A Worthy Opponent

by Katee Robert

  For the first time in a very long time, Hook looks tired. Well and truly exhausted. He scrubs his hands over his face. “We should send Gaeton on his way. We have enough to worry about without getting pulled into whatever the hell is going on in that territory with the old man’s death.” The words seem to bring him no pleasure. He speaks them because it’s the smart thing to do.

  Neither of us has been all that good at doing the smart thing.

  I cover Hook’s hands with mine and lace my fingers through his. “He’s your friend. He’s my friend, too.” Admitting that someone is my friend gets easier every time I do it. Gaeton may not be on the same level as the ladies in the Underworld, but he is a friend.

  “Yes.” The word comes out as a sigh.

  I squeeze his hands. “The Man in Black was like a father to him. He’ll be grieving.”

  “You’re grieving right now.”

  He’s not wrong but focusing on Gaeton’s pain is so much easier than dealing with the fight barreling down on us. I manage a small smile. “Then it sounds like comfort is the name of the game tonight.”

  Hook frowns, but there’s no time to question me further, because the door opens and Gaeton walks in. He barely looks around, just walks straight to the kitchen and finds the liquor cabinet. He’s been here before, that Hook trusts him enough to let him into this inner sanctum of sorts. It confirms I’m right about what we need to do.

  Gaeton considers the bottle and apparently decides that he’s not quite gone enough to drink without a glass. He pulls out three and sets them on the marble counter with a clink. “You heard.”

  “We heard.” The exhaustion is gone from Hook’s face. He doesn’t quite have his charming rogue mask in place, but he’s pulled back. I didn’t realize how much he allows me to see until I watch him tuck away bits of himself.

  He pauses to give my hand a squeeze that could mean absolutely anything and then tows me to the kitchen. Gaeton pours steep shots into each glass and sets the bottle down hard enough that I fear it might shatter. “We knew he was sick, but we’d half convinced ourselves that the old bastard would outlive both of us.”

  No need to read between those lines. Gaeton and Beast. Beast and Gaeton. A hostile and yet strangely symbiotic relationship if ever there was one. I can’t pretend to know Beast’s mind, but the best I can tell, Man in Black looked at both of them as the sons he never had.

  “I’m sorry.” I don’t know what to do with my hands. I might have crossed into being a person that accepts hugs as comfort, but I don’t know how to offer them. I’m not even sure Gaeton will accept that from me. Or if it would actually help.

  Hook doesn’t have my confusion. He simply takes the shot with Gaeton and pulls the big man into a hug. “I’m sorry, too.”

  I stare at them, at this man who cares so fucking much about the people he considers his. It might not always be the right thing, but the way Gaeton holds him, It’s the right thing right now. My heart lodges in my throat and, yes, no matter how strange it feels to admit it … This is love, isn’t it?

  I love Hook.

  I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that information, so I shove it down deep to inspect later and take my shot.

  Hook shifts away to take Gaeton’s face in his hands. “What do you need?”

  Gaeton tries for a smirk, but it doesn’t quite stick. “You sure I’m not here for political reasons?”

  Hook’s lazy grin has my heartbeat picking up. He traces the other man’s cheekbones with his thumbs. “You’re here because you need to stop thinking, and you trust us to make that happen, so stop dicking around and answer the question. What do you need?”

  Gaeton’s breath catches. “I can’t turn my fucking head off, man. I just want some peace for a little while.”

  “Tell me your safe word.”

  “Rose.”

  “Good boy.” Hook releases him and turns to me. Tenderness filters into his dark gaze, and he takes my left hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles next to my ring. “And what do you need, beautiful girl? Watch or participate?”

  I can’t quite take a full breath. “You’re asking what we need. But what about you?” I don’t know if I’ve ever asked a Dom that question before. It never occurred to me that I should, but Hook isn’t just any Dom. He’s mine.

  He gifts me with a soft smile. “I want to fuck Gaeton’s ass while he eats your pussy, and then I want to sleep.” He lifts his voice the smallest amount. “You’re invited to stay until morning, of course.”

