Deceit (Gallows Hill Book 1), page 11
I’ve been taught my whole life that my virginity is something to be treasured, protected. It makes more sense now as I realize my father has had plans to marry me off from conception. Of course my virginity is so valuable, it’s a selling point, and if the buyer is Asher then I would gladly give it away to practically anyone else. Though I admit, sleeping with Ronan would hardly be a compromise on my part, the man looks like a Greek god and he tongue fucks like one too.
I go to grab the door to the pool when it pushes open. I can’t help but smile as it does, butterflies racing through my chest. However, they quickly wither and die when it’s not Ronan in front of me, but Vincent. His slate grey eyes are practically incinerating me where I stand, before his lip lifts into a sneer.
“Fucking the coach?”
I pale at his words momentarily, doing my best to brush him off as I roll my eyes.
“Don’t be disgusting.”
His face turns thunderous as he takes a step closer, our chests brushing against each other as he looks down at me.
“Don’t lie to me,” he grits out quietly. “I saw you two in the gardens. I see the way he watches you.”
Keeping my expressions composed, I lift an unimpressed eyebrow as I tilt my head to the side.
“Well, if you see all of that it must mean you’re watching me too.”
His steely mask seems to falter for a moment, something akin to surprise, before it’s back in place.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I was having a smoke and couldn’t help but notice the predator luring the young naïve girl to a private location.”
My eyes narrow at him. “I’m not naïve.”
“That’s just what I’d expect you to say,” he says, his deep voice grating on my nerves.
My jaw is clenched before irritation practically consumes me.
“You’re an asshole!”
He shrugs, pushing past me without another word. I wrap my hand around the door handle, looking over my shoulder to see Vincent stride out into the courtyard without a care in the world. I can’t help but watch him with narrowed eyes before I pull the door open again, storming inside.
I collide with a hard chest, and a familiar musky scent fills my senses as I look up to see Ronan smiling down at me.
“Hey,” he smiles easily, before his brows knit together. “What’s wrong?”
The concern in his voice stirs something in me. I allow my irritation towards Vincent to melt away as I stare up at this ridiculously good looking man before me.
“Nothing, I’m good,” I smile.
His hands come up to either side of my face, cupping my cheeks gently as his eyes flick across my face, as if he can find the truth from a single look.
“I don’t believe you. Is it my little shit nephew? Do I need to kick his ass?” he asks.
I can’t help but laugh.
“No, but could you anyway? I think it would do him some good.”
“For my girl? Anything.”
“Your girl?” I ask teasingly. “That seems a little fast, Coach Ronan,” I tease.
“On the contrary, Miss Parris. I think it’s just right. That is, unless you let any man off the street eat your pussy until you come all over his face or ride his lap until you soak his pants?.”
I’m proud that I don’t blush at his words. Instead, I keep my teasing smirk in place and look up like I’m thinking it over.
“Well, not every man.”
His eyes narrow as he shakes his head, before smashing his lips against mine. It’s a kiss that starts out sweet and teasing, but with a swipe of his tongue something changes between us.
Suddenly his grip on me tightens, the air thickens, and our kisses become frantic. A rush I’ve never felt before rips through me as his mouth moves across my cheek and down my neck, sucking on the sensitive skin behind my ear. I gasp at the feeling as I tilt my head back, granting him easier access as his hands begin roaming down my body.
My heart is practically beating out of my chest with each touch. I feel one of his hands leave my side, reaching out and flicking the lock on the door before coming to cup my ass. He pulls me into him, and I happily wrap my leg around his waist. His mouth comes down to my cleavage, licking a long line between my breasts before his eyes meet mine.
I feel my stomach physically flip as he gives me a slow smirk, gripping both my thighs and lifting me into the air. I have no choice but to wrap my other leg around him as Ronan makes quick work of walking us into the pool room and over to the bleachers. He sits down on the first row and I go with him, straddling him as my skirt bunches up around my hips.
My pussy rubs against his hard cock as he lets out an audible groan against my lips.
“Fuck, yes. Grind on me, baby.”
I do as he says, his soft lips peppering my skin as his hands guide my hips. God, I’ve never felt anything so erotic, so intoxicating. Just a few brushes of our bodies together and I’m already prepared to explode. See, like I said? Addict.
I feel a fluttering sensation low in my belly, and my pussy begins to spasm as my clit grinds against him once more.
“Oh god. Oh no. Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter through my orgasm, shuttering and shaking in his arms as he whispers into my ear.
“Just like that. You’re so fucking beautiful when you fall apart for me.”
I’d be embarrassed with how easily he can get me off but honestly, what is there to be embarrassed about? Sounds like a talent to me.
When my pleasure has subsided, I pull away to look at Ronan who is watching me with hungry eyes. Gently, he guides me to stand before he reaches into his pants and pulls out his cock. I physically gulp when I look at it. It’s so thick. I don’t think cocks are supposed to be that thick and if they are, they definitely shouldn’t be this long as well.
“Get on your knees, Skyla,” he commands, a soft lilt to his otherwise demanding tone.
