Текст книги "Beautifully Loyal"

Автор книги: Nicole Edwards

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

“You like that?” Leyton asked, his face once again beside Jase’s. “You like being fucked in the ass?”

Jase groaned when Leyton added two fingers.

“Tell me,” Leyton commanded.

“By you,” he admitted, “yes. I need more. It’s not enough.”

“It will be,” Leyton told him, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Turn over on your back.”

Jase rolled, but Leyton didn’t dislodge his fingers from his ass, so he had to lift his leg, not wanting him to stop. Lying on his back, Jase stared up at Leyton, wondering what he wanted. The man’s green eyes glittered with passion, something he supposed Leyton had been holding back for a long damn time.

“Fuck me,” Jase pleaded, his voice hoarse from the raw need coursing through him.

“Gettin’ there,” Leyton told him. “But I like watchin’ you.”

Jase smirked. “I figured that one out already.”

Leyton’s eyes drifted down to Jase’s mouth as more pressure was applied, probably as Leyton added a third finger into his ass. Jase tried to rock his hips, wanting more, but Leyton’s upper body kept him from moving. When Leyton’s lips touched his, Jase grabbed his head, holding him as their mouths fused together, their tongues tangling, teeth clashing as the last thread of control snapped.

The kiss continued, even as the delicious intrusion disappeared. Jase kept his hands on Leyton’s head, holding him while Leyton fumbled with the condom, then the lube, then shifted so that he was kneeling between Jase’s legs. When he felt the head of Leyton’s dick against his asshole, Jase released him, peering down his body, wanting to see this.

Leyton adjusted his position, lifting Jase’s leg up and across his body as he pushed forward, his cock breaching Jase’s asshole. There was pressure but no pain as Leyton guided himself inside.

“Relax,” Leyton ground out.

“Can’t,” Jase said, his chest heaving. “I don’t want easy, Leyton. Fuck. Me.”

Leyton’s eyes met Jase’s briefly as though he was attempting to determine whether Jase meant what he’d said. Apparently he got the answer he needed, because he kept his eyes locked with Jase’s as he slammed his hips forward, burying himself to the hilt.

Jase’s head dug into the pillow as his body bowed up off he bed, the brutal intrusion igniting both pleasure and pain receptors, making his body tremble.

“That what you want?” Leyton bit out, retreating and then slamming into him again.

“Fuck yes.”

Leyton leaned forward, contorting Jase’s body at an awkward angle as he drove into him over and over. Adjusting his hips, Jase took all of Leyton, continuing to watch him as he fucked him hard and deep.

“Jase,” Leyton panted. “It’s been … too long. Fuck, you feel good. So goddamn good.”

“Don’t stop,” Jase pleaded. He managed to twist his body so that he was partially on his stomach, giving Leyton more leverage to impale him harder, faster.

Leyton took advantage of the position, as Jase had hoped he would, gripping Jase’s hips as he fucked him. Before long, Jase was kneeling before him, taking Leyton in his ass, never wanting it to end.

“I’m close,” Leyton growled.

Jase was too, but he couldn’t speak. The pleasure was intense, so much so that he couldn’t form words, could hardly draw breath as his body tensed. He gripped his dick, trying to stave off his release, all while knowing it wasn’t going to help. Being with Leyton, having him fuck him like this… It had been a fantasy of Jase’s for so fucking long. And now that it was coming true, he could hardly contain himself.

“Jase,” Leyton snapped, leaning forward and nipping Jase’s shoulder roughly. “Fucking come … for me … while I… Oh, fuck!”

Leyton’s body slammed into his, and Jase furiously jacked his cock until he was coming in his own hand while Leyton’s dick pulsed in his ass.

They both dropped to the bed, chests heaving, both of them covered in sweat.

Needing to clean up, Jase forced his legs over the edge of the bed and got to his feet. Leyton was close behind, tossing the used condom in the trash can before coming to stand beside Jase at the sink. Neither of them said anything as they cleaned up, but once they were back in his bedroom, Jase knew he had to say something or Leyton would likely disappear on him.

As he turned to Leyton, gearing up to say something, though he wasn’t sure what, he was surprised when Leyton spoke first.

“Before you say whatever it is on your mind,” Leyton said, coming to stand directly in front of Jase, “I want you to know that I’m not sorry this happened.”

Jase narrowed his eyes. He could hear a but in there.

“But this was between you and me. I have to handle Ashlynn differently.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Jase didn’t like the sound of that.

“I feel something for her, something that I can’t even explain. But I’m not willin’ to accept only one night with her.”

Jase’s teeth snapped together. “But that’s not a problem with me?”

He hated that Leyton’s comment had cut him to the bone.

