Rock Bottom (The Gifted Realm #4)

by Jillian Neal

  “Lean over, baby doll, and I want you to shake that sweet, sexy ass for me, before I fill you up.”

  Her body pitched. Her eyes flashed. She gasped for breath, unable to believe that he knew precisely what she longed to hear.

  “Now,” he demanded, and she nearly came again from his orders. “Be a good girl, and do what I say.”

  “Yes,” spilled from her mouth as she positioned herself over the pillows and followed his orders. He growled fervently as he grasped her hips.

  The reason she liked his favorite position, only lying down, was fairly rudimentary for those who knew what they were doing. It allowed her to feel everything he had in all the right places, but he was about to teach her a thing or two about what she thought she liked, before she’d been in bed with him.

  She threw her head to the side and shot him a look that dared him to take her hard as she shook it for him. Her back dipped low, and she propped up on her elbows. It was one of the most erotic things he’d ever seen. His blood began to sear with need.

  Dan positioned himself behind her.

  “Take it, honey. Take it like my good girl,” he commanded as he pushed hard, grasped her hips, and pulled her over him. He pierced her as she screamed her approval. She lost all sense of what, he was certain, she would consider appropriate behavior, and it drove him wild.

  He’d tried to prepare himself for the feeling, but it overwhelmed him every time he had the extraordinary pleasure. Their energy combining, her energy filling and restoring him, wasn’t something he’d ever become accustomed to. He could never prepare for something so extraordinary.

  He kept his thrusts deep and unrelenting. He watched himself as he pounded her depths.

  “That’s it, baby. That’s what you needed. It feels better now, doesn’t it?”

  She cried out his name and pushed herself back against him, nearly ending him, but he refused the release that throbbed in his groin.

  He grasped her backside fiercely, and squeezed as she lost it all. He eased his thrusts and let her waves wash over him until she was ready for more.

  “I know you need more, honey; my greedy, greedy girl. Tell me.”

  “More please, please” she begged when she could catch her breath.

  He thrust hard again and buried himself inside of the liquid perfection of her. He leaned and traced one finger from the very top of her spine, all the way down the center of her back, over the throbbing nerve endings centered in her backside, until he reached the place he was forming around his length.

  She went wild. He knew she would, and she came again instantly. He allowed her climax to fully develop before he started again.

  He wasn’t going to last much longer. She was too much; too perfect, too tight, wet, and fevered. He wanted to explode inside of the heart of her.

  Her muscles clenched tightly around him, only furthering his imminent release. He forced it away by sheer strength of will. He wasn’t leaving her before he was thoroughly spent and he was forced to return from their otherworldly ecstasy.

  He dragged his hand from her backside to her breasts. He grasped them firmly, and pulled himself deeper as he kneaded the fevered mounds. He pounded into her, formed her around his length, and filled her full. She was made for him alone. He continued his hungry claims.

  Just as he lost the ability to fight his own release, he caressed her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.

  As her entire body tensed, he gave a twisting squeeze. She threw her head back and convulsed. Her body rose up to his head, and she lost it all as he exploded inside of her. He forced his energy and his release in deep.

  When he’d regained the ability to breathe, Dan withdrew and fell to the bed. He immediately grabbed Fionna and held her in the safety of his embrace. He knew what was likely to follow all of that.

  As she began to recall everything she’d asked for, he would adamantly refuse to allow shame to cast a shadow on her finally owning what she wanted.

  “You are absolutely amazing. That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever felt and, no, I’ve never said that to anyone else either,” he immediately informed her in complete honesty.

  Her last climax was still quaking through her, though she was trying to will it away.

  “Uh, wow.” She clung to him and buried her face in his chest.

  Dan cupped his hand and pulled light from the only lamp lit in the room. He tried to give her a little time and space to assure her that he’d thoroughly enjoyed everything she’d asked for.

