Brady's Hellion (6 page)

She lifted her head. He was ready to shoot himself
for the pain he saw on her face.

“You really hurt me,” she murmured.

Shit.

Raven looked off into the distance then turned back
to him. “Would you have ever told me the truth?”

“I’ll be honest. I don’t know. My work involves a lot
of secrecy.”

“But you weren’t told to keep a low profile with me,”
she pointed out.

“No, but I shouldn’t have….”

“Made love to me?” She finished the sentence for
him.

He nodded.

“Do you regret it?”

There was no hesitation when he shook his head.

Raven put the container of fruit to one side and
dropped to her hands and knees, crossing the blanket in feline
grace that had him turning into sex hound and seeing the enjoyment
of the position she was in.

“Mind out of the gutter, Brady,” she murmured,
lowering herself onto his lap. “I don’t know what’s happened, but
it feels so intense…so incredible, that I want to see where we
would go from here.” She studied his face, searching for
answers.

“Then we’re in agreement.”

She settled herself more firmly on his lap and felt
his cock rising up seeking her pussy. She smiled. “I’d say we
are.”

*****

Raven entered her suite and almost backed out
again.

“Why can’t anyone take a hint?” She pinched her
nostrils with two fingers and walked into the room that was filled
with the Astay flowers all throughout the parlor and bedroom. She
had just used the last of her Grey dust when a small black flame
appeared on her desk.

“Raven, you have been gone too long.” Pahso’s ugly
mug appeared in the flame.

“Not long enough.”

“You must return to plan our nuptials. It is
necessary that they take place before the next meeting of Shar’s
family and my own,” he ordered. “A portal will open not far from
where you are.” His black eyes slid over her with avaricious glee.
“The sooner we mate, the sooner our offspring will appear.”

Okay, that was it!

She stood in front of the desk so he wouldn’t miss
her words. “Get this straight, Pahso. I am not marrying you, ever.
I told you that before I left and I’m saying it again. Don’t tell
me I’ll change my mind, because it isn’t going to happen. I’m
staying up here and you’ll just have to look for another mate to
breed with.” She waved her hand over the flame. It promptly
disappeared and she used a spell to lock down a return visit.

“Raven?” A flame popped up.

“No!” While the spell locked out Pahso, she’d now
have to come up with another one for Shar. This was her vacation,
damn it!

“I allowed you to go up there to find out that life
Above isn’t for you. Now you tell Pahso you won’t accept him as
your mate. You can’t do that. Think of the family,” he
appealed.

“I’m not cut out for what you want of me, Shar. I
don’t want darkness. I want light. I want sun and the sea and
beauty,” she explained.

“It can’t be.”

“Yes, it can. As long as you give your approval and I
now beg you for that approval.” She knew she needed to quit now and
let her stepbrother think it over. “And Shar.” She paused a beat.
“Remove the mark from Brady’s ass. It wasn’t nice to drag him into
family matters. I want your promise that you will never do anything
to harm him.”

Shar looked alarmed. “What has been going on up
there?”

She smiled. “I’m still not entirely sure, but it will
be fun to figure it out. Good-bye, Shar. Remember you promised that
this time was my own.” She cast another lockdown spell to make sure
Shar didn’t reappear.

She took a deep breath. She’d done it. She’d
officially broken with her family. By informing Shar she wasn’t
returning Below, she was turning her back on her family and all
family obligations.

She hummed a tune under her breath and danced around
the room in sheer joy. She was free! Free to pursue anything she
wished to. Her list was short and to the point. It all had to do
with Brady.

*****

On the way back to the hotel, Brady had stopped so
they could watch the sun set.

“When it appears as if the sun hits the water you’ll
see something that looks like green fire on the horizon,” he told
her, keeping her in his arms as they watched the sun’s descent.

“Magic,” she said, smiling up at him.

“Magic,” he agreed, kissing the tip of her nose.

Raven decided she had a month to find out just what
was going on between Brady and her. She told herself if it turned
out not to be something lasting, she would still go on and make a
new life for herself. There was still no guarantee that Brady
wanted more than this month with her. But she didn’t feel that he
was lying to her or faking what he felt for her.

