Dancing with Deception Read online

  Dancing with Deception

  The Morgan Brothers Book 2

  By Avery Gale

  © Copyright 2016 by Avery Gale

  ISBN 978-1-944472-28-3

  All cover art and logo © Copyright 2016 by Avery Gale

  All rights reserved.

  The Morgan Brothers® and Avery Gale® are registered trademarks

  Cover Design by Jess Buffett

  Published by Avery Gale Books

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publishing company.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find any books being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at [email protected].

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Books by Avery Gale

  Chapter One

  “Dance with me, minx.” Brandt knew he’d surprised Joelle when he shackled her slender wrist with his hand. He’d deliberately used the more aggressive move rather than simply taking her hand in his, preferring the unspoken message that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Giving the elusive imp the opportunity to refuse would have been foolish. And for once, fate worked in his favor, when he spun her into his arms, the music slowed giving him the perfect excuse to pull her flush against his chest. Tucking her close, Brandt led her around the dance floor in a slow two-step. Keeping her tight against him sent an inordinate amount of blood racing to his cock leaving her little doubt about the effect she had on him. Damn thing wants to do an entirely different kind of dance.

  He waited until they’d been dancing several minutes before he spoke against her ear, “You’ve been avoiding me.” He hadn’t phrased it as a question because he didn’t need to ask. She’d stayed a step ahead of him all evening, but they both knew she’d only been successful because he’d allowed it. For the first part of the evening, he’d enjoyed the chase. But as the festivities proceeded, his amusement turned to frustration.

  “Yes, I have.” He knew she’d intended for the clipped answer to fend off the “Come to Jesus” conversation she sensed coming her way, but Brandt hadn’t missed the slight quiver in her voice. The tiny verbal stumble cracked open the door of her vulnerability and he intended to storm though it in typical Navy SEAL fashion. Some lessons, once learned, weren’t easy to forget; it didn’t matter he’d retired from the teams, the “take no prisoners” point of view would always be a large part of who he was.

  “Why?” Brandt didn’t have any intention of letting her control the conversation with terse answers. The alpha male part of him was never far below the surface, and everything about her cryptic response brought the sexual Dominant inside him surging forward—finally. Hell, Brandt had worried what had once been a large part of his personality had been suppressed forever. Damn, it was a relief to feel the familiar surge of power moving through his veins again.

  He’d only visited his favorite club once since he’d moved back to Pine Creek. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy spending time with the like-minded members of Mountain Mastery. Hell, Nathaniel Ledek, the owner of the club, had been a member of his SEAL team until retiring two years before Brandt had finally walked away. Ledek, who’d quickly earned the nickname “Mr. Big” for an obvious reason, had quickly parlayed his interest in kink into some serious cash by opening his own club.

  Big had called him several times over the past year, asking him to act as a dungeon monitor, suggesting subs Brandt would enjoy playing with, and in general pushing and prodding at every opportunity. But Brandt hadn’t gotten his feet under him enough to play yet. And he’d realized if he didn’t even have control over himself, he damned well wouldn’t top a woman who’d trusted him enough to gift him with her submission.

  Brandt’s last few missions before retiring had stolen far too much of his humanity. And, he was self-aware enough to know there was a very real chance he wouldn’t have the control necessary to play safely—which meant he wouldn’t play at all. Brandt had gone to the club once with Phoenix but spent the entire evening sitting at the bar talking to Big. His friend had understood why he was taking his time getting back into the lifestyle that had been such a big part of his sexual identity, and Big had made a point of encouraging Brandt to visit anytime he needed to talk. There were so many horrific memories of his last eighteen months as a SEAL, and frankly most people couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be exposed to the darkest side of mankind. But Big had known.

  Joelle stiffened against him at the question, whatever her reason was for avoiding him it obviously wasn’t something she was particularly anxious to share. Pressing a soft kiss against the sensitive skin behind her ear, he hummed, “Don’t lie to me, minx—I’ll know, and then we’ll have another issue to deal with as well.”

  Several seconds passed before she finally spoke. “You’re dangerous. And I don’t think I’m the kind of woman you’d be interested in.” He couldn’t really argue with her first statement, but he would damned well dispute the second.

  “Just for the sake of clarification, you don’t think I’m dangerous to you personally, do you?” Brandt tried to cover his concern with amusement, but he wasn’t sure he’d been successful when she pulled back enough to look up into his eyes.

  “Yes…but probably not in the way you’re thinking.” They’d danced their way to the back of the room close to the darkened hallway leading to the rear entrance of the pool area. This time, he clasped her small hand in his much larger one and led her through the dark. “Where are we going?”

  “I want to talk to you and I don’t want an audience. And in case you hadn’t noticed, we were attracting a lot of attention—it’s one of the hazards of having a large family. And a job where everybody thinks you are public property and they’re privy to your personal life because you are an elected official.

