Taeja

1. Chapter 1

1

Taeja Marley was her father’s greatest disappointment.

She’d never wanted anything more than affection from her old man, but even good grades in school and staying out of trouble couldn’t grant her only wish. It seemed the only time he paid attention to her was when she did things he disagreed with…

Like last week’s incident.

Cringing at the memory, Taeja grabbed the shot glass of tequila off the bar’s counter. She turned it to her head, welcoming the burn in her throat as she washed the liquid down.

The woman sitting beside her glanced at her, raising her brow. The glitter of her eyeshadow winked beneath the club’s flickering light as her eyes settled on Taeja, who was ordering another shot. “You good, girl?”

Not sparing her a glance, Taeja nodded. “I’m great, Liyah.”

Aaliyah’s brow raised further. “Me look like eedyat?” she asked, shaking her head and clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth as Taeja downed her second shot of the night.

“Sometimes,” Taeja coyly replied before she hopped off the stool. “Dance with me!” She grabbed Aaliyah’s hand, using the other to grab her purse off the counter before tugging them toward the dance floor.

Smoke from the machines stationed in several corners of the room drifted over the floor, lightly grazing her skin as she walked wherever her feet led her. Dancing bodies brushed against her. A poignant mix of scents was in the air — liquor and sweat had a musk that even expensive colognes couldn’t mask.

Her feet brought her not too far from the private sections, which were an elevated area barred off by silver railings. Taeja released Aaliyah’s hand, then allowed the Caribbean music blasting over the speakers to lead her pace. Aaliyah grabbed her waist, smiling and laughing as Taeja danced on her.

Thrilling as it was, Taeja’s mind tormented her with yesterday’s memories…

Sitting on a desk. A man between her legs. Her father storming in and his mouth hitting the floor.

Her father had grabbed her arm and hauled her out of his boss’ office, the words on his tongue giving sailors a run for their money.

On the outside, Taeja had been scowling. But inside, the part of her that craved her father’s attention soared away on Cloud Nine. If this was what she had to do to get Jerry’s attention, then this was the woman Taeja Marley would be now: a woman who frequented the beds of desperate married men who were on the brink of divorce and exploring their options. For only a night, she’d sell a fantasy. A fantasy where she was theirs and they were hers.

But after her last run-in, Taeja decided she wanted more.

She wanted something meaningful. Something that could last.

She wanted someone she could hold hands with. Someone who’d call her princess in public and treat her like the perfect slut in bed.

Taeja thought she’d never find that. In fact, she’d given up on searching. That was what brought her out clubbing with Aaliyah. Taeja needed alcohol to numb her mind, but all it managed to do was spike her need to be wrapped in the arms of an older man.

What could she say? Old habits die hard.

It didn’t even help that the club reeked of sex — from the raunchy music blasting over the speakers, to the low red lights to the… man sitting on a cushioned seat in the private section and blatantly checking her out.

There were inches of distance between the two, yet Taeja was captivated by eyes she couldn’t see. But she could feel them — raking up her long legs and stripping her from the lavender dress that clung to her dark skin and stopped mid-thigh .

She wanted him.

Maybe she was a whore to want to fuck a man who she didn’t even know. What if he was a stalker or serial killer? But Taeja Marley had always known what she wanted in life. And right now? She wanted this intriguing stranger.

“I’ll be back,” she yelled into Aaliyah’s ear.

Aaliyah followed Taeja’s line of vision, then looked back at her. “Mek sure mi can find yu when mi ready,” she warned.

“No promises,” Taeja said with a cheeky grin, to which Aaliyah glared.

Aaliyah had grown used to Taeja’s escapades. Aaliyah’s many warnings to be careful always fell on deaf ears. Taeja prided herself on being the self-proclaimed young and carefree queen.

She danced her way through the crowd, her fingers curling around the railing as she waltzed up the staircase. With each step toward this man, her breathing grew short. How was it possible that he had yet to touch her, yet her skin was already set aflame?

Stopping before him, her breath got caught in her throat. This was… possibly the most handsome man she’d ever seen. His complexion was a few shades lighter than hers. He had a head of waves that looked soft to the touch, eyes that pierced hers, and a sharp jawline with a light beard. Beneath the black shirt that was rolled up to his elbows, she could tell that he had a bulk build.

He was exactly her type.