Slowly, I sink to my knees between his legs as his hand comes to the back of my head, winding my hair around his fist as he brings me closer. My mouth begins to water as my stomach turns nervously. I do my best to remain confident, but I can’t deny that I’m terrified I’ll be a disappointment.
A man like this, an Olympian, has obviously been with countless women. What would he want with an inexperienced one like me? The pressure to be the best he’s ever had is intimidating, though it motivates me as I slowly wrap my lips around the head of his cock. My tongue swirls around it before he gently begins pushing me down.
Inch by inch, I take his cock deeper until he’s reached my throat. I gag on instinct, cringing at the sound when Ronan groans.
“Fuck, yes. Gag for me, baby. Let me hear you choke around my cock.”
His words of encouragement spur me on as I do it again, able to get a little further before gagging once more. Ronan’s hands cup my head as he takes over my movements, forcing me up and down over and over again. My gagging has increased, and I feel my eyes water before tears begin streaming down my face. That doesn’t stop him though. He continues using my mouth for his pleasure, pushing deeper and faster until his body locks up and he lets out a strangled groan.
“That’s it. Swallow all of me, baby.”
In the next instant, I feel his cum hit my tongue. It’s warm and slightly salty as I swallow it down. I’ve never tasted cum before and if I’m being honest, I thought it was going to taste a lot worse. I actually kind of like it.
Ronan slowly pulls away, leaning against the bleachers behind him before blowing out a ragged breath and closing his eyes. When he opens them, those blue orbs land on me, a satisfied smirk spread across his face.
“You did so good,” he says, holding a hand out for me before pulling me back into his lap.
“Yeah?” I ask shyly, my hair falling into my face as I do.
He nods slowly, pushing my hair away from my face as he rubs the strands between his fingers.
“Oh yeah. You’re my good girl, aren’t you?”
I feel my cheeks flame as my teeth sink into my bottom lip and I nod. His smirk grows as he drags me in for another breathtaking kiss. His soft lips practically melting against mine before he rests his forehead against my own. I don’t know what the hell we are doing, or where this is going, but I’ve literally never had control over anything in my life, so to hell with it. Though, I know this will all be temporary, I’ll relish every second of it for as long as I can.
Chapter Seventeen
Ronan
There are a lot of things I would rather do on a Thursday than be in a meeting with the Brethren. I’d always rather do almost anything than be anywhere with the Brethren, not like I’d ever say that out loud, though.
I’ve been tempted half a dozen times to get up, move over to the box where they collect our phones before we enter the room. Just to check and see if Skyla has texted me. I feel a little pathetic that at thirty-two, I’m completely gone for a nineteen-year-old. Actually, when I say it like that, I feel downright disgusting.
I’m spacing out as I stare at the large ornate mirror to the side. It practically takes up the entire wall, it’s so tall. It has been here for over two-hundred years, which is pretty remarkable considering its condition.
“Ronan,” Christopher chastises, clearly observant of how little attention I’m paying.
It’s bullshit that I’m even here. None of the other siblings from the Elders have to attend these. The oldest is the only true heir, I’m just spare parts in case someone finally takes him out.
Whoops, did I say finally? Oh well.
The only reason I’m here is because our father insisted. He was the Elder to hold the position as the head of the Brethren, for the longest period of time since its conception. He died six years ago and Christopher was practically salivating for his time to lead us. He couldn’t wait for dad to pass.
My eyes are on him to show that he has my attention, but I don’t speak.
“Robert and I were just discussing your betrothal to his daughter.”
That grips every bit of my attention. I sit up a little higher, my back straightening as my eyes swing to Robert Williams. Annie is a nice girl. Nice enough at least, but I’m not the least bit interested in her. When she showed up to my place the other day, we had a good time until she wanted to fall into bed together. Normally that wouldn’t have been a hardship, she’s gorgeous with perfectly tanned skin, rich chocolate brown hair and legs that go on for miles. Since I first laid eyes on Skyla though, no one has been able to compare. Especially now that she’s mine. Yeah, hell no.
“If I can be frank, I’m not sure we are the best match,” I say carefully.
Robert’s eyebrows furrow, while my brother narrows his gaze at me.
“And why is that? Do you have a better one in mind?” Christopher asks.
Yes.
“No, we’ve spent a little time together and we didn’t have much to talk about, we don’t share much in common.”
“Consider yourself lucky,” Will Stroughton laughs, causing several other members to chime in with their agreement.
That vein in the side of my brother’s head throbs and his jaw tenses in visible irritation. He doesn’t like losing the attention of a room. Our father practically beat it into his brain that if you have their attention, you have their respect. If you have their respect, you have power and if you have power…you can rule this earthly world.
“You will,” Christopher says easily, claiming the spotlight once more as he levels a heavy look around the long table. “That’s the point of a union. It’s to grow, strengthen bonds and unite two families into one.”
All hope of attempting to talk him out of this decision dies with those words. Like the others, I can read between the lines. I’m not marrying Annie because she is a good match for me. I’m marrying her because Will has something that my brother wants, whether for himself or the Brethren is inconsequential. We’re all merely pawns and it’s this game that he is playing.