When she left Below she had no idea a new life would
throw her into the mainstream so quickly. Or that she would enjoy
it so thoroughly.

“Tomorrow, we go surfing,” she murmured against his
throat, inhaling the musky scent of his skin coupled with the minty
soap he used. She couldn’t wait until she got him into a shower
with her. Talk about showering a man with scents good enough to
eat! She smiled and pressed a kiss against the hollow of his
throat.

“Depends on what time we wake up.” He nuzzled her ear
then flicked his tongue inside the hollow. She shivered under his
caress. “Did I ever tell you there’s nothing better than make up
sex?”

“Yes, you did and I agreed. Both times.” The slow
beat of the music vibrated throughout her body. The stop in the
club after dinner for dancing turned out to be an excellent idea,
although other ideas were popping into their imaginations. She
hazily thought what it would be like to dance with him naked in the
moonlight. Or even revisiting the cabana where she learned what
true magic was.

“Dancing is like fucking to music,” Brady’s words
were whispered against her cheek as he trailed his mouth across her
cheek.

“You are such a romantic.” She nudged her hand
between their bodies, tucking her fingers in his shorts waistband
then upward to rest her palm against the warm hair-roughened skin
of his chest. “You know, we could hear the music just as well from
my room.”

“And here I was going to suggest the very same
thing.” He grabbed her hand and gently bur firmly led her off the
dance floor.

Luckily, they didn’t have to wait for an elevator and
were in her room within five minutes. Raven breathed a sigh of
relief there were no more ugly and smelly Astay flowers waiting for
her. She opened the drapes, allowing the moonlight to spill into
the room.

She tugged at his shirt. “I think I like you better
naked.”

“Funny thing, so do I, but it’s you I like better
naked.” He made short work of her sheer top and flirty skirt. She
had kicked off her high-heeled slides the moment they entered the
room. “Woman, you’re going to turn me old before my time.” He slung
her over his shoulder and headed for the bedroom.

“Brady!” Her squeal as she bounced onto the bed
turned into a soft sigh when he followed her down.

“Now for some savoring.” He kissed the top of each
breast, and then moved down the center of her chest. He dipped his
tongue into her navel swirling it around the stone, nestled there.
He glanced up. “It matches your eyes.”

“It’s my birthstone.”

He lightly circled the stone with his fingertip then
moved further downward to blonde curls curving her center. He
watched them wrap around his fingers before trailing down to the
pink slit that was already moist with arousal. He dipped a finger
in then slowly stuck it into his mouth, slowly licking her juices
off the digit. “Why have a snack when I can feast.” He nuzzled his
way through the curls and lapped the moisture pooling at her
labia.

“Brady!” Her gasp was abruptly cut off when he
pressed his palms against her inner thighs further widening her to
his gaze and enjoyment.

“You taste the way you look. Sweet and spicy.” He
blew gently against the ultra-sensitive skin bringing her up off
the bed, but he wasn’t finished. He grasped her hips to keep her
still while he ran his tongue across the dark pink skin. When he
nibbled gently on her clit she about shot off the bed. But he
wasn’t about to let her go that easily. Each time she begged him to
end it, he backed off just enough for her to catch her breath then
he started in again with delicate licks, stabs of the tongue, and
nibbling until she was ready to fly apart. When she threatened to
drive a fiery spike where it would hurt the most, he relented and
moved in for the kill. The last nibble on her clit sent her over
the edge. Before her internal earthquake subsided, he moved up and
thrust deeply into her, driving as hard as he could, pushing her
even further than before. His own orgasm erupted as she sunk her
teeth into his shoulder. Brady poured himself into her until he
felt he’d been wrung dry. To keep his weight off her body, he
rolled to one side and brought her close against him.

“It just keeps on getting better.”

“We haven’t even started yet, darling.” Raven sat up
and pushed at him until he rolled over onto his stomach. She
straddled his hips, sitting on his ass. She leaned forward,
pressing her hands on his back, trailing them down in a motion that
was part massage but also sent a vibration clear through his bones
and setting up a heat that was surrounding his cock.

