Ice In His Veins

by Tressie Lockwood

  “Considering I’m American, I’m not sure what the traditional meals in Norway are nor what I will think of them. Regardless, I expect you’re a good hostess being Reinhart’s companion.”

  She made a small squeak of alarm. “I’m not his companion! I’m here for— We are just friends, I assure you. He doesn’t have a woman in his life—a mother or sister—to help him arrange his parties, so I’m here to help. Reinhart invited me as a guest just like anyone else.”

  They walked up the stairs to the entrance, and Arik allowed her to precede him through the doorway. “I apologize for my mistake.”

  Karina pouted and spun to face him. “Okay, I will forgive you. But we should become very good friends, very close to make up for your error.”

  She grasped his arm and bounced on her toes causing her breasts to follow suit. Arik moved past her and checked his phone. At last Chevelle had answered.

  “I’ll come if you need me for work.”

  He rubbed his chin as he read the message. In other words, she had no wish to show up for him as his lover.

  “Do what you like,” he typed back.

  She didn’t respond, and he began a conversation with Reinhart. The night passed by too slowly, where he had to field constant advances from Karina. Arik knew how to make a woman back off, but he didn’t want to be that harsh with her. Not only was his mind elsewhere she didn’t offend him to look at or to converse with.

  Not soon enough the evening ended. Arik stood from the armchair where he had been drinking coffee and chatting with Reinhart. “I should go,” he began.

  Reinhart stood. “I thought you would stay a little longer. Now that our business is at a conclusion, we can take matters on to a more personal note.”

  Arik stiffened. “We don’t have anything to discuss of a personal nature.”

  “Your mom…”

  Arik clenched his jaw. “…abandoned us. That’s old news that doesn’t affect me.”

  “She was on drugs. Did you know that?” Reinhart made himself a drink and sat down again, oblivious to Arik’s disgust at the topic of conversation. “Did you ever wonder why you’re so put off by the subject? It still affects you after all this time. It’s why Brand is so angry.”

  Arik’s tone turned frosty. “You know neither of us.”

  Reinhart swallowed his drink, emptying the glass. “My sister left us because she was selfish and cared only for herself. When I tracked her here, I found she had gotten into the partying scene with drinking and drugging. I was disgusted with her, and I regret my response was to turn my back on her. I felt she deserved what she got, and I held onto those feelings for many years.”

  Arik was quiet for several minutes, and then he sat down. He ran his hands over his thighs, still hating the subject but a little less hostile. “There was a time she took me with her. Do you know that? When I was four.”

  Reinhart gasped in surprise. “You mean after the state took you?”

  “Yes.” Arik could feel the vein bulging in his left temple. He rubbed the spot. “She said we would be family again, that she was trying very hard and that she’d met a new man to take care of her and me.”

  He swore and shook his head. Just meeting Reinhart had brought all of those memories back. He recalled more and more now. He remembered the couple of months with his mother when he was four. Her relationship with the latest loser hadn’t lasted. When it crumbled, so did her desire to keep Arik. What he didn’t understand was how she had kept him for that time period but never once mentioned Brand and Cael. What had she been thinking? He couldn’t imagine a woman so undeserving of being a mother as her.

  “Since you grew up in foster care, I’m assuming it didn’t last long.”

  Arik clenched his jaw. “No, it didn’t.”

  “And what about Cael and Brand?” Reinhart asked.

  As he spoke, the door opened. Cael walked in. He’d been out to the driveway to show off his new ride to Brand. Cael had eaten dinner with them, but Brand arrived just after they finished. As usual, his middle brother’s gaze skimmed over him and his uncle, and then he took his seat. Arik couldn’t tell if Brand was impressed with the car or not. He wondered why Brand would bother showing up if he hated them all.

  “About the car,” Arik said, ignoring the subject of his brothers and their mother since they two had just walked in. “Don’t you think it’s a bit much?”

