Tease Me Once by W. Winters
Declan
I haven’t been able to sleep easily for as long as I can remember.
Sleep evades me. Day in and day out, exhaustion wears me down and begs for me to rest. Yet when I lay, my mind keeps me up, replaying every moment of my life that led to where my family is now. I can admit that after two years of taking on this business relatively on my own has made me paranoid. I’ve been screwed over by more people than I can trust. In fact, the only person other than my brothers who I trust implicitly is Seth. And I barely see any of them anymore.
So staring down at the results from the blood work, I don’t believe it.
Braelynn didn’t drug me. I simply fell asleep, in a strange place, without any protection whatsoever.
It’s as reckless as it is unbelievable.
Knock, knock, knock.
It’s a bit too early to be Braelynn, although perhaps she’s as eager to see me as I am her. Checking the cameras, I’m surprised by my disappointment that she didn’t come in early.
“Come in,” I call out as I click out of the results the doctor sent me, and over to the profile for Travis Marks.
The gray profile photo of a man with a smirk stares back at me. He’s a man who needs to die. What happened is his fault, I’m certain of it. His existence is problematic.
“Boss.” Nate greets me at the same time that Jase says, “We need to talk.”
The two of them beside one another is an intimidating sight. Nate’s scar on his chin adds to his severe and rugged countenance. My brother is taller but only by an inch or two, and Nate’s bulk more than makes up for it.
Marcus sent him to me two years ago as a part of our deal. His men. My rules. … so that he could escape. He didn’t tell me why he had to leave, only that something broken long ago needed to be fixed.
“You’re slipping,” Jase comments, a smirk on his lips as he drags the corner chair closer to my desk and Nate takes a seat.
A crease settles between my eyes. “How so?”
“Your door was unlocked last night. I walked right in and you weren’t here.” Jase appears proud of himself, but my dead stare has him thinking better of it.
“There’s no way in hell I left without locking it.”
My brother narrows his eyes, the severity of my response catching him off guard.
Nate’s cough interrupts the tension.
“That’s … it’s fine. It’s not why we came.”
My shoulders tense and I glance back to the computer, to the black and white photo of a man I wish was here so I could release this pressure building inside of me. Cracking my knuckles, I lean back in the chair and ask, “What’s going on?”
“You all right?” Jase asks as Nate states, “Someone else is with them.”
I glance at my brother, his expression questioning before focusing on Nate.
“Another informant?” Heat tingles at the back of my neck.
“No, someone … someone who also wants information.”
“What do you mean?”
Jase answers this time, “The cops are sending someone else information. Not us and not the feds.” He crosses an ankle over his knee. “Someone is lining their pockets and it isn’t us.”
Nate nods.
Fuck. The list of enemies grows every fucking day.
“We have a meeting with Carter tomorrow to work out the possibilities. Anyone who seems off.”
“We need the footage,” Nate requests.
“I’ve already gone through the tapes of every man who’s been with Scarlet in the past two years.”
“And?”
“She has her preferences but they’re all still cooperative.”
Jase seems to consider what it could mean. Is she meeting with men who she wants information on, or is one of them the man she’s giving the information to?
There are too many questions and not enough answers.
Nodding, I tell them, “I’ll bring the list tomorrow.”
Jase’s hands tap down in unison on the armrests. “All right then.”
Both Nate and he stand, adjusting their ties and buttoning their navy and dark gray suit jackets, respectively. Where Nate couldn’t possibly pass as a gentleman or someone born into wealth, Jase could fool the world with his charming smile. I wasn’t gifted with that perceived glamour. Slipping his hands into his pockets, Jase questions again, more casually although it’s anything but. He can’t hide the concern in his eyes. “Everything else okay?”
“Fine,” I answer.
“Where were you last night?” He shifts uncomfortably.
“Worried about me?” I smirk at him with my joking response.
His downturned expression makes me regret it. “I’m still your big brother.” As he cracks a grin, Nate and I chuckle. “You should come home for dinner Saturday … or Sunday.”
“I’m sure I can make it.”
“Good.” Jase gives an easy smile as he turns to leave and I reciprocate it.
