Under His Wing (King of Prey Book 7) Read online

  She didn’t reply. She was an adult and owed no one an explanation on her life choices. Holding her head high, she offered a challenging look and forced a casual shrug.

  Gardelle’s expression softened somewhat. “I have no wish to argue with you.”

  “Good, because I have no wish to be argued with,” she answered, keeping her hand in his.

  A woman moaned loudly near them, and Lisa turned to find the woman riding a man. When she realized Gardelle was also watching it unfold, she leaned against him, nudging him lightly. “You okay with all of this?”

  She didn’t want him to make a scene. If he wasn’t fine with it all, she’d get him out of the club quickly.

  He nodded to the woman riding the man. “I will be if you do that to me.”

  Positive she’d heard him wrong, she tipped her head, her gaze centered on him. “Gardy?”

  He flashed a sexy smile, and she nearly knocked him down and went at him then and there. “Yes?”

  “Nothing. I thought you said something that you couldn’t have possibly said.”

  He took her hand and eased it over his erection. “Oh, I said it.”

  She swallowed loudly as sweat beaded between her breasts.

  He grinned and then nodded in the direction of a man who had a woman flat on her back as he kissed his way over her naked form. The man then buried his head between the woman’s legs and she cried out in ecstasy. “Or that. That works too. I find I am very open to whatever you want.”

  All Lisa could do was stare blankly at the man she thought she knew. Clearly, he was a stranger to her. The Gardelle she knew would have never said that.

  Just then, a woman walked by in nothing more than nipple rings and a thin gold chain. A tall man was holding the end of the chain. The man’s gaze raked over Lisa and he came to a stop in front of them. “You’re the new manager here?”

  She nodded.

  Gardelle puffed out his chest and pushed the man back some with his body.

  The man smirked, his attention on Gardelle. “Trade you for the night. Mine for yours. Trust me when I say, mine is worth it. She’s trained very well. She’ll do whatever you want, won’t you, sugar?”

  The woman looked eager and was just shy of drooling as she stared at Gardelle. The way she raked her gaze over Gardelle said she found him mouth-watering.

  It was hard for Lisa to keep her jealousy in check. Thoughts of clawing the woman’s eyes out filled Lisa’s head. She wasn’t one who had random outbursts of possessiveness. The sensation was different and unsettling. It was also intense.

  Gardelle eased Lisa behind him as he stared at the other man. “Continue to look upon my woman, and I will break every bone in your body.”

  “Your woman?” asked Lisa from behind him, realizing Gardelle was talking about her. “When did this happen?”

  Gardelle glanced back at her, his gaze so piercing that for a moment it made her think of a hawk zeroing in on its prey.

  Lisa bent her head in a submissive manner, and then nearly kicked herself for giving in so quickly. She was hardly a shrinking violet.

  Pleased with what he saw, Gardelle turned back to the man. “A man should not offer his woman to another. She should be cherished. She is sacred. A gift. Not something to be traded or bartered.”

  The woman with the chained nipples lifted her hand unobtrusively. “It’s okay. I like it. During the week, I’m technically his boss. When we’re out on the weekends, he’s in charge of me. He’s in control. It’s a shift in the power dynamics that works for us.”

  Lisa hid her smile, enjoying seeing people who were unrestricted with their sexuality.

  Gardelle shook his head. “It matters not who is in charge of what. If a man loves a woman, he does not permit another to touch her. Ever.”

  The woman snorted. “Oh, we’re not in love. We’re just lovers. You know, we have sex together, but we’re not in a real relationship or anything. Mutual kink interests. It’s not serious beyond that. Nothing like what you and your woman have. It’s clear you love her.”

  Lisa was about to speak up to correct the woman but Gardelle drew her around to the front of him and embraced her. He then tilted her chin upwards and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

  “Yes. I do,” he said plain as day.

  The woman seemed pleased with his response. “And so you know, a lot of couples here do love each other, and they do share themselves with others. To each his own.”