  “Because you can’t afford it?” Brand stood near the door, leaning on the wall. His stance seemed negligible, but Arik had the impression he was ready to bolt if need be.

  Arik narrowed his eyes at his brother. “What I can and can’t afford isn’t your concern.”

  Brand snorted. “That’s funny. I thought the subject was you nosing your way into Cael and Reinhart’s business.”

  Arik flushed. “I’m saying spoiling Cael isn’t going to make him a responsible man.”

  “And I’m saying, that’s none of your damn business!”

  “Ladies,” Cael said, grinning, not in the least offended. “Let’s all get along. Tell you what. I’ll share the car with both of you. I’m not selfish.”

  Brand eyed Cael with impatience.

  Arik grumbled under his breath. “You know this isn’t about the car itself, Cael.”

  “It’s not? Too bad because she’s perfect.” Cael was joking around now. Arik saw it. His brother might be immature, but he wasn’t a fool. His refusing to take the situation seriously spoke volumes. Arik began to feel like he fought a losing battle, and he gave in for the night.

  When he stood, so did Reinhart. “I had a good time talking to you, my boy,” Reinhart said. “Maybe next time Cael will focus on visiting with us, and Brand will show up on time.”

  There was no animosity in his tone. Brand stuffed his hands into his pockets and spun away to leave the room. Cael whistled behind him, heading toward the front of the mansion.

  Arik shook Reinhart’s hand. “I’ll go over those numbers again and have my secretary set up another meeting between us. Reinhart, I appreciate your willingness to let me invest in the venture.”

  Disappointment colored eyes so like his. “Can you consider calling me uncle?”

  Arik cringed, and Reinhart sighed.

  “With time, I suppose. I know you don’t agree with me buying Cael that car.”

  “He’s weak, and he doesn’t care about forging his own way in life. You handing him everything on a silver platter isn’t going to make him a better man.”

  “But it will make him loyal.”

  Arik sneered. “To you.”

  “To family.”

  “I don’t follow your reasoning.”

  “I see in Cael so many characteristics of my sister. She was the same, irresponsible, self-centered. I was rigid and unyielding to her, and it drove her away.”

  “So you seek to assuage your guilty conscience by buying my brother.”

  Something glittered in Reinhart’s eyes that Arik couldn’t pinpoint. “Are you going to fight me over him? Do you really think you can win?”

  Arik flared his nostrils. “I’ve never lost any battle I’ve chosen to enter.”

  “Neither have I.”

  They faced off, glaring at each other. Arik maintained his stance and didn’t break eye contact, but he wasn’t sure of this particular battle. If Cael was like his mother in many respects, Reinhart knew the type better. Not to mention the fact that Arik didn’t have the resources Reinhart commanded. He could probably buy Cael as many cars as his heart desired. Arik had no wish to buy off his brother at all.

  Voices reached them, and Arik looked over to find Brand and Cael standing at the side of Cael’s car. Cael was saying something to Brand in an animated way, which included gesturing wildly with his hands. Brand watched Cael’s face, listening with intensity. Or perhaps he was thinking of something else as a way to appear to be paying attention.

  Frustration hit Arik in that moment. He had no idea of the true feelings of either of his brothers. All t
hree of them were still strangers. Yet, there was a common bond of blood that made them attempt to get to know each other. He wondered how far they would take it, or would he give up and just let them drift away?

  Family. He never wanted family, and he couldn’t say he wanted it now. Yet, he continued to watch his brothers for a long while, forgetting Reinhart and his challenge. While he watched, Brand seemed to feel his gaze and glanced over. Arik tried to decipher the look Brand gave him, but he wasn’t sure. He began to wonder if Brand hated him. Did he remember their mother, or did he know Arik left with her and didn’t demand that he and Cael be brought to live with the two of them?

  Cael waved to him and shouted. “Come on, big bro. We’re going for a ride.”

  Arik bit down on his jaw. “I have other things to attend to.”

