Chapter 4

Four

Peyton

T he Luthers' home would have been more in place in California; it is hard to believe we are in the Bahamas. The residence is designed to look like a two-hundred-year-old Victorian home with turrets and balconies, though Jude told me the entire house is new construction. It is situated high on a bluff with a fantastic view of the beach down below.

Inside, antiques and artwork compete with the breathtaking views out of the windows. Somehow the place manages to even smell exquisitely expensive. Everything inside is imported from the far reaches of Europe, and the hosts make sure to tell their guests about all their acquisitions.

The uniformed waitstaff circulates trays of seafood while the female guests sip champagne in designer dresses. The men eat the food but are careful not to spill on their silk button-down tropical shirts.

Jude looks distractingly sexy tonight in a black tee-shirt and black jeans. Maybe it is because I've seen him naked so much lately that anything else is a tease. Never in my life have I truly felt where I belong, but being with him takes all that away and I feel like I can be my true self.

I'm perched near the stairs where I have a bird's eye view on the whole party. Elegantly dressed women who look like they need to get laid more often circle him like flies, but he's oblivious to their fawning only looking up from the group of guests he's talking with to find me every so often.

Though I am looking forward to hearing Jude sing, now is a good time for me to slip away. Helping myself to a glass of champagne, I have to fight my urge to hide in the staff kitchen and pray my nightmare of a situation blows over like last night's storm.

This over-the-top atmosphere is not my scene. Not to mention, it feels like the majority of the male guests have their eyes glued to my ass.

I leave them to lament about vacation homes and finding good help to explore the house. I take the stairs up to the second floor. The second door on the right is unlocked, just as the jerkwad Conner said the study should be.

Thank heavens for small miracles.

I close the door softly behind me and read the directions from the text on my phone. I don't dare turn an overhead light on to alert anyone to my presence.

Bookcases line the walls that aren't glass and a large wooden desk with what looks like pirate ships carved into the front serves as the room's focal point.

"Holy crap. What an office." It is so unlike the light colors of the rest of the house, and it feels as if I've stepped into another time and place. My heels sink into the plush carpet as I move across the room.

The massive desk faces the door and behind it are blackout curtains that keep the room cool and block the glare during the daytime. I draw back one of them slightly to get my bearings. The pool is right below with little candles floating across the surface. Some local musicians are setting up in one corner. The clink of dishware and party chatter drifts up even though the windows are closed.

I turn back to the desk to find the third drawer is unlocked but squeaks when I slide it open.

I'm constantly looking between the door and what I am doing. "Fuck you, Conner, for putting me in this position." Fear has my heart beating against my chest. The island humidity probably makes the wood swell, but I wait a few seconds to be discovered.

When no thundering footsteps or cries of "thief!" as authorities burst into the room arrive, I chide myself for being so jumpy. I am so out of practice. "Didn't I swear I'd never do this again?" There's no way I can walk away now, but deep down I wish I could.

I slide my hand into the blackened deep drawer and nearly sigh with relief. My fingers brush the velvet pouch.

Score!

I palm the bag, check the sparkly contents quickly by my phone's light, before dropping the entire bag into my purse. I buckle the clasp and don't dare take a minute I wish I had to gather my thoughts. My heart is pounding so fast I can hear the rush of blood in my ears.

This is to protect Lila, I remind myself. Keeping her safe from my past mistakes is all that matters.

"Peyton, what are you doing?" Jude's silhouette is in the doorway. The sound of his deep voice rips a startled cry from me.

Holy fuck!

I jump, giving an undignified squeal. Did I not lock the door behind me? I can't see Jude's face as he is backlit by the hall, but I know he is pissed off all the same. He radiates displeasure so profoundly I can feel it a full room away.

"I didn't hear you." If my heart was thundering before, it's racing like I've run a marathon now. So I blame that for such a lame thing to say when I should have gone with something like, ‘looking for a room I can jump your bones in'.

"Peyton. I asked you what you were doing."

I take a deep breath. "I was looking for a place to watch the fireworks," I lie. Instinct has me looking for a secondary escape route.

He closes the door behind him before stalking closer to me. I am already behind the desk with the window at my back. I don't have much room to maneuver. I shine my phone's light on him.

"I thought you were rehearsing." My voice sounds falsely chipper even to my ears.

