We draw near and he briefly smiles and pulls me to his side. Tyler stiffens beside me and I pray to God this is over quickly. I need to sort this once and for all. This is my escape, not a great one but the best on offer. I will make this work for me, not him.
As we say our vows in front of the officiator, I mean every word. Well, almost. Trust Ryder to throw ‘obey’ in there.
It doesn’t take long. As the club bears witness to our marriage, I feel the walls closing in. This is it. My future.
Ryder
I had to move fast. I told her it was for her safety. I’m a lying bastard. One word from me and she would have been safe as houses. My men wouldn’t disobey a direct order, it’s not how we roll. No, I painted the sorry tale to get her to be my bride and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I didn’t want to give her room to change her mind.
As soon as I saw Ashton something switched on inside me. I have always been a loner. Cool, detached and unemotional. I have never loved a woman or ever wanted to. They serve a physical need for me and nothing else.
But when Ashton walked into the club, something stirred inside me. She was so small, so vulnerable and so damned perfect. A vision of innocence and yet the hottest girl I have ever seen. She is mine. I knew it then and I know it now. She is what I’ve been waiting for all my life and I knew I had to act fast. She’s damaged and broken and I will wait as long as it takes to build her up again and make her whole. I’ve already waited a lifetime, what're a few more weeks, months, even years against a lifetime with my woman.
When she walked beside her brother to become my wife everything slotted into place. My world was complete. She was home where she belongs.
Judge wraps it up quickly and then says the words I’ve been waiting to hear.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
I turn to face my new wife and see the nerves in her eyes. She looks scared to death but there’s something else. I see in her eyes what I saw when she looked at me for the first time - a matching hunger to mine. The room is silent as I reach for her. This needs to count.
I run my hand around the back of her head and pull her face to mine. Her lip trembles and her eyes dilate. I know desire when I see it and it makes my heart swell. I lower my lips to hers and claim them as I have wanted to do since she first walked in. I take my time. I taste the delights in my arms like a man tasting fine wine for the first time. I savor it and commit it to memory. I taste every part of her with a starvation I never knew I had. I inhale her and feel drunk on desire. I shut everyone out but the woman before me. The only one that counts is in my arms and I’m going to make it right for her. I twist her silken strands in my hands and feel the soft, sweet-scented crown that flows around her beautiful face. I want to bury my face in it and commit every last scent to memory. I want to breathe Ashton as if she is the only air I need.
She kisses me back with the passion I know she holds back. Feeling her tongue entwined with mine feels so right. She tastes of sweetness and innocence and my cock hardens unbearably. What I wouldn’t give to sweep her up run to the hills. But not now, not tonight. She needs to beg for it first—and she will.
I release her unwillingly and note with satisfaction the flush in her cheeks and the brightness in her eyes. The guys crowd around and pay their respects. Tyler does not. He hangs back and looks as if his world has ended.
I see Kitty wailing in the background. She’s not the only one and I don’t care. I never promised them anything other than my cock when it suited me. They know the score and give it up freely to anyone who asks in exchange for a protective home and everything they need. These girls aren’t old lady material. They just think they are. However, I need to keep Kitty on side. I need her for another reason now and I’m sure she’s gonna like it—a lot.
In less than an hour, it’s time to wrap things up. I leave Ashton in Bonnie’s capable hands and nod to Tyler. “Follow me.”
We walk to my office and once we’re inside, I close the door firmly.
He scowls at me and I laugh.
“Relax, Tyler. I’m no monster. You did the best thing for your sister. Now, we’re gonna make things right for that girl, between us.”
He looks startled.
“What do you mean, how can we? The men that hurt her are the most powerful in the land. The men that want to hurt her are her family. How can we sort this?”
I grin wickedly. “You forget who you’re dealing with. I’m gonna tell you everything I know about your predicament and how to deal with it. Then you must head home and carry it out to the letter. In return, I only want five things from you.”
He looks confused. “What can I give you?”
I stare at him with a cold, hard, expression.
“I want their names.”
He pales and shakes his head.
“I can’t, it’s impossible.”
I fix him with my deadly gaze.
“You will tell me, Tyler, or this gets uglier.”
He looks nervous.
“If they ever found out I told on them I’m dead.”
Shaking my head, I laugh softly.
“I don’t intend on having a conversation with them. I just want their names that’s all. I’m not saying I’ll do anything, today, tomorrow or even next week. What I’m saying is they’re now on my list. When someone gets on the Reaper’s list there is only one outcome. It will come to them eventually and will be the sweetest of them all. Tell me their names and it will set you and your sister free.”
He looks down and I know I’ve got him. He then tells me five names that I write down and commit to memory. Five bastards who are about to pay for their sins. Five men who danced with the devil that night and are heading straight to Hell and five problems that I’m itching to solve.
Then I tell him what he needs to know. It’s up to him what he does with it. It’s no longer up to me. When Tyler returns, he will return a free man.
