Branded (Strand Brothers Series Book 1) (13 page)

“So, you admit to having one?”

For Pete’s sake!
“Why do you give a rat’s ass?”

He gave me an are-you-shittin’-me look. “Because I love you, my brother. I thought that’d be obvious,” he snorted.

Ah, hell. I loved him as well. But he knew I wouldn’t say it. I crossed my arms over my chest and softened my voice. “It is. Tell me why you’re here.”

He chuckled, “Still can’t admit to your feelings, can you? Not even for your own family. Sure hope Aimee knows what she’s getting herself in to.”

No, I couldn’t. Every time I shared my emotions, I lost that person. I wouldn’t risk my brothers’ lives or anyone else’s, ever again. For whatever reason I shared, “She agreed to marry me.”

“No, shit. Congratulations, Nik!” he exclaimed as he walked over and clasped me on the shoulder.

Shame welled up, hot and heavy, along with a side of guilt. Not an easy mix to swallow. “It’s not like that, Alex,” I cautioned. “She needs protection from Reynolds. That’s all. Just an agreement,” I pointed out.

He smirked, “You keep telling yourself that.”

I growled in response.

“Easy there, big guy. Reynolds is actually why I’m here,” he announced.

That got my attention. “Is he, now?”

“Yep. I had a little chat with one of his goons. He was most forthcoming,” he smiled.

Arrogant bastard.
While my brother was a damn good attorney, he knew how to toe the line. He continued, “Let’s just say, a certain business deal will go in his favor tomorrow.”

Yes, I’d taught him well. “Learn anything new?” I inquired.

“Nope. Just confirmation on what we already had knowledge of.”

“Fuck. When will the asshole mess up so we can catch him red-handed?” I asked exasperatedly.

“Your guess is as good as mine on that one, Nik,” he replied.

My fist doubled up at my side. The need to handle things with brute force was tangible.

Alex didn’t miss my inner turmoil. “He’s going to screw up,” he assured. “And when he does, we’ll be waiting.”

“Damn straight.”

For emphasis we knocked knuckles.

He tossed back the rest of his drink, clapped me on the back, and headed out the door. On his way out he said, “I’ll let you get back to business.” Then he winked.

I called, “Alex?”

As he turned around, I flipped him off. Jerk-off actually laughed while he walked away. I stood there with a ghost of a smile on my face.
You will not pussyfoot around this,
I told myself as I worked up the courage to go talk to my future bride. For whatever reason, there was
purpose
in my stride when I walked down the hall to her room.

Chapter Fourteen

Aimee

After I had just experienced the best orgasm by a man’s hand, I was a bit revved up. Soooo ready for more. If he could finger that well, how spectacular would his mouth be? Or, better yet, his cock? Geez, I needed a cold shower. Although thoughts of a shower brought back the image of Nik masturbating. Dang, that was hella hot! Sure, I’d seen plenty of men stroke-off, but there was something primal in his exhibition. I hadn’t meant to walk in on him like that. Furious with the way he’d left the room; my intentions had been to tell him to forget it. I wasn’t going to marry him, after all. Yet when I saw all of that hard, rugged maleness in the throes of self-pleasure, I
had
to watch. Of course, watching only made me want to join the party. When he prowled out of the shower, I knew I was a goner. Everything about the man screamed sex, especially, the dagger tattoo over his heart. Next time, I would trace it with my tongue
.

I had only ever met one other man that had such an effect on me. Visions of that one amazing night at the masquerade played through my mind. It really was unfortunate I had left town only twenty-fours afterwards, which hadn’t been on the agenda. However, Ann and Jack needed to move their business. Pronto. So naturally I tagged along with Renée, who would always follow the brother and sister team. To her they were a lifeline—the reason she wasn’t selling herself on the streets.

In a matter of a few short weeks, I had learned of Daddy’s cancer. As if that hadn’t been a big enough blow, then his company decided to downsize and let him go. After twenty years of service, they just wished him well. No way would an escort job cover surgery and chemo. But that was all water under the bridge. I couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—regret my decision.
Now I’m caught in this pickle
. Marriage to Nik was a whole lot more inviting than to Caleb. At least there was attraction between Nik and me; also, deep in my soul, there was familiarity. Over time we could fall in love, if he’d only allow himself to feel. Of course that was the elephant in the room, Nik’s lack of emotions. Maybe I could help him open up?
Possibly. But odds are you’ll get hurt. He’s a mess.
Yes, he was—yet worth the pain if I could somehow reach him.

