by Piper Stone
His breathing was ragged; I concentrated on the sound, blocking out my moans as I clawed at the pillow. There wasn’t a single inch of my body that wasn’t tingling.
I sensed his needs were increasing, his ability to maintain control fading. We were far too explosive together, our needs insatiable. When the weight on the couch shifted, I couldn’t move. Everything about the moment was sinful, a filthy reminder just how desperate the man could make me.
Then I heard the distinct sound of his belt being unfastened. I didn’t have the energy to look as I tried to catch my breath.
Seconds later, he ripped my shorts and panties all the way off, wasting no time before jerking me up, forcing me to straddle his legs. His expression primal and his smile laced with a hint of evil, he rubbed his hands under my shirt, sliding it along with his fingers over my shoulders, yanking and pitching the unwanted material.
“Mmm… I could feast on you for days. This is what I want every day I come home from work.”
“Me entirely naked?” I purred as I brushed the tip of my index finger down the side of his neck.
“Yes. Naked and ready to suck my cock. After that, I’ll slide inside that wet little pussy of yours.” His tone gravelly, he rubbed his hands up from my waist, taking his time and shifting his palms back and forth across my fully erect nipples.
The sensations were powerful, a wave of excitement and anticipation coursing through me. I closed my eyes, tipping my head and enjoying the pulse of electricity as his cock throbbed against my legs.
“You know I’m not a good man,” he whispered, as if he was sharing a secret.
“I know.”
“But you crave me anyway.”
I dragged my tongue across my lips, uncertain he wanted the answer.
But I gave him one anyway.
“Yes. More than anything.”
“Mmm… That’s good since you’re never getting away from me.” When he pinched my nipples, an eruption of pain twisted together with the delicious wave of pleasure, the combination leaving me breathless.
“I…” I dug my fingers into his shoulders, arching my back as he twisted and plucked both until they were over-sensitized. He was even more controlling, taking what he wanted, his dominating actions only adding gasoline to the fire burning deep within.
I managed to lift my head, taking rapid breaths as I shifted back and forth across his legs, slickening his skin.
After lowering his head, he shifted his hands until he cupped both breasts, allowing his heated breath to cascade from one side to the other. All the while he kept his gaze locked on me, his eyes like liquid pools, able to pull me into a magical place.
He swirled his tongue around my bruised nipple before pulling the tender tissue into his mouth, taking his time to lick and suck.
“My God…” I whispered, no longer able to focus. Everything was a huge blur, the rough and tumble sounds of the ocean just as ragged as the timbre of his animalistic growls. He’d never been this hungry, his muscles tense, hard as a rock.
Within seconds, he shifted to my other nipple, the roughness of his tongue sending a concentrated bolt of electricity to the tips of my toes.
I crawled my fingers down his chest, scooting just enough I was able to wrap my hand around the top of his cock, fingering his sensitive slit.
“Be careful teasing me.”
“Or what?” I murmured. The way his shaft throbbed in my hand created even more need. I twisted my fingers, creating enough friction, his body stiffened even more.
Another growl was his only answer as he licked and sucked, biting down hard enough I threw my head back and screamed.
He couldn’t seem to maintain control any longer. A smile crossing his face, he gripped my hips, lifting and holding me in the air. “Do you need to ask?” As he brought me down, impaling my pussy with the entire length of his cock, I realized I’d never felt so alive, free of the straitjacket I’d kept myself in.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” I couldn’t stop my ragged moans, my pulse skipping. The feel of having him inside of me, pushing my muscles until they accepted the thick invasion was incredible. Lightheaded, I couldn’t stop shaking.
“What do you want, Bristol?”
I laughed as I tried to focus. “Fuck me. Just don’t stop.”
“So tight. So damn wet.” Houston lifted me again until the tip was just inside, keeping me above him for several seconds then yanking me down.
I was breathless, clinging to him as the rush of heat and fire continued to build. Everything around me was spinning, pushing me to the point of absolute bliss.
He refused to stop, repeating his actions, fucking me long and hard. My pussy clamped and released, pulling him in even deeper. I was so close to coming, my heart hammering against my chest creating a series of vibrations as well as echoes in my ears.
“I can’t… I’m going to…” Unable to form any words, I lolled my head, my entire body shuddering as a climax pounded into my system. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!”
His roars matched my strangled moans, his actions even more brutal. The sound of skin slapping against skin was so sweet, lingering in my ears.
“Come again for me. Slicken my cock,” he commanded, continuing to pump me up and down like a wild man.
There was no way to hold back, no ability to disobey. As the giant wave splashed over me, I noticed the first bolt of lightning far out to sea. The dazzling colors crisscrossed the sky like a beautiful work of art.
“Oh. Oh!”
He held me in place as my body continued to shake. Only when I lowered my head until our lips were mere centimeters apart did he make another demand.
“Ride me, baby.”
