The Beckoning of Bravelicious Things (The Beckoning Series Book 3) Read online

  “Great meal, Daniel,” River says.

  “Don’t thank me. Thank Karen and her crew. They’re the best.” He smiles warmly at Karen, who busies herself clearing the table.

  “Thank you, sir,” she says, a small smile creeping over her usually stern face. “Shall I bring aperitifs out to the deck? It’s unusually warm tonight.”

  “Yes, that would be nice.” He turns to the other men. “Gentlemen? Shall we?” Then he assists me with my chair, pulling it out as I stand. He plants a warm kiss in my hair.

  We wander to the deck, stars twinkling overhead, urban lights below. When we’re all seated—me next to Daniel, and Rafe and River across from us, Daniel offers, “Care for a smoke? I have some excellent cigars. Shipped in from Cuba.”

  “Why not?” Returns Rafe.

  “Sounds good to me,” River says.

  “No thanks,” I say. “Is this going to be a regular occurrence?”

  Daniel smiles indulgently at me. “It is as long as I want it to be.”

  Bossy, bossy, bossy, I think, staring at him through squinty eyes.

  You haven’t seen anything yet. He runs his palm up and down my thigh before tapping the console on the side table. “Karen? Have Javier bring out some Cohiba Behike BK52s.”

  “As you wish, sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  Rafe whistles appreciatively. “Cohibas, huh? Nice.”

  Daniel smiles, then leans back on the couch, stretching his arms out on both sides of him.

  Which means that one arm is around me in another claiming gesture. I roll my eyes and look at the other males, wriggling my shoulders free in protest.

  “So. Are we ready for our journey?” Daniel asks benevolently.

  He’s been awfully nice since the ether meeting, making me wonder what he’s up to. He’s talked congenially, told jokes, even laughed with the other males. It’s like he’s got his own secrets rolling around in his head.

  “Yeah,” Rafe says. He leans forward and rests his arms on his knees.

  He says something about strategy, but I fail to clock what he’s saying. Rafe’s got great arms. I love to knead the muscles with my fingertips…caress the reddish-blond hairs…grab the solid, bulging flesh of his biceps when he’s on top…work my way up to his shoulders and down his pecs with my hands. I look up, catch him staring at me, blink, and smile sweetly.

  He cocks his head, gives me a heavy-lidded look, and turns to continue his conversation with Daniel and River.

  Javier arrives, dressed in his crisp suit uniform, wielding the cigars. Karen follows with a tray of expensive cognac. We each take one and sip.

  I smile affectionately at Javier and he returns the smile.

  He hands the box to Daniel and stands at attention, hands behind his back.

  Daniel pries open the top of the box and extends it across the glass table. “Gentlemen,” he says.

  They each reach for one of the plump cigars.

  Once they hold their smokes, Javier takes the box, places it on the table, and pulls a gold plated cigar cutter from his pocket. He clips the ends, hands the cigars back, and proceeds to light each with a gleaming, polished silver lighter.

  The men puff their cigars with satisfaction. They continue their low murmured conversation of death and destruction, mischief and mayhem.

  I hear none of it.

  Daniel fingers my neck with gentle strokes. He works his fingers into my hair, deliberate, sensuous and slow.

  The feeling is intensely pleasurable. You’re up to something. I push my head into his hand, relishing the contact.

  And if I am? He says something to River and laughs.

  I’m mesmerized by River’s lips. I remember those lips when he spread my legs along the edge of the hotel bathtub two years ago and proceeded to dip his head for a long, delicious taste. I’ve guiltily re-played that scene a thousand times since he dropped—literally—into my life a few days ago. I had my first oral orgasm from that mouth. Later, those lips consumed me in kisses so hot I thought I was going to come with no contact at all between my legs.

  River glances at me, his blue eyes dark, licks his lips, and turns back to the conversation.

  I lay my hand along Daniel’s powerful thigh, stroking the defined muscles. My fingers inch up to his crotch with stealthy nonchalance, finding solid ardor pulsing against his pants. I quickly brush my hands along his pants like I’ve discovered lint and look up to see River staring at me, lowering his hooded gaze to my fingers, then back up to my eyes. Busted.