8
Ashton
The party goes on all around me. Huge, intimidating guys crowd around, offering their congratulations. They make me feel smaller than I am and scare the hell out of me.
The women are no different. They smile but their eyes are cold. They hate everything that just happened and I know they will never accept me. I’m not like them. They don’t want me here and who can blame them. I’ve stolen their prize and they will never forgive me.
Bonnie appears the most genuine. She fusses over me and makes sure I get to eat and drink. She watches that nobody oversteps the mark and makes light conversation; trying to distract me from what just happened.
When I think of Ryder my heart flips. That kiss. That amazing, once in a lifetime, super sexy kiss that blew my world. I can still taste him now. I can still smell that scent that was all male, surrounding me and filling my senses. My husband. How good that sounds.
Almost as soon as the ceremony and legalities were over, he disappeared with Tyler. When Tyler returned he did not. I feel empty without him already. I’m going through the motions but already my heart aches for him. I find myself looking for him at every turn and feel disappointment when I realize he’s missing. What’s happening to me?
Now it’s time and I fight back the tears. Tyler is leaving and taking with him my security, my comfort, and my heart. My brother is the only one I love and to see him walk away is hard. I try to stop the tears from falling but fail miserably. He pulls me close and I never want to let him go. He strokes my hair and whispers,
”I’ll be back for you, Ash. Stay strong, you’ll be fine, I have Ryder’s word on that. Despite his hard edge, he’s an honorable man. No harm will come to you in his care. Trust me to make this right for you.”
I nod, trying to curb the sobs from wracking my body. I can’t fold in front of these people. I need to be strong.
Just before he leaves I see Ryder enter the room. Kitty is with him and my heart sinks. She catches my eye and smirks. Then she wipes her mouth with h
er fingers and looks at me triumphantly. So, this is how it is. I am the perfect wife to the world outside and yet she gets the part of him I crave. He told me had others to satisfy his needs, and it was obviously true. Almost as soon as the ink was dried on our contract, he was celebrating with another. Why does it hurt so bad?
I watch as they move across the room. Ryder stares at me the whole time and I can’t tear my eyes away from him. He demands attention just by his overbearing presence. I don’t miss the cocky smile and amusement in his eyes as he sees me stare. He knows he affects me and loves it.
He moves beside me and slings his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. He drops a light kiss on my head and nods to Tyler.
“I’ll take care of her. You can count on it.”
Tyler nods and looks at him with a tight expression. He turns to me and I see the pain in his eyes. As he opens his arms, I walk into them and sigh as they fold around me. Burying my face into the familiar, hard, comforting chest, I feel my firm resolve slipping away. When Tyler leaves, he will take a piece of my heart with him. He’s everything to me and I’m not sure if I can see this through. I feel my whole body trembling as I wait for the inevitable parting. He leans down and whispers, “Stay strong, Ash. I promise I will sort this and set you free. I love you baby sis, always remember that.”
I nod but words fail me. I can’t speak, it’s too painful. Then I feel a strong hand on my shoulder and feel myself being pulled back to Ryder. He folds me into his chest the same way as Tyler and the familiar changes into the unknown. This chest is strong, and protective but at the same time dangerous. This chest spells danger for my heart and I recognized that the first time I laid eyes on it. He doesn’t speak but I feel his hands rubbing soft circles on my back. He holds me protectively but I also sense an ownership. Just that one gesture says it all. He has taken me from my family and now I’m his.
Tyler clears his throat and I hear the emotion in his voice as he says, “Look after her, Ryder. She’s all I’ve got and I’m trusting her to you. Don’t let me down.”
Then I’m surprised to hear him say roughly.
“Are you ready?”
I look up in surprise and see Kitty standing next to him looking excited.
“I sure am, honey. Readier than you will ever know.”
I hear Ryder laugh softly and look at them in confusion. Tyler just nods and with one last anguished look towards me, he heads off closely followed by Kitty. As the watching crowd disperses I look at Ryder in shock.
“What’s going on?”
He shrugs. “She fancied a change of scene so we traded one woman for another.”
I narrow my eyes and hiss.
“Do you really expect me to believe that? Why would my brother be interested in your whore?”
I feel my blood boiling as I think of that woman with Tyler.
Ryder grins and his eyes flash.
“Men are all the same, Ashton. Haven’t you realized that yet? Put a tempting proposition in front of them and their dicks make the decision for them. Kitty is good at what she does and is one hell of an attractive package. I have no use for her anymore so what’s the problem?”
He leans towards me and whispers huskily. “I have a wife now and what a sexy one she is.”
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Twisted
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Read On for a preview of the book that started this ball rolling.
1
“Morning Amelia.”
I wave my hand but carry on running, there is no time to waste. As I look at my watch, my stomach tightens with anxiety. Silently, I start the countdown.
Ten minutes.
