Chapter 23
WREN
Dinner was amazing.
I could eat food from K Nikolai had to know that.
He was probably testing me to see how far I’d go.
I tiptoed over to the bedroom door and carefully opened it.
The hallway was dark, and there was no light from the floor below.
I slowly crept down the stairs and saw Stefan through the window patrolling past the pool.
I probably wouldn’t have seen him if it weren’t for his lit cigarette.
Going out the back door wouldn’t have been an option anyway.
There was only one way out that could work, and I wasn’t looking forward to trying it. Stefan’s attention averted to me, and I pretended I didn’t see him as I entered the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and returned to my room, shutting the door behind me.
When I looked at the windows, I groaned. Scaling the side of the house wasn’t on my to-do list for the night, but it wouldn’t be that hard, not with how Seth’s house was built.
Ensuring all the lights were off in my room, I pulled back the curtains. Slowly, I opened the window, gently unlatched the screen, and set it on the floor. The wind blew through my hair and I breathed in the cool, desert air.
Just outside the window was a ledge that wrapped around the entire second floor of the house. I could thank today’s fancy modern architecture for that.
Once out the window, I peered around at the grounds below. Three of Seth’s men walked around, but no one was by the cactus garden. It wasn’t that far of a drop from the second floor, but I would have one hell of a prickly night if I slipped and fell the wrong way.
I sat down on the ledge and inched my way off, gripping the edge so my body faced the house.
This left me with about a four-foot drop to the ground.
I let go and landed on my feet, holding my breath as I waited for an alarm to go off.
When nothing did, I blew out a sigh and started toward the edge of the yard.
Was it seriously going to be that easy to sneak out?
“Where do you think you’re going?”
My heart clambered up my throat, thumping wildly. It was Seth.
“I wasn’t going anywhere,” I said, facing him.
I could see Seth’s silhouette veiled in darkness. He stepped forward, the moonlight shining across his face. There was no smile, no trace of the Seth I’d gotten to know the past few days. What I saw was disappointment and anger. His gaze narrowed and he flung out his arms out to the side.
“It doesn’t look like you weren’t going anywhere.”
I didn’t like the pain in his eyes. When I decided to try and sneak out, it wasn’t to hurt him.
“I wanted to see how guarded I was,” I confessed with a shrug. “Now I know.”
Stefan appeared around the side of the house and backed away just as quickly when he saw me with Seth.
Seth’s expression softened as he stepped forward. “You’re not a prisoner, Wren. But I told you when you came here, I don’t want you sneaking out.” He closed the distance between us and sighed. “Were you really trying to leave?”
I shook my head. “No. I was curious to see how far you’d go to protect me. Honestly, I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave.”
Seth winced as if I’d slapped him. “I don’t want you feeling that way, Wren. No one should feel trapped. I would let you leave if you wanted to.”
“Would you?” I asked.
He nodded, but something in his eyes made me tremble; it was primal. “Yes, but I wouldn’t like it,” he replied.
I stared into his eyes, frozen in place as he moved closer, our bodies almost touching.
“Why?”
Seth’s lips tilted into a devilish smirk, and he kissed me, his lips warm against mine. “Because I like having you with me,” he murmured, kissing me again.
I melted against him and gave in to the feelings overwhelming me.
I was never the type to need or want a man to protect me, but I was starting to understand why Kali loved how Valentin was with her.
He wanted to keep her safe, to protect her.
And why? Because he loved her. I’ve never had anyone love me like that.
I never thought I needed it . . . but I craved it more than anything.
I tried to deepen the kiss, but Seth gently pulled away, his serious gaze searching mine. Something about the moonlight beaming across his face made me want him even more.
“What’s wrong?” I wondered.
He released a heavy sigh. “I was giving you some time before bringing this up.” My stomach dropped because I knew what he was about to say.
Hanging my head, I waved for him to continue. “Go ahead. I think I already know what this is going to be about.”
He waited for me to look at him, and he shook his head when I did. “Did you actually think you’d be able to kill my brother at that meeting?”
