by Mari Carr
She sniffed in true bratty-style, dismissing his threat, even as her pussy clenched. “Go back to your post, Rottweiler. You’re starting to bore me.”
His expression was fierce, his jaw tense. Any woman with half a brain would have relented, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. At least not in any way she wouldn’t love. Her favorite fantasy was the first he’d painted for her.
Fergus binding her hands behind her as he bent her over the table, spanking her. She pressed her legs together trying to still the pulsing, aching need.
It didn’t help. She wanted him, unleashed, in charge, taking her in every dark, twisted, kinky way he could come up with.
He studied her face too intently. “I’m giving you one more chance to stop. If you keep acting like this, you’re going to find out exactly what happens to bratty little girls who don’t do as they’re told.”
Fuck.
Yes.
She went for the throat and rolled her eyes. “Are we done here?” she asked, pretending to fight a yawn.
Fergus smiled, if she could call it that. A pack of starving wolves probably bared less teeth and looked less dangerous.
His grip on her upper arm tightened as he leaned toward her and gave her the kiss of the century.
Fergus dropped all pretense of restraint, the “perfect gentleman” vanishing into thin air.
He pressed her lips apart, his tongue thrusting deep. He released her arm, opting instead to hold her still by her hair. His fist closed around her ponytail, pulling it until she gasped, her scalp stinging.
His other hand ventured to her neck, his large palm engulfing it from behind, his fingertips resting over her racing pulse.
Everything he did screamed of power and control. If anyone else were touching her this way, she would have been terrified.
With Fergus, she only wanted more.
He kissed her long and deep, Aubrey awash in the sensations. She tried to shift closer, wanting to feel more of him.
The kiss softened, gentled, and that touch was even more potent than the rougher claiming. Aubrey mewled against his lips, savoring this moment. Then the hand holding her hair loosened and he pulled the hairband out, running his fingers through the long tresses, caressing the sting of her scalp away with soothing fingertips. It was a kind gesture, a caring one.
Her chest tightened—and she pushed away.
“Don’t,” she said, her breath ragged.
Fergus was breathing heavily too, and though it appeared to cost him, he started to step away.
“No,” she stopped him. “Don’t stop. I just…” Aubrey struggled for a way to explain. “You can’t be nice to me, Fergus. My past boyfriends were nice to me, making me think they cared about me, and then…”
He cupped her cheek. “Aubrey.”
She shook her head, moved away from his hand. “I need what you said. Just sex—rough, raw, hard. I can’t take it if you’re nice to me.”
He ran his hand through his hair, but he didn’t move to resume the kiss. For a moment, she feared she’d gone too far, shown him exactly how fucked-up she was. If he was a smart man—and Fergus was—he’d walk away from her and never look back.
Then he surprised her. “Open your legs.”
She complied, and he shoved his knee between them, pressing it firmly against her center. She responded like a bitch in heat, dry humping it in the hopes of finding some sort of relief as he resumed the harder, powerful kiss.
This. This was what she needed.
Sheer primal possession. To be taken.
It had to be that way. Aubrey simply didn’t have it in her to offer anything freely anymore. He would have to claim and take.
“More. You. Want you,” she murmured against his lips. She wanted to strip off her clothes and his, wanted him to drag her to the bedroom, tie her to the headboard and fuck her so hard her bones shook.
Fergus pulled away, shaking his head. “No. Bad girls don’t get rewards. They get punished.”
“Yes,” she whispered. God. He got it. He understood.
Fergus groaned as he kissed her again, hard and quick. “Goddammit, Aubrey.”
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t stop. Don’t think.”
He kissed her again, but once more, it was gentler, and though he held her upper arms, his grip loosened. She couldn’t let this end here, couldn’t let him pull away because he thought it was the right thing to do. So what if it was?
She was tired, scared and lonely. She’d like to say that was something new, but in truth, she’d felt that way for as long as she could remember.
With Fergus, all those things faded. They would be on tour for two more weeks. Just fourteen days.
Aubrey intended to take advantage of that time.
