Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“PLEASE DON’T brEAK MY HEART” BY ESCAPE
LARK
The next few days pass in confusing bliss, leaving my head spinning and my heart yearning.
Jude makes me watch every Disney movie known to man during the day, because apparently, my ‘Disneycation’ is woefully lacking.
I spend each night in Aeron’s or Jude’s bed, lost in the passionate embraces of one or more of my Tailor boys.
Wait, when the fuck did I begin to think of them as mine?
Aeron strides into the room one morning, throwing open the curtains and making Jude, Tarl, and I all flinch as the light momentarily blinds us.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I hiss, shielding my face by burying it into Jude’s neck and taking a deep inhale of his sweet, popping candy scent.
I squeak when the covers are thrown off, and yell a second later when the asshole known as the heir to the Tailors grabs my ankle and I’m hauled out of bed, landing in a naked heap on the floor.
“Morning, Dove.” Aeron smirks down at me, holding a hand out, and I scowl, huffing as I let him help me get to my feet.
He doesn’t let go, pulling me close so that our bodies touch, and a shiver runs over my skin.
There’s something about having him fully clothed when I’m completely exposed that makes my pulse race.
“Morning, Devil Man,” I whisper back, the last part said against his lips as he leans in and places them over mine. As always, his kiss claims me and destroys me in equal measure, leaving me weak-kneed and desperate for more.
“I like that nickname from your lips,” he hums against my lips this time, the brush of our flesh making my breath hitch. “But I like my name being screamed from them when I’m deep inside you more.”
Fuck me, he’s out for the kill this morning.
Wetness slicks my thighs, his rude awakening forgotten as I try to press closer. He chuckles a deep manly sound that does nothing to ease the ache that he’s created.
“Later, Dove. For now, it’s race day and you need to get dressed as you’ll be on my arm for all to see.”
“Race day!” Jude yells, leaping from the bed and grabbing me out of Aeron’s hold, spinning me around until I’m dizzy and giggling. “Why didn’t you say that?”
We come to a stop and I see Aeron shaking his head, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. He looks at Jude with a softness that I rarely see directed at anything or anyone else. Except, perhaps sometimes, me.
“There’s a dress for you in my room, Dove,” Aeron says, and Jude plants a smacking kiss on my lips before running off to his bathroom to presumably shower, his peachy ass delicious, especially with my bite marks on it.
“Good morning, Aziz-e delam,” Tarl greets me softly, kissing my lips gently before turning around and walking towards the door, his own ass taut and fucking edible.
“What does it mean?” I ask.
He turns back, his caramel-colored skin shining in the morning light. Like all the others, he, too, has ink covering parts of his body. Beautiful, swirling designs that ebb and flow over his taut muscles with what looks like some kind of scripture running alongside the lines.
“Dear of my heart,” he tells me, a twinkle of mischief in his mismatched eyes.
“And what you called me in the woods?” My throat is thick, the implication that this is more than what our bodies crave making me all kinds of fucked up.
“Koshgelam? My dear.” He stalks back towards me, a predator lurking in his eyes as he presses his hot, hard body against mine.
I whimper when I feel his solid length between us.
Cupping my face in both of his palms, he brings our foreheads together, my eyes closing at the rightness of being so close. “Kharabetam.”
I swallow once. Twice.
“What does that mean?” I whisper, my heart racing as the blood rushes around my body.
“I am ruined for you.”
Placing a light kiss on my lips, he releases me to turn back around and stride from the room, leaving me cold and bereft, tears stinging my eyes. Heat presses against my back, and my head whirls as my body sinks into the comforting warmth.
“We all are,” Aeron whispers against my ear. “You are the Tailors’ Ruin, Dove.”
And you are mine, I want to say, knowing that truth in my very soul.
“OCEAN EYES (ACOUSTIC)” BY SVRCINA
AERON
We wait in the living area for our Dove to emerge. I wonder what she thinks of the dress I chose?
We’re all dressed to impress; top hats and tails, our dove gray suits—I thought that the color choice was apt—tailored to perfection.
We are Tailors so it’s expected, even though we have nothing to do with tailoring clothes unless you count using the businesses to clean dirty money.
Jude of course has to add his usual flair; a bright blue waistcoat the exact shade of Dove’s eyes, his shirt undone with his bow tie hanging loose.
Plus a Mad Hatter-style top hat with feathers and playing cards tucked into the band.
