by S. E. Lund
"Goddammit.”
I drove toward the restaurant Stepan's family owned. When I arrived and parked, I noticed the sentries on each street corner, standing in dark doorways.
George exited a vehicle and walked up to my SUV, hopping in the passenger side.
"Has the team arrived?”
“Not yet. Just relax, Hunter. He has probably just brought her in to scare you.”
“I'm scared.” I'd been such a fool to let Celia get under my skin. “By all rights, I should let him keep her, George.”
“It would be best,” George said and nodded. “What is so special about her? There are other prettier birds, far easier to tame, I think. This one will just give you trouble.”
I frowned. “That’s what you think? That’s your advice?”
“Is not advice. Does not matter what I think—is what is best for you. I just offer one side for you to consider. Is maybe harder choice, but cleaner all around. Will show them how nothing matters to you—certainly not little bird.”
I ground my fist into my temple. “I have to get her back. Everything you said is true, but it doesn’t matter.”
He squeezed my arm. “She will be fine.”
I shook my head, my fists clenched. “She could already be dead.”
“No, no,” George said, shaking his head. “Ivan knows that would mean all-out war. You are Victor's friend. You had his consent to beat up Stepan. She is probably fine.”
“She can’t stay in her apartment any longer. She’s coming to live at the safe house.”
“To stay with you?”
“She’ll have to stay with me so I can protect her. You'll be providing security.”
George nodded.
“If anything happens to her…” I exhaled, trying to get control over myself. “I knew it was a mistake to help her. I knew she was trouble the minute I laid eyes on her again.”
George shrugged. “Then let him do what he wants with her if you feel she is too much trouble. He takes care of problem for you.”
I said nothing. There was no way I would abandon Celia.
“You can still call off operation," George said softly.
I shook my head even more firmly. I couldn’t respond, so I just picked up my weapon and waited for the signal that my crew had arrived.
Once they had, all my thoughts turned to executing the operation. I exited the vehicle, grabbed my weapon, and in full battle rattle, I signalled to my men to take up pre-determined positions around the four-block-wide perimeter surrounding the warehouse before moving in on my signal. One had already scoped out the area, checking for sentries, and had let us know where the men were located.
We moved in, knocking out the guard inside the warehouse so I could slip inside and check out what was happening before I ordered the team in.
The warehouse was filled floor to ceiling with row upon row of furniture—couches, chairs, tables, and beds. I entered the kitchen and two of my men followed, holding their guns up, urging the cooks and prep people to be quiet.
I went through the building to the restaurant and saw Celia sitting with Ivan. Her face was pale and she looked so fragile. It made my once-ice-cold blood almost boil. Ivan had gone too fucking far. Undaunted by my presence, Ivan pulled out a switchblade and proceeded to clean his nails with it. That was a clear signal that he would harm Celia if he and I didn’t come to some agreement.
By all rights, I should have let Ivan do whatever he wanted with Celia. By rescuing her, I was reinforcing how important she was to me. I had to go over the top, send a message that could not be mistaken.
Mess with me and you will suffer.
My response had to be all out of proportion. I had to turn it into a matter of pure dominance.
You harm my possessions, you will pay.
Big time.
Standing on the top of the heap invited every jerk with ambition to try to climb up and knock you off. I understood I had to show Stepan and Victor that I would not allow even a single step up on the edges of the heap.
When I stepped into the dining room, Ivan stood up and held out his palms. Celia stood as well, her face pale, but her eyes told me she was relieved to see me.
"Slow," Ivan said and held out his hand. "There is no need for weapons. I'm merely returning your property."
I moved closer, my gun now held down at my side. I went to Celia and ran my thumb over her cheek where she must have hit her head in the crash. A bruise was starting, the tissue red and abraded.
"Are you okay? Do you need to go to the ER?"
She shook her head and stepped back, glancing at Ivan, who was smiling.
Ivan nodded. "You see what I mean, pretty girl?"
