Restraint (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (40 page)

“Okay,” I meekly say. Ezra does have a valid point.

“Okay,” Ezra hopefully sings as his eyebrows meet his hairline. He hesitantly smiles at me, as if fearing I will change my mind. “Okay,” he nods his head yes, more sure this time. “Good, I thought you’d argue more.” Ezra chuckles to himself.

“I know Aaron isn’t with us right now, since he is entertaining our little one, but I think this qualifies for a group hug.” Ezra pulls Cortez and me into a huge hug. His face is alight with pleasure.  “I’m so happy that my family is finally all with me.” His bliss and relief is etched in the tone of his voice. I smile at the glorious sound.

Ezra grips Cortez’s neck in his palm, drawing Cort’s forehead down to his lips. He plants a large kiss on Cortez’s forehead. Cort’s lips arch into a smile- a smile I’ve never seen before. It is a private one that he shares only with Ezra. I feel humbled that he allows me to witness it.

“I know you said no sex, but affection is permissible, correct?” Ezra gazes down and grins.

I shake my head. I lick my lips a few times to moisten them, allowing me to speak. “Y…
es,” I stutter, and it comes out more like a question. Ezra is a sly bastard, he’ll somehow find a way to trap me with my answer. “But only with a chaperone,” I tack on for safety purposes.

“A chaperone?” Ezra sounds amused. He smirks at Cortez, arching an eyebrow at his partner. “And Cortez is our chaperone?”

I shake my head yes again.

“Very well, then.” Ezra gives us an innocent look. He palms the back of my head as if he’s going to kiss my forehead. But instead of an innocent touch of affection, he takes my mouth in a searing kiss that is just this side of violent. Ezra’s teeth sink into my lip, and then his tongue invades my mouth. He palms my breast and squeezes, as his thigh parts my legs. And all it took was two seconds. I have no time to process, let alone push him away. All I can do is melt and whimper. Ezra abruptly stops and steps back, flashing us a cocky grin.

“Knock it off, Ezra. I fucking mean it. Katya said no, and for once you’re going to listen.” Cortez’s voice holds everything left unsaid.

“I can do a lot of damage before Cort can stop me.” An arrogant laugh rumbles up Ezra’s throat. “Why all the sudden are you afraid to be alone with me?”

I look at Cortez, silently asking for help. We share a secret, and he promised to keep it. “Ah, Kat’s just so in love with you that she can’t help herself,” Cortez sarcastically says.

I watch Ezra’s amused expression and relief hits me. Cortez wasn’t being sarcastic. He only wanted it to sound that way. This way he isn’t lying to his partner.

“Hmm… I’m not an idiot. I’ll figure it out eventually. But right now, I have to see a girl about décor and a contractor about removing a wall,” Ezra says as he makes his way towards his bedroom.

“What do you mean- a contractor?” I mutter.

“The portal between our apartments isn’t ideal. It’s my bedroom for heaven’s sake. I’m going to make one large apartment. We will have suites to get away from one another. Ava can stay with Kayla until the work is completed.”

“Hey, just a second, mister,” I growl as I pull Ezra back into the living room. “We need to discuss this. I don’t want to live in a construction zone forever. I want my privacy. I don’t want cameras trained on me twenty-four/seven. I’m a grown woman. I should get a choice in whether or not I live with you fools.” I don’t stomp my foot, but just barely. “What the hell will your fiancée say?”

“Privacy is but a state of mind, Kitten.” Cortez says in annoyance. “Wait until you meet Ezra’s adopted father. Marc makes Ezra look like pussycat. I haven’t had privacy from Ezra since I was in my mother’s womb. You best prepare your daughter. She’ll have a bunch of overprotective idiots around her.” Cort’s demeanor screams that he doesn’t agree with the way Ezra stalks.

“I’ll try to be good,” Ezra innocently says, and then flashes a wicked grin. Cort and I groan.

“You suck at lying,” I tease.

“Do I… now?” Ezra muses. “Do you honestly think it will take long to complete the apartment? It is me we’re talking about, in case you’ve forgotten.” He sighs at me. “A week- tops. Money may not buy everything, but it buys a lot of workmen.”

“I don’t know if I’m comfortable with Ava staying at Kayla’s. They just met, and I don’t even know where she lives. I’d rather she slept with me. Besides, I’ve missed her for the past few weeks.”

Cortez laughs, looks at Ezra and me, and laughs some more. “Ah… Kitten, when will you ever learn? Ezra does as he pleases. You live next door to the three of us, don’t you think Kayla would be very close as well. You only need to know one thing about Ezra, he is very controlling. Kayla lives directly across the hall from you.”

“That’s it. I’ve had enough of the lot of you for one day. You go see a girl about the décor,” I say to Ezra. “You go do something nefarious or write something truly wicked,” I say to Cortez. “I’m going to see a man about anger management. I’ll be back when I don’t want to beat the living shit out of all of you,” I say to both of them over my shoulder as I storm out their apartment door. I glare at Kayla’s door on my way by. Fucking control freaks!

About the Author

Erica Chilson spends most of her time inside her own imagination, whether awake or asleep. Her love of reading and writing for her book review blog, Wicked Reads, inspired her to begin writing again. Not one that enjoys the norm, her favorite things to read, write, and dream about are on the edge, claws and fangs, and wickedly entertaining things.

Please visit Erica Chilson’s blog for information on upcoming releases and current
titles.

www.ericachilson.wordpress.com

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