Chapter Four

A soft, wet sensation at the base of her spine woke her. Disoriented, she lifted her head and blinked sunlight out of her eyes. It took a moment for the room to become familiar, and then the racing of her pulse drowned out any other sound.

She was in Dakota’s bed. Ever groaned silently. This was going to be a bitch.

Firm lips pressed into her spine, then Dakota used his tongue to trace the curve of her left hip and moved upward. He was kissing and licking her tattoos.

“Wake up, sleepy,” he murmured. “Breakfast is served.”

She narrowed her eyes even though he couldn’t see. “Am I breakfast?”

His low chuckle vibrated on her skin. “Do you want to be? Cause I’ve got no problems with that.” Sliding a palm down the expanse of her back, he caressed her ass. “Spend the day with me.”

The fuck? Ever scrambled to a sitting position, facing him. God, such a mistake. Those dark eyes were heavy-lidded, aroused. His mess of hair framed his face and hung to his shoulders. Naked shoulders. Bronzed, smooth, and well-muscled. Damn, the man was full on naked. She felt her defenses flying away on the morning breeze.

Food sat on a tray at the foot of the bed, but she ignored it. What kind of shit was that? Is this was how he treated his one night stands?

Ever swallowed and met his eyes forcefully. “Let’s not make this bigger than it was, hmm? I have to leave.”

His jaw worked. Though he tried to keep his expression passive. Ever caught the surprise and brief flash of hurt before he smoothed it away. “You can certainly eat before you leave, Ever. Or is that making this bigger, too?”

The words were hard, emotionless, sparking regret she fought to suppress. Spending time with Ian Dakota spelt trouble for her and Wes. And she’d die before she allowed anyone to hurt Wes.

Choosing her words carefully, Ever said, “Sorry, I don’t eat breakfast.” She hopped off the bed, naked ass and tits jiggling. The heat of his stare felt like a brand on her skin as she grabbed her clothes off the floor.

“Ever.”

She ignored the low rumble and made a mad dash to what she hoped was the bathroom. Saved for the moment, she slammed the door and pulled at her hair. Damn, why had she come here last night? And why the hell was it so hard to walk away from this man? No one made her feel like he did. Could be the amazing sex talking. Lord knows she’d never been fucked this good.

Deciding she needed to wash away his touch, Ever turned on the water and stepped into the shower, closing the sliding glass doors behind her. As the warm water saturated her skin, she thought back to the day her life had changed so dramatically three years ago. The day he called. She and Wes thought they were finally rid of him, but that proved to be false.

After all the pain visited on her in Ireland, he still held her prisoner, and they weren’t even on the same continent. He was the man behind the scenes, the Ghost, while she and Wes were up front. The faces of the operation.

In return for not killing Wes, or maybe for not turning him over to the cops, they had to operate his business while he raked in the money. Though he started the business to make money, it was no longer all about that.

This arrangement was her prison. Her punishment for crimes she’d never even thought to commit against him. More confining than the room he’d locked her in for a week.   

Still, she’d do it for Wes. He’d saved her life on more than one occasion, holding her hand through the darkest times. 

Ever choked up, soaping her body roughly. She cursed herself for allowing Dakota inside her defenses. Now she couldn’t get him out of her head or the imprint of his touch off her skin. After rinsing off, she held up a hand in front of her face. It trembled.

“Goddamn it.” Tears streamed down her face as she pulled aside the shower door. A gasp fell from frozen lips. Dak stood with a hip against the doorway, staring unblinking at her. Ever didn’t move, she couldn’t. Instead, she covered her eyes with a shaky hand and words poured from her.

“I can’t wash you away, you’re under my skin.” Tears clogged her throat. “I need to not be near you, but I can’t—”

“Then don’t.” His voice sounded closer, like he stood mere inches away. The heat swirling around her told her the same need rode him equally as hard.

Ever’s entire body shook, but she refused to open her eyes, afraid she’d crumble at his feet. Rough fingers grasped her chin and a finger brushed her bottom lip. She forgot to breathe. Molten heat slicked the juncture of her thighs and her nipples beaded.

“Ever, look at me.”

The pleading command lifted her eyelids. Dark eyes clashed with hers, need and desire present and so beautiful. Her lips parted and he was on her, sliding his tongue into her mouth, sipping from her, branding her with his lips. Ever sobbed into the kiss. She put her hands on his to push him off, but the instant her fingers touched the smooth skin, they curled, nails digging, marking. Staking claim.

The kiss turned frenzied, each trying to devour the other. Dak grabbed her ass, and Ever lifted one leg then the other, wrapping them around his narrow waist. He staggered back toward the open door as she wiggled on the rigid cock rubbing her pussy. In the bathroom doorway, he stopped and braced against the frame. Bending his head, he took a nipple in his mouth, biting, punishing. Ever clawed at his shoulders, back arched, soaked pussy sliding over the hard length of him.

Sinking her nails into his back for purchase, she lifted her lower half off and positioned herself over his hardness. The smooth tip slid into her inch by torturous inch. All Dak’s movement ceased. Ever opened her eyes to find his stare on her face, his eyes glowing, almost feral. The look on his face said she was his. She opened her mouth to deny it, call him a liar, but he kissed her. Tongues mating, she eased the rest of the way down his cock and rocked into him.

One of his hard arms locked her tightly against him, the other pinched her nipple, rolled it between his fingers. Mewling cries left her throat as she rode the cock hitting all her sweet spots. Dakota’s grunts echoed in the room. Ever would never tire of hearing him voice his pleasure. The pleasure she gave him.

He broke away from her lips, dropping hurried kisses across her cheek and down her neck, all the while murmuring the words she longed to hear, didn’t want to hear. “You’re mine, Ever. I’m keeping you.”

Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. It was only the heat of the moment talking. She wasn’t free, and besides, Ian Dakota would never settle down with someone like her.  

His teeth sank into her neck. Screams tore from her throat as her orgasm crashed over her.

“Motherfuck.” Dak groaned as his hips sped up. A warm gush flooded her insides, an unwelcome reminder of all the mistakes she’d made lately. She practically jumped out of his arms.

Fighting to stand on wobbly knees, Ever held up a hand when he moved to hold her. “No.” She grabbed her clothes and pulled them on with jerky movements. Fully dressed, she turned to find him in the same spot, arms folded across his chest, semi-hard cock still glistening with a mixture of his cum and her juices.

Ever licked her lips. “I’m leaving now.” A sharp pain seared her chest and she inhaled sharply, clasping a hand over her heart. “I won’t be coming back.” His gaze darkened and he opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “Please, Dakota,” she whispered brokenly.

Walking past him, she entered the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, tugging on her shoes. Dak watched, the air simmering with violence. She ignored him and walked out his bedroom door, and hopefully out of his life.