He stepped back, and she started to complain. Her words dried up when he reached to cup her breasts, squeezing them in his large, rough hands.
She barely had time to enjoy that touch before he moved again. This time, he pulled her forward, toward the table, bending her over it, then following her down.
He kissed the side of her neck briefly before biting her earlobe. “Last chance, Aubrey Summers. Once I pull these jeans off, I’m going to punish you for putting yourself and Ailis at risk this morning, then I’m going to fuck you…going to make you mine.”
“Yours,” she whispered, wanting to try it on for size. Nothing had ever sounded more incredible. Even if it was only for a short time.
Fergus moved upright, his hand striking her denim-covered ass twice. He wasn’t holding back. He was showing her exactly what she was asking for, giving her one last chance to walk away.
She couldn’t.
She wiggled her ass, inviting him to spank her again.
Fergus had just reached around her waist to unfasten the button on her jeans when there was a knock at the door.
Both of them stilled, neither speaking.
“No,” she whispered.
Fergus didn’t move. Like her, he was probably hoping whoever was there would just go away.
Another knock.
The blinds were pulled, so they couldn’t see who was outside. Mercifully, whoever was outside couldn’t see them either.
When the person knocked a third time, Aubrey realized they weren’t going away. Fergus stepped back and, just like that, the most exciting moment of her life faded to nothing.
She pushed herself upright on shaky legs. Her insides felt like mush, her wits completely gone. Fergus offered her a steadying hand. Like her, he appeared slightly rattled. His jaw clenched tightly.
Aubrey was terrified that her one chance with him had passed. That Fergus would regroup and that would be the end of it. Two more weeks of sexual frustration and distance and loneliness.
She blinked rapidly several times, trying not to cry.
“This isn’t over,” Fergus said, his voice deep, sure.
She struggled to catch her breath. “Promise me.”
He pulled her toward him, his hand gripping the back of her head. “This isn’t over,” he repeated, stronger than before. “You’re mine, Aubrey.” Then he sealed the proclamation with a hard kiss.
One that ended when a fourth, louder knock sounded. “We know you’re in there! Ailis told us you were.”
Aubrey didn’t recognize the male voice, but it was clear Fergus did when his eyes widened with obvious delight. “Holy shit!”
He strode to the door, unlocking and throwing it open.
“Finn!”
Aubrey watched as Fergus’s cousin and partner in the security company strode onto the bus, followed by two more men.
“Landon! Miguel!” Fergus hugged each man, clearly thrilled by their arrival.
Aubrey wished she’d thought to duck back to her bedroom. God only knew what she looked like at the moment. Her hair was probably a mess, her lips felt puffy from Fergus’s rough kiss and one glance downward proved her nipples were budded, evident through her T-shirt and bra. She had no idea how Fergus had managed to recover so quickly,
but her body was still raring to go.
She forced a smile when Fergus’s cousin Finn glanced her way. She recognized his look instantly. Unlike Fergus, Finn had clearly been a fan. She was used to men—close to her age—looking at her with lingering teenage love in their gazes. Finn wasn’t looking at her like she was Aubrey—he was seeing Jenny Sweet.
It wasn’t until that moment she realized that was another part of Fergus’s appeal. He looked at her and saw…her. The real her.
Or, well…the horrible, bitchy, fucked-up version of her. She should probably consider seeing a therapist once the tour was over.
Finn smiled shyly, but it was the man Fergus had called Miguel who spoke first.
He approached her, kneeling in dramatic fashion. “I’m here, my darling. The love you’ve been searching for your whole life. There’s no need to look any further. Prince Alexander is here.”
Fergus crossed his arms and scowled while Finn rolled his eyes. The other man, Landon, snickered.
Aubrey recognized the line. It was from one of the episodes of Sweet Flames, which had been filled to the brim with ridiculously over-the-top, cheesy dialogue like that, all of it followed by the canned laugh track meant to make viewers think it was funny rather than stupid.