All of this reverie wouldn’t change what had just happened with Nik. There must be some way to crack through the walls he had so expertly built. From what I could see, he loved his brother. I was willing to bet he loved the youngest one as well. So he was capable, even if he refused to acknowledge it. How did I reach him? We had a connection; I simply needed to tap it. Perhaps physically was the way. Whether he admitted to it or not, sex could bring people closer together. It was the reason I had to be so careful in my previous
job
. To keep the emotions and mental bonding out of it was complicated. Could I now purposely let myself do what I’d spent five years avoiding? To save this man, I’d do whatever was necessary. Nik. Was. Worth. It. 
At what price? You’re going to lose your heart over this one.
Probably. Yet sacrifice was all about that. Shoot, I had already begun to lose it to him. There was no stopping it. When the end came, hopefully, I would survive. Because let’s face facts, inevitably he would push me away.

As if on cue, he appeared in my doorway. “How’re y’doin’?”

With a smile I answered, “Good.”

His lips curled up slightly. “Glad to hear it.” He ran a hand through his incredible mane. “Listen, I’m sorry ‘bout Alex’s interruption.”

“Seriously, it’s okay. Although…” I sashayed towards him, figuring now was as good a time as any to seduce him. The sooner I had him, the better. When I approached him, I ran my hand up his gloriously hard chest and purred, “I would really like to get back to where we were before the disruption.”

“Uh…” He cleared his throat while I watched him make up his mind. “About that. I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Which one?” As both memories hit me full force, I licked my lips.

By the look in his eyes, he remembered, too. “Both,” he rumbled, not out of anger but sexual tension.

If he spoke long enough, I would orgasm. His voice was just that sexy. “Why’s that?”

“I shouldn’t have let you watch me,” he admitted. “And I damn sure shouldn’t have touched you.”

“I walked in on you. I’m the one who needs to apologize,” I confessed while I stroked his huge shoulder. “As for the other”—standing on tip toes and leaning in close enough for my lips to touch him—“I want you to do it again. Now,” I whispered.

Before my hand could cup his magnificent manhood, he clasped it. “No. It won’t happen again,” he asserted.

What the hell? Was he serious? “Are you trying to tell me you’re not attracted?” I let my gaze roam over the very spot I almost touched a moment ago. Oh, yes, he was aroused. Not to mention there was enough electricity between the two of us to light up all of Fifth Avenue.
No, I don’t buy it.

“Of course, I want you. That’s fairly obvious,” he declared. “But I’m choosing not to act on it.”

“So, we’re back to marriage with no love, as well as no sex. Correct?”

With his lips in a tight, thin line, he gave me a curt nod. “That’s the way it has to be.”

“Horseshit!” I threw my arms in the air and marched across the room. Once I was out of slapping range—because trust me, I wanted nothing more than to slap him silly—I pivoted around and exclaimed, “Hypocrite! You have fucked more women than I can count. Odds are, you’ve had more partners than I have. Your reputation of one-night-stands is phenomenal. You’re a damn legend in this city. So don’t you
dare
tell me it’s best this way,” I huffed.

He shrugged. “That may all be true. However, it doesn’t change a thing.”

I yanked open my robe and let it fall to my feet. Desire flared in his eyes as his erection actually grew more. He was interested, yet held himself back. Therefore, following my instincts, I began to stroke my breasts, rolling and tugging my nipples until I let out a moan. All the while I held his heated gaze to let him know I was thinking of his hands on my body. Then, I ran my hands down my body until I reached the apex between my thighs and dipped into my wet folds. His jaw tightened as his nostrils flared. No doubt he smelled my arousal.

“Lay down,” he commanded, “Spread your legs wide.”

Hell, yes. As I continued my self-exploration, I stepped backwards till I hit the edge of the bed. He strode forward, moving with animalistic grace. I assumed he would climb on the bed along side of me. I thought wrong. Instead, he fell to his knees at the end of the bed and tugged me downwards. Once my most private parts were at his eye level, he placed my heels on the edge while he pushed my knees as far apart as possible. With his chin resting on his folded hands, he announced, “Continue.”

I paused for a moment. Did I really want to give him a show? Oh, hell yeah, I did. Without any more thought, my fingers began to work my sex. Since it was
his
show, he decided to call the shots. “Slower. Yeah, like that. Circle your clit for me, but don’t touch the center.”

