CHAPTER FOUR
Sara
Iadjusted my tight, little plaid skirt for the hundredth time. The damn thing kept riding up my thighs as I walked. I paired the miniskirt with my favorite knee-high, suede boots and an off-the-shoulder, black sweater. I gulped down my steaming coffee, urging the caffeine to do its fucking job. Staying all night with Dev was not an option, so I snuck out of his apartment around 1 a.m. I barely slept all night and when I finally drifted off, the nightmares were awful. Hazy images of my sister screaming in pain and the sound of my mother chanting in a strange language, followed by terrible silence.
Father pulled Michaela and I from the wardrobe we were hidden inside. “Close your eyes, girls,” he whispered.
Michaela listened, still sleepy from the drugs. I didn’t. My eyes were wide-open as I stared at the bodies littering the floor. Some were bloodied and definitely looked dead with their glassy eyes and awkwardly positioned limbs. I noticed four younger boys, close to my age, maybe, lying near my sister. They didn’t look dead, just sleeping. They were curled up, and their faces looked scared. Were they kidnapped too? Father turned my head away before we got close to where mother and Lailah were lying on the floor. But I knew they were dead. Stolen from us forever. I could feel it. Something was broken inside me now.
“Zenith, you there?” I whispered, pulling myself from the visions of the past and trying to keep my lips from moving too much. The earpiece was barely visible, and I didn’t need anyone seeing me talking to myself.
“Always, Nova,” Tibby tsked, typing away. “How was the rest of your weekend with Prince Number One? Or are we definitely calling him by his name now?”
I rolled my eyes, even as a blush crept across my face. Dev’s behavior caught me so off guard. When he surprised me in my dressing room the other night, looking fucking edible and eyes smouldering, I couldn’t resist. His touch was rougher than I expected, and his tongue, gods, he was good with his tongue. But I still couldn’t give in. Couldn’t fully lose control and let a man like that own my body. So I faked the orgasms. I wouldn’t lie and say he was bad in bed. He was delicious in every way. But every time I came close to surrendering control, my brain shoved images of my past to the surface and I shut down. He believed the lies my body told. Dev fell asleep easily, and I slipped out of his arms without saying goodbye.
“Did you get any information out of him, you fucking slut?” Tibby scoffed, pulling me away from my filthy thoughts.
I barked a laugh, scaring a dude walking ahead of me. I passed him quickly before responding.
“Yes, bitch. He’s going to some secret cult meeting this week. On Tuesday. He didn’t actually say those words, but he lied. I could see it in his eyes when he made up some reasons he’d be busy this week. And Mo told me he was covering for Dev on Tuesday night.”
Mo was Dev’s bouncer and fill-in bartender who I had wrapped around my little finger from day one; the perfect unwitting spy.
“Well done. Congrats to your lady bits for taking one for the team.” Tibby clapped. “I’ve got a tracker on his car, so we’ll be able to find him.”
“You’re welcome.” I snorted.
Tibby stopped typing in my ear before responding. “You know, if you could see Dev right before he leaves for his cult meeting…I’d give you a teeny tiny device to slip on him, and we’d be able to listen in on their secret boyband talks as well.”
I frowned. How was I supposed to see him before his meeting without looking suspicious?
“I’ll think of something. Leave it at the club, and I’ll grab it later.”
“Right then, boss.”
A gust of cold, New England wind tore through my thin sweater, and I curled my arms across my chest as wisps of hair snapped in my face.
“I’m heading into the building now, keep quiet,” I whispered.
Tibby proceeded to sing “Say You’ll Be There” by the Spice Girls loudly in my ear.
My hair was swept back in a fishtail braid, and I wore simple makeup, eyeliner, mascara, and a burgundy lipstick, for my first day of classes at Harvard. I was going for a dark and moody Elle Woods to entice Prince Number Two. I also switched my contacts to a light blue instead of brown. The green of my irises turned them more aqua, and I thought he’d enjoy that.
From what Tibby and I could find, Andras Blackbyrn liked submissives who always obeyed his orders. He frequented some interesting websites with all kinds of BDSM kinks. Not that I was shaming; you do you, dude. I’d be murdering him and his shitbag father for plenty of other reasons.
