Magnate (Acquisition Series Book 2) (23 page)

When he stopped, I yelled my frustration into the pillow and tried to flip over. He gripped my hips hard and kept me right where I was.

“Don’t you fucking move.” His voice was gravelly, filled with unrestrained lust. “Not until you have my permission, Stella.”

He slapped my ass hard and I screamed at the sudden pain.

He hit me again on the other side even harder, and his name flew from my lips. I remained still, his cock pressing against my pussy as his hot palms marked my ass again and again. I jerked with each hit, his head teasing my clit until I was desperate for him to fill me.

“Sin, please,” I said as he rubbed my ass, soothing the sting.

“Begging me, Stella?”

“Yes!” I pushed against him again, my hot clit seeking his cock for the slick friction.

“What do you want?” He slipped a finger between my cheeks and rubbed the wrinkled skin around my asshole. I made a keening sound and twisted so I could look at him.

“I want you to fuck me.”

He gripped my hip so hard it hurt and shoved forward, my clit singing at the increased contact of his cock. Then he flipped me over with one rough movement and crashed down on top of me, crushing the air from my lungs. He pinned my wrists over my head with one hand, covered my mouth with the other, and thrust inside. I screamed into his palm as he sank to the hilt.

Pain and pleasure exploded within me as he started a hard, rough pace. I was still yelling into his hand as he dropped his mouth to my ear.

“Is this what you wanted, Stella?” He released my mouth and rose up on an elbow.

Yes.

He jarred my body with each impact and looked down to my bouncing breasts. He captured a nipple in his mouth and bit down. I moaned and writhed, his thrusts getting stronger as he reached down and gripped one thigh under the knee and yanked it up, spreading me wide for him. He groaned as he surged and surged, his cock so thick inside me and every crash hitting my clit. The slapping sounds of our skin reverberated off the paintings and mixed with my moans.

“Sin, I’m getting close.”

“No, you aren’t.” He switched to my other nipple, sucking and taking me higher.

My pussy was screaming for release.

“Please, I’m going to come,” I cried.

He released my nipple and wrapped his hand around my throat. “Not until I say.”

He maintained the same pace, a hard fuck that kept me perched at the edge, ready to tumble over at any second.

I was there. “Please!”

He withdrew and I wanted to cry. I growled with rage, but he just smirked and flipped me to my stomach again and pushed my legs together. He straddled me and raised my ass and spread my cheeks before shoving his cock into me again.

“Fuck, you’re tight.” He groaned and leaned over me.

I moaned at the sensation of being filled again as he fucked me in steady pumps. He grasped my hair and wrenched my head to the side before fastening his lips to the back of my neck,  his tongue tracing the tangle of vines that lived there. My pussy clenched him tighter as he possessed every bit of me. I jerked against him, but he kept his other hand at my hip, yanking me into his cock with each thrust.

He kissed my shoulder, running his tongue along my skin, and I gripped the pillows. I was desperate to touch my clit. As if reading my mind, he snaked his hand beneath me and rubbed the swollen nub with two fingers. I arched my back, pushing my ass farther up into him so he could get even deeper.

“Sin.” It was all I had. The only word on my tongue.

He grunted with the effort, the rough fuck taking everything out of him as I gave him all I was. He strummed my clit harder as his cock grew inside me. I teetered on the edge again, my pussy gripping him tightly, desperate for release.

“Please, Sin, please.” It was a strangled cry.

He kissed to my ear and kept working me. I shook with the pleasure and fought against coming. I would wait for his permission. I had to.

“Sin!”

“Come on my cock.” His voice was in my ear and I couldn’t stop.

I cried out his name as he bit down on my shoulder. I shuddered as wave after wave of bliss blew through me, my pussy spasming as he kept pounding.

He grunted and bit harder. I felt his cock kick inside me, but I was too lost in my own high to do anything other than sink beneath him and take everything he gave me. He pulsed a few more times and kissed my shoulder where his bite had stung. Then he rolled off to my side and let out a whoosh of breath.

I was still floating, my mind and body in two separate locales. He reached over and moved my hair off my sweaty neck. I turned toward him and it was there again. The look that I’d drawn. It was mine. I’d never seen it any other time than when he looked at me.

