Brutal Sin Read online

  “Tomorrow, you’ll have more clarity. More stability.” She sighed as his mouth found her collarbone, the rough scrape of beard adding a touch of friction to the exquisite softness of his kisses.

  “Right.”

  His thigh parted hers, the rub against the crotch of her pants grazing her clit. Tingles spread through her abdomen, the tendrils of pleasure creeping higher and higher. Slowly, her brain switched gears, sliding commonsense to the sideline and yanking gratification to the forefront. She needed more touches, more kisses, more endorphins.

  He pulsed his leg between hers, taunting her pussy. “More security?”

  “Mmm hmm.” She closed her eyes and whimpered. Hope was lost. Not one single part of her body wanted to be apart from this man. Not one finger. Not one nerve.

  Rational thought became suffocated by lust.

  They could work out the important stuff tomorrow.

  After.

  “I guess I’ve been wrong before.” Christ, she was such an easy mark. Such a groupie.

  He didn’t acknowledge her surrender, only continued the delicious trail of his mouth. She undid the top button of her shirt, then the next, exposing her cleavage to his mercy.

  “I’ve dreamed about these.” He slid his hand into the cup of her bra and brushed her nipple between his fingers. “My imagination didn’t do them justice.”

  He kissed her sternum, the curve of her breast, then yanked at her bra to suck her nipple into his mouth. Wildfire flickered to life under her ribs. Passion collided with happiness.

  For one tiny moment, everything was perfect. They were synced—movements, heartbeats, intensity. Mind, body, soul.

  He paid homage to her breasts. His thigh teased her pussy. Every nerve tingled under his mastery. She could almost come like this, from friction and suction.

  “We better get going.” He straightened and stepped back, his lust seeming to vanish in an instant while she spun from the stronghold. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Excuse me?” She licked her drying lips as he grabbed the bottle of scotch and placed it in a cupboard under the bar. “What just happened?”

  “You don’t want to have sex. So, let’s go.”

  “But…” How did he jump from the sizzling depths of carnality, to the freezing icecaps of chastity? “What? Why?”

  “Your rules.”

  “Wow.” Her mouth gaped. “You’re horrible.”

  A picture-perfect grin beamed back at her. “Just in control for now.”

  “For now?”

  “Yep. It doesn’t always happen around you.” He fastened her shirt buttons, the composed action a physical brag about his discipline. “Did you really think I’d risk all that stability and clarity you were mumbling about?”

  “Then why start?”

  “I’m not a priest.” He winked. “You might dictate the rules, but I know how to play the game.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her forward.

  “That’s a really nasty thing to do.” Her panties were damp. Her breasts screamed for more. “I don’t want to forgive you.”

  “I’m drunk and emotional, remember? Go easy on me.”

  “You’re drunk, emotional, and soon to be neutered if you don’t quit dragging me around.”

  “Neutering me would mean coming in close contact with my dick, and that’s off limits. You can’t break your own rules.” He kept tugging, leading her around the bar toward the cement staircase leading to the Shot of Sin parking lot. “And besides, you like holding my hand.”

  “I can’t believe you played me.” She glared through an unwanted smile. “This isn’t fair.”

  But it was. For once, everything seemed fair, and honest, and fun. Breathing him in, feeling his strength, knowing he cared—the happiness of it was overwhelming.

  He paused at the foot of the staircase, the atmosphere changing as he focused into the darkness ahead. “Ella?”

  His ominous tone killed her playful heartbeat. “Yeah?”

  He shot her a glance over his shoulder, his features tight. “I can’t promise I won’t fuck this up.”

  Her heart swelled, the rush of blood struggling to get through. “I know.”

  He gave a sharp nod and continued forward, his fingers gently squeezing hers.

  “Bryan?”

  “Mmm?” He kept walking, bringing them to the top of the staircase and the door leading outside.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her head into his neck. “I can’t promise I’ll walk away the next time you ask me to.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I mean it. I’ll put all those other sex hounds to shame.”