  “No promises. Let’s just see where the night takes us.” He glances at me. “Depending on if Tink is cool with it.”

  Fondness wells up in my chest. Gaeton might be a full-fledged asshole most of the time, but he truly is a friend. What a novel concept. I lean around Hook to shoot him a look. “Only if you’re not a cover hog.”

  He grins, a little of his normal arrogance appearing. “I’m as hot as a furnace. You won’t need any fucking covers with me in your bed.”

  “Promises, promises.” I switch my attention to Hook. “I want what you want. I trust you to get us there.” Does he understand the implication of what I’m telling him? I’ve always trusted him within a scene, but this feels different. Because it is different.

  He’s silent for a long moment, studying me as if he can see the very answers written on my soul. Finally he leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Then let’s begin.”

  Chapter 22

  Hook

  I consider Gaeton and Tink. As much as I want to get right down to business, there are other matters I can’t shuck off tonight. “Strip. Shower.” I level a look at Gaeton. “You can tease her, but no coming.” I turn the same look on Tink. “The same goes for you.”

  She gives me a saucy smile. “I’ll try to remember that order. Don’t be gone too long.” No questioning that I have to leave for a moment. She knows that Colin is sweeping the building, just like she knows I’ll need that report before I can finally devote my full attention to the pair of them. It’s been barely thirty minutes, but we have enough men that they should be damn near done. If things have gone terribly wrong and there is someone dangerous in here, Gaeton will keep Tink safe. He’s brutally efficient when it comes to taking down threats, and he’ll protect her.

  She jumps when Gaeton slaps her ass, and he booms out a laugh. “Come on, Tink. I can practically hear your pussy calling my name.”

  “You are so full of shit.” She waits for him to walk into the bathroom to lean up and kiss me. “I’ll keep him occupied for as long as you need.”

  Does she realize that she’s stepping into the role we spoke about, shifting to act as a partner instead of someone fighting me every step of the way? I’m not sure, but I appreciate it all the same. I take her hips and pull her against me, savoring the contact. “Your sacrifice is duly noted. Try not to come all over his face before I get back.”

  She laughs, low and wicked. “What happens if I do?”

  I turn her around and bring her back flush against my chest. The feel of her in my arms drives me fucking wild, but I muscle down the physical reaction. I can’t be walking around with a cockstand while I’m dealing with this bullshit. I nibble on the curve of her ear. “If you disobey me, then I won’t let Gaeton come all over you and then fuck you against his chest.”

  She whimpers and arches back against me, rolling her hips and instinctively seeking my cock. “So rude.”

  “You love it.”

  A shaky laugh. “Maybe I do.”

  I want to look into her words, to demand an explanation about whether they go beneath the surface level. I don’t. I just press a kiss to her temple and give her ass a swat. “Don’t give him time to think.” Distracting Gaeton has the added bonus of distracting Tink. Tonight won’t fix the damage Peter did by destroying her things, but it will still be a good thing.

  “Yes, Sir!” She puts a little extra sway in her walk as she saunters to the bathroom, and I let her catch me enjoying the
view when she glances over her shoulder. “Perv.”

  “You’re putting on such a show. It’d be a shame if I didn’t appreciate it.”

  Tink shakes her head. “Go deal with Colin. We’ll be here when you’re done.” Then she’s gone, and I hear the low murmur of Gaeton’s voice and the shower turning on.

  I don’t want to leave. But the sooner I’m gone, the sooner I can get back.

  I find Nigel in his office down on the main floor. For the first time in a very long time, he’s not perfectly put together. His hair is more mussed from running his fingers through it than by design, and his clothes are rumpled. He looks up as I cross the threshold. “We’re clear.”

  “He’s already done?”

  “Yeah. It was all hands on deck. We’ve shut down the exits and closed the gate in the garage. Colin is sweeping that one last time, just in case.” Nigel sinks heavily into the chair across from my desk. “How long do you think we have?”