  “Don’t be a spoil sport!”

  To his surprise, Brand climbed into the back seat of the car as Cael whipped behind the wheel. Cael leaned on the horn, and Arik sighed. He strode over, opened the passenger side door, and folded into the vehicle.

  Cael beamed at him. “Now I’ll show you what a great driver I am.”

  “I didn’t need a demonstration. I believed you.”

  “The three amigos!” Cael whooped. “Let’s go.”

  They were off down the drive and on the street in seconds with Cael telling them entertaining stories at the top of his lungs.

  Chapter 11

  A roaring engine caught Chevelle’s attention, and she peeked out the window. Her jaw dropped when she found Cael behind the wheel of a red sports car and of all people Arik climbing out of the passenger side. Where did he leave his car?

  She had her answer when another car pulled up to the curb. Brand was driving Arik’s car. He handled the vehicle with ease, and after parking, he climbed out and walked over to Arik to drop the keys into his hand. The three men stood in the drive talking a few minutes, and then Cael and Brand roared off.

  Chevelle watched Arik drive his car into the garage, and her heart warmed to think of the three of them getting along and getting to know each other. Before long, they might be like any other family.

  The door to the garage opened, and Arik strode in. His expression and bearing showed zero of what he must have felt hanging out with his brothers. Chevelle couldn’t hold her enthusiasm back.

  “Wow, it looked like your guys were getting along. Did you have fun tonight?”

  He looked at her like she had two heads. “Cael is irresponsible, and Brand is… I’m not sure. Whatever the case, fun isn’t what I would call it.”

  Disappointment dampened her mood. “Well, you let Brand drive your car.”

  He shrugged. “Cael seems to have latched onto Brand, and he might prove useful to my purposes.”

  “Purposes?” She almost shouted. “You can’t be serious. You want to use your brothers? What purposes could you possibly have for them? I thought the three of you were getting along and that before you know it you’d all love each other. But you’re standing there talking about using Brand and Cael. I can’t believe you.”

  He frowned. “I never told you I sought to love them.”

  “For just a second I thought… I hoped…” She shook her head. “Silly me. You are cold as ice, and I don’t know why I thought it would somehow be different with them.”

  She started to walk away, but he captured her arm. “Where are you going?”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She jerked away again, but he caught up to her and swirled her around to face him. A small flick of his wrist forced her bodily against him and pushed the breath from her lungs.

  She struggled, but Arik wasn’t hearing of her escape. Desperate, she tried to smack him in the face, but he captured her hand and trapped it behind her back.

  “Let me go, Arik!”

  Her stupid body was already betraying her. His gentle manhandling had turned her on from day one, and she feared he knew it. Damn him.

  He leaned toward her, but she turned her head. That didn’t daunt him in the least because he went after her ear. She didn’t know why, but a soft breath in her ear sent her into orbit. Especially if it came from Arik.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t want me,” he demanded.

  She glared up at him. “Who’s pretending? That’s not the point. I’m trying to have a conversation with you.”

  “I’ve heard enough conversation for one night.”

  “Arik.”

  He nuzzled her neck. Tingles of awareness raced down her spine. She tried not to close her eyes, but the stupid lids shut anyway. Against her will, her foolish head went back, exposing her neck. Arik took advantage and rained kisses along the column. She shivered. Before he came home, she had said she would keep control and just tell him it was over. From the first sight of him, her resolve weakened. At the first touch, she could almost hear it crumble. Her panties were wet with longing for him.

  One last night can’t hurt, right?

  Pain in her chest restricted her breathing. Why did she love him so damn much? Why with one look and one touch did she feel like he held all the control and she was helpless to do anything to become his willing slave.

  “Arik, we need to—”

  He covered her mouth with his own. Before she could form the thought, she was already parting her lips wider to welcome his tongue. Need escalated to a level she couldn’t deny, and she arched into him. He released the hand behind her back, and she wound it about his neck, coming up to her toes. He raised her off her feet, and a moan escaped her.