Truthfully, I didn’t think I would get as far as I did.
“I don’t want him to underestimate me, Seth. You’re not the only one who can get what they want. Nikolai got a taste of how far I’ll go and what I’ll do to get there.”
Seth clasped my face in his hands. “Just promise me you won’t do anything like that again.”
Guilt spread through me. I wanted to tell him about my conversation with Nikolai, but the words wouldn’t come out.
That could’ve been another part of Nikolai’s plan.
He probably wanted me to tell Seth to rile him up and get him to act on his anger.
Luckily, Seth wasn’t irrational like his brother. That was how I knew Nikolai would fail.
Seth’s grip on my face tightened. “Promise me, Wren. I don’t want you going after my brother. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”
In that moment, I realized that I was doing what I’d never thought I’d do in a million years; my feelings for him were getting deeper every second I was with him.
“I promise,” I said.
Seth rubbed his thumbs gently over my cheeks, his gaze full of heat. “Do you have any idea what I want to do with you right now?”
I bit my lip and smiled. “I have a few guesses.”
He nodded toward the house. “Care to join me?”
Before we could go inside, Stefan appeared around the side of the house, his steps were determined as he thundered toward us.
“I tried to apologize to him,” I said in a low voice, “but he wasn’t having any of it.”
Seth chuckled under his breath and slid his arm around my waist. “I talked to him about it. His ego is hurt, but he said you impressed him. I wouldn’t count on him talking to you anytime soon.”
My smile faltered the closer Stefan got; I could tell something was wrong. When I glanced down at my watch, it was a few minutes after midnight. My gut clenched, and I held my breath as Stefan stopped in front of Seth.
“We spotted a car down the road, but they left a few minutes ago. I’m almost certain it was one of your brother’s guys.”
Seth’s arm tensed around me. “Keep looking out. I want you to get me the moment another car comes by.” Stefan nodded and turned on his heel, marching back toward the front of the house.
Seth sighed and took my hand. “If only I knew what my brother had up his sleeve. When he wants to go after someone, he does it in a deranged, fucked-up way. I’ve never understood his way of thinking. ”
Again, I wanted to tell him, but it would only make things worse. We walked inside and down the hall to his bedroom. The room smelled like his cologne, and it was intoxicating.
I clutched his face and pressed my lips to his, feeling the tension evaporate from his body.
“Right now, I don’t want to think about your shithead brother or any other danger that’s lurking around the corner. All I want is to feel you.”
Eyes dark with need, he picked me up in his arms. “You sure?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Yes.”
Seth laid me down on the soft mattress of his king-sized bed, and as I sunk into its plushness, I inhaled his musky scent that seemed to linger everywhere.
The room was dark except for strips of light from the hallway spilling in through the slightly ajar door, but I could still make out Seth’s face which was illuminated by its faint glimmer.
His gaze burned with raw desire as he stared down at me.
Kicking off my shoes, I shuffled further up onto the bed and nestled into one of his pillows.
Seth followed suit and crawled onto the bed beside me, propped up on his elbow.
He ran a finger along the hem of my shirt, lightly grazing my skin underneath, sending a flock of chill bumps scattering across my body which produced a satisfied smirk on his lips.
“I love that I can do that to you.”
My core swelled at the thought and I bit my lip, knowing full well what it really did to me.
As if sensing my arousal, Seth rolled himself over the top of me and wedged his knee between my legs, parting them.
His golden-hazel eyes scorched into mine with unbridled passion as he brought his mouth down over mine in a gentle yet demanding kiss that deepened quickly as our tongues entwined together.
“I want you so fucking bad,” he rasped.
“Then take me,” I breathed back.
Seth tore my shirt and bra away, and once my skin was exposed, his hands were all over me, massaging and kneading.
He squeezed my breasts with his rough hands and pinched my nipples, making me cry out in both pleasure and pain.
To ease the sharpness of the sensation, he licked and sucked each taut nipple while thrusting his arousal between my legs.