Leyton grabbed him, pulling him forward until their mouths were so close Jase could feel Leyton’s breath. “Don’t fucking put words in my mouth. That’s not what I said, and it damn sure isn’t what I meant.”

Jase relaxed somewhat.

“Ashlynn doesn’t know how to love someone,” Leyton said softly. “Or rather, she doesn’t realize that she does love on the rare chance it happens.”

Leyton wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know, but Jase kept his mouth shut.

“She has feelings for you,” Leyton continued. “It’s very clear to all of us. And I need her to have those same feelings for me. If she can’t, then I’m not willing to give in to her.”

It took a moment, but Jase finally understood what Leyton meant. He wanted all of Ashlynn, not just a little piece. Granted, he wasn’t sure how well that would go over with her, but Jase knew Leyton was right … that was going to have to be between them. For now, he would sit back and see how it all played out.

And in the meantime, Jase would do his fucking best not to fall in love with a man he couldn’t fucking have.

“But this…” Leyton added. “Between you and me… I don’t want just one night, either. I hope you understand that.”

He didn’t, but he didn’t tell Leyton as much. Not yet.

Chapter Twenty-Six

An opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Five years ago

Jase wasn’t sure what he was walking into, but he knew he couldn’t turn back now. He’d applied for a job as a bouncer at Devil’s Playground—one of the swankiest clubs in the Dallas area—nearly four months ago, and he hadn’t expected to get a call back, but he had. Yesterday. Only this call was different than what he would’ve expected when it came to a job interview.

First, he was told not to say a word to anyone about the phone call or the meeting or anything else, for that matter. And if that hadn’t raised the hair on the back of his neck, the instruction to meet at an undisclosed location certainly had. He’d hadn’t been given an address, but he was informed that he would receive one within thirty minutes of the meeting.

That call had come twenty-eight minutes ago while he’d been driving in circles around downtown, waiting for information on where he was supposed to go.

Unfortunately, he’d been given an address for a house nearly twenty minutes away, so he’d hauled ass out of the busy city and onto the highway. After winding his way through a ritzy neighborhood, he’d emerged on the other side, following some winding dirt roads until finally locating the address of the house he’d been sent to. Jase had wondered whether he was stupid for following through. Who set up a job interview at their house?

Granted, it wasn’t just any house. The place was huge. Modern and sleek, it felt more like a building that should’ve been in the city, not out in the sticks. Surrounded by acres and acres of farmland, it was a little strange to pull his old Ford truck down a cobblestone drive, only to end up coming to a wrought iron gate with a keypad mounted on the side. He had to announce who he was, and a few minutes later, the gate swung open, allowing him entry. He followed the path until he ended up on a circular drive in front of the modern marvel.

After ringing the doorbell, he waited for someone to answer and was greeted by a beefy white guy with a big nose, a missing tooth, and thinning hair. No introductions were made as he was ushered inside, then guided through the exquisitely decorated house to a room in the back. He’d expected an office or the equivalent but found himself in a formally decorated living room with an ornate sofa, a high-back chair with a matching cushion, what appeared to be an antique table, and nothing else. Not even a person.

“She’ll be here momentarily,” the guy grumbled, then left Jase alone.

With nothing to do but sit and wait, Jase dropped to the sofa and stared around the room. It didn’t match the rest of the house, at least from the little he’d seen. While he’d noticed thick-planked, dark hardwood floors in the rest of the house, this room had plush beige carpeting and cream-colored walls. There was nothing inviting about the room whatsoever, with the exception that it smelled clean and he didn’t see any dust motes in the rays streaming in through the open wood blinds.

“Thank you for coming,” came a seductive voice from behind him.

Jase instantly sat up straight and twisted so he could see who the voice belonged to.

It was in that moment that his mouth dried up and his body went on high alert.

The woman moving toward him was by far the most mesmerizing thing he’d ever seen in all of his twenty-two years. Long, dark hair grazed the top of her luscious ass, while a body-hugging red dress clung to every single glorious curve, accentuating her narrow waist and high, pert breasts.

“Did you have a problem finding the place?” she asked as she made her way across the room to a small setup he hadn’t noticed. There was a glass decanter filled with brown liquid and two tumblers. She poured two fingers of what he assumed was whiskey into both, then returned to hand him one.

Forcing his gaze off her stunning rack, he met her eyes, captivated momentarily by what he sensed in the green-brown depths. “No,” he finally replied, clearing his throat.

“It’s been brought to my attention that you’re interested in a job.”

Jase glanced around the room. “I applied for a bouncer position, sure.”

“Have you ever done security before, Mr. Malone?”

