My heart was pounding away like a brass band.
“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay. You’re fine. Now you just have to let go.”
Right, let go and land on the balcony below me. It would be fine. I could do it.
I looked down.
But what if I missed the balcony? What if I fell all the way to the ground from here? I’d survive, I was fairly sure, but I thought I might break some bones.
Shit.
Still, I didn’t think I could haul myself up back up to where I’d started. I’d reached the point of no return, and I had to let go. I had to.
I didn’t let go.
My arms were starting to ache from holding my weight.
Shit.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Why had I thought this was a great idea?
There was a whooshing sound. Something dark moved through the air right next to me.
Startled, I lost my grip.
I was falling for real, now, hurtling off the side of the building, and I didn’t know if I was going to land on the balcony or no—
Strong arms caught me.
Vigil was swinging from a cord. He held me close to him.
I wasn’t sure if I was relieved and grateful to him for saving me from falling or angry with him for thwarting my escape attempt.
He chuckled low in my ear. “Going somewhere, Cecily?”
“Not anymore,” I said. “Not thanks to you.”
He still seemed amused. “I see I’m going to have to move you to a room that doesn’t have a balcony, aren’t I?”
“You jackass,” I said, my anger surging.
He swung us back up over my old balcony and deposited me on firm ground.
Despite my anger, it felt good to be safe and sound.
He let go of me, and I took a slow, steadying breath.
“Seriously, that was incredibly stupid,” he said. “You could have hurt yourself very badly.”
“Well, I didn’t have a choice. You’re keeping me here against my will.” But it was weird looking at him. He looked good to me, the way he always did. I would have thought that now, after everything, I wouldn’t be attracted to him, but apparently, my lady parts didn’t care that he was a psycho kidnapper.
He let out a frustrated breath. “God damn it, Cecily.”
What was he complaining about now?
He grabbed me around the waist and tugged me firmly against him.
“What are you doing?” I meant it to sound angry and self-righteous, but the bottom had gone out of my voice and it sounded breathy and excited. “Let go of me.”
He kissed me.
His lips were sweet, and I found myself running my hands over his chest, sighing into his mouth, losing myself at his touch.
He groaned low in his throat. “Why do you do this to me?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Vigil picked me up, one hand below my ass to support me, one hand on my back to balance. He crushed me against him and claimed my mouth, kissing me furiously.
I was putty in his arms, surrendering to him completely, much to my own chagrin.
He carried me across the balcony and deposited me on the table.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, sliding searching fingers over the swell of his upper arms and shoulders. He was huge, hot, and hard, and I didn’t seem to be able to keep my hands off of him.
He tugged at the edge of my shirt. “I want you topless,” he hissed. “I want to look at you.”
I helped him take my shirt off. Then I leaned back, propping myself up with my arms, putting my breasts on display.
He tossed my shirt carelessly aside, sucking in breath as he took me in. He slid his fingers under the straps of my bra. “I thought this would look good on you.”
I was stunned. “You picked out lingerie for me?”
He pulled the straps off my shoulders, kissing my shoulder, my collarbone.
“That reminds me. How the hell did you know all my sizes?”
He reached behind me and unclasped the bra. “I had Nolan hack your Victoria Secret account.”
“Nolan can do that?”
He pulled the bra away from my skin. “You really want to keep talking about Nolan?”
I started to say something, but I stopped. I was struck by the hungry look in his eyes as he gazed at me. I didn’t think anyone had ever looked at me quite like that. Half of his face was covered in a mask, but he still managed to be so expressive with simply his eyes and his mouth. It took my breath away.
“Beautiful,” he whispered.
I bit down on my lip. I tightened my thighs around his waist.
He weighed my breasts in his gloved hands. “The things I want to do you, Cecily.”
Muscles deep inside me clenched. “Do them,” I ordered.
He chuckled. He rubbed thumbs over my nipples.
They stiffened into hard peaks. Pleasure thrummed through me.
“You’re not going to write an article about my identity.”
“The hell I’m not,” I gasped.
He began to rub my nipples slowly and gently. “You’re not.”
I moaned. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I can.” He pressed me backwards, so that I was lying on the table. His mouth found one of my nipples, sucking hard on it.
I cried out.
His mouth released the sensitive nub. “I am telling you what to do. And you’re going to listen to me.”
Just because he was sending bursts of pleasure all through my body? That didn’t mean anythin—
He captured my other nipple with his mouth.
I moaned again. What had I been thinking about?
And he was assaulting my breasts, his mouth and fingers all over me, pinching my nipples, licking them. I felt each touch like a tight thread of bliss that went straight to my clit. It pulsed, and my body clenched on itself.
I thrashed in his arms, squeezing my legs around him, holding him in place, moaning out my delight into the warm summer night.
“Are you going to write the article?” he whispered.
I could hardly think. I panted under him. But he couldn’t stop me, not just because he was pleasuring me. “Yes. Of course I’m going to write it.”
He made a low growling sound of displeasure. His mouth at my ear. “Wrong answer, Cecily.”
