Star-Crossed Miracles Page 8

  “We’ll always take your sass out on your lovely ass, baby. You’re lucky it’s Tucker’s lap your draped over and not mine. I take a dim view of cheeky answers,” Brock’s tone was strained, and Tucker would tease him later that it was a result of oxygen deprivation to the brain since all his blood was likely pooled a lot farther south.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Tucker hated the sniffle he heard in her response. Dammit, this wasn’t supposed to be about pain, but there had been witnesses to her flippant answer, so they hadn’t dared let it go.

  “Behave, sweet cheeks.” Leaning down, he lightly bit the shell of her ear. “When you speak out in front of the other guests, we’ll have no choice but to meet the challenge. We don’t want to punish you, pet. We’d much rather make your body sing with pleasure. I’m looking forward to feeling you come around my fingers and hearing your soft cries as the pleasure rolls over you in wave after wave of ecstasy.”

  When she shuddered, he set a steady pace of strikes, making sure his palm never landed in the same place twice in a row. By the seventh swat, he could smell the musky scent of her heat. Glistening trails of her cream were silver rivulets coating the insides of her thighs and dampening his knee.

  “She’s soaking wet. Fuck, I can see it from here,” Brock’s voice was filled with desire, and Tucker knew it was testing his brother’s patience to stand to the side. Brock’s palm fell harder than Tucker’s, and as a newbie, Mia needed a lighter touch for this introduction. Slipping his fingers through her slick folds, Tucker groaned when she squirmed against his cock. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, those wiggles were going to make him come before he could get inside her, and he hadn’t done that since he was sixteen.

  Pushing his fingers inside her rippling vagina, Tucker zeroed in on his spongy target. Pressing against her G-spot, he snapped, “Come for me, pet.” He’d barely gotten the words out when Mia’s entire body answered his command. Her cry of release was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard, and Tucker suddenly regretted not being able to see her face. Next time he made her come, Tuck wanted her eyes locked on his.

  When she sagged over his knee, Tucker leaned back and let Brock roll her into his arms. Instead of sitting down to give Mia the aftercare she deserved, his brother stalked toward the sliding doors on the starboard side of the deck. Brock was halfway down the hall by the time Tucker caught up.

  “Damn, where’s the fire?” Tucker hoped his brother would regain some measure of control before they entered the suite, or he was going to burst into flames, and Mia would be caught in the firestorm.

  For the past year, Brock had been the one with the cool head, and as a result, he’d taken the lead when they’d played at the club. Tucker hadn’t cared about anything remotely emotional, wanting nothing but the brief escape sex provided. As soon as it was over, Tucker excused himself, happily leaving the cuddling to Brock. But everything about Mia felt different and even as reluctant as Tucker was to admit it, she drew him like a magnet to steel.

  Clasping his hand on his brother’s shoulder when he stopped in front of the door to their suite, Tucker gave Brock a look he hoped screamed rein it in. Some of the lust-crazed look in Brock’s eyes cleared, and the curt nod of his brother’s head was probably the only assurance Tuck would get.

  “Open the door, or I’m going to fuck her in the hall,” Brock’s growled words elicited an immediate response from Mia, but it was the polar opposite from what Tucker expected. The little sub, whose ass had to still be smarting from the spanking he’d given her, giggled. Giggled!

  *

  Mia felt like she’d been run over by a dump truck filled with boulders after the most spectacular orgasm of her life. She’d sagged over Tucker’s lap, trying to pull the fragmented pieces of her mind back together when she suddenly realized Brock was picking her up. Nobody’s brain could function after being blown into tiny bits and scattered over the dark water of the Caribbean Sea, and she hadn’t had enough energy to protest.

  When Brock stopped in front of what she assumed was the door to their suite, the tension was vibrating from him in waves. She started to worry he was angry she’d come like a common streetwalker until she heard him admonish his brother to open the door before he fucked her in the hall. Relief swept over her, knowing he wasn’t angry, and thanks to the chaos her hormones were causing, she giggled rather than keeping her gratitude in check.