My heart swelled, and so many emotions I thought I’d given up on rose to the surface, not the least of which was hope. Hope that this would change things. Hope that he would value me more than just a means of winning the Acquisition.

The warmth that bloomed in my heart was almost too much to bear, and I wanted to hide it, nurture it—let it grow under the harsh sun of the Acquisition. I slid over to him and rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow and even out. He ran his hand up and down my back and my side.

I was awash in him, soaking up his heat, his sweat, his emotions. He sighed deeply and his hand stopped, resting at my waist. I held my breath, never wanting the spell to break.

“Sin?” Teddy’s voice from the other side of the door made me jump.

Sin covered me with the blanket before tugging on his boxers and going to the door.

He clicked the lock and opened it a crack.

“What?” Sin’s voice was rough.

“I know she’s in there,” Teddy said. “I just wanted to ask about Mom. Is she going to be okay?” The worry in his voice was enough to make me turn toward the door, more concerned than embarrassed.

“I gave her something so she can sleep. You know how she gets this time of year.”

“Yeah, but it’s never been like that.”

Sin ran a hand through his hair, his back muscles flexing with the movement. “I know.”

“Can I go up and see her?”

“Yeah, she’s out. Farns is sitting with her.”

“Okay. I’ll check on her. Bye, Stella.”

“Bye, Teddy,” I called.

Sin turned and lowered his eyebrows at me before closing the door and locking it again.

“You two think you’re clever, don’t you?” He smiled, warmth and hunger mixing in his eyes.

Yes
. I shrugged. He stalked to the bed, ripped the blanket off and settled on top of me, pushing between my legs and wrapping his arms around me, pinning my elbows to my sides.

He kissed my collarbone, light caresses that made the butterflies in my stomach swirl and dip. His lips were warm and soft as he moved to my neck, sucking my skin between his teeth. I squirmed as my body awoke from its momentary reprieve, but I was trapped in his arms with nowhere to go.

He nibbled at my jaw and surged against me, his cock hard again and seeking entrance. The only thing to stop him was the material of his boxers. I moaned as he bit my ear, and I was hyper aware of every sensation—his mouth, my hard nipples pressing into his chest, the exquisite ache between my thighs.

When he took my mouth, I moaned. He swallowed the sound and sank his tongue into me, demanding and hot. I gasped when he slanted over me, his body hard against me as the softness of our mouths melded. I was on fire again, needing even more of him. He slid a hand down to my ass and I was free to run my fingers through his silky soft hair. When I gripped it hard, he thrusted against me, his head pushing at my veiled entrance.

He rose onto his knees and shucked his shorts before falling on top of me again. I moaned as he sank inside without warning, my pussy clenching at the sudden intrusion. I dug my heels into his ass, ignoring the sting of pain. He thrusted smoothly and bent his head to my breast, teasing around the nipple. I buried both hands in his hair.

He sucked me into his mouth as he surged deep and stayed, grinding against my clit with small movements of his hips. I was already panting, my body on a hair trigger from his touch.

“I want to see you.” His deep voice was an aphrodisiac of its own.

Gripping my back, he flipped us over so I was on top. I sank down completely on him, his cock stretching into my deepest core as I threw my head back. His hands were at my hips as I rose and fell on him, working him in and out. I spread my knees even wider, and he thrust up into me, pulling a deep moan from my lungs.

I leaned forward, planting one hand on his chest and the other at the pillow next to his head.

“Fuck, yes, Stella. Look at me. Make yourself come on my cock.” He palmed a breast with one hand while his other stayed at my hip, pulling me down tight as I ground my pussy against him.

I held his gaze as I worked him. His grunts and thrusts made my pleasure spiral higher and higher. And when he pinched my nipple hard I cried his name.

“I’m so close,” I whispered, and put my forehead to his.

His cock hardened at my words, and my clit pulsed as I was filled so completely.

“It’s mine. Every orgasm is mine, Stella. Tell me.”

“Yes. Yours. All of me, Sin. I’m yours.”

His jaw tightened even more. “Then give me what’s mine.”

My hips bore down even harder, the sweet friction on my core too much as I came.

