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  For a brief moment I thought she was going to say no, and then, much to my pleasure, she presented her hands in front of me, her wrists crossed over each other. I carefully wrapped the tie around her hands a few times and encouraged her to lie on the bed. When she did I pulled her arms up over her head and threaded the tie through the slats of my bed’s headboard before returning it back into her palm. “You let go if you want to be free.”

  Her fist gripped the tie and I sat back on my haunches, admiring her beautiful body bound before me. “You are stunning, Malen’kaya, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” I looked into her eyes when I said that. I wanted her to know it wasn’t only her body that held me captivated. It was the entire package, especially the strong willed yet beautifully, submissive soul within. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of her breast, right over her heart. “Simply perfect.”

  CHAPTER 23

  EMILY

  My chest rose and fell fast, but I wasn’t afraid. Well, maybe a little afraid, but my quick, heavy breathing was mostly out of anticipation. I was aching and wet between my thighs as I watched Braiden’s dark eyes peruse my body. When his eyes reached my legs, I parted them slightly and the breath that left his lips filled me with confidence. He kept whispering praise and compliments, which were an unfamiliar part of sex for me. The men I had previously been with might have worshipped my tight pussy or perfect tits, but they never told me how stunning or beautiful I was while gazing with such longing into my eyes. Not ever. Braiden began kissing my skin and he didn’t leave a place untouched. His skillful fingers explored my core all the while.

  “Hard and fast,” he finally whispered in my ear as he settled over me. Grabbing my knees he pulled my legs up over his shoulders. I watched as he stroked his cock a few times before positioning it at my entrance. His hips thrust forward, feeding his length into me with one long stroke. With my legs draped over his wide shoulders, his smooth chest glistening with water from the bath we had just stepped from, his head thrown back and eyes shut I don’t think I had ever seen anything more perfect. When his gaze finally returned to mine, he pulled his cock out of me until only the tip remained, and then slammed forward hard. The force of his thrust caused me to shift on the bed. When he drew away again, my body gripped at his, demanding he stay buried inside me. Another powerful surge forward and Braiden quickly fell into a demanding rhythm. With my hands tethered above my head, my legs propped over his shoulders, and his hips driving into me, I was only able to lie back and feel the assault on my body. Braiden’s eyes left mine to watch my breasts, which bounced in time with his thrusts. His hand reached down between our bodies to rub my clit, and I was hurled into an intense orgasm in seconds. My skin tingled, my pussy clenched at his cock, and I cried out his name as my senses floated in a cloud of bliss. When I finally blinked the haze from my eyes, Braiden was still pumping vigorously into my body.

  “Fucking beautiful,” he whispered. He knelt back until his dick fell free from my body, then flipped me to my stomach. There was enough length on the silk tie around my wrists to allow the movement. “Press your head into the bed and bring that stunning ass up, Malen’kaya.”

  I obeyed, laying my head on the bed and turning my face to one side. I lifted to my knees so that my buttocks was high in the air. Braiden fed the length of his cock back into me and began thrusting with as much power and fury as he had done moments before. His hands palmed the globes of my ass, pinching and massaging with a little more force than necessary, but I loved it. I probably shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t ignore the thrill it gave me. The fact my body made him lose control like this was empowering. When his hand landed in a sharp slap on my ass, I yelped, unprepared for the sting.

  Braiden rubbed away the burn. “Em?” he asked without pausing.

  I knew he needed to know if I was okay. The fact that he cared filled my throat with emotion and my eyes with tears. Immediately his thrusts stopped and he leaned over my back, cradling my body. “Em, do you want me to stop?” His voice was low, his breath coming hard and fast.

  “No, please don’t stop,” I breathed. After a moment he pulled his cock out slowly and fed it back in. The sudden unhurried pace was torturous.

  “Did it bother you when I slapped you?” He was fucking me slowly, deliberately, and I could barely string coherent words together to answer him.

  “No, I liked it,” I confessed. Braiden didn’t resume to his wicked pace, instead he kept it slow as he kissed my shoulder, neck and back. My nipples were painfully hard, my core gripped at him and demanded another release. Finally his hand slipped between my legs and as he rubbed my clit as his hard thrusts resumed. It wasn’t fast, but it had the desired effect as I began to climb to the clouds of blissful abandon again.

  “Oh, oh my God,” I groaned as I found my second orgasm. Braiden’s fingers never left my clit as his thrusts became clumsy for a moment and he roared his own release. My legs trembled and finally gave out and Braiden followed me down. His chest was slick with sweat and pressed against my back. His weight over me wasn’t threatening at all, it made me feel safe. He reached up and encouraged my hand open so that I released the tie. He then rubbed my wrists and arms to encourage the blood to flow back through the aching extremities, before rolling off me and bringing me into his arms. He was spooned behind me, his softening cock still buried inside me.

  “Let’s take a nap together,” he whispered in my ear.

  He would get no argument from me, my body was spent. Braiden was insatiable and his need for me filled me with happiness. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt lighter and freer than I had ever been. The ache and pain that lived within me seemed less, my fears were not gone but they were not dominating me. No, it was Braiden Montgomery that was dominating me, and I found myself more than willing to offer him my submission. This was different to Jonas, this was my choice which ultimately meant I was in charge. With that knowledge settled into my heart, I reached under the pillow where I had shoved the mantra Braiden had written for me on his yacht in the Bahamas. I never slept without it close by. The piece of paper was tattered and torn, but it didn’t matter, I had memorized every word. And more importantly, I believed them. Braiden gave me a questioning look. Without hesitation, I scrunched up the piece of paper and threw it to the ground. Without saying a word, I rolled over and wrapped my arms around Braiden. He pulled me closer and I sighed deeply as my body relaxed. This man had saved me from Jonas in more ways than I could comprehend. He freed me, and in doing so, he captured my heart.

  ***

  I woke to the sound of gun fire. At least, I thought that’s what it was. I had been in a deep and soundless sleep beside Braiden’s warm body when shattering glass and loud pops woke me. Braiden had already lunged from the bed and was climbing into pants that sat close by. He made me stack a pile of clothes and shoes right beside the bed every night. I thought he was taking the Boy Scout, be prepared motto just a little too far. But now, as I scrambled into my clothes, I was pretty darn happy he made me do it. The room was in darkness, night had already fallen and I marveled at the long nightmare free sleep I had managed. I pulled on my shoes, quickly tying the shoelaces as Braiden strapped weapons to his body, as efficient, if not more so, than any soldier. I had barely tied off my last shoelace when he grabbed me by the elbow and dragged me across the room.

  “Stay behind me, Em.” This was more than his dominant voice, this was Braiden in full scale soldier mode. He pushed the door open and gave the open hallway a quick check before pulling me out of the bedroom. I stayed against his back, my hands gripping his shirt. Braiden’s body was rigid, his gun held in two hands, and aimed directly in front of him as he quickly navigated the long hallway. He glanced in Dillon’s room. The bed was still made, the room empty. Once in the living room, I noticed the shattered glass in front of the windows along the front of the house. Braiden spun and aimed his gun at the noise that came from the opposite side of the room. When he realized i
t was Gabbie, he quickly lifted the muzzle of the gun to the ceiling.

  “We need to go, we’re being attacked,” she said, not seeming to be bothered by the fact Braiden had just pointed his gun at her.

  “Bomber and Drew?” Braiden asked.

  “Covering the front. There are two SUVs, and they’ve blocked the driveway.” Gabbie pulled a backpack on and slid open the sliding glass door that led to Braiden’s backyard.

  “Where’s Dillon?” Braiden asked as we slipped out of the house. The cold night air stung my face as we ran across the backyard. I was only wearing a thin t-shirt and a pair of jeans, the icy cold air immediately blanketed my skin.

  “I’m assuming still out with the blonde real estate bimbo,” answered Gabbie as she hunched down and moved toward the back of the property. We skirted the small building behind the pool and placed our backs to the fence. Braiden pulled a few boards off the fence that didn’t look to be anchored with nails. The space he made was big enough to fit through. Braiden went first, cautious but swift. I followed, and Gabbie followed behind me. A large open field separated the backs of the houses and the Black Ridge Mountains before us. We kept low and ran the length of never ending fence. When we finally rounded a corner, I noticed a black sedan sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac. When the lights flickered on and off, I glanced to Gabbie, who held the keys in her hand. Braiden pushed me gently into the backseat and took the keys from Gabbie, who climbed into the front passenger seat. As soon as the car was started, I was grateful for the warmth of the heater that Braiden turned to high.

  “Stay down, Em,” Gabbie said as the car moved quickly down the street. When we came to a sudden stop, I panicked, thinking the road might have been blocked off.

  “Just waiting for the rest of the team, Malen’kaya,” Braiden calmly informed me.

  It was only seconds later when the door beside me opened and Bomber threw himself into the car, right on top of me. Drew quickly followed.

  “GO! GO! GO!” Bomber shouted.

  The door slammed shut and Braiden floored it.

  “Sorry, honey,” Bomber murmured, pulling me out from under Drew. Bomber pushed my head back down, and I quickly turned in search of Braiden. He glanced over his shoulder at me.

  “Stay down, Em,” he commanded.

  Bomber’s hand stayed on my back, pressing me down over his thighs. Drew’s face was unreadable as he gripped his gun and watched the streets as we moved out of Braiden’s estate.

  “I don’t see anyone, Boss,” Gabbie finally said.

  I felt calm for a moment. We had gotten away and nobody had been hurt. Suddenly thoughts of the same thing happening to Rebecca filled my mind.

  “B!” I all but screamed, struggling to sit up.

  Bomber kept me firmly in place as Braiden tossed his cell phone over his shoulder to him. He quickly unlocked the screen and pressed a few buttons before raising the phone to his ear.

  “Larz, we’ve been compromised.” I heard Bomber say. He nodded his head, and his eyes silently communicated something with Braiden in the rearview mirror.

  “Is Rebecca and Charlie okay?” I reached up and gripped his arm, trying to get the phone. Bomber easily held me off, taking my hand in a tight yet comforting grip.

  “They’re okay, Em, both of them are fine,” he quickly told me.

  Relief flooded my body and I heard no more as I slumped into the seat. It was more than a little cozy, squished between Drew and Bomber in the sedan, but I was safe. Rebecca was safe. It was going to be okay, for tonight anyway.

  “They were attacked, too, but Larz got Rebecca and Charlie to Carter Constructions, just as we planned. Dillon is in route to them.”

  Bomber still had hold of my hand as he quickly dialed another number. “Parker status.” Gabbie and Drew were watching the streets like immobile hawks. Braiden was driving like a NASCAR driver, his face eerily calm. “Us too. Rendezvous as planned.” Bomber disconnected the call. “Parker did an early evening patrol of the forest surrounding Jaxon’s home and stumbled across three men, all armed. He took them out and it’s quiet now.”

  “Everyone is safe?” I asked.

  “Everyone is safe, Em,” Bomber answered, giving my hand a little squeeze.

  When the car came to a stop, we piled out, me last. We were in the underground parking lot of Montgomery Securities. Braiden took my hand from Bomber and led me to an elevator. The entire team still had their weapons drawn and moved cautiously. In the elevator, Braiden swiped a card and entered a code into an electronic keypad. The elevator moved swiftly upward. It was only a three story building, so the ride was short. When the doors spring open, we were greeted with a shocked Sam, who was wearing nothing but a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. His hair wet and sticking up at odd angles.

  “Nice pants.” Gabbie grinned as we moved past him.

  “I take it we’ve been compromised?” Sam asked.

  “Baby?” came a woman’s voice from one of the offices. A tall blonde woman wearing a pair of tiny sleep shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top walked into the hall. She was painfully beautiful, but the hungry smile and roaming eyes that settled on Braiden had me immediately hating her.

  Sam reached out and took her hand, pulling her into his arms. “Go back upstairs, Charmaine. I’m going to have to work for a bit.” The blonde pouted as she trailed her red clawed fingers over Sam’s chest. Sam pushed his thick rimmed glasses up his nose and gave the woman a quick kiss to the nose. They made an odd couple—Sam with his disheveled mad scientist look, and Charmaine the stunning seductress.

  “Already? You promised me office sex.”

  Sam blushed while Bomber laughed loudly and clapped him on the back.

  “Better not be in my office,” Braiden grumbled.

  “Just go back upstairs, Char, I’ll be up later. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  Charmaine put on a good show of pissed off female. She sauntered towards the elevator, scowling, though her eyes perused the other men in the room with far too much interest. She gave me a small smile that I had no problem not returning.

  “Skank,” Gabbie whispered from beside me. That nearly made me smile.

  Braiden began to fill Sam in on what had happened, while I took a moment to compose myself in the bathroom. The reflection that stared back at me from the bathroom mirror was pale and tired. I was so sick of Jonas Levier being in my life. Why me, I found myself asking. Why couldn’t he just move on and leave me in peace? I never did anything but give him the unchallenged submission he demanded, and he threw me away for protecting myself. He didn’t want me anymore—he planned to sell me anyway—so why the fuck was he still in my life? Tiredness quickly disappeared under anger. I was going to kill Jonas. I was going to stand over him and smile as the life drained from his body. He would never harm me or my family again. I would send my former master to the hell he deserved.

  CHAPTER 24

  BRAIDEN

  Bomber and Drew took the first shift and were positioned on the top of the building with an unobstructed view of the streets around it. Gabbie was getting some shut eye while Sam checked the RFID tag in Emily’s shoulder. The signal was strong, but we were standing right next to her. When we moved to opposite ends of the office block, we were still able to pick up a signal, but it was much fainter. It didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to lock her away somewhere safe until this situation with Levier was resolved, but I knew Emily wouldn’t do that. She wanted to finish this thing, she wanted Jonas’ blood just as much as I did, more than I did. Her temperament had become subdued since we arrived at the office. She seemed distant and maybe a little angry. Anger was good, it would feed her strength. Sam went to get some shut eye himself, and I pulled Em down beside me, onto the large soft leather couch that sat in the reception area. I pulled her against my chest, and she came willingly. She was so tense it was like holding an animal that was biding her time before an escape. I began running my fingers through her hair, and just as I expected, she relax
ed.

  “We’ll finish this soon, Em. Jonas will be out of your life forever.”

  She swiveled around until her legs were over my lap, her head on my shoulder, and her hand pressed against my chest, right over my beating heart.

  “Then what happens?” she whispered.

  I leaned back into the couch.

  “Then you get to live your life, anyway you please. No Larz watching over your shoulder twenty-four seven.”

  She drew little circles on my chest. “What about your team? What happens to them?”

  “We have other jobs lined up. They work for Montgomery Securities now, so they go where they’re needed. Right now they are needed here, but unfortunately there will always be someone who will need them elsewhere.” I was grateful her legs were bent. It put a small space between her and my dick, otherwise she might feel the evidence of my hunger for her. Just her touch filled my body with an insatiable need.

  I thought maybe she’d dozed off when she finally spoke again, her words whispered loudly in the quiet, dimly lit office. “What about you?”

  I pressed my hand over hers.

  “I planned on taking a trip to Cambodia in the new year. Things are a little busy here though, so I might have to push it back a couple of months.” I hesitated before asking my next question. “Would you like to accompany me?”

  Emily shot straight up and looked right into my eyes. “To Cambodia?”