I edged my way into the classroom, scanning the crowd of students for Andras. I spotted him up ahead, walking toward the teacher’s desk as the other students filed into the stadium seating. He was easy enough to spot, being 6’5” and taller than most people around him at any given time. His black hair was neatly trimmed and styled, and his facial hair was cut perfectly to highlight his chiseled jawline. He was entirely overdressed in a custom navy suit, but I’d expected that too. Andras was all business all the time.
Andras Blackbyrn was no stranger to the spotlight. He finished his undergrad in two years and was now the top dog in his class, set to follow in his father’s footsteps as one of the most ruthless lawyers in the country. And not the good kind. Blackbyrn Law defended the bad guys, the very rich bad guys.
I slipped through the crowd and got close enough to bump into him, dropping my books at his feet. Andras turned, his rich, brown eyes locking with mine. His full lips were set into a grim line, and he arched an eyebrow as he watched me pick up the fallen books. I stood slowly, ensuring he got a nice view down my sweater of the lacy red bra I wore beneath. I blinked slowly, making my eyes round and innocent.
“Sorry,” I stammered, keeping my voice soft and delicate.
Andras smirked, his eyes scanning my curves before returning to my face. “Hi, sweetheart. You must be lost. This class is for L.L.M. students only.”
Nope. Fuck it. I couldn’t do it. I narrowed my eyes and smirked back, giving his body the same slow once over he offered me. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m exactly where I need to be.”
“Oh shit.” Tibby laughed in my ear.
I stepped past him, bumping his shoulder once more, and sauntered to a seat in the very back. I felt his eyes on me the entire way, and heat crept up my neck from the attention. Well, I fucked that right up. But I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t the submissive type. Several other sets of eyes looked my way curiously, and I glared back at them.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
“Yeah.” Tibby snickered. “What a splendid way to start the semester. Fuck all our plans in the ass.”
My eyes rolled before they locked on Andras. He was staring, his eyes narrowing on mine from across the room.
“There’s been a slight change to the class,” Andras called out, his deep voice commanding the room. “Professor Potter was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer over the winter break. I will be teaching this class for the remainder of the year.”
Tibby burst out laughing in my ear, and I winced.
Andras returned his gaze to mine before he continued. “You may sit wherever you want today. Next class I’ll have assigned seating for group projects.”
“Fifty says you’ll be in the front row next class.” Tibby snorted.
I grimaced, forcing my mouth shut instead of snapping back like I wanted to. All the students were finally seated as Andras moved behind his podium to the right of the desk and surveyed us all.
“You’re going to kick my ass next time you see me, aren’t you?” Tibby snorted, and I smothered a laugh.
“Something amusing in the back row?” Andras called out, his piercing eyes locked on me once more.
“Nope,” I responded, popping the P loudly. “Just so excited to get started.”
Andras gripped the podium, his biceps stretching the fabric of his suit jacket. “Why don’t you get started then, sweetheart. Stand up and tell us about yourself.”
My lips parted, and a blush crept up my cheeks. He did not just call me that in front of the entire fucking class.
“Seriously?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” He raised an eyebrow, and several students snickered.
I stood, forcing my shoulders back, and stared down at him from the back row. “What exactly do you want to know?”
“How about two truths and a lie.” Andras’s eyes twinkled, and his lips turned up slightly. “Let’s see how good your poker face is.”
I crossed my arms, holding his gaze and staring him down. Fuck this guy.
“Alright. My natural hair color is brown. I have thirteen tattoos. And I murdered a man last week.” I said all three with a smile, blinking innocently and keeping my back ram-rod straight.
Andras grimaced as several students laughed. “Answer these next questions quickly. When did you first dye your hair?”
“When I was fifteen.”
“What was your first tattoo?”
“Wings.”
His lips parted slightly at that answer, and I arched an eyebrow.
He recovered fast, though. “How did the man die?”
“Bullet to the head.”
Andras stepped back from the podium and removed his jacket. He turned back to me as he rolled his sleeves up his forearms, revealing multiple tattoos covering his dark skin. “Well. Ms.…?”
“Braun. Sara Braun.”
Andras nodded. “If I were your lawyer, I’d have a hell of a time trusting your words. Your inflection changed twice, indicating two lies, instead of two truths. You answered quickly enough. But the strange part was the lies in your second round of statements did not match your first.”