  He laughed and pushed opened the door. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  “I’m serious.” She followed him into the dwindling daylight. “If you ever break up with me, I’ll stalk you.”

  His snicker was awkward.

  “And if you leave me, I’ll slash your tires.” She swung their joined hands with delight. “After all this time, destiny has finally brought us together.” She grinned as he slowed his stride, his posture stiffening. “Do you think it’s time to start discussing matching tattoos?”

  He stopped, his gaze taking long seconds to meet hers. He scanned her face, searching her expression.

  “What’s wrong?” She blinked up at him. “Are you scared of needles?”

  His eyes narrowed, and he yanked her into his chest. “You’re playing games with me?”

  “Maybe.” She chuckled. “You started it.”

  “I’ll finish it, too.” He pinned her hands behind her back and smashed his mouth to hers, punishing her with bliss.

  She wiggled, not wanting to succumb a second time. “Don’t start this again.”

  “I won’t.” He stared down at her, his gaze raking over her eyes, her nose, her lips. Each feature was treated to the same visual affection. “I think I changed my mind.”

  “About?” She gave his gorgeous face the same tender inspection, taking in the kindness of those deep blue eyes and the dark tempting lips.

  “I’m not going to fuck this up, Ella.”

  “You know what, Bryan?” Her heart swelled again, pumping tingling blood through every inch of her, filling her with confidence. “I believe you.”

  Epilogue

  Pamela slid her bare thighs onto the bar stool, feigning relaxation even though the sensation was illusive. Whimpers and groans filled her ears, along with murmured chatter, soft laughter, and the occasional clink of a glass as Vault patrons socialized around her.

  “I didn’t expect to see you down here.” Shay retrieved a tall glass from the clean rack. “Tequila sunrise?”

  “Yes, please.” On second thought… “Make that a double.”

  Shay eyed her with suspicion. “Nervous to be back?”

  “I’m not sure.” She hadn’t stepped foot inside the sex club in months. Not since the night she’d vowed never to return.

  Life was different now. Everything was different. And knowing what to expect once she walked down the dimly lit Vault staircase had become an elaborate guessing game.

  “Bryan told me the two of you stopped dating.” Shay continued her scrutiny as she pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge under the counter.

  “He did?”

  “I didn’t get the details. He only said the first date failed with fucking brilliant efficiency, and he wouldn’t be doing it again.”

  Pamela winced at the memory. Their meal at an exclusive restaurant had been a nightmare of awkwardness. “We didn’t even make it through dinner.”

  “Was it that bad?”

  “Yeah, it was.” She could’ve enjoyed his monumental discomfort and considered it a sweet serve of karma, but she hadn’t. He’d fumbled with the cutlery, guzzled the wine, and hadn’t taken a bite of any of the extremely expensive meals. “He’s not the dating type.”

  Shay slid the tequila sunrise across the bar but continued to
grip the glass. “I gather things ended amicably if he reinstated your membership.” She continued holding the alcohol hostage. “But if you being here is some form of retribution, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I don’t want any drama on his first night back.”

  “Drama? I’m not here to—”

  “I like you.” Shay lowered her voice, shooting a conspiratorial look over Pamela’s shoulder as she released the glass. “Please don’t make me kick you out.”

  “Kick who out?” Bryan’s delicious, deep growl tickled her neck, the sound having the ability to burst ovaries in a ten-mile radius. “What did I miss?”

  He swiveled her stool, dragging her attention to his ruggedly perfect face. His beard had been cropped, the blond strands shorter, revealing more of the man he hid beneath. She’d never get sick of staring at him, not when he looked at her with affection and ownership. Tonight, there was something else, too.

  Was he nervous?

  “Apparently, our break-up.” She feigned a glare. “You told your friends we weren’t dating anymore?”

