The hard expression on her face softened.

  “Come here.”

  “Adrian…”

  “Please.”

  She knew I didn’t beg often. It worked on getting her ass over to me. Once she was close enough, I pulled her into my arms to wrap mine around her. For a second, she froze. It was such a vulnerable position for me. With my head against her stomach, I stayed like that, hugging her to the front of my body.

  When I felt her arms go hold me back, I loosened my grip, thinking back on the last time we were like this…

  Where I was at her mercy.

  Twenty-Nine

  Adrian

  Past: One month later

  “You ready, Cherry?”

  Paige sighed, looking at me through the full-length mirror in front of her.

  “You are the most impatient man in the world. Do you know that?”

  I was over to her in three strides, grabbing her wrist to turn her to face me. “You sassing me, sweetheart?”

  She rolled her eyes at me as my hands inched toward her ass. “It’s not sass when it’s true.”

  I spanked her hard and grabbed her ass, making her yelp. “Ow!”

  I grinned as she pushed against my chest, trying to get out of my grasp. It was no use. She wasn’t going anywhere unless I wanted her to. It was just entertaining as fuck to watch her try.

  “It’s my birthday. I’m allowed to do whatever I want today.”

  “What’s your excuse for the rest of the time?” she giggled as I slowly moved my hands near her inner thighs. It didn’t take much to make her squirm, she was sensitive everywhere. I made sure to touch her every chance I got, just to hear her laugh.

  She tried to swat my hands away. “Stop, that tickles!” she said, thrashing and throwing her head back with laughter.

  She gasped when I suddenly lifted her up, leaning her back against the wall with a slight thud. Before I wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck for support.

  “For someone who is so impatient, you sure are making it hard for me to get ready. I thought you wanted to go?”

  “Everything I want is in my arms.”

  I deliberately pushed my hard cock against her core so she could feel my need for her. Continuing my descent, I took it a step further. My hands started to roam from her hip up her side, grazing her tit, causing a moan to escape her lips.

  “Shhh… Cade’s in his room,” I groaned, rubbing my cock along her heat again. Making her legs wrap tighter around my waist.

  She wanted to feel every inch of me.

  My hands worked their way under her tank, the need to feel her soft skin against my calloused fingers won. I peered into her eyes. Our connection had always been flawless and easy.

  When her small, delicate hands started moving from my neck down to my chest, I instantly grabbed her wrists, bringing them above her head. Holding them tight in my grasp.

  “Did I say you could touch me?” I taunted, brushing my lips lightly over hers.

  She shook her head no, her nose grazing mine. “But you’re so delicious,” she countered, angling her head, trying to kiss me.

  I chuckled against her mouth. “I could say the same for you,” I breathed out, pecking her lips. Giving her what she wanted.

  I deepened our kiss, getting lost in the feeling of her velvety tongue.

  She pulled away first, and I immediately missed her mouth. Smirking up at me through her lashes, she purred, “Good.”

  Without warning, I released her hands and stepped back, causing her to fall to her feet unexpectedly. She whimpered from the loss of my touch, glaring at me as she adjusted her clothes.

  She snuck out my window and I left my apartment through the front door. To say it wasn’t thrilling to be sneaking around was a lie. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want to get caught. Mostly because I didn’t want to lose her, but that didn’t stop the fun of messing around.

  I picked her up down the street, telling her to get her ass in my car. We rode in comfortable silence while I held her hand in my lap, bringing it up to my lips every so often, just to feel her pulse quicken in my hold.

  “Where are we going?” she giggled.

  “It’s my birthday and I know what I want for it.”

  She smiled, fully aware of what I meant, but playing coy, “I see. Is this something I can help with?”

  “I think so.”

  “Hmmm…” she hummed, making my cock twitch. “Then lead the way.”

  The feel of her soft, smooth, silky flesh in my mouth was one of my favorite sensations. I loved to feel her. Her vanilla and honey scent that always lingered around her drove me mad; it was like a direct signal to my fucking cock.