  Brock’s lips pressed against her forehead before he shook his head and smiled down at her.

  “There is a time for giggling, baby, and this is not it. I’m skating on a very fine edge. Watching Tuck bring you to a screaming climax shredded my control. Unless you want me to pin you to the wall and fuck you until neither one of us can walk, you’ll keep quiet until my slower-than-molasses-in-winter brother opens the damned door.”

  Mia didn’t know anything about molasses in winter, but she kept her question to herself as Tucker muttered an oath, then shouldered past Brock to scan his card in the lock.

  Mia’s first view of the suite took her breath away. They’d planned to stop here before eating, but her growling stomach had protested, and they’d headed directly to the restaurant. The spacious suite’s marble floors gleamed in the soft light from the wall sconces, and her eyes immediately went to the glass accordion doors opened to showcase an enormous balcony overlooking the water. Brock must have followed her gaze because he snorted a laugh as he set her on her feet.

  “Next time, sweetheart. Strip.”

  Next time? What did that mean? Her mind finally caught up, and she realized he must have thought she wanted to have sex on the deck. Which she did. But that wasn’t what she’d been thinking. She’d simply been admiring the view. The sound of tearing fabric reached her ears a split second before she heard Brock growl, “Too slow, baby.” The dress she’d been wearing fell around her feet in tatters, and she blinked up at him in utter disbelief.

  Tucker burst out laughing, and Brock muttered something she hadn’t been able to hear, but it didn’t stem his brother’s laughter.

  “You’re supposed to be the romantic one, asshole. Hell, who knew you’d get so worked up watching a moonlight spanking. Give her a minute to get her bearings before ordering her to strip in the middle of an unfamiliar room, you Neanderthal.” He glanced her way, his heated gaze raking over her from the tips of her French manicured toes to the top of her head. The slow perusal made Mia’s blood run hot, and she knew she’d flushed at the close scrutiny. “Although I must admit, naked looks beautiful on her. Turn around, pet. I want to check your ass for marks.”

  She gasped and tried to take a step back, but what sounded like a growl kept her rooted in place.

  “He wants to make sure there won’t be any bruising from your erotic spanking, baby. Turn around, so we can see if we need to treat you with arnica cream.” She knew the healing powers of arnica, but the thought of these two big men rubbing cream into her tender tissues made her knees wobble when she tried to turn. Brock’s warm hand cupped her elbow, steadying her as she shuffled her bare feet over the cool marble.

  Mia heard Tucker move closer and felt the soft brush of cool air over her heated posterior as he knelt behind her. Holy shit, could this get any more embarrassing? His fingers trailed over her skin, and she flinched when they moved over a particularly painful spot.

  “She’s going to be sore tomorrow, but the tenderness will remind her of how beautifully her body blurred the line between pain and pleasure.” The rustle of clothing was her only indication he was once again standing until he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

  “You were absolutely amazing. You are meant for this lifestyle, sweet cheeks.” She noted he hadn’t said she was meant to be theirs, and something about that tore a hole in her heart, but she pushed those thoughts aside. Mia was determined to enjoy the cruise and squeeze every bit of pleasure she could from the experience because the chance of her getting another opportunity like this one was slim to none. Was she going to milk all the enjoyment she could f
rom this chance? Damned Skippy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lucia Mendez glared at the man who’d been his chief of security for years. Joseph Moreno might be a retired general, but he was also an arrogant bastard of the first order. Moreno’s penchant for younger women had never set well with Lucia’s sweet wife, and she’d warned him—too many times to count—the man he considered a trusted friend was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Joseph had worked for Lucia for years, but lately, the man often forgot which one of them was in charge.

  “Do not tell me you don’t know, Joseph. I am not interested in your excuses. Find out why the incompetent men you hired allowed Mia to board a cruise ship that set sail moments later.” A ship leased to a man everyone mistakenly believed had retired from the CIA. Anyone with any international experience at all knew Cameron Barnes was as much an agent now as he’d ever been although he seemed to keep a much lower profile.