  His mouth slanted over hers, consuming her, drawing a response she was helpless to do anything but give. She stuck her tongue out, meeting his, and they entwined them together, moaning and tasting. He was hard as a rock, and she spread her legs. He raised her higher so she could feel his erection through her clothes. Oh how she’d loved to be naked at that second, to feel him penetrate her.

  Arik sensed her desire, or it could be he felt the same. The sound of her zipper lowering filled the room, and her jeans dropped to floor at his coaxing. Her panties soon followed. Arik did all this with one hand while still kissing her and holding her up with one arm. He moved to his own pants but didn’t do more than lower them over his narrow hips. After shoving his boxer briefs lower, he thrust forward. She screamed in ecstasy when his shaft drove between her folds.

  “Arik!”

  She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and squeezed her eyes shut. He crushed her to him, grinding deep inside her. Each time he withdrew, she moaned in protest but lost her mind the second he drove forward. Her desire climbed higher while he met every need and made new ones along the way. She couldn’t get enough. Pulling up a little while holding his shoulders helped her to come down hard on his shaft. It meant she would be sore later, but who cared?

  “More,” she begged. “Harder. I need it.”

  His growl filled her ear, and his embrace tightened. She thought he’d crack her in half, but the ache mixed with pleasure as their bodies came together. Her wetness ran down the sides of his shaft and dampened the tops of her thighs. She got off on the sound they made because of how wet he had made her. That coupled with the slap of their flesh meeting took her to the edge.

  “I’m going to come, Arik.”

  “That’s exactly my aim.” He growled the words in a deep tone and leaned down until his mouth touched her shoulder. One stinging nip, and she was done. She screamed his name as an orgasm crashed through on her. Limbs shaking, she whispered his name again and again. Her strength left, and she collapsed onto his shoulder. Arik’s thumb stroked her skin as he held her. With a few quick thrusts, she sensed his release coming. One hand moved up her spine to the base of her head, and he tangled fingers into her hair. “Chevelle.”

  “Yes.”

  He pounded into her, and then she felt the warmth, stealing over her insides. He had come at last.

  When they were both still and quiet, Arik lifted her off his shaft and set her on her feet. She wobbled a little, and
he caught her until she was stable. After that, he released her and turned to walk toward the bedroom. She hesitated, watching him. His pants hanging low on his hips was so unlike his normal style of dress but was sexy as hell.

  She told herself she would give him tonight only. Her original idea was to skip the dinner and sleep at home, but just thinking about being with him one more time had kept her at his house. She’d made love to him, and now she should make up an excuse to leave.

  Arik stopped at the beginning of the hallway and looked back at her. He crooked a finger in her direction, indicating she should follow. He brooked no arguments. If she didn’t move soon, he’d come after her and give her body no mercy. Punishment was sweet torture without release. Arik could play her desires like a professional and hold satisfaction off as long as he liked.

  “Chevelle.” That was his last warning.

  She moved toward him, noting he’d already begun to grow hard again. If she was going to break it off, it wasn’t going to be like this. She was too weak to his every touch and to his iron will.

  With a few steps, she met him where he stood. His arm came around her waist like a steel trap. She flattened her palms against his chest. “Arik, about—”

  He covered her lips with is own, cutting off her words. When he raised her into his arms and carried her down the hall, she forgot what she intended to tell him. At that moment all that mattered was being in his bed and lying under him.

  Arik stripped the rest of her clothing off and left her naked in the center of the bed. He hovered above her. The intensity in his gaze took her breath. She panted and glanced away. He reached out and captured her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. The pad of one thumb brushed over her lips, and he tipped her chin higher as he leaned over the bed. Their mouths met. Her world tilted for a second as he delved inside with his tongue.

  “Your skin is so soft.” His hands explored every inch of her body, ending at the spot between her thighs. Not the center but close to it.