CHAPTER 10
OAKLYNN
True to the promises in Maxim’s eyes when he left me panting against the wall after our tour, he cooked stuffed chicken breast with a creamy sun-dried tomato mixture inside.
It was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten and I’m still full.
Even better than the food was the company.
I didn’t get to really enjoy sharing a meal with Kirill, Maxim, Baker, and Huck the other night at White Stone.
Not only were they on guard with my father there, but I had to pretend and play the role expected of me.
I sure as hell didn’t get to enjoy sitting at the table with four men who are close like brothers.
I’m sure my presence threw them off a little bit, not used to me being with them, but there was still an easy banter and a feeling of understanding between them.
It made me feel welcome in a situation which could have felt awkward and untenable.
As surprising as it might be to someone else, I felt more comfortable and at home within minutes of sitting down for dinner with them than I ever had with my father.
There’s no doubt in my mind that these men are far more dangerous than my father, but I feel safe with them.
It’s strange to not feel the need to walk on eggshells, something I always had to do since my mom’s passing.
That doesn’t mean it’s not strange being here.
I’m in a new place, one where I’m not entirely sure what is expected of me.
I’ve been thrown into a situation I didn’t see coming, but it’s better than the one I was in.
Kirill didn’t even hesitate when telling me about marrying him and his expectations.
He doesn’t want a simple marriage of convenience, one where we have our respective corners and are to stay within them.
Then there’s the fact that it’s not just him.
He wants to share me with the three other men who make up his family.
The thought makes my mouth dry.
I try and swallow, but I’m far too parched.
As I climb from bed, I revel in the feel of the silky nightie I have on.
It’s one of the pieces of clothing delivered right before dinner and not long after Kirill, Baker, and Huck came home.
Dinner was already smelling so damn good I had to stop myself from hovering over Maxim’s shoulder in the kitchen.
Then three men come home and kiss my cheeks as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The icing on the cake was the clothing delivery.
Kirill might have told Maxim it was only a few things to tide me over until I could shop for myself, but the man does not do anything by half, that was clear with the number of bags being carted up the stairs and into the primary bedroom by my men.
My men.
Even the thought now, when I’m all alone, has my cheeks heating.
I’m not sure how I’m going to keep four men satisfied.
I’ve had a steady stream of very dirty and sinfully delicious images flashing through my mind since Kirill’s words earlier today gave me the freedom to allow my thoughts to consider such an option.
Sure, I found each man attractive, I would have to be blind not to, but the thought of being with all of them was something I had mentally chastised myself for.
It felt greedy and selfish as hell.
But now it’s my reality.
I find that I’m not at all bothered by the notion, even though it should send me running for the hills.
Maybe I’m not because my instincts tell me I’m going to need each of my men to keep me safe from my father and then whatever else may come our way.
I’m under no illusion that my men are saints.
You only need to spend a few minutes in their presence to know they have blood on their hands and are capable of untold savage violence.
Why the fuck does the thought make my pussy wet?
I shake my head as I stick my head out of the door to my room and look around.
The house is still, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a man lurking in the shadows.
It’s a silly notion considering I don’t feel like a prisoner here.
This place is nothing like the house I grew up in.
There I never felt like I could take a full breath, but here it feels like I’m allowed to spread my wings.
What a difference a day makes.
As I make my way down the hall and then down the stairs toward the kitchen, I consider how Kirill could have easily killed me when I boldly showed up at his office unannounced.
Telling a man like Kirill Volkov that my father was planning to use me to be his eyes and ears had the probability of ending up very differently than it did.
Maybe I showed were my loyalties lie with my actions.
They sure as fuck aren’t with my father.
He was only becoming increasingly unstable.
It was clear to me that his desperation was getting more difficult to control by the wild look in his eyes.
Not only could I not predict his next move, but he would have kept hurting me.
One way or another I was going to find a way out.
This one doesn’t seem half bad even if I did simply trade one danger for another.
At least I don’t believe my men will leave me bruised and broken.
But, then again, what do I really know?
I grab a glass out of the cupboard and pour a glass of water before leaning against the counter.
I didn’t turn on any lights, but I’m more than happy to remain in the dark.
The house feels settled around me and a sense of peace washes over me.
Could it really be so simple that this is now my life?
There is something here to be explored.
I’ve never felt a pull like I do when I’m around my men.
It’s something I never expected to feel with one man let alone four.
I want to explore what it means and how the electricity between us feels against my skin.
