Up to Me (8 page)

“I want you to lick my nipples.”  I’m already breathless as he pulls my tank over my head.  His eyes are back on mine as he reaches behind me to unhook my bra. 

“Finish,” he demands, refusing to give me what I want until I spell it out.

“I want you to suck them into your mouth.”

Bending his head, Cash flicks one nipple with his tongue then draws it into his hot mouth.  I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him to me.

He sucks on one, biting it lightly, before he moves to the other to give it the same treatment.  When he lifts his head, there’s fire in his eyes.

“Tell me to unzip your pants.”

Even though I can barely speak, I don’t hesitate.  “Unzip my pants.”

In one quick movement, he flips open the button and unzips my pants.

“Tell me you want me to put my fingers inside you.”

His voice is hoarse and his hand is resting just a few inches of where I want it most.  The anticipation of feeling him is almost too much to bear. 

“I want you to put your fingers inside me.”

Turning his palm toward my body, he slides his hand into my panties and pushes two long fingers inside me.  My knees go weak and I reach behind me to hold onto the counter top for support. 

Cash closes his eyes and moans a little.  “Oh my God, you’re so wet.  Do you know what that does to me?”

I nod.  “Yes.”  I know because I feel it, too.

“Tell me you want me to taste you.”

Slowly, he drags his finger in and out of me.  My hips move with him.

“Taste me.”

Pulling his hand free from me, he raises his glistening finger and slips it into his mouth.  I’m mesmerized.

“That’s the best taste in the world,” he says.  “Tell me you want a taste, too.  I want to watch you lick my finger.”

More heat rushes between my legs.  “I want a taste, too,” I breathe obediently.

Cash bends and, with one quick jerk, pulls my pants down to my ankles.  As he rises, he pauses to press his lips to the outside of my panties, kissing me.  I want to beg him to stop there, but before I can speak, he’s taking my breath away with his wicked fingers. 

Pushing my panties to the side, Cash thrusts two fingers inside me, burying them deep and bringing me up onto my toes.  He crooks them within me as he massages my clitoris with his thumb.  He looks up and his eyes find mine again.

Slowly, he straightens and brings one finger to my lips.  His eyes drop to my mouth as I open it.  He drags his wet fingertip over my bottom lip then looks back up at me.  “Lick.”  I lick my bottom lip, tasting the salty sweetness there.  “So good,” he whispers before he slides his finger into my mouth, rubbing it over my tongue.  I close my lips around it and suck until I hear the air hiss through his gritted teeth.

“Tell me you want me inside you.”

“I want you.  Inside me.  Right now,” I pant desperately.

I can’t take my eyes off his.  Even as I hear the sound of his zipper, our gaze is locked together.  I reach down to push my panties over my hips just before Cash grabs me under the arms and puts me up on the counter.  The granite is cool against my butt, making me long for the heat of his body. 

Still watching me, always watching me, Cash pulls one shoe off my foot then eases my pants and panties down over it, freeing one leg. 

“Spread your legs for me.”

I do as he asks.

His eyes on my moist, sensitive flesh make me feel even hotter, even wetter.  Cash wraps his fingers around his shaft, stroking it slowly from base to tip, making my muscles clench in anticipation of him filling me. “Now tell me what you want.”

“I want you inside me.”

“What do you want me to do there?”

“I want you to come in me, to come
with
me.”

I hear his moan just before he lets his desire off the leash.  It seems that one moment, he’s inches away, the next, he’s touching me.  All over, everywhere at once.

His hands are in my hair, at my breasts, on my back. His lips are on mine, at my ear, on my neck. His tongue is teasing mine, teasing my nipples, teasing my navel. 

Then his hands are sliding under my hips.  The world tilts when he picks me up off the counter.  Just as my legs wrap around his waist, he enters me, pulling me down onto him, seating himself so far inside me that it steals my breath.

As my head falls back on my shoulders, I cry out.  I can’t help it.  I’m lost to everything but Cash.  I barely hear my own voice.  It’s like a soft echo of what’s going on between us—a tornado of sensation and heavy breathing, a hurricane of lips and tongues and teeth and fingers. 

I hear Cash’s breath in my ear. I feel his body inside mine. I feel the air rushing over my skin as he carries me to the bed.

Then there’s a firm mattress at my back and a warm body on top of mine.  He’s moving inside me, hard and powerful, each thrust deeper than the last. 

The build-up is too much, the pleasure too strong.  My body feels like it’s coming apart at the seams.  Just before I squeeze my eyes shut, I see Cash come up onto his knees.  I give myself up to feeling as he spreads my legs wide and rubs my most sensitive part with his thumb, all the while driving in and out of me. 

And then I’m toppling over the edge.  The first wave of my orgasm makes me dizzy.  I hear Cash saying my name over and over.  I open my eyes to see him arch his back and pound into me with a recklessness that bursts in my body like a shower of fireworks. 