  Joelle’s entire body was vibrating with sexual awareness, damn, there was something about Brandt Morgan that set her on fire. She’d enjoyed feeling all those rock hard muscles pressed against her and prayed he wouldn’t notice how her body responded to his touch. She’d tried to distract him by complimenting his remarkable dancing skills, but he’d laughed away the compliment. “Mama Morgan made certain we all learned. She insisted she wanted to be able to dance with us at our weddings someday, and she didn’t want us stepping on her feet. I suspect her real motives were somewhat different, but she knew we’d never want to hurt her, so the arguments were few and far between.”

  Joelle had
almost panicked when he started down the dim hall. She’d never been particularly fond of the dark. Her discomfort was probably a consequence of being left alone in her bedroom by the nannies her father had hired when she was a child. But whatever the cause, it was a fear she’d brought into adulthood. He must have sensed her unease because he’d stopped just outside a door. She felt him studying her even though she could barely make out his features in the dim light. She sensed rather than saw him leaning close and thought for a second he was going to kiss her, but he’d pressed the side of his cheek against hers so his words wafted softly over the shell of her ear, “Do you trust me, minx?”

  Trust him? Was he kidding? Right now he was rocketing to the top of her “Most Dangerous People on the Planet” list. Joelle wasn’t a fool, she knew an Alpha Male when she met one, and Brandt Morgan was as Alpha as they came. Pulling in a deep breath, ready to tell him no, knowing it would be enough to make him pull back. But evidently all those “I want to fuck him until neither of us can walk” hormones had taken her common sense hostage because she felt herself nod before her brain kicked fully into gear. “Not good enough, minx. Say it out loud. It’ll help cement it in your mind even if you aren’t as convinced as you want me to think you are.”

  Drown him. How had he known when it was darker than the inside of a freaking cat in this damned hallway? It’s not like he could actually see her, but he’d somehow sensed her reticence. Deciding it was easier to answer the question than to puzzle it out, she breathed out the words, enjoying the rasp of his five o’clock shadow against her cheek. “Yes, I trust you. I don’t believe you’d hurt me.” At least not physically. She left the last part unsaid but wondered if he’d heard it in her voice anyway.

  “Close enough. Come.” She heard him tap in a code on a keypad she hadn’t noticed. Stepping through the door, Joelle noted they’d stepped into what looked like a locker room. He didn’t say anything, just tugged her along as he weaved a path through the lockers and benches. She caught the scent of chlorine a few seconds before they stepped into the pool area she’d barely noticed from the other side of the large glass wall.

  “Wow, this is spectacular.” Joelle didn’t even try to censor her response because the Morgan’s pool was absolutely stunning. Having grown up privileged, she was no stranger to beautiful spaces, but this was breathtaking…and much larger than she’d expected. The lush tropical landscaping around the enormous pool provided an illusion of privacy for the various seating areas. Guests would be able to enjoy the intimacy of small groups without feeling completely isolated. Smooth flagstones lined paths wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. They wove through the colorful foliage that reminded Joelle of the tropical resorts her father had taken her to as a child. God, she’d loved those trips, they’d been rare occasions when she’d had the majority of his attention for a few days.

  But it was the enormous rock waterfall that drew her like a moth to a flame. She’d always loved the sound of falling water, it soothed everything unsettled in her heart and mind. She unconsciously changed direction, walking toward the waterfall. She didn’t even realize she was tugging him along until she heard him chuckle. “What is it about that damned waterfall? My mom and Coral are both as enthralled by it as you are, minx.”

  “Moving water…particularly falling water and waves, positively charges the ions in the air. It gives people relief from the negativity so often surrounding them, sort of a “feel good boost” compliments of Mother Nature.” Damn. Nothing like sounding like a science nerd.

  Brandt struggled to hold back his laughter—damn, Phoenix had definitely nailed this one. There was a lot more to Joelle than what she wanted anyone to see. One thing Brandt learned a long time ago—it’s as hard to hide intelligence as it is to hide ignorance over a long period of time. Not wanting to tip his hand, he simply nodded before turning her so she was facing away from the waterfall. She’d still be able to hear it, but he wanted her eyes on him. He didn’t say anything, he simply watched her for long seconds. When she started to fidget under his scrutiny, he used his fingers under her chin to bring her focus back to him. “Eyes on me, minx.” Watching her pupils dilate with arousal at his command confirmed what he already suspected—there was a submissive buried deep inside the feisty redhead.

  “Now, I want you to tell me what you meant by your earlier comment. What makes you believe I wouldn’t be interested in you?” Because, baby, I’m telling you now—I’ve more than a little interested already. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she rolled her eyes bringing the sexual Dominant in him roaring to the surface. Before he could rein it in, he growled, “Be very careful, minx. Those little signs of disrespect won’t serve you well.”