  Daniel’s deep voice says words like “strategy,” “stealth,” and “maneuver,” but the effect of his intonations on my insides is like liquid heat. All I sense is the low, rumbling vibration penetrating me like a cock…like his cock…moving in and out and in…

  Rafe says something and they all laugh. Then, one by one, they each turn and give me a sultry, seductive stare before continuing with their conversation.

  Daniel draws on his cigar. The smoke leaves his lips in a long, slow, undulating stream.

  Rafe does the same, blowing a plume of bluish smoke overhead.

  River makes smoke rings…one…two…three, his lips deftly forming the circles. They float dreamily into the air and disappear.

  The atmosphere is smoky, heady, intense.

  I reach for my cognac, hefting the crystal glass, swirling the amber liquid around and around, creating a golden whirlpool. I lift the glass and sip, letting the liquid blaze down the tissues of my throat. I feel sort of stoned…like the food, the wine, the company, and my jewels have all combined into an ecstatic elixir. I lean my head into Daniel’s caresses, rubbing my head back and forth like a cat. The space around me starts to churn, like I’m spinning in Warplandia. My eyelids droop shut.

  “Marissa? Are you with us?”

  I think I hear Daniel but I’m not sure…not certain at all.

  “Marissa? Dulzura. Corazón.”

  Daniel pulls me back from my intoxicated reverie.

  “I’m talking to you, cariño. Where’d you go?”

  “Huh? What did you say?” I shake my head. “I think the effect of everything is having its way with me. I feel a little…I feel as if…” My sentence falls away like the Record Keeper’s tumbling words.

  “I was saying, I haven’t been completely straight with you.”

  This makes me sit up and pay attention. “What?”

  “I haven’t been completely straight with you,” he repeats.

  “About?”

  “I’ve held the depth of my dark passion from you.” He inclines his head to the side. “In the bedroom, that is.”

  A shiver pricks my skin from head to toe. “Come again?”

  Rafe and River stare at me, but it’s as if Daniel and I are having a private, intimate conversation.

  “The things I want to do to you are intense,” he says. “Nasty. Delicious. Dark.”

  “Uh, you’ve been plenty nasty,” I say, my gaze sliding over to the males sitting across from me, my cheeks flaming with heat. “Pretty dark, too.” Right about now I figure I should be scared. But my core floods, slick and honeyed with need. “What kind of things?”

  He gives me a heavy stare, laced with lust.

  I’ve never seen him like this. I mean, he can be bossy and intense, but in bed he’s usually generous and loving—the exception being when he bound our souls—now that was bossy. My mouth parts as our eyes lock. A universe of conversation passes between us. Had I really agreed to be bound to this man?

  A ferry blows a horn of warning on Puget Sound below. A sea gull calls. The tinkle of shattered glass, like something dropped in the kitchen, follows. A car guns its engine on the street below.

  Daniel and I continue to hold one another’s gaze, captive.

  His hand reaches for my cheek, his thumb lightly stroking my skin. He draws me toward him and kisses me once, lightly…again, more insistent…yet again, hot, fierce and wet. He releases me and pushes my hair behind my ears.

&
nbsp; “Go up to our room and wait for me,” he commands.

  “Excuse me?” I say, flustered.

  “You heard me.”

  “What about our friends?” I ask, not looking at them.

  “I’ll take care of the Numens. Go.”

  In what way will you take care of them? I silently ask. That sounds like a threat.

  “Go.”

  I glance at him, puzzled.

  His eyes narrow. “Do it, dulzura. Now.”

  I’m still confused. He’s never spoken to me this way. His words are edicts, inviting no challenge. “I’m not sure about this plan,” I say.

  “It’s my plan,” he answers, looking deep into my eyes. “You’re to go upstairs, remove your clothes, and lay on the bed.”

  “But…but…but…” He stares at me so menacingly, I’m scared to death. I can’t look at the other males. I feel reprimanded, embarrassed and bewildered. I finish my drink and wander upstairs.

