Corrupt Prince by Ivy Mason

Eleven

Coulter wassilent the whole way back to the house, his fingers clenched tight on the steering wheel. He wouldn’t look at me and was short if I attempted conversation.

Disappointment coiled in my stomach and chest. I thought he'd be proud of me. Instead, I got some strange version of him being pissed off—that I’d done what he’d asked of me.

I might not have gotten exactly what he wanted, but we were at least a step ahead. Marie was beginning to trust us and that was because of me, not his rude ass.

A thank you and maybe a cold beer with squeezed lime was in order, but apparently all I was getting was the cold shoulder.

As we approached the gate to Coulter's house, he barked at me to climb in the back. I considered refusing but I knew the fastest way to getting locked back up was to get caught.

I could only count my lucky stars that he didn’t make me put that dumb bag on my face as he snuck me back into the house. As soon as we got to his room, I rounded in on him.

"What the hell Coulter? Why are you acting like I did something wrong?"

“You betrayed me in there."

My mouth dropped open. “I did no such thing."

“You did." He walked off, his fingers going to the tie at his throat.

I followed him into the closet. "I did exactly what you asked me to do."

"I asked you to get information from her, not gang up on me." He threw off his shoes and socks, then shrugged out of his coat with jerky movements, hanging it up.

"She did give us information. She told us about the notebook. She--"

"You forced my hand in there! Made it look like I wasn't in control!" He wrenched the tie from his neck, tossing it on the floor. "Of course she didn't think I could protect her. If I can't even keep you under control," his fingers went to the buttons of his shirt, flicking them open, “how am I supposed to prove to her that I can protect her from my own father?”

“I helped you, not hurt you in—”

He peeled off his shirt, revealing a broad, muscled chest and stomach. A gorgeous tattoo filled the right shoulder and spread down his arm. I opened my mouth again to speak but my brain short circuited, distracted by smooth skin interrupted by three stark scars on his chest.

“In…”

“In what, Aster?” His hands went to the button on his pants, and I shrieked, turning around as he unzipped his pants and stepped out of them.

Not because I was afraid of seeing him naked.

Because I was afraid of my reaction to seeing him without clothing on.

It’s just a body,I chanted, squeezing my eyes shut. It’s just an almost naked body. You don’t want to run your fingers over his skin. He’s being an asshole, remember?

“Explain to me, how you helped me?” his voice was a low growl. And it was way too close to me.

My breath hitched, and I scrambled to remember what I was trying to say.

I crossed my arms and stared out the doorway to the closet, pretending I couldn’t feel him near my back. "Every woman judges a man by how they treat the women around them. You giving in to me made her trust you more, not less."

"You really think so, little nightmare?" His voice was right next to my ear. Taunting me.

"I know so."

Suddenly an arm wrapped around me, swirling me around and pushing me back into the wall behind me. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look into his angry gaze. “You have no regard for your own safety. What if something happens to you? It’s like you want to be like those women I showed you tonight."

"She wasn't going to tell you shit, not without my help." I stood my ground, my hands fisting at my side as I stared up at the looming giant over me. "You asked me to help, and I did. I even kissed her, for fucks sake."

“Yeah, I saw the kiss,” he growled, stepping closer so I had to crane my neck to look up into his face. “Is that what this is really all about? You liked kissing her? So you inserted yourself into my business so you could see her again?”

"What the hell are you talking about? I’m trying to help you help Rose." My chest was heaving, I was so pissed. He’d put on sweatpants and tennis shoes, but he still didn’t have on a t-shirt. I pressed my hands against his bare chest, pushing against it but he didn’t budge. "I didn't even want to kiss her. I only did it because you told me to seduce her."

“You mean to tell me that it meant nothing to you?"

“No! Why would it?"

"Because, you two seemed incredibly cozy when I walked in there."

“That was because we were doing ‘girl’ bonding, just like you told me to do. She doesn't like women any more than I do; it was just something her husband wanted her to try out. Why the hell are you being such a prick anyways? I helped you in there."

"Because," his eyes darkened, like the coming of a storm. "Don't you see, Aster? It’s staring you right in the face.”

“See what? What the hell are you talking about?”

“God you’re so blind!”

I bristled at his words. “And you’re a prick. What else is new?”

“Because, Aster,” he slammed a hand over my head, hitting the wall, “I wanted to be the one you kissed, not her.”

I sucked in a breath, stunned, staring up at him in surprise, hating him and wanting him at the same time.

