Magnate (Acquisition Series Book 2) (6 page)

Adjusting my tank top, I pulled the blanket up over my shorts. “Come in.”

A blond head of hair peeked through. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” I smiled, happy to see Teddy. Of all the Vinemont brothers, he was the most genuine. Teddy telegraphed his motives clear as a bell and his boyish manners endeared him to me, though he was only a handful of years younger than I was.

He came in and shut the door behind him before easing onto the foot of my bed.

“I heard some things about Cuba. You okay?”

I set my plate on the nightstand and drew my knees up. “Things were hairy there for a minute, but I’m safe.”

“Yeah, Sin doesn’t look so good. Dr. Yarbrough is patching him up right now. But Sin said you took care of him, doing staples and all that?”

I nodded, remembering the way Vinemont had watched me as I knelt before him, cleaning his wounds. “I did.”

“Why?” He angled his head so I could look down the line of his strong jaw.

It wasn’t an easy question, and I had no easy answer. “He needed help.”

“But why would you help him after he…” He glanced up to my shoulder, as if he could see the lash marks there.

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

He traced the stitching on the quilt at the foot of my bed with his fingertip. “I think I know why.”

“Enlighten me.”

He met my gaze, his hazel eyes shy but also seeking. “I think it’s the same thing I feel with Laura. Like, you would do anything for that person, even if you’re mad at them or even if they’ve done something terrible.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Are you talking about love?”

He shrugged, his lanky arms rising and falling with the movement. “I guess, yeah. I don’t know. I’ve never been in love. I just know that if someone hurt her, I’d make that someone pay, and then I’d do everything I could to help her. Does that make sense?”

“It does. For you and Laura it does.”

“But not for you and Sin?”

I sighed and leaned back against the pillows. “I think whatever is between me and your brother is much more complicated than what you’ve described. And I think you know why.”

“Because of the Acquisition?” He kept tracing the same pattern of seams over and over, his index finger moving to its own silent beat.

“Yes.” In some other life, there may have been love. Maybe if Vinemont hadn’t been born into his role and I hadn’t been born into mine, then maybe. But as it was, we had no future and our past was murky at best.

“I just wish…”

“What?”

He shook his head and rose. “I’ll let you get back to your dinner. I just heard you were back and wanted to come say hi and that I missed you. And thank you for taking care of Sin when he needed it.”

I held my arms out and he came and gave me a hug, squeezing me almost as tightly as Renee did, but not quite.

“You’re welcome,” I whispered.

“Okay.” He stood and retreated to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast then?”

I couldn’t refuse his honest smile. “Yes, I guess so.”

“Good.”

Once he left, I snuggled down into my bed. Why did the other two have to be so vile when Teddy had turned out so normal?

I tried to fall asleep but couldn’t. Not until I dropped to my knees and reached up into my nightstand. Once I felt the familiar blade still securely taped to the underside of the drawer, I crawled back into bed. I’d brought the knife here as a weapon, but the simple act of touching it strengthened my resolve. It was more of a talisman than anything else at this point.

I didn’t need it to keep me safe. I could do that on my own. And I would.

Chapter Six

Stella

Breakfast the next
morning was oddly calm. Vinemont was already at the table, sipping his coffee and watching my every move as I walked in and took a seat next to Teddy.

“Happy to be back?” Vinemont set his cup down and leaned forward, his perfectly pressed business shirt doing nothing to hide the muscles underneath.

“I wouldn’t say that.” My sharp tone made the corners of his mouth turn up, a smile trying to break free. The half-smile died as Lucius entered the room.

He was on a call, fluent Spanish rolling off his tongue as he gave orders to someone, most likely Javier. He wore a navy polo and jeans that fit his narrow waist and lean hips perfectly. When he was done, he tossed his phone down on the table.

“Well?” Vinemont asked.

“Javier says it’s all over. But now we have to pay the local militia for their
assistance
.”

Vinemont glanced to Teddy and shook his head at Lucius. “We’ll finish this discussion later.”

“I’m not a kid anymore, Sin. You two can tell me what’s going on.” Teddy swept his hair off his forehead, perhaps aiming for a more serious look.

“It’s nothing.” Vinemont waved his hand as if a militia fighting a farmer uprising was nothing more than a simple labor disagreement.

“Sure.” Teddy wasn’t convinced.

“All under control, lil bro. Don’t worry, we’re keeping your trust fund stocked.” Lucius grinned.

“Douche.” Teddy crossed his arms over his chest as Lucius’ grin broadened.

I elbowed him. “Ignore him. Tell me what life is like out there. What’s going on at school?”

He smiled. “I aced my classes this semester—”

“And every semester, dork.” Lucius cut in.

Teddy raised an eyebrow at his brother. “So I’m almost done with my pre-med coursework.”

“So you’re well on your way to being Dr. Teddy, then?” I asked.