Well, she clearly knew who he was, but he was still in the dark as to her identity. Still, he responded with, “Briefly.”

“Care to enlighten me?” Her smile was as brilliant as the sun.

Assuming she’d checked his resume and likely pulled a background check on him, Jase figured the truth was the only way to go. “I worked as a bouncer at a couple of clubs.”

“Strip clubs?”

Okay, so she’d definitely done her homework.

He nodded, then took a sip of the drink. The liquor burned all the way down, but it wasn’t the gut rot he was used to. This was some expensive shit.

“Want to explain your record?”

He knew she wasn’t referring to his employment history, but he didn’t shy away from the question. “I did a coupla years for assault,” he admitted.

“Self-defense?” she asked, her plump lips curling over the edge of her glass and captivating him momentarily.

“No.” He saw no reason to lie to her. “Second-degree felony.”

“While you were working?”

“No.”

“Enlighten me, Mr. Malone. What happened?”

“Let’s just say I was dishing out a little payback.”

“So you don’t have an issue with violence?”

That was an odd question, especially coming from this woman. She appeared classy, sophisticated even. His answer was the same as all the others, “No.”

“Good.”

“You have family here?”

Jase nodded. “Mother and brother. Estranged from both.”

“Father?”

“No idea.” His father had left when he was six months old, or so his mother had told him. The guy had never been in the picture, and Jase had never felt the need to look for him.

“Familiar with guns?”

“Yes.” He’d been interested in firearms since he was a teenager. Owned several, although he’d likely do time if the law ever figured that out since his probation strictly stated he couldn’t own a weapon. “If you don’t mind me asking—”

“I do,” she interrupted, still watching him cautiously. “Would you have a problem killing someone if the job required?”

Now that was a strange question if he’d ever heard one. Then again, Jase hadn’t grown up in the suburbs, didn’t have nightly dinner with his parents or watch television before bed. He’d been out on his own since he was sixteen, having dropped out of high school in order to work. He’d always taken care of himself. “Depends,” he stated. “If it comes to that, then no, I wouldn’t have a problem.”

He had no idea why he was being so candid with this woman he didn’t even know. He wasn’t sure if she was even associated with the club, or what he was being hired to do. But for some reason, he didn’t want her to let him leave without hiring him on. He had the feeling, if it came down to it, he’d do anything this woman wanted.

“Have you heard of the Adorites?” she asked.

“The mafia family? Sure. Everyone has.” He hoped like fuck she wasn’t going to ask him to kill a mob boss because that… He wasn’t up for that shit. He happened to like living, thank you very much.

“Do you know much about them?”

“Honestly, no. Other than they’re ruthless, and it’s in my best interest not to fuck with them. Is this line of questioning going somewhere?” Jase was beginning to feel a little defensive. He was all for checking out this chick. She was hot as fuck, but he wasn’t willing to kill for her. Not yet, anyway, and certainly not if it involved him taking out one of Dallas’s most notorious crime families.

“Do you want the job, Mr. Malone?”

“What job is that?” he countered, once again looking around the room.

“I’ve recently been advised that it’d be in my best interest to hire security for myself. I need someone to watch my back.”

Oh, well, hell. In that case, he’d be more than content to watch her back—and her ass—however she needed him to.

“It pays well.”

“How well?” After all, if he was going to be protecting her body, he figured he should be compensated for it.

“Depends,” she said, tossing his answer back at him.

“On…?” He downed the rest of his drink.

“How much do you think a job like this pays?”

Noting the furnishings in the room and doing some quick calculations in his head, he tossed out a number. “I won’t do it for less than forty grand a year.”

Her smile transformed her face, and Jase was fairly certain he fell in love with her right then and there.

“Forty grand?”

Shit. He’d gone high and now he didn’t—

“I was thinkin’ more like two hundred to start out. Will that work for you?”

“A week?” Was she fucking nuts?

“A year,” she clarified, another seductive grin curling her beautiful mouth. “Two hundred grand a year.”

Jase damn near swallowed his tongue. Unable to find words, he nodded and suddenly wished he had something else to drink.

She must’ve sensed his unease, because she laughed—a sexy, raspy sound that made his dick hard—as she got to her feet. After taking his empty glass from his hand, she refilled both and returned his to him.

“Protecting me is your only job duty,” she explained, walking over to the window. “No matter what it takes.”

Sure. He got that. Though he didn’t say as much.

“I can be quite demanding at times,” she said. “Do you think you can handle me?”

“I can damn sure try,” he mumbled, realizing too late that he’d said the words aloud.

She turned around to face him fully, gifting him with another glamorous grin. “I think I’m gonna like you, Mr. Malone.”