  When I reach the suite, I remove my dress and underthings with shaking fingers, settle on the bed, and lay back, burrowing into the silky bed coverings. My body pulses with soft light—red around my core, refracting through the red diamond resting at my abdomen, blending into orange at my belly, changing to green shafts of light at my heart, shining through the emerald, glittering through the lapis. I’m like a prism, the light expanding and contracting around my skin with each breath. Wow. Streams out my arms. Buzzes through my hands. My left hand holds power, throbbing in the dino-stone. My right hand wields graceful compassion and warmth. I’m completely turned on, vibrating, alive. My palms stroke the supple fabric. I’m also totally terrified at what my soul bound lover wants of me.

  Footsteps fall on the stairs outside the room. A few minutes later, Daniel arrives, cigar in hand. A low growl rumbles from his throat as he looks at me. “Fucking incredible, Light Rebel.” He settles into the chair in the corner, smoking.

  “Are the others gone?” I ask.

  “No.”

  I frown. “What are you doing?” I ask him. Does he want them to hear us?

  “I’m watching you. I want to see you pleasure yourself.”

  “Isn’t this kind of rude to Rafe and River?”

  He brings the cigar to his lips and draws, tips his head back and exhales a stream of smoke from his generous, succulent lips.

  “You’re hard,” I say, glancing at his expensive trousers.

  “Very,” he answers. “I’ve wanted to fuck you all day.”

  “You picked a strange time to initiate it,” I say, sweeping my hand along a velvet pillow.

  “It’s a perfect time.”

  I push my hand between my legs. “Is this what you want?”

  “Not exactly.” He lifts his chin toward the doorway.

  I turn to see what he’s looking at.

  Rafe and River stand in the doorway, watching me.

  How’d they get up here without me hearing? I jerk.

  “My God,” River says, his eyes dark and penetrating.

  “Isn’t she a beauty?” Rafe says, pride lacing his words.

  “What’s this? Some sort of cluster fuck orgy thing?” I scramble back into the abundance of pillows resting on the headboard, yanking the covers around me. “No one asked me.”

  “You want them. I’m giving them to you. Only the rules are mine.”

  So this is how he’s solved the situation. He’s going to be the supreme alpha!

  You said you wanted the conflict to end. This is how we end it, he answers, eyes narrowed. “You two,” he says without looking at the two men. “My woman needs pleasing. Remove your clothes and minister to her needs.”

  Rafe enters first, eagerly slipping off his Levis, tugging his shirt over his head, slipping his boxers down his legs. He kicks off his shoes, yanks off his socks, climbs onto the bed, and moves to my side. His hands cup my breasts, kneading softly. “You’re so beautiful,” he says softly.

  My back undulates. My fingers curl around the bedspread. I’m torn between giving into the pleasurable touch and wondering how Daniel’s going to react if I enjoy myself too much.

  “I don’t think she’s digging that,” he says, no doubt reading my thoughts. “Squeeze her nipples,” Daniel says, staring hard at me. “Make it hurt.”

  Rafe’s calloused fingers manipulate my nipples, crushing them into swollen buds. His face is infused with pleasured excitement.

  I arch and moan, pain and pleasure shooting through my system. The light sparkling from the emerald makes patterns on Rafe’s face, giving him a strange Green Lantern-like mask.

  “What are you waiting for, Sanguis Numen?” Daniel says to River, still staring in my direction. “Take off your clothes and make my woman feel pleasure. She wants you. I’ve smelled her when she looks at you. I’ve watched her eyes dilate when she beholds you. You mean something to her.”

  I frown, watching Daniel carefully. “Daniel?” I say, tentatively.

  “Quiet. You’re not to speak else I’ll muzzle you again. Don’t doubt yourself and definitely don’t doubt me or my motives.”

  I press my lips together, uncertain whether he’s being loving or controlling. Whatever he’s up to, I’m starting to feel wildly conflicted—ready to let go, but still unsure.

  A zipper sounds, followed by the rustle of falling fabric, and River slinks to the bed, completely bare, sliding his knees along the soft suede, coming to my side. His immense cock hangs hard between his huge thighs.

  My breath catches at the sight of his erection. It’s a beautiful study in flesh, veins, and desire.

  “Go ahead, dulzura,” Daniel says. “Touch it.”

  River moves closer and my fingers grasp his stiff, throbbing heat.

  He hisses and rocks into my hand. “I never thought I’d feel you again,” he whispers.