Tarl also couldn’t resist deviating from the dress code, a blue, silk scarf tucked into the neck of his shirt, also the startling bright color of Dove’s eyes, and Knox isn’t much better, wearing his boots instead of the dress shoes we’re supposed to be sporting.
I guess we’re the Tailor boys so can do whatever the fuck we want. It’s our race, after all.
We all pause and turn towards the stairs when we hear her tread, the sound of her heels ringing in the warehouse.
Fuck.
Me.
My dress choice was definitely the right one.
She's covered from neck to ankle and wrist to wrist in snowy-white lace, a train of it dragging behind her as she walks.
Under the lace is a white, mini underdress that skims the tops of her breasts and thighs.
The dress both hugs her delicious curves and leaves teasing glimpses of creamy skin on display.
Her auburn-red hair tumbles over one shoulder, a small hat covered in dove feathers perching on one side of her head.
She looks fucking exquisite.
“My lady,” Jude says, rushing to the base of the stairs and holding his hand out for her to take. A dusky pink blush steals across her cheeks as she takes it, letting him guide her off the last step and towards us. “You look magnificent. My brother chose well.”
A twinge of envy stabs my gut when he gets the first kiss, but then her sparkling eyes find mine.
“You could have found more comfortable shoes, Devil Man. I’m going to break my fucking neck before the end of the day in these.”
My lip twitches at her rudeness. I like it when she talks back and challenges me. The almost-smile falls when she lifts her hem to show us her shiny, black, peep-toe Louboutin four-inch pumps.
“Show me the sole,” I demand, my blood heating as she twists her foot to flash us a glimpse of red.
“You’ll be wearing those later when I fuck you raw, Little Bird,” Knox growls, blocking her from view and dipping his head. I hear her soft moan, and all that fiery blood rushes to my cock, hardening it in an instant.
Knox pulls away and steps aside, his mouth slashed with the red from her lips. I cast my eye over the ruin of her perfection, and decide that I like her better this way; looking like she’s just been debauched and waiting for me to take my turn.
Unfortunately, Tarl beats me to it, but keeps it quick with a press of his lips to her cheek and whispers, “You look ravishing, Eshgham.”
He strolls away, and I step in front of her, my eyes devouring her.
“Knox ruined my lipstick, didn’t he, Devil Man?”
I just smile, knowing that I’m living up to my nickname when her eyes widen. Dipping my head, I bypass her plush lips.
“Almost fucked looks good on you, Dove,” I breathe, and I feel her entire body shudder as my hand comes to her waist. I jerk her towards me, relishing the gasp that falls from those lips and puffs against the side of my face.
“But don’t worry, I’ll remedy that ache later, where everyone can see that you belong to us now. ”
“Wha—” she starts, the rest of the word a moan when I place my lips over her pulse point and suck.
One hand comes up to grip my bicep, which flexes under her touch, her fingers digging in, and for once, I don’t care that she’s crinkling my suit.
I don’t give a fuck that I’ll look untidy as I continue to mark her, wanting everyone to know who she belongs to.
I pull away, my breath heavy, as I straighten up and stare into her hooded eyes. My cock is practically screaming at me to sink balls deep inside her, but I’ve not lost all my control just yet. Though she definitely tests it.
“Time to go.” I step away, adjusting myself in my slacks, her eyes darting down to track the movement, that delicious red coating her cheeks. It doesn’t hide the hickey that I just gave her, standing out like a beacon on her slender neck. Good.
“That was hot as fuck, brother,” Jude says, letting go of her hand when I hold my bent arm out to her. Rolling my eyes, I ignore him, taking an inhale when she slips her hand into the crook of my elbow. “Can you give me one? Pretty please?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Jude!” I glare at him over the top of Dove’s head. Even in the heels, she doesn’t reach beyond my shoulder.
“I think that would be pretty hot,” comes a soft voice, and I look down at her, her cheeks blazing now.
“You want me to give my brother a hickey?”
She licks her lips, looking up at me, and I see the desire there, plain as day.
“I–I mean, there is something kind of horny about the taboo nature of it.”
I consider her for a long moment, wondering how far I would go to make her happy. To turn her on.
“Let’s go,” I finally say, breaking our stare-off and leading us towards the door. I don’t miss Jude’s words as we walk into the sunlight.
“If anyone can convince him, you can, Nightingale.”
Little fucker.