O-M-G!
This was beyond erotic
. To prove my point, my hips writhed of their own accord.

He continued, “Use your other hand. Put your middle finger inside your core. Now, push in and pull out. Faster,” he growled, “Add your ring finger. Harder.”

I moaned loudly. And before I could hold back, I pled, “Please. I need to come.”

“Not yet,” he pronounced. “Easy. Move slower. Don’t you dare touch the center of that swollen bundle of nerves.”

I had never wanted to orgasm so bad in all my life. Then, he decided to blow over my sensitive womanhood. “Ah…Nik, I can’t.”

“Shh,” he soothed. “Yes, you can. Take those two fingers and turn them up. Find your g-spot. Do not rub it,” he ordered.

I did what he asked and bucked when my fingers came in contact with my oh-so-happy spot. I hissed, “Now?”

“Soon, baby,” he assured.

I groaned in frustration. Bastard actually chuckled low in his throat and went on with his torture. “Remove the finger on your nub. Keep the other two inside you. Trace your secretions back over that muscle just below your entrance.”
Damn!
“Keep stroking. Now, turn those two fingers up and rub that special spot.” My eyes rolled back from the intensity. “Yes, like that.”

He held me on the edge and refused to let me fall over. Just when I thought all hope of climax was over, he said, “With the hand inside you, use your thumb and rub your clit. Don’t come,” he demanded.

I swear the man was demented. My back bowed off the bed. He grabbed my ankles to hold me in place. “Again, stroke your g-spot.”

My head began to thrash back and forth as he continued, “Faster. Harder. Push your thumb down on your clit. Now.”

As I came in wave after wave, drenching the bed, I screamed. Still, I couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact I’d done this to myself. Sure, I’ve pleasured myself in front of many clients, but never like that. Never had anyone directed what I did to my own body. There were no words for it. Nik released my ankles and pushed my body up the bed by my hips. While I lay there in post-orgasmic bliss, he grabbed the duvet. Once he’d seen to my comfort, he turned to leave. I mumbled, “Give me a few minutes. I’ll be ready for you.”

With a poignant look, he stood there for a moment and then commented, “No, I’m good. Get some sleep.”

I wanted to argue with him. But the fact remained; I was spent—too wiped out to even speak again. I rolled over and began to slip into slumber, as he shut off the lights and closed the door.

My last coherent thought was, next time, Nik.

Your.

Turn.

Chapter Fifteen

Nik

What had I just orchestrated? Never had I been so domineering with a woman. Hell, usually I didn’t care. Even though the women I’d been with had always climaxed. The least I could do. Yet, I had rules: like no kissing on either set of lips. Too damn intimate. Over the years I’d only made one exception, with no plans to do so again. Like most men, I loved to watch a woman manipulate herself into complete bliss. There was no opposition for her to use toys, either. Whatever she needed to achieve pleasure, I was cool with. But
this
experience was beyond the pale.
My God…after that, how do I keep myself from returning to Aimee tonight?
No matter how you looked at it, I was screwed six ways to Sunday.

When E rounded the corner, I’d never been so grateful to see him. He did not miss my state of upheaval. Astute. Plus, no doubt, he could smell Aimee on me. I sure could, inhaling deeply to luxuriate in her heady scent. My mouth actually began to water.
Shit!
Some kind of release was necessary. I locked eyes with my brother and directed, “Gym.”

He chuckled, “Weights? Or are we going to have a go at it?”

Over my shoulder I asked, “Aren’t you worried I’ll mess up that pretty face of yours?”

“Hell, no. Bring it,” he taunted.

“Let’s do this, then.”

One of the things I loved about my youngest brother was his willingness to fight me anytime, anywhere. He was good, too—could have done well in the UFC medium-weight division. But his tastes ran to the extreme—of the kinky sort. He always found women willing to let him do all sorts of erotic acts to them. How was beyond my comprehension. Fact was people all over the world practiced in the lifestyle, which was how his clubs were so successful. Usually he trained others, rarely participating anymore. According to him, he’d grown bored with a lot of it. Still, I didn’t buy it. My brother was not the type to go “vanilla.” He
needed
a submissive. This phase wouldn’t last long. And Heaven help the woman he unleashed all that pent up Dom frustration on. Sure hope she had some training; otherwise, I worried he might hurt someone from too much exotic sex.