Chapter 26
As we drive through the streets of Ravens Hollow, I stare out the windshield, trying to get my spiraling thoughts under control.
Onyx is broody. I know this is fucking him up just as much as it is me.
He takes immense pride in knowing he is doing everything he can to keep me safe, but now he has lost just as much control as I have.
He flicks on his turn signal, and I sit up a little straighter, suddenly paying more attention to where he is driving.
“Onyx, what the fuck? This isn’t the way to my apartment.”
He keeps staring out the windshield, his eyes fixated on the gloomy road out of town.
The combination of the rain pouring down and the darkness at this time of night blurs out what’s in front of us.
I squint, trying to make out the scenery, wishing I wasn’t so trapped in my own thoughts and that I was actually paying attention.
I’m not sure where we are now.
I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but I try to open the door handle—it doesn’t budge.
Just like I thought, I’m kid locked in the car.
A flash of red-hot rage courses through my body.
“Where the fuck are you taking me?” I demand, my voice filled with poison, my eyes narrowed in on him in a way they never have been before.
He’s crossed a line with me tonight.
Still ignoring me, he checks over his shoulder before he makes the next turn, the tires screeching as he rounds the corner.
Oversized shipping containers line both sides of the street, and the air fills with the scent of salt, nostalgia hitting me like a fucking freight train.
My heart leaps into my throat.
Why is history haunting me?
I know exactly where we are, the docks.
Jagger owns half of this land, using it to move whatever product he and my brothers are dealing.
He also has a number of rental apartments down here.
But I haven’t visited in years, not since the night my mom died.
Onyx abruptly takes a left then a quick right, and before I know it, the car is being swallowed by a massive garage door lowering down right in front of us, stealing the night sky and the rain and trapping us in the large, dark space.
He kills the engine, tension heightening between us.
“Onyx, start talking,” I demand, but still nothing.
As he opens his door, lights flicker on to show the industrial garage space that surrounds us.
Two other cars line the garage spaces beside us; my brother must be storing his car collection at this place now as well, or I guess they could also be for the other apartments in this lot.
Onyx gets out on his side then moves around to mine, opening my door for me, as I was locked in.
With a stony face, he offers me his hand, not even a hint of remorse hitting his features.
Angrily I decline his gesture, stepping out and shoving past him with a deliberate elbow to the ribs.
As I wander around the space, he pops the trunk and takes out two well-stuffed overnight bags.
“Don’t have to be a genius to work out who they’re for,” I mutter mostly to myself; he’s not communicating with me anyway.
Fucking Jagger must be behind this shit.
He’s packed up my stuff and shipped me off, knowing I would refuse to go to a safe house.
And yet again, Onyx sided with him and followed his rules like a good boy.
That’s why he can’t even talk to me.
He knows going behind my back like this is a fucking betrayal .
He moves over to an elevator and presses the button to go up.
When the doors open, he dumps our bags inside and turns back to me, with a look that says hurry the hell up.
“If I have to, I’ll carry you,” he growls like he’s pissed off with me .
“You’re already on my shit list. I wouldn’t fucking try it,” I spit back at him.
He knows how I feel about this place and how much I don’t want to go up there.
Up there is where I fell apart at the lowest point of my life.
I swore to myself I would never be that pathetic girl again.
Then I built myself a protective suit of armor, metaphorically of course, and hardened the fuck up.
Now look at me. I’m back here because they think I need protection.
He presses one of the buttons on the elevator then stalks toward me, his face contorting in anger.
What the hell has he got to be so pissed about?
I’m the one being lied to and dragged out of the city against my will.
I straighten my shoulders, ready for another fight.
But he doesn’t give me the chance.
In one quick move, he tosses me over his shoulder, my face coming dangerously close to his ass as the impact of his shoulder squeezes all the air out of my lungs.
“Put me the fuck down, Onyx.” I slam my fist into his back as he marches on, taking us both to the elevator.
My fist connecting with his back does nothing, if he feels it, he doesn’t even flinch.
