The Nightingale Trilogy: An Alpha Billionaire Romantic Suspense

by Cynthia Dane

  Nala hurried ass into her assigned bedroom, relieved to find Vincent alone. Bedraggled, but alone.

  “Well?” he snapped. “Did you get anything? Because things have been peachy in here.”

  Nala slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving his tested countenance. I probably should not find that hot. Nala shouldn’t find a lot of things hot, and yet here she was, already thinking about what she heard Sebastian tell Quail two minutes ago. Would Vincent ever say something like that to me? Nala didn’t know if she wanted to hear it or not.

  “You go first. What happened with Robin and Lucian?”

  “Oh, that. After they both – yes, both – tried to rope me into a threesome for you to return to, I managed to fend them off and said that you and I hadn’t really discussed such things yet. They told me to have the chat with you right now so they would know if we would be game next time. Then I think they went back to their room to screw around.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yes, Nala, oh. Because then none other than Xavier Crow peeked in to try and watch us in the act. Did not end well for him because I was all alone, trying to regather my bearings after what had happened. I told him that you were in the bathroom. So?”

  “Yeah, I ran into him out there. I told him the same thing.”

  “Good. And?”

  “And…” Nala sighed. “I didn’t really find anything. That can’t be his real office. It was super empty, aside from some pictures and receipts. Before you can ask, no, I’m not sure I found anything, but I wrote some things down and took pictures anyway. I’ll show them to you later.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Right?”

  They leaned against one another, Vincent still stewing in whatever bothered him. Nala didn’t feel much better. She wanted to take her toys and go home. Between being in Crow’s house, watching that horrendous display of “spanking,” being harassed by people she considered friends, and rummaging through Crow’s office… Nala was over it. Over everything.

  Vincent put a reassuring arm around her, allowing Nala to embrace him from the side. She buried her nose in his chest, feeling “safe” for the first time all night. How crazy is it that this guy I still barely know is my only real friend? The only guy I can trust? He stroked her skin, pulling back more of her hair so he could touch the spot behind her ear. Sighing again, Nala sat up and intercepted his lips for that kiss they were denied what seemed forever ago.

  She thought it would be an almost loving kiss. That was all she could bear in the moment, anyway. Let me feel safe again. And again. And again.

  Instead, she felt his tongue punch into her mouth, devouring her throat as his hands grabbed the back of her head and drew her in closer.

  “Mmf!” Nala could have choked on him! When she finally pushed him away, it was with a gasp, her hands splayed in front of her as she stared at him in disbelief. That was the first time he was that aggressive! “Let a girl breathe, huh?”

  She thought he would apologize. He usually did, unless… oh, no, he was in irate Dom mode, or whatever the fuck this was.

  “Don’t be insolent,” he hissed at her. “You think this is a lovey-dovey game? I could have gotten us in serious trouble with Crow a few minutes ago. You’re lucky you timed it right coming back. I know he would have gone into his office.”

  Nala didn’t mention a certain tidbit.

  “This is a different world. We live in a different world when we’re here. Just like you separate yourself to deal with this, so do I. From the moment I walked through those doors downstairs, I became the Dom I usually keep locked up inside me. So, let me say… from the moment we walked through those doors, my mind has been in overdrive with you, Nightingale.”

  Her eyes widened. “Vin… I mean, sir.”

  “Good.” He tucked more of her hair back, fingers playing with the edges of her mask. “We’re being tracked. Maybe not in terms of our snooping around yet, but we are definitely still on probation. They want us to get over our shyness. Do you know what I mean?”

  She swallowed. “Yeah.”

  He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look him in the cold blue eyes. Oh my shit. He is so fucking hot. Dom Vincent was a different kind of hot from everyday Vincent, but damn if he wasn’t as hot! No, this is wrong. This is the wrong time for this! They were in Crow’s mansion… liable to be seen by him at any time. Nala may be willing to try out exhibitionism under different circumstances, but this was definitely not the right circumstance!