While I’m sure my father would be furious to know it, I’m not a virgin.
When I had the opportunity of the limited freedom I fought for while in college, I took full advantage of it.
Knowing my virginity was something I wouldn’t be surprised to find my father bartered with made it something I wanted to control.
Now I’m glad I did.
The thought of taking on four men is daunting enough.
If I were a virgin I’d be running for the hills.
Or maybe a sunny beach somewhere, never to be heard from again.
The darkness beyond the large windows surrounding the dining area is cast in moonlight and I’m lost in my thoughts as I watch it play across the blades of grass and the tree line in the distance.
I’m shocked out of my reverie when a large, heavy hand lands on my shoulder.
Without thinking, I turn in the opposite direction of the hold, shielding the side of my head from any attack which may be coming my way.
I turn toward whoever is behind me and strike.
A masculine gasp of surprise hits my ears as my jab is blocked, but I don’t stop.
I grip the man’s shoulder and pull him toward me as I raise my knee and make contact with his abdomen.
“Fuck,” the man roars as I keep him upright and then strike out again with my knee, pulling him toward me and using the momentum this time to push him past me and onto the ground.
I’m just about to jump on his back and wrap my arm around his neck in a choke hold when the lights snap on.
A commotion pulls my focus away from the man on the floor and toward the doorway into the kitchen.
Maxim, Kirill, and Huck are standing there in various states of undress with shocked expressions on their faces.
I look down at the floor to find a panting Baker who has flipped on his back and is looking up at me with awe written all over his face.
“Holy fuck, little bee. I’m not sure if I just came or fell in love with you,” he gasps out, trying to catch is breath.
I freeze for a moment before my hands start shaking as I realize what I’ve just done.
I attacked him.
Well, no, I defended myself, but still.
He’s sprawled out on the floor and I’m standing above him with my hands still clenched into fists and my heart racing in my chest.
While shaking my hands out, trying to hide the tremble in my limbs as adrenaline tries to take over, the smile on my face is weak at best.
“I’m sorry,” my voice trembles.
Baker hops up, his hand rubbing his abdomen right where I kneed him.
His large, calloused hands cup my face, probably dwarfing me.
His hazel eyes race between mine, searching for something.
I try to suppress the fear at retribution, but I know I fail when his eyes soften with understanding.
The next thing I know, I’m wrapped up in his arms and pressed against his chest like he’s encouraging me to climb inside of him.
If only I could.
He’s so warm, and the numbness starting to creep through my body abates almost immediately.
“Don’t ever apologize for defending yourself,” Baker’s voice is husky.
I feel him look over his shoulder at the men still standing in the doorway.
“We’re good. I surprised her and she acted.”
“Did you hurt her?” Kirill’s voice is ice cold, the threat and warning clear in his tone.
Baker scoffs, the sound oddly relaxing.
He whines, “You should be asking me if she hurt me, not the other way around. She has a very pointy knee and moves like a fucking ninja on speed.”
A laugh is barked out, I’m sure from Maxim.
When I peek around Baker’s wide chest, I find three sets of eyes staring at me with concern.
“I’m okay,” I promise them.
When they don’t move, the fear of being in trouble starts to take over.
My breathing becomes choppy and my vision swims in front of my eyes.
I try and calm the feeling, focusing on each set of eyes looking at me, but it doesn’t help.
Not even a little bit.
The longer they look at me, the more I feel like I can’t breathe.
Are they going to punish me?
Is Baker?
He can say I was surprised and defended myself all he wants, but what does it really mean?
I don’t even know these men and now I’m in their house, on their turf, under their rules.
“Hey, little bee,” Baker’s voice is soothing, “you’re okay.”
He lifts me into his arms effortlessly and starts to stride out of the kitchen, barely slowing enough for the other men to move out of the way.
One of my hands clings to his shoulder, his bare skin grounding me for a second, while the other wraps around the back of his neck.
Embarrassment creeps in alongside the fear that I’ve just fucked up.
“Where are you taking her?” Kirill’s question is more of a demand than a request for information.
Baker doesn’t even look in his direction, but throws over his shoulder, “I’m taking her to my room. I think it’s fair considering she just laid me out on the floor. That tile is hard,” his voice is lighthearted, but I still wince at the words.
I can hear the men behind us grumbling, but no one stops us.
Baker’s steps are steady as he carries me up the stairs.
He doesn’t stop until he lays me on a bed in the room I recognize as his.