My mouth popped open, and I squirmed under his hard gaze. He seemed to enjoy that.
“So, Ms. Braun, I can only assume you’re a murderer, but the weapon was not a gun, you’re not a brunette, and you do have wings, perhaps of an angel tattooed…I’m going to guess, across your back.”
I laughed, keeping my voice as casual as possible when I responded. “Not exactly.”
Andras narrowed his eyes before turning to the class.
“Luckily for Ms. Braun, we don’t care whether or not she is a murderer. We care about beneficial evidence, creating doubt in court, and keeping our client out of prison. Perhaps it was a gun, perhaps not. As long as the weapon of choice remains a mystery, our case remains strong. Winning is not always about facts and hard evidence. It’s about perception.” He glanced back at me with a smirk, and my face heated. “Sit down, sweetheart. Your time in the spotlight is over.”
I bit back a nasty retort as I slumped into my chair. What a fucking prick.
Tibby clapped in my ear. “I am having so much fun. I’m going to install cameras in that room so I can see your face every time that jackass calls you out. What a wonderful day.”
I nearly jumped when the guy sitting next to me leaned over and whispered close to my ear. “For the record, you don’t look like the murdering type to me.”
His easy smile and dark-blue eyes danced with mischief as he winked at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. Why was he so familiar?
I winked in turn, leaning toward him. “Looks can be deceiving.”
His responding smile made my insides melt. From what I could see, his skin was bronzed like he’d spent the last few hours basking in sunlight. His light-brown hair fell in waves around a chiseled jawline. The clothes he wore were simple—a navy T-shirt, fitted just enough for me to take note of his toned arms and chest, torn and stained dark jeans, and muddy, unlaced boots.
“So what do I look like then?” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.
I let my eyes roam over his broad shoulders and squared jaw, marked with stubble from a few days without shaving. I inhaled slightly as he cocked his head, waiting for my answer. He smelled like a campfire.
“You smell like a lit match, and your clothes are too dirty for a law student. I’m going with a logger. Got lost on your way down from Canada?”
He barked a laugh, and Andras snapped his head toward us, glaring.
“Ms. Braun, are you interrupting my class again?’
Oh Christ. “Um no—”
“My fault, sir,” the logger cut me off. “Just couldn’t help myself.”
Andras stalked toward us, his eyes gleaming like a predator. He pressed his hands down on my desk, staring into my eyes like he could read every dark secret I held inside. He spoke without moving, and I swallowed audibly.
“You can help yourself out of my fucking classroom, Leviathan.”
Holy shit. I clamped my mouth shut and forced my eyes not to widen in shock.
“Holy shit!” Tibby screeched in my ear. “Is that Levi Delano next to you? What the hell is he doing there?”
I pressed my lips together, unable to answer Tibby’s questions as the keys on her keyboard clicked away. What was he doing here? Levi was a firefighter, not a college kid. He barely finished his associate’s degree at community college before joining a firehouse in the city. And how the hell did I not even notice an Obscuritas Prince sitting next to me? I was way off my game this morning and too busy eye-fucking Andras to see the devil sitting next to me.
Levi turned, and I looked up as he stood. He loomed over my desk, his shoulder brushing against Andras as he moved. He winked and gave my forearm a squeeze, his small touch scorching my skin and sending fire right between my legs. I clamped my thighs shut, and his gaze dropped, his nostrils flaring. Was he smelling me? Levi grinned broadly, and my insides fluttered. He sauntered down the stairs and out of the classroom, cupping his dick and smirking at Andras on his way out. Andras looked ready to murder him, and if it wasn’t so terrifying, I’d be laughing.
Andras kept his face neutral as he walked back to the podium. He proceeded to call on me for literally everything for the next forty-five minutes of class. If Tibby wasn’t in my ear rapidly feeding me answers, I’d be fucked. I kept my face as bland as possible, hoping he’d grow tired of picking on me, but failed spectacularly. The clock ticked the end of the hour. My shoulders slumped with relief when Andras finally dismissed us. I needed a fucking drink and gave zero shits that it was 11 a.m. Bars opened at 11 a.m. for a reason. Well, this was a damn good reason. I stuffed my notes into my bag and shuffled down the stairs. I felt Andras watching me so I quickly pressed into the crowd of students to avoid him. I couldn’t take anymore bullshit today.
