Remington
Talia’s pissed.
She’s hiding it behind her sweet smile and demure attitude, but things didn’t progress the way she wanted them to for Diana last night. I distracted Talia long enough for Tommy to scoop her, and I did it because I owed him one and he begged me.
But now it’s my turn to be with her.
I take her hand in mine and we walk inside the house. I promptly take her upstairs, avoiding the dark kitchen, and into my bedroom, where she will be sleeping for the foreseeable future until I trust her to be alone.
Lucy can leave our lunch outside my door—I’ll deal with her later.
She curls up on my poster bed, staring up at the dusty bookshelves I have on either side of the large windows overlooking the forest.
I tell her to wait for me, which she does, staring wide-eyed at my bedroom.
I head into Talia’s room down the hall and grab her a few outfits and shove them in my dresser.
When I walk back in, Diana is standing with her back to me, perusing my bookshelf and extensive collection of books I have. Mainly law textbooks.
Not long after, Talia stomps by, and the sound of a slamming door ricochets the entire top floor. I’m assuming things didn’t go well with Tommy.
I’m still not used to Tommy and Talia together. And truthfully, knowing how quickly Tommy falls in and out of love, I never thought I’d be okay with it. However, he brings out a side of her I haven’t seen since we were kids.
I vowed to Talia that I’d always look after her. It was a childhood promise, made after the trauma that shattered us both. She’s everything to me, and I’ll never go back on that promise. Diana is the wrinkle I never expected. The fact she’s still breathing means Talia sees use in her.
Diana whips her head around at the sound, her eyes crinkle together and smiles when she catches me watching her. Her hair is much shorter than it was a few months ago, now coming down to her chin. But she’s still just as beautiful.
As I approach, she stumbles backward onto my bed, propping herself up on her elbows with her legs dangling over the edge. I stare down at my pretty little lamb on my bed. She’s like sin wrapped in white satin. Tommy’s heart might be split in two, but my obsession is laser focused.
“What happened to Talia?” she asks me.
“Talia’s having a tantrum.” She keeps her eyes on me as I take off my leather jacket and drop it off the edge of my chair. “You’ll get used to her.”
“Has she always been this dramatic?”
I lean over her, pressing my lips against Diana’s hairline, which smells like Tommy’s shampoo. Her body contorts into mine as she leans up to get closer to me like a starved pet.
She might smell like him, but I’ll steal her undivided attention.
“She’s not used to sharing male attention, brotherly or otherwise,” I tell her. “But it’s nothing you did specifically; she feels betrayed because we lied to her about you.”
She leans her head back on my pillow, and my eyes draw to her hard nipples protruding out of her shirt. “You were supposed to kill me and didn’t.”
I kick off my shoes as she continues to watch me, monitoring the doorway. I can’t stay away from her anymore. I walk over and crawl on top of her, her legs instinctively wrapping around my body.
“Maybe I still will,” I murmur.
She lets out a small smile. “You’re supposed to sacrifice the one you love, aren’t you?”
“That’s what the book says.”
She quirks her head. “The book?”
“It’s a Codex, written ages ago by some lunatic with a god complex. The interpretation is that if you kill your loved one and offer their soul to the God, you’ll be rewarded with riches.”
She blinks at me a few times. “Does it work?”
“Ask Tommy and Talia. When he pretended to kill you, he got his inheritance. He will never have to work again.”
Her eyebrows rise, and she takes a long, languid breath. “And you?”
A twinge hits my stomach. “I haven’t killed my sacrifice yet.
” I roll onto my back beside her, watching her.
“Look around, little lamb. My father has more money than he knows what to do with. He’s corrupted everyone with it, including his own children; he pays everyone.
Anyone of importance knows about it, and everyone in this town thinks they can get away with murder.
And the problem is, not even Talia and I know who’s all involved. That’s why we have to keep you hidden.”
“If I stay here,” she says carefully, “then I’ll need some stuff from my house. It’s not much, but it’s all that remains of my identity.”
I reach over and cup her cheek. “I’ll handle it. I’m assuming the doors aren’t locked?”
She cups my hands with hers. “Not since Tommy broke it down.” Her eyes dart up to mine. “Just be careful of the ghosts in the spare bedroom. They aren’t friendly and might kill you.”
I let out half a laugh until I realize she may not be kidding.
Goddamn it, I hate that house.
“I’ll make Tommy come with me. It’s time he and I had a little chat anyway.”
Diana’s heavy eyelids flutter slowly, revealing the exhaustion in her eyes. I rise, giving her some space. “I’ll let you rest.”
Her hand reaches out and lands on my thigh. “Don’t leave yet,” she whispers. “You always leave me, Remy, and I’m sick of being alone. Stay with me awhile?”
All my awareness draws down to where her hand lands on my thigh. My arousal is immediate and intense, just like it is every time I touch her.
I grab her hand and interlace her fingers into mine, and before she can move, I twist her around and pin her body onto my bed, and she gasps.
“Taunting and teasing might work on Tommy, but it won’t work with me. I don’t have the same level of self-control as Tommy does. If I’m in this bed with you, I won’t be able to stop.” I nip at her ear. “I’m going to fuck you, Diana.”
Her knee drives up between my legs in response.
My lips curl together as my dick swells. “Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
She nods slowly. “I heard you.”
The pleading look in her eyes is all I need. I drive my mouth into hers. She moans and wraps her hand around my neck, arching her back. I don’t kiss her sweetly or passionately; I kiss her like I want to kill her.
