Magnate (Acquisition Series Book 2) (4 page)

“We’ll see.” Though his voice spoke of exhaustion, his grip on me didn’t falter.

He fell asleep soon after, his breaths becoming deep and even, tickling my neck.

I tried to slip away twice after he lost consciousness, but I only managed to put a few inches between us before he wrapped his arm around me like a vise and yanked me back, a growl in his throat.

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, awash in Vinemont, regret, and the faint scent of Lucius.

Chapter Three

Sinclair

Stella slumbered peacefully
on my chest, her red locks fanned out along my upper arm as if entwining with the vines that covered me. The sun had risen without any more bloodshed, though there had been plenty the night before. I’d killed men. My fair share, maybe more, to keep the Vinemont stronghold alive and well.

I didn’t blame the farmers, or the instigators, or even the paid mercenaries our competitors hired to keep the unrest churning. No, I blamed the Sovereign. If Cal wasn’t squeezing us for an even bigger cut of profits, then none of this would have happened. The farmers were just collateral damage, pawns in a much larger war that was going on hundreds of miles north of here in the bayous of Louisiana.

I smoothed my hand down Stella’s back. The tiny ridges marred her skin like braille beneath my fingertips. I’d written our story on her fair flesh in blood and violence. Regret tolled in me, but what I’d done was necessary. Just like all the trials.

Her eyelashes fluttered against my chest and she let out an angelic sigh. Her breasts were pressed into me and her smooth thigh was slung over mine. She was soft and warm, a wet dream come to life in my arms. I breathed her in, her hair smelling of lavender and vanilla.

I moved my hand back up and dug my fingers into her hair. I didn’t want her sighing. I wanted her screaming, my name on her lips, my ecstasy pulsing through her veins. But it wasn’t so simple. It never had been. I needed so much more from her than simple surrender. And the past two weeks without her under my control had been nothing short of torture.

She had run away. My fist tightened.

Away from
me
. Her eyes opened.

She chose Lucius. I gripped her hard right at her scalp.

“Vinem—”

Before she could even say my curse of a name, I settled on top her, pushing my knee between her legs as she struggled. Her attempts to buck me only made my cock harder. She was my Acquisition. Mine. She needed to know it. I was foolish to indulge her for as long as I did. Foolish to let her hope, to let her think that she could hold any sway over my heart. Maybe if I could do this, if I could commit this transgression, I’d finally stop seeing her as something more than a possession.

“Don’t.” Her eyes went wide, all traces of sleep gone and fear in its place.

This was what I needed. Her fear. Her loathing. I slapped my hand over her mouth and stared into her eyes. She dug her nails into my back with her free hand while I pinned the other above her head. My cock was against her hot core, only the fabric of my boxer briefs separating us. I could take her. Take everything.

“I should have done this the first day you showed up at my house, Stella.” I crushed my palm into her lips, surely bruising them. “I was weak. You made me weak. From the first moment I saw you, you were a fucking poison.”

But then something sparked in her emerald depths. Not fear. Defiance.

Her eyebrows lowered the tiniest bit, as if daring me onward. She let out a roaring sound against my palm, deep and guttural. The heat between her thighs had me pushing my hips against her. She was wet and wanting even as her eyes were full of vengeance. I wanted her, wanted every last morsel of her rage, her hate.

Even so, I knew if I did this, she would never forgive me. And then I would have truly lost her. Could I bear it? It didn’t matter. I had to do it. Breaking her was the only way to win. And I would win no matter what.

A searing pain exploded through my calf at the same time she bucked hard. She’d dug her heal into the wound. I rolled to my side and reached for my injured leg as she slid out from under me and off the bed. She scrambled away, the skin of her knees squealing against the polished hardwoods. I recovered and lunged after her, jumping on my good leg before sinking to my knees and gripping her by the hair. I landed on her back as she cried out, pinned beneath me.

“Do it. Just fucking do it, you psycho!” Despite her words, she still fought me, pulling against the hold I had on her hair.

She was helpless. I pushed my hips against her, the friction of my hard cock on her soft ass almost unbearable. I pulled her head to the side and licked her ear before capturing it between my teeth and biting down.