“Well, that was exciting,” a pretty blonde whispered as we walked toward the exit.
I glanced at her. She’d been sitting on my other side for the lecture. Her long, straw-colored hair hung down her back, and her brown, doe eyes gave her an innocent look.
“Oh yeah?” I raised an eyebrow.
She grinned. “Andras Blackbyrn literally never shows emotion or gives a student his attention like that. He’s a TA in several classes.”
“Wow, I feel so special,” I deadpanned.
She laughed, and it was a pleasant sound. I decided I liked this girl. She looked out of place here, and I guessed there was more simmering beneath the surface of her babyface.
“You’re not going to make any friends that way, though. I’ll bet most of the girls in this lecture hate you now.”
I rolled my eyes before reaching the exit. “They’re welcome to him. Nice to meet you…?”
She held out her hand. “Audrey Kingston.”
“See you next class then, Audrey.” I shook her hand and smiled.
Tibby muttered information on the girl in my ear. Not a threat. Maybe a new insider. Her family was wealthy and potentially connected to the Blackbyrn family. Ergo, more evil cult people.
I stepped out of the room and yelped when a warm hand wrapped around my wrist and tugged me away from the other students. Levi stared down at me, a mischievous smirk on his face. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Andras, but since I was only 5’3” I still had to tilt my head up to look fully into his face. And it really was a beautiful face. He had the aura of someone exotic, and I remembered his father’s family was from Spain. His navy blue eyes smoldered, and it took all of my willpower not to melt at his feet. His calloused hand still held my wrist, and I finally recovered enough to speak, tugging it out of his grasp.
“Do you always snatch up women like that to get their attention?” I raised an eyebrow, and his cheeky grin widened.
“I’ll let you punish me for it if you want, babe.”
His voice was deep and gravelly, and I wanted to eat him up immediately. He pressed forward, and I stumbled back into the wall. His massive arms pressed on either side of my head, boxing me in. I could easily get out of this little cage but I wasn’t quite ready to show the Princes my strength.
I crossed my arms, trying to appear stern beneath his fiery gaze. “I’m not sure you could handle it.”
“Oh yeah?” Levi whispered, leaning in.
I clamped my legs together as my body betrayed me, responding to his husky words. He noticed and smirked down at me, his eyes trailing down my legs and back up to my face.
“I’m happy to die trying.”
My cheeks turned red, and I stuttered out a laugh. “Damn dude. Things are heating up fast. Let a girl catch her breath, will you?”
“I promise not to burn you up. Although, I think you’d like it.” His grin turned a little wicked, and my pulse thrummed. What was happening right now?
Pushing off the wall, I let my hands run down his hard chest and shoved him away from me. “I’m not afraid of a little heat, fire boy.”
Levi chuckled and grabbed my waist as he moved into my personal space again. “Little heat? Babe, I’m a forest fire. I’m going to take you out this weekend. Why don’t you come by the firehouse Friday night? I’ll even let you ride the pole.”
I laughed loudly. This guy was crazy, but his lazy smiles and heated gaze were doing things to my body, and I was already craving more. Besides, I needed information on his father. Maybe this would work in my favor.
“Well I suppose I could make time for—” I yelped as a hard body shoved me back to the wall. I glared up at Andras as he stepped in front of me.
“Leviathan,” Andras whispered his name like a threat, glaring down at me instead of the man he was trying to threaten.
I glared right back because fuck this asshole straight up the ass.
“Chill out, dude.” Levi laughed leaning casually against the wall to my right.
I was starting to feel trapped but I forced myself not to panic. I was definitely not ready to take on two Princes. It would blow my cover completely. Tibby was suspiciously quiet in my ear as she listened in.
“Were you asking out my student?” Andras flicked his eyes to his friend. His emphasis on the “my” was a little too possessive for me.
“I’m not your student,” I snapped. “I’m not your anything. This is Professor Potter’s class. You’re just filling in.”
Levi laughed loudly. “Babe, you better be careful. Andras bites.”