The walls absorb his groan as his pace slows to longer, more languid strokes.  His body still pulses within me.  Then, with one final thrust, he collapses onto me. 

We rest together, drifting back down to earth.  His breathing is heavy in my ear.  When it becomes less labored, I feel the first press of his lips against my neck. It’s one of a thousand tiny kisses he rains over my throat and my face.  When he lifts his head, his eyes meet mine.  I’m not sure what they say, but I think my heart understands. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN- Cash

With Olivia tucked along my side, I really don’t want to move.  But I have to.  Reality—and danger—are lurking just around the corner.  On the other side of daylight, which is just a few short hours away.

Olivia is tracing the tattoo on the left side of my chest, like she often does when we lie naked together.  I don’t know if it’s soothing to her, but it is to me. 

Her fingers start to move more and more slowly until they stop.  Her breathing becomes deep and even. She’s so still I know she’s asleep.  I’m sure she’s exhausted.  But there’s nothing I can do about that yet. 

I slide out from under her as gently as I can, but I still wake her. 

“Rest, baby. I’ll be right back.”

I can see that her eyes are open and focused on mine, so I know she heard me.  She doesn’t answer, though.  She just smiles.

After straightening my clothes, I head out through the office to the club.  Nash and Gavin are sitting at the bar, pouring shots from a bottle of whiskey.

“Make yourself at home,” I remark smartly as I approach.

“Oh, don’t worry.  We have,” Gavin replies with a cheeky grin.

I pull up a stool and a shot, downing it in one quick swallow.  The burn is welcome.  It reminds me that there will be much pain and loss if I don’t do this just right.  The first time. There’s no doubt that I won’t get a second chance.

“I was thinking about it and I feel like the only place Olivia will really be safe is with her mother.”

“That’s what you were doing back there? Thinking about that chick’s
mother
?” Nash asks snidely.  “If she mentions needing a real man, send her my way.” 

“Spending so much time alone with a bunch of men on a boat, I’m sure you could recommend one.”

Gavin spits whiskey across the bar.

Nash stands so quickly his stool falls over.  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

I stand, too.  “It means that you even
think
about touching her, talking to her, so much as
looking
at her and we’re gonna have a big, big problem,
bro
.”

Before Nash and I can get chest to chest, Gavin steps between us.  Again.

“I’m not going to be able to leave you two alone at all, am I?”

He gives us each a little shove, which, coming from Gavin, is nearly enough to send us back a step. Nearly, but not quite.

Gavin pours three more shots and slides one to me and one to Nash, picking up the third and holding it up between us.  “To safety and success. Salut!”

Nash and I are still eyeing each other, but we toast to Gavin.  It’s a good sentiment, one worth taking a moment to recognize.

After a short pause, I clear my throat, saying pointedly, “As I was saying, I was thinking that the only place Olivia can really be safe is at her mother’s.  Since her parents divorced, Olivia hasn’t been close to her.  They rarely talk and I doubt anyone would be able to find her there very easily.  In fact, I’m not even sure where she lives.  Seems like I heard Olivia mention Savannah, but I can’t be sure.  At any rate, I’ll find out.”

“So you’re sending her there, hoping they won’t follow you?  And that you’ll make it back in time?” Nash asks sharply.  I grit my teeth and try not to take exception to his tone.

“No, I’m sending her with Gavin. You and I are going to be taking care of the trade tomorrow.”

Nash smirks.  “Afraid to leave her alone with me, huh?”

“Yes.  I am.  She needs protection.  Competent protection.  That’s why I’m sending Gavin.  I
know
he’s capable of keeping her safe.”

Nash rolls his eyes but says nothing.  At least he’s learning to keep his mouth shut.

I turn to Gavin.  “Man, I’m trusting you.”

He looks me in the eye and I try to convey all that I mean when I say that.  I’m trusting him to respect me by not touching her. I’m trusting him to keep my secrets, to keep Olivia safe, to do whatever he has to in order to protect her.  This is not a simple request and he knows it.  The fact that he pauses to really consider what I’m asking makes me feel somewhat better, like he’s not taking it lightly.

“I know, mate.  You know I’ve got your back.  And hers.  We’re brothers.”  Gavin holds out his hand, arm bent at the elbow. When I take it, we’re both agreeing to do right by one another, no matter what the cost.  This isn’t a game.  We both know that.

“Brothers,” I repeat.

“I hope he’s a better brother to you than he was to me,” Nash mumbles from the other side of Gavin as he pours himself another drink.

I ignore him.

“I’ll find out exactly where you’re taking her, where her mom is living now.  Give me a few minutes head start and then meet me at the hotel.  Sound good?”

Gavin nods.  “Sounds good.  And safe.  Just make sure you’re not followed.”  I give Gavin a look and he grins and throws up his hands.  “Sorry.  Habit.  I know you’re as careful as you can be.”