“Sin—”

He kissed me, taking his name from my lips as I froze and shuddered. He thrusted hard once more and tensed as he shot inside me. My orgasm was still rolling, burning me with skittering sparks of pleasure as I convulsed and moaned my bliss into his mouth. I was gone, my mind shattered as I broke our kiss and took in a gulp of air before dropping my head onto the pillow next to him.

He encircled his strong arms around my back and crushed me to him. I was limp, utterly spent. I didn’t move, just lay on top of him and allowed myself to remain in pieces.

“Stella, look at me.”

I lifted my head and stared into his eyes, the shutters to his soul open and giving me a view of something more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. The real him, the one he kept hidden, the one I knew existed deep beneath the cold exterior.

He kissed my lips softly and ran his hand over my cheek. The wonder in his gaze made so much inside me open and warm. Then a shadow flitted across his eyes, some dark thought or memory that clouded our connection. He gave me one more lingering kiss before pressing me to his chest and covering us with the blanket.

I began to drift to sleep as his fingertips stroked my back, my hair. Love was in every touch. I’d never felt so safe, so content. A comfortable darkness began to fall over me, but my last thought was about the shadow.

Chapter Nineteen

Stella

I stared at
his face in the early morning light for far too long. Sleep wiped the cares away from his brow, making him seem young, almost reminiscent of Teddy. I wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms, in his bed, in the sanctuary that he’d covered with my art, but I needed to check on Renee.

The house was quiet, my steps the only sound as I crept down the hall. Her door was open when I got there, and she was gone, her bed made like usual. I stared at the ceiling, wondering if she was upstairs again.

I felt a deep ache in my body as I snuck downstairs to my room. Sin was still with me, his scent on me, his body still making mine feel everything we’d done the night before. My ginger steps told the tale of a night spent with him.

I showered and slid naked into my sheets, staring out the window as the cloudy, cold Christmas day began. I couldn’t go back to sleep, the memories of Sin’s mouth, his hands, and his eyes making me tingle.

I was toying with sneaking back to his room when there was a forceful knock at my door.
Renee?

“Who is it?”

“Merry Christmas,
Krasivaya.
”

My mouth dropped open. Dmitri, my manly masseuse I’d met before the Acquisition ball.

The door swung open and Alex, his hair a bright shade of indigo, rushed in and jumped on my bed. “It’s a Christmas miracle, beautiful!”

Dmitri scowled at Alex as he lumbered inside.

I put my hand to my mouth, joy rushing through me. “You’re here!”

“Juliet’s downstairs getting set up. Sadly, Yong couldn’t make it. She’s busy waxing an entire clan of reality stars in Hollywood. Serbians. Super hairy.”

“But why?” I reached out and touched Alex to make sure he was real.

“Few days ago, the honorable counsellor Sinclair Vinemont requested our presence as a Christmas treat for you and offered some choice coin.” Alex winked and lay back, threading his fingers beneath his faux hawk. “This ain’t so bad.” He surveyed the quilts. “Nice room. I didn’t know you sewed.”

“I don’t.” I finally accepted they were really here and wrapped my arms around Alex’s neck.

“Eww, naked woman.” He patted my back awkwardly.

I pulled back and yanked the sheet up, having totally forgotten I hadn’t dressed yet.

Dmitri smiled, his large frame ridiculous against the backdrop of a particularly dainty white and pink quilt, and started cracking his knuckles.

“Come on down to the spa when you are dressed. A day of leisure awaits.” Alex hopped up and fired an imaginary pistol at me before leading Dmitri into the hallway and back down the stairs.

Did Sin give me friends for Christmas
? The thought made me laugh, mostly because it was true. I rose and dressed simply, knowing full well I wouldn’t be wearing clothes for long.

I skipped the empty breakfast room and hurried straight to the spa. The cloudy sky imposed on the glass panes above and cast a gray gloom on the usually sunny room.

A small table was laid out with croissant, fruit, and juice. Alex had already powered through some strawberries, and Juliet was mid-chew on a chocolate croissant when she saw me and squealed. After an intense hug, she allowed me to take a seat. It felt natural—all of us eating, drinking, and laughing.

“Did you win the beauty pageant thing we did you up for last time, or what?” Alex downed his coffee and poured more.

