Page 11

I spin her around, pinning her against the harvester with her cheek against the cool metal. Her zipper comes down this time, giving me room to work as I nudge her legs apart, kissing all over the back of her neck.

She writhes against me as I fuck her with my fingers, going harder just like she did last night.

The sounds are enough to drive me wild. It's a symphony of her whimpers and moans colliding with the wet suck of her dripping cunt around my fingers as I pump them into her, desperate to make her fall apart for me.

"Is this hard enough, princess?" I groan, grinding my dick against her ass.

I'm so fucking hard it's actually painful, but that'll have to wait.

Right now is about her. It's about breaking down those walls of hers and proving to her that she wants me just as badly as I want her.

It's about gaining a foothold in her soul, one she can't kick me out of even if she tries.

And we both know she's going to try. She's going to fight like hell until she runs out of fight.

It's who she is. It's what she does. Zoya Mikhail doesn't fall easily.

If I want her heart, I'll have to go to war for it.

That's fine with me. So long as it's mine when the dust settles, I'll fight whatever battles I need to fight.

"Is this how you fucked your perfect little hand while you were trying not to let me hear you moaning my name last night, Zoya?"

"Yes!" she cries, her head falling back against my shoulder. "God, yes, Jareth. Don't you dare stop."

"Don't plan on it. Not until you're all wrung out." I nip her ear, curling my tongue around the shell of it before planting my lips against it. "Not until you know you're mine."

"I'm n-n-not… Oh, sweet Jesus."

"You aren't what? Aren't in heaven right now?" I bite the side of her throat, sucking hard. I hope like hell it leaves a mark. "Aren't losing your mind over me? Aren't mine?" I soothe the bite with a flick of my tongue, curling my fingers up to stroke her G-Spot again. "Little liar."

"Jareth…"

"Say it, princess. Go ahead and lie to me again."

But she can't. She's too far gone to form the lie this time. All she can do is whimper and moan my name as I play with her, dragging her right to the edge of an orgasm.

"You belong to me, Zoya," I growl against her ear. "You know it. I know it. Soon enough, everyone else will too."

"Oh, God!" she cries, shattering apart in my arms so damn beautifully. Her inner muscles clamp down on my fingers as she goes off like fireworks, detonating with a stifled cry of ecstasy.

I work her through it, petting her pretty little clit until she's mewling in my arms, her cheek plastered to the harvester and her knees trembling. Only when the last aftershock rips through her do I slowly pull my fingers out of her, bringing them to my lips.

I crane her head back, forcing her to watch me as I suck one and then the other into my mouth, licking her juices from them.

She whimpers again, her eyes glossy and dazed.

"Damn, my girl tastes good," I groan, holding her gaze.

She blushes bright red, squeezing her eyes closed as if that'll block me out. We both know it won't work, though. Just like nothing she's tried so far has worked. I'm stuck in her head. I'm under her skin. Exactly where the fuck I should be.

But I've pushed enough for now.

"If I catch you out here alone again, the same thing is going to happen, Zoya."

"Jareth…"

I brush my lips across her cheek before carefully stepping back. "Behave, princess."

I don't give her time to respond before I turn and stroll away, trying like hell to put a little distance between us before I overstay my welcome and send her running again. I don't want that. The only place she should be running is right into my arms.

We'll get there.

" Y ou're late," Ma says as soon as I step over the threshold into my childhood home. She flings her arms around me in a fierce hug. "I had to threaten your dad and your brother to keep them from eating your food."

"Sorry, Ma," I murmur, kissing her cheek. "I had something to take care of this morning."

Her eyes shine with happiness as she tips her head back to look up at me. "Was it a girl?"

"Jesus, Ma," I groan, shaking my head as we bypass the living room, heading for the kitchen.

"I'm just asking!" she cries defensively. "Arwen and Granger won't give me another grandbaby. I need you or your brother to step it up."

I glance over her head, meeting my father's gaze. "A little help here?" I ask

He smirks at me, amusement written all over his face. "Fuck no," he retorts, chuckling. "Whatever your mom wants, your mom gets."

"Thanks a lot," I grumble, dropping into the chair across from him as he pulls my mom down onto his lap.

I just shake my head as she squeals, throwing her arms around his neck to kiss him.

They've been the same way my entire life.

