Page 24 of King of Desire (Kings of Las Vegas #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Honeyeh

My insides burn as Triston stretches me, and I bury my face into the crook of his shoulder.

Because as much as it hurts, I don’t want him to stop.

This moment was meant to be his. I’ve never felt more certain, more joined to a person than I am with him, and when I think about how this night could have gone…

I hold him tighter, wrapped around him, I start to worry that I’m hurting him.

But he seems fine as he pulls out of me and then slowly pushes back in.

We’re out of the water, but the shower is so warm with the steam, my head swims a bit.

As he sinks back in, the pain lessens and my muscles relax, which makes it hurt even less. Noted. The key is less tension.

I ease back, leaning into the wall. From here, we’re face to face, the cords of his neck so taut, they look as though they might snap.

Without thinking, I run my hands over them to ease them.

“Honeyeh,” he grits out. “Are you comforting me?”

My hooded eyes assess him, and I smile. “You look tense.”

His answer is to lean over and kiss me, his tongue sliding between my lips as he pulls out again and sinks back in, no pain at all this time.

I thread my fingers into his hair, holding him closer as I kiss him back.

“Jesus Christ,” he grits out between two kisses.

But my eyes snap open. “Everything all right?” I whisper against his lips. I want him to feel the way I feel about this. Which is likely a ridiculous ask. He’s my first and only. I know this is different for me. Triston, in this moment, is my everything.

For him I am just…

“Honeyeh,” he groans into my mouth. “You feel so good, luv.”

My eyes close as I arch to take more of him in. He feels good too. And not just inside me. It’s his mouth, the feel of his muscular shoulders under my hand, the way his body supports mine.

He’s got his hands under my ass as he lifts me again and then slides me back down his shaft, filling me once again.

This time it feels good, the slide sparking pleasure all through me. I let out a small moan, my head tipping back, exposing my neck to his lips.

He sucks at my skin, thrusting into me again.

I never imagined sex would feel like this and my fingertips dig into his scalp as I try to hang on.

I want to imprint this moment in my memory, remember how it felt to be with a man like this.

It’s become clear to me that I’ve always needed a man who would take me in his arms and lead the way. Triston’s confidence, his self-assurance, has made this so erotic…

I’m not trying to put pressure on Triston. It’s only that a map of what I want and need has formed in my head.

He kisses me again, his thrusts light as holds me close. I know he’s being gentle because it’s my first time and it only makes me want to give him more, so I tilt my hips closer, taking more of him in.

I feel the shudder that runs through him as he hits me deep.

He makes this feral sound in his throat and then his whole body convulses. One of his hands leaves my ass to brace against the wall, his large hand right by my head on the tile.

I turn and kiss his thumb, feeling the pulsing of his cock inside me.

His forehead comes to mine, his eyes closed as we hold for a moment, him still inside me, my body wrapped around his.

“Cold?”

“Hot.” I say, my eyes closing.

Gently, he eases out of me. I unwrap my legs from his waist, first one set of toes and then the other settling on the tile. It’s this slow uncoupling that I know has to happen, but I don’t want to lose the connection.

He pushes away and I feel colder already, my shoulders curling as I realize the intimacy of the last moments are over.

I don’t want them to be. I’d happily remain in his arms, and I wrap my own around myself to deal with the loss.

He slides the glass door to the side, letting out a plume of steam, cool air hitting my skin.

And then he’s back at my side, pulling me into his embrace.

I curl around him again, burying my nose into his neck as he steps out of the shower with me, wrapping us in a fluffy white towel.

I go rigid. “The blood.”

His response is to dip the edge between my legs and gently massage. “I can get a new towel, Honeyeh.”

I flush. “Right.” For me, every item has value and is not easily replaced. For him…all things are replaceable. Even me.

Especially me.

It’s that thought that completely severs the moment and I wiggle free from his arms. He lets me go as I grab another towel and wrap it around my body.

Taking the corner, I wipe a section of the mirror and run my fingers through my hair. I, need to at least run a brush through it or it will be a tangled mess.

He comes up behind me, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror, but my gaze skitters away. I’m suddenly reminded that I am more vulnerable than him in every way.

“Honeyeh.”

I grab my toothbrush, putting some paste on it and stick it in my mouth. “Yeah?”

“Where did you just go?”

“I’m right here.”

“I know all about withdrawing, so trust me when I say, I know that you just put up some wall between us.”

I stop brushing, meeting his gaze in the mirror. “What happens next?”

“We go to bed.”

“Here?” I start brushing again, looking for something to do.

“That’s right.”

“And then I just get up and go home in the morning?” I spit into the sink, turning on some cold water.

“No.”

I gasp, straightening up. “What? But my brother?—”

“Will also be coming here.”

I spin then, turning to face him as his hands come to my hips. “I don’t understand.”