"You're wrong."
"You're wrong, what?" I asked, but Celia didn’t reply. She kept staring at me, her gaze intense. Finally, I turned to Ivan, and pointed the gun at his head.
"Stop!" Celia said and tried to grab my arm. "He didn't hurt me."
I said and did nothing, but kept my gun pointed at Ivan.
"If you or any of your Russian thugs are ever within one hundred feet of her, I'll kill you."
I lowered my gun and grabbed her arm. On his part, Ivan smiled like he found my threat amusing.
"Just trying to do a good deed," Ivan said, chuckling. "What thanks do I get? A gun pointed at my head…"
"You're lucky that's all I did," I replied and pulled Celia past my two men, who remained behind, their weapons still drawn. We went back through the restaurant, past white-faced cooks who knew enough to stand back from their counters and grills, their activities halted. My other two men stood guard, watching them. Finally, we left through the back exit into my SUV, which was idling, the rear passenger door open. A driver stood beside it, his hand on the door at the ready.
"Get in," I said softly. I helped her in and then started to fasten her seat belt.
She pushed my hand away. "I can do it."
I lifted my head and met her eyes. I said nothing, watching while she fastened the belt and sat back.
I got in beside her and the driver took off, tires squealing as we left the back alley and merged onto one of Boston's busy downtown streets.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
I said nothing for a moment, my finger tapping on my cell.
"I have to get back to my dorm," Celia said. "I have to study—"
"The safe house," I replied.
"What?" Celia said in protest.
I held up my hand. "Don't say a word."
"Hunter!" Celia was clearly upset. "Our agreement doesn't extend to my ordinary life. I need to go home."
I leaned closer and put my hand behind her head, turning her face so she had to meet my gaze.
"This isn't ordinary life anymore, Celia. That was a message sent from Stepan's brother to me," I said, trying hard to keep my voice calm. "You're in danger in case you didn’t get the message. Taking you was a threat that he could harm you at any time if he wanted. Do you understand?"
She blinked several times, but didn't respond, nodding her head.
I let go and leaned back for a moment, calming myself. Then, I texted the guard at the safe house, and we drove the rest of the way in silence.
While we drove, I considered my circumstances. I wasn't going to let some Russian Goodfella mobster-wannabe take away a toy I was planning on playing with—and playing with real fucking soon.
Chapter 9: Celia
We arrived at a warehouse on the other side of the waterfront, the vehicles screeching to a halt in the back alley. I followed Hunter out of the vehicle and into the rear door to the building, which appeared to be an empty furniture store.
We took a freight elevator to the top floor and emerged into a wide sparsely decorated space. A large bed stood in one corner – four-poster with a thick gold and burgundy damask coverlet and several matching throw pillows. In another corner was a small office of sorts with a few desks and some computer monitors separated off from the rest of the room by some of
fice space dividers. An older man with a grey brush cut sat in front of one of the screens. He turned to us when we approached.
"Leave us," Hunter said to the man, who merely nodded without a word. He grabbed a messenger bag off the desk and left out the door we entered.
When we were alone, Hunter grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the bed, pushing me back onto it, his gaze fixed on me. He leaned over me, forcing me back onto the bed beneath him.
"Don't say a word," he said, his face inches from mine, his voice low and husky. He pulled off my jacket and then tore at my blouse, removing it roughly, then unfastened my bra. "Take off your clothes," he ordered and I complied, my hands shaking.
When I was completely naked, he lay on top of me, grabbing my hands and holding them over my head.
"I'm going to fuck you. Now."
He unbuckled his pants, unzipped and, without undressing at all, pulled out his erection, which was thick and hard. He leaned back over me, pressing against me so that I could feel his length between the lips of my sex. He held my hands in his once more, his mouth almost touching mine, but not quite, and he stared into my eyes. I was barely able to breathe, my pulse rapid, a mix of fear and desire battling inside me.