As I bucked against him, I darted my tongue across the seam of his mouth, enjoying the taste of bourbon, the hint of my wine. The flavors were a powerful aphrodisiac, pushing my desire to the limits as I squeezed my legs against his.
I kissed his lips, brushing them back and forth, slipping my tongue just inside his hot, wet mouth. For a few precious minutes, we were as one. For some crazy reason, another single tear slipped past my lashes. My heart ached for him; for the dreams he’d never been allowed to have and for the passion he was just beginning to understand.
Easing back, I took several shallow breaths, purposely clamping then releasing my muscles.
He rubbed his hands up and down my back, a barbaric smile remaining on his face. I could tell he was close to coming, his body shaking more than before.
“So bad,” he managed, his breath skipping, and his eyelids now half closed. “You will soon learn just how much so.”
“Uh-huh.”
As his face became pinched, he fisted my hair, holding me in place. His eyes dilated, he released a deep bellow, the sound reverberating around us. When his body tensed, I threw my head back, riding him like a wild stallion.
There was nothing like the sound of his roar as he erupted deep inside, filling me with his seed.
Then he issued the single word once again, sending another wave of shivers dancing down my body.
“Mine.”
Pizza.
Wine.
A chilling movie.
And a passionate, sexy man.
What could be better on a stormy night?
Very few things in life surprised me any longer. After the invitation I’d received from Dark Overture, I’d thought I could never be so surprised again. However, as we relaxed on the couch, the box of half-eaten pizza on the coffee table, the scent of pepperoni and spicy tomato sauce still wafting in the air, I was more than just surprised.
I was shocked.
He’d grabbed a blanket, making certain we could huddle under the softness as we started to watch movie number two. While I hadn’t paid any attention to the name, I certainly knew it was another thriller, one packed with action and bloodshed. I’d found a small weakness in Houston after all.
He stared wide-eyed at the television, his bare feet crossed and propped up on the table, slouched
against the couch as if he was actually comfortable.
My legs folded, I rested against him, my hand firmly planted around my wineglass. I was happy, as strange as the thought was in my mind. While my bottom still ached from the spanking, I’d even enjoyed the hint of rekindled pain as the material of the couch scraped back and forth across my skin.
As a particularly gruesome portion flashed across the screen, I lifted my head, smiling from the way his eyes were glistening. He had a smile on his face, his expression like that of a little kid enjoying the big screen for the first time.
Yawning, I was surprised just how tired I was.
When I eased from the covers, managing to place my glass on the table, he reached for me, tugging me backward almost immediately. As I settled against him, I realized there was nothing like the warmth of his body combined with the fluffy blanket to lull me into a slight daze. I could almost envision the moment turning into something deeper.
And longer lasting.
Stop it. Just stop.
My inner voice would never allow me real peace.
I finally closed my eyes as the sound of gunfire popped from the speakers. Even though I tried to stay awake, I finally couldn’t stare at the television or the bloody scenes any longer. Mmm… So good. So warm. So…
“You need to run,” Houston instructed. He swung in a wide arc, his weapon firmly planted in both hands.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sound of gunfire came from behind. The asshole was catching up.
“Go. Go. Go!” He pushed my back, forcing me to spring into action.
I took off running, racing into the shadowed light as night began to fall. The forest was dense, the cracking of limbs beneath my feet unable to hide the hard pounding of my heart. The air was humid, sucking away my breath. Strings of perspiration slipped down both sides of my face from the exertion, but we had to keep going.
We had to get away.
“Keep going. Keep going!” he hissed.
When I no longer felt him behind me, I stopped short, gasping for air. The second I turned around, I caught the muzzle flash as he popped off three shots in a row.
“Damn it,” he snarled, then bolted in my direction, grabbing my arm and yanking me into the densest portion of the forest.
“We’re not going to get away,” I managed, limbs smacking against my face as my feet became tangled in the dense underbrush.
“Like hell we won’t.”
The sound of his voice was guttural, riddled with anger.
We continued on, but I sensed the perpetrator was getting closer. God help us.
Seconds passed, maybe minutes, the only sound creaks and chirps within the forest.
Then I heard a single crack, the air suddenly turning still.
I was pulled into a vacuum as the stench of blood filled the air.
No longer able to sense his presence, I jerked to a stop, slowly turning around.
“No!”
What the… Jerking up, light rushed across my face, forcing me to wince. Too bright. Too much. I took several deep breaths, realizing my heart was racing, vivid images of what must have been a nightmare spinning through my mind. I blinked several times until I was finally able to focus.
But the ugly dream refused to go away.
As if it had been a warning.
He’s going to die.
A moment of absolute panic settled in, the vision of his blood-soaked shirt remaining in the forefront of my mind. After a few seconds, I realized I must have fallen asleep. A cold shiver snaked down the entire length of my body, the ugliness of the nightmare refusing to back down. My God. The dream had been some crazy kind of epiphany.
Whoever was threatening the family wanted revenge, but not just on Houston’s father.
This was about destroying the family in any way possible.
I had to stop thinking about it. It was just a damn dream.