He’s too damn strong for me, and before I know it, the doors ping shut, locking us both inside.
I’m still upside down as he doesn’t release me, but I see the elevator climb four floors, right up to the top, and I know exactly where we are headed.
The doors open onto a penthouse apartment, all decked out in industrial-style furniture, with exposed-brick walls and sky-high windows framed in black iron.
So different to the half rundown warehouse it was when I was here last. The room wooshes past as Onyx strides with me out into the space, dropping me onto the plush white leather sofa in the center of the room.
With my heart racing like a bird trying to escape its cage, I glare back at him.
“Fuck you,” I spit out angrily.
He knows what for; lying to me, tricking me, siding with my brother and keeping me in the dark, and bringing me back here, a place he knows I never wanted to come again.
He turns and strides right back to the elevator to retrieve our bags.
As he does, I sit up, trying to find my bearings after being hauled up here upside down.
When my eyes come into focus, I realize we’re not alone.
I flinch, a cold sweat coming over me.
There sitting at the oversized glossy kitchen table are Reef and Romeo.
I stand in a rush, my heart leaping out of my chest. “What the hell is going on?”
“Wildcat give you trouble, Onyx?” Reef’s eyes light up with amusement as he stands and approaches me.
He strides toward me so casually, I almost have to do a double take to make sure it’s the same dude I have come to know.
I flick my eyes between Onyx and Reef, so confused at their friendliness.
I think I must have hit my head on the way up.
“What are you doing here?” I direct the question to Reef since Onyx is still not saying a word.
Reef offers me a half smile, one that would normally melt my panties, but right now it makes me clench my fists, ready to fight.
“Things have gotten out of hand. We decided it would be best to find you some place safe until we get control over the situation again.”
“It’s just some psycho stalker; I have dealt with worse,” I mutter, confused as to why they are overreacting so much over this situation I find myself in.
“We don’t know what this is, but from the state your bedroom was left in, I think we can all be grateful you didn’t go home last night. We’re not taking any chances of him getting his hands on you.”
“What do you mean we … Are you all working together?” I look between them, the silence heavy and thick, waiting for an explanation.
Romeo stands, joining us.
“Why don’t I show you to your room,” he suggests, his face warm and caring.
I don’t even understand how he beat us here; he was at the club when we left.
I blink back at him, trying to get my body under control.
“Not until one of you fuckers tells me what is going on. Why are you all here together? Why are you acting like this is worse than it is?”
Reef’s hand laces into mine, pulling my attention back to him.
“We want to protect you, Sloane. This place is safer than your apartment now.”
I search Reef’s beautiful face for answers.
Out of any of them, he is the most likely to tell it to me straight, right?
He’s a cop, doesn’t he have to?
Because this shit is borderline kidnapping.
I don’t want to be locked up in this place, and I definitely didn’t agree to any of this.
“Why are you all here together?”
“We have a common goal, doll face.” Romeo’s hand brushes my cheek as he moves in closer.
He’s obsessed with touching me, and as much as I crave his hands on me, right now is not the fucking time or the place.
“Me?” I blink back at him, knowing something is off.
They’re keeping shit from me.
There is no way all of them would be happily here together to ensure my safety against some psycho stalker.
Reef is a cop, for fuck’s sake, the opposite of everything the rest of us stand for.
This is something else, and I, for one, intend to work out what on earth they are up to.
Either they have been lying to me all along and they already knew each other when they came into my life or…
or what, I have no idea.
But I don’t like this, all of us under one roof.
Or maybe I do, but not like this.
I unlace my hand from Reef and step back from them, my head feeling even more frazzled than normal.
“Onyx, show me to my room,” I demand, trying to keep my shit together in front of them.
Romeo’s growl is low, rumbling through his chest and carrying a palpable sense of irritation toward me for asking Onyx instead of him.
“Let her go,” Reef tells him, and I feel the tension between them heighten, an erratic energy crackling in the air.