  “I’m drawing him out tomorrow. One way or another.” I haven’t talked about it with Tink, but we can’t keep going like this. Peter has already proven he’ll indulge in guerrilla warfare. The only people who will be hurt by a prolonged siege are the innocent ones.

  “You sure about this?”

  No. Not even a little bit. I know I can take Peter in a fair fight, but the man is incapable of fighting any way but dirty. He won’t come at me from the front, no matter how pissed he is. I don’t know if I can beat him, but I can’t tell that to Nigel. I can’t tell it to anyone. They need to believe in victory. In me. “Yes.”

  Nigel looks at me for a long moment. “I have your back. No matter how this plays out.”

  “I appreciate you, cousin.”

  He shakes his head. “Yeah, yeah. We have this covered. Go back to your woman and that asshole Gaeton.”

  “Actually—”

  “Hook.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders. We can handle this tonight. Fuck, cousin, let us handle it.”

  I finally nod. He’s right. Maybe I micromanage shit too much. I don’t know. It’s hard not to wade in and do shit myself. They put so much faith in me to lead them. I want to be worthy of that. “Call if you need anything.”

  Nigel rolled his eyes. “We’ll see you in the morning. Get out of here.”

  This time, I don’t argue.

  I don’t allow my pace to increase as I head back up to my suite. Anticipation is just as important as allowing my people to see me. They’ve mostly retreated to their individual apartments, but I catch Colin on the way back down. He gives me a tight nod. “We have this covered.”

  “Thanks.” I clasp him on the shoulder and keep moving.

  The first thing I see when I walk into my suite is the outline of Gaeton and Tink against the glass of the shower. They’re obviously putting my hot water to the test. I sit on the bed and pull off my boots and socks and then simply watch for a few moments.

  Tink has her hands braced against the tile, each finger a clear outline in contrast of the hazy image of their bodies. Even so, I can see Gaeton bent over Tink, one hand cupping her breast and the other between her thighs. It’s not exactly easy to forget how huge Gaeton is, but there’s something about seeing him wrapped up in smaller people that does shit for me.

  I grab a condom from my nightstand and stroll into the bathroom to lean against the wall, just outside the tile of the shower. “You’ve been busy.”

  Gaeton shifts easily, rotating so I can see exactly what he’s doing to my woman. Her pale skin is flushed, both from the heat of the water and desire. Tink’s never quite sweet, but she’s almost past the point of mouthing off right now, her eyes half shut and her lips parted as her breath shudders out. “You were taking too long.”

  “Mmmm.” I cross my arms over my chest and make a show of raking them with my gaze from their feet to the tops of their heads. I’ve watched Gaeton scene with Tink before, watched him make her come until she screamed herself hoarse. It made me so jealous, I couldn’t see straight, knowing she allowed him a closeness she’d never allow me. The jealousy no longer applies. She’s mine, by choice and by vow.

  I always was a sharer.

  “Gaeton.” I put enough snap in my voice to draw his head up. “Sit on the shower bench.”

  It takes him a moment to disentangle himself from Tink, and I allow it. We both watch him stalk to the bench and sink onto it, sprawling on it with his big thighs spread, his massive cock at attention.

  Tink gives herself a little shake and focuses on me. I like that she looks to me first even though he just had his fingers in her pussy. It’s such a small thing, but it feels momentous. A clear indication of how things have shifted between us.

  I hold up the condom. “Do you want Gaeton’s giant cock, beautiful girl?”

  She licks her lips. “Do you want me to want Gaeton’s giant cock, Sir?”

  Fuck, I love this woman. “Yes. I want to watch you ride his cock, knowing it’s a gift I’m only too happy to give you.” I grin and rip open the condom wrapper and then hold it out to her. “Give me a show and I might just let him make you orgasm.”

  “You’re too kind.” She’s a little too breathy to make the sarcasm work. She carefully takes the condom from me, but doesn’t immediately move to Gaeton. Tink tilts her head back, her eyes flaring in challenge. “Maybe it’s not me you have to worry about coming without permission.”

  “I heard that,” rumbles Gaeton. “Get that fine ass over here, Tink. I’m dying to fill you up.”