  Her eyes widened for a split second in recognition and Brandt wanted to smile when she immediately dropped her gaze to the floor. Oh yes indeed, there is definitely a sub in there, and one who appears to have at least a subconscious awareness of the fact she’s a sub. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, has she been trained? That question flooded him with a white hot flash of jealousy so intense it shocked him. Hell, he’d never felt anything close to possessive of a submissive before.

  “Well, I just meant that I’m just a clerk in a small town drug store.” Brandt wasn’t going to listen to her blow smoke up his ass, particularly when it was glaringly apparent her story was bogus. Even a passing understanding of Dominance and submission would have taught her that lying in any form was unacceptable—so she fucking knew better than to try it.

  “Stop. Don’t insult my intelligence with drivel.” He watched her lips firm in a stubborn line that would get her a paddling she wouldn’t soon forget if she belonged to him. He opened his mouth to tell her to try again when he heard someone pounding on the glass behind him. Turning, he saw his mother motioning for them to come out. She was talking a mile a minute even though she had to know they couldn’t hear her, and the only word he’d been able to make out was “bouquet.”

  Brandt nodded once at his mother before leading Joelle toward the door. Looking down at her, he wanted to snarl his frustration. “Don’t look so smug, minx. You’ve gotten a temporary reprieve, but I assure you, this conversation is far from over.” Seeing the grin on Joelle’s face when he handed her over to his mother made his palm twitch in anticipation. You’d look lovely with your bare ass draped over my lap, minx. He barely managed to keep the comment to himself as her fingers slipped from his.

  Moving to one of the large tubs set-up in front of the bar, Brandt pulled a bottle of water from the ice and downed the contents in a few gulps. Kip bent close to be heard over the music. “Mom can have really lousy timing sometimes.” The youngest Morgan brother was leaning with his back against the bar grinning like a fucking loon. Kip was fun loving and considering his reputation with the ladies, Brandt didn’t doubt his little brother had given their mom numerous opportunities to interrupt his amorous adventures.

  Nodding, Brandt agreed, “That she does, but my conversation with Ms. Freemont is far from finished. She made a comment about not being the type of woman I’d be interested in.” Kip didn’t respond, but his brow arched up letting Brandt know he also recognized the comment as a lame excuse at the very least. Personally, Brandt was more inclined to see it as a blatant lie. “And then she had the audacity to try to blow smoke up my ass by playing the I’m just a lowly drug store clerk card.” This time, Kip laughed out loud.

  “Hope you called bull shit because she’s sharp as a tack. And Barney swears she knows more about most of the drugs in his inventory than he does. She’s also implemented new security protocols. The old fart told me he was shocked at the difference in his profit margin—seems more than a few of the store’s narcotics were walking out the door in his employee’s pockets.” Barney Knapp was Pine Creek’s only pharmacist. Brandt knew the elderly man wanted to retire, but he’d put off moving to a warmer climate because he didn’t want to leave his hometown without a pharmacy. Brandt appreciated the man’s loyalty to the community but wasn
’t at all pleased this was the first he’d heard about the drug thefts.

  “God damn it, why didn’t I know about this?”

  The knowing look in Kip’s eyes made Brandt want to slap his kid brother upside the head. “Wow, lemme’ think. Don’t suppose it’s this reaction, do you?” Fuck! Had he really been such an ass the citizens he’d sworn to protect were afraid to talk to him? “Aww…I see a spark of awareness flickering to life. And the answer to the question I see in your eyes is yes, you’ve been a douche in varying degrees since you moved home. But we love you and we’re trying to be patient—but it’s probably time to yank your head out of your ass before the scales tip in the other direction.”

  Running his hand through his short hair in frustration, Brandt could only nod. It was true—he wasn’t the easy-going kid who’d left Pine Creek more than a decade ago. That young man had slowly faded from existence during his years as a SEAL. Having a front row seat to the brutality and senseless loss of life—which were always a part of war, had a way of eroding even the strongest among them and wasn’t it just happy-fucking-humbling having your kid brother point it out to you?

  “Just because I’m a nosy little bastard I’m going to ask—you aren’t going to let the little sub get away with that nonsense are ya? Because I gotta tell ya, I can see her topping from the bottom every chance she gets.”

  Brandt shook his head. “First off, you are indeed a nosy bastard, but apparently observant as well. Hell, how did you know she was submissive? I wasn’t absolutely sure until a few minutes ago though I had my suspicions. And I’m sure I’ve spent more time with her than you have.”

  “Well, you’ve been courting her—even if neither of you knew it. But me? Like I said, I’m just nosy so I have more time to observe, and one of the things I noticed is how you failed to answer my question.” With that, Kip tipped his bottle of beer in Brandt’s direction, pushed away from the wall, and headed back into the crowd.