Page 12 of Kissed By Shadows

“But something happened,” he muses, his voice low as his other hand comes up to cup my cheek in much the same way Nikolai did not so long ago. It takes a gargantuan effort not to sink into the touch, to close my eyes and take the solace. I guess I really do have abandonment issues if I’m so quick to let strangers comfort me.

“I’m fine,” I repeat, holding myself still as I fight not to nestle into his warm palm. I barely know that man, it’s just my trauma talking that has me seeking relief from his touch.

“How did you leave?” Hunter’s voice breaks into our moment and Roman’s hand falls away as I turn back to Hunter, trying to come up with something to say. Nikolai didn’t want his involvement with my escape widely known, and some part of me is still loyal to the bastard.

“I waited until they were all asleep and then snuck out,” I tell him, his shrewd gaze assessing my words. I will the lie not to show, ensuring my face is blank just as they taught us in finishing school. Though I doubt they ever envisaged that I’d be using it to lie to notorious gang members, more like when someone makes a social faux pas. After a few moments, his hand comes up to his face, rubbing his jaw as a sigh leaves his pillowy lips.

“And you expect us to protect you from one of the largest organised crime groups in the world?” His gaze doesn’t leave mine, the world narrowing down to his swirling green eyes and my thundering pulse. “Expect me to put my entire crew in danger for a spoiled, Chelsea brat?”

My brows lower as I open my mouth, but no words come out. He seemed angry a few moments ago, ready to take the Russians on for me. Yet, now he’s…angry at me for bringing trouble to his door?

“I…I might be able to pay you when I get access to my accounts,” I hedge, my voice hesitant.

“We don’t need your money, Peaches.” I hear some chuckles echoing around us and my face burns with embarrassment. “But I can’t just offer you my protection, the protection of the Shadows, for free.”

“Get her on her knees for you, Hunt!” someone shouts, and my mouth falls open, snapping shut when his jewelled eyes dart down to my open lips.

“Hunt…” Roman breathes out next to me, stepping forward but pausing when Hunter holds a hand up.

“Nothing in life is free, Roman. We’ve all learned that lesson the hard way,” Hunter says, his eyes never leaving mine. “If she wants our protection, she needs to pay a price. And learn obedience.”

Roman’s nostrils flare, his hand twitching in mine. Then he steps back, still holding my hand, just like his silent brother on my other side. My mind races, working through my other options, which are a big fat zero.

Sure, I could walk away now, but then I’ve no doubt Sergi would get hold of me, and Nikolai was clear that I wouldn’t be his after tonight. That he only had me for one night, and after that, it would be Sergi’s turn. At least this is a semblance of choice. With Sergi, there would be no choice, and I shiver at the images my mind conjures of life with Sergi Petrov.

And Hunter isn’t bad-looking. Okay, that’s a fucking lie. The man is sex on muscular legs, a walking wet dream, and spank bank material. It won’t exactly be a hardship to give him a blow job, even in front of all these people. There’s just one, small issue.

With my ears burning, I break eye contact with Hunter, turning to Roman, who seems to be my unlikely ally. Leaning in, I have to tilt my head upwards to place my lips next to his ear.

“I…I don’t know what to do,” I confess in a whisper, feeling his body go still. “I’ve never…done that before.”

Pulling back, I stare into those chocolate eyes of his. They’re wide, the pupils blown, and there’s a slight flush on his cheeks. Does my inexperience turn him on? Surely not.

Blinking, he licks his lips. “I’ll guide you through it,” he murmurs, and I hear a sharp intake of breath from my other side. Clearly, Rowan heard his brother’s words.

Giving my hand a squeeze, he pulls me forward, Rowan also coming as he refuses to let go of my other hand. When we’re close enough that my knees almost touch Hunter’s, Romanbends down and says something to his leader. Hunter’s eyes flare, then darkens, his attention focused on me as Roman speaks.

Again, Hunter is giving meturned-all-the-way-onvibes, just like with Roman. I always thought that my inexperience would be a turn-off, but maybe some men don’t mind it?

“Everyone out!” Hunter shouts, and I jump about half a fucking mile at the loud command, my instincts telling me to flee with everyone else. The twins keep me standing there, the sound of scuffling footsteps behind me and the low music being left on as everyone leaves.

My body trembles slightly as just the four of us are left, and then something is thrown down between Hunter’s muscular thighs, black fabric, maybe a hoodie or some kind of cloth.

“On your knees, Little Lamb,” Rowan instructs, his thumb rubbing my knuckle, my senses acute as I take a deep breath in a bid to calm my pounding heart. Then a flash of anger lights me up.

Am I destined for my body not to be my own? To be at the whim of men who will use me as they like? And why does that thought not feel completely bad? Am I broken for a part of me wanting this, wanting to get lost in the commands of another and forget about what my father did?

“Princess?” Roman murmurs, and I glance at him. His mouth opens, then closes, like he wants to say something but can’t find the words.

Giving him a small smile, I turn to face Hunter and sink down, the twins finally releasing my hands. My knees are cushioned from the hard concrete by the jumper on the floor underneath them, and I shift until I’m as comfortable as I can be.

Warmth at my back makes me jump, the scent of lavender, peppermint, and lemon telling me it’s Roman. Tension drains from my body when he presses his front against my spine, whichI know is crazy, but my nerves need a slight reprieve, so I sink into him a little, taking the comfort.

“Unzip his jeans, Princess. Take him out,” he orders, and my gaze darts down to Hunter’s crotch, seeing something hard and long pressing against the fabric of his jeans. His dick. I can see the outline of his dick, and heat pools in my core at the sight.

With shaking fingers, I reach out, popping open each button until his black boxer briefs are exposed. Guess that’s a hot guy colour of underwear, given Nikolai wore similar. I bite my bottom lip to hold in the no-doubt hysterical laugh that wants to spill from them. You couldn’t make this shit up. Less than twelve hours ago, I was a normal young woman, wondering what my next steps in life were. Here I am now, having given my virginity to the son of a major Russian criminal and about to give my first blow job to the leader of a London gang.

Reaching inside Hunter’s boxers, my hand wraps around velvet steel, my gaze darting up to his face when a quiet moan sounds from his lips. His green eyes are molten, full of dark heat that threatens to burn me from the inside out. The noise gives me a bit of confidence, enough to look back down and pull his cock from his pants.

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