  “The men escorting her were obviously well-trained. She slipped through our fingers at her apartment by hiding under the floor. The men I’d sent to bring her in for her own safety underestimated your lovely granddaughter. They will not make the same mistake again.”

  Moreno tried but seemed unable to completely blank his expression. Lucia would start making calls as soon as the man left for the night. Mia had tried to tell him something about the man sitting on the other side of the desk, but he’d been too busy to listen. She might be on the run, but she was still under his watchful eye.

  Pressing his palm against his chest, Lucia cursed the spicy dinner he hadn’t been able to resist. His cook kept trying to feed him bland dishes at night, but Lucia was not yet ready to admit his body was no longer that of a young man. Joseph Moreno’s eyes followed the circular movements with avid interest, and for the first time since he’d met Joseph, Lucia felt a chill of fear in his presence. It was time to replace Morena, but Lucia needed to make a phone call first, and tipping Joseph off wouldn’t be wise.

  “You are dismissed, my friend. Go to town and enjoy the ladies who follow you like a gaggle of geese.” The arrogant sloth smiled at the compliment and slowly got to his feet. He’d be out of the compound within minutes without a backward glance, giving Lucia the opening he needed to call Cam. It was time for the man whose life he’d once saved to answer a few questions.

  *

  With a little luck, maybe the old bastard would die before Joseph got his hands on Mia. His boss’s granddaughter was proving herself far more resourceful than Joseph had anticipated. Helping rescue Senator Tyson had put her on the radar of several organizations she should have steered clear of, but like all journalists, she hadn’t been able to keep her nose out of places it didn’t belong. Christ, it was bad enough she’d almost walked in on his own operation; it had been pure luck he’d seen her reflection in a shop window late one-night walking down the street. He’d been shocked to discover she’d managed to follow him without being detected and grateful he’d seen her in time to change course.

  Joseph knew he’d been stalling when it came to a decision about how to deal with Mia, hoping she would find some other shiny object to chase, and now she’d slipped through his fingers. The only way he could think of to reel her in was to make certain her grandfather needed her, and the drug he’d slipped into the old man’s after dinner brandy should do just that. Everything in Lucia Mendez’s life was mind-numbingly predictable. Ordinarily, Joseph found Lucia’s routine appallingly drab, but tonight it would play in his favor. The old man would sit by the fire sipping his drink and before the night was over, he’d be clinging to life by a thread. Perfect.

  *

  Cam leaned back in his chair and let his gaze move over the woman sleeping on the nearby sofa. She was curled into the corner, looking more like a teenager than one of the most skilled and well-respected pediatric surgeons in the world. She was God’s gift to sick and injured children, and Cam had always known he couldn’t steal her away from those deserving souls. He was even more grateful she was an unearned gift to him. Cam might not have done anything to deserve Cecelia’s love, but he wasn’t ever going to question the cosmic decision to send her his way.

  An hour ago, he’d answered the call he’d been expecting since Mia Mendez boarded the ship he’d chartered. He’d known her grandfather for years, and more importantly, he respected Lucia for fighting back against the cartels who often steamrolled good people. Lucia was one of the few international bankers who hadn’t fallen prey to the greed so prevalent in the world’s largest banks.

  Lucia Mendez had held out against those who would have made the self-made man little more than a puppet at the expense of his own country. But resisting criminal forces had also made him a target, and Cam’s concern for the other man had prompted the second call of the evening. Kent and Kyle West already had two men watching the Mendez estate and sent them to check on the elderly man before they’d finished speaking with Cam. Lucia’s repeated comments about his heartburn had been red flags to Cam, and the Wests had readily agreed.

  Turning to watch the crackling flames in the fireplace, Cam thought back on the first time he met Mia. He’d watched her descend the stairs during her quinceanera, and he still remembered the intelligence he’d seen swirling in her blue eyes. Cam had met the young woman several more times over the years in various disguises, and he’d been relieved she hadn’t recognized him out on the dock. He’d used the shadows to his advantage, but he doubted her eye for detail would be fooled for long.