"I'm pretty sure I can cover Happy Birthday without much practice." He rubs his lower lip with his thumb, studying me. Even in the faint light, I can appreciate the way his biceps bulge with the casual movement.

I haven't fooled him in the least — double damn.

"Are you meeting someone up here? In the dark?" he asks.

I swallow, feeling a little itch in my throat. "Not unless you count yourself."

Dammit to hell, even to my ears I sound guilty. Not to brag, but I used to be pretty good at telling lies. Maybe it is because people thought I looked so damn innocent.

Jude sighs.

None of that does me any good now because I am bombing at lying to Jude.

Moonlight spills through the window to highlight a wicked glint slanting across his expression. I'm confused by the smile on his lips. "Take a seat, Peyton, and spread your legs. "

My heart skips a beat. "What?" Not that I mind the change of topic. I love hearing those words but someplace else and not when I have a jacked million-dollar piece of jewelry in my purse.

My brows arch. "This isn't really the place for a licking, Jude." My nervous giggle makes me cringe. "There's a house full of people downstairs. What if I scream?"

Jude advances on me, pressing me back against the desk, caging me in place.

"Take a seat." We're so close we are sharing the same air now. I tilt my head up to lock gazes with the man I long to share a life with, but after tonight I know that won't happen.

Piercing dark brown eyes are leveled on me. The power of his gaze is so intense I'm having a hard time not following his command. I can feel my insides turn to jelly and a dull ache thrums low in my core.

I sit down in a desk chair that is built for a giant, my feet barely touching the floor. "There. I sat. Happy? I'm not wanting a lecture. Can we go now? I can use a glass of wine since I see the fireworks aren't going to be shown on time."

Shut up, Peyton.

My gaze drops to the floor, my feet...anywhere but at him. At this point, I may as well have "guilty" tattooed across my forehead.

"Since you don't want to tell me the truth, maybe I can pull it out of you. I'm only disappointed I don't have any frosting on me." Jude's voice is low, threatening, and sends a chill of excitement through me. The heat radiating off his body is like a magnet pulling me to him. "But we'll have to make do," he finishes with a murmured growl.

"You can't be serious, Jude. Let's wait until we get home. I promise I'll make it up to you," I whisper. "This isn't the place for a quickie."

A shadow crosses his face. Jude keeps me pinned in the chair by keeping his hands on the armrests, and his body blocks me from standing. He runs his lips against my neck so lightly I have to arch into him for the contact.

"Let's see how wet that pussy of yours is." Jude's fingers are on my dress hem, rolling it up.

Oh, God. I am in serious trouble. I try to think of the state of my life if he finds out what I have in my purse but it's no use. His touch will turn me to jelly in thirty seconds and then there will be no keeping the truth from him. I know myself too well.

It is now that I realize that being a thief and in love with my rockstar boss is not an ideal pairing. He is going to fuck the truth of out me in some dude's office chair and so help me God, I am going to give it to him.

Jude runs his finger up the inside of one of my thighs and then teases the other.

He grins which only makes me frown deeper. But my body is getting my signals all mixed up. Because instead of pushing Jude's hands away and demanding we leave, I widen my legs on the chair seat, eager for him to explore further.

"Aww, sweetheart, look at all that honey. Are you eager for something, Peyton?" His deep voice if gruff, sexy.

Shivers run down my body as the first fireworks explode outside. Jude slowly runs his finger along the wet seam of my pussy lips and suddenly I remember the way he felt penetrating me last night. I exhale a shaky breath. Every nerve in my body tenses, waiting for relief. It is like the air is charged with electricity before a storm.

Jude swirls a light stroke over my throbbing clit.

I close my eyes, dropping my head against the back of the chair. His touch feels like heaven in the middle of the hell I've placed us in.

Slowly, God, ever so slowly he sinks one finger inside my tight channel and my low moan fills the room.

He smiles slowly, clamping a hand down over my mouth.

"You need to save all your sounds for me alone, sweetheart. Unless being discovered in here is what your wet pussy wants?" Jude starts stroking me in earnest. I scream into the palm of his hand, my entire body writhing.

The naughty sound of my wetness is so loud I worry anyone passing by in the hall might come to investigate. I pray that no one will interrupt us, not only from the embarrassment but because l need his touch.

"Peyton, tell me the truth." He kisses my ear then nibbles on the lobe.

"Ohhhhhh, do that again, Jude!"