I nod once and dip my head, an obvious sign of respect and defeat. That has his smile growing as he settles back into his chair comfortably.
“Excellent. After Asher’s ceremony would be perfect. Maybe July? Enough time for us to get everything in alignment,” Christopher says, though he isn’t talking to me. He’s looking straight at Will who nods his agreement.
My brother nods happily to himself before he goes down the table addressing a few more issues with other Elders, which I promptly tune out. Once business seems to be addressed for the day, Christopher looks at me.
“Bring them in.”
I nod, standing up from my plush leather chair at the slate stone table, as I make my way to the door. When I pop it open, I find Asher and Liam standing in the waiting area pressed, polished and ready. If only they knew they’d never be ready.
They both nod at me, stepping in and depositing their phones into the box before standing beside my brother at the head of the table. Simultaneously, they bow their heads in respect and I watch the table carefully to see several nods of approval.
“Thank you for being here today,” Christopher says to Asher, before his eyes dart to Liam. “As you have both been made aware, someone has been tampering with the school’s security cameras. Obviously, this is not only a threat to our children but to our very foundation. So, I’m tasking you two with the job of finding who this is and finishing them.”
Their faces are stoic, though even I can see the hesitancy in Liam’s eyes from here. I know Christopher is testing them, mainly Asher. If he really was concerned about finding the person responsible for the outages, he could get anyone from the Hutchinson family to look into it. They are all tech geniuses, and their Legacy is still at the University.
If he wanted to have someone taken out, then Griggs would have been a much better fit. It’s what his family lived and died doing; it’s his destiny, to follow their footsteps in their role of the Brethren.
I’ll be disappointed when they do trace it back and figure out who has been behind the outages, though I think we all know the obvious answer. I’ve been using them as a perfect excuse to shut down the cameras in the pool and surrounding areas when Skyla and I meet. We’ve been sneaking around in the Brethren’s blind spots, which I know is a strategy that won’t last forever. It’s the best we can do, at least for now, though.
“Of course,” Asher says.
Christopher nods approvingly. “Excellent, Alexander will send you the information on what we know so far. You’re both dismissed. Ronan, please escort them back to their dorm.”
I frown, uncomfortable with the fact that my brother is making plans or discussions and intentionally wants me out of the room for them. Still, it’s not like I could refuse. So, I stand from my seat, moving over to the box where I retrieve my phone along with Liam and Asher’s before we all file out of the room, through the holding room and into the tunnel.
Once we make it to the stairs and are inside the church, we all seem to exhale a sigh of relief. That’s how life in this world feels, like you’re always holding your breath, always waiting to see what happens next. A life on edge keeps you alert, but fuck it’s exhausting.
“Man, this is bullshit. Why the fuck were we selected for this? This isn’t in either of our skill sets,” Liam says with a shake of his head, as we move through the three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old church.
“Because he said so,” Asher shrugs, pushing open the doors before stepping out into the moonlit cemetery.
“Since when is that enough for you?” Liam challenges. “Ash, he wants us to find this person and kill them. I can’t kill someone, can you?”
“If I have to,” he snaps sharply, sending his best friend a withering glance before he starts typing quickly on his phone. “Your birthday isn’t too far behind my own, Liam. Did you really expect to enter the Brethren without a single drop of blood on your hands?”
He pauses, looking at me as I quickly avert my gaze.
“Is that part of initiation? We have to kill for them?” he asks.
“It varies,” I answer cryptically, forcing Asher to let out a derisive snort.
“Which means, yes.”
Liam looks sick as he shakes his head, seemingly pushing whatever thoughts or conflictions he’s feeling aside before he speaks.
“Whatever, I just want to go home. You coming?” he asks, as he begins veering right towards his dorm, while Asher is heading left.
“No, gonna go get my dick sucked real quick.”
“By Skyla?” I ask irrationally, unable to hide the jealousy in my voice fast enough.
Asher doesn’t think anything of it, or he doesn’t notice, as he continues texting. Liam, however, is watching me with a curious gaze.
“Yeah fucking right,” Asher scoffs. “That prude wouldn’t know the first thing about sucking a man off.”
Something in me would love nothing more than to put him in his place. Tell him how wrong he is, how she has a mouth that feels like heaven and a pussy that tastes like it too. Obviously, I don’t and for good reason. He doesn’t deserve to know those things about her. That’s only for me to know, it’s a privilege I will cherish greatly.
“Why do you hate her so much?” I bite out before I can stop myself. “She’s a nice girl, she doesn’t deserve your spite. She is just as much a victim in this as anybody, maybe more so. She doesn’t have the advantage of growing up in this world like you two did. She was a normal girl, who has now been dropped into the middle of Brethren business during one of the most crucial and dangerous points of our history.
Asher’s feet pause as he turns to face me, phone long forgotten.
“What do you mean? What’s happening?”
I blow out a breath as I shake my head. “You’ll be inducted soon. You’ll know more than you ever cared to.”
He doesn’t seem to like that answer. So, he turns back around and stalks off to whatever poor girl he’s basically using as a prostitute. I scoff at him, rolling my eyes before my gaze stops on Liam.
