Chapter 6
After a long soak in the tub, where I briefly drifted off, I lay in bed thinking of the reaction of the three men who loved me. I needed to apologize for the things that I had said to Ethan. Why I had called myself a human cum dumpster was beyond me, but sometimes emotions weren’t rational.
It felt like there was so much to do; now that I was having a baby, there would be even more to add to the list. Hunter had whispered assurances to me. And demands. He had spoken with Dominic, and they would hire more Inferno employees and recruit people for the other half of my business. Something that I had neglected. Involving people I didn’t trust put me on edge, but I reminded myself that Hunter had been doing this longer than I had.
He would also handle the weapons shipment later in the week, which added to my anxiety. I hated the fact that he was getting involved in criminal affairs again. He had done everything in his power to escape his past, and so had his mother.
And Dominic told me I was required to take a day off every week. Something about how I needed rest and it would be better for the baby.
Still, sleep wouldn’t come for me. As I lay there staring at the ceiling, my thoughts raced. There was so much to plan for and so much to buy. Children cost a lot. Even though the guys had more than enough money to provide everything without blinking an eye, I still hated the idea of them spending so much. I had been on my own for so long that it was hard just to hand over the reins to someone else, to just trust them.
The door creaked open, and a shadow sauntered toward the bed. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew exactly who it was. I could almost imagine the tattoos snaking along his skin and how his blond hair was swept across his face.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
His fingers brushed along my thighs as he settled at the end of the bed. His breath was hot on my skin. “Helping you sleep.”
I tried to clamp my legs together, but his hands held me in place. “You don’t have to. Really.”
His lips brushed against my lower stomach. “I don’t have to, but I want to.”
“Stay with me tonight. Let’s finish what we started earlier. I promise to keep the monsters at bay.” He’d always been the one who knew when I needed someone the most, when I didn’t want to sleep by myself.
I allowed my muscles to relax and let myself just feel. The warmth of his lips traveled along my skin as he placed careful kisses on my body. His hands cupped my hips before he kissed me just below my navel. I gasped at the sensation before grabbing onto his shoulders, searching for something to anchor me in place. “This isn’t what most people have in mind when they say they’ll help you sleep.”
He glanced up at me and grinned mischievously, his features barely visible in the moonlight. He continued to trail kisses along my inner thigh, alternating them with tiny nips and licks to soothe the sensitive skin. Every movement of his mouth left behind a wake of tingles and shivers. His fingers traced slowly across my hip as his mouth ghosted over my cloth-covered pussy.
I gasped as his breath touched there, and his tongue darted out, teasing me before he moved up my body again. I let out a small sigh as he kissed my stomach and then ribs, moving my shirt out of the way. The anticipation of what came next was enough to drive me wild. To make me beg him to give me what I wanted. He’d known what I needed before even I did. His lips skimmed along my skin until he reached my breasts. His hands were firm as he grabbed one, caressing it. I bit down on my lower lip, trying to stifle a whimper as he rolled my nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
My breathing was ragged by the time he moved lower, teasing me with every movement. Slowly, he moved my panties out of the way, not bothering to remove them. His tongue darted out, slowly exploring before he licked my clit, and my body arched up to meet his mouth. His mouth was electric as his hands held me firmly in place, keeping me where he wanted me. He sucked the sensitive nub, and I thought I had died and gone to paradise. I moaned into the darkness as he slipped two fingers inside of me. I could almost feel him smile as he licked and sucked at the sensitive flesh, pumping his wrist. My legs wrapped around his shoulders.
At that moment, all of my cares faded, and all I could think about was him and how he made me feel. It was almost like he was made of pure magic.
His mouth pulled away, even while his fingers kept up their rhythm. He held my gaze. “You’re so beautiful and so perfect. Sometimes, it hurts to look at you, knowing how much I love you. I’ve killed for you, and I would do it again. Anything for you and the baby you’re carrying. You’re so amazing, and you can’t see it.”
A tear trickled down my cheek, thankfully hidden by the dark. His words made me feel even more vulnerable than his mouth between my thighs or his fingers inside me. His free hand grabbed mine, holding it as his head dipped back down, and he drew my clit into his mouth. I almost exploded when his teeth grazed against it. My fingers tightly gripped his hair, and I writhed beneath him, silently begging him for more. He sucked harder on my clit, and I shattered beneath him. I couldn’t hold back a moan as I shook against the mattress. His mouth never left me, and he didn’t withdraw his fingers as he worked me through my climax.
Once it was over, Ethan lay beside me on the bed and pulled me against his bare chest. My heart still raced, but my fingers skimmed along the front of his shorts before reaching for his waistband. He grabbed my wrist firmly and kissed my temple. “Not tonight. This was for you. Sleep now, Rayne. Maybe in the morning, you can return the favor.”
“You’re staying with me tonight. Did you think I would let you sleep alone after I told you I’d keep the monsters away?”
His hands ran through my hair, and his lips stayed on my skin as I curled against him. “I love you too. More than I could ever say,” I whispered. Knowing that I was safe, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
When I walked into Inferno the following morning, Lexi was on stage in a t-shirt and shorts, working with Skye on a routine. I raised my eyebrows slightly, unable to hide my surprise. She seemed content for once, the anxiety that was usually present wholly gone as she moved to the music with ease. Being trapped at the Ruby Rose had emotionally messed her up, and I didn’t know if she would ever be the same. I wasn’t, not after what we had all lived through.
The music that streamed through the speakers was sultry, perfect for dancing to, and I watched as Lexi taught Skye how to hold on to the pole. She seemed like a fast learner, quickly picking up the spins and slides. Before long, she had climbed to the top, holding a pose with confidence before coming back down. She made it look easy, something I could never have done. They laughed together as Skye twirled around the pole, her hair floating behind her. She seemed happy, the opposite of the young woman I had met less than twenty-four hours before.
When the song changed, Skye looked down at her phone. Her entire expression morphed. I couldn’t tell if it was terror or anger from the distance I was at. I looked away, feeling like I was encroaching on a private moment. Joey was standing beside me, his gaze concerned. “How are you today, killer?”
I shook the cup in my hand at him. “Better. Dr. Dominic made me ginger peach tea and made me eat crackers.”
Joey grinned and shook his head at me. “Of course he did. I can’t wait to see how overprotective he is with the baby. Can you imagine how he’ll act if it’s a girl?”
I hadn’t even thought of that yet. Out of the three men, Dominic was the most logical. After he lost his sister, he was also the most cautious. I’d need to stock up on wine–or perhaps tequila–to deal with him.