Page 66 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Rhett

Per usual, I wake before everyone else. Wren is still sound asleep with her head on my shoulder and her hand on my chest. There’s no way I can get up.

Not that I want to.

As I kiss the top of her head, I breathe deeply. She smells like a part of home that I haven’t realized how much I’ve missed until right now.

I thought about her, Ell, and O every waking moment, and I never got used to the constant ache in my heart. But I didn’t think about the little things—her smell, how her body fits against mine, or the way her face is completely relaxed while she sleeps.

The sun has set, and I’m able to raise my head just enough to see the clock. It’s a little before ten, so we’ll need to get up soon, or we’ll be late to our meeting.

“Sweetheart,”

I whisper. I don’t want to disturb her, but I want some time with her before we leave.

She moans softly. Her fingers curl around my shirt before she slowly lifts her head. “Hmmm?”

“It’s time to wake up.”

With a groan, she presses her face into my shoulder. Yet another thing I’ve missed—how cute she is when she’s waking up.

“You can stay asleep if you’d like,”

I tell her softly, “but we’ll have to leave soon, and I was hoping for some time before we go.”

“I’d like that,”

she mumbles.

Letting out an amused breath, I ask, “Sleep? Or time?”

“You,”

she groans.

The two of us stay just like that for a few minutes while she wakes up. As my fingers run up and down her arm, she stretches out and kisses my cheek.

“I love you,”

she whispers.

My eyes close. Every day, I thought about seeing her again, about finally telling her how I feel. I scolded myself for hesitating—hated myself for not making sure she knew. There’s no way I can wait any longer.

Slowly, I sit up, and Wren moves with me. She turns toward me and drapes her arms around my neck. I cradle her body against mine. God, I was so afraid I’d never see her again.

“Wren,”

I murmur. “Wren, I…”

“It’s okay,”

she tells me.

For a brief second, I think of my father. He’s not capable of this kind of gentleness—of this kind of care. At certain parts of my life, I was convinced I was the same way. The guys and Wren helped me to realize that’s not true.

“I need you to know,”

I tell her.

“I need you to know that I’ll always fight my way back to you. That I tried—that I never would’ve stopped trying.”

“I do know.”

Her lips brush against mine, the barest hint of a kiss.

“I promise I know. But I don’t want you to tell me.”

Gently, she detaches herself from me and stands. She turns on the lamp, illuminating the room in a soft glow, before pulling me into the bathroom. We both brush our teeth, and she showers since she was too tired to earlier.

While I’m waiting for her to finish, I lower myself onto the bed. I have to tell her. I want to tell her—promised myself I would.

Not until you can say it without it making you uncomfortable, she told me. Without it making you think of him.

Can I do that?

Dammit. I want to be ready. I think I might be, but I don’t want to betray her trust. Why do I have to be so hardened? So closed off? Why does this come so much easier to the others?

Frustrated, I rub my face. The guys have told me time and time again that I’ve come so far. I know I have, but it’s not enough. They all deserve better. And now, I have two brothers in the picture—one who looks up to me way too much, and one who I’ve threatened to kill more times than I’d like to admit.

They need someone to watch out for them. They need an example of how to live that isn’t tainted by Richard. I’ll always have some of him in me, but I’ve done my best to purge him from my system. And I’ll never fucking stop.

When Wren comes out of the bathroom, she’s wrapped up in a towel. Her hair is up since she said she washed it yesterday, so when she turns toward the dresser, my heart stops. There, on the back of her neck, is the same butterfly I have on my hand.

“Wren,”

I say breathlessly.

“Your… your neck.”

“Hmm? Oh.”

She grabs a shirt from a drawer before moving toward me.

“I didn’t want to wait. I was afraid we’d never…”

She winces, not finishing her sentence, but she doesn’t have to.

“I’m glad you got it.”

“It helped me feel closer to you.”

Her eyes turn glassy, and she blinks rapidly.

“I know it’s stupid, but—”

“It’s not.”

I pull her down until she’s straddling me. The towel slips, revealing her thighs, and the top loosens some, too.

“It’s anything but that. I would’ve done the same.”

Sighing, she rests her forehead against mine. Her fingers run along my shoulders and down my arms. Her touch is something I’ll savor a little more now.

“I like it,”

I tell her, “and I’m glad you got it.”

With a small smile, she fits her mouth to mine. Sadness still lingers in her eyes, sadness I know only time will erase.

I pull her into me and deepen the kiss. We’re free now, and nothing is getting in between us again, but I want to ease her pain. I want her happy and smiling. I want her eyes sparkling with joy. I want her laughing.