  Gardelle glanced around the club. “That is not done where I am from. When we find the woman for us, she is the only one we ever touch again. And we are the only one she ever touches as well. There is no need for another when we are with our soul mate.”

  The woman in the chains teared up. “That is beautiful. Where are you from? Sounds like Romania.”

  “Romania?” asked Gardelle. “This is a place that does not share its women either?”

  Lisa groaned. Was he for real?

  The woman looked to Lisa. “You are one lucky lady. You landed the big one.”

  “Yeah, um, lucky,” Lisa supplied, still in shock over most of what had happened since she’d gotten back to the club. Someone could have knocked her over with a feather if they tried.

  The other couple headed off, the guy in the lead, the woman looking pleased as punch to be following along. Lisa waited until they were out of earshot before pushing Gardelle back from her by placing two fingers against his forehead and shoving lightly.

  “You do not love me. And don’t go making decisions for me about who I do and don’t sleep with,” she snapped.

  “You want me to call them back? Do you want me to bed her and the man to do so to you?” he asked, something off in his voice.

  She thought on it. The idea of Gardelle touching the woman sexually made Lisa’s teeth grit. Thoughts of clawing out eyes returned tenfold. “No.”

  “No you do not want to bed him or no, you do not want me to bed her?” he asked.

  Lisa knew she could lie and tell him she didn’t care who he slept with. Doing so would help her save face and keep what dignity she had left. The words wouldn’t come so she went with the truth. “No. I don’t want to sleep with him. And I don’t want you to screw her either.”

  “Good. So you know, if you’d have said yes, I’d have still forbidden it.”

  “You’re not my boss,” she stressed, unsure she believed herself.

  A self-assured smile touched his lips. “If you say so.”

  She huffed.

  He laughed.

  “Yuck it up and I’ll flash you my boobs. That should shut you up.”

  His gaze locked on her chest. “Yes. Please. Shut me up.”

  She almost snorted but held it in, somehow.

  Reaching out, he came just shy of making contact with her right breast. Instead, he curled his fingers and held his hand there.

  Lisa surprised herself by grabbing for his hand and drawing it to her breast. He cupped it. The act was impressive because she had a bigger-than-average chest. Never before had a man touching her breast been able to cup it with one hand. He did. Gardelle’s hands were that big.

  His breath caught, and he stepped close to her, their bodies pressed together once more. He kneaded her breast through her dress, paying particular attention to her hardened nipple. He pinched it nonchalantly, and she gasped, rubbing against him like a cat.

  He put his lips to her ear. “I have no wish for everyone here to see what is mine. Is there somewhere we can be alone?”

  Chapter Ten

  Lisa didn’t bother to get into it again with Gardelle over the “mine” thing. She was too horny to care what he wanted to call her. As wrong as she knew it was, she couldn’t seem to stop herself as she led Gardelle through the main part of the club, weaving around various sofas full of people. She turned down one of the long hallways and went to the second door to the end. It was a private room, one of eight that were kept for the wealthiest of club members, the owner, and Lisa, should she e
ver want to use one.

  This was the first time she’d wanted to take the owner up on his offer.

  She swiped her card and opened the door. The room had a large king-size bed with black satin sheets, blood-red walls, various chairs, and a fainting sofa, not to mention sex toys hanging on the wall looking like art.

  She dragged Gardelle into the room and came to her senses. What was she thinking? Did she really think she could have sex with Gardelle and there be no repercussions?

  That was insane.

  She pushed the door shut behind him and rounded on him. “Okay, why are you really here tonight and what is with the touchy-feely stuff?”

  He grabbed her and bent, capturing her lips with his own.

  The kiss caught her off-guard and she stumbled in her heels.

  Gardelle caught and righted her before kissing her again.

  The second Gardelle’s tongue entered her mouth, Lisa melted against him. Her tongue greeted his and she found herself going to her tiptoes to grant him better access to her mouth. She wasn’t sure what was happening between them or why he was kissing her. All she knew was it felt right.