  He turned to his side while keeping her pressed to him. He shielded her from the rest of the world with his body. After pulling the sheets back over them, he covered her up and cossetted her closely.

  “You ok, baby?” he tenderly ran his hands over her body and brushed her hair behind her. He tried to discreetly heal the marks he’d left, in case she didn’t want to think about them or have to ask.

  “That was amazing, incredible,” she admitted as she let him hold her and protect her deepest desires from the inflicting world.

  “That’s what happens when we’re together. You are just absolute perfection. I don’t know how I got so lucky,” Dan assured her fervently as he worked.

  In a few hours, she was going to a spa with Emily and Adeline. Dan was certain that they, at nine and ten years her junior, didn’t know enough about themselves or their own sexuality to even begin to understand the needs and hidden desires of a fully-developed woman as opposed to those of a girl, which they both really still were.

  “You just sort of keep blowing my mind,” she finally allowed herself to really speak and open her eyes as he chuckled. He continued working on the deep purple mark he’d left on her backside.

  “Uh, could you?” Her face glowed crimson as she turned to her side to see the already healed marks he’d left there. She furrowed her brow. Her release had hidden his casting and healing her. She hadn’t felt it. He was already a part of her energy.

  “I’ll always take care of you, Fionna. Anything you want, I’ll do, and I would never allow anyone else to have any part of that.” He held her eyes with his own and never dropped her terrified gaze.

  Tears sprung to her eyes as he finished his work on her backside and then slid his hand up to embrace her fully.

  “Ok, where have you been all my life?” she tried so hard not to cry.

  With a soft chuckle, he kissed her forehead and kept her in the serenity of his embrace.

  “Being an idiot, but I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere, Fi.”

  With that, he surrounded her body with his. His shield set over her, soothing her, and making certain she felt safe and secure.

  His entire body made a vow to her that he would protect her vulnerability with his very life.

  55

  Tales Over Burgers and Beer

  ~Rainer Lawson~

  Emily picked up her cell phone as she pulled a bite of the toast they’d ordered for breakfast off of her plate. She grinned broadly as she read the text.

  “Who’s that from?” Rainer smiled at her delighted grin.

  “It’s Fionna, and it says that she’s taking Dan surfing, that they’ll meet us at the spa at eleven, and then it says ‘wow just wow’,” Emily informed him as a fit of giggles overtook her.

  Rainer laughed, “I take it they had a nice night then?”

  As she finally regained her calm, Emily breathed deeply.

  “Rainer, do you think this could really work? Do you think he’ll fall for her? Maybe they’ll get married!”

  Rainer laughed, and decided to fervently hope against hope that what Emily was saying might actually happen. He wanted that for Vindico as much as Emily wanted it for Fionna.

  “I wouldn’t use the word married, or wedding, or marriage within earshot of Vindico right now, but he’s falling for her; trust me.”

  “So, where are you taking us tonight, after we’re all glamorous?” Emily kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his chest from behind him. Sh
e let her hands caress his pecs.

  Rainer spun and wrapped his arms around her. He settled them on the top of her backside.

  “Wherever you want to go as long as you meet me back in this bed after dinner.”

  She giggled and then kissed his jawline.

  “Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

  “Logan and I will find something. A nice restaurant or a club or something,” he promised.

  She furrowed her brow but then shook her head.

  “Not a club; somewhere quiet and romantic.”

  “Ok, do you want to go with the four of them or do you want me to find somewhere just for us?” He wanted to get everything just right. He had a lot to make up for. He still felt badly about their fight, and the way he’d acted about the topless beach. After he’d gotten over himself, he’d thoroughly enjoyed the display.

  “Well, I think we’re supposed to all go out together, but you know Fionna needs to see if Vindico has a romantic side. They still don’t really know each other very well.”

  “Ok,” Rainer agreed, “quiet and romantic. I got it.”

  * * *

  A little while later, Rainer walked Emily to the spa door. He wasn’t comfortable with her walking alone down the corridors of the Kingsford Wellborn in nothing but a robe.