  His lush lips curved, setting off a chain reaction to transform his features into something entirely stunning, and maybe even a little sweet. “We’re not.”

  “True.” She leaned in, swiping her mouth leisurely across his. His responding growl carried into her belly, tickling all the way down to her pussy. “But I think you’ve given them the wrong impression.”

  “You’re still together?” Shay shrieked, stealing the attention of the room.

  Numerous people stopped what they were doing—the drinking, the kissing, the fucking—and turned to face them.

  “Subtle,” Bryan grated. “Real fucking subtle, Shay.”

  Pamela wove a hand around his neck and kept him close. She loved this man. Not that he knew it. The L-word was extremely significant to him. Without the love of his parents, he considered the emotion to be the holy grail of humanity. She didn’t expect to ever hear the declaration from his lips. But she took solace in telling herself his adoration and commitment were signs of something parallel.

  “Why did you give your friends the wrong impression?” she whispered.

  He’d changed during their time together. Each day, he opened up a little more, sharing tidbits about his past, giving enough to satisfy her concern. Apparently, that translucent behavior ended when he came to work.

  “I had to keep you to myself for as long as possible.” He leaned back to stare at her. “I didn’t want to keep fielding questions about us every time I took a breath. I needed it to be you and me for a while.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Shay slapped her hands against the bar.

  “See?” he drawled. “She’s a hemorrhoid we’ll never get rid of.”

  “I am not,” the bartender snapped. “You’re too secretive. Maybe if you shared every once in a while.”

  Bryan shook his head, his nose brushing Pamela’s. “I don’t want to share.”

  “You’re lucky you’re cute.” She nibbled his lower lip. “But it’s time to tell her. Don’t be mean.”

  His chest rumbled, the predatory sound tickling her nipples as he slid his hands around her hips and cupped her ass. “We’re not dating, Shay,” he muttered between kisses. “We’re living together.”

  Pamela smiled and sank into his affection while the bartender flung questions their way, over and over, one after another, until her voice approached a yell and Leo, T.J., and Cassie joined the inquisition. Not once did Bryan allow their kiss to break. He kept their bodies fused—lips and hips—while his tongue teased hers with gentle swirls.

  She couldn’t get enough of him or his arrogant demands. Not now, and definitely not when he’d dragged her from their first date and announced they needed to skip the irritating formalities and move in together.

  Bryan hadn’t functioned well under his preconceived notions of what a romantic relationship should be. He’d needed to create his own rules. And the unscheduled fast-forward into a cemented commitment had worked for them both.

  She loved the stability and devotion. He enjoyed keeping her on her toes.

  Not once had they looked back.

  He wasn’t anything like she’d anticipated. She’d already known they’d set sheets aflame in the bedroom. But away from the sex and the seduction, he was the most attentive and protective man she’d ever met.

  Selfless, too.

  Tonight, he surprised her all over again with his gentle devotion. In a sex club, for the first time as a couple, she’d thought he would’ve been in predator mode—all hands, teeth, and gyrating body parts.

  This smooth tenderness was a million times better.

  He inched back, those blue eyes slaying her with their passion. “Are you ready for the inquisition?”

  She nodded, taking the seconds of their locked gaze to try to read him. When he swung toward his friends, she remained clueless.

  T.J. and Cassie huddled beside them near the stools. Shay and Leo stood behind the bar.

  Shay cocked a hip, a manicured brow rising. “You’ve got some ex—”

  Leo clapped a hand over his girlfriend’s mouth, softening the restriction with a kiss to her forehead.

  “Are you happy?” Cassie asked over the growing enthusiasm in the room.

  “That’s your first question?” Bryan scoffed. “Great. This is going to take all night.”

  “That’s our only question,” Leo clarified. “You don’t like to share, and we don’t need to pry. We just want to make sure you’re happy.” He dropped his hand from Shay’s face and poured himself a glass of bourbon. “Isn’t that right, Shay?”