"That or that ?" He increases the pace of his stroking inside me with his finger. I squirm, pushing back against his hand. He pulls out, only to slide in another and finger fuck me harder.

"Yes!" Holy fuck. My whole body is tingling and eager for anything he'll offer me.

"What are you doing up here?" he asks. "Tell me the truth, or that orgasm you feel building will never come."

My eyelids flutter. His fingers inside me are relentless and feel amazing. His other hand slides up my thigh and he palms my ass, giving it a hard squeeze and has me panting wildly. I'm spread wide with a foot on the desk and the other on Jude's shoulder. I can feel my honey slip down the crease of my ass and Jude's curious fingers are right there to catch every last drop. He strokes a finger around my asshole, causing me to jump and gasp.

But I like it to and my groans give that truth away.

His eyes hold mine as he strokes the puckered entrance once, twice, all the while working my tight entrance with his wicked fingers. A little bit of pressure and he's sliding a finger into my ass and working me both ways.

I've never felt something so forbidden, filthy and so exuberantly delicious all at once.

"Jude, yes, God, yes! I'm going to come!" I tighten my hands on the armrest and arch into the amazing sensations.

I am starting to float away from this room from the way his fingers are working me.

Suddenly, Jude pulls his fingers out and stands, letting a cold draft of air wash over me.

I grip his forearms in frustration. "Don't stop." The room is dark and silent. The only sound now is my voice pleading him to go back to working me to orgasm.

From a crack in the curtain casting a sliver of light on his face, I catch a deliciously devilish gleam in his eyes.

I look in amazement as Jude glides to his knees between my spread legs. His muscles coil and bunch under my fingers.

"Jude?"

He carefully pushes my dress up so that my bare ass is on the chair with the fabric bunched around my waist.

Jude's head dips between my thighs.

"Umm, did you lock the door?" I ask nervously. "Oh, Jude!" Pleasure claws at my core.

"Nope." He nudges my legs farther apart with his shoulders. His breath on the insides of my thighs forbidden.

"Can you please lock the door?" I whisper, but my hands are in his hair, holding him to me.

"No." He nuzzles my pussy. "I've waited all night to taste this sweetness."

"Jerk," I say, without heat.

"What did you say?'

"I said I need to come and you're not letting me."

He flashes me a broody look with a mouth full of my pussy. A sight I thought I'd never see. "Tell me the truth, Peyton. Tell me why you're up here and I'll let your pretty pussy climax all over my face."

"I'm burning up so badly, Jude. Please."

"First things first, Peyton." His voice slides over my skin like a silky caress.

Seeing Jude's head between my knees is a fantastic turn on. My insides do a happy dance. I feel so powerful, knowing that he desires me so much. And then there is a benefit of how good it feels.

"No answer? Okay. I'm going to find out what you are up to, Peyton. And believe me, before I'm done you are going to tell me everything I want to know." He murmurs before he proceeds to fuck the hell out of my tight sheath with his tongue.

I have trouble keeping my ass on the chair. I want to meet him stroke for stroke.

"Nothing is going on," I whisper.

He swipes his tongue up the seam of my pussy. Once. Twice and God it's pure perfection.

"No lies, my sweet little naughty nanny." Jude stops and murmurs against my inner thigh.

"Oh, don't stop," I moan, trying to squeeze my legs together to stop the ache deep inside me. His words and his mouth are making me into a puddle of begging.

Using his shoulder, he holds me open. His hands grip my ass and angle me just right to where nothing is off-limits. His tongue swirls over my clit until I start hyperventilating and then he dips lower and lower.

"Jude!" I scream, my whole body quivering with unreleased need.

My hands dig deeper into his hair and I hold him to me.

"I take it no one's ever gone down on you before," he says. His thumbs draw mind-numbing circles along my inner thighs.

"Not like this. Ohhhhh!" I gasp. "That feels so fucking good."

He's relentless in his quest to pleasure me. He sucks, licks, and strokes me so that I don't even recognize my own body. I am a quivering mass of nerves seeking release.

And Jude isn't ready to offer me salvation yet. He keeps skirting my orgasm. It is a sexy and tantalizing game he's liking way too much in my opinion.

Wearing my honey on his chin, he locks eyes with me in the faint moonlight peeking in, and that's when I see the wicked intent in his dark eyes.