Taeja took a seat beside him.

A small smirk played on the corner of his lips as he threw an arm on the top of the seat behind her. “What’s your name, gorgeous?”

Instantly, Taeja was turned off. She’d just managed to sexily waltz through a thick crowd and the first words that came out of his mouth weren’t what she expected them to be. The only thing that kept her scowl at bay was the deep bass to his voice that had her stomach doing backflips.

“Taeja,” she answered. “You?”

“Damon.”

She was about to reply when the cushion beside her dipped. She whipped her head around, ready to tell whoever it was that they were killing her vibe. When her eyes locked on the intruder, the words died off in her throat. She almost rubbed her eyes. Were they deceiving her, or was she seeing double?

This newcomer looked identical to Damon despite most of his features hiding behind the long locs that framed his face. The man’s eyes narrowed on her, and her clit throbbed. Taeja knew she had officially lost her mind. She knew she should’ve got up and ran. Danger oozed off this man in waves, yet all she could imagine was riding him off into the sunset.

“That’s Zain,” said Damon. “My brother.”

“You look so much alike,” she said to neither of them in particular, even though she never took her eyes off Zain. She rolled her shoulders and sat more upright. If the high tension in the air was anything to go by, this night would end with her groveling at their feet.

“He’s my twin,” Damon answered.

“Makes sense,” she blurted, giving Zain a small smile.

Zain huffed and looked away, breaking their intense stare-down. Taeja’s lips parted slightly. What was his problem?

She huffed too and turned away from him. She no longer wanted him. But Damon… she almost licked her lips. She wanted all of him. At least he had manners and was giving her the attention she craved.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing partying by yourself?”

“I’m not a girl. I’m twenty,” she replied a bit too harshly.

Damon chuckled lightly at her outburst, washing away her slight embarrassment. “Sorry, Taeja. I’m thirty-two.”

Her interest in him peaked.

Finally, she decided to answer his earlier question. This line had worked on men before; she knew how much they liked affirmation. “I was waiting on you,” she said, glancing over her shoulder to see Zain staring at her with that brooding expression on his face. Wanting to test the waters again, she added, “And him.”

Zain didn’t respond, and her ego piped down. Was she not pretty enough tonight? Did he not like women who didn’t wear makeup? This man was a challenge.

Damon smirked, his eyes flickering to the exposed skin of her thighs. Damon’s eyes ran up her thighs as she threw one leg over the next, and settled on her bright eyes. “You’re bold. Aren’t you, Taeja?”

Her heart skipped several beats, and she released a long shaky breath. The way he said her name almost had her climaxing right there.

She curled a finger and smirked when he brought his head closer. Her mouth was a breadth’s length away from his ear when she said, “I am. What do you want to do about it?”

Damon pulled away. His eyes had a playful yet wicked glint, promising to fulfill all her desires and more. He reached a hand toward her, trailing from her hairline down to her chin and leaving a trail of heat in his wake. He lifted her chin, and her lips parted as another shaky breath escaped. Damon had her heart beating wildly, and the small smirk he wore told her that he wasn’t oblivious to his effect on her. “Can you handle us, Taeja?”

She licked her lips, and Damon’s eyes followed the action before his eyes drifted to hers. Their eyes clashed when they met like a force was reeling them in with lust-painted fingertips.

“Us?” she asked. She thought Zain wasn’t interested in her.

Damon didn’t reply. Instead, he released her chin, leaning back into the cushion as he looked behind her.

Following his gaze, Taeja met Zain’s partially covered eyes. Realizing he’d been intently watching them, her hope renewed. Holding Zain’s aloof stare, she said softly enough so only the twins could hear, “I can handle you. Both of you.”

Standing before the hotel bed, Taeja knew she’d get in trouble with Aaliyah tomorrow. She already imagined her friend cursing her out for disappearing.

But Taeja didn’t care. All she could focus on was now.

She was in nothing more than a lacy black lingerie set and her heels. Her brown nipples were hard, pressing against the flimsy material. Standing inches before her, Damon’s eyes hooked onto them. By the shimmer in his eyes, Damon knew he was the reason her chest was rising and falling this heavily. She battled the urge to rid the lingerie for him, all because of Zain, who sat on a chair, watching her every action.

Taeja was slightly disappointed. She thought he would’ve joined in earlier when Damon had sensually stripped her down. Instead, he sat watching, not bothering to adjust the growing bulge in his pants.