“Please, call me Jase,” he rasped.

“I can do that, Jase. And you can call me Ashlynn.” She tilted her head to the side. “Only when we’re handling business will I insist you call me Ms. Adorite.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Jase choked on his drink.

Did she say…?

Fucking hell.

While he coughed and sputtered, he tried to wrap his head around what she’d just told him. And then it hit him.

He’d just accepted a job as a security guard…

To the fucking mob.

Ashlynn had liked Jase the instant she’d laid eyes on him. She’d seen his picture, reviewed as much information as was provided to her, but none of it had prepared her for the sinfully good-looking man who sat on the obnoxious sofa now. He looked more out of place than she felt when she was in this room.

As for whether or not he could keep her safe, that was yet to be seen. But she wanted someone who wasn’t intimidated by her father, as well as someone who was cocky and sure of himself. Aside from his reaction to the money, he’d been just what she was looking for.

Glancing down at his clothes, she took in the faded black slacks—likely the only pair he owned—and the slightly wrinkled white shirt. It looked more like the uniform for a restaurant employee than for someone who was now moving into a position of such importance.

“We need to go shopping,” she announced, tossing back the rest of her drink.

“Shopping?” he asked, staring back at her as though she’d lost her mind.

“I’m assumin’ you got dressed up for the occasion?”

Jase glanced down at himself as though trying to remember what he was wearing. The smirk he shot her confirmed her suspicions.

“Like I said, shopping.” Without instructing him to follow, she left the room, smiling when she heard his footfalls behind her. He learned quickly.

Grabbing the keys for the Escalade off the hook near the garage, she tossed them toward him.

His blond eyebrows lifted.

“I hope you’re a good driver,” she teased, then grabbed her purse from the table she’d set it on earlier.

When he didn’t immediately make a move to follow, she turned to face him. “Somethin’ wrong?”

He shook his head, but his eyes slipped down to her chest. She liked that he was responsive to her that way. It would make things interesting between them, for sure.

As she led the way to the SUV, she didn’t open her door but was glad to see he was right behind her. He pulled open the door, then allowed her to climb inside before closing it behind her. He hustled around to the driver’s side, hopped in, and stabbed the keys in the ignition.

“Is that bulletproof glass?” he asked, nodding toward the windshield.

Ashlynn nodded. “It’s armored, too. Can’t be too careful.”

She was honestly surprised he didn’t praise the car. Well, nothing more than running his hands along the leather steering wheel as he took it all in.

Ashlynn hit the button for the garage door opener and allowed him to figure out the rest.

Forty-five minutes later, Ashlynn was sitting in a chair in one of her brother’s preferred suit shops, watching the tailor measure Jase.

“Keep that up,” Jase joked, “and you and I are gonna be more than friends.”

She lifted her gaze in time to see the man’s eyes widen as he peered up at Jase.

“You like men?” she asked bluntly.

Those crystal-blue eyes cut her way. “I’m an equal opportunity lover,” he admitted.

She liked him more already.

“That so?”

“Is that a problem?” he asked, though she could tell by the look on his face he knew that it wasn’t.

“Not at all. I’m thinkin’ I might like to watch.”

His eyes widened and the tension in his shoulders eased. “Sure you don’t wanna join in? I’m sure we could make room for you.”

She liked that he was confident enough to flirt with her. Before she could respond, her cell phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she noticed it was Leyton.

“Yes?” she asked, keeping her tone hard.

“Did you hire him? Max wants to know.”

“And my brother couldn’t call me himself?”

“He’s busy,” Leyton stated.

“Yeah? Or were you curious and couldn’t wait any longer to find out?”

“Ashlynn.”

“Yes, I hired him,” she said, looking up at Jase to see he was still watching her. “And I think he’s gonna work out quite nicely.”

“You know you can’t take him to your bed.” Leyton’s tone was so pragmatic she felt herself bristle.

“If I wanna fuck him, I’ll fuck him. That’s none of your business.”

A smirk formed on Jase’s lips, and she suddenly wondered what his mouth would feel like on her body.

“You need someone who won’t be distracted, Ash,” Leyton told her. “You start … sleepin’ with him and that won’t work.”

“You’ve stated your piece. Anything else?”

“No,” Leyton grumbled, and the line disconnected.

“Problems?” Jase asked.

“Not at all. Just my brother’s bodyguard stickin’ his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Jase jerked when the man on his knees placed the measuring tape too close to the family jewels. “Keep it up. We’ll see how much of a workout your jaw can handle.”

Ashlynn laughed, meeting Jase’s amused gaze. It was in that moment that she knew this guy was going to somehow be important to her. She just didn’t know how exactly.