Illicit Temptation (Astoria Royals #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Trace

S hea, Shea, Shea.

“You’ve been living without consequences, lass, but I’m doing this for your own good.” I slap the belt against my palm, warming up the leather.

“Doing what?” Her wild eyes show she’s excited and not frightened.

“I’m not playing games with you, princess. You need to be taught a lesson. Even if it’s precautionary. You already planned to go running through the bloody streets alone this morning. When I tell you, you don’t leave this house without me, I fucking mean it. Now take off that damn robe.”

Horrified, she says, “For what?”

She’s a feisty hellcat, but with my size and strength, I knew I’d catch her, even had time to dive into my bedroom to grab my belt. Twisting it in one hand, I say, “So I can tie you down naked.”

“Like hell, you will.”

“Another challenge. Just can’t help yourself, can you, princess?” I lunge, done with all the cat and mouse. “Watch me.”

I get her on the bed, facedown and she reaches back, adorably swinging to punch me. Clawing wildly, she catches my torso with her nails. Just another scar from my service protecting people. This woman, my wife , means more to me than anyone I’ve protected in the past.

A few knicks in my skin can’t stop me because controlling my temper flew out the window when I crawled along the roofline. I packed it away and held it together to give her what she needed. She would have run off from the bakery if she knew how insanely furious I was from being locked in that room.

Words are meaningless at this point. She needs to feel how she worried me.

I yank her hands and pin them together with the belt, quickly fastening it. Her yelp seizes me for a moment, and I worry she’ll have another attack.

“Now, let me make myself perfectly clear.” With her hands secured, I wrap my arms around her waist and bring Shea to the balcony.

“Wait...” She bellows, her feet dug into the carpet.

“Time for negotiation is over.” I kick the broken door open and hold her over the edge, letting her experience a few seconds of thinking I’ll drop her into her rose bushes. Which of course I won’t, I’ve got a firm grip on her. “Now you know how I felt when I nearly fell off the damn roof to get to you.”

“You’re crazy!”

“But I have fucking integrity.”

“Says the bodyguard who’s got me tied up, and holding me over a balcony!” she cries out bitterly, hating how much control I have over her.

“Says the husband who has every right to your body.” I pull her back inside, kick the door closed, and lay her out on her bed of perfumed, messed-up sheets. “I suspect now I have your undivided attention.”

“You’re a bastard!”

With her face down I yank the robe up around her waist. Her bare ass is all I can take. Just her back and her bare ass for now. “Don’t worry, the torture and anticipation are payback for what you put me through.”

“I hate you!”

“No, you don’t.” I yank off my jogging pants and lift the T-shirt over my head. Straddling her, my bare legs against her warm skin drives me wild. I kiss the back of her neck and my hands skated around her stomach until a finger slips into her folds. “I’m the bastard making you wet right now.”

I’ve never experienced such profound satisfaction, this effect I have on her. How the Irish princess is such a filthy girl for my brutish treatment of her.

“Don’t you dare fuck me. I do not consent.” She struggles and kicks, fighting me with adrenaline-fused strength. Her blows feel like raindrops on my skin during a brisk run.

I want to mention her dripping cunt says otherwise, but I’m not thinking about fucking her. Okay, I’m always thinking about fucking her. “I want your ass for something else right now.”

“Just you wait, I’m gonna use a belt on you next,” she hisses.

Adorable.

“If I have no use of my hands, I’ll throat fuck you.” I pinch her clit, and this game is making her so wet. “Take your punishment like a good girl. This is a long-time coming. Every blow is to remind you of the pain I’ve been in, thinking of Crest’s cock inside you.”

“That loser was nothing compared to you, but he never spanked me!” A heel hits me in the middle of the back.

Those legs are strong.

I groan but stay focused, tempted to blab about the Crest threat. All of this is for her own good. “Every kick is another smack on your ass.”

“Smack?”

“You need a spanking.” I deliver a quick open-hand whack on her bare ass.

“Ack,” she gripes.

“Strap in. I’ve got several more for you.”

“More? No specific number?” she sasses me.

“That just earned you more.” I spank her again, her skin hot and red, my hand the same .

She keeps fighting me, my debauched angel.

“Christ, you look so good with my handprint on your ass.” I don’t think I’ve ever been harder. I’ve never wanted her more.

I’ve asked for transfers from less defiant clients. Spoiled girls who wanted to push my buttons. Shameless flirts who wanted me to fuck them.

I never did. Not once.

I’ll take this elegant, mouthy woman with those tiny lines on her face and her thick waist every damn day of the week.

I’ve never had such a savage need to fuck someone. No one has ever got me going like this.

Only Shea.

My ache for her is damn near unbearable. But I’m on the edge of my control. I pushed all emotion aside to get her inhaler and bring her home. Now I’m a volcano, raging out of control.

The benefit of doing this in her oceanfront home is that her cries of pleasure will be carried off by the wind over the waves. Into oblivion. Along with the dirty secret we’re keeping from everyone.

Including being married.

My breathing is ragged, but her... She’s...

“Aw fuck, princess.” I hear her wheezing, and every taut muscle loosens. “Where’s your spray?”

“Bathroom,” she whines.

I lift off her and she lays there on her bed. Doesn’t even turn over. I lean down and kiss each ass cheek. “You did so good, love.”