Very slowly I turned my head, almost able to smile at the sight of Houston in his slumber. The slight sound of his quiet snores was masked by the continued blare of the television. I stared at him for a few seconds, admiring the way strands of hair had slipped into his face. He looked serene, more so than any time before.
Wow. I couldn’t believe we’d been out for hours.
Easing from the covers, I reached for the remote, ready to face the day.
Until I glanced at the screen, another chill coursing down my spine, anger bursting to the surface.
“Oh. My. God.”
Chapter 13
Houston
Rage.
I’d felt it more times in the last few days than I had for five full years. I sat staring at the television, wide awake as the fury pushed my adrenaline into overdrive.
Is the Empire of the Powers Family Finally Crumbling or is there a New Prince Ready to Take the Helm?
“The pictures,” I said absently as the red block lettering of the headline remained on the bottom of the screen, a female reporter standing in front of my father’s office building. The photographs had obviously been taken by the same asshole who’d been outside the house.
The vivid images detailed both Bristol and me from checking into the hotel to leaving the club after the family dinner. Then there were the pictures taken just outside the house as well as my visit to the freaking beach. And my purchase of a weapon. Even worse were the accusations that the reporter on television came very close to making without providing a real opportunity for a lawsuit.
“My God. What is she trying to get at?” Bristol stood close to the television while I remained seated.
“From what our sources have told us, a criminal investigation has been underway for some time involving insider trading as well as the theft of intellectual property. While an investigation was confirmed by a member of the local branch of the FBI, no details were provided because of the ongoing case. However, it would appear that the family’s attempt at providing new leadership had been too little, too late, stocks of Powers Enterprise plummeting.”
I rubbed both sides of my face, surprised the phone hadn’t already started to ring.
She turned to look at me, walking closer. “If that’s the truth, you can’t sign that contract, at least not until we know what you’re dealing with. I need to find out who the reporter talked to. At very minimum, I might be able to secure some details. I have some contacts that I might be able to access, FBI agents who might be helpful.”
As I rose to my feet, I took a deep breath. “I may take you up on that. In the meantime, the family’s attorney is also the corporate attorney. He should have warned my father. But he will handle this situation now.”
“Maybe he did,” she said quietly. “Maybe that’s why your father wanted you to sign the papers quickly.”
I thought about what she was suggesting and realized it made sense. “The station was obviously tipped off by whoever is attempting to blackmail my father. While the reporter doesn’t seem to know your identity, that’s only a matter of time.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t talk to anyone. However, I still think we should go through with the wedding and as soon as possible. Your father suspected a leak was coming. Whether or not his scheme to get you here is about his knowledge of possible criminal action or some truth behind the blackmail, you can’t take either lightly.”
Hissing, I moved toward the window just as my phone started to ring. “For what it’s worth, I would never have put you in this position had I known.”
“I know that, Houston, but I’m here. We made a deal. I plan on sticking to my end of it. I suggest you do the same. Whatever happens, the family will need a strong leader as well as someone who can handle the corporation. That appears to be you.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I answered the phone on the fourth ring. “Hello, Pops. I expected you to call.”
A freaking Saturday. The last thing I’d wanted to do was to spend any time on this bullshit. The night before had given me a taste of a real life, one I hungered to experien
ce. Now this.
“Do you realize I had to come in through the back door of the building? Even then, at least one of the reporters figured out what I was doing. It’s a basic mob scene out there.” I glared out the window, the damn vipers nothing more than ants from this height, but I knew the bloodsucking leeches would do everything in their power to continue the sensationalized story.
At least my father had managed to find some damn common sense, demanding the attorney who’d worked for him for years be present.
“Mr. Hapshire has been instructed to write a cease and desist letter to the station,” my father said. Even the tone of his voice had changed, as if he’d resigned himself to going to prison. For what?
“And I’m certain your glorious attorney had advised you that up to this point, nothing that was reported in the morning news is slanderous. Or am I wrong?” I asked as I turned to face him. “Is this investigation into the company a basic lie?”
The look shared between the two men was all I needed, not only to confirm the truth but to rile me even more.
“Goddamn it. Why the fuck did you lure me here, Pops? Huh? Did you just need some kind of warm body to take over until the shit could be worked out?” When he didn’t say anything, I moved closer, slamming my hands on the surface of his desk. “You need to tell me the truth. I lost my patience the second I was forced to wake up to that bullshit!”
“Calm down, Houston. This has been very disconcerting for your father.”
I snapped my head in the attorney’s direction, half laughing. “You calm down, Gregory. Here’s the facts as I know them. My trust fund was altered on purpose in an attempt to lure me here under false pretenses. Because you already knew about my success entirely away from the corporation, you added another bonus item to ensure I’d return by asking someone to make a call in the middle of the night warning me about your impending death. Now, if I had to guess, I’d say that you made the call, Gregory. Same deep inflection in your tone.” I paused for a moment, noting my father didn’t seem to have any reaction at all.