Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
FELIX
Security is manning the entrance to Harper’s and my penthouse. They’ve stood watch the last three days, since Gregor’s threat. I’ve ordered them to shadow Harper everywhere she goes. I escort her too, following her each day to rehearsals and the theater.
I brought Harper home safely an hour ago after tonight’s performance, then stopped by The Scarlet Mirage for an update from Theo regarding Gregor, only to find out he has no news.
I asked my father to look into Gregor, hoping he could approach the same cops he paid off to bury evidence of Paul’s murder. That was a useless endeavor. Dad says his connection with those cops is long gone, ever since meeting Amabella and starting Forever Families.
It’s midnight when I return home. The apartment is dark except for a faint light spilling from within our bedroom. I slip out of my shoes and loosen my tie, making my way through the apartment to be with Harper.
Her voice drifts from our bedroom, low and pleading, upset about something. “Will you please stop being difficult and accept the protection?”
Tyler answers. For a moment, my skin crawls, thinking he’s here in the apartment. But then his voice cuts off for a second and I realize Harper has him on speakerphone.
“I don’t want to be indebted to Felix.”
My hands flex with frustration. I’m trying to keep my brother safe, and yet he has to be stubborn.
I stop outside the bedroom, my shoulders tense. Harper has committed herself to me and only me, but after seeing her rush into Tyler’s arms three nights ago… After seeing how worried she’s been about him…
Fuck. I don’t know where my head is at. I hated seeing the two of them hugging and how he called her our girlfriend. And yet… There was some sense of relief in me when I saw them holding each other. I don’t understand my reaction. I don’t want to try to understand it.
“If you don’t want to feel indebted to Felix, hire your own protection,” Harper urges.
“I’m not a target.”
“I’m scared for you. Do this for me. I love you and I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to you—”
Harper’s voice cracks. Hearing her upset makes my chest ache. I knock on the door frame twice, announcing my arrival, not wanting to eavesdrop.
Harper is perched on a stool in front of the dresser, wearing a short satin night gown. She spins to me, flustered by my arrival.
“I need to go,” she says quickly into the phone. “Accept the protection, please. For me.”
Harper ends the call and rushes to her feet. “I don’t know how much of that conversation you heard, but Tyler has always been my best friend. I care about him and love him as a friend and I’m so worried about him. He’s not accepting the protection of the bodyguards—”
“Harper,” I hush, entering the room. Our fingers weave. I lower her back to the stool and kneel in front of her. “You love Tyler as more than a friend. I’ve always known this and I’m not mad.”
I open her hands and stroke a finger down each scar on her palms. One scar for me. The other for Tyler.
“I’ll speak with security again,” I murmur, pressing my lips to both scars. “They’ll protect him under my order.”
She sighs with relief. “Thank you.”
“In the meantime, I have a gift for you. I don’t intend for you to ever use this. But if Gregor slips past the guards, I want you armed and ready to defend yourself.”
I retrieve the gift from the inside pocket of my jacket. Harper smiles with intrigue, seeing the dagger wrapped in a leather sheath.
Sliding the blade free, the metal catches the light, wicked and beautiful. I place it in Harper’s hand, watching her fingers curl around the hilt. A crimson ribbon is tied in a bow at the handle. Down the center of the blade runs a row of heart-shaped cutouts.
Her eyes glint as she traces the steel with her fingertips. She licks her lips, a slow, unconscious gesture that makes my dick twitch.
Her smile broadens as she reads aloud an engraving on the blade. “Little Sinner.”
“You’ve always had an affinity for sharp objects. Shards of glass. Daggers. Steak knives. You’re sexy when your protective side flares, my Little Sinner.”
“You haven’t called me that name since I was eighteen. It’s my favorite.”
I reach back into my pocket and pull out a black, lacy garter.
Her breath hitches as I slide the lace up her leg, pushing her night dress higher.
My fingertips brush her skin while securing the garter around her thigh.
She shivers, her lips parting as I return the dagger to its case and attach it to the garter.
My hands linger, cupping the back of her thigh. “Always keep this blade on you for protection.”
“I will.”
“Being with me has put your life in danger. I’m sorry—”
Her fingers press to my mouth. “I told you, I want everything that comes with you. When I saw Gregor pull that gun on you, I acted on instinct with that knife to protect you. You’re mine, Felix, and no one threatens what belongs to me.
” She pauses, her cheeks flushing. “This will sound strange but… I liked harming him. I liked seeing the blood, knowing that I did that to him. For a long time, it’s felt like I have no control over my life.
People have manipulated me. Sinking that blade into Gregor’s flesh… it made me feel powerful and even…”
“Go on.” I groan with praise, feeling myself growing harder.
“Aroused.”
“Psycho little freak. You’re fucking perfect, Harper.”
I push her dress higher, guiding it over her head and dropping it to the floor. She’s not wearing a bra. I bring each nipple into my mouth, biting and sucking and drawing the most desperate moans from my Little Sinner.
“Felix… Fuck.”
Her moans vibrate through me, unraveling the tension I’ve been holding all day. Grasping her panties, I remove them next, then lift her tiny body with ease, setting her on our bed.
She lies back with red curls fanned around her pretty face. Her eyes are dark with desire. She’s wearing nothing but the dagger strapped to her thigh.
When Harper reaches to remove it, I click my tongue in disapproval. “Leave it on. I want to fuck you while you wear the dagger.”
She bites her bottom lip, smiling at me.
Tyler should be here. I want to fuck her with him.
The unwelcome thought appears out of nowhere, aggravating me. I shove it away and indulge in Harper’s body, spreading her legs and dragging my tongue up her pussy.
“Felix… oh, god. Fuck.”
The first taste of her makes precum leak from my dick. She’s sweet and hot against my tongue. Her thighs tremble as I lick deeper, slowly, savoring every shiver that runs through her. Harper grips the black sheets, her spine bowing off the mattress as her breathless gasps fill the room.
For a split second, I imagine another voice in bed with us. A rougher one, urging Harper on with me. He’s telling her she’s a good girl, getting warmed up for us to fuck her.
Anger bursts through me. Get the fuck out of my mind. I hate him.
Needing a fast distraction, I unbuckle my belt and strip out of my clothes, pumping a hand along my length, my cock aching to be buried inside my woman.
“Please,” Harper begs, lifting her hips.
I climb on top of her and push inside, growling her name. The wet heat of her pussy clenches around me, stealing my breath, giving me the exact distraction I need. She gasps, clutching my forearms.
“Fuck. You feel perfect, Harper.”
I start to move in her, hard and deep, each thrust bringing us to dizzying heights. She’s so goddamn pretty lying beneath me with the dagger strapped to her thigh. Her cries turn frantic and her nails dig into my skin. I have the hottest view of my cock sliding into her.
For a treacherous moment, I wonder how it would feel with Tyler here too, wedging Harper between us as he fucks her ass.
No. Never again. He ruined me.
I try to erase Tyler from my mind, but he remains like a splinter, irritating and buried beneath my skin. All I can think about is how hot the sex would be. How Harper was always so fucking feral for the two of us claiming her at once.
“Felix… Yes… Don’t stop.” Her orgasm rips through her, clenching me tight.
“Well done, Little Sinner. Let me hear how good you feel.”
I lose control, reaching my own climax but with the thought of Harper taking both our cocks at once. The visual makes me come hard. I slam into her, filled with mind-shattering bliss as she moans beneath me.
That fucking piece of shit, Tyler.
Fuck him.
He is never getting back into my life.