  “Good. I’m not going to make you expose yourself…” he glanced at her chest. “Or so I thought when we were getting ready to come here. Then you walked down my stairs wearing this corset, taunting me. Do you know what that does to a man?”

  Nala didn’t have to guess. I can tell you what it does to me…

  “Take them out.”

  “I…”

  “Now, Nightingale.”

  He spoke directly to the obedient woman inside of her. The one who would drop everything to do whatever her Master commanded. That was Nightingale’s identity. That was who Nala tried to be ever since coming here.

  It would make… things… easier.

  She loosened her corset, eyes flitting to the opening in the door. Someone was screaming in ecstasy from down the hall. Maggie? Quail? Robin was probably passed out drunk, but hey, maybe she sobered up enough to play a game with her equally toasted Master.

  “Don’t dawdle. If you do, I’ll have to punish you.”

  Nala stopped, looking him in the eye. Is he serious? Of course he was. He was a Dom. She was a sub. Her disobedience would lead to sexually frustrating places… here of all places!

  She released her breasts from their casement, careful to keep her back turned toward the door. Vincent’s gaze hovered on her breasts, his hand coming to pinch her nearest nipple.

  “Vincent…” Nala tried to deny the pleasure erupting in tiny spurts within her. “Please don’t make me have intercourse here.”

  His fingers caressed the underside of her breast, lips descending to kiss her bare chest and then whisper in her ear. “I won’t ‘make’ you do anything. I’ll do my best to protect you, but you must obey to the best of your abilities. You never know who is watching and waiting for us to prove ourselves unworthy.”

  Strokes of gentle compliance eased down her back. Nala wanted to sink into his embrace but refrained. He hadn’t told her to do that, after all. I hope you’re enjoying this, Nightingale.

  “We have to hurry. Everyone else is already having the times of their lives.” Vincent eased Nala down onto the floor – in particular, onto her knees. Her back remained toward the door. Yet I feel like everyone can see me. “You don’t have to have finesse. Just do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “Come on, don’t play dumb. It’s not cute on you.”

  Nala furrowed her brows. “I’m serious. What are you talking about?”

  He yanked on her hair, pulling her head back. Nala braced herself against his spreading legs, her boots digging into the carpet and her ass threatening to land behind them. “Suck my cock, Nightingale.”

  She had a feeling he was going to say that.

  Perhaps if they were home – and it was still strange calling it that – she would be into this. Him, dominating her, making her half undress and get on her knees to pleasure him. But they weren’t home. Nala was constantly aware of where they were, and who might be watching.

  Don’t think about that. Think about him. Think about what you might get out of this. A brief escape in a world out to get her.

  Nala really didn’t have any time to lose. She had to hold on to the feeling flooding her as she unzipped his pants and rubbed her hand against his half-erect cock. Vincent propped himself up with one hand while the other combed through her hair. “Is it wrong of me to say this is kind of hot?” he murmured.

  Why are we going there? Nala didn’t want to say that hearing him hiss through his teeth as she pulled him free from his pants made
her hot between the legs, but yet here she was, already imagining him throwing her down on the bed and fucking her.

  He was right, wasn’t he? At some point someone would peek in and expect something to be happening. Even if no one caught Nala giving Vincent quick head, they would definitely hear the way this man came. Better him than Nala, who wouldn’t be able to perform given the conditions. In a way, he was taking one for the team, or at least sparing Nala as much embarrassment as possible.

  As for loosening her corset? Vincent had already made it known a time or two he found her breasts hot, and looking at them – let alone pinching her nipples – was a surefire way to get hard, fast.

  “This is hot, sir,” she said, not intending to sound like a damned robot. Her hand wrapped firm around his base, breath coming dangerously close to his tip. She could smell his musky scent even before lowering her head and tasting the precum already emerging.

