Page 33 of Charming Cruel Boys

“I thought you wanted me far away from you,” I argue, although it’s half-hearted at best.

“I guess I say a lot of shit I don’t mean,” he mutters and then his lips are back on mine with an aggressive desperation that speaks to my soul. Knight lifts me and sets me on his lap, my legs straddling his waist. He tangles his fingers in my hair and pulls, making me arch my neck. Knight hums low in his throat and then bites my neck, thrusting his hips up at the same time.

“Oh, god,” I mumble when he rubs against my clit just right.

“You like that?” he rasps, lifting and rolling his hips again and again until I’m quaking on top of him. “Fuck, Remi. If we wake up tomorrow and this was only a dream, then I need to know what you sound like when you’re exploding on my fingers. If everything goes back to the way it was, and we hate each other in the morning, then please, just give me this.”

I nod and whine and circle my hips, completely lost to his touch right now. I don’t hate him, not at all, and if one night is all I get, then I’ll take it. Because when it’s just the two of us and the rest of the world is shut out, he’smyKnight. Perfectly dark and rough, just as vicious with his lips and teeth as he is with his words. He’s demanding and dominating, and it awakens a part of me that wants to submit and let him rule me. And with each taste I get, I crave more. Even if he’s a bully in front of everyone else, I’d still desire his brutal, needy touch in the dark.

Knight slips his fingers into the waistband of my leggings and wastes no time with teasing. He circles my clit with fast, eager, almost desperate movements that have me panting and clawing his chest. Just as I feel that orgasm building to dangerous heights, he plunges two fingers into me and grinds his palm against my clit, and I’m gone. My eyes squeeze shut and I throw my head back, trying to stifle my moan so we don’t wake Duke. It turns out he’s a deep sleeper.

Knight groans once I’ve caught my breath. He knocks his head against the headboard and exhales heavily. “I shouldn’t have fucking done that. I’ll never be able to forget the feeling of your pussy strangling my fingers.” He pulls his hand from my pants and brings his fingers to his mouth, sucking on the two that were deep inside me only seconds ago. He closes his eyes and bites his lip, groaning deep and low.Holy shit. I almost come again just from that sound.

Trailing my fingers down his hard abs, I reach for the button of his jeans. My hands are shaking and I’m nervous as hell. I haven’t done anything like this in a very long time. What if I mess it up? What if I forgot how to do it and it’s not good? Before I can test my dusty, unused skills, Knight wraps his fingers around my wrist and brings my knuckles to his lips for a kiss.

“No, baby girl. I’m good. Tonight was just for you,” he murmurs against my skin.

“Are you sure?” I ask, a little defeated and dropping my face to hide the expression.

He tips my chin up again and smiles softly at me. “I’m positive. If you touched me right now, I’d blow my load in two seconds and embarrass myself for life.” He chuckles and the tension in my chest eases. “Trust me, I’m perfectly fine.”

I nod and nestle into his side, humming when he starts brushing his fingers through my hair. I can’t be the only girl who loves to have my hair played with, right? It’s better than a full body massage, I swear. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close, kissing my lips again and lingering there. “Thank you,” he whispers, nudging my nose with his and smiling at me again. Who is this guy and where is the cruel Knight I’ve come to know? I’m so shocked by his affections and that he’s thankingmefor giving me an orgasm that I’m literally speechless. I rest my head on his chest and sigh contentedly, happy to be still and listen to his heartbeat.

Another arm bands around my waist, and I stiffen, eyes wide even though I can hardly see a thing. “About damn time,” Duke whispers into my ear, