CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

O liver sat across from Piper and his body physically relaxed as the jet lifted off the tarmac.

She was safe.

Safer than she had been in LA at least.

He had no idea what Ari would decide to do with her when he delivered Piper to the mansion, but that was out of his hands. She was Ari’s sister-in-law, and he was the director.

Oliver’s boss.

The male to whom he was trying to prove his worth.

And yet this damn sexy female was making him do stupid shit. Christ, he’d outright said no to Ari this morning. If he didn’t get fired and booted out the front door he’d be surprised.

It wasn’t like the ancient vampire didn’t encourage independent thinking or empower them as assassins. He did. But Oliver’s response had been purely based on Piper’s safety and not taking into consideration the bigger picture of their job. His job. The job he was in charge of as head assassin.

He’d just up and left during the middle of it.

He’d chosen her.

And once again he looked like a young male choosing his dick over responsibility.

So why didn’t it feel like that, this time?

Even when his father had judged him all those years ago, he’d never felt like it had been wrong. The guy was abusing her, so fuck him. She’d come to him wanting a moment of happiness—a reprieve from the abuse. In those days, it was extremely hard, nearly impossible, for a woman to leave her husband. Financially, there were few options for a female to look after themselves.

His father’s disgust was out of proportion.

Oliver often wondered if his father had lived, and had time to think, whether he would have realized his reaction was over the top. Once he’d nearly asked his mother, but she was so deep in grief he didn’t want to add to her suffering.

In the end, he’d just manned up and moved on.

Upon reflection, his father had always been tough on him. Oliver had always been more brawn than brains, and muscle was something his father didn’t value. That wasn’t to say Oli was stupid—an assassin wouldn’t last five minutes if he didn’t use his brains—but he’d had no desire to hold down a desk job and live a simple life.

Oliver thrived on adventure, danger and always aspired to do something that made an impact.

His father found it... irritating. Found him irritating.

All he’d wanted was his father’s love and acceptance. His approval. He’d never gotten it.

Would he be proud of Oliver’s role as head assassin at The Institute? It was as good as it got in his line of work. Becoming an SLC or Commander of the Moretti royal army was probably the only other role in the vampire world that was a step up, and Craig wasn’t going anywhere.

He noticed Piper's fingers tighten on the leather of her seat. She was a nervous flyer.

His lips twitched.

Well, well, well, the sassy princess was finally scared of something.

Her eyes lifted to his and stayed there until the plane leveled, as if using his presence to feel safe. His chest swelled with happiness that he was the one that could do that for her.

And that’s exactly what he was going to do.

Keep her safe.

She’d hate it, but it was too bad. Right now, she was on BioZen’s radar and that was not okay.

“Okay, let’s talk,” he said, nodding at her.

“First, I don’t want a cheap replacement iPhone. I want the latest model.”

“Done.”

He’d buy her ten if it kept her alive.

Piper’s lips pressed together as if suppressing the argument she had planned, and he fought his grin.

“Why are those men after me?”

He let out a long sigh. “I’d say you know why after the lengths they went to get to you.”

She stared back at him doing her best poker face, but he wasn’t buying it.

“Let’s start with what you know.”

Her blue eyes shot to her laptop giving away the source of her information. Oliver stood and sat down beside her. He glanced at the laptop. “Is it all in there?”

“What?” she asked, surprised. He lay his arm along the cushions behind her and twisted his body while she reached for the laptop and pulled it onto her lap. “This is company property. You can’t touch it. Its confidential.”

“You won’t need a job if you’re dead.”

“Stop with the threats,” she snapped.

“God, female, what will it take for you to take this seriously? You still have their drugs running through your damn veins. I wanted to kill the man holding you.”

She gasped.

“You would do that?”

He frowned, realizing he’d given her the wrong impression. Hadn’t he?

Oliver watched the questions forming in her eyes. His words had told her more than he wanted her to know. It hinted that he cared. That he would protect her with his life. That this was a relationship.

There was no relationship.

At least, there couldn’t be.

But he couldn’t deny his growing desire—no, his need—to know she was safe. He needed to get her home and hand her over to Ari.

That’s where things got a little tricky.

He was pretty confident Ari would be successful in wiping her memories and his body tensed at the thought of her not knowing him. His mind was like a damn yo-yo. He both wanted her home safe and out of his way and didn’t want to let her go.

For now, she was here with him.

“You’re out of your league here, Piper. You need to tell us what you know, and who’s involved.”

“Why do you care?”

He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it. There was no way he was going to start talking about feelings.

She swallowed.

They stared at each other in a stalemate and the air sizzled between them. In and out they breathed as their bodies craved one another.

Stay on task.

Don’t stare at her breasts.

“Who is us, Oliver? Who do you work for? Is it Ari? How are you all connected?” Piper asked, and he nearly smiled. She was trying to ignore the arousal growing between them. He knew her voice. He knew when she was getting wet.

“I’m asking the questions, darlin’,” he replied, leaning in closer to make his point, but all it did was make her lick her lips.

Don’t kiss her.

She followed his actions, moving them just inches apart.

Snap crackle pop.

“I’m not telling you anything. My story is confidential.” Her voice cracked with need. Both their hearts beat fast.

Thump, thump, thump.

His gaze dropped and found her fingers digging into the bag she held.

She needed him.

His cock pressed painfully against his jeans. When his eyes lifted back to hers, she was looking at it with such a raw craving Oliver lost control.

“Mmphhhf,” she moaned as he grabbed her face and slammed into her lips.

He pushed the laptop onto the cushions and pulled her legs over his, so she was straddling him. His hands wrapped around her hips and tugged her against his hard cock.

“Oli,” she breathed.

“Piper.”

“Are you going to fuck me while we’re in the air?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m going to fuck you so damn hard you’re going to scream into the heavens. You hear me?”

Her eyes widened, but she nodded. He pulled her top over her head, exposing her bra. One tug on the lace and her nipple popped free.

Lick.

“You have a problem with that?”

She gave him a husky no.

“Lock cabin doors,” he said to the computer system.

“Cabin doors locked,” it replied in a robotic voice.

Piper glanced around. “Shame, I quite liked the risk of someone seeing us.”

He groaned.

“If you want to ramp things up a little, darlin’, I’m happy to arrange it. I’m sure K—”

His heart slammed into his chest.

No. No fucking way.

Whether Kurt wanted to fuck Piper was not a question he wanted answered, and it was not an option. He wasn’t sharing her. Not today and not tomorrow.

‘Never mind,” he said, slipping his hand between them and reaching between her legs.

“Damn you, Oliver,” she moaned as his fingers slipped under the lace and circled her clit. “Why can’t I say no to you?”

“You can always say no, and I will stop.”

But she wouldn’t.

One look into her eyes as he thumbed her nipple with his other hand, and she cursed, digging her fingers into his biceps.

She wasn’t saying no.

He pressed his fingers inside her and she cried out, tightening around them.

“That’s it, princess. Fuck my fingers.” She thrust her hips against his hand, his cock now aching to get inside her heat. He rolled her nipple as she continued crying out and riding his hand.

He shouldn’t care this much. He shouldn’t be fucking her again. He shouldn’t be feeling like he only wanted to please this female and no other.

He flipped her onto the cushions, laying her out. Then he slid her panties down. The skirt he shoved up around her hips. He wanted his mouth on her sweet honey pussy, but then his gaze locked on hers and his heart slammed up into his throat.

He swallowed.

“What is this, Oli?” she asked.

No, I can’t do this.

“What do you want it to be?” It was an asshole comment, but facing his feelings for Piper wasn’t an option for him.

Reaching behind him, he yanked his t-shirt off and then offed his jeans and boots. He lay over her, his taut arm pressed against the side of the sofa.

Then his eyes found hers again.

Rejection flashed across Piper’s face, and she blinked it away.

Shit.

Oliver was a male in touch with his feelings. Sure, he was known to have lots of lovers, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel anything. Even with Sage—which he should not be thinking about right now – there had been a connection.

With Piper, it was more.

It had always been more. More intense. More impossible to stay away, and more incredible.

He thought it would pass. Perhaps it still would once he got her home. Maybe this was about protecting a female that was sexy as sin and with a mouth to match. He couldn’t deny that, right now, she meant more to him than he could allow.

What he didn’t like was the sadness of his rejection simmering in those beautiful blue eyes. Oliver cupped the back of her neck and softly answered the way he should have the first time.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what this is, but I have a powerful need to protect you and have you in my arms.”

Her eyes softened as her hands moved over his shoulders.

“When I’m deep inside you, there’s this feeling that you are mine,” he said, admitting the thoughts for the first time.

She arched into him, and their mouths collided once more. This kiss was different. It was passion and fire, promise and need. Their tongues scooped, danced, licked and demanded.

Pushing back the intensity, Oliver made his way down her body tasting and nipping at her. Then he crouched between her legs. “Legs up and wide darlin’,” he said, taking in the pink flesh calling to him. “I want you wet and tight around my cock today.”

His tongue swept lightly across her pussy. He knew it was a tease and smiled when she moaned and lifted to his face. Again and again he licked around the edges, slightly touching on her sensitive spots, and giving tiny bits of pleasure until she was wriggling and trying to take control.

He wouldn’t let her.

He had her hips in a grip she couldn’t break.

He needed control.

He needed possession of her.

“Oli,” she moaned.

Then his tongue flicked against her clit and her cries got louder. Moaning for more. Around and around he circled and then slid his fingers inside her entrance, slowly adding a second one.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” she cried.

His cock felt the same way. It was bursting to get out of his jeans and housed within her once more. It was time. He lifted her hips to his mouth and sucked hard until she screamed out her orgasm.

Sorry Kurt.

No he wasn’t.

Dropping her hips, he fucked Piper with his fingers until he drew her last drop. As she lay gasping, he moved up her body and sucked her hard nipples into his mouth.

He stroked his cock, letting it know it was soon going to sink inside the gorgeous creature beneath him. Pulling her into position, she lifted her legs around his waist and their eyes connected.

“You with me, darlin’?” he asked, grinning at her flushed pink cheeks and glazed eyes.

“Yes. Get inside me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He winked and guided his cock to her entrance.

“Why is everyone calling me ma’am... oh fucking God.” She cried out and her little fingernails stung as they dug into his biceps.

Oliver reveled in the sweet pain as he drove deep inside her. Holy hell, she felt like heaven. Her pussy clung to his cock, sending raw pleasure firing through his body in a shudder. He gripped the arm of the sofa with one hand, and her hip with his other.

Thrust after thrust, he slammed into her, taking in the pleasure on her face. The O of her mouth, the hunger in her eyes, the flush of orgasm still rich on her face.

She was everything.

He wanted to please this woman more than any other.

Faster he moved, dominating her body, needing to see her succumb to his demands. Then his body tightened, and muscles bulged as he spilled his seed inside of her.

He let out a cry.

This was the fourth time he’d fucked Piper. When had he ever fucked the same female four times?

Had he ever?

Would this be the last time? Once Ari had her, this—whatever this was between them—was over. And he wasn’t sure he was okay with that.