout last night.”

  I decide not to dignify that comment with a verbal response and instead give him the finger.

  “Don’t let Connor know you’re offering now.” He ducks when I chuck a pillow at his face. “Just kidding, hood rat. Hurry up and change.”

  I punch him in the abs when I pass by him in the hall. He doesn’t even flinch, just tightens his muscles and I swear my fist all but bounces off. The four guys in this place have to be some of th
e most attractive guys on the planet.

  I walk back into Connor’s bedroom and he’s still sprawled out, sleeping facedown with his arms under his pillow. The blanket is pooled low around his hips giving the most tantalizing peek of the top of his firm ass. Part of me wants to crawl back under the covers with him and kiss him from his neck all the way down his spine.

  Calm down, Lilith.

  I shake my head at my lustful thoughts and go over to the closet where Connor put everything away for me last night. I throw on my work out clothes and grab my sneakers, trying to be quiet.

  “Where are you going?” Connor asks.

  “Working out with Z and Lev.” I dart over to give him a peck.

  “Okay, don’t leave Lev and Z. No one is supposed to be alone while we’re in the city, even in the building. I’ll text security to keep an eye on you guys.” He grabs his phone and sends off a quick text. “I’ll order breakfast, too.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Don’t do anything to mess up your back.” He sits up, barely covered by the sheet over one leg. “Maybe you shouldn’t work out yet.”

  I barely hold back my eye roll. I know he’s just worried and trying to keep me healthy. “I know my limits, Con.”

  His lips thin into a hard line and I know he’s struggling like I just was. He doesn’t say anything though, just gives a clipped nod before striding to his bathroom in all his naked glory. I can’t tear my eyes off his body, staring like a woman possessed.

  “If you keep looking at me like that I’m not going to be responsible for the dirty shower fucking I give you,” he says with a gruff edge to his voice, glancing over his shoulder in the doorway.

  “You coming Lil?” Z yells from the living room.

  Connor lifts an eyebrow in amusement before disappearing into the bathroom.

  23

  Lilith

  We spent the day in Central Park. It was odd but nice to see the guys acting like normal teenagers. Usually they, especially Connor and Griffin, exude an air of maturity beyond their late teens. It is easy to picture them in a boardroom leading their respective Fortune 500 companies. We spent the morning walking around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, then played a few games of chess against each other at the Chess and Checkers House. We grabbed lunch from a food truck, much to Griff’s chagrin. Then we spent the afternoon on the large open lawn in part of the park. The guys played football while Ivy and I laid out on a blanket enjoying the crisp but sunny October air. I read on my kindle app and Ivy shopped. It was an ideal day.

  “You ladies ready to go back?” Levi asks as he looms over us, shirtless and sweaty as usual.

  “Gross, you just dripped sweat on me!” Ivy scrambles away from him. It was the wrong move because he’s now tackled her and is rubbing himself against her like a love starved golden retriever.

  “You love it, Ives.” They continue to wrestle.

  “What’s the plan for tonight?” I turn to Connor who pulls me close for a kiss.

  “We’re going to a club called Indigo. We know the owner, he and his brother both graduated from Founders.” He kisses me again and when we pull apart I notice Ivy was taking a picture.

  Then my phone beeps with a notification from the Ridge. It’s a picture of us taken while we were smiling at each other with the meadow and city skyline in the background. She captioned it with #conlith #official #couplegoals #loveinNYC #socuteicouldpuke.

  “Send me that.” Connor says to Ivy. Of course he couldn’t ask in the form of a polite request and has to command her.

  “You could say please.” I roll my eyes and tug on his sweatshirt.

  “I don’t say please.”

  “I’ll remember that tonight,” I say primly. I know how to get him to say please. I step away from him and wrap my arm around Z’s waist as we start walking out the park.

  “What do you think of everyone?” I give his waist a little squeeze.

  “I didn’t want to like them so much,” he scratches his chin, “but I do. Levi is fun as hell and as athletic as me.”

  “I know. I couldn’t resist him right from the start. Even when he was being an over sexualized idiot.”

  “Griff is smart and he seems to care about you. I trust him with you, both of them actually.”

  “Yep.” I agree with his assessment thus far.

  “Connor,” he looks down at me, “isn’t good enough for my Lil.”

  My heart drops. Zion’s opinion means as much as my dad’s does. I’m not going to end my relationship with Connor because of it but it does dampen my enthusiasm.

  “But,” Z continues, “no one would be. I see that he cares about you and that you care about him. He crosses the line from protective to possessive a little too frequently. Then again, I know you are perfectly capable of putting him in his place when necessary. I trust you and you trust him so,” he holds his hands palms up, “I’m good. As long as you are happy, I’m happy.” Then he stops completely and looks down at me. “I’ll kill his ass though, if he hurts you.”