“Yep. I’ve already been accepted. I should graduate undergrad in the spring and roll right on into med school.”

A surge of misplaced pride welled inside me. After all, Teddy wasn’t my blood. Still, I smiled at him and patted him on the back. “Well done.”

“Thanks.”

Laura came in and set out plates full of biscuits, gravy, country ham, and eggs. She and Teddy avoided each other’s eyes. It was glaringly obvious they were in love and trying desperately to hide it.

Vinemont scowled and speared a chunk of ham. Lucius smirked and gave me a wink.

I decided to help Teddy out and erase some of the awkward. “What sort of doctor do you want to be?”

“Gynecologist, right?” Lucius didn’t miss a beat.

Teddy choked on his orange juice. I clapped him on the back a few times and glared at Lucius.

Teddy tried twice to speak before he could do it without sounding strangled. “No, I was thinking cardiology.”

“What do you know about hearts?” Lucius grinned at Laura as she came around and refilled our coffees.

“Nothing yet. That’s what the medical degree is for.”

“Touché.” Lucius laughed.

Vinemont remained silent. I thought he’d at least encourage Teddy to do something other than hang around this house and its godforsaken occupants. But he didn’t say a word.

“And how many years will you have to be in school?” I tried again.

“Four years of school, three years of residency, and maybe another three years of fellowship after that.”

I elbowed him. “You’ll be an old man by the time you finish all that. I’m glad you started young.”

Vinemont’s fork and knife clattered to his plate. He fixed Teddy with an inscrutable stare before turning his burning gaze on me.

“Sin, what gives?” Lucius said. “Shouldn’t you applaud the little bro’s fine, upstanding life plans? Better than running a sugar business and playing lawyer like we do. Let’s toast.” He raised his mimosa.

Teddy and I reached across the table and clinked glasses with Lucius. Vinemont rose, threw his napkin down, and stormed out.

Teddy’s cheeks bloomed red and his shoulders fell.

“Sin!” Lucius stood and strode after his brother.

What the hell just happened?
I put my hand on Teddy’s arm and squeezed. I was just as in the dark as he was.

A door slammed down the hall—Vinemont’s study.

Knocking and banging echoed through the corridor. “Open this fucking door, douchebag, and apologize to Teddy!”

Nothing.

Before long, Lucius returned and sat down. “He’s just being a dick as usual, Ted. Don’t worry about him. He’s told me before that he’s all for you getting a medical degree.”

“He’s told me that, too. So, I’m just…” Teddy shrugged and placed his napkin next to his plate. “I’m going to go upstairs for a while.” He pushed his chair back and walked out, head down.

“What the hell?” I asked.

Lucius shook his head. “Not a fucking clue.”

Laura came in to check on us, but her pleasant smile faded when she noticed Teddy was gone.

“He’s upstairs.” I said. “Some company might be welcome right now.”

She blushed and retreated back to the kitchen.

“You shouldn’t encourage that.” Lucius leaned back and linked his hands behind his head, the broad expanse of his chest appearing even wider.

“I don’t live by your snobby rules.” I wiped my mouth and set my napkin on the table.

He raised an eyebrow. “No?”

“No.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re bound by quite a few more rules than I am.” He smiled, wolfishness taking the place of his anger at Vinemont.

“I’m not in the mood, Lucius.”

He let his gaze run down the scoop neck of my sweater and lower. I stood and moved toward the door. He darted faster down his side of the table and blocked me in.

“I think you are.” He shoved me into the corner, caging me in with his hands at either side of my head. “Want to know what I’ve been thinking about? What I thought about last night while I stroked my cock?”

I met his light eyes and fisted my hands at my sides. “No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

He moved closer. I tilted my head back so I could hold his gaze. He was dangerous. Taking my eyes off him wasn’t an option.

“I thought of you.” Pressing his fingertip into my jugular, he traced down my bare skin to the edge of my sweater. “The way you looked in Cuba, naked underneath me. The way these were hard.” He pinched my nipple and I pressed back into the corner. “Just like they are now. How much I wanted them in my mouth. How deep I wanted to be in your pussy. You know what got me off, what pushed me over the edge?”

I forced myself to stay put, to see this part of the game through. “What?”

“This.” When he pressed his lips to mine, I closed my eyes. He tasted like champagne and oranges, heady and sweet.

I clung to the front of his shirt. He sank his hand down in my pants, gripping my ass hard and pulling my hips forward.

I tried to shove him away, but he growled into my mouth and ground his thigh against my pussy. I dug my nails into his chest, but he only kissed me harder, his tongue plundering my mouth. Heat raced through my body, pooling between my thighs. He grabbed my hair and pulled my head back before kissing down my neck, biting my throat and then fastening his lips to my collarbone.

“Lucius.” I was panting, caught up in a man who was no better than the devil I’d given my heart to. “Please.”