She whimpered, her nails scratching at the floor as I kissed down her neck, tasting her skin the same way I’d thought about every second she’d been away. I’d waited for her to come back, to realize she’d made a mistake. She didn’t. She hadn’t. I bit the flesh over her jugular, wanting to punish her for running, for taking what was left of my heart with her when she did.

She surged beneath me, one last effort to escape. Not a chance. I rose and flipped her onto her back, pinning her wrists to the floor and studying her face. Her chest heaved and her pussy was on fire, making my cock leak. The morning light made her eyes sparkle even through the hate I found in them.

“You are pathetic. All of you. Just get it over with.” She fisted her hands, but couldn’t do a thing with them. Her gaze was nothing short of scorching.

As she goaded me on, I knew I couldn’t. And that knowledge sealed my fate. If I couldn’t break her, I would have to pay the price. The Acquisition demanded it.

A sudden flash of light at my temple turned into a gloomy dark and then a pair of hands were on me, lifting me up and throwing me down onto my back. My vision cleared. Stella shrieked and turned over to her side, rolling into a ball. Lucius stood over me, his brow wrinkled in fury.

“Don’t you fucking touch her, Sin!” He went to her and scooped her up in his arms. She clung to him and buried her face in his neck.

I tried to get up, but my injured leg gave way and I landed back on my ass. Lucius backed out of the room, Stella clutching him.

She gave me one last look, her eyes awash in tears and pain. Then she was gone, all hope right along with her.

Chapter Four

Stella

Lucius sat me
on the edge of my bed and pulled my duvet up around me. He eased down next to me and rested his palm on my cheek. I flinched away, but he wrapped his other arm around my waist, holding me still.

“Did he hurt you?” His sky blue gaze searched my face.

“No.” I shook my head, ignoring the tremor in my voice.

“He’ll never hurt you again.” His jaw tightened, but his touch remained soft.

“I’m fine.” I shuddered at what Vinemont had done. His threat had grown in the two weeks since we’d been apart, not lessened.

“You’re not fine. Don’t lie to me.”

I pushed him away. I refused to be manhandled or bullied by any of them. Not anymore.

He sighed and released me. “I’m not him.”

I let my gaze travel the ink peeking from the edges of his sleeves. Even if the brothers didn’t see eye to eye, they would always be bound together, on the same side.

His face softened a bit. “Stella, listen—”

“What happened yesterday? Is it safe?” I didn’t want any more mind games. I only wanted to know if I’d survive the day.

He glowered, fine wrinkles turning the corners of his mouth. “Local unrest spurred on by outside interests. It’s taken care of for now. I had to fix up Javier and then meet with useless government officials until late.”

Blood stained his shirt in several places, most of it already brown in the morning light. He seemed none the worse for wear, save a few scratches, making me wonder whose blood he carried in the threads.

He continued, “That was the only reason I didn’t come back to you. I sent Sin to protect you because I couldn’t. I run the business here, so I’m the one who had to calm things down. I didn’t realize he would…”

“Looks like you don’t know your brother as well as you thought.” I pulled the blanket up higher, covering every inch of skin below my neck. “Don’t worry. Your little investment is protected and plenty
useable
for the next Acquisition trial. No harm done.”

He slumped the slightest bit. Whether it was fatigue from the long night or my sharp words, I didn’t know. “There are traditions. Things have to be done a certain way. You wouldn’t understand.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Do
you
understand? Vinemont says you don’t even know the rules yet you jumped right in and started playing.”

“I don’t need to know any rules to win, Stella.” He met my eyes.

I didn’t lean away. I wouldn’t cower for him or anyone. I could play the game, too. “You’re full of shit. Playing second fiddle to your brother has made you rash.”

He pulled at the duvet slowly until my shoulders were uncovered, though his eyes never left mine. A heat kindled in them, intense and immediate. “I’ve always been rash. This is nothing new.”

He stroked his fingertips along my collarbone, the gentle sensation so at odds with the ravenous look in his eyes. “I’ve given you two weeks. Two weeks to adjust to being mine. I would never try to force you. I’m not my brother, Stella. Two weeks—has it been enough time?” He slid his fingers lower, pushing the duvet down my bare skin and to the swell of my breast.

My breath hitched in my throat as I glared at him. “I’m not yours. It doesn’t matter what some contract says or what some bullshit Acquisition rules say. I will never be yours.”