  Vindico was dropping Fionna off and giving her a rather heated good-bye kiss when Rainer and Emily approached.

  Emily cleared her throat and, after several seconds more, Vindico finally pulled back, though Fionna looked mutinous.

  Logan and Adeline appeared off of the elevator and, after making sure the girls were situated, Logan spun to Vindico and Rainer.

  “I really want a burger and a beer,” he begged as Rainer and Vindico laughed their agreement.

  They meandered out of the hotel and into the streets of Sydney.

  “So, Adeline said the words ‘candle-lit’ like three hundred and ninety-seven times when I asked what kind of place she wanted to go to tonight,” Logan joked.

  Vindico and Rainer agreed to look for a place appropriate for taking the ladies when they emerged from the spa. Vindico pointed to a burger joint that advertised a vast beer selection. They took a booth in the back corner.

  “How was surfing?” Rainer quizzed as he took the menu from the waiter.

  “Fionna had fun. She’s amazing actually. Even the guys we rented the boards from were impressed.”

  “Where’d she learn to surf?”

  It wasn’t a common skill for your average Virginian.

  Vindico shrugged, “No idea.”

  Rainer wondered momentarily if he was lying, but it didn’t appear so.

  “So, how goes the sex fest?” Rainer chided Logan. He laughed as he blushed slightly.

  Vindico chuckled as he flipped through the menu.

  “It’s great when she’s not freaking out about meeting her dad or about going to a spa,” Logan turned his attention to the waiter as he approached.

  They all ordered burgers and beer and settled into the Australian pub.

  “I thought you drank Scotch,” Logan quizzed Vindico suddenly.

  Vindico gave him a mocking grin.

  “Well, not in the middle of the day at a burger joint, as that would make me an alcoholic with extremely poor taste.”

  Rainer and Logan laughed. Rainer couldn’t recall a time he’d seen Vindico joke with such ease or seem so relaxed.

  “So, do you have a plan for tomorrow night, Haydenshire, or are we just going to show up and hope for the best?” Vindico turned the questions on Logan.

  “I’m really worried actually. Ad is coming unglued, and you saw how she was at the hotel. Now we’re going to this guy’s massive castle. I’m certain her mother’s apartment would fit in their servants’ bathroom. I’m really terrified she’s just going to see the place and make a run for it.”

  “What are you going to do if he recognizes her?” Rainer finally asked the question he’d been dying to know since they’d first begun planning the trip. “She doesn’t look like Candy. She must look like him.”

  “Well, if he doesn’t freak, I think that would be perfect actually. You know, get the whole pretense over with right away.”

  Vindico and Rainer considered that as the waiter returned with their plates and beers.

  “Why was she nervous about the spa?” Rainer picked up his burger, but then returned it to his plate. It was much too hot to bite into.

  “Man, do you remember the month during our junior year when I had to go pick her up in the mornings, and bring her over so she could shower because Candy failed to pay their water bill?” Logan reminded Rainer rather indignantly.

  Vindico shook his head. He looked disturbed by the story.

  “We should have stepped in earlier,” he commented with a concerned sigh.

  “Dad finally paid the bill. He waited a few weeks, hoping that Adeline would finally give in and come live with us, but she wouldn’t. Adeline didn’t grow up getting her nails done all the time like Em did.”

  Rainer nodded and then followed Vindico’s lead. He summoned and cooled his burger, before diving in.

  “What else do girls do at spas anyway? It can’t take seven hours to get your nails done.”

  Vindico chuckled and took the last sip of his beer. He raised the empty glass to the waiter.

  “They didn’t tell you what they’re having done today?” Vindico quizzed Logan and Rainer. They both shook their heads in response. “Well, you’ll enjoy this; trust me.”

  After finishing his own beer, Rainer nodded to the waiter as well.