“Beg me. That’s right, Stella. It’s time to finish what we started.” He kissed lower, his mouth hot and luscious on my skin. “Beg me to give you what you want, what you need.”

He rubbed against my clit, the friction making my head spin. I gasped.

“Beg me to sink myself so deep in you that you can’t tell where I end and you begin.”

“Don’t.” I breathed as he released my hair and pulled my sweater and the cup of my bra down.

I moaned—not a fake—when cool air hit my nipple, his mouth following close behind.

This was wrong. All wrong. I dug my fingers into his hair and pulled, but he sucked me in harder, his teeth grazing along the hard peak of my breast. He groaned into my skin and palmed my ass viciously, rubbing me against him in a slow, teasing rhythm.

“We can’t.” I sounded unsure even to myself.

He swirled his tongue once more around my nipple before coming back up and resting his forehead against mine, his hand on my cheek. “You’re already mine. I’m going to taste every bit of you. Every inch of skin. You’re going to take all of me, Stella, and beg for more. And I’ll give it. I’ll give it every time you ask and even when you don’t.”

His words buzzed around my mind like a swarm of bees, stinging me but with the promise of something sweet.

He leaned in to kiss me again but I pushed harder. I couldn’t do this. Not here. Not now. I wanted to snare him, but not with Vinemont a few doors down.

He gripped my wrists and pinned them above my head. “I know you want it, Stella. I know you want everything I have. If you say you don’t, you’re lying to yourself.” He brushed his lips against mine again, making me believe his lies.
Were they lies?

“I could take you right now. I could yank your jeans down and feast on your sweet cunt.” He shoved his hips into me, his hard cock substantial in his pants. “I want to, Stella. Oh, how I want to.”

“Please, don’t. I-I can’t.” I was stumbling, falling, begging the wolf in front of me to catch me.

He stole another kiss, this one lingering. My heartbeat was like a drum in my ears as his tongue swirled against mine, teasing and tasting. He pulled my wrists down from the wall and wrapped them around my back at my waist, making my breasts jut out against him.

He kissed to my ear. “I’m going to take it all, Stella.”

“Never.” I tried to shake myself out of the haze he’d put me in.

His deep laugh was in my head as he nipped at my neck. “We’ll see.”

He pulled away and stared down at me, his eyes calculating. “I’ll give you a pass this one time, Stella. Just once. But the next time I get you alone and you try to tease me—” He grabbed my palm and ran it down his hard length “—you’re going to get all of this. And then you’re going to thank me when I’m done.”

He dropped my wrists and backed up another step. “Go,” he commanded, “before I change my mind.”

Stunned, I brushed past him and into the hallway. All the oxygen had been out here, not in the dining room where Lucius had made it impossible to think. I stumbled over the runner before gaining my feet and taking the next few steps. I pulled my top back into place as I fled. The doorbell stopped me. I turned and glimpsed a figure through the transom windows.

Lucius was already in the hallway, adjusting himself in his pants before striding to the door and swinging it open.

The visitor wore an old-fashioned servant’s livery—even stuffier than Farns’—who ambled up and shook his head at Lucius. The man handed Lucius a card, gave a perfunctory bow, and whirled on his heel.

“You shouldn’t get the door. That’s my job, Mr. Lucius,” Farns chided gently.

“I’ve gotten my hands dirty plenty over the last few days, Farns. Trust me. This is nothing.”

Vinemont appeared, his dark hair a tousled mess as if he’d been running his hands through it. He glanced up at me and quickly looked away. I felt a surge of guilt that I batted away. We weren’t together. We never would be. Seducing Lucius was part of the plan. Or was Lucius seducing me?

“What is it?” Vinemont’s voice was gruff.

“Invitation.” Lucius swiped his finger under the wax seal and broke it open before unfolding the parchment.

The brothers read it together as I walked to them, curiosity overcoming my shaken cocktail of emotions.

“Fuck!” Vinemont whirled and punched a hole in the foyer wall, plaster falling in a heap at his feet. I flinched and went to stand at Lucius’ elbow to get a better look.

Farns shook his head and scurried down the hallway, most likely for a dustpan and broom.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Cal wants us to come to his New Orleans house tomorrow night. Welcome party for some new family or something.” Lucius flipped the page over, as if searching for more writing on the empty back.

“All of us have to go?” I thought I was done with the bastards until Christmas.

“Invite says Sin, you, and me.”

“He knows.” Vinemont shook his head, his brows pinched.

“Knows what?” I scanned the invitation, the stark lines of a New Orleans address and a time with an oak tree watermark.

“He knows my Acquisition has changed hands. He knows or he never would have invited Lucius.” Vinemont’s violence had reopened the wounds in his knuckles. Blood dripped to the floor, but he didn’t notice. A vein thrummed in his neck as he stared murder at Lucius.

“Hey, I didn’t tell him. But what does it matter?” Lucius put his hand around my waist. “It’s true.”