Captive Beauty: Harem of Redemption 1, page 17
“Not at all. The two of us have shared before.” His grip tightened in my hair.
“But Lucas—”
His black eyes flared. “You belong to us. Not one of us, but all of us. That means me, Lucas, and Cade.”
I grimaced at the reminder I was no more than a possession to them—and that Cade was one of my owners. At least the fae brute didn’t want me.
“No need to be angry about it.” Zane bit and sucked on my bottom lip before trailing his tongue down my neck. I tried to hold onto my irritation, but couldn’t. I’d continue to hate him later. For now, I shamelessly let my head drop back, giving him full access, and with it my permission.
His palms slid to my ass and squeezed. The movement pressed my clit to his rigid shaft. He groaned against my sensitive skin. One hand fell away only to return with a smack across my butt cheek. I yelped, and he did it again.
“Oh, sweetheart, the things I want to do to your body.” He kissed lower to my collarbone, unbuttoned my coat, and licked my cleavage. His hands left my ass to stroke my breasts, making my nipples pebble beneath his thumbs. My core throbbed, aching for his touch. Needy pussy.
My fingers dug into his shoulders. The muscles there were powerful and unyielding.
Zane spoke against the top of my breasts. “You’ve been a good girl recently, Emma.” I arched my back, pressing into his face. He chuckled and drew away. “I should reward you. What do you want? Do you want my cock in your mouth? My tongue fucking your pussy? How about I bend you over and spank you until you come, then slide into your tight ass?”
Holy fuck. I gazed up at him, wanting all of that—or at least some part of me did. Seriously? I inwardly groaned, remembering how amazing it had felt when he drank my blood. Yes, I wanted him, craved him.
I panted, my chest heaved, feeling needy, but refusing to give in. If I said yes, that would mean my surrender. Zane would have me. All of me. That couldn’t happen. I was already struggling with my feelings for Lucas. If I gave any more ground, they’d tear me apart piece by piece. They wanted more than I could ever give. And as their prisoner, I would never fully give myself to them.
“Suit yourself,” he said, releasing me. He stepped away, adjusted himself, and sat down at the chess table.
I did my best to slow my thundering pulse and catch my breath. The horny part of me berated the voice of reason for being so damned stubborn. But I couldn’t give in. The seductive pleasure Zane tempted me with would consume me. It wouldn’t be a casual fuck—it would be comparable to last night with Lucas. So much more.
No. Zane would bare my soul. He’d wring every ounce of wantonness and every naughty fantasy from my eager body. Then I’d never escape here, never escape them.
I couldn’t let that happen.
Pulling myself together, I lowered into the chair opposite him. He moved his white chess piece without giving me a word or glance. I squeezed my thighs together, feeling the wetness there, and frustration burned in my blood. This was going to be a long game.
It was a long, grueling game, in which several times, I considered shouting yes and demand he spank me, or drink my blood, or fuck me on the table. But I refrained. My concentration was shit, but so was his as he made one strategic mistake after another. At least I wasn’t the only one suffering.
I needed to focus on something else. “Last night at dinner you said you never knew your parents. Where did you grow up?” I asked.
Zane met my gaze. “Are you making small talk or do you really want to know?”
“I want to know.” And I did. I was damn curious.
“I grew up in one of the large vampire enclaves in Chicago,” he said, scrutinizing the board. “My parents had angered the coven master and he had them disposed of, but spared me. As a disgraced orphan, I did not have a particularly happy childhood.”
I searched his impassive features. There was so much more to that story he wasn’t telling me. “How did you end up out here in Washington state?” I took his rook with my bishop.
“After one of my coven mates beat me and left me for dead, Cade found me.” Zane captured my pawn with his knight. “He healed me. Then Mama Holt took me in, as she’d done with him, and later, Lucas.”
“That’s—” I was speechless. Horrible.
“It is what it is, and now it’s in the past.” His tone was cold.