  “What do you mean, I’ll enjoy it? Isn’t she supposed to enjoy it?” Logan knitted his brow.

  After considering for a moment, Vindico smiled. “They will. Well, they’ll enjoy some of it, but trust me, they’re there for us.”

  Logan looked incredulous.

  “She’s not there for me. I mean, I don’t care if she wants to go as long as she’s not naked and letting some guy rub oil all over her.” In true Logan Haydenshire style, he made everyone laugh.

  “I always think she’s beautiful. She’s my wife. I thought she was beautiful the week that she went without a shower, when she was too embarrassed to tell me that they didn’t have any water.”

  With a wry grin, Vindico raised his glass to Logan this time.

  “That, my friend, is true love. But just trust me; she’ll be stunning when she leaves there tonight, and she’ll want you to tell her and show her.”

  Rainer picked up on something else Vindico had said, but waited to ask since the waiter had returned to see if they needed anything else.

  “What do you mean they’ll enjoy some of it?” he studied Vindico closely.

  “I grew up with three younger sisters, not to mention dating a long litany of women, after Amelia died. They put themselves through a tremendous amount of pain in an effort to be admired by us.”

  This brought Logan and Rainer up short.

  “What kind of pain?” Rainer demanded.

  Logan shook his head. “I don’t want her to be in pain,” spilled from his mouth.

  “Why do they go if it hurts?” Rainer still didn’t fully believe what Vindico was telling them.

  After taking a quick bite of his burger, Vindico supplied, “Because she wants you to think she’s gorgeous, and she wants you to show her just exactly how gorgeous you think she is.”

  “But I already think that and do that,” Logan stammered uncomfortably.

  “Ah,” Vindico drew another sip of beer, “but this will be a whole new summation challenge, gentlemen.”

  Rainer thoughtfully considered this as he continued to eat. He couldn’t come up with anything that anyone could do to Emily to make her more gorgeous. Put her in a great dress or sexy lingerie and he was sold.

  I even thought she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes on when she was in a hospital bed, bandaged head to toe. He shuddered from the memory.

  There was certainly no reas
on for her to be in any pain on his account. He wondered what Emily might be doing just then. He was anxious to pick her up for their dinner.

  “Ok, enough about spas, I want to know what you said to the German board. You promised,” Logan urged Vindico.

  Shame broadcast from Vindico’s chiseled face. Rainer wondered if that meant he’d learned the lesson Governor Haydenshire had been trying to teach him.

  “You don’t really want to know,” Vindico deflected the question.

  “I overheard some of the retelling. I just want you to fill in the rest,” Logan prodded hopefully.

  “Which part did you hear?” Vindico still looked rather embarrassed by his actions.

  “What you told the German Crown he could do on his way to hell.”

  “Your dad should have fired me,” Vindico sighed.

  “But he didn’t, and you won’t do anything like that again, blah, blah, blah. What did you say?”

  “He’s like a dog with a bone,” Rainer informed Vindico. “You might as well tell him. He won’t let it go.”

  “This good cop, bad cop routine work on the Governor?” Vindico wasn’t going to be played, it seemed.

  “It worked better when we were kids,” Rainer admitted.

  “And it works better on Mom,” Logan supplied as the whole table laughed.

  With a defeated sigh, he seemed to consider this part of his punishment. He gave a begrudging nod and wiped his mouth on his napkin.

  “This story will not be brought up or retold to Fionna,” he instructed threateningly.

  “Yeah, because we’re pricks like that,” Logan looked truly offended. Vindico seemed to agree that Rainer and Logan were pretty good guys as he tossed his napkin onto his empty plate.

  “I might’ve said something about them buying fur coats for their… mistresses,” Vindico edited, but Rainer knew instantly.

  “You didn’t call them ‘mistresses’.”

  “Damn, I taught you to read people too well.”

  Rainer laughed, but kept his eye trained on Vindico. He hadn’t answered the accusation.