“You asked for this, little lioness.” I bite her bottom lip, then nip at her jawline. “Showing me your tits and your pink little pussy.”
“Fuck you,” she snarls.
“You know you deserve punishment. You begged for it by giving me a glimpse of your secrets,” I growl. “If any of my men had seen you, I would kill them with my bare hands. No matter who it was. Is that what you want? Blood on your hands for showing off what should be mine alone?”
I thrust against her, and her moan wraps around me like the snake in the Garden of Eden. Like all sinners, I need another taste of the forbidden fruit.
Returning to her thighs, I slap her pink flesh again. “And you will never give another man the pleasure of your hot, tight cunt. This is mine. I’ll show you just how much I mean it.”
She cries out as I cover her slit with my mouth and slide my two fingers inside her again. I use my tongue to flick her swollen clit again and again as she arches and grips my hair, her legs spread wide as her thighs begin to shake. When I slip another finger into her tight ass, her hips lock. I give her no quarter as I guide her to the edge and push her over while fucking her with my fingers and laving her relentlessly with my tongue.
I keep sucking and licking as she moans and shudders the rest of her release. And when she goes still, her breathing hard, her pussy perfectly marked by my mouth, I turn and bite her inner thigh, leaving my mark on her olive skin.
She whimpers as I stand.
“Remember this, my little lioness. If you ever show your body to any other man, I will spank your pussy until you cry for me to let you come.” I lean closer. “And then I’ll take you in your plum little ass.”
Her eyes narrow, and she sits up. “Bastard!”
“Do you really want to push me right now, Apollonia?” I grip my rock-hard cock through my pants. “I feel I’ve been quite lenient with you this evening. But I can punish you if that’s what you desire.” I reach out and grab a handful of her hair, then tilt her head to the side and run my tongue up her neck, tasting her salt and her need. “I could fuck you right now, slide inside your tight cunt and make you moan until I empty myself inside you, then make you lick my cock clean.”
The sound she makes. Sultry and desirous--the sound of sex. My God. This woman is trying to break my will, to make me into the animal I swore I would never become.
I have to release her before I go too far and take more than I should, even though I’d savor every moment of it. Even though I know what she needs, what she wants so badly that her pussy is already soaked again for me.
Pulling back, I stare down at her, taking in every curve and dimple. When I catch her gaze, it’s on my cock, the hard length pressing against my pants, desperate for her touch.
When her eyes snap back to mine, she snatches her robe over herself. “Get out of my room.”
This time, I retreat. This time, I take what was given and don’t push for more. But next time? I can’t promise to be a good man when faced with the devil in female form. A temptress sent to test me, to awaken a need inside me that I’ve never felt before. “I’ll go, but remember what I’ve said. Any punishment you earn from here on out falls squarely on you. And I promise you, Apollonia, I will show no mercy when I exact my vengeance on your body. I will take my time, just as I will take every hole and mark it as mine.”
She reaches for a pillow. “Get out!”
I step out the door, and the fwump of the pillow hitting the wall sounds behind me. “You asshole!”
I would smile, but I’m far too preoccupied with thoughts of her, and the taste of her pussy that even now remains on my tongue.
9
Apollonia
I run my fingers through little Carter’s hair as he naps on my lap. His dark lashes rest against his cheek. So innocent and sweet. I want to protect him from the world, but I feel I might be fighting a losing battle.
We’ve spent most of the day in the pool together. I started teaching him how to swim last week. He was hesitant at first, but then I told him stories of how his dad had taught me how to swim. How I had also been scared at first. Little Carter finally gave it a try. Now I can’t keep him out of the pool. Not that I mind. Out here it’s just the two of us. It also gives me a reason to hold him without making him feel like a baby.
I brush my thumb across his chubby cheek and wonder what he looked like as a tiny baby. I’ve missed so much already. Cato hadn't, though, not if his words were true. He’s been here for Carter more than I have. Cato had gotten to experience all the special moments up until this point. I both want to thank him and smack him for it. What I wouldn’t give to have seen my brother with his son.
Carter loves Cato, and I’m not sure what to do with that. His whole little face lights up whenever Cato enters a room. If Cato isn't around, then Carter is talking about him. About all the things they like to do together. How Cato taught him how to color within the lines and how he sits with him when his dreams are bad. It’s this adoration that both worries me and warms my heart at the same time.
What if the one thing you want to destroy is the same thing the person you love most in the world adores? What am I supposed to do? To accept Cato is to allow my nephew to follow in the footsteps of my brother and more than likely meet the same fate. So here I sit having no idea what I’m doing. I’m once again lost. I should be used to this feeling by now. I’m either lost or losing someone or something.
I can feel him before I see him. It’s his eyes. His steps draw closer. I don’t think he’s allowing anyone else to be out here right now. The pool is always empty when Carter and I are splashing around. With a sleeping Carter on me, I’m trapped under the cabana. No way to escape coming face to face with Cato--which is the one thing I’ve been making sure didn't happen. I’ve been giving him a wide berth since that night in my room.
He doesn't say anything as he sits down on the long pool seat with us, then stretches out. He should look ridiculous in his slacks and button-up shirt out by the pool, but he doesn't. He looks like he always does--too damn sexy for his own good.
“How long are you going to avoid me?” He smirks as he asks the question.
“I have dinner with you every night. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“When you lie, your cheek twitches, lioness.”
“Is there something you need?” Does my cheek really twitch? Shit. Not sure if he’s poking at me or if I really do that. It’s something I need to work on.
“There are many things I need.” His eyes openly roam over me. He reaches out and plays with the strings of my bikini on my hip. A few quick pulls and he could have me naked. I’ve learned not to tempt him. At least for now. Until I can figure out what the hell I’m doing here.
What I do know is that I want to continue growing close to my nephew. I’m making so much progress on that front. He took to me even quicker than he did to swimming.
What’s a little unsettling is that Cato hasn't tried so much as to kiss me since the night in my room. That isn’t the unsettling part though. The problem is that it bothers me. I’m not even going to lie to myself and say it doesn’t.