Just say it. It’ll give her something good to focus on.

I pull away.

“Sweetheart. I…”

She waits, searching my face, her head slightly tilted.

My heart is racing, and my hands tighten on her hips. She needs this. We both need this. Not just so she hears me say the words, but so I can prove to myself that Richard isn’t controlling my life anymore.

“I promise I know,”

she tells me softly, “but if you need a way to tell me… then show me.”

“Show you?”

She nods, leaning in close enough that our lips are just barely brushing.

“Show me I’m yours.”

My fingers trail over her upper thigh. The heart I carved there has healed, just as it should’ve. It was as shallow of a cut as I could manage. I wasn’t about to leave a scar on her without discussing it more deeply beforehand. I’ve only ever done that with Oliver, and it was years into our relationship before I did.

“And show me you’re mine,”

Wren whispers.

“Always,”

I murmur. Pressing my lips to hers, I just barely slip my hands underneath her towel. Her skin is so soft, her moans so sweet. Few things compare to the bliss of having her under my hands.

Wren pushes the towel to the floor, leaving her completely exposed to me. Instantly, I lean her backward, keeping one hand between her shoulder blades so she doesn’t fall. I lean down, sucking on one of her nipples and flicking it with my tongue.

“Rhett,”

she gasps.

“Oh, fuck.”

I move to her other breast, groaning when she grinds against my hardening cock. This wasn’t how I was planning on spending the little time we have together, but maybe it’s what we need—to feel close when words are just out of my reach.

I’m almost there, sweetheart. I promise.

Scooping Wren into my arms, I stand and throw her onto the bed. I’m on her in seconds, kissing her and sliding my tongue into her mouth. She locks her ankles behind my back and pulls my body flush against hers.

I’m not as rough as I usually am with her. This time, I won’t deprive her. Won’t degrade her. This is different.

“Wren,”

I breathe when I pull away.

Our eyes lock for a brief moment before I dip my head down and kiss her neck. She arches into me, giving me better access, and I lightly suck on the skin at the base of her throat. It’s not hard enough to bruise, but it makes her moan.

“Mine.”

I kiss her collarbone. “Mine.”

In between her breasts. “Mine.”

Her stomach. There’s a pause as I push her legs apart and glance up to find her watching me with parted lips. “Mine.”

When I spread her arousal to her clit with my tongue, she moans, and when I suck on it, she gasps. She knows she has to be quiet, and I know she’s capable of it.

“Rhett,”

she whispers, grabbing onto my hair. She tugs hard and rolls her hips.

Fuck yes. I wrap my arms around her thighs to keep her against me and circle her clit with my tongue. God, I want to bury myself as deep inside her as I can, but I want to make sure she’s ready first.

The harder she pulls on my hair, the harder I suck on her clit. I fall right into what she likes. We don’t have to rush, but we don’t have an abundance of time, either.

As she gets more worked up, she starts moving against my face. Both her hands are clamped over her mouth now so she can try to keep her moans as contained as possible. Pride swirls through me. Even if we have to be quiet, I love that she’s struggling to keep it down.

The only warning I get that she’s coming is when she grabs a pillow and screams into it. Her back arches, and she bucks against my face. Her cries turn into whimpers as I lightly lick her clit. By the time she’s propping herself up on her elbows, she’s shaking and warm to the touch.

“Come here,”

she says breathlessly.

I crawl on top of her and take her face between my hands. When I kiss her, her tongue slides against mine, and she moans. She tugs my shirt up my body with an urgency that has nothing to do with the fact that I have to leave soon. I shed the rest of my clothes quickly before settling in between her legs.

As I stroke my dick, I take her in. She’s panting, her lips are slightly swollen from kissing, and her eyes are locked on my hand’s movements.

I’m tempted to make her beg, but tonight is for showing her everything I can’t say. If one of us ends up begging, it’ll be me.

Slowly, I slide into her. My thumb finds Wren’s clit, and her eyes roll back into her head. I stay upright, fucking her with long, deep thrusts. As I do, I circle her clit gently.

“Oh my god,”

she groans. She props herself up on her elbows so she can watch as I slide in and out of her.

“Rhett, fuck.”

“Look how well you take me. It’s just like Ell said. We were made for each other.”

“We… we were,”

she breathes out. She reaches out, her fingers lightly tracing down my chest and stomach. Her voice is thick with emotion as she says, “God, Rhett, I love you.”

Leaning down, I fuse my mouth to hers. She whimpers and grabs onto my arm as I press deeper into her.