He jerked me off the table, back on my feet.
I was unsteady on my legs. I clutched him to keep my balance.
He nudged me to the edge of the balcony. “Grab the railing.”
I did it, but I wasn’t sure why. Then I felt his hands wrap around my waist. He undid the button of my pants and unzipped me. His fingers eased against my skin, grasping my underwear at the same time.
He eased my pants over my hips and thighs, pushing them down around my ankles.
Suddenly I was completely exposed. Naked. Outdoors. I let go of the railing, turning.
“No,” he said. “Grab the railing and don’t let go of it.”
I let out a slow breath, hesitating. I felt vulnerable, but I was also incredibly turned on. I liked the idea of putting myself completely at his mercy. It excited me. But I was afraid, as well. There was a voice inside my head trying to tell me that this was crazy.
Of course, it wasn’t a very loud voice.
I gripped the railing.
His hands were on my hips, tugging me against his body.
I could feel his erection through his suit, straining against the spandex.
He pressed himself into the soft curve of my ass. “Do you feel me, Cecily?”
“Uh huh,” I whispered. A warm breeze blew against my skin, against my bare nipples, which were still hard.
“Do you want me? Do you want my cock?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Where do you want it?”
I drew in a shaky breath. “I want it inside me.”
He reached around me to cup my breasts. Gently, he stroked them, teasing my nipples. His voice was soft. “Of cour
se you do. You want it bad, don’t you?”
I gasped at his touch. “Y-yes.”
One hand traveled lower down my body, down between my legs.
I groaned.
He teased my clit, tickling it with one gloved finger.
I clutched the railing tighter. He was undoing me.
“You’re so wet for me,” he crooned, still working my clit. “Your pussy is drenched for me.”
“Please,” I whispered.
He let go of my breast. There was some movement behind me, and then his bare shaft was pressing into my skin. It was hot and stiff. “Shh. Don’t worry. I’m going to give it to you real soon.”
I let out breath. My body was trembling.
He made a few quick circles around my clit, making me cry out, and then he let go of that too.
I heard the sound of a wrapper ripping. “You have condoms out here?”
“Well, someone pointed out to me it might be a good idea to keep a few on me,” he said, sounding amused. The head of his cock pressed against my aching slit. “Have to admit it’s handy. I can push right into your pussy now. Would you like me to do that?”
“Mmm hmm.” He was teasing the hell out of me here. He had to ask?
“This will be the last time, though.”
“What?” I didn’t understand.
He inched into my body, his thick, thick penis starting to fill me up again. “I won’t be able to do you like this, anymore, Cecily.”
I still didn’t understand, but he felt so damned good. I pressed my hips into him, taking more of him into me, feeling how sweetly he stretched me open.
“Don’t take this from me,” he said, his voice raw. He pushed the rest of the way in.
I let out a cry.
He began to stroke. “Please don’t take this.”
I gasped. He was huge and thick, and he felt amazing. “Take what?”
“You,” he said. “Me. Us. If you expose Vigil, I’ll never… we’ll never… You write about him, you kill him.”
He found my clit again, and he touched it as he rocked in and out of me.
I was swimming in bliss. My whole body felt like it was surrounded by nothing but goodness.
“You aren’t going to write the article,” he rasped. “You like the way it feels for me to fuck you as much as I like doing it.”
“I…” I moaned.
His fingers slid over my clit, urging me on. I felt my climax beginning to build inside me.
He was right, wasn’t he? There was no connection between us when he wasn’t in this costume. Everything that was explosively good about being with him was because he was Vigil. When he was dressed this way, this happened between us. And I didn’t want to give it up. I didn’t want to give him up.
I began to twitch, my orgasm coming on me.
“You’re going to come for me, Cecily,” he murmured. “And you’re going to admit you’re not writing anything.”
I moaned. “I’m not going to write it.”
“Of course you’re not,” he agreed.
“No,” I gasped.
“Are you going to come soon?”
I groaned.
“Say it, Cecily,” he said in a soft voice, “tell me when I’m making you come.”
“Now,” I bit out. “Now. I’m coming.”
He sighed in satisfaction. “Good.”
And it took me, wrenching my rapture out of me. I arced and convulsed around him, shaking violently as I climaxed on his cock. “Vigil,” I whimpered.
“Very good,” he breathed, his fingers moving away from my clit.
His strokes slowed, but he didn’t stop. His body pressed against mine from behind. He kissed my neck, the bottom of my ear.
I twisted to put my mouth on his.
He kissed me thoroughly. He sighed. “Good. So good.”
“Yes,” I murmured.
“I think I can keep going.” He sounded almost surprised about that. “Is that okay?”
“Uh huh.”
He groaned into my flesh. “You feel amazing. I don’t ever want to stop fucking you.”
“Vigil?” I said, feeling bold.
“Hmm?”
“I… I want it to be easier to kiss you. Can we… can we switch positions?”
He stiffened behind me. “Oh god Cecily.” His forehead rested against the back of my neck. “I don’t know if I can.”