  “You’ll have to get in line.” I smile and jump into his arms for a hug.

  “Get in line for what?” Levi asks walking over to us.

  “To kill Connor if he hurts me.” I say from where I’m attached to Z koala style.

  “Oh yeah, Griff and I will be in that line.”

  “Me too.” Ivy states.

  “Ives, you can’t even kill a spider,” Levi chuckles. “You’re about as scary as a kitten.”

  “Kittens have claws, asshole.” She smacks his chest.

  They chase each other away again, play fighting.

  “What is up with those two?” Z asks. “I know they’re just step siblings but I can’t figure them out. They flirt and they fight.”

  “Yeah, I’ve asked Ivy and she always deflects. I figure she’ll talk to me when she’s ready or if there’s a reason. Until then I just watch and stay entertained. Griff probably has the answers but he’s not saying anything, once you tell him something in confidence it never comes back out.”

  He grunts his agreement and then stops me with a hand on my arm. “Why are we being followed?” He shoots his eyes to the side where three bulky dudes are following us.

  “That’s park of the Volkov security team. Connor’s family has been receiving death threats. They’ve been with us all day.” I smile at him reassuringly. “Dad’s vetted and trained them all. We’re good.”

  “We need to hurry.” Ivy grabs my hand. “I have hair and make-up coming in half an hour.”

  “Hair and make-up?” I give her crazy eyes. “Just to go to a club?”

  “Yes!” She looks at me incredulously. “This isn’t a party at The Abyss. We’re going all out tonight. Did you bring the white dress?”

  “Yeah,” I trail off. I’ve never had my hair or make-up done professionally. Once again I feel like a fish out of water with my new friends.

  * * *

  “Good lord we look hot,” Ivy says as we look at reflections in the mirror. My hair is curled loosely and hanging free down my back to cover my bandages. The make-up artist gave me a smoky eye and performed some sort of voodoo to make my nose look thinner and more pert. My lips are covered in natural pink gloss and lined to make them appear even more plump. It gives me a sultry look and then this dress boosts the effect. The iridescent sequins throw light like a subtle disco ball. Ivy keeps raving about my side boob, which is pretty magnificent if I do say so myself. The hem hits me at mid-thigh and my legs are elongated by the metallic gold heels Ivy paired with it.

  Ivy looks just as gorgeous. Her brown hair is swept the side in a fish tail braid with strands loose framing her face. Her dress is a deep plum color and has a conservative neckline with long sleeves but is completely backless and an inch or two shorter than mine. Her make-up is similar but done with purples and browns. She has a towering pair of black heels on, making her closer than usual to my height.

  “Wow.” Griff appears behind us in the mirror. “Yo
u two look stunning.”

  “Thanks, Griff.” He’s in gray trousers with a crisp white button down, the top couple of buttons undone. “You look pretty good yourself.”

  “I was sent in here to see if you two were ready to leave? The car is downstairs.”

  “We are.”

  He throws his arms over our shoulders and walks us out to the living room. “Finders keepers.” He says as the other three guys look up at us.

  Connor and I lock eyes and it feels like I’m locked in the gaze of a hungry predator. His dark hair is styled perfectly and shining almost blue-black under the lights of the penthouse. He’s wearing black trousers, a black button down with the sleeves already rolled up, first few buttons undone like Griff. He looks like danger with straight up feral sex appeal oozing out of him. I feel his gaze like fingertips running up my bare legs, over the curve of my hips, grazing my breasts, and then locked on my face.

  This must be how a deer feels right before being ambushed by a wolf. Locked in place by the intensity of the hunger reflected in the hunter’s eyes. I can’t move, frozen as the air around us thickens and nothing exists aside from him and I.

  Then he’s stalking across the room and pulling me flush against him. Despite the desire raging in his eyes he kisses me gently. “You look like all my perfects,” he whispers against my lips.

  In that moment I know I’m finished. I will never find another person who makes me feel the way Connor Volkov makes me feel. He infuriates me with his arrogance. He ignites my desire with his touch. He slays me with his words. My heart fills with that deep green gaze and I want to drown in it.

  He softly kisses me again and then I am pulled away by Levi.

  “My turn to oogle the beautiful ladies, Volkov.” He wraps me up in a tight embrace, almost as comfortable as a hug from Zion, who pulls me away next.

  “We’re sending a picture to ma,” he holds his hand up to take a selfie of us. “You look gorgeous.” He kisses the top of my head and we hear a rumble come from Connor’s chest. Z does it again for good measure, getting chuckles out of Lev and Griff.