Onyx moves from his place over on the other side of the room and tilts his head to the side, telling me the way to go, and I follow him down a short hallway.
He pushes open the heavy oak door, the second on the right, revealing a dimly lit room, and I follow closely behind.
Dominating the room’s center is a large wrought-iron bed frame, its ornate curves catching the light, draped with textured white linen.
Soft white drapes frame the window, letting in the glow of the full moon.
Off to the side, an ensuite bathroom boasts black subway tiles in a herringbone pattern, the cool, dark tiles contrasting with the warmth of the large black soaking tub in the center of the room; a massive shower with a double showerhead completes the space.
I have to hand it to my brother, he has terrific taste, and even though industrial chic wouldn’t normally be my thing, he’s pulled it off nicely.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Onyx mutters dryly from his place in the doorway.
I turn back to him, my eyes narrowing, a silent challenge passing between us.
I nervously fiddle with the bracelet he gave me on my birthday, the fragile metal a constant tick against my skin, a reminder of him.
“Out of the three of you, it’s you I can’t believe deceived me. Why didn’t you simply tell me this was the plan, why exclude me? ”
He closes the gap between us, his large frame taking up way too much space, his dark eyes peering down at me.
“You’re the most stubborn person I know, Sloane. If you don’t want to do something, you won’t. I wasn’t giving you a choice this time, there is too much at stake.”
His words cut deep.
They might be true, but it shouldn’t matter.
This is my life, I should be free to make whatever bad choice I want.
“You’re not the man I thought you were,” I snip, bitchy as all fuck, taking a step back from him.
He’s hurt me today, created a distance between us I never thought possible.
“You can hate me all you want, but let’s get one thing straight, trouble. My job is to keep you alive. If your feelings get hurt in the process, that’s not on me. I made it very clear right from the start who we are to each other. Stop fantasizing we’re something we’re not and let me do my job.” His words might be harsh, but his body betrays him.
His eyes haven’t left mine and stare into my soul in a way that makes a pain form in my chest.
Tears well in my eyes, and for the first time in nine years, I can’t stop them scrolling freely down my cheeks.
Being back in this place with everything that’s going on, it’s just too much.
His face instantly softens, he can’t hide the truth.
“Stop lying to yourself,” I mutter, unable to help the raw emotion in my voice.
“Sloane.” His hands come to mine, and he pulls me into his chest, so close I can feel the way his heart pounds erratically.
He kisses my hair softly as he holds me.
“You’re going to be the death of me, trouble.” His fingertips trail up my arms, and before I know it, they’re lacing in my hair and his lips find mine.
He kisses me like his life depends on it, each flick of his tongue erasing the lies he just told me.
I knew there was so much more here.
What was passionate turns hurried and desperate as he picks me up.
My legs wrap around his waist, and he carries me into the bathroom, placing me down on the countertop.
He pulls back ever so slightly, his eyes searching mine.
“I shouldn’t be in here with you.”
I blink away my tears as I stare up at him.
“But you’re not going to leave me all alone while I’m upset, are you?”
His hands fiddle with the knot on my top, untying it, tugging it over my head.
“I break every one of my damn rules for you.”
I sniff.
“Lucky I’m worth it.” My lips turn up at the sides, knowing he’s past reasoning.
He’s all in, and his damn one-time rule is as far from his mind as can be.
I reach behind my back and unhook my bra, feeling the straps slide down my shoulders, enjoying the way his eyes grow hungrier at the sight of me.
With a gentle tug, he frees my hair from its ponytail, letting it fall softly over my shoulders.
“You’re so damn beautiful. Resisting you was torture.”
My cheeks heat at the way he looks at me like I’m his whole world.
I tug his shirt over his head, needing to get my hands on his bare chest. They trail up and over his abdomen while he watches me.
I find his scar and trace the line of it, my anger toward him simmering down.
He might have tricked me to get me here tonight, but he did it to keep me safe.
How angry can I stay at him for that?
He earned this stab wound protecting me, a constant reminder of what he did to save me.