I glared up at the dark god in front of me. His eyes glittered dangerously, but I refused to back down. He took a step toward me, and I held my ground, our chests nearly touching.
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret, sweetheart,” Andras whispered, and I shivered, his voice deep and dangerous as he brought his mouth down to my ear. “I own this town, and this law school and everyone in it. Which means you now belong to me, whether you like it or not.”
I smirked, keeping my voice steady even as my pussy throbbed for this alpha asshole. I was clearly a glutton for punishment and dangerous men.
“Pass.” I turned my gaze to Levi and smiled sweetly. “I’d love to visit the firehouse with you Friday and ride your pole.”
Levi laughed, and I smirked just as Andras grabbed my chin roughly, turning my face back to his. His touch was cold, burning through my skin like dry ice.
“Leviathan has selective memory issues. We’re attending a party Friday night.”
Levi smirked. “Trouble focusing Andras? That’s next week.”
Andras’s lips twitched as he held my gaze. “Why don’t you join us?” His eyes and voice softened, drawing me in, but I knew he was a predator to his very core.
“Alright then.” I pressed my chest up against Andras, tugging his tie loose. “But I’m going for Levi, not you.” I shot Levi a wink, and he laughed again.
“Sounds good to me, babe. Come by the firehouse this weekend.” Levi shoved off the wall. “Let’s go, man. We’ve got places to be.”
Andras glared down at me for another moment before releasing my chin and stepping back. “Well then. Give me your number. I’ll text you the address.”
He slipped his hand into his pocket and frowned. His phone wasn’t there.
“Looking for this?” I held up his phone with a cheeky grin.
Fuck I loved that trick. Living on the streets really boosted a girl’s life skills, like picking the pockets of rich idiots. I stepped back, typed in his passcode, and sent myself a text. I tossed back the phone, and Andras caught it with a growl.
“How the fuck did you get my passcode?” His voice was low and threatening, and the beast hidden beneath snarled out at me.
Levi stepped in and pressed a hand to Andras’s shoulder.
I shrugged innocently. “Saw you type it in earlier. Should really stick to face recognition in public places, professor.”
Levi laughed, slapping Andras on the arm. “Come on man, let’s go before you get thrown in jail for murdering your hot new student. See you later, sweetness.”
I waved casually and spun on my heel, leaving them behind before Andras could say anything else. I grinned to myself, feeling much better about how that ended. I had a feeling he was the type to always get in the last word.
“Fucking shit, Nova, that was insanely hot. I wasn’t sure if you were going to get fucked or gutted in that hallway.” Tibby whistled her approval. “I was hoping for the former. Damn those men are fine-ass creatures.”
I laughed, finally far enough away from people to talk back to her without anyone eavesdropping. “You were watching?”
“Of course! Hacked the building’s security cameras.” She crunched a mouthful of food into my earpiece. “I made popcorn too.”
“First, thank you for saving my ass with all those legal bullshit answers. Second, I’m going to kill you for the constant sassy commentary during class. And third, yes, they’re hot as fuck, but they’re still dead men walking.”
My body might have been responding to these devils, but my plans were the same. My mind was locked on its need for revenge, and no amount of physical attraction could change that.
“Three down, one to go,” Tibby said with a smile in her voice.
“Indeed. Tonight, I’m drinking myself into a coma at our place.”
“No plans to meet up with Dev?” she teased.
I shook my head before remembering she couldn’t see me. “I need a break from all the testosterone.”
Her tinkling laugh made me smile. “Perfect. I’ll pick up Chinese food, and we can watch kick-ass women in action movies for the rest of the day.”
“Deal.”
I pulled out the little earpiece and tucked it into my pocket. My bike was parked a few streets over, and I used the walk to relax in the silence for a bit. No, my plans hadn’t changed, but today was draining. Andras was even more intense than I expected. And dealing with Levi on the fly like that, I could barely keep my own lady cat from pulsing with need when he smiled at me.
I didn’t regret sleeping with Dev either. In fact, it surprised me that I enjoyed the sex as much as I did. But I needed to clear my head, to step away and remind myself what this was all really about. The Obscuritas were a disease that must be eradicated, and I was the only person willing to bring them down. So tonight, booze and girl bonding, tomorrow, another attack on the Princes.