I shifted in my seat. “Umm, the results aren’t in yet. I’ll let you know, though.”

“Well, if you didn’t, then I’d like a word with the judges because you were amazing.” His eyes lit. “Do you still have the dress?”

I dropped my eyes. I hadn’t seen it since the ball. “No, I think the designer took it back for a show or something.”

“Well, shit.” He leaned back and murdered another strawberry.

“You win,
Krasivaya
. I know this.” Dmitri had some new ink along his neck, something in Russian.

“What’s that say?” I pointed to it.

“Oh,” he laughed, the sound almost nervous. “Nothing.”

Juliet raised an eyebrow, met my eye, and sipped her juice.

“Embarrassed?” I asked, teasing in my tone.

“No.” He straightened in his chair, the joints creaking under his weight. “It is not meant for ladies such as you to hear.”

“Oh my god, Dmitri! Are you blushing?” I asked.

Alex crowed with laughter and I couldn’t help but join in. The big Russian rubbed a hand over his shaved head and grinned.

“Dmitri went and got something inappropes tatted on his neck and won’t share.” Alex giggled some more.

“It say.” Dmitri shook his head. “It say my
chlen
proud.”

“Your what?” Juliet asked through her smile.

“My—” He gave an obvious look down to his crotch and then back up. “It is proud.”

“What is your dick proud of, exactly?” Alex snickered.

Dmitri waved his meaty palm at Alex and let out a string of Russian.

Alex nodded. “Right, right. Very proud. I’m not denying it. So is it cut, or are you sporting foreskin?”

Juliet spit a mouthful of orange juice back into her glass, and I examined my feet.

“Let’s get you buffed up, shall we?” Juliet rose and, thankfully, saved me from any further discussion about Dmitri’s ‘chlen’.

An hour later, I sat comfortably as Juliet buffed my legs, the sensation refreshing but also intense.

“Damn, Russian. If your hands feel this good, I can’t imagine how your chlen must feel.” Alex lay on the massage table, having talked Dmitri into warming up by massaging him first. Alex grinned at me and then grunted as Dmitri used his elbow on his lower back.

“Turn it on over,” Juliet instructed.

I flipped on the table, staying under the towel as best I could, but I lost my grip and it fell to the floor. I winced, knowing what was coming. I’d already made an excuse about running in the wrong shoes about my feet. Now I had to explain the rest.

“What happened to your back?” Juliet ran her fingers over one of the scars. “Is this why Renee asked me for the scar serum?”

Dmitri loomed up next to me. “Who has done this,
Krasivaya
? The
suka
who came before?”

“Lucius? No. It doesn’t hurt. Not anymore. Please don’t worry about it. It doesn’t bother me.” I looked over my shoulder, my eyes pleading with Dmitri to leave it alone.

“It bother
me
.” Dmitri smoothed his wide palm down my back and frowned.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I rested my forehead on my hand.

“Come on, big guy. You heard her. Take it out on me,” Alex said.

I breathed a sigh of relief as Dmitri’s shadow receded, and Alex’s deep grunt of pain filled the room.

“From the looks of them, the serum helped. But this should make them even less noticeable.” Juliet patted my shoulder and started doing her thing. Coarse crystals rubbed against my skin, then finer and finer until it felt like she was floating thin sheets of silk across my body.

Once it was Dmitri’s turn, I was in heaven. What little muscle soreness I had left was worked away by his strong hands. Alex snored on the table next to me, his hand on his stomach and his silver nipple rings rising and falling with each breath. I could relate. Dmitri worked magic.

When he was done, he draped my towel up over me and I remained in my haze of relaxation.

“Juliet. Your turn.” Dmitri waved her over and smacked Alex on the arm. “Up!”

“Hey!” Alex sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Juliet shook her head and backed away. “I’m not doing that.”

“You shy, baby girl?” Alex asked.

“No.” Juliet dropped her gaze to the river-rock floor, her blonde bob hiding her face.

“It okay.” Dmitri frowned. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just not…” She gestured toward my body.

“What? You’re beautiful.” I looked in her eyes. “Inside and out.”

“Yes, beautiful,” Dmitri said, and stared at Juliet as if this were an obvious fact.