“Then why the hell haven't you?" I snarked, "I thought the Kings took—”

Cupping my cheeks, he jerked me forward, slamming his lips against mine.

I froze in complete and utter shock, then gave in to it as he claimed my mouth.

His fingers tightened, one hand moving to wrap around my back, cupping the nape of my neck. He let out a guttural moan, his kiss dominating and controlling as his fingers fisted my hair.

He kissed me like a man starving, his arm clutching me tight like he not only wanted to kiss me...

He wanted to own me.

Shit. What that did to me.

I grabbed his shoulders, pushing him back. We stared at each other, heaving. Then twisting, I shoved him against the wall. His head fell back, his eyes wide with shock. I jumped up and into his arms, kissing him. Growling, he grabbed my ass, jerking me tight against him. I folded my arms around his neck, heat flooding my system as we kissed.

His bare chest against my almost nakedness set flames licking my skin. I ached all over, the need for him consuming me.

Stepping forward, he slammed me back against the opposite wall, each of us fighting for dominance over the other. I mewled with want against his lips, my hips shifting, searching for the friction I needed so badly. I hated this jerk as much as I wanted to fuck him.

“Want you, baby nightmare.” He groaned into my mouth, his hands roaming, sliding under velvet until he was kneading my ass. “Do you want me, too?”

I nodded against him.

“You touch yourself thinking about me, all alone in that big bed? Dream about me sliding up into you at night?”

“Yes,” I breathed, my face red. How did he know that?

“It’s okay,” he chuckled. “I fuck my cock in the shower thinking about you.”

“Oh god.” I groaned against his lips at the admission.

“I want you on your knees, staring up at me with those goddamn beautiful emerald eyes. Your hands tied behind your back, your freckled tits pressed out on display.” His hand slid over my stomach, tickling the skin there, “Want to lower you to the ground, watch your face as I eat you out, over and over, while you’re helpless to stop me.”

“Do it,” I hissed.

“I need to teach you a lesson first.” His hand, tangled in my hair, clenched tighter, his kissing growing more intense as he murmured against my lips. “Teach you how to behave yourself in front of others.”

“I know how to behave. It’s you who needs to learn.”

“You think you can teach me, baby nightmare?”

“I know I can.”

He chuckled, low and dark. “I would love to see you try.” His hand slid down to between my thighs, his fingers sliding over the softness of the velvet material. “You’re so fucking hot. Like fire between those legs. Is this for me?”

“Yes,” I exhaled, shifting my hips, needing, wanting.

“You wet, little nightmare? Wet for me?”

“God, yes.”

“Show me, Aster. Show me how bad you want me.”

I grabbed his hand and shoved it inside my bottoms, maneuvering his fingers at my slit. Then I rocked against him, practically begging him to slide them up inside me. “Can you feel how wet I am for you? I want you to fuck me, Coulter.”

He froze, then pulled back. “Aster.”

"What?" I hummed with want, shifting my hips again. I leaned forward, ready to kiss him again, but he suddenly ripped his hand from mine, jerking it backwards like he’d just been burnt. Then he slammed me back against the wall again and my lips parted in shock.

“No." His expression was ferocious, his gaze cooling.

“What?”

“No. We can’t do this. Even if we want it.”

“If?” His refusal burned, and he didn’t answer me.

Unbelievable! I stared at him, my lust quickly dissolving into anger. I dropped my legs, pushing him away to storm out of the closet, grabbing my pajamas at the same time.

"Get out," I demanded, yanking down the zipper to the boots.

"Aster." Coulter began, his voice low, but I ignored it, throwing off my boots and fish net stockings.

"I said. Get. Out." I stripped off the top, then swiveled towards him, waiting for him to leave before I finished undressing.

"Aster, you have to understand--"

"Oh, I understand, all right." I fumed. "Now get out."

His face hardened. "I'm going running. We'll talk about this tomorrow.”

"There's no need."

"Fine." He walked towards the door. “But now you've gotten yourself involved. You'd better be ready to suffer the consequences. We start working on getting the notebook tomorrow."

"Fine by me!" I yelled.

“Fine by me, too," he said, slamming the door behind him.

I stared at the doorway, heaving in anger. I couldn’t believe only moments ago I'd been so willing to fuck him.

Now all I could feel was the burn of his rejection.

I quickly changed into my pajamas and slid under the covers, once again squeezing my eyes tight, willing myself to sleep.