However, she had to admit that it was sexy to be at one brother’s mercy while the other watched with curious, approving eyes. Lust must have been the first emotion she saw other than annoyance from Zain.

She looked at Damon as he stepped forward, taking another and another until she fell backward on the bed. Her clit jumped when he pressed a knee on the bed, right between her thighs. He gave her another slow look of appreciation, and her chest heaved faster.

“You look perfect laying here, Taeja,” he said, slowly inching his knee upward. “What do you want me to do to you?”

“Touch me,” she begged, not caring how desperate she sounded. She shivered as his knee stopped just shy of her pussy, making a whimper past her lips. “Touch me anywhere.”

Damon leaned in closer. Her heart beat faster, threatening to break free. His erection pressed against her thigh, and she swallowed nervously. If it felt this big when restrained, how big would his dick be once free from its cloth confines?

She sent a glance of uncertainty to Zain. Before she could read his hard-to-decipher expression, Damon used the rough pads of his fingertips to turn her head toward him.

“Eyes here, Taeja,” he murmured, sending a jolt between her thighs.

Left no choice but to obey, she nodded.

Damon hummed before he dipped his head in the crook of her neck. He inhaled her scent, and she shivered when she felt the first long lick against her skin. He licked from the crook of her neck to below her ear, then retraced the action until he was sucking on her sweet spot. Her eyes snapped shut, and she craned her neck to give him better access.

Wanting to touch him, she trailed her hands up his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath her fingertips.

Damon grabbed her hands, trapping them above her head. He looked down at her. “Don’t touch me unless I tell you to.”

Taeja nodded.

“Words.”

“Yes, da—” She paused. “Damon.”

He smirked but didn’t say a word as he shifted his focus from her lips to her neck. He dipped his head, kissing and sucking both sides while she moaned feverishly. Her pussy was soaking wet as if it was being teased.

Damon showered kisses from her neck to her chest. She looked down at him, watching his every action. Her clit jumped when he unbuttoned her bra and palmed a breast.

He swirled his tongue around her nipple, causing her to arch off the bed with a moan. Damon sucked from her breast like a man starved, and she loved every second of it. Everything he did to her felt as if he was doing it to every sensitive part of her needy body. She was seeing stars and was so close to an orgasm; it was shocking. She’d never been this close to a nipple-stimulated orgasm before.

Damon halted his sweet torture, and she groaned. “So impatient…” he taunted, nipping at the toned skin of her abdomen.

She didn’t answer. Her moans spoke for her as he slipped her panties to the side and ran a finger through her heat. A tremor of pleasure ran up her spine. She needed more.

“You’re soaking wet, baby,” he said, kneeling before the bed. He slipped off her panties and spread her legs wide.

The cold air fanned her hardened clit; she was almost embarrassed how wet she was for this man. For these men.

“I’m going to taste you,” Damon said. “Look at Zain. Don’t look away, even when you start to come.”

“Okay…” Taeja’s eyes darted to Zain, her brows furrowing slightly at him.

Zain’s eyes peeked through his curtain of locs. They were deeply darkened by lust. His erection stood rigid in his pants, and she knew it must hurt. She wanted him to come over and push his dick so far down her throat, he’d leave an imprint on her soul. But, instead, he sat over there and watched.

Damon’s tongue surprised her with its first lick along her slit. Her fingers sank into the sheets on either side of her, gripping them tightly as she looked toward the ceiling and her back raised off the bed. She didn’t realize Damon was watching her until she felt the absence of his tongue.

His eyes narrowed slightly on her. “Taeja. I won’t let you come unless you do what I tell you to,” he warned.

Wanting nothing more than to paint his face with her juices, she had no choice but to comply. Her eyes snapped over to Zain’s.

Zain wore a tiny smirk. Taeja figured he found the denial of her orgasm comical, while she didn’t feel the same.

“Good girl,” Damon praised before his head disappeared between her thighs.

He parted her folds and slowly eased a finger knuckle deep inside her. Then, he lapped and sucked on her clit, making her body tremble with pleasure.

Damon fucked her slowly until another finger eased inside her, stimulating her tight walls. Her body was in flames. She thought she’d combust. Damon had such a talented tongue that it made tears pour from her eyes.