The sweat flows down my back and my running vest is soaked with perspiration. I don’t let up though; I can’t afford to be late.
My heart is racing and my blood pumping mercilessly around my exhausted body.
As I reach Martha Hibbert’s white picket fence I check the time.
Nine minutes.
I try to clear my mind and concentrate on the job in hand. It proves impossible though. My whole body is wired and on full alert. I can think of nothing else but the fact I may be late. I can’t allow that to happen; it wouldn’t end well.
Picking up my pace I see the grocery store in the distance which marks the finish line ahead of me.
My legs are starting to ache and my toes are beginning to hurt. I just pray that the cramp keeps away; I have no time to be delayed by my body.
Fighting to control my breathing I focus on the finishing post. Just past the grocery store and towards the end of a pretty suburban street.
I hear somebody shout my name and pretend not to hear. I have no time for distractions.
Seven minutes.
As I run past the grocery store a little dog wags its tail and looks at me with the eyes of the innocent. Briefly, I smile and my heart melts. A truck rolls past and honks its horn, and the driver calls out.
“Hey sexy, what ya doin later?”
Once again, I pretend not to hear and up my pace.
As I turn the corner to my street, I glance down.
Six minutes.
I can see the finishing post in sight. The white gate of home. My home. It looks so welcoming and yet I want nothing more than to keep on running. Past the familiar and into a world where I am just a face in the crowd. I crave obscurity and the shadows. I crave freedom.
Five minutes.
Gasping for air, I reach the gate and my heart rate increases. I’m home!
As I crash through the front door, I focus on the task at hand. There is no time to stop for a much-needed drink. Kicking off my running shoes I start removing my clothes as I climb the stairs two at a time.
I rip the clothes from my body with no care, leaving them in my wake as I head towards the shower.
Three minutes.
Once I’m naked, I loosen my hair and let it fall around my shoulders. My heart is still thumping but my breathing is starting to slow. The steam from the shower fills the room and I glance at the time.
Two minutes.
Finally, I stand under the hot cleansing jets of water and place my hands on the tiles as I let it pour over me. For the first time, I am still and it feels liberating.
My eyes move to the mirror above the sink and I see the door handle turn. My relief is short-lived.
It’s time.
I feel him approaching, silently, predatory, purposefully.
Ignoring him I carry on soaping my exhaustion away. I use the soap and rub it into my body, slowly and suggestively. The only sound is of the running water and the steam has created a cloud obscuring my view.
Then I am pushed hard against the shower screen and he pushes his leg in between mine and parts them. His hands run down my body and between my legs. I feel his fingers enter my core as he pins me to the screen, my breasts leaving their impression as he continues his explorations. He grips my hands with one strong hand and pulls them above my head. He feels hard against my back and he says in a low voice. “Are you ready for me, Amelia?”
I whimper, “Yes.”
He enters me from behind and fills me completely. I am pinned to the screen and can’t move with him impaled inside my body. He is not gentle, and it is brutal. He pushes inside me relentlessly. Pounding into me and claiming my body as his. The only sound is of our breathing and the thump of my body against the screen. The water pours off us both and I hate myself for the excitement mounting in my core.
He kicks me wider and thrusts in deeper. I cry out and he whispers, “You like that, don’t you little slave?”
I nod and he thrusts in harder. I feel the bite of his hands on my wrists and feel the pain of his attack. Once again, my body betrays me as I feel the release coming. Then with one more thrust, w
e both fall over the edge together.
As I come down from the natural high, like any addict I want more and hate myself for it.
Then he gives me what I crave - more.
Almost immediately, I am pulled from the shower and dragged to my room.
Kicking the door open, he pushes me roughly inside and grins. “On your knees.”
Sinking to the floor I do as he says. He stands above me and I feel the power of the man. It surrounds him like a force field. He owns me mind, body, and soul and he knows it.
Standing before me he grabs my hair and yanks my face up to stare at his. I see the power flashing from his eyes as he looks at me and smiles in a sinister way.
“Take me, little slave.”
I open my mouth and he pushes in roughly. He holds my head in place and punishes me the same way as before. Then he pulls back suddenly and steps away. I watch in confusion as he crosses the room and reaches for his clothes. He proceeds to dress, slowly and carefully, watching me the whole time. He smirks as he sees the disappointment in my eyes.
Then he comes over and pulls me up to face him. My naked body shivers under the icy glare in his eyes. He grabs my wrist and squeezes it hard, saying in a low voice.
“Until later, slave. I’ve got something very special lined up for us tonight. You have the day to wonder what it is.”
He tips my chin towards him and his touch is uncharacteristically gentle.
“Now don’t be late for work. You know what happens to naughty girls, don’t you?”
I nod and he pushes me away. Then he leaves as quickly as he came; leaving me to gather what’s left of my dignity and self-esteem as I quickly get ready for work.
Twisted_A Billionaire Romance Page 19