  Blue and purple light emanates from my throat and neck, making majestic patterns on his chest, shoulders, and face. The cascading wave crashing along his shoulder appears alive.

  Rafe’s still squeezing my nipples, rolling them between his fingers. He rubs his cock against the skin of my hip, the liquid pearls of his lubrication making him slip and glide.

  I’m trapped between supreme arousal and intense anxiety. Why are you doing this? I ask Daniel.

  Because I can. Because you want them. Because you’re mine.

  I…I…I can’t! My eyes implore him.

  You’re a magical woman, Marissa, for Christ’s sake. Do as you want, like I do. Just do it with integrity and all the love you carry. And do it in concert with me. His eyes betray warmth for a split second. It disappears just as quickly, like a lightning bolt. He takes another puff of the cigar. His lips shape circles with the smoke. “Sanguis Numen. She wants to suck your cock. But I don’t want that.”

  Actually, he’s right, but I don’t really want that fact advertised. I scramble my thoughts and study my soul bound lover, frowning.

  River appears hesitant, too. He glances at Daniel and back to me. He shrugs and smiles. His tongue flickers out of his mouth and drags along his lips as he awaits further instruction.

  Rafe’s enjoying himself immensely. He’s leaning down to suckle on my breasts, first one and then the other.

  Stupid man whore, I think. He has no qualms about any of this.

  He takes one nipple in his mouth and draws deep.

  “Oh, honey,” I cry, in spite of myself. “Oh, sweet Jesus, that feels so good.”

  He works his way up my neck and sucks, marking me. “I love you, darlin’. I’m going to keep you safe on the journey ahead.”

  Daniel issues another command. “Sanguis Numen—my woman loves to kiss. Start slow and sweet. Proceed.”

  River drops his face to mine, his head grazing against Rafe’s red hair. He takes my bottom lip into his mouth, gently, sweetly, lovingly. His hand sweeps up and down my belly while Rafe continues to nibble my neck and knead my left breast. River trembles. His fingers trace a shaky trail up my ribcage. It’s like he’s trying hard to
rein himself in.

  Rafe’s busy giving into his passion. His cock is rocking into my flesh, the silky-hot heat making me want to open wide and let him enter.

  Daniel barks out orders. “Both of you. Pull her legs wide and stroke her pussy.”

  Two sets of hands grab a thigh and slide my legs along the silk and suede covering the bed. Two sets of fingers tease and stroke my slippery pink flesh. The chain around my ass and legs bites my skin. The red diamond burns like a small brand. The jewels at my throat are cool, like pebbles in a stream.

  “Plunge your tongue into her mouth, Sanguis Numen. Drive it into her hard and deep,” Daniel commands from his post in the corner.

  I drop my eyes in his direction and watch him, fly unzipped, hand around his erection, stroking. You’re beautiful, love, I tell him.

  He gives me an icy stare and looks away. “Your tongue, Numen.”

  River places his palm on my jaw, turns my head, and penetrates my mouth with his, unleashing his passion.

  I’m consumed by him. His slick tongue enters, withdraws…enters, caresses mine, withdraws. It’s a torrid, slippery, sensuous oral fucking. His leg is draped over my right thigh, his cock pressing into my skin, rocking, rubbing, rocking more.

  Rafe’s leg is heavy across my left thigh, his fingers teasing, probing my folds. I’m completely absorbed in sensation, fingers, heat, skin, so much skin, bodily fluids. Scents of Rafe, of River, cigar, musky maleness…I moan into River’s mouth.

  “Make her come,” Daniel orders.

  River’s fingers twirl around my clit while Rafe plunges two fingers inside my pussy. At least I think those are his fingers. I really don’t care. All I care about are the building sensations coursing through me. My body is on fire. I jerk away from the kiss, unable to continue. I grab handfuls of bedding and crush it between my palms. My head arches back until the top of it is jammed against a plump pillow. River’s body invokes abandon. Rafe’s conjuring innocence and the sense of infinite newness. The combination is nearly unbearable. “Oh, God,” I cry. It’s a low, guttural sound that seems to come from some distant canyon. Animalistic cries stream from my throat as I climax. The electricity zinging through me is unreal.