  It didn’t take long to reach our final destination for the day. Because one thing was for sure, I wasn’t letting her leave this room.

  I parked my car in the garage of the Don Caesar, renting a suite for that night that overlooked the water. We had our own hot tub on the balcony, and I planned to put it to good use.

  She followed me out of the car, and I grabbed her hand by the trunk, leading us to the room where I was going to take what had always been mine to begin with.

  I checked us in through my phone, so we didn’t have to go to the front desk. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely captivated by her as I opened the door to our paradise.

  As if on cue, we walked into the bedroom. The shades were drawn, but the sliding glass door to my right was open, allowing a warm breeze to surround us. Dropping her hand, I walked around the room taking in the scattered rose petals on the floor and bed. The lit candles on the nightstands and dresser only emphasized the romantic allure to what the staff put together for us.

  She looked around in the room in awe and amazement.

  “I thought it was your birthday.”

  “Sweetheart, trust me, it is.”

  I stood there for a few minutes lost in my thoughts. My emotions that I kept in check all time were getting the best of me.

  My girl.

  “What do you want me to do for you, Adrian?”

  The little fucking minx.

  I didn’t hesitate. In three determined strides, I dropped to my knees in front of her.

  She instantly stared down at me with nothing but lust. Except, instead of devouring her pussy like I intended to. I wrapped my arms around her waist, completely at her mercy.

  For how much I cherished her.

  For how much I loved her…

  But couldn’t tell her.

  Her hair was cascading down the sides of her face and body. The soft flicker of light from the candles danced off her creamy smooth skin.

  She was breathtaking.

  In all my life, I had never seen anything so fucking beautiful before. And I knew right then and there.

  I was done for.

  Cocking my head to the side, I soaked in every last inch of her face.

  A memory I’d cherish and take to my grave.

  Grinning, I rasped, “It’s time to unwrap my present.”

  Never taking my eyes off hers, I slid down her panties. Bringing her pussy right in my face, I went to fucking town, wanting to feel her in every possible way.

  I made her ride my mouth until she was screaming my name.

  Every fiber of my being raged to fuck her, but this was her first time, I had to be gentle.

  In my own way of course.

  I roughly gripped onto the back of her neck and tugged her toward me to claim her mouth, wanting her to taste herself on my tongue. Her lips parted against mine as she instantly sucked it into her mouth, spreading her legs wider for me. Her hips rocked against my hand.

  “Please…” she begged.

  Clutching the back of her neck, I brought us closer, but not nearly close enough. I wanted no space or distance between us. Savoring every last touch, every last push and pull, every last movement of my fingers against her pussy. My lips against her mouth.

  Her body started to tremble as she threw her head back. Breaking our kiss, our connection. I knew she was close. Her hooded glare crippled me in ways I never thought possible. My balls ached to be inside her. She hadn’t even touched my cock yet, and I could feel her all over.

  “Yeah, Cherry… just like that.”

  “Pease don’t stop,” she ordered in one breath.

  Grinning, I moved her clit side-to-side. “Don’t stop what? What don’t you want me to stop?”

  “That. What you’re doing… please…”

  “Here?” I baited, changing the angle of my fingers.

  “Yes…” She moaned, coming apart as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  Not giving her a chance to recover, I roughly pulled her legs out from beneath her, dropping her back to the bed.

  She yelped, surprised.

  My arms wrapped around her thighs, and I tugged her toward me, bringing her ass near the edge of the bed. I immediately dropped to my knees again.

  She squirmed as I licked her from her opening to her clit, sucking hard before going back to her opening to fuck her with my tongue. Her back arched off the bed, wanting more and I readily obliged.

  Until I couldn’t take it anymore. My dick throbbed against my pants. I unbuckled my belt, letting them fall to the floor. Fisting my hard cock in the palm of my hand as it sprang free, I jerked myself off, while I continued to make love to her with my mouth. Bringing us both to the brink of coming undone.