  Letting his thoughts drift back to the woman sleeping peacefully nearby. Cam was becoming frustrated the inquiries he’d made into real estate in Houston weren’t yielding anything interesting, and it looked as if they were going to have to build. When he’d casually mentioned it to Kent before they ended their call, his friend had told him to hold-up on a decision because he had an idea. There’s a terrifying thought. Many assumed Kent wasn’t as sharp or as ruthless in business as his brother simply because his involvement wasn’t as overt. The two were mirror images in almost every way. Physically, they were nearly impossible to tell apart, contrary to what their firestorm of a wife would tell you.

  Kent and Kyle’s minds also worked at the same warp speed. It was their method of attack when dealing with a problem that differed. Kyle was all about the blitz and frontal. Kent was much subtler, and in Cam’s opinion, that made him much more dangerous. Both men were loyal friends and formidable enemies, and if Kent said he had an idea, Cam would wait to hear him out.

  When his phone vibrated beside him, Cam picked it up and frowned at the message displayed on the screen.

  Subject being transported to ER. Drink secured for testing. Last known visitor COS. Will update ASAP.

  If everyone and their dog wasn’t looking for her, Cam would be tempted to return to Colombia, so Mia could look after her grandfather, but that wasn’t an option. He had put feelers out, trying to find out more about Lucia’s Chief of Security. Cam had disliked the man on sight and told Lucia so, but Mendez hadn’t taken the warning seriously. Hopefully, the elderly man wasn’t going to pay for that mistake with his life.

  Getting to his feet, Cam shook off the concerns. There was no reason to tell Mia about her grandfather until he knew more, and he wasn’t looking forward to explaining how he’d come upon the information. He had hoped to deliver her safely to the Wests before laying his cards on the table, but it seemed fate had other plans. Leaning over CeCe, he pressed a kiss to her forehead as he lifted her into his arms.

  “Come, pet. Time for bed.” When her eyes fluttered open and her lips curved into a soft smile, he kissed her again. “Thank you for keeping me company, love.”

  “How is Mia’s grandfather?” Fuck. My, did I believe she would sleep through something this important?

  Chapter Twelve

  Mia was dizzy with desire; she’d been worried the men wouldn’t show any interest in her when they were alone, but that diminished the moment they stepped across the threshold into the suite. One of the first things
she’d learned as a photographer was how easily people could lie with their words and actions, but their eyes always revealed the truth.

  Looking in Brock and Tucker’s eyes told her their attraction to her had nothing to do with the fact she needed their protection or her grandfather’s wealth. For the first time she could remember, she knew she was facing men who understood what she needed.

  “She’s thinking again,” Tucker’s voice startled her, and she jumped but caught herself before she would have taken a step back. “Good girl. Don’t ever step away from your Dom, and unless we tell you otherwise, we want your eyes on ours. We need to be able to see when you drift away from us,” his tone held just a hint of teasing, and she felt herself relax.

  “I don’t know what it is about you that turns my brother into fucking Dr. Phil,” Brock shook his head and let out a disgusted sound as he wrapped his hand around her wrist and tugged her against his chest, “but I don’t think I’ve ever heard him so chatty about protocol. I’m tired of all this talking. The two of you put on one hell of a show on deck, and I’m past ready to get my hands on you. Let’s go.” The next thing she knew, he was practically race-walking down the short hall and into a surprisingly spacious bedroom.

  Taking in her surroundings, Mia noted the bank of windows and wondered what the view would be like in the morning. Looking out over the water would be a great way to wake up unless the sun was shining in her eyes. I hate it when that happens. A whoosh of air was her only warning before the burn of Brock’s palm scorched her left ass cheek.

  “I swear to all things holy, I’m going to light your pretty pink ass on fire if you don’t stay with us, baby.”