His flat, unemotional delivery and stony expression told me he hated talking about his past. I could only imagine how much hurt and pain he buried under his cool, controlled facade. Some of it I knew well: Hunger, painful wounds, the need to survive no matter what the circumstances.
I nodded. “How did you become a boss—lord—of Penumbra Syndicate?”
“Through hard work, ruthlessness, and good business decisions. The three of us discovered early on that by working together, we could make a fortune and a name for ourselves in this underbelly of the world. As well as build on Mama Holt’s achievements. She agreed.”
“And you’re happy now?” I glanced at the game, noting he was trying to close in on my queen. I made a move to reinforce my position. I’d have him in five more moves.
“I was, until…” Zane’s piece retreated.
“Until what?” Now I’d have him in four moves.
He shook his head. “I’m not at liberty to speak of it.”
“Does it have to do with the earthquakes and the strange hourglass you keep in the other wing of the mansion?”
Zane narrowed his eyes. “I can’t answer that. Check.”
What? I studied the board. Sneaky bastard. He’d taken me by surprise, but it was a weak move. I got my king to safety, taking away a turn from my attack.
He hummed, his turn again. I watched his thick lashes twitch as his gaze flitted over the game. He was the most equal opponent I’d ever played. And competing against a gorgeous, intelligent, cunning man? Total turn on. The day he won, I might not be able to stop myself from saying yes. But that time had not yet come.
“So it does have to do with the quakes and hourglass. There’s strange magic at work here, I can feel it. Why won’t you just tell me?” I said as he sought my king from a different angle.
His features darkened, hardening. Had I crossed a line?
“Because I can’t.” He gazed out at the evening gloom.
“Why?” Game momentarily forgotten, I focused all of my attention on Zane.
He didn’t answer for a long time. I was beginning to think he wouldn’t, when he said, “Magic. A spell. A cur—” His gaze found mine. Frustration and pain burned in those black orbs.
My lips formed an O. This wasn’t him trying to irritate me. He literally couldn’t say anything. Now, I was more intrigued than ever. Magic. A spell. A curse? Who had they pissed off and what was their punishment?
He cleared his throat. “It’s best if you stop asking questions.”
I reached across the table, brushing my fingers over the back of his hand. He startled, his sharp gaze searching my eyes. He turned his palm up and I placed my hand in his.
“I’m sorry. I never meant any harm,” I said. Whatever all this was about, it was important. Life changing even. No wonder Cade had been furious to find me in the room with the hourglass. I wasn’t going to give up on this mystery. I’d simply have to work at it from a different angle.
He let out a humorless laugh. “I know. You’re too curious for your own good.”
I gave him a sly smile, refocusing on the board. “Check mate.”
He let go of my hand. “How did I not see that?”
“Perhaps you were distracted.”
His lips pursed. “I never lose,” he muttered. “Much less twice in a row.” He eyed me. “Perhaps you should take over Penumbra. I forfeit my command to you.”
I laughed. “If only I had an entire criminal organization at my beck and call, I’d rule the world.”
“Would you?” He leaned back, folding his arms. “I could see that. I could also…make that a reality for you. All you have to do is ask.”
“Don’t tease me.” I didn’t belong here. I’d find some other way to fight my battles.
He leaned forward, his black eyes sparkling. “I’d never tease about something so serious. Be ours and you can have anything, and everything, you desire.”
I glanced away. “Any news on Orion?”
“Not really.” His expression sobered and he sat up straight. “He’s still mixed up with Eclipse and 5th Circle.”
I slowly nodded. What the hell was Orion doing with those people? He was still alive so that was a good sign. My stomach sank. Or was it?
5th Circle were the ones hunting us, but they were keeping Orion alive. Which meant they were either using him and going to kill him later, or he’d never been their target, as I suspected. They might use him to get to me.
What if it was only me they wanted and I’d dragged my brother around throughout his entire childhood trying to protect him from nothing? Did I ruin his life? Would he ever forgive me?