That night bonded us in a way that can never be erased, not even when I’m pissed at him.
His lips meet back with mine as his hands run over my body, cupping my tits in a way that makes me moan into his mouth.
His callused hands running over every inch of my bare skin just feels too damn good.
He lowers his mouth, taking one nipple in, he sucks hard, sending an electric tingle running right through me that makes my lady parts throb with desperate need for him to fill me up.
He traces his hands down my body and then proceeds to carefully unbuckle my shoes, tossing each one on the floor as he goes.
I push off the countertop to standing, unzipping my skirt and letting it pool on the tiles below.
While he removes his pants, I can’t help but stare at him.
He’s one gorgeous sight, all hard muscle and ink.
My fingers curl around his length, and I feel him shudder as I stroke him back and forth.
He’s impossibly hard.
“Onyx, I need you to fuck me.”
He stares back at me, his hands still running over my skin, lingering on the curves of my body as if memorizing every inch.
I can’t get enough of him.
I crave him everywhere, need him to make me feel like he did last time.
“Please, I need you,” I whisper into his lips as he kisses me again.
He lifts me by the waist, gently setting me back on the counter, my legs instinctively parting for him.
I lean back a little so he’s got better access to me.
His hand slides between my thighs, trailing over my clit before he dips a finger inside my pussy.
Quickly he adds a second finger, leisurely pumping in and out of me, stretching me as he watches my face for a reaction.
“This is all you can have, trouble.”
I lean so I can see him eye to eye.
“No, why? I want more.” Shit, I don’t even recognize my clingy voice.
I’m close to begging him, that’s how badly I need him right now.
His face grows more serious.
“I don’t have any protection.”
I stare back at him, my eyes lingering on his face for a fraction of a second, the silence hanging heavy between us.
“I’m not worried, big guy. You know I’m on birth control, and I have never been with anyone other than you without protection before. Give me what I need. ”
His eyes meet mine, and I see the internal struggle he’s going through.
Then he lifts my ass, moving me closer to the edge of the counter.
I spread my legs wider for him, my hand moving down and rubbing over my clit.
The other comes to my tits, massaging one then the other, putting on a show for him, hopefully one that’s too damn good to resist. He growls out a curse and in one move, he thrusts inside of me, filling me all the way up.
I cry out a moan at the sudden intrusion of his massive cock.
This is what I needed, but he’s surprised me.
His eyes flicker with concern, his gaze lingering on me for a heartbeat.
“Sloane.”
I grin back at him.
“I’m good, fuck me.”
That’s all he needs to know I’m okay.
He pumps into me, his fingertips digging into my hips as he moves with force.
Every deep thrust brings me undone more, his large body controlling mine completely, taking me out of my head and into the bliss that is only him.
He dips his head, his eyes running over me.
“Play with yourself again,” he demands.
My heart flutters as I reach between my legs, my fingers finding my clit, teasing it gently as I lock eyes with him.
My pussy tightens, waves of euphoria washing over me instantly.
“Onyx.” His name leaves my lips as a cry, but it’s more of a plea for him to keep going.
To give me an escape from all the shit I’m dealing with so I can just feel.
He pulls out of me, and immediately I’m disappointed at the loss of his body so close to mine.
He collects me in his arms and carries me into the shower.
Turning on the spray, steam fills the room.
As he lets me slip down to the floor, I lean into the cold tile wall, trying to get my breathing under control .
“Don’t leave me yet. I need you, Onyx.” Jesus, who even am I, this needy pathetic girl.
But right now, I don’t care.
I do need him, and I can’t deal with him walking away from me like he did last time.
“I’m not going anywhere this time. Be a good girl and turn around for me.”
I beam back at him, spinning around as quickly as my shaky legs will let me.
“Hands on the tile wall, above your head.”
I bite into my lip as I do what I’m told.
“Fuck, yes,” I hiss, so ready for him to control my body in any way he sees fit.