  She shivers, but her attention is entirely on me. I touch her chin with a single fingertip and she eagerly goes up on her toes as I guide her mouth to mine. All the bullshit waiting for us tomorrow falls away at the first brush of her lips, at the way she eagerly opens to me. I allow myself to sink into the kiss until Tink moans and reaches for me.

  I catch her wrists and turn her around. “Gaeton is feeling left out.”

  “I can see that,” she murmurs.

  He creates quite the picture, and he’s vain enough to know it. He looks like some kind of warrior that wandered into the wrong century, his body giving the impression of someone who works instead of spending a hell of a lot of time in the gym. Hair dusts his chest and descends to his solid stomach, its trail leading the eye right to his cock. Long and thick and more than ready.

  As I eye-fuck him, he gives his cock a rough stroke. “Don’t mind me.” He gives a lopsided grin. “I’m just enjoying the view.”

  “Now,” I murmur in her ear. “Give me a good show, beautiful girl.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She walks slowly to Gaeton, and fuck, the shows starts before she ever touches him. Tink was made to be put on display, her curves inviting a look, a touch, a need to hold her and never let go.

  She bends over Gaeton, and my breath catches in my throat at the glimpse of her pussy. My woman knows it, too, and takes her time rolling the condom over his cock before she slowly rises.

  I have to work to keep my voice from going hoarse with need. “Gaeton. I want her on your lap, facing me.”

  He loops an arm around her waist before I’ve finished speaking, dragging her onto his lap and spreading her legs to hook on the outside of his thighs. I will be able to see every inch of him sinking into her from this angle. Perfect.

  Tink braces herself on his thighs and lifts her hips enough that he can notch his cock at her entrance. “Slowly,” I grind out. “Take him slow.”

  My whole body goes tight at the sight of his cock sinking into her pussy. At the sound of Tink’s little gasp. At the way Gaeton’s big hands flex on her hips like he can’t decide if he wants to slam into her or slow her down so it never stops. Inch by inch, he disappears into her until he’s sheathed to the hilt.

  I somehow drag my gaze to Tink’s face to find her watching me, lust written across her features. I let her see my appreciation. “Ride him, beautiful girl.”

  She leans back against Gaeton’s broad chest and lifts
one hand to the back of his thick neck for leverage. And then she begins to ride him. Long, slow rolling strokes that have me fighting the desire to stride into the shower and join in. Gaeton’s getting off on the show just as much as Tink is, his dark eyes watching me just as closely.

  Waiting for my next command.

  “Her breasts, Gaeton. Pinch her nipples the way she likes.”

  He obeys immediately, her breasts filling his hands. Tink moans and slams down on him. She seems to fight to keep her eyes open, to keep her gaze on me. I’m all too willing to reward her for that. “Now her clit. Gentle, Gaeton. Tease her.”

  “I don’t want gentle,” she gasps out.

  “I know.”

  Gaeton rumbles a laugh and obeys. He presses two fingers to her clit. Not circling, not stroking; just applying something for her to grind against as she fucks him. But every time Tink tries to chase that pleasure, he shifts a little away. Denying her as I ordered.

  Her eyes go a little wild, and she grabs his wrist with her free hand, trying to force him closer. She knows it’s not a fight she can win, but that doesn’t stop her from straining to get him the last millimeter closer to where she needs his touch. “Please.” She fucks him harder, lifting nearly completely off his cock before slamming back down. It’s not enough, not without that last bit of stimulation. “Fuck. Fuck. Please, Jameson. Please let me come.”

  I will never get enough of this woman begging. For how sweet the jolt of power is, yes, but also for the clear indication of her trust. Tink doesn’t beg for anyone, but she does for me.

  My cock is so hard, I’m distantly worried that it will split the seams of my jeans. We’re almost there. Just a little longer. “Gaeton.”

  He’s watching me with just as much lust, just as much anticipation as she is. We all know this is only the warm up. The main event is still to come. Just like Tink is. “Make her orgasm. Don’t follow her over the edge.”