25
Lucas
I sat at my desk, scrolling through a series of text messages from my informants, and frowned. No news. Which was not good news in this case. Eclipse had gone silent. The wolves had retreated from our territory and I had no idea why. But it stank. They were up to something.
“Will you stop worrying?” Cade sounded annoyed.
“No. I won’t.” I tried to stare down the fae, but he continued to read his computer screen. “For all these years, they have continued to overstep and harass our enterprises. Why leave us alone now?”
Cade shrugged. “Maybe they’re tired of getting their asses kicked.”
I rolled my eyes, then shot a glance at Zane. “You share my concern.”
“Mm, indeed.” The vampire pursed his lips. “Though I’m more concerned by this business of Eclipse and 5th Circle suddenly acting as allies. Orion seems to be the link between the two, but I don’t yet see how or why.”
“Something’s brewing and I don’t like it.” I pocketed my phone, needing a break, and raked my fingers through my hair.
What did we know? Emma was a hybrid—both a witch and something else. I suspected her other half was a wolf. We had made enemies of 5th Circle by protecting her and eventually, they’d come for us. Perhaps they were teaming up with Eclipse because that wolf pack was also our enemy and had plenty of intel on us. I was also certain Emma was the one to break our curse—especially after the other night.
Possessiveness filled my chest, making my inner wolf growl with the need to mark her. The memory of her scent wafted through my mind. I closed my eyes and vividly saw her flushed face as she orgasmed.
Cade’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Fucking fantasize somewhere else.”
I opened my eyes to glare at him. “I’m not fantasizing.” I leaned forward. What better time for this conversation than now? “She’s the one. Which means you need to stop acting like you hate her, or we’ll never break this curse.”
Cade slowly closed his laptop, his attention finally on me. His lip curled. “I already told you, I want nothing to do with her.”
“Then you’re a selfish prick,” I said. “You’d doom us all because you can’t get over yourself?”
The fae roared and gained his feet. I stood, too. I had a point, and I wasn’t going to let Cade off the hook this time.
“What’s your fucking problem?” I yelled at him.
His hands balled into fists. “Go to Hell.”
“That’s exactly where everyone in this house is going if you don’t step up.” I snarled.
“Enough.” Zane sighed. “We shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves.”
“Fine,” I said. “You sort him out.” I was done trying to understand Cade. We’d all had rough, even tragic pasts, but that was no excuse for his attitude. Our fates were tied together. Each one of us would die for the other, but Cade couldn’t bring himself to give Emma a chance? Bullshit.
I stormed toward the door. On my way past the fae I caught a whiff of…fear? I spared him a curious glance, because I sure as hell knew he wasn’t afraid of me or Zane. So what could be bringing up that emotion? Surely not Emma. He could snap her in two with one beefy hand.
Exiting, I slammed the door and strode along the hallway to the staircase.
Even after decades together, I didn’t have Cade’s full story. I knew he’d been abused as a child, but the details were vague and incomplete. Had he ever told Zane? Or Mama Holt? I suspected one or both of them knew more than me. Perhaps that was why Zane had so much patience for the gloomy as fuck fae.
I reached the stairs and lingered there a moment. Had I ever seen Cade with a woman? Not that I could recall. But neither had he been with a man. For all I knew, Cade was a virgin. I shook my head, I doubted that was the case. He had to have gotten laid at some point in his life. But what if... Nah, he couldn’t be a virgin.
I jogged down the staircase. The notion settled more firmly in my mind, nagging me. Cade was a fucking virgin, and terrified of girls. Or maybe he was afraid of anyone finding out. Holy shit. That made so much sense.
How could this have happened to him? Was it because of his scars? They weren’t that bad, even though he acted like he was some hideous monster. Fae were supposed to be great healers, but someone had failed him in that department. I wondered how that had happened and why.
Cade was a fucking virgin! He was never going to live that down.