“Especially when it’s important.”

He nods again. “And this girl is obviously very important.”

I don’t answer.   I don’t know what to say. It’s true, of course.  I just haven’t really thought of it that way—of her being important to me or the exact
degree
to which
she’s important to me.

But it’s a lot.  There’s no doubt about that.

“Just stick with the plan and do what I ask and I think we can pull this off.”  I look behind Gavin to Nash.  He’s pretending to ignore me.  “Can I trust you to do what needs to be done?”

Slowly, Nash turns his cool eyes on me.  “Yes, but when it’s over, and you and your girlfriend are all safe and sound, it’s my turn.  My turn to get what I want.”

Revenge is in his eyes.  I recognize it because I fought the urge for a lot of years.  And I lost for the most part. I just found less…violent ways to exact it.  Or at least to try.  Giving these books up will set me back years, but it’s worth it to make sure Olivia’s safe. I can start again, maybe talk some sense into Nash and get him to let me use what he’s got.  I don’t know, but I can’t worry about all that now.  Tonight the most important thing is getting Olivia to safety.  Tomorrow will come soon enough.

“Fair enough.  But right now, it’s my way.”

He looks at me long and hard before he nods.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN- Olivia

Rest?  While he’s out there plotting and planning with his not-dead twin brother and probably-more-than-he-seems club manager? I think not!

By the time Cash comes back in, I’m up and dressed.  Waiting.

As always, just the sight of him kindles a fire in the pit of my stomach.  His very presence touches me. It’s undeniable.

I take a deep breath, pushing those feelings aside so I can think.

“So, what’s the plan?”

Cash looks back out into his office.  “Have a seat. We’ll be right back out.”  I hear snickering that presumably belongs to the pleasant and mildly flirtatious Gavin.  I can’t imagine Nash snickering.  I can barely imagine him smiling.  I think his default mode is “menace”. 

Cash closes the door and turns to me.  I can see by his expression that he thinks I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, which makes me think I won’t.

I sigh.  “This must be a humdinger.”

He chuckles.  “What? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“You don’t have to.  That look says it all. It makes my butt pucker.”

“Makes your butt pucker?”  I nod and he laughs outright.  Shaking his head, an amused expression still on his face, Cash reaches out and pulls me into his arms, snugging me up against his chest.  “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”

“Of course.  Was it supposed to be a secret?”

“No, I think that ship has sailed.”

I turn my head slightly and bite his flat male nipple.

“Ouch!  Keep doing that and you’ll get the best damn spanking you’ve ever had.”

“I’ve never been spanked before, so the bar is set very low.”

“Well, that’ll be the first thing on the agenda when I get you back home then.”

I lean further back.  “Get me back home?  Where am I going?”

Cash sighs.  “Your mother’s house.  It’s the safest place for you right now.”

I push out of his arms.  “What?  You can’t be serious!  There are a dozen places I can think of right off the top of my head that would be safe
and
give me a reasonable expectation of retaining my sanity.  Why in the world would you want me there?”

“Because there is a recent trail to almost everyone else in your life.  Everyone except her.  You haven’t talked to her in how long?”

“A couple years, but that’s not the point.”

“That’s exactly the point.  Where else would you be less expected to go?”

My mind goes completely blank, probably because he’s right.

Dammit!

“Fine, but you’ll have to let me drive myself.  She would never understand something like this.”

Already, Cash is shaking his head.  “Nope. Sorry.  Gavin will be taking you and staying with you until it’s time to bring you back.”

“What?  No way!  If I have to take someone, why can’t it be you?”  The more I think of it, the more I like that scenario.  That way, Cash would be sure to be safe.

“Gavin is the most…capable one of us.  You’ll be safe with him, no matter what comes up.”

“Are you expecting an army of mafia bandits to accost me at my mother’s house?”

“I’m not expecting anything.  But I’m going to be prepared for…whatever.”

“If Gavin’s the most capable one, maybe you should send him to make the trade with Nash.”

“I have to go. I have to do this.  I can’t trust Nash with it. I need to make sure it gets done and it gets done right.  I can’t have them threatening you, Olivia.  This has to stop.”

“But…but…”

I can’t think of a single argument other than I want him with me and I want him to be safe.  Neither of those are enough to change his mind, though.

“This is the best way.  The
only
way.  Just trust me.  Can you do that?”

Cash’s head is tilted slightly to the side and he’s looking deep into my eyes.  He’s so sincere.

I feel the sting of tears at the backs of my eyes.  With a fist lodged in my throat, I don’t even try to speak.  I just nod and drop my eyes to Cash’s mouth.

Tenderly, he pulls me back into his arms.  He strokes my hair and rubs circles on my back.  “I’ll keep you safe.  I promise.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” I murmur against his chest.