Because I do.
She should have been mine; she always should have been mine. I also have an unexplained need to protect her, and I’m sick of covering for Tommy.
Her mouth responds the way I want it to—she bites at my lips until they are swollen.
“Fuck, little lamb,” I murmur, admiring every line of her body. How purely imperfect she is. The darkness that settles just beneath her skin.
I pull her pants off and run my thumb over the wetness of her panties, nearly soaking through the cloth, which I slide off, too.
My cock twinges as I slide my hands up her waist and pull her shirt over her head, leaving her naked under me.
My sexy little lamb.
She bites her bottom lip, radiating a citrus scent I immediately recognize. Tommy’s scent is all over her, like he’s already marked his territory, and the teeth marks on her shoulders catch my attention.
Diana furrows her brows when I falter. “What is it?”
“Did he touch you?”
An arch of her brow and a flash of pain hit her eyes. “I didn’t let it get that far. I did what you told me to do, and I killed him before he could.”
My jealousy edges through my bones, like a saw slicing through them. “I’m not talking about Father Malcolm,” I growl.
My fingers dance over Tommy’s teeth marks. Message well received. She runs her hand down her hair and rests it just beneath her breasts. Her nipples I was admiring earlier, pretty and pink, are ready to be sucked and worshipped the way they deserve.
She turns her head and stares out the window. “Tommy and I aren’t together anymore, Remy. Everything has changed.”
“My question wasn’t whether you’re together. Did he touch you last night?”
She shifts beneath me as my fingers graze the lips of her pussy, and her back arches in response. “I slept in his bed. But you already know that.”
My jaw tightens. “Did he fuck you last night, Didi?”
Her eyes flicker behind her icy lashes. “No. Not yet.”
The scars are still there from her belt. The mark of her deep wound. My fingers draw to them, drawing circles around them. I move down to inspect it.
Pink nipples and a pink pussy, just like I imagined.
“Good,” I growl. I’m not interested in seconds this time. I want Diana all to myself.
I inhale her scent, then I press my lips onto her pelvic bone.
I grip the inside of her thigh as I kiss every one of her scars, taking my time on each one.
She tugs my hair, running her fingers through it, then runs her thumb down my face over my jawline.
My lips graze her pussy, but I don’t bite down—
Not there. Not yet.
“Remy.” She moans my name like scripture. “I need you to keep going… Please, keep going. There is so much pressure inside. It hurts.”
I pull my lips up and run my hands over the smooth skin of her hips. The ache I have inside for this girl is like poison. It tastes good, but it hurts everywhere.
If I continue down this path, I will fall further, and eventually, she’ll have to die. Talia won’t allow any other outcome. She might have ulterior motives, but ultimately, she’s a slave to the Codex.
I slide my tongue over her skin, soaking in her wetness—she tastes like the perfect piece of forbidden fruit. I enjoy the moment for what it is, even if it has to be our last.
I swallow and pause, running my hand through my hair before I go too far.
Her hands move to her center, and she presses her fingers against her clit, her tits rising and falling with aching breath as she rocks her hips. “Please,” she begs. “I need you to keep going. I feel like I’m dying, Remy, and I need you to make me feel something again.”
I unzip my pants and fist myself in front of her. “You think you’re ready for me, little lamb?”
Her eyes go wide when she sees how big I am. A flicker of fear crosses her face. She’s not ready…and she probably never will be. I can’t go through with this. Not while Tommy’s sulking downstairs and Talia’s silently fuming in her room.
Not until I know with all certainty that I get to keep her.
My mouth finds her pussy instead. I lick her clit and her body jolts, while I gently focus on the spot that will bring her to climax. I want her to feel the depths of the pleasure I can provide. While I plan to fuck her hard, I can show her the softer side is just as nice.
Her body responds. She squeezes her knees around me, and goosebumps pebble every inch of her flesh. I lick, suck and nibble until she explodes, leaving her sweet pussy unpenetrated, pure and desperate for more.
“Remy,” she moans out of breath, “that was incredible.”
I lean up and kiss her so she can taste herself, and she bites on my bottom lip, savoring the moment of her post-climax glow.
“Didi,” I murmur against her lips and pull back as dread hits my stomach. “Do you still have your knife?”
She pushes herself up on her elbows and nods quickly, causing strands of her white hair to fall over her face. “Yeah, it’s at my house.”
“Where?”
“I keep it under my pillow. In Mama’s room. The one farthest from the kitchen.”
“When I grab it for you, you need to keep it on you. Do you remember what I said to do with it?”
She frowns. “Why? I won’t need it again when I’m with you.”
“Tell me how to use it, Diana.”
She blows out a breath. “If anyone ever tries to hurt me, I stick it in their flesh and twist. I remember, Remy; I won’t ever forget.”
A wave of heat washes over me. I lean in, teasing her nipple between my fingers. Softly at first before I twist, and she yelps. “And I mean anyone, Diana,” I say darkly.
She flinches, recoiling slightly. “I know you won’t hurt me.”
I drag a hand across my chin, fighting the urge to turn and smash my fist into the wall above her head. I understand why Tommy gets so worked up with her. She’s so damn innocent with those bright eyes.
I dip my head and kiss her hard, her lips meeting mine with desperate need.
My voice turns sharp and cutting as I cut off the kiss. “Don’t trust anyone in this house, little lamb,” I warn her. “Especially not me.”