  More than right.

  And she’d wanted it to happen for years.

  Beyond that, she wanted more. Far more.

  He backed her against the wall but didn’t stop his sensual assault on her mouth. He growled, and the sound was so feral, so demanding, that it made her panties moisten. Suddenly, his hands were in her hair and his hard, chiseled body was pressing against her.

  Lisa panted and fumbled with his shirt, wanting to touch him all over, his kiss deepening. As it did, the smallest of niggles tugged at the back of her mind. She ignored it and continued trying to touch him everywhere she could.

  He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and began to walk in the direction of the bed, his mouth still on hers.

  Lisa paid little mind to what was happening around her. Her only focus was Gardelle.

  He set her down gently and cupped her face, breaking their kiss. “I thought I would be too late, ta’konima.”

  She had no idea what he’d just called her. All she knew was hearing him speak another language was hot. “You kissed me.”

  The edge of his mouth drew upwards.

  Puzzled, she regarded him with a curious expression. “Why did you kiss me? You don’t even like me. You kind of hate me.”

  “Hate you?” He shook his head. “The last thing I feel for you is hate, Lisa.”

  She simply stared up at him, at a loss for words. He had a funny way of showing his non-hate of her all these years.

  He sighed. “I need you to trust me.”

  “This is all really weird. You show up out of the blue, grab me, freak me out, then you look like you’re going to yell at me for working here right before you kiss me and start rubbing all over me.” She put her hands up. “I’d rather not ride this roller coaster with you. I need to get back to work. Do you want me to find someone to show you around the club? You, um, will no doubt find a lot of women willing to be with you here.”

  He caught her wrist as she tried to leave the room. “I don’t want any other woman. I want you to listen to me and come with me. I just want you.”

  Raw need was reflected back at her. Boldly, she traced a hand down his chest, over his abs and to the top of his jeans. She wasn’t sure if her goal was to get him to back down and go or not. Unable to think clearly with his closeness, she did what felt right, wondering if or when he’d tell her to stop.

  He eased a finger over her cheek and then ran his thumb over her lower lip. “I came to protect you, not to do this…I mean, yes, I want to…but—”

  He kissed her again, lifted her and turned with her, walking her over to the fainting sofa. Around it were various sex toys, all mounted. There were other pieces of furniture in the room as well, like the rest of the rooms. Each could be used in a different way to enhance one’s sexual experience.

  Gardelle stepped back from the side of the sofa and wiped his hands over his face. “Get her to safety. Do not fuck her.”

  She put her hand up. “Oh, can I vote?”

  “What?”

  She grinned. “You were telling yourself to get me out of here to safety or something. Not to fuck me. I wanted a vote.”

  His lips twitched as if he were trying to keep from laughing. “And which would you pick?”

  She opened her mouth to respond, closed it, and thought on it all harder. This was totally out of character for the man. It was downright bizarre. And if this got back to Sabrina, she’d be upset with Lisa, blaming her for being too wild, too wanton. Seducing her best friend’s uncle was against the friend code.

  As much as she wanted Gardelle sexually, there were far too many strings attached. In the end, she’d be the one who was hurt when he regretted what happened and her best friend in all the world looked at her with disappointment in her eyes.

  “My vote is for you to go,” she said, her voice small at first until she found her courage. “This isn’t your type of place. I’m not your type of woman. I don’t know if this is a midlife thing for you or what. Though you do not look anywhere near old enough to be having a midlife crisis. Regardless, I can’t be what you want or who you have it with. I love Sabrina. She’s like family to me. She’d be furious with me over this, and let’s be honest, when you come out of whatever weird-ass phase you’re going through, you’ll be mad at me too. It’s what you do. You get mad at me.”

  Gardelle went to his knees before her and took her hands in his. “I didn’t understand who you were to me. I thought I was broken. That something was off with me. I didn’t trust myself with you. My reaction to you was too raw, too feral.”

  Lisa ran her thumb over his scruffy jawline and stopped at the scar on his face.