He lets out a long breath. “We said we were going to discuss things in the morning. You need some sleep.”

“But…” My hand comes to my throat. “I have a job at the dorm, and it pays our rent and…”

He slides his hands up to my waist and pulls me into his arms. “Honeyeh, trust me to make your life better than I found it. Whatever happens, you will be safer, better provided for than when we met. Do you understand?”

I blink, confusion making my brain muddled. I heard what he just said. But what I witnessed with Veronica, and what I know about Triston, this does not end well for me. I could accept that when I was his maid. Whatever money I made, it would leave me in a better position. But this… “For how long?”

“Until the danger passes.”

“Danger?” Now I’m starting to worry. “What danger?”

He lets out a long breath. “Do you know who the man was who gave you that contract to sell your virginity?”

My insides swoop as I think about where I was, what I almost did. I shake my head.

“That was the head of the Las Vegas Bratva.” His hands are still tight around my waist.

“Bratva?” My knees start to sink, Triston supporting my weight. “Like…like the Mafia?”

“Russian Mafia, yes.” The room is clearing of the steam, but I feel my head swim again. “And the man that owns the casino I just forcefully bought out.”

I stare at him, my eyes so wide I blink them several times, the weight of his words making the room tilt. “That can’t be.”

Triston leans closer. “And now he knows for certain that you are important to me.”

I know I should be focused on the danger but my thoughts scatter with his last sentence. “I’m important to you?” I try to push down the silly hope that rises up inside.

“I’d never let him try to hurt you to get to me, Honeyeh. You and Darius will stay here until I’ve figured out how to neutralize the danger.”

That one brings me back to reality. “You think he’d hurt us?”

But he doesn’t respond as he pushes back, disappearing into the bedroom. He’s back a moment later, my phone in hand.

“I’m going to send Ryker and Rush to pick your brother up, can you call him and tell him who they are so he doesn’t worry.”

I nod, trying to reconcile all that Triston’s just said. How bad is this? How much danger am I in? How much does he care?

I stand there with my phone in my hand, beginning to tremble. His arms come around me then, his warm skin sliding against mine as his lips brush my temple. “Honeyeh, sweetheart, I need you to make the call.”

I nod, trying to make my fingers work. “I didn’t know. I…”

One of his hands reaches for my jaw, my face cupped in his large hand. “I know you didn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“No need to apologize, but I do need you to trust that I will keep you safe.”

“I do,” I hit the Darius contact button to make the call.

“I’ll have Ryker get Darius a gaming system so he has something to do while he stays,” Triston says as he starts for the bedroom again.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I call after him. “I don’t expect?—”

He turns in the doorway, his broad shoulders filling the entrance as he looks over his shoulder at me, a stern look making his features sharper. “When you’re here, you’re mine to take care of, Honeyeh. Your brother too.”

“But Triston,” I take a step toward him. “It’s too much. I would never ask?—”

“No, you wouldn’t ask, which is why I’m telling.”

I’d argue more, but Darius answers the phone. “Hey, Honeyeh.”

“Hey, Dar,” I answer weakly. Triston makes it too easy to sink into his strength.

“Are you ever coming home? I’m bored.”

“Actually,” I clear my throat. “My boss has invited you to his house.”

“What?”

“I’m going to be working a lot of overtime, so he thinks its best that you just come here.”

Triston pipes in from the other room. “Tell him he’s got his own room with an en suite bathroom, TV, and gaming system. And tell him not to forget to bring a bathing suit in case he’d like to swim.”

“Sick! Does he have a pool?” Darius asks, sounding excited for the first time in forever.

“He does. We’ve got an appointment on Monday with Dr. Lawrence, so bring your dress slacks too.”

“Dress slacks?” Darius groans. “We’re American now. We don’t have to dress up for the doctor.”

“Bring them. We do it mom’s way,” I huff.

One corner of Triston’s mouth quirks up before he disappears.

I hang up with Darius, and then follow Triston, who is in the bedroom.

“Pack her clothes too and use the corporate card at Best Buy.” There is a pause as I lean in the doorway.

“Yeah. Bring Rush. And keep an eye out. We’ll talk tomorrow. ”

He hangs up and crosses to the bureau, pulling out a shirt from his drawer before he crosses to me. “Tired?”

I let him pull the shirt over my head as I nod. “A little.”

“Me too. Want to go to bed?”

I let him pull the shirt over my head as I drop the towel from my body, only to tip my head upside down to wrap my hair. “I’m just going to wait for Darius. Which room did you want me to sleep in?”

One of his brows quirks up. “This one.”

My mouth opens and closes. We talked. Decisions have been made. And I am still so confused. Triston wants me in his house? In his bed?

With a sigh, I nod. I’d ask or argue, but I lied about being a little tired. I’m exhausted, and sleeping next to Triston sounds perfect. I’ll take whatever I can get right now and worry about the future another time.