His hands fumbled with the button of my jeans, and he slowly slipped his hand inside. Deftly, his fingers entered me and he groaned against my lips.
“Fuck, you’re so damn wet. I can’t wait to be inside you.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” I breathed, arching my back off the bed and pushing my breasts in the air.
Seth laughed a deep, husky sound. He pulled my pants and underwear down, tossing them to the floor.
I was naked, aching to the point I thought I’d go crazy.
Taking him by the shoulders, I pushed him over and straddled my bare body on top of his. His clothes were still on, but that was about to change. His cock bulged against his pants, and I stroked my hand over it as I moved against him.
Seth’s eyes rolled in the back of his head and he hissed, “You’re killing me, Wren.”
I smirked, fully aroused at the thought of turning him on so thoroughly. “That’s the whole point,” I murmured seductively.
Pulling his pants down enough to free him, I took his arousal in my hand and massaged him hard, gliding my palm up and down his length. Seth sighed and closed his eyes, sucking in a ragged breath as I bent down and flicked the tip with my tongue.
His body jerked and he moaned.
Smiling, I wrapped my lips around him and sucked. He tasted so good. His balls were loose in my hands, and I rolled them around gently as I sucked him off.
Breathing hard, Seth grasped me by the shoulders. “Wren, I need you to stop.”
I teased him for a few more seconds before releasing him, staring up at him with a triumphant smile. He rolled me onto my back and took off his shirt before pinning me down on the soft mattress. Biting one of my nipples, he sucked it greedily, causing me to scream out.
My hands grabbed his hair to pull him closer as he caged me between his arms. He settled himself between my legs, and I spread them wide. The tip of his cock pressed against my opening, and he circled it around, preparing me for what was to come.
Gazing into my eyes, Seth rubbed his nose against mine and slowly began kissing me again. With short, easy thrusts, he entered me gently. The fullness of him inside of me was erotic and sensual; the pain of his cock stretching me wide was a good hurt.
“Are you okay?” he asked, slowing his thrusts.
Wrapping my legs around his waist, I pushed my hips into his. “Does that answer your question?” I moaned.
Seth continued his slow rhythm for a while before picking up speed, pounding his flesh against mine. I was on the brink of losing control, and I was sure he could feel it by the way my insides tightened around his cock.
“Come for me, Wren,” Seth murmured in my ear. Those words were all it took to send me over the edge.
I cried out his name, clenching my legs tight around his waist. I dug my nails into his back and trembled relentlessly. My orgasm came hot and swift, pouring over my body as I rode each delicious wave of pleasure. Seth grunted loudly as he came, thrusting hard as he released.
We were both breathing hard and exhausted, but there was still a throbbing ache between my legs, demanding more. He gently slid out of me and pulled me into his arms. “You were so tight and wet; I about lost my mind.”
I smiled lazily at him. “I know the feeling.” Snuggling into his warmth, I could feel my eyes begin to close. “Good night, Seth.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Sweet dreams.”
* * *
I had a parade of sweet dreams until they were interrupted by my vibrating phone. It was only a slight sound, but I could hear it and see the screen light underneath my T-shirt on the floor.
Seth was still asleep, his breathing deep and steady. I quickly slid out of bed and grabbed my clothes off the floor, hoping they would silence the vibrating while I rushed into Seth’s bathroom.
Once behind the closed door, I fumbled for my phone and my blood ran ice cold when I saw the word unavailable on the screen.
Swallowing hard, I walked over to Seth’s marble bathtub and sat on the edge. “What do you want,” I growled, my voice low so Seth wouldn’t hear me.
Nikolai clucked his tongue. “Big mistake not showing up tonight. I don’t like my time being wasted, Wren. Now, I have to think of something else to occupy my time. Because of that, more people are going to suffer. I hope you’re ready for the consequences.”
It felt as if my whole body had drained of blood.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snapped.
Nikolai’s laugh as he hung up was something out of a nightmare. If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was not to underestimate him. He was about to strike.