Chapter 9
Everybody Here Wants You
It’s mid-afternoon and I’m getting some sun on my skin like Ricky suggested, lying out on the recliner in the outdoor patio by the pool.
The beauty of this place is undeniable. It’s the kind of place I would have killed to escape to when I was stuck back in Italy.
The pool is massive and lodges a small pool house in the back.
Flowering magnolia trees line the space and soften the ten-foot security concrete wall encircling the area.
They give it a relaxed vibe, and if I try hard enough, I can pretend I’m on vacation someplace nice, not hiding in a safe house.
I even dug out a floral bikini I found in my stuff, and I have to admit I feel better for it, with warmth radiating through my skin.
We’ve been in Jagger’s safe house for three days.
Cruz and Asher have been fussing over me in a way that should warm my heart.
Even made me lunch and dinner, or brought it to me anyway.
Something tells me Jagger was the one who made it, but that grumpy bastard hasn’t shown his face around me since his list-of-rules bullshit.
He’s around, I hear his heavy boots stomping around on the polished wood floors, but he’s avoiding me.
I’m not complaining. With how angry I’m feeling, it’s best he keeps his distance.
I’ve gone back to sleeping alone at night, deciding it’s more dangerous to have any of them close to me, and spent most of my time in my room, telling the boys I’m too tired to eat or socialize with them.
They must have felt sorry for me still, and I guess it helps that I look so awful with my scar hanging out and the yellowing bruises on my face, because it worked as well.
They have been on their best behavior, a few not-so-subtle looks that tell me they’re desperate to get close again, but they have given me space.
Until this morning anyway, when I overheard Jagger in the hallway outside my room instructing Asher to get me out of bed today.
He couldn’t even come into my room himself and dish out his orders. Nope, he has to get one of them to.
I had breakfast at the kitchen island then went exploring through the house. When Asher said I could come outside and sun in the back, it was only minutes before I had my bikini on. The fresh air feels as close to freedom as I’m going to get, and turns out, it was exactly what I needed.
When my legs start to feel like they’re roasting, I roll from my back to my front and find Cruz standing over me with a glass of water in his hand. His eyes leisurely stroll over my body. “You look hot, thought you might need this.”
“Did you?” I swing my legs over the edge of the lounger and sit up, taking the glass from him and having a sip. The water is icy cold and just perfect.
“I also wanted a closer view.” He grins all cheekily.
“Sounds more like it,” I grumble, still not ready to give in and be nice to him again, no matter how much he fusses over me.
“Come on, Daisy, you’re not going to block us out forever, are you?”
I shrug. “Probably not.”
“But you might?” He plonks down on the lounger beside me. “I have something else that might sweeten the deal.” From his pocket, he pulls out a phone and passes it to me. “It’s just for music. All the stuff you like is on there, and some newer stuff I thought you might enjoy as well.”
I can’t help but grin this time. I need this more than he knows. I snatch it up and hug it to my chest before scrolling through the playlist. Everything is on here just like with my old phone. “How did you…?”
“Before your phone was destroyed, I made sure to save your playlists. I know how important they are to you.”
My heart flip-flops. “Thank you.” I smile at him. It’s so hard to stay mad at him and Ash when they’re so sweet to me.
He taps a finger to his lips like he wants a kiss for his good deed.
I raise a brow, letting him know it’s going to take more than that.
With a cheeky grin, he leans in, brushes his lips against mine, and steals a kiss anyway. “Ash said you had a visit with Ricky this morning. What did he say?”
I sigh. For a second I was distracted, now I’m right back to reality. “Same stuff. I need to rest, my recovery will take time.”
“It’s been three days since he took out your stitches, so you can shower properly?” he grins, and I know instantly where his dirty mind has gone. What is it with him showering me?
“Don’t get any ideas, Cruz!”
He holds his hands up in defense. “I wouldn’t dare.” He brushes my hair over my shoulder then drops his lips to my bare shoulder, kissing me delicately. “I’m good at washing your hair, though.”
The soft, deliberate pressure pulls me in close, and I can’t resist. He knows what he’s doing, breaking down my defenses one kiss at a time.
He’s intoxicating and all-consuming. “Cruz,” I warn him as much as I warn myself.
I know my hair is in desperate need of a wash, but I can't bring myself to deal with it. And I don’t want him to either.
The messy bun held together with a scrunchy is doing its job for now.
“What, baby, I just want to help you rest and take care of you. Let Cruz help you.” His hand dusts down over my stomach, slipping under my bikini bottoms, touching me there.
“We both know what you have in mind means I won’t be resting.” My legs instinctively open for him, giving him better access to me when I know I should be closing them up tight and running in the opposite direction.
“Good girl. See, you’re more relaxed already.” His chuckle vibrates over my shoulder. His free hand slides over my back, massaging my tense muscles. His calloused hands feel delicious on my skin. Addictive, even.
So good I can’t help the moan that leaves my lips as he deepens the pressure.
My bikini bottoms are also now drenched, and his fingers haven’t even made it past my clit.
But the gentle pressure he’s applying as he rubs his fingers back and forth over it is so damn delicious. I buck off the lounger, wanting more.
“See, Cruz knows what you need.” He tugs at my bikini top, uniting the back as he continues to massage.
My hands fly to my breasts to cover up before my top falls open. “Cruz.”