Sometimes when she looked back on those years, it felt as if she’d been having an out-of-body experience throughout the entire filming of the series. It was the only way she could explain being able to say her lines without gagging.
Regardless of the origin of the line, she couldn’t help but get a kick out of Miguel’s introduction. Especially when he gave her a very charming grin and a wink that let her know he thought the lines were just as outrageous as she did.
“Are you sure that’s the role you want to assume?” she asked. “Jenny dumped the prince in the end, you know.”
Miguel rose slowly, shaking his head. “Damn. I knew there were going to be long-term effects from missing the last season of the show. My mom lost her job and we couldn’t afford cable. Never saw Sweet Flames after that grand gesture on the prince’s part. Who did Jenny end up with?”
Aubrey laughed. “Josh.”
Miguel crinkled his nose in feigned disgust. “The housekeeper’s son? Her best friend? That boy was boring, no flair for romance or the dramatic. Hell, he wasn’t even hot.”
Aubrey nodded. “I told the writers the same thing, but they were determined.”
“Seriously, Miguel. Get a grip, man.” Finn stepped closer. “Hi, Aubrey. I’m Finn. I’m sure Fergus has told you all about me. About my charm and wit, my natural athleticism and sheer brute strength.” He backed up that pronouncement by flexing for her. “I guess you can see, now that I’m here, I got all the looks in the family. Poor plain Fergus just got the book smarts.”
Aubrey glanced from Finn to Miguel and back again. She wasn’t used to being around such funny, unassuming, charming guys. They were clearly flirting, but in ways meant to make her laugh rather than to win her affections.
“He failed to mention how handsome you were,” she teased, sneaking a peek at Fergus, who was now grinning at their antics.
Finn sighed as if he wasn’t surprised to hear that. “He always leaves that part out. Bastard has been wicked jealous of me his entire life.”
“Get away from her, Finn,” Fergus said. “I want to introduce her to the only one of you clowns who has manners. Aubrey, this is my soon-to-be cousin-in-law, Landon Riggs.”
Landon stepped forward and shook her hand politely. “It’s nice to meet you. My future bride wanted me to tell you she’s bought all your albums, and at some point during this crazy weekend, I hope you’ll forgive me if I ask you to sign the covers. They’re in my luggage.” Landon turned around, looking at Fergus. “Sorry, man. Sunnie wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“She never has,” Fergus replied.
Aubrey smiled. “I’d be happy to sign her album covers. Fergus has told me a lot about Sunnie. About your whole family, actually.”
“What do you mean, ‘during this crazy weekend’?” Fergus asked his cousin and friends.
“We wanted to surprise you,” Finn responded. “Ailis helped us set it up. We’re all here for Landon’s bachelor party. Colm and Padraig are visiting with Hunter and Ailis on their bus. Unfortunately, Lochlan and Lucas had to bow out because of work commitments, and Oliver volunteered to stay back and man the bar at the pub with Uncle Tris.”
Fergus frowned. “As much as I’d like to take part in a bachelor party, I’m working the whole weekend.”
“Oh, we know,” Landon said. “That’s why we were hoping,” he glanced back at Aubrey, “um…”
Apparently, the groom thought she was the boss. “I’d let him have the weekend off, but I have no power over Fergus. He was hired by my record producer. I know this because I’ve tried to fire him a few times. He won’t leave.”
Miguel laughed. “That sounds like Fergus. An upright, honest, responsible pain in the ass.”
“A pain in the ass who can take you down in…” Fergus glanced at Finn, “What was my best time?”
“Last training session, you had Miguel on his ass in three-point-four seconds,” Finn helpfully supplied.
“I wasn’t ready,” Miguel protested. “I told you I wasn’t ready.”
Landon looked at Aubrey. “We knew he couldn’t get the weekend off. Ailis told us Fergus wouldn’t leave your side. So we were actually thinking that maybe you could join the party tonight. We got a big-ass suite at the same hotel you’re staying in and you wouldn’t be the only woman there. Ailis and Hunter are coming too.”