"Whoever he was, apparently he never met your clit. That little bud is just begging for my attention." Holding my pouty folds open, he blows warm air gently over my pleasure nub and I know right then I can't take anymore. My insides coil tight.

"What are you up to in here, Peyton?"

"I'm smuggling some gems," I blurt. "Please, don't stop. I'm so close, Jude!"

"What's his name?" His fingers press into the skin of my thighs, holding me in place when I try to wiggle.

"What?" I am sure I've heard him right. Who? It is challenging to concentrate when he is doing that with this tongue around my pleasure nub.

Besides, how can he possibly know I'm not working alone?

"You heard me. What's his name."

Oh fuck. I need this orgasm more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. And Jude is stringing me along. The bastard.

"Later, please," I beg, rocking my hips against his face.

"I doubt either of those is his name," Jude says tartly. "Last chance." Teeth sink into the tender flesh of my clit and I arch so far off the chair Jude slips both hands under my ass. It's a delicate balance of pain and pleasure that leaves me utterly breathless.

"Conner," I gasp, reaching a hand between my legs pet my clit. But no go. Jude is wicked fast and catches my wrist in his hand.

"Are you fucking this Conner, Peyton?" His voice is cold, hard, and businesslike.

"That's what you want to know? Not about the jewelry?"

Jude's laugh is dark. "I'll get to that. But first things first. Are you sharing what I've claimed with this man?"

"No! Well, yes, we did a long while ago, but I broke it off. This is just a job. That's all it is. Only a job. He threatened me."

A blast of cool air hits my pussy, and my legs fall closed. "Come on, we're leaving. We can't talk about this here."

I'm partially hanging off the chair and he's there helping me to my feet.

"What about your performance?" I ask, remembering the other reason we are here. Not to mention I am wound tighter than a top. At least he can finger-fuck me to give me some relief.

"They can live without my version of Happy Birthday ." Jude looms over me.

"Are you sure?" I ask, trying to buy some time. I grip the sides of the desk, feeling dazed and not at all sure I can walk.

"We're leaving."

I stay where I am, getting my bearings after what just happened, stunned by the fact my bare ass was on the host's fancy study chair.

"Wipe your girl cum on the pillow." His voice is quiet, but I recognize the steel shot through it.

My mouth falls open. "You're joking."

"Peyton, this asshole would be only too happy to see you in prison so he can make a little insurance money. You didn't think this piece of shit Conner guy had this lucrative deal fall into his lap out of thin air, did you? And you don't think this study just happened to be unlocked when every other door in this mansion is just that...locked?"

Embarrassment rides me hard. I don't know if I want to punch Jude, kick Conner in the balls, or cry.

"You're not taking this asshole's jewels so he can claim fraudulent monies, but it would be rude to leave him without any parting gift."

My knees feel like jelly from Jude's touch. I am so worked up, and my tight bud is so sensitive that when he runs his fingers over the seam of my pussy, I lean into him, gasping.

I can't do anything but look on as Jude wipes his fingers clean on the fancy cushion.

"You never have to do something like this again. Do you understand me? Ever." Jude palms my face and brushes a warm, gentle kiss over my lips. The kind that has our tongues tangling. The tangy-sweet taste of my pussy juices burst across my tongue.

"Wealthy people have their jewels ‘stolen' so they can collect the insurance money. It's a classic scam," Jude finishes when he breaks our kiss.

"He threatened me and Lila. I didn't want my past hurting anyone so I agreed. I'm sorry." All of a sudden I'm finding my voice.

He considers me for a minute, and I can feel his power permeate the air around us. He might be a rocker, but the man before me is more than someone with a good set of vocal pipes. So much more. I might have a colorful past, but something tells me so does he.

"Come on. We're going home."

I follow him out the door, making sure my dress is covering my ass as he pulls me briskly alongside him. As we pass through the empty living room, Jude takes my purse and removes the velvet bag holding the jewel. He hands the purse back to me.

"Did you touch the jewel at any time? Anything your fingerprints could be found on?"

"No, you walked in before I got the chance."

He drops the velvet bag down a massive planter holding a large fake palm tree, flashing me a dark look.

Then we exit by the front door, bypassing the party still going strong poolside.

My mind reels with the sudden change of events. How does Jude know all this about the smuggling biz? I need more than him to spread me out in his bed and take away the ache. I need some answers of my own.