  Nala was glad she had volunteered to give this guy oral a while ago, because this was only her second time, and she didn’t trust that a first time would be any shade of good. I barely know what he’s like giving it to me missionary style. She wanted to learn more, though.

  Vincent was fully erect by the time she wrapped her mouth around his girth and began massaging the heavy sack beneath. For all his composure, Vincent struggled to not force himself into her throat. Thank goodness. Nala already had troubles taking as much as she did into her mouth. The last thing she needed was him fucking her face.

  That could happen some other time. When they were home and she could be seen exerting some control over situations.

  “Fuck,” Vincent murmured, one hand pulling her hair while the other ran down her bare back and tickled her filling throat. “Fuck.”

  He said that she could use little finesse and be quick. Under usual circumstances, she would draw this out, make him beg – in the only way Doms can – for release and then take it from her. But they needed to get this over with. There were things to discuss, like… like…uh. I don’t remember. Whatever.

  She had fully escaped into the world Nightingale occupied. As far as she was concerned, this was a game to see how quickly she could get her Master off.

  His cock was already swelling in her mouth by the time he started talking dirty. Loudly. In case anyone was listening in the hall, Nala supposed.

  “Look at you,” he growled, both hands pushed into the thick of her hair. Nala braved glancing up, catching a visage full of dominance. “Taking out your tits for me and sucking my cock. Do you like it, Nightingale?”

  Hearing him say her code name gave her as many shivers as her real name. She relaxed her gaze so he knew she liked it.

  He called her a few choice words. Loudly. Nala wore those words as a badge of honor, taking the challenge head-on as she felt him grow larger within her and prepare to come.

  Sure enough, as if she couldn’t have timed it better herself, Nala brought her mouth down along his shaft as the first wave of his climax occurred. It brought with it the taste of a man who had been forced to come long before he intended. Of course, this was all Vincent’s plan – but Nala didn’t doubt that he would like to take his time and hold back as much as possible. What man didn’t want to enjoy this aspect of a woman’s attentions?

  Nala continued to lick whatever her tongue could find as he finished on the back of her throat. She relaxed her gag as best as she could, breathing through her nose so she could swallow everything he gave her before pulling off his cock. When she finally did, she met the languid eyes of a man who damn well wanted to enjoy the afterglow of this kind of lovemaking.

  “Shit, that was good.”

  “You think anyone noticed?” Nala wiped him from the corner of her mouth. Vincent reached over, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to her.

  “If you didn’t notice me making all that noise, then I don’t know what to tell you. I’m practically famous in the club now, I’m sure.”

  She hadn’t heard anything, but that was neither here nor there. I must have been really into it… His scent overwhelmed more than his voice did. That was the epitome of erotic. That and taste. Nala could indulge in that all day if given the chance. Maybe I will be one day. It wasn’t coming anytime soon. When they weren’t having quickies in the club, they were passed out dead in his loft. Or Nala was running away from everything…

  Vincent helped her up onto the bed. At first she thought he would push her down and give her pleasure, but – thankfully – he merely brought her into his embrace and stroked the back of her head.

  “I’m sorry for making you do these things.”

  She patted his back. “You don’t make me do anything. I know what our situation is as much as you do.”

  “I don’t delude myself into thinking that this is ideal for you, though.”

  “I’m sure it is for you, though. Mr. Dom who likes controlling women during sex.”

  He laughed, almost tragically. “I won’t lie. It gets me off pretty damn good, but even so, it’s not really under my conditions. If I had to redo these past five minutes…”

  Vincent didn’t have to tell her. It would’ve been a lot more fun for me too.

  She put on a brave face. After all, Nala couldn’t let her world turn into a pity party because she couldn’t have a whole night’s worth of great sex with Vincent. Yes, that’s the problem. That’s what she told herself as she broke out of his hold and fixed herself up in the nearest mirror. Vincent fixed his clothes and kept his eyes on her back. Even though she no longer pointed her breasts at him, he still found something to stare longingly at.