“Hey Nate, stay for a moment.” Jase looks between us and gestures a goodbye before leaving. When the door’s closed, I ask Nate, “What happened to Braelynn’s ex-husband?
“I’m not sure, Boss … What happened to him?”
“I believe he got intoxicated and tripped on the train tracks.”
“That sounds tragic,” he comments. And the dark look we share speaks volumes.
“It is.” I murmur, “Such a senseless way to die.”
“And when did that happen?” He gives me an expectant look.
“I would have liked tonight, but let’s stick with his habits. He often goes out Thursday evenings.”
“Understood.” With his response, I exit out of the photo, and rid myself of the problem once and for all.
“Is that all, Boss?”
“Yes. Thank you, Nate.”
Just as he prepares to leave, there’s a knock at the office door.
Checking the cameras, my pulse races and a heat gathers along my skin. A different heat, the kind I crave. My little pet is early after all.
“When you leave, keep the door open for her, will you?”
Nate’s smile is knowing. “Of course.”
I don’t miss Braelynn’s wide eyes of surprise as Nate opens the door. “Braelynn,” he greets her and she flushes. “Have a good night.” He keeps his distance, professional but friendly. His gaze moves to mine with an easy nod before the door closes, leaving her alone with me.
Her movements are nervous as she tucks a stray lock of dark brown hair behind her ear.
“You look beautiful tonight,” I tell her, my voice softer and deeper than anticipated. Coated in the sinful thoughts that filter into my mind.
Of me fisting her perfectly curled hair, of me smearing that lipstick with a brutal kiss. Of me ripping that loose lace blouse off of her, lifting her skirt up and fucking her against the wall. We haven’t made use of most of the surfaces in here. I aim to change that as quickly as possible. I want memories of her everywhere I look.
“Thank you,” she whispers and questions, “should I—”
“I know I left in a bit of a rush last night,” I interrupt her and push my chair out, patting my lap. “Come here.”
She’s quick to come to me, removing her heels to settle down in my lap. Her deep brown eyes never leave mine like they’re searching for something.
With both hands braced on my shoulders, she faces me with an expectantly look. My right hand settles on her hip, my left brushes her hair back from her face and I stare down at those bloodred lips of hers.
“I have problems sleeping, so when I woke up it was …” I lift my gaze to hers to complete the thought, “… alarming.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“You’re apologizing because I fell asleep and then scared the shit out of you?” I shake my head at her. She’s sweet and innocent. She has compassion and empathy where I do not. The last thing I want to do is tarnish it. I want to keep her like this for as long as I can.
“I’m sorry you were alarmed.”
“It’s not your fault. I think you know by now, I have issues. I’m not a good man, but I’ll do what I can to be good to you.”
My admission rewards me with a shy flush from my good sweet girl.
“You’re better now?”
Leaning back, I move my hand under her, readjusting and pulling my cock out.
“I will be shortly.”
As she tries to maneuver herself to remove her undergarment, I reach up, smirking when I feel the lace. My thumb easily pushes through them, shredding them and rewarding me with a gasp from my sweet girl.
Leaning forward, I silence it with a kiss, stealing the air from her and massaging her tongue with mine. With my hands up her skirt, my fingers move to her hot center and toy with her, rubbing her clit, slipping my fingers through her slit and then back up until she moans in my mouth.
Her fingers dig into my shoulders and I revel in how greedy her touch is.
With my lips still against hers, I murmur, “Already wet for me.”
“I want you,” she whispers back with a sincerity and need I didn’t realize I was desperate for.
In one swift move I position her how I need and impale her on my cock.
She falls forward, moaning my name and clinging to me as I wrap one hand around her shoulder, my arm bracing her back and holding her steady while I fuck her.
Her moans are drawn out and her warm breath travels down my back as she bites down on the curve of my neck in an attempt to silence herself.
A cold sweat breaks out along my skin and I relish in it. Nothing else matters as I murmur into her ear that I need her more than I need anything or anyone.
Her nails dig into my skin as she holds on. She’s close. I know she is as she tightens around my cock, writhing in my arms.
As she calls out my name, her neck arching and her release taking over, I devour her lips with mine and that’s what does it. Capturing her kiss, I come undone with her.