One of his hands comes to my stomach, the other to my hip as he uses his knee to push my legs out wider.
He holds me in place, water running over our bodies.
Then he stretches me again, his cock slipping straight back into my waiting pussy.
“Good girl, stay just like that.” His voice is a low rumbling growl, like he’s trying to keep some control but he’s on the verge.
He fucks me ruthlessly, pumping in and out of me like he’s punishing me.
“If we’re going to do this, Sloane, things can’t stay the same between us.”
I glance over my shoulder, wondering what he wants to change.
“I don’t want them to stay the same. I want this side of you,” I moan as he continues to thrust into me.
“Then from now on I’m in charge. You do as I say and stop fighting me at every damn turn.” His hand comes down on my ass, the sting shocking me but sending a fresh wave of arousal flying through me at the same time.
“I know what’s best for you. I swear to protect you, but you have to follow my every instruction without question.” Another slap on my ass, and I know he’s punishing me .
“Onyx.” His name leaves my lips as a plea, for what I don’t know.
I think more of this, something in between pleasure and pain, and I’m here for it.
“Do I make myself clear?” His hand cracks over my ass cheek again.
My legs shake. “Yes!” I cry the words as another earth-shattering orgasm rips through me.
He pulls out of me, and I feel him pumping his hand up and down his cock.
I glance over my shoulder to see him cumming all over my ass, thick spurts of warm liquid mixing with the water from the shower.
For a moment he stays staring at my back, his head dropped, then his eyes rise to meet mine.
His finger traces over my ass right where he came all over me, then he brings it to my mouth for me to taste.
I wrap my lips around his finger and suck his juices from it, my eyes rolling back in my head.
My pussy throbs with how used she is, but I could go all over again.
“Tonight was a warning, trouble. I’ll give you what you want, fuck you whenever you need me to. But if you break my rules going forward, I will really punish you.”
I turn around in his arms. “What are your rules?”
“I’m in charge. You do what I say when I say it in every aspect of your life.”
I stare back at him, my pulse quickening.
“You know I do what I want, big guy. We both know I can’t keep that up no matter how badly I want your cock.” My hand rests on his chest, patting him like a silly kitten, or tiger in his case.
His lips form a thin line and his eyes darken more, if that is even possible.
“There is only one way this will work. You showed me how much you like me taking control of your body, you get off on it.”
“I like it when we’re fucking, yeah. But not out there.”
“You want to fuck me again, Sloane? ”
“Yes.” The word gets caught in my throat because it feels like answering his question is a trick.
“Then we do it on my terms. I warned you last time that we could only do this once. I’m not like other guys, my needs are different. But you kept on pushing me until I gave in again. Now you get the real me.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, the hand resting on his chest feeling the thumping beat of his heart.
The real him? I thought I knew him after spending so much time with him over the years, but I guess I only really knew who he wanted me to see.
The loyal broody bodyguard.
I don’t know how he came to be a part of the Iron Strykers at such a young age.
I don’t know anything about his upbringing or his family, he never talked about them.
If I tried, he would change the subject.
He has always been a closed book, and I was okay with it.
Selfishly I guess, I was wrapped up in my own life and knew I could only ever really know him from a distance.
But as much as his words scare me a little, they also send a thrill through me.
“I want to know the real you.”
“You won’t when you get to know me.” His eyes are haunted, and I wonder how bad it is.
He takes a washcloth and squirts on some bodywash, then he glides it over my body, removing any evidence of his cum before he washes me everywhere.
His pressure is firm as he diligently cleans me up.
When he’s done, he rinses out the cloth and hangs it over the glass panel.
He places a kiss to my forehead.
Before I get to say anything else or ask more questions about this new arrangement I don’t really understand, he takes a backwards step out of the shower, collects a towel, and strides out of the bathroom.
I’m left with my skin wrinkling to a prune, my ass still kind of stinging, and my head spinning in confusion.
Who the fuck is Onyx really, and why do I need to know how bad it gets with him more than I need to breathe right now?