  “Oh God…” she panted in a heady tone, bringing my attention back up to her.

  She was leaning up on her elbows and staring with wide eyes, watching me devour her as I simultaneously stroked my cock. Her intense stare set my already burning body on fucking fire.

  When her legs began to shake, and her eyes shuttered, I knew she was close again. I didn’t falter, easing my middle finger into her opening. I needed to get her ready to take my dick. The last thing I wanted to do, was hurt her. There was no way in hell she could take all of me if I didn’t. Her body instantly locked up when she felt my finger.

  I sucked on her clit harder, moving my head side-to-side and up-and-down, until her body sank into the mattress, and her thighs loosened up. Slowly pushing my finger in deeper, going right for her g-spot. She was so fucking tight, her climax only making her tighter.

  She whimpered at the sudden intrusion. The pain mixed in with the pleasure had my cock aching to be inside of her.

  “Almost there, baby,” I groaned, licking her clit. “I’m going right fucking here…”

  She loudly moaned when I pressed against her g-spot, squeezing her legs together from the new sensation.

  “Oh, God! I can’t… I can’t…”

  “Relax, I’ll take care of you. Just let go, Cherry. Be my good girl.”

  “It’s too much… oh my God…”

  Her body was shaking so fucking bad that I had to let go of my cock and lock my arm around her legs, holding her in place.

  Seconds later she came hard, screaming out my goddamn name.

  Flicking my tongue one last time on her clit, I let her ride out her orgasm on my face until her body went lax. I stood, licking her orgasm from my lips. Savoring the taste of her. Her eyes instantly widened when she saw my hard cock for the first time.

  I kicked off my shoes and pants that were now bunched up at my ankles and grabbed my wallet before tossed them aside too.

  “We don’t need that,” she informed me when she saw me pulling out a condom. “I’m on the pill. And I trust you.”

  I grinned again, crawling up her body. Kissing her skin as I made my way to her face. I caged her in with my arms.

  “How did I get so lucky?”

  The second my tongue touched hers, it turned into its own moment, its own creation. We were in our own world. My legs spread hers, readily laying in between them, placing all my weight on my arms that were cradling her face.

  I peered deep into her eyes, murmuring, “I’ve never gone raw before.”

  She beamed, her smile lighting up her entire face. It was so fucking contagious. I couldn’t help but smile back at her. I started placing soft kisses down her cleavage and toward her nipple while still looking up at her. Wanting to witness the effect I had. I sucked her nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue as my hand caressed her other breast, leaving her breathless beneath me.

  Placing the tip of my dick at her opening, I gently bit down on her nipple, giving her exactly what she craved. I lowered my hand toward her clit, playing with her already over-stimulated nub, slowly easing my way inside her.

  “Hmm…”

  “Are you okay?” I groaned into her mouth.

  She nodded, trying to catch her bearings as I pushed in further and deeper. Nothing compared or even came close to the feeling of Paige. To the sensations that only she stirred within me. Slowly I pushed in inch-by-inch, letting her pussy adjust to my cock. And then, I thrust through her barrier till I was balls deep.

  A throaty moan escaped my lips as she whimpered in pain.

  “You’re mine,” I huskily reminded, causing her to smile through the discomfort.

  I took a moment when I was fully inside her, cherishing the feel of her for the first time, not stopping the friction of my fingers against her clit. I gradually started driving in and out, rubbing my fingers faster and with more determination. Her body began moving in perfect sync with mine as I grabbed her ass, pushing her further and further down my shaft.

  She was so fucking tight, so fucking wet, and so fucking perfect.

  I kissed her again, savoring the silky feel of my mouth claiming what was mine. Before resting my forehead on hers, thrusting a little faster.

  A little deeper.

  A little harder.