“Me three.” Alex stood and smacked me on the ass. “Get up, woman. Let’s go in my room and play with hair stuff. Leave these two alone to negotiate.”

“What?” Juliet’s big blue eyes widened.

Dmitri smiled. “Yes. You go, Alex. I handle.”

I tucked my towel around me and rose before pointing my finger at Dmitri. “Go easy on her, Russian.”

“Of course.” Dmitri smiled down at me as he motioned an unmoving Juliet to come to him.

I wanted to stay and watch, see if the large Russian could coax the skittish Juliet, but Alex pulled me into his booth and shut the door.

He clapped. “This is going to be good. You think they’ll fuck?”

I cocked my head at him in the mirror. “Of course not. She’ll probably run screaming before he even gets a finger on her.” The words came out and whistled around my consciousness, a flash of barren tree limbs darting across my mind and the scent of earth and rotting leaves in my nose.

“Hey, you okay?” Alex patted my shoulder.

I forced a smile. “Fine.”

“Let’s give you a cut. Spruce up these ends. And, just for you, I’ll tell you all about my newest boyfriend while I do it.” He whipped out a black cape and tied it around me. “Have you ever seen a pierced dick?”

I spent the next forty-five minutes laughing and telling Alex just how bad he was after he regaled me with tales of his conquests, the most recent being a TV star on some show about zombies.

When he was done, I felt lighter, and my hair was cut, shampooed, and styled to fall in waves.

I ran my fingers through the strands. “Thanks, Alex. I’m a new girl.”

He bent over, caught my eye in the mirror, and kissed my cheek. “No. You’re the same one I fell in love with a couple months ago.”

I smiled. This was by far the best Christmas present I’d ever received.

“Let’s see if the coast is clear or full of Russian dick.” Alex silently opened the door and crack, then swung it all the way. “What the—”

I peeked over his shoulder. Dmitri and Juliet had disappeared.

A smell wafted to my nose, something rich and delicious. My stomach growled.

“I think lunch is ready.” Alex walked into the room and grabbed my clothes from the nearest rack before tossing them to me. “Get dressed. I’m starving. And please tell me I’m invited.”

I dropped my towel and pulled on my underwear, jeans, and t-shirt. “Of course. But we need to find Juliet and Dmitri first.”

Someone cleared their throat. I stared around. The sound came from a closet along the front of the room. The door opened and Dmitri stepped out, his eyes everywhere but on Alex and me.

“Where’s Juliet?” Alex asked.

The door opened again and she hurried out, though Dmitri slapped her ass as she went by.

“I’m not discussing this.” Her face was on fire.

I grinned, happy that the simple enjoyment of another person, no dark motives at play, was possible under this roof. “Fine. Come on. I bet you two worked up an appetite.”

Juliet tucked her hair behind her ear before thinking better of it and plucking it back out. I led the procession, up the main hallway, past Sin’s study, past the breakfast room, and to the large dining room where I’d signed the contract that fateful day. It seemed so long ago now. So much had changed.

Laura puttered around adjusting plates, but the table was perfect. A large roast sat in the middle, flanked by sides of green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and any number of foods placed around like decorations.

“Wow,” I said. “This is beautiful. I almost hate to eat it.”

Laura smiled and motioned to the chairs. “Everyone sit. I already told the boys it’s ready.”

We took our seats, leaving the three spots around the end for Sin, Lucius, and Teddy. There were three more places set, and I wondered if Renee would join us. I missed my friend something terrible, the loss a nagging ache.

Deep male laughter bounced into the room for the foyer, Teddy and Lucius appearing in the doorway.

Lucius’ eyes opened wide as he surveyed the room. He clearly had no idea there was company.

Dmitri growled.

“Keep it civil.” I laid my napkin in my lap as Laura poured the wine.

Lucius leered at Dmitri before sitting in his usual chair. “Yeah, keep it civil,
comrade
.”

“Very nice to see you again, Lucius is it? I’m Alex.” Interest lit his face, the charm switch flipped.

I smothered my laugh as Lucius simply eyed the eager stylist.

Teddy bumped my elbow and grinned at me. “Have a good night?”

Lucius shifted in his seat and scowled at Teddy.