When we were younger, it drove me nuts that they were always so affectionate.

Now? Well, I appreciate the hell out of it, to be honest. I want the same shit they have, the kind of blissful happiness they've managed to hang onto for twenty-seven years. It's rare in this world.

I glance over at Bastian, who is seated beside our dad, staring off into space. "Ridley wants to expand operations. His idea is solid. You need to hear him out."

"What?" He blinks at me like he didn't hear me.

"I said, Ridley wants to expand operations, and I think he has a solid idea." I frown at him. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing." He scowls at me. "You're late."

"You know, if you unclenched just a little, you might actually learn to smile," I suggest, snatching a piece of bacon off the platter in the center of the table. Something is definitely up with him. He's been extra moody lately, and that's hard to accomplish.

Bastian scratches the side of his face with his middle finger, his eyes narrowed on me. "I'm not clenched. I'm just not sneaking all over the vineyard, following a girl like some people."

Shit. Did he see me following Zoya this morning?

Judging by the way he's smirking at me…yes. Dammit.

"What?" Ma gasps, coming up for air. How the fuck did she even hear us? She cranes her head toward me, her eyes wide and hopeful. "What girl? Why don't I know about this?"

I shoot Bastian a dirty glare. The last thing I need is for Ma to get in the middle of this thing with Zoya.

She'll get my aunts involved. Before I know it, the whole goddamn situation will be out of control.

It always gets out of control when the four of them are involved.

They just can't help themselves. "He's just seeing things, Ma. "

"Oh, I saw plenty," Bastian drawls, lifting his coffee mug to his lips.

I kick him under the table. At least, I mean to kick him.

"Son of a…" Dad growls, glowering at me. "Why the fuck did you kick me?"

"My foot slipped," I lie.

He narrows his eyes on me like he isn't buying my bullshit. And then he just shakes his head, cracking a smile. "What girl were you following all over the vineyard this morning?"

"Jesus Christ," I groan, rubbing my temples. "I wasn't following a girl. We were just heading in the same direction at roughly the same time."

"Oh! Is she one of the bridesmaids?" Ma asks, bouncing on his lap. "They're all so beautiful. Which one is she, Jareth? I want to meet her. Maybe your aunts and I can…"

I shoot a pleading look at Dad when Bastian chortles into his coffee, the bastard. This is all his fault.

Dad takes pity on me, wrapping an arm around Ma's waist to haul her back down onto his lap before she can leap to her feet to go call my aunts and get them involved.

"Let it be, sweetness. If there is a girl, we don't want to scare her off before she and Jareth can give you that grandbaby you want, do we? "

"Oh." She bites her lip. "I didn't think of that. Maybe I shouldn't involve your aunts yet."

Thank God for that. I love them dearly, but the women in this family are a handful on a good day. Every other day, it takes a miracle and two sacrifices to rein them in. I do not need them sending Zoya running for the hills.

I shoot a sly glance at my brother. "Did you know that Bastian just hired a new girl to help with marketing?"

"What?" Ma gasps, turning to look at him. "When? Why didn't you tell me? Do you like her? I want to meet her!"

Bastian sloshes coffee across his hand, scowling daggers at me. I chuckle, popping another piece of bacon in my mouth. So that is why he's been extra moody. Interesting.

I fill my plate while Ma badgers him with questions and Dad just smirks at me like he knows exactly what the fuck I just did. I meet his gaze and shrug. Serves Bastian right if she's hounding him instead of me.

Eventually, she runs out of steam when Bastian keeps deflecting and dodging her questions, and turns to pout at my dad. "Your sons are no fun, Carter. They never tell me anything."

"That's not true," I protest. "We tell you plenty."

"You didn't tell me about the girl staying with you."

"We ran out of cabins," I lie. How the fuck did she find out that Zoya is staying with me?

Ma doesn't buy my shit. She just smiles, shaking her head. "Fine. Keep your secrets, but you better be good to her if she's the one, Jareth Caspian Grayson."

"She has a boyfriend, Ma."

"You know, your dad thought the same thing about me once." She giggles, looking at Carter. "He was wrong. Maybe you are, too."

"Yeah, maybe." I'm more convinced than ever that Zoya and Connor's relationship is total bullshit. But how the fuck do I get her to admit it? That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?