“I know.” Her eyes widen and she slaps her palm over her mouth. Vomit spews between her fingers, and I spin her back to the sink. Ainsley throws up. Her chest shudders violently as she heaves. I grab her silky locks, holding back her dark mane. I flip the faucet on with my free hand and try not to look at the contents of the sink. She grips the edge of the deep basin, continuing to dry heave.
“Hey now.” I tuck the ends of her hair into the back of her top. I grab a paper towel and wet it for her to wipe her mouth with. I’m a dick but I can see that she’s not well.
Graciously, she accepts the wet towel. “I guess that delivery made me queasier than I thought.”
“You sure that’s it?”
“Yeah.” A belch passes through her lips. Her hand moves to her mouth. “Excuse me. I’m just gonna go upstairs to bed.”
“Later.” I frown as the smell from the sink hits me. Fuck. I stomp to the broom closet and grab a bottle of bleach and dump it. I gag and cover my nostrils with the collar of my t-shirt. What the fuck did she eat today? Damn. I finish up and go out back to see what message was sent today. You don’t marry a cartel princess and not inherit enemies. I knew what I was signing on for when I agreed to marry her.
Pulling the lid off the metal trash can, I find a red satin heart-shaped box on top of yesterday’s garbage. I grab it and walk back in the house so I can see better. Lifting the lid, I feel like a jackass for getting frustrated with Ainsley. Inside the box are crime scene photos of her father and grandmother. Cupping my jaw, I let out a breath and pull out my phone.
It takes Uno five rings before he answers. “Lo,” his tone is groggy. I can hear the baby fussing in the background. His ex gave birth to a son a few weeks ago. They named him Ruger.
“Got another delivery. I want to know that fuckers every move. If he shits I want to know what color. Feel me?”
“I’ll get Murphy on it.”
“Good.”
I end the call and plug my phone in to charge. I grab the gift box and take it out back to the firepit. After getting some lighter fluid I douse it and send the message up in flames. I’ve received it loud and clear. Raul is out for blood. Ainsley may be my brother’s cunt, but she wears my brand on her body. She bears my name. She’s mine to protect. The photos curl and turn to ash. The box begins to melt. I feel around in my pockets for that dime bag ATL slipped me earlier. Some of that good chronic shit he grows back in the sticks of Kentucky. As I lick the rolling paper, I look up and see Ainsley in our bedroom. Her hair is up in a towel and her ass is barely covered by another.
I fire up my puff puff pass and watch her go through her routine. Rubbing lotion all over. She drops the towel and walks into the closet. Losing sight of her I return my attention back to the firepit and wait till it burns out before I go inside.
Even though we are in the privacy of our house we still keep up appearances. Never show any weakness. Never let your enemy know where to hurt you the most. I kick off my boots at the back door. When I get upstairs to the master suite Ainsley is in bed and the lights are off. I go into the bathroom and strip down for a shower. I’m buzzed and feeling good.
The shower still smells of her lemon vanilla soap. Smells like a fucking cookie. The water sprays down on me, and I realize I forgot to close the bathroom door. Too late now. I’m not getting out and tracking water all over the place. I have the perfect view of my wife from our open shower. She’s on her side and the sheet is wrapped around her but low under her hip showing off the tattoo that represents my claim on her. The top she is wearing outlines the shape of her breasts.
I’d be a liar and blind not to see her beauty. But she doesn’t want me. She’s in love with my brother. Fine by me. Closing my eyes, I grip my cock in hand and think about her, remembering fucking her after we said I do. The way she gave her body to me so easily. So willingly she submitted to desire.
I haven’t touched her since. That doesn’t mean I haven’t wanted to.
I slide my fist up and down my shaft thinking about how tight and wet she was. The way her body responded to my touch. The sounds she made as I drove into her, pushing her to the limit. I jerk faster and harder. My jaw ticks as I spill my release in my hand. When I open my eyes, Ainsley is watching me.