“What about the strippers?” Aubrey asked, only half-joking, while secretly thrilled by the invite. A night with this group of characters would not only be guaranteed fun, but she liked seeing this side of Fergus. He seemed…younger…more playful around them.
Not that he was old. She’d looked at his personnel file. He was only two years older than her at twenty-eight. But the professional, serious way he held himself gave the impression that he was much older.
“Goddammit,” Miguel muttered. “I told you she’d be fine with strippers.” He looked at her, shaking his head apologetically. “They wouldn’t let me hire any.”
Landon grinned. “We’re going to the concert tonight, Ailis scored us all front-row seats and backstage passes. Then we’re going back to the hotel bar, then—when they inevitably kick us out—we’re moving the party to the suite. Miguel will, no doubt, provide the wild antics that will have the hotel manager threatening to kick us out and the cops called.”
She laughed. “That’s a hard invite to pass up.”
“Please don’t,” Finn said. “If you say no, the old stick-in-the-mud over there will bail on us too.”
Aubrey looked at Fergus. “Pain in the ass. Stick-in-the-mud. Plain. Your friends know you well.”
Fergus shot her a pretend dirty look as the other men cracked up.
“Ailis said you were cool,” Finn replied, his comment catching her off-guard.
Ailis thought that?
Aubrey was touched. “I’ve never been to a bachelor party. I’d love to come if you don’t think it will put a damper on things.”
“A hot, famous rocker chick at my bachelor party?” Landon said. “You’ve just set me up with bragging rights at the precinct for the rest of my life.”
“You’re a police officer?” she asked.
“Yep. And for better or worse, Miguel is my partner on the force. We’re aware that there’s been trouble for you, a stalker.” Landon’s eyes softened. “We won’t let anyone get near you tonight, promise.”
Aubrey hoped that promise didn’t include Fergus. Because she suspected this evening, surrounded by all these handsome, charismatic men, with their easy laughter and silly banter, not to mention the ungodly amount of tequila she planned to drink, was going to lead her to make some irresponsible decisions.
She couldn’t wait.
Chapter Eight
Fergus
rolled his eyes as Miguel spun Aubrey around in time to the music. They’d set up camp in the hotel bar right after the concert. The place was packed because it hadn’t taken long for guests of the hotel to find out Aubrey and Hunter were there. After the initial round of requests for photos and autographs, everyone settled down, thrilled to simply be in the presence of rock stars.
Hunter and Ailis were hanging out by the bar, talking to a few fans.
A couple of guys from Hunter’s band had brought their guitars and started jamming. Fergus had anticipated having to deal with the hotel manager, but when he saw the huge crowd ordering drinks at the bar, he announced they’d stay open as long as everyone wanted.
“What a great night,” Landon said.
“I didn’t realize you’d noticed,” Colm teased. “Been texting Sunnie the whole time.”
Landon laughed. “Not the whole time. And I can’t help it. She’s demanding pics of everything. It would have been easier to just let her come.”
“Sort of defeats the idea of a bachelor party,” Padraig chimed in.
Landon shrugged. It was obvious the man was head over heels in love with Sunnie, too preoccupied with thoughts of her to care much about drinking with a bunch of guys in a hotel bar, bachelor party or not.
“Miguel and Finn are making jackasses of themselves,” Fergus grumbled, watching as Finn cut in—again—to steal Aubrey for a dance. Not that she seemed to mind their antics.
Fergus hadn’t seen her laugh much the past month, but she’d more than made up for it tonight.
Miguel, annoyed at losing his dance partner once more, took matters into his own hands, claiming the back of Aubrey, the three of them swaying to the music together. Finn didn’t appear to mind sharing.
Meanwhile, it was wearing thin on Fergus. Not the dancing or the way the guys flirted with her. He knew that was harmless fun.
He couldn’t stop thinking about what had almost happened on the bus this morning. And how anxious he was to get her alone so they could finish what they’d started.
Landon and Padraig excused themselves to grab another drink from the bar, leaving him alone with Colm.
“So…you and Aubrey,” his cousin mused.