She wanted to look away from Zain, but all she could do was tighten her grip on the sheets and moan unabashedly. Zain watched her every action, and she didn’t have to look to know that Damon latched onto them, too.

Her body was so reactive to them. She craved pleasing them in this moment and nothing more.

“I’m so close,” she announced.

Zain shifted around in his seat, tugging at the tent in his crotch. Zain’s cold eyes held her captive in an intense stare, much tighter than Damon’s grip on her thighs. If Damon wasn’t driving her to the brink of insanity, she would’ve smirked. Zain wanted her, and he knew it. The thought lulled her orgasm closer, aiding Damon’s talented tongue as it thrust in and out of her pussy. She felt her juices leak from her hole, seeping into the sheets beneath her.

A tight coil formed in her stomach. Goosebumps pricked her skin. All her thoughts became incoherent. She needed this release more than she needed air.

“Ah!” she screamed as her orgasm took control. Dots blinded her vision, and she tightened her legs around Damon’s head. Her back arched off the bed and her legs shook. She had to forcefully restrain herself from snapping her eyes shut. She needed to see Zain.

Damon swapped his tongue for two fingers. He thrust them in and out rapidly, fucking her through her orgasm until convulsions made her see colors for a whole minute. Her scream of pleasure bounced on the walls, joining the low hums Damon made as he sucked her clit into his mouth.

He didn’t stop working his skillful tongue. His licks were short and quick. Making her whimper. Scream. Toss and turn until she came one more time.

And another.

And another until she couldn’t handle it anymore.

“Damon!” she screamed, breathless. “I can’t take anymore.”

Instantly, Damon put an end to the sweet torture, and Taeja’s body dissolved from pleasure. Her chest rapidly heaved, and she knew she’d never be the same woman again.

She was unsure if she had permission to look at Damon, who moved from between her legs. The unmistakable sound of his heavy footsteps moved toward the bathroom.

Still trying to catch her breath, Taeja kept staring into Zain’s enrapturing eyes. She still couldn’t see his face very well, but she imagined he was proud of her. Her eyes were drooping shut, but she forced herself to continue looking at him. She was beyond tired, but if he wanted a release too, her body was at his disposal.

Unfortunately, that thought didn’t dwell in her mind long…

While footsteps reentered the room, Zain got up, walked to the door, then left.

Her heart sank, and she fell from the high of her multiple orgasms.

What happened? Did she do something wrong?

She frowned as the echo of the door’s slam mocked her.

Damon moved into her view. His face was clean of her juices. He was so handsome; she was blown away by his looks for a second time. It had her momentarily forgetting the bitterness Zain left boiling in her stomach.

She watched as he gently used the wet rag to clean away all traces of her orgasms. Then he disappeared into the bathroom and returned to the room. His eyes scanned the room.

Was he leaving, too?

The pain in her stomach grew more, and she looked away from him, focusing on the lamp on the nightstand. She was used to men leaving her like she meant nothing. Why would the twins be any different? Hell, they didn’t even fuck her. They gave her half of what she expected and were now on their merry way.

“Are you okay, Taeja?” Damon asked, and she forced herself to look at him. He grabbed a robe hanging off the tall lamp beside the chair Zain sat on, then walked toward her.

She shook her head as he helped her to sit up, then gently helped her into the robe. Taeja felt cheap.

His brows knitted. “What’s wrong?”

“Zain—”

Damon cut her off by sighing. He crawled into the bed beside her, pulling her against his chest. “Don’t worry about Zain,” he said, gently brushing back a few strands of thick curls that escaped the high bun while she’d been lost in the throes of ecstasy. “Get some sleep, gorgeous.”

“Will you leave?” she asked. She’d thought the night would end differently. She wanted to be stuffed with their dicks. The experience was great, and she could still feel a whisper of Damon’s head between her thighs, but she was disappointed that was all she got. For once, she’d wanted to feel loved.

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

She knew it was silly to expect to wake up in the arms of this handsome stranger who owed her nothing, but it didn’t hurt to have hope.

Was this how all her nights were bound to end? Was she destined to be used and then discarded like the condoms she watched men dispose of after they had their way with her?

Taeja almost laughed at herself. She knew she was foolish to think this night would be any different.

Somberness weighing on her heart, she forced herself not to snuggle into Damon’s warmth as her eyes fluttered closed.