  Gardelle flinched. “You don’t want me, do you? Not really. Because of the way I look?”

  Lisa couldn’t help but laugh at how absurd he was being. Was he serious? He was the sexiest man she’d ever seen in her life.

  He looked hurt.

  She leaned and kissed his scar. She then slid her tongue down it and bit at his lower lip lightly. “Mmm, I’ve been waiting years to do that.”

  His lips found hers and the next thing she knew, Gardelle had taken control of the situation. His tongue was in her mouth once more and his hands were easing the bottom of her dress upwards.

  She ate at his mouth, moaning as his hands went higher. When he reached her hips, he gasped in her mouth.

  “You have no panties on,” he said, his lips against hers.

  “I do too.”

  He ran his hands over her backside more. “No. You do not.”

  Lisa stood, turned, and boldly yanked the bottom of her dress up and over her backside. The act left her standing with her butt basically at Gardelle’s eye level since he was on his knees. She glanced over her shoulder and peered down at him. “See. I have on panties.”

  He slipped his index finger under the string that she was counting as panties. He grinned. “I stand corrected.”

  She winked.

  Gardelle kissed her bare ass cheek and then shocked her by easing the string aside and pressing his face between the cheeks of her ass.

  She yelped and tried to get away, shocked that his head was there.

  He held firm to her and chuckled, forcing her to bend over before him.

  She put her palms on the top of the sofa and stood there, feeling sexy and totally turned on. There was a level of vulnerability that came along with the position as well.

  He licked his way to her pussy and then held his face there, inhaling loudly. He did a long lick of her cunt and moaned into her flesh.

  Pleasure moved through her and she gasped, hitting her hands on the sofa. She felt as if she was about to explode into a million pieces. “Gardelle!”

  He pushed a finger into her and Lisa ground her hips, wanting more, but fearful of what would happen when it was all said and done. He added a second finger and he
r knees felt weak. He kissed the backs of her thighs as he eased his fingers in and out of her. When he moved to rubbing her clit, Lisa lost all touch with reality. Pure bliss washed over her, and she shook as her orgasm struck full-force.

  She knew Gardelle was standing. Vaguely, she heard him unzipping his jeans. When she felt something hot, hard, and thick pressing against her soaked core, she pressed back onto him, knowing it was his cock. Deep down, she knew she shouldn’t be doing it, but she was past the point of no return. She was fully committed to the act that was about to take place. She just hoped he was as well.

  He shoved his cock into her slowly and she was thankful for that. She’d never had anything the size of him in her before. He was massive. He kept going, filling her past the brink of comfort, bordering on too much.

  “Gardelle.”

  He grunted and gasped as he sheathed himself fully in her. “Lisa.”

  She’d never been so full in her life. An orgasm danced just out of reach. Never before had she nearly come simply from insertion. She reached out and touched the wall behind the sofa, needing something to help ground herself.

  As Gardelle began to move in and out of her, she found herself moaning like she was some sort of expert porn star. She’d always found the noises in porn to be over the top. Now that it was Gardelle in her, pounding steadily, she got it. There was no way she could remain silent.

  His pace increased, as did her panting and cries of pleasure.

  “Do you accept me—all of me—from now until the end of time?” he asked, his voice a low rumble, his hips like a piston on overdrive, his accent deeper than usual.

  She could scarcely think beyond how good it all felt. “There. Right there.”

  “Lisa, do you accept me?” he asked, ramming hard into her and holding there, his lips near her ear as he bent over her more. “All of me from now until the end of time?”

  What was he going on about?

  He wanted her to think at a time like this?

  “Do you?” he demanded.

  “Y-yes. I accept you,” she said, grinding on him, wanting more.

  Gardelle seized hold of her hips and went at her like a depraved man. As he did, the air around her seemed to thicken with static energy. Stray strands of her hair lifted on their own as he kept going, kept fucking her from behind. She was about to comment on the pressure building around her in the air when the urge to speak came over her.