He smirked and shoved the duvet the rest of the way down before pulling me into him. His mouth was hot on mine, his tongue desirous and seeking. I shoved against his chest, but his grip on me was unshakeable. His lips were firm, insistent.

He sank his tongue inside, exploring and groaning as he tasted me. Heat pulsed through me but it was all wrong—his scent, his voice, his lips. Even as my body warmed to his advance, my thoughts strayed to his brother. The way he’d handled me before, the feel of him between my legs, the pain and determination in his eyes as he told me I was his poison.

Vinemont was right. I intended to poison them both. So I opened my mouth further, letting Lucius hold sway over me. Letting him think I chose him. He pushed me back on the bed and moved one hand to my breast, kneading it as his hard length rested against my thigh.

I faked a moan. His touch was pleasurable, but didn’t send the shock of adrenaline through me like Vinemont. It didn’t matter. I would use Lucius. I would do what I had to do to truly turn him against his brother. I tangled my hands in his hair and he moved his knee between my thighs. I lifted my hips to him, my pussy tingling at the friction.

“Jefe?” Javier’s tentative voice came through the door.

Lucius broke the kiss and sat up, pulling me with him. I yanked the cover back in place.

“What?” he barked.

“The jet is ready. I found Mr. Sinclair in your room. One of the hands is helping him.”

“We’re coming.” Lucius smoothed a hand through my hair and rested it on my cheek. “This isn’t over,” he whispered.

No, it isn’t.

He stood and squared his shoulders, all business again.

“We’re leaving?” I asked.

“Now that we’ve tamped down the uprising, Javier will run the plantation until after the Christmas trial.” He glanced away at the last words, unable to look me in the eye.
Coward
.

Reaching out, I brushed my fingers along his. “Tell me what the trial is.”

He lifted his fingers, seeking more contact. I let my hand stay there, our skin heating wherever we touched.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t spoken to Sin since we left, not until yesterday when I got word of trouble. And then we didn’t have time to discuss the trial. I know generally what it is.” He glanced away again. “But that rat bastard Cal will be sure to make it more interesting since it’s his year.”

I dropped my hand, a deadness spreading in my chest. “Renee told me about her year. I know what’s going to happen to me.”

“It can’t be helped.” He knelt in front of me, his eyes pleading. “All I can tell you is that once I’m Sovereign, I’ll make it all up to you.”

“Just let me go.” I ran my fingertips down his chiseled jaw, the stubble sharp and thick. “You could let me leave. Or we could leave together.”

“No, Stella. You don’t know what you’re asking me. When I’m Sovereign, I can give you anything you want. Anything you’ve ever dreamed about. These trials will just be some hazy memory when we’re flying on our private jet or vacationing in the Maldives or having tea with the fucking royal family. Don’t you see? If I lose, then all of that’s gone. The Vinemonts will spend another ten years under someone else’s thumb. Someone who may be even worse than Cal. Stella, look at me. We can do this.” His face appeared almost boyish in its earnestness.

I laughed, the sound cold even to my ears. “Now it’s a team sport? ‘We’? Are you going to watch as your friends rape me? Hold me down? Cheer them on? Keep count? Gag me to cover my screams? Will all of that be a hazy dream to you once you’re Sovereign?”

He rose, towering over me. “I will do what I have to do to become Sovereign. It’s the right play, Stella. You’ll see.”

Turning his back, he strode away with renewed purpose, as if our chat about my defilement put his head back in the game. “Be ready to leave in half an hour.”

My chin dropped to my chest as he closed the door. Lucius had made up his mind, just like Vinemont, to win at all costs. To them, the value of being Sovereign outweighed my well-being, my freedom, my everything. I stood and dropped the duvet before going to the shutters and throwing them open.

The fields of sugar cane waved in the light breeze as the sun blazed down. The rays were painful, sharp, and unrelenting, but the sugar cane soaked up the punishment and grew stronger, sweeter—more valuable. Every moment under the oppressive heat was a gift, a dose of life when there would otherwise be none. Surviving and thriving.

Was strength always born of fire, of torment? I nodded at the silent question. I would have to suffer to survive. But I would come out the other side. And when I did, I would burn the entire Acquisition to the ground.