Then he kissed me, his kiss almost desperate, his mouth devouring mine like he couldn’t get enough. The kiss went on and on, and despite everything, I responded, my body unable to resist his weight on top of me, his cock pressing against my clit. When he broke the kiss, he entered me fully, right to the hilt, exhaling as he did, his eyes closing.
No condom.
"Nice and wet. Nice and tight," he whispered. He reached down, spreading the lips of my sex, feeling the hard nub of my clit with his fingers. I tried not to respond, but couldn't help but gasp at the feel of his fingers on my flesh. "Nice and hard. Almost ready to burst."
He grabbed one foot in each hand and lifted my legs so that my heels rested on his shoulders, and started to thrust inside me, his hands pulling my hips toward him with each thrust. I watched him from beneath my lashes as his gaze moved over my body, from my face to my breasts and down to watch himself fucking me.
Then he leaned down further, cupping my breasts, his finger and thumb squeezing each nipple briefly. He supported his weight on his hands so that his face was above mine, my legs now spread wide. I closed my eyes.
"Don't close your eyes," he said. "Look at me."
I did, staring into his face, his expression one of lust and determination. Because of his position, with each deep thrust his pubic bone rubbed against me and the sensations built inside me even though I’d thought I wouldn't get enough direct stimulation. I bore down with each of his thrusts, squeezing my muscles, trying to increase the pressure when his body met mine. I gritted my teeth with the effort to increase the sensations.
Finally, when his pace quickened, it was enough and I felt an incredible wave of pleasure start deep inside of me, causing my muscles to tense then contract, my body arching as my orgasm began. I couldn't hold back a groan of pleasure, my eyes closing despite my best efforts, my body spasming around him as he thrust even more rapidly inside of me.
When his thrusts became erratic, his climax began, his lips by my ear, grunting with each thrust as he ejaculated.
When he was finished, he lay on top of me for a moment, his face beside mine, his mouth by my ear, his breathing rapid.
"You're staying here now," Hunter said, his voice low. "James will drive you to class and wait for you in the parking lot. You'll come here right after your classes are over for the day. If I'm not here, George will be. He'll protect you."
I nodded, unable to argue. I felt as scared of Ivan, Victor and his thugs as Hunter seemed to want me to be.
"I want you ready for me whenever I need you. Any time of the day, any day of the week."
I didn't nod or reply. What could I say? From the way my body responded to him with barely any preliminaries, I'd have no problem being ready for him.
He rose and tucked himself in, zipped up, and fastened his belt.
Then he turned and left the apartment.
I rolled onto my side, my body vibrating from the experience. I didn't know what to think of the night and what had happened to me, or what Hunter had done and how he’d responded.
I only knew one thing: I was his now.
He owned me in more ways than one.
END OF PART TWO
PART THREE, BAD BOY SAVIOR, TO BE RELEASED IN MAY!
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About the Author
S. E. Lund is a writer who lives with her family of humans and pets in a century-old house on a quiet tree-lined street in a small city in Western Canada. She writes erotic, contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. You can find her on Twitter @selundwriter, on Facebook as well as on Goodreads. Look for details and updates on current and new releases at www.selund.com
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Also by S. E. Lund
The Unrestrained Series: Kate’s Point of View
Book One: The Agreement
Book Two: The Commitment
Book Three: Unrestrained
The Drake Series: The Unrestrained Series as told from Drake's Point of View
Book One: Drake Restrained
Book Two: Drake Unwound
Book Three: Drake Unbound
Books from both Kate’s and Drake’s points of view:
Book Four: Unbreakable
Book Five: Forever After
The Dominion Series: Paranormal Romance
Book One: Dominion
Book Two: Ascension
Book Three: Retribution
Book Four: Resurrection
Book Five: Redemption
The Vampire’s Pet: Paranormal Romance
The Vampire’s Pet: Part One: Prince of the City
(Coming in 2017)
The Brimstone Series: Contemporary Romance
Book One: If You Fall