What did he mean by that? Why wouldn’t he be able to have sex facing me?
Then I remembered the first time in my room, the way he’d turned my head, telling me not to look at him.
What was that all about?
He kissed the top of my spine. “What the hell? Everything with you is different.” He kissed the nape of my neck. “Let’s try it.”
And abruptly, he was no longer inside me. I made a disappointed noise, feeling suddenly empty. I let go of the railing.
He turned me so that I faced him. He kissed me. His hands ran over my body, cupping my breasts, my ass. And then, without warning, he swung me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom.
He lay me down on the bed, and he crawled over me.
My legs fell apart. He knelt between them.
I touched his chest. I dragged my hand over the hard muscles of his stomach.
He kissed each of my nipples. He kissed my lips. He kissed my temple. “Close your eyes,” he rumbled.
I did. But I wanted to be able to look at him. I started to say that, to tell him that I needed to see him.
But he was prodding his way back inside me, and he was so, so big.
In this position, there was less room for him, and he didn’t fit in quite as easily.
I made a little noise as I struggled to accommodate him.
His lips on my eyebrow. “You okay?”
“Uh huh,” I managed. “You’re just big.”
“Mmm, you do a very good job at taking me, baby.” He kissed me. “Taking all of me.”
I gasped at the term of endearment. He’d never called me that before, and I liked it.
I opened my eyes.
He was looking down at me. His eyes were so blue.
And I felt shattered in that moment, under his gaze. I felt so connected to him, open beneath him, jammed full of his thick cock, his chest pressed against my naked body.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
I touched his face.
He shut his eyes. A shiver went through his body, and he went stock still over me, not moving, not breathing.
I wasn’t sure what to do, so I didn’t move either.
We both lay frozen together for several seconds.
But then he kissed me again, his mouth fierce on mine. And suddenly, he was driving himself in and out of me, piercing me deep with every stroke.
Shit. He was going to make me come again if he kept up like that. I was going to have an orgasm just from his cock. I moaned.
“I want to be inside you forever, Cecily,” he muttered against my mouth. “Forever.”
Augh. That sounded fine to me.
I rolled over in bed, only to find myself in the circle of Vigil’s arms. He was wrapped around me, his hulking form taking up most of the bed, even though it was a queen size. He mumbled in his sleep, tightening his hold on me.
My heart skipped a beat.
I hadn’t expected him to be here when I woke up. We’d fallen asleep together, our limbs entwined, but I’d thought he’d wake up before me and sneak away.
But he was here. Waking up with me in this bed as if he was a normal man, and we were a normal couple, when we were anything but that.
Hell, I wasn’t even sure if we were a couple. I knew that I couldn’t have anything resembling an official relationship with Vigil. We couldn’t go to the movies or go out to dinner. He’d look a little out of place in his outfit. He’d draw unwanted attention.
The problem was that I was really starting to want things like that. The way we’d made love last night had been intense. Something powerf
ul had passed between us, and I knew he’d felt it too.
I propped myself up on the bed, looking down at him. His mask was a little bit askew on his face, and it was uneven against his nose. Was it uncomfortable? He seemed to be sleeping through it.
He couldn’t go anywhere with me in this costume. But now I knew who he was underneath it.
I hated the idea of Callum Rutherford. I hated everything about him. And even though I knew that Vigil was Callum Rutherford under that mask, it still seemed to me like they were separate people.
But that wasn’t true. Underneath his outfit, Vigil was Callum. And if he could make love to me the way he had last night, then there must be more to Callum than I thought. I wasn’t giving him enough credit. I needed to give him a chance. I couldn’t have a boyfriend who wore a mask.
All I could have with Vigil was sex.
And I desperately wanted more.
I took a deep breath, and carefully, slowly, I pulled the mask away from his face.
He stirred a little.
There he was. Callum’s flawless, rich boy features peered up at me.
This was the man I’d made love to last night. As much as it didn’t feel like it was true, it was.
His eyes fluttered open.
I tried to smile at him. It was strange to see his face like that.
His hand went to his forehead. “Where is it?” he said in a tight voice. “Where’s the mask?”
I held it up. “I only thought that we should—”
He snatched it away from me and pulled it back over his face. He sat up, extricating his body from mine.
I was suddenly aware of how naked I was, and how covered he was.
I pulled a sheet over my breasts.
His feet were on the floor. His back was to me. His voice was a dark threat. “Did you take it off or did it fall off while I was sleeping?”
I hugged the sheets tighter. “Does it matter?”
He didn’t say anything.
“It’s only that it’s a little silly, isn’t it? I know who you are now,” I said.
“You don’t understand. I wear this so I don’t have to be Callum Rutherford. So, I don’t think it’s silly, no.”
I twisted the sheets between my fingers. “Well, you are Callum Rutherford. No matter what you’re wearing.”
He turned to me. “You hate Callum.”
“I’ll try not to,” I said. “I don’t actually know him. You. I don’t know you.”
Otherworldly Bad Boys: Three Complete Novels Page 60