I dive into the bathroom and sigh in relief seeing her inhaler on the counter.

I lay down next to her and immediately free her hands. When she goes to roll over, I hold her in place. “Not yet. Take your spray. Control your breathing. I’m done. ”

“With me?” She sucks in the spray and holding her breath she says, “You’re done with me?”

Fuck, what a time to ask that? I never really agreed to a divorce. I’m stalling. Making her think I’m on board if she finds some roundabout way to process a divorce without anyone in her family, or mine finding out.

“I won’t ever be done with you, princess. I stayed celibate and waited three years to fuck you again. I don’t want anyone else.”

“Trace,” she whispers, blowing out streams of air.

“Aye?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry about this morning.”

I kiss the side of her head. “I know you are. This was for your own good.”

“I need...” She swallows.

“You need what?”

“I need to come.”

My breathing stops and my blood heats to a painful degree in my veins. “Are you sure?” I fist my swollen cock over my briefs.

“Yes. Please.”

“You’re asking the right person.” I sit up. “We all have kinks, love. Get on your knees. Hands on the headboard. I want to look at what I did to your ass.”

“You’re sick.”

“Me? My spanking has you soaking your bedsheets. And now you want to be fucked.”

“I said I want to come.”

Adrenaline rushes through me. I lower my hand between her legs, my fingers brushing her folds. Heat radiates from her center. “I’ll rub your clit to make you come.”

Fuck, she’s throbbing. “Yes, right there.”

“What was that?” I tease. “You want me to stop?”

“ Don’t you dare! I’ll slit your throat in your sleep, not just lock you up.”

Laughing, my cock thickens even more at the brazen threat. “If you come to my bed, I will fuck you. Even with a slit throat.”

“Stop talking and make me come, damn it.”

“Aye, boss.” With two fingers, I stroke her pussy entrance, the lips so fucking soft and plump.

“I... I ...”

Shocked at how close she is already, I pull my hand away. “Oh no, princess. You come when I tell you.”

“Not that. I wanted to use my toy this morning, and I didn’t. I’m so wound up.”

“And who has you so wound up, love?” I drag my thumb across her soaked nub.

“You.” She moans and grips her bedsheets with long, sharp fingernails. Talons I want to feel on my back, on my ass. “Fuck, so sweet.”

I capture her clit between two knuckles.

“That. There.” The desperation in her voice climbs to a new level.

“I did that to you in Vegas. You cried out and begged me to fuck you.”

I remembered flipping her onto her stomach and fucking her into the mattress. She was so wet for me. Her body wanted me. I want so badly to fuck her now, but I don’t have consent.

I’ll wait.

The fucking will be brutal the longer my princess toys with me.

God, when I do finally thrust balls-deep inside her again, she’ll have me so wound up, that I might blow my load instantly. I’ll fuck her so hard that she’ll scream my name.

My cock throbs for attention. Soap it up in my shower with a strangling fist that feels as tight and silky as her cunt.

I’ve been here three days, and I’ve already spanked her. Now, I’m massaging her clit to make her come. She thinks this is just a game we’re paying to pass the time.

This wild ride will take us to places we’ve never dreamed of.

“Are you close, princess?” I ask, even though I know she’s close to falling apart.

She grunts in response, looking back at me where our gazes connect. Her green eyes have darkened, startling me, to be honest. When she licks her lips, I nearly have a heart attack. Shea-Lynne is a goddess. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than those haunting eyes. So needy.

I slip two fingers inside her.

“Fuck, so tight.” I bring my face close to her cunt and inhale the deep scent of her. “We can have a grand time, Shea. We can fuck until we’re exhausted every night. I can force you down on your knees and fuck your mouth. Do you want to take my cock down your throat, princess?”

“Bastard,” she growls, her head hanging down, her spine quivering while I tease her, dragging out her pleasure.

“You married me.” My throbbing cock feels so good, this edging arousing the hell out of me.

“Trace,” she drags out a guttural moan. “Please.”

When I insert a third finger, she explodes, contracting around all three. She writhes and coats my fingers, juices dripping down my whole hand.

She shudders and cries out while she comes in waves. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Her pink flower, wet and silky, is convulsing uncontrollably.

Fuck.

I flip her over and open the robe to expose her naked body while I sit up shirtless .

Her eyes soak me in, but behind her wanton, aching stare, she wants to divorce me, leave me to figure out how to live without her all over again. And she’ll do it with her head held high, while I whither to dust.

Pulling her hair, I breathe into her neck. I writhe against her while I come inside my briefs. I silently protest against the way she’ll shatter my heart into a million pieces.

“God, what did we do?” she says, covering her face.

“Playing, the oh no, we made a mistake card? I had more faith in you to come up with something more clever.” I wrench off her.

Breathing heavily, lips swollen from her teeth sinking into them to control her climax, she says, “We crossed a line, Trace. I don’t care what you said earlier. This thing between us will make you make poor decisions.”

“The only poor decision I’m making is to kill a bottle of whiskey tonight.” I turn to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“To look for tools.” I turn back to her.

“Tools? For what?”

“I have a door to fix, princess.” And I hope it takes me all day so I can stay in her bedroom and smell how she climaxed for me all over the bed.