  She grunted. “Speak for yourself. I want all the gory details.”

  “There are no gory details.” Bryan wrapped a hand around Pamela’s waist, squeezing tight. “Dating didn’t work, so we moved in together.”

  “But you’re happy?” T.J. asked.

  “Yes.” His response was simple. No inflection. No emotion. No bullshit. “Are we done now?”

  Pamela hid her disappointment. She didn’t want him to gush and brag about their relationship. She just wanted… Something. Anything to match the man he became in the privacy of his own home. Here in the bar, he’d regressed to being the closed off, tight-lipped guy she first met. Even his posture seemed stiff.

  Leo inclined his head, raised his glass in salute, and then walked for the end of the bar.

  Discussion over.

  “Yep. That’s all.” Cassie beamed. “I’m so pleased for you both.” She clapped Bryan on the shoulder and strode away, dragging her husband along with her.

  Shay did a repeat of her eye-roll, not saying a word as she side-stepped and requested a drink order from a waiting patron with a jerk of her chin.

  That was it. The inquisition had finished before it had begun.

  “You hid our relationship because of that?” she asked.

  “That’s not normal,” he muttered. “I think they’re lulling us into a false sense of security.”

  “Is that why you’re anxious?”

  He stiffened, not meeting her gaze.

  She’d nailed it. He was anxious. “What is it? I thought you were excited about tonight.”

  They’d discussed the complexity of returning to the Vault. It was their first major test. The trust and responsibility of being committed while participating in a sex club wasn’t something to disregard without a second, third, or fourth thought.

  He frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Now he was lying? “Bryan? What’s going on?”

  “Shit,” he muttered under his breath. “Look, I have something planned. I’m just not sure how it will turn out.”

  Her stomach flipped. What plans could put this experienced man on edge? “You’re never nervous when it comes to sex.”

  “Exactly.” He cleared his throat and stood tall. “Hey.” He raised his voice, cutting through the moans and whimpers. “I need everyone’s attention.”

&nb
sp; Her heart fluttered as the room fell under his command. Couples stopped fucking. People stepped out of the adjoining rooms to hear what he had to say. Even Cassie and T.J. looked on in confusion from the far corner.

  “As you all know, this is my first night back—”

  Wolf whistles and cheers sliced through the air.

  “Come on, guys.” He hushed the excitement with raised hands. “As I was saying, I haven’t been down here since before I canceled the demonstration night. Unfortunately, the original plan didn’t work out, but tonight I’d like to give you all a taste of what’s in store when I reorganize the class.”

  He faced her and held out a hand.

  “Bryan?” She glanced around the room, unsure what was going on. “What are you doing?”

  “I need you to help assist me in a tiny preview.”

  She shook her head. No. No, no, no. She’d barely been prepared for what could’ve happened in the dark shadows on their own, let alone under a microscope.

  Everyone stared at them, the simmering excitement in the air tickling her skin.

  “I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

  His anxiety faded under the brilliance of his smirk. “You will be.” The promise was wicked. Confident. Entirely undeniable.

  She reached for her drink and gulped some of the liquid.

  “Don’t drink too much.” His heat closed in to envelop her, his lips finding her neck. “You don’t want to be numb for this.”

  Yes, she did.

  If it weren’t for his anxiety, she would’ve indulged in the upcoming naughtiness with bounding delight. Her nipples already tingled. Her panties had turned into a Slip ’N Slide. She loved every opportunity to be an exhibitionist in the safe environment of the Vault.

  But Bryan was worried about something. The fear pulsed off him in waves.

  “We should talk about this first.” The weight of the room’s interest bore down on her.

  “Trust me.”

  “This has nothing to do with trust. I’ve never seen you anything other than one hundred percent confident when it comes to sex. Whatever you’re concerned about is starting to concern me.”

  “Come on,” a man called from the back of the room. “Bring on the demo.”