  Her back arched off the bed in a frenzy from the pain and pleasure of it all. It didn’t take long until she started matching my thrusts, grinding her hips with mine. Her legs opening wider for me.

  She didn’t say anything, just lifted her hips. Making a silent plea to take it further. Positioning my knee higher, her leg inclined with mine. Her breathing elevated, and I knew I was hitting her g-spot better from that angle. I grabbed the back of her neck to keep our eyes locked. My forehead hovered above hers as we caught our breaths, trying to find a unified rhythm. I once again brought her lips to meet mine. Pushing my tongue in, claiming every last goddamn inch of her.

  My movements became harder and rougher, her body responding to everything I was giving her.

  Everything I was taking…

  Her eyes dilated in pleasure, but also in pain. I immediately lapped at her breasts unable to get enough of her and wanting to take her mind off the sting so she could focus on the ecstasy. Moving back up to her face, our mouths were now parted as we both panted profusely, unable to control the movements of our bodies.

  “Oh, God… I’m going… I think I’m going to come…”

  I thrust faster, moving my fingers hastily.

  “Yes… Yes…” she breathed out, climaxing all down my shaft, taking me right over the edge with her.

  I came so fucking hard inside her, kissing her passionately and holding her tighter till there was nothing left inside of me.

  We stayed like that for I don’t know how long. Enjoying the feel of our skin on skin contact for the first time. I kissed all around her face, her neck, back up to her face again.

  Until she said for the first time…

  “Happy birthday, Adrian Drake. I love you.”

  And I wished…

  I could have said it back to her.

  Thirty

  Adrian

  Now

  They say when two people’s souls are connected, they can feel each other from across the world. Which was the only way I could explain what happened next.

  I woke up from a dead sleep. I was fucking exhausted, and it finally caught up with me. I shot straight up out of bed, grabbing my chest like I couldn’t breathe. It was on fire, burning my lungs. I gasped for air that was unavailable for the taking until I realized why my heart felt like it was being strangled in the first place.

  Through a panicked ridden stare, my eyes shifted beside me, searching for the woman who wasn’t there. With what could only be described as death, my chest seized, knowing right then and there…

  I wasn’t going to find her in this hotel suite.

  Like a bolt of lightning, my body sprang into action. Feeding off pure adrenaline, I hauled ass through that suite as if I was a bat flying out of hell. As soon as I tore through the doorframe of Cade’s bedroom and found him sleeping, I didn’t think twice about waking his ass up. Gripping onto the front of his shirt, I threw him up against the wall beside his bed.

  “Where the fuck is she?!”

  “Adrian! What the fu—”

  I slammed him into the wall. “Where is she?!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  Despite not wanting to, I let him go. I could see it in his eyes, he was genuinely confused.

  “You need to calm the fuck down! Stop seeing me like I’m the fucking bad guy, Adrian! We’re on the same side!”

  “Paige is gone.”

  Three words.

  Three fucking words were all it took for my brother to show fear.

  “How do know she’s not at the gym or something?”

  “She wouldn’t have left me.” Not beating around the bush, I questioned, “Have you talked to your wife?”

  Through a conflicted, tormented expressed, Cade confirmed, “No.”

  “Fuck!” I seethed, grabbing onto the lamp on the nightstand before I chuckled it across the room.

  Glass shattered to the floor, piling at our feet.

  “I know how this looks, Adrian…”

  “If you did, you wouldn’t have the balls to just stand there, Cade.”

  “Stop threatening me,” he ordered, looking around the room as if it held all the answers. “I don’t know where my wife or Paige is, okay? But what I do know is that wherever they are, they’re probably together. Alright?”

  I listened intently. He was right.

  “Hayley’s a victim in this.” He stepped into my face, standing tall. “I don’t know what the fuck is happening right now or how we got pulled into this nightmare. All I know, is that we need to find them. Right the fuck now. This obviously goes deeper than what we could have imagined. We need to work together to get them back.”