Not only can I see enough from the moonlight shining in the windows, but I would recognize his smell anywhere.
It’s light and woodsy, but with a hint of something dark on the edges.
It’s all him.
“Where did you learn those moves?” Baker’s question is whispered as he positions himself to hover over me.
I should be running.
His imposing figure blocking out the rest of the world should feel stifling.
But it feels grounding instead.
My legs part and his hips nestle against mine as I answer him, my voice small, “Even though my father tried to control everything I did and insisted I attend finishing school style classes for poise and manners, he wasn’t around much. I realized that with the men he would sometimes allow into our home, men I didn’t feel safe around, I needed to be able to defend myself. He never knew I took self-defense and kick boxing classes as well as a few styles of martial arts. I’m not going to win any competitions or anything, but I don’t feel as vulnerable as I used to.”
Baker’s body softens, his warmth seeps into me and helps me to relax even though the contact of our skin has tingles covering my body.
His soft lips kiss my forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks, and my chin before hovering over my lips.
The way he waits there, asking without words, has me closing the distance between us.
I let out a gasp at the contact and Baker uses it to his advantage, his tongue sliding between my lips and coaxing mine to play.
The kiss turns from something like comfort to an inferno within seconds.
Need I’ve never experienced before has my legs wrapping around his hips and my pussy, which is covered in only a scrap of lace since Kirill fully stocked me with sexy underwear, something I found no reason to complain about.
The man wants to spend way too much money on lace.
Who am I to argue?
“Should we be doing this?” I mumble the question against his lips.
Baker chuckles and I can feel the vibrations from his chest with our bodies pressed so close together.
“If you’re worried about the other guys, don’t. I won’t say we’ll never be jealous, but it’s a problem we will have to deal with and not something you need to worry about or manage.” His lips trail along my jaw and down my neck.
“Let me take care of you,” he pleads against my skin.
“Please,” I gasp.
I can feel the way his lips curve into a smile as he levers himself up and away from my body enough to glide the nightie I’m wearing up my body to uncover my breasts.
He practically lunges at me and sucks one of my hardened nipples into his mouth.
My back arches as I moan out my pleasure.
His mouth is warm and wet and when his teeth scrape against my nipple, my hips lurch.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” his words are muffled as he presses his face between my breasts.
“You’re going to come all over my tongue, Oaklynn.”
The dominance in his voice, the demand I know I won’t be able to ignore, has my entire body trembling.
My hands grip the sheets on either side of my hips while he slithers down my body.
His warm breath dances against the soaked lace of my panties.
He angles his shoulders between my legs, forcing my body to move and give him the room he needs to settle between my thighs.
Without needing words, my body responds to him, and I become pliant for him.
With a firm tug, Baker rips the lace from my hips, the scraps of fabric thrown over his shoulder without a care.
When he looks down at me, taking in my glistening pussy, my breathing becomes erratic.
He’s looking at me with a feral hunger I can feel skittering along my skin.
His eyes roam up my body and meet my gaze.
“Earlier when you put me on my ass, I thought I had never seen anything sexier. I was wrong.”
I barely get to take a breath before the man dives between my thighs, and his mouth attaches to my pussy like he’s starving.
His tongue teases along the slit and he lets out a groan that vibrates against my flesh.
Far too soon, with barely any effort on his part, my body starts to buzz and the coil of pleasure inside of me tightens.
I’m so close, but I try to hold off my impending orgasm.
I want this to last forever.
It’s a lost fucking cause when Baker plunges two fingers inside of me while sucking my clit into his mouth and bites down.
Stars dance in front of my eyes and the pleasure is so intense that I hold my breath without even realizing it.
He laps at my pussy like I’m delicious, his small grunts and moans of pleasure telling me just how much he’s enjoying tasting me.
Being treated like a feast is new, but it’s something I hope I can experience again and again.
As I start to come down, my body buzzing and my muscles tingling with the aftershocks of my orgasm.
My eyes crack open as Baker’s body moves over me and his lips press against mine in a sweet kiss.
My tongue snakes out and I moan as I taste myself on his skin.
My body is languid and satisfied as I’m turned on my side before Baker wraps his large body around mine.
I try to protest, but he holds me tight against him and doesn’t let me turn in his arms.
He whispers, “Shh, little bee, this was all about you.” My eyes are heavy, and I can barely blink them open as sleep pulls me under.
The last thing I hear against the nape of my neck are his pleasure filled words, “I’m so glad you’re ours.”