  Nala cracked a smile. When do I tell him about what I found?

  First, she needed to go to the bathroom. For real, this time.

  Eventually Nala would learn to stop going to the bathroom at these club meetings. Nothing ever, ever good came out of them.

  This time Nala’s punishment came in the form of Hawk, leaning against the wall outside the bedroom door. The smirk on her pointed face as she uncrossed her arms and faced Nala nearly struck her dead right there and then.

  “Good job, little Nightingale,” she purred, voice laced in arsenic. “I was starting to suspect that you and Master Lane didn’t have much going on.”

  Nala’s spine bristled. “We have plenty going on, let me assure you.” Her tongue would be the death of her. “Want me to describe how his cock feels in my ass?” Whoa, sometimes the lies got away from her!

  “That’s quite all right.” Hawk’s smirk did not waver, and that disturbed Nala more than anything else. “Oh, don’t worry that pretty head of yours, Nightingale. You and Master Lane are his favorites right now, and that’s not a terrible thing to be. Just… keep in mind that his whims change. A lot. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

  Nala had a pretty good idea, but did her best to not react.

  “I’ll leave you to your cleanup then. Wouldn’t want to keep your Master waiting for you.”

  That was her cue to leave, so Nala did, stealing into the bathroom at the end of the hall as Xavier Crow’s office door creaked open to let him back out.

  Nala locked the bathroom door behind her and held herself there, chest heaving in exasperation as her knees buckled beneath her. The potpourri scent filling the room made her want to gag. The black walls and stark, white plumbing frightened her in ways no décor should. What is happening to me? Was it the thrill of the espionage? Was it the arousal Vincent brought out of her when he forced her to her knees and opened his trousers for her awaiting mouth? No. No, it was Hawk, who had been standing outside their door listening for the sounds of sex.

  Although Nala knew that people would be watching, it wasn’t until now that she realized people would be watching. Not just the occasional giggly Robin and her ravenous boyfriend Lucian. Xavier Crow. And Hawk.

  They would be watching, waiting for them to mess up.

  They would be watching, waiting to see Nala and Vincent in their most intimate moments. Waiting to see what they thoug
ht was Vincent humiliating his girlfriend.

  Nala.

  No, Nightingale.

  Maybe Nightingale didn’t care, but it was times like these that Nala found it impossible to separate the two identities. How was she supposed to, when the heart she and Nightingale shared were the same? Their spirits? She could say that their minds were one, but separate, but that was hogwash. At the end of the day, they were the same women, both struggling to fight back their anger, their feelings for…

  Their feelings for Vincent.

  Nala sucked up her pride and whatever else she felt as she went back to their room and made a grand show of placating and servicing whatever Vincent wanted. This followed them out to the salon, where two other sexually sated couples waited with drinks and canoodles. Nala whispered in Vincent’s ear that he should insinuate what they had done, all while stroking his arm and inner thigh, pointing her chest to him and employing every bit of body language she had to make it look like she craved her Master’s machinations.

  The more she detached and let Nightingale’s mind takeover, the easier it was. Nala had to retreat, deep into her mind, her body, forgetting the shock and pain she felt the moment she realized how far into this world they were. Somehow she managed to stick out the rest of the night. Vincent didn’t suggest they leave until three other couples had. By then, Crow and Hawk had been engaging him in tech talk while Nala gradually loosened the ties on her corset again. Never enough to let her breasts pop out, but enough to imply she wanted her Master to do her good when they got back home.

  I feel so dirty.

  Vincent led her downstairs when it was time to leave. He was parked deep in the shadows, and it wasn’t until the headlights of his car turned on that Nala realized they were still on Crow’s property.

  She stayed strong as they pulled down the dirt road toward the main road. She stayed strong as they descended the hills, weaving in and out until they hit Burnside again, the road that would take them home.

  Home.

  Vincent’s loft was now home.