“Harder,”

she pants. “Please.”

Straightening again, I press tight circles to her clit and drive into her. Her eyes widen, and she comes again, throwing her head back.

I grab her throat.

“Look at me, Wren.”

Her eyes snap to mine. She’s biting her lip, trying to stay quiet. Considering I haven’t let up, I’m not making it easy on her. She starts squirming, and her gaze drops to where my thumb is still rubbing her clit.

“Up here, sweetheart.”

“It’s too much. Rhett, I—ohhh,”

she groans in relief when I let up.

“Look. at. me.”

She obeys, staring up at me with a dazed smile. When I lean over her, squeezing the sides of her neck, she opens her mouth, and I spit onto her tongue.

“Good girl,”

I murmur, watching her swallow it before pushing her flat onto her back.

Her eyes slide closed, and she clings to me as I thrust into her. My forehead drops to hers, and I let myself close my eyes, too.

“Rhett,”

she moans.

“Rhett, oh my god.”

She feels so goddamn good. I’m not sure there’s anything that could make this better.

“I want to be on top,”

she tells me. “Please?”

Fuck, I was wrong.

I slide into her one last time, capturing her mouth in a heated kiss before pulling out all the way. We switch so I’m on my back in the middle of the bed, and I run my hands over her thighs as she climbs on top of me.

Wren lowers herself onto my cock slowly. Her head drops back as she takes every inch of me beautifully. Watching her almost feels as good as being inside her.

“God,”

she chokes out as she sits there for a second. Leaning forward, she places her hands on my shoulders and rolls her hips.

I thrust up into her, and satisfaction blooms in my chest at her breathless moan. We all fell so fast that I’m still not used to having her, but at the same time, her reactions feel so familiar. I crave them, just as I crave her. I’ll never get enough. How could I?

“Take my hands,”

I tell her, and when she does, I intertwine our fingers.

“Now ride me. I’m yours just as much as you’re mine, so take all of me.”

With her eyes locked on mine, she does just that. Her body moves in the most perfect ways as she fucks me slowly at first, and then faster. Within minutes, she’s panting, and a light sheen of sweat covers her forehead.

“All yours,”

I tell her.

“And that’s never changing.”

“Mine,”

she whispers.

Nodding, I smile.

“That’s right, sweetheart.”

Someone knocks on the door, and Wren freezes.

“Was I too loud?”

she whispers.

“Who is it?” I call.

“Just us,”

comes Elliot’s voice.

“Can we come in?”

“Uh…”

I glance up at Wren questioningly.

“Is anyone else in the hallway?” she asks.

“Not at the moment,”

Oliver says.

“Then come in,”

she replies, “and shut the door quickly.”

They do, their eyes locking on us as Oliver closes the door. Both of them are dressed and ready to head out. Elliot looks pleasantly surprised at what we’re doing, and Oliver is smirking like this is exactly what he expected of us.

“Don’t stop, love,”

Elliot says.

“Keep going.”

As they come closer, Wren begins moving again. Our hands are still intertwined, and her fingers tighten around mine as she rolls her hips. Elliot is staring at the back of Wren’s neck, and he nudges Oliver and nods to the tattoo. It makes him smile.

“Ell,”

Wren moans.

“O, come here.”

Their gazes fixed on her, they both climb onto the bed, one on either side of us. Elliot kisses his way up her neck while Oliver slips his hand in between her legs and plays with her clit.

Gasping, Wren moves faster. She bites her lip in an effort to stay quiet as Elliot gently pinches one of her nipples. An involuntary shudder rips through her body.

“Watch how pretty she looks taking your cock,”

Oliver says to me.

“God, princess. What a sight for sore eyes.”

“Oliver,”

she groans.

He grips the hair at the base of her neck and pulls her toward him. Their lips meet in a hungry kiss, and I moan at the sight.

Elliot is watching too, his eyes dark with lust. He crawls closer and leans over me, our gazes locking. Neither of us speak a single word. Everything we need to say is exchanged in one long, ravenous look. Our love, how much we missed each other, the way he needs me and I need him—all of it.

“Rhett,”

he murmurs before slamming his lips to mine. Gripping my hair tightly, he slips his tongue into my mouth. The kiss is messy and rough, exactly as I was hoping it would be.

I want to grab onto Ell, but I don’t want to let go of Wren’s hands. Even with the guys here, this is still about me and Wren—about showing her that I love her. That she’ll always own a piece of my heart.

When Elliot pulls back, I turn my gaze to Wren. Oliver is kissing her neck while still rubbing her clit. As she works up and down my cock, she smiles down at me.