Chapter 2
Ainsley
My stomach burns and I can’t sleep. Visions of those damn pictures Raul sent to me today keep dominating my thoughts. Seeing my grandmother’s dead hollow eyes. Her dead body laying in the bedroom doorway. The pool of blood surrounding her head. My father’s body sitting up in bed with no head. It was a clean cut and I pray death was fast for him. I keep telling myself that maybe none of this is real and when I wake up, this will have been a dream. Maybe I’m not married to a man who hates me because I fell for his brother first.
I can hear the shower running. That means Abel is sticking around. Soon he’ll slide into bed and sleep as far away from me as possible. I don’t know why he doesn’t stay in the guesthouse or in one of the other rooms down the hall. His men would probably find it strange that he insists on sharing a bed considering he can hardly stand to look at me. I know he keeps a whore.
It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m his fool. That he married me and took control of my father’s territory and keeps me locked up like his prisoner. I don’t go anywhere unless him or one of his boys in leather are with me. I shift in the sheets and roll to my back, scooting up the black leather padded headboard. The bathroom door is open and there he is. The bastard I married. He’s in the shower. Eyes closed, head back, his fist wrapped around his fat cock. Flames lick up my neck. He’s an asshole, but he’s fine as hell to look at. I should go over there and shut the door to give him his privacy but maybe he intended me to watch. Asshole.
I stare at him unable to look away. Unable to resist the temptation to touch myself. I slide my fingers down my shorts and palm my pussy. I may not like the man but I’m not dead. I add a second finger, and my nipples harden as I continue to watch him. Muscles tightening in his neck and face as he erupts in his hand. His release jetting out and disappearing with the spray of the water.
His eyes open locking on me. Shit. I freeze and pray he doesn’t know what I’m doing under the sheets. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open them again, he’s out and has a towel wrapped around his waist. Abel continues with his ritual, brushing his teeth and flossing between them. I roll to my side and squeeze my eyes shut as he climbs into bed no doubt naked still. The strong scent of his soap wafts over me, and I inhale deeply, getting a good whiff. If anything, my husband smells amazing. Like Nautica cologne. I don’t know what it is about the scent, but it makes my nerves hum in awareness of his closeness.
“Did you enjoy the show, wife ‘o mine,” his husky voice rakes over my skin. The hair on my arms stands as he kisses my earlobe and sucks it into his warm soft mouth. For such a hard man he’s got the sweetest touch when he wants to be kind. I stay quiet not wanting to provoke this hot and cold man of mine. “I saw you watching me.” Stroking my cheek with a f
eather-light touch he trails a path down my throat. I was watching him and shamefully I enjoyed seeing him so vulnerable. I won’t admit it to him not in a million years, but my thighs quake at the sound of his voice and the feel of his breath caressing my skin. “I bet if I reach between your legs right now, I’d find you fuckin’ soaked.”
I squeeze my thighs tight my body betraying me. How do I hate the thought of him touching me and yet want nothing more right now than for him to take what he wants and give me what I need?
Pressing on my throat his grip strengthens. “Look at me.”
Top teeth sinking into my bottom lip, I dare to turn onto my back and face him. His hand slides down my chest and between the valley of my breasts. “You’re a beautiful creature.” Rubbing his thumb over my nipple he smirks at me. Continuing to toy with me his hand moves further to my belly. The pad of his finger traces small lazy circles in a pattern around my navel. “Maybe I should fuck you over and over again until I am damn sure there’s a baby in you. Maybe then Raul would see that he’ll never get to have you. Never get to taste your mouth.” Dipping his head down he presses his lips to mine. He traces the outline of my mouth with the tip of his tongue, daring me to part my lips and open up to him. Abel breaks away. “He’ll never touch you here.” Cupping me between my thighs he teases at my clit with his thumb. Touching me enough to make himself known but not enough to give me any real pleasure.