Still, that was no excuse for condemning us all to the enchantress’s curse.
I recalled the horrid woman’s magic-infused words. I had to find my fated mate—my one true love. Which I had. I hadn’t told Emma yet because it was too soon. I didn’t want to scare her away. And she had yet to love me back, but she would one day. Hopefully soon, before our time ran out.
Zane had to find love too. Knowing him, and how he believed love was for fools, would make that tricky. Even so, I watched how he was around her. He always needed to be touching her, or at least close. Did he realize that? He’d fall for her eventually—and hard.
That left Cade. The enchantress had put the same curse upon him. Could Emma love him? He was a big, surly, son of a bitch virgin. Could she see past all of that to…whatever lay beneath? I had faith in my mate. More faith in her than I did in Cade. Playing matchmaker wasn’t exactly my idea of fun. No, I’d have to approach Zane with the idea.
Jace appeared around a corner. “Sir, lunch is ready.”
“I’ll grab something when I get back. I’m heading out for a run in the woods. Tell the others, if they ask.”
“Yes, sir.” The butler inclined his head.
I reached the side door and removed my clothes before stepping outside and shifting. I needed to be free for a while, to run off my frustrations with the lack of news on Eclipse, and Cade’s stubbornness.
Landing on all fours, my thick coat keeping me warm from the never ending winter of our cursed land, I bounded into the forest.
26
Zane
Jace had long since cleaned up after lunch, then returned to the office a few hours later with a tray holding our mail. In the center was a distinct black and gold jewelry box, though I knew there’d be no trinket within. He set the tray on my desk and exited without a word.
I plucked the box from among the envelopes and turned it over several times. It was for Emma, and I shouldn’t open it.
“Not that shit again,” Cade said, gesturing my way. “That girl is nothing but trouble. We should give her up.”
So far, he hadn’t insisted on handing her over to 5th Circle. I thought he knew it would never happen, so arguing about it was pointless.
“What does her stalker say this time?” he asked.
“Are you actually curious?”
He glowered. “No.”
Well I was, so I opened it to find the note rolled up and nestled inside. I’d never claimed to be a good man, and invasion of privacy was a lesser sin. Plus, anything to do with Emma was our concern. One day, we’d find out who stalked her and why. I unrolled the note:
Emma, the Penumbra bosses are cursed. A powerful witch cursed them nine years ago at a party. To break the curse, they must find love before their time runs out. Don’t you see? They are keeping you prisoner and using you. Manipulating you. You are nothing more to them than a means to an end. Run, Emma, before it’s too late.
P.S. Don’t trust Orion.
A weight settled in my stomach. Emma’s stalker was either a curse or a blessing. In sending this, the lunatic had either damned us all, or given us the tool to enlighten Emma. I just hoped her having this knowledge wouldn’t turn her against us as her stalker intended. There was only one way to find out.
Cade ignored me as I hurried past and out the door. My instincts told me to check for Emma in the library first, and I was correct in following them. She lounged on a sofa with a book in her lap. A half eaten sandwich rested on the plate on a side table.
She glanced up as I approached. “Ready for a chess rematch?” Her smile wavered as she studied my expression. Setting the book aside, she stood. “What happened?”
I wasn’t sure when I’d become so easily readable. I shook off the thought.
“You have mail.” I held up the sheaf of paper, making no move to hide the fact I’d already opened the box.
She snatched it from my hand. Her lips moved as she silently read the note. Once finished, her gaze met mine. “Is this true?”
“The part about the curse is true. Our intentions are not quite as cunning.” I swept a dreadlock over my shoulder.
She squinted. “Not quite as cunning,” she echoed my words.
Emma pivoted away from me. She glided to stand in front of the roaring hearth fire. Silence grew heavy in the space between us and I was sure I’d made a huge mistake.
Couldn’t she see that I was being honest? Wasn’t that what she wanted? I could have hidden this information from her, but I hadn’t, and that counted for something. Now I had to make her understand.