“What, there’s no one around but us, baby.” He unties the top, the straps falling over my shoulders. “Let me see your beautiful body.” His eyes flare with heat.
I let out a whimper because I know I can’t stop this. I don’t want to. He thinks I’m beautiful and still wants me, when I know that’s so far from the truth. I drop my hands, and my top falls away.
His grin widens. “I love your tits.” He bends forward and takes one in his mouth and sucks. “Lie back, baby, and relax. Doctor’s orders, remember.” He moves, flicking one of my legs over his body so I can lie down, and I’m spread out wide for him.
“You’re not my doctor,” I tease, enjoying myself a little too much.
“I should be, I know how to make you feel better.” Then his hands are on the ties of my bottoms. He makes fast work of them, grinning from ear to ear when his eyes run over my bare pussy.
I suck in a breath. My face glows with heat from the hungry way he’s looking at me. “You also know how to piss me off.”
He presses a finger to my lips to silence me.
He’s so damn playful about it, I can’t even get mad at him.
Then he moves so he’s lying on his stomach, and he pulls me farther down the lounger with him so I’m forced to lie all the way down with my pussy in his face.
“Let’s focus on my kitty-eating skills.” His tongue sweeps through my slit.
“Hmm.” I’m not stopping this. He loves my breasts, I love his tongue. It’s magic.
He toys with me, sucking my clit into his mouth before licking me all over and pushing his tongue deep inside me.
My body pulses with a desperate need for more. I raise my hips to meet his mouth, my hands digging into his hair. “I need more.” I groan, so damn close already.
As he eats me, he watches me, his stormy eyes filled with dark lust. I know he wants to really fuck me Cruz style, but he’s holding back, playing with me instead because he knows he can’t.
I’m not well enough. For a split second, he looks past me over to the door but doesn’t stop.
Then he goes all out, his moves more deliberate, rougher as he nips me while he’s sucking. It’s a deadly combination.
I grab hold of the arms of the lounger, needing something as my orgasm builds.
“Fuck, Cruz.” I cry out as an earth-shattering release is pulled from me.
I stare up at him, falling under his spell more and more by the second.
My heart hammers and my breathing is ragged.
I’m a mess for him. I reach for him, and he moves over me.
My hand snakes around his neck as he stares down at me.
“I want more,” I purr, not caring that I should be taking it easy anymore.
Giving them the silent treatment has been as much torture for me as it has them, so maybe I need to change my approach.
Jagger clears his throat, and goosebumps rise over my arms, not knowing where it came from. I don’t want him to see me like this or at all. Why is he lurking round every damn corner? Right when it was about to get good. I can tell Cruz is thinking the same thing.
“Fuck, that was hot.” Ash’s voice comes from the doorway.
Damn it, we have a proper audience. Why they couldn’t just see that we’re busy and leave us in peace I don’t know.
Knowing Jagger, he just wanted to make his grumpy presence known, for no other reason than to ruin my fun because I didn’t get it checked off with him first.
With a chuckle, Cruz moves off me. My cheeks flame with heat, and I grab for my bikini top and cover my chest as quickly as I can.
Cruz pulls his T-shirt off and hands it to me to throw on, grinning at me like he’s won something, and I know he had already worked out we had an audience but didn’t care.
I would like to think it was a big fuck-you to Jagger for trying to control all of our lives.
But I’m still mildly annoyed that he didn’t tell me.
I pull his shirt on then sit up to see both of them not even hiding; gawking.
Fucking creepers. I swallow the lump in my throat when my eyes lock with Jagger’s.
Heat flares in his eyes in a way that sends a shiver over my skin.
Keeping my distance from him has been a good idea.
When we’re together, it’s explosive, but it makes me forget why I hate him.
I need to remember, or I won’t survive this.
“Is there a reason for the interruption?” I snip in their direction, making sure he knows I might be letting Cruz play with me but he’s still on my shit list.
“Yeah. I was nursing our girl back to health,” Cruz backs me up, his heavy arm landing on my shoulders as he pulls me in close.
Jagger’s eyes narrow, annoyance radiating off him. “Mal needs some information from you. If you’re not too busy, some of us have other work to do today,” he growls at me like I’m a big inconvenience in his life.
“And we have training, Cruz, less than two weeks till your fight,” Asher asserts, but his cheeky grin tells me he would prefer to join us.
“We can finish this later, baby, maybe in the shower.” Cruz winks at me as he and Asher head back into the house, bare chest gleaming with sweat and a massive boner in his workout shorts. Shame that has to go to waste.
I watch him leave, wishing they wouldn’t leave me alone with Jagger. I stupidly meet his cold eyes and regret it immediately when I’m frozen to the spot on the lounger. His piercing gaze on me makes it impossible for me to move.
“Now, flower,” he growls like the bossy asshole we both know he is.
I try not to flinch at his tone. Instead, I hold his glare, tilting my head up defiantly so he knows I’m not just going to jump every time he says so, just because he has a whole list of messed-up rules for me.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Jagger.
I need the bathroom, and then I will be right with you.
” I scoop up my bikini top and move quickly into the pool house, mostly so I can get my shit together before I have to deal with grumpy bear.
I’m grateful Cruz’s shirt is so massive on me it covers my bare ass because I have no clue where my bikini bottoms ended up, and right now, I don’t want to give him a show.