“What is this?” he asked, half soothed and half
aroused. He thought the latter was gaining on the former.

“A massage.” Her thumbs dug deeply into the indents
by his ass but instead of the muscles relaxing, he felt that heated
tingle again.

“This isn’t like any massage I’ve had and I’ve had my
share.”

“I’m sure you have.” She chuckled in his ear. “This
is a special massage. Just relax and enjoy it.”

He tried to shift to ease the pressure off his dick
that was eager for more playtime. “The enjoying part is easy.
Relaxing is going to take a lot more work.”

Now the vibrating heat was moving through his body
like a shaft of fire.

“Tell me, Brady, have you ever read the Kama Sutra?”
She breathed in his ear.

“No, but I’d be only too happy to hear all about
it.”

“Why hear when we can try it. There was something I
found very interesting.” She leaned over, brushing her breasts
across his back and whispered in his ear. The more she whispered
the more Brady’s cock got interested.

He rolled over and grabbed hold of her so she
wouldn’t tumble off the bed. “I’ve always believed in a careful
study of good literature.”

Chapter Five

There was no sound, nothing other than an odd shift
in the air that brought Brady wide-awake. He remained still there,
his eyes closed but all senses on high alert as he tried to figure
out what woke him up. He didn’t need to hear sirens, gunfire or
rockets exploding to know something was wrong.

After assuring himself that whatever caused the
unease in his blood wasn’t in the room, he slowly pushed the sheet
aside and crept out of bed. He made his way to the balcony and
looked down, scanning the pool and beach. The lack of moon didn’t
help, but luckily, he had excellent night vision.

There!

He carefully backed into the bedroom.

“Raven.” He shook her shoulder then covered her mouth
with his hand. “You have to get up and get some clothes on.” His
whisper didn’t travel any further than her ears.

She merely nodded and slid off the bed, blindly
grabbing shorts and a t-shirt out of dresser drawers and putting
them on. “What is it?” she whispered, watching him quickly pull on
his shorts and a t-shirt and his shoes.

“We have to get out of here. Stay here until I get
back. I’ll only be a moment.” He snatched up her key card and eased
his way out of the suite.

Raven started toward the balcony to see if anything
was visible from there when she heard the click of her door. Brady
slipped back in, carrying a backpack.

He grinned at her questioning look. “I’m like the Boy
Scouts. Always prepared.” He opened her mini bar and emptied it of
bottled water and cans of energy drinks, adding them to the ones
he’d taken from his mini bar.

“What is going on?” She caught his furtive glance at
the balcony and she started toward it.

“Not now.” He zipped up the backpack and grabbed her
hand, pulling her to the door. He opened it a crack and peered out.
After a long moment, he gestured for her to follow him. He pressed
his fingers to his lips to indicate she remain quiet.

Raven remained on his heels as they crept down the
hallway. Instead of heading for the elevator or the stairs, he
chose a room that overlooked the back of the hotel. She watched him
withdraw a small zippered case and use what looked like one of
their key cards in the slot. He breathed a sigh of relief when it
flashed green. He pulled her inside the room.

“There are people in here,” she whispered. “Let me
ensure they don’t wake up and see us.”

“All we need to do is be very careful and very
quiet.” But the lack of energy in the air bothered him and he moved
whisper quiet toward the bed to check the couple lying there.

Raven held her breath until he returned to her and
urged her toward the balcony.

“Are they—?” She didn’t want to think the worst.

“It looks like they were drugged,” he said grimly.
“But it means we need to be out of here fast.” He looked over the
side of the balcony as he took a rope out of his backpack.

Raven felt a bit queasy as she stared at the stretch
of concrete below. “We’re on the fourteenth floor,” she protested,
remembering to keep her voice soft even if the room’s occupants
couldn’t hear her.

His teeth flashed white in the night. “Then don’t
look down.” He efficiently tied a length of the rope around her
waist. “Just think of it as a rock climbing wall at the gym.”