There it is. This smile is real. Full. It’s the first moment any of us have had together that hasn’t been tainted by exhaustion, fear, or someone interrupting us. Right now, we’re just us, and our circumstances can be briefly ignored.

I’m getting close enough that I’m trying to keep myself from coming until Wren does. I want her to come again, but I’m not sure how much longer I can try to hold off the inevitable. She feels too goddamn good.

“Fuck,”

I groan when she tightens around me.

“Look at what you do to him, love.”

Wren whimpers when Elliot leans down and sucks on one of her nipples. The sound does me in. My eyes slide shut as my orgasm washes over me and knocks the breath from my lungs.

“Oh god, Rhett,”

Wren moans.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, ahhh—”

Her cry is swallowed up by Oliver slamming his lips to hers. As Wren’s movements slow, Elliot straightens. He watches us both ride out the last waves of pleasure before he kisses Wren gently.

“Sweetheart,”

I murmur, releasing her hands and tugging her down.

Almost immediately, Wren’s lips meet mine. She props herself up on her elbows and moans as I squeeze her ass.

“I love you,”

she whispers.

The words almost tumble out of my mouth unbidden. Caught up in the emotions and the rush of having her close like this, it’s easier to say. Almost natural. But when I tell her, I don’t want it to be because I got swept away by a surge of chemicals. That’s not fair to her.

So I kiss her again, my lips moving against hers with more meaning. She sighs into my mouth, a sweet sound, and I eat it up.

I will tell her. Soon—just not right now.

Once she’s straightened, Elliot pulls her off me. He looks at me, not even having to tell me what he’s thinking—I need to get ready to leave.

“What time are we heading out?”

Wren asks.

I’m halfway off the bed, but now I freeze. I assumed Wren would be staying here. A single glance at Oliver and Elliot tells me they were thinking the same thing.

“Please don’t make me fight to come with you,”

she adds tiredly.

“I don’t want to get separated again.”

“It should be safe.”

Elliot kisses her temple while he hugs her from behind.

“I don’t want to leave you here, either.”

“You’re sure?”

Oliver asks.

“Axel had plenty of chances to stab us in the back,”

Elliot replies.

“If he’s still planning on doing so, I don’t think it’ll involve hurting us physically.”

“The hard drive,”

I say as I pull my clothes on.

“It’s someplace secure?”

Wren nods.

“Finn has it in his safe, and he has two backups hidden.”

Even with Holloway locked up, the hard drive has many uses. We still need it, but we’re not the only one who does.

“Depending on how badly Axel wants the drive, things could get physical,” I say.

Wren bristles, and I can already hear the dozen arguments she has prepared. She fought like hell to get us back, and she’s not about to let us go again.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t come,”

I add quickly, “Just that we should be careful.”

“I think if Axel asks for the drive, we should give him one of the copies,”

Oliver says.

“It eliminates any potential fight over it, and it’ll help him out, I’m sure.”

“I was thinking the same thing,”

Elliot says.

“Axel has already expressed he wants the drive to reveal Ludo’s secrets, and it fits with our plan as well. We’ll have to convince Finn, though. He still doesn’t like the idea of trusting Axel.”

“Do we?”

Wren asks.

“Trust him, I mean.”

“I think we can,”

Elliot says slowly, “but it’s hard to say for sure without knowing his full motives. He’s saying that he wants out, and as long as he’s telling the truth and we uphold our end of the deal, I can’t think of a reason for him to turn on us.”

“But we think he is telling the truth, right?”

Wren asks, glancing between us.

My mind goes back to how desperate Axel sounded when he told me he was going to help us.

“I believe him.”

“So do I,”

Elliot says.

Oliver shrugs.

“That’s good enough for me. I trust you both.”

Doubt flickers over Elliot’s features, but he tucks it away quickly.

Glancing at the clock, Oliver climbs off the bed.

“We need to get moving. We should probably get there early.”

Before he moves toward the door, I grab him and yank him into me. His eyes flare wide with surprise, but then he melts into me when I kiss him. We’re not in enough of a rush that there isn’t time for this.

I pull away, and Oliver slowly blinks open his eyes. He leans in, pressing his lips to mine again. All of a sudden, I wish we could blow off this meeting so I could drag all three of them back to bed, but I know we can’t.

Neither of us want to step away, but he does so with a reluctant sigh. Wren has disappeared into the bathroom, and Elliot is watching us with a bittersweet expression.

“I know you both know,”

he says quietly, “but I’m happy we’re together again.”

I smile.

“So am I, Ell. So am I.”