I checked myself out in the mirror one last time. I was sluggish today from our girl’s night last night. I sweat out most of my hangover this morning with a long run, ending at Ty’s gym. He wasn’t there, of course. Our meet-cute would come soon enough. But I was hoping to find out exactly what was hidden beneath the gym. We tracked his staff and the regular members. Once a week, every single one of them showed up and went into the basement for two hours. Seems like creepy cult shit to me.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t quite sweet talked my way in the door with James. He was a tougher nut to crack than I expected.
Tibby shot me a text, letting me know Dev was about to leave for his stupid cult meeting, so I had maybe five minutes to get him distracted enough to plant the listening device. I hid a camera inside his apartment when I first moved into the building. Tibby’s equipment was top level and wouldn’t be detected. Besides, Dev was too trusting. I frowned a little at the thought but brushed it away. I didn’t have time to feel guilty. I wouldn’t have to murder them all if they hadn’t started this war in the first place.
I adjusted my cleavage, making sure my boobs were pushed up in the fitted, black velvet dress. My icy blue hair fell in long waves. I painted my lips in my favorite burgundy lipstick and spritzed my Dirty French perfume. It smelled like black currants and warm amber, and even I thought it was irresistible.
I grabbed my jar of cherries and a bag of Jiffy Pop, dropping them into a grocery bag and sauntering over to Dev’s apartment. Just as I was about to knock, the door opened, and Dev’s eyes widened in surprise. His gaze turned lustful as he looked me over, giving me goosebumps. He looked exceptionally hot in black slacks and a navy button-down shirt. His hair was styled, and even his dress shoes looked fancy as shit for his little cult meeting.
“Holy shit,” he stuttered. “Damn, beautiful. You look amazing.”
I smiled coyly and cocked my hip. “Ya think?”
Dev swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his eyes dipped to my chest. “Yeah, beautiful. But I’m always thinking about you.”
I shrugged like I didn’t care, even as his words sent a rush of pleasure straight to my belly.
“Well I thought I would just pop by and see if you were free for dinner tonight. I decided I couldn’t wait to see you again.” I stepped closer to him, leaning against the door frame, and he gazed down at me with a groan.
Dev frowned. “I’ve got somewhere to be tonight, beautiful.”
His words said no, but I could see in his eyes what he really wanted. I smiled wickedly, tugging his belt loops to bring his body flush with mine.
I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my free hand around his neck, discreetly planting the tiny listening device under his shirt collar. “Oh well. I guess I can wait until tomorrow.”
Dev groaned, and I felt his cock twitch.
“Fuck it.” He grabbed my waist and yanked me into the apartment.
I yelped in surprise as he tore the bag from my hand and gripped my ass, pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around him as he kicked the door shut and shoved me up against it, his mouth devouring mine like it was our last night on Earth.
I really wasn’t planning to sleep with Dev again; I thought he’d stick to his plans. But as his hard-on pressed into me and his tongue dipped eagerly into my mouth, I couldn’t resist. I moaned greedily as his rough hand cupped my breast, wrenching my dress down and freeing my tits for his hungry mouth. My back arched as he licked and sucked my peaked nipples.
Dev carried me into his bedroom, tossing me down roughly, and I let out a gasp as my ass bounced on the mattress. My short dress rode up on my legs as he spread my thighs apart. I wasn’t wearing any underwear, and Dev licked his lips as he gazed down at my bare pussy. I squirmed under his heated gaze, trying to scoot back toward the headboard, but his hands locked on the backs of my knees, and he yanked me to the end of the bed.
“Oh no, beautiful. You’re not going anywhere. Not when you’re so wet for me already. I’ll take your sweet pussy over those cherries any day,” he growled out, his head moving between my legs, and his teeth nipping my inner thigh.
He moved fast, his tongue licking up my center and flicking my clit. I moaned like a greedy slut as my hands threaded his dark hair and pulled him closer.
“Dev—” I stopped short when his phone started ringing loudly, and he growled in frustration.
“Don’t move,” he commanded, and I lay there, panting and needing his mouth on me again. Instead, he answered the phone, his free hand brushing along my thigh and drifting higher.
“What do you want?” he growled out, his fingers pinching my thighs playfully as his eyes locked with my own.
He slid his hand higher, slicking two fingers between my pussy lips and rubbing slowly up and down, feeling my arousal. Blood flooded to my core as his fingers moved lazily between my legs. I started to squirm, but his hard gaze pinned me to the spot.
“I’m busy. Can’t make it,” he snapped, dipping a finger inside me and making me whimper, my back arching into his touch.
Holy shit I was about to have an honest-to-gods orgasm.
I could just make out the sound of someone shouting into the phone, but my senses were all mushed together as Dev curled two fingers inside my soaked pussy and found my G-spot. My skin tingled, and my body felt like it might explode with pleasure. I needed more. More. More.
“Dev. Please,” I whispered, rocking my hips against his hand.
Ohmahgawd was I seriously begging right now? My thoughts scattered as his hands continued to toy with my body, and I lost myself in lust for this wicked man.
“Fuck off, Levi. I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” Dev growled, hanging up the phone and tossing it to the floor. His gaze locked with mine, and he grinned. “Now where was I?”
I huffed a laugh, and it turned into a moan as Dev brought his mouth down on my clit. His tongue teased the swollen bud. I choked down a whimper, refusing to beg.
He lifted his head slightly, and I looked down at him. “I really do have to go, beautiful. But I’m going to make you come on my face first.”
“Oh fuck,” I panted as his teeth grazed my clit.
My hips arched, thrusting my pussy closer to his mouth, and I fisted his hair in my hand, begging for more. He shoved a third finger inside me, and I moaned in pleasure as his tongue swirled around my clit while his fingers stretched and fucked my pussy. My body burned with desire, and my vision blurred as the orgasm built between my legs.
“Come for me, baby,” Dev demanded as he sucked my clit into his mouth, and his fingers curled deep inside me.
When his teeth grazed that most sensitive spot I screamed his name, and my release shuddered through my body. His fingers twisted inside me, drawing out the orgasm as I tried and failed to breathe. It was too much. I saw stars, fireworks, all of it. My skin was on fire and the pleasure was mind blowing.
His fingers slowly slid out of me, and his wicked tongue licked up the mess between my legs like a dying man devouring his last meal. My thighs quivered with pleasure, and my body felt like a limp noodle. A very satisfied limp noodle. My mind was a broken thing, not even comprehending what had just happened.
“Fucking delicious.” Dev smiled as he crawled up and kissed me.
I kissed him back eagerly, tasting my cum on his tongue.
“You screamed so loud for me this time, I think the entire neighborhood heard you.”
“You really have to go?” I murmured changing the subject, my cheeks flaming as I realized how different the sounds I made were when the orgasm was real.
“Sorry, beautiful. Important meeting with some business partners.” Dev stood and helped me up, gently tugging down my dress, his hands squeezing my ass to keep me from falling over. “I still want that movie night, though.”
He brushed his thumb along my bottom lip, and I nodded, unable to say no.
I walked with him back to the living room, and he grabbed the bag of cherries and popcorn from the floor. “I’m holding these hostage until our next date.”
I laughed. “Fine then. I’ll be back for those. We can finish where we left off.”
Dev grabbed my waist and pulled me in for another soul-sucking kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal fire. He was just so irresistible. And now that my lady was desperate for more, would my trusty vibrator even be worth it? Or, maybe I’ll bring the vibrator to our movie night. Yes, that was definitely going to happen. New kinks were being unlocked.
He pulled away first and kissed my knuckles before descending down the stairs through the bar. I went back to my apartment and quickly changed my clothes, calling Tibby.
She answered on the first ring. “I will say I am glad we only put a camera in his living room and not the bedroom. Although, from the noises you and the cult Prince were making, I’d say it was probably a good show. That was real, wasn’t it?”
I gritted my teeth. “Maybe.”
Tibby scoffed. “Damn, I knew it. Even got me reaching for my vibrator. I bet we could sell it, if you’re interested?”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I’ll keep my sex life to myself for now. Besides sharing it with you, of course. If you need to borrow the audio to spice things up, though, it’s all yours.”
“I think I’ll just have my next group activities include some role play. Dev has some good lines.”
I laughed aloud. “He really fucking does. His wild side comes out in the bedroom. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. I’m heading over. Keep tracking him, and I’ll see you in fifteen.” I kept my voice even, somewhat emotionless, so Tibby wouldn’t catch my rapid heartbeat.
“Over and out, slut.” She hung up the call.
I could pretend all I wanted, but something was happening with Dev. I felt things. Emotions I’d buried deep and thought I could no longer access. Somehow, between his dirty words and rough hands, his soft kisses and sinful tongue, something in me started to shine. I silently slammed the cage around my heart shut, forcing that shining spark to cower once more. That light was more terrifying than anything hiding in the deep dark. That light was happiness. It was hope. Two things I didn’t deserve and could never want, especially from an Obscuritas Prince.
When I arrived at the downtown apartment Tibby and I shared, I immediately knew something was wrong. She was quiet, and the computer monitors were dark. I froze in the doorway.
“What happened?”
I dropped my bag to the floor and took a slow step toward her. There was an accident on the highway so it took me twice as long to get here. I missed something vital, and Tibby’s grim face told me I didn’t want to hear it.
“Tell me,” I demanded, even as my voice shook.
“They have your father, the founders have him, I think. But, it sounded like he went to them willingly.” Tibby whispered the words, and I fell to my knees as she continued. “I didn’t get much before they went into a lower level of the manor and the audio cut out. It must be deep underground, and probably has signal blockers to keep whatever is down there secret.”
“Michaela?” The word scraped out of me, leaving my insides raw and exposed. We’d been searching for my father and sister for years, and suddenly they were here, mere miles away from where I now knelt.
“I couldn’t hear. They didn’t mention her before the audio cut out. I don’t know, Seraphina.”
Tibby’s use of my true name was too much. The computer lights winked too brightly, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I dropped into the darkness waiting inside me. I couldn’t take this. The Obscuritas had my father, which meant they could have my sister too. The people who murdered Lailah and my mother now had the only two people left to me in this world. But he went willingly? Did they already have her? Was she being tortured? Assaulted? My throat burned with rage, and I started to shake.
Shame scorched through my body as I thought about what Dev had just done to me while my sister was out there, lost and alone.
“Seraphina,” Tibby snapped, and my eyes flew open. “We need to do this the right way. If you storm in there now, when they’re all together, you’ll die. And so will your father and sister, if they’re both even there.”
I stood, pacing with pure rage. My blood boiled, and I pulled my knife from the sheath on my thigh, twirling it in my hands. “I can’t just leave them there, Tabitha. I can’t.”
Tibby stood, stepping into my path and grabbing my arms, a dangerous move when I was feeling murderous.
“Look at me. We aren’t leaving them. But we need more information and a plan. We’ve come this far. This is the first true lead, and it sounds like they’re alive, Sara. Let’s work this out and bring them home, alright?” Tibby’s eyes searched mine, the cool blue irises begging me to listen.
I let out a breath and nodded, a plan forming in my mind.
“Friday,” I whispered, my voice coming back from the edge of madness. “Andras said they’re having a party next Friday. Levi will be there. Ty will be at the gym tomorrow. Maybe I can get more details about who else will be attending. They’ll be occupied. We can track any movements at Vespertine Hall so we know exactly where they are, and I can sneak away to get them out.”
Tibby nodded. “Good plan. What about Dev?”
I couldn’t think about Dev and the things he was making me feel. “He’s one of them. He was there tonight, Tibby. If he was any kind of decent, he wouldn’t let some cult leader assholes torture and murder innocent people. The plan hasn’t changed. He will die with the others.”
She looked like she had something to add but wisely kept those thoughts to herself. I was in no fucking mood to hear anything anyway. I stalked to the kitchen and pulled the vodka out of the freezer. I spun off the cap and poured the cold liquor down my throat. I needed to be drunk immediately or I’d run out of this apartment and set the whole fucking city on fire.
My phone buzzed with messages from Dev, but I ignored them.
Tibby’s dinner for us arrived, but I was no longer hungry. I carried the vodka into the living room and continued to swig from the bottle. My thoughts began to fade, and my eyes glazed. I kept drinking, needing the alcohol to soak my insides until I couldn’t feel anything but the cold nothingness of sleep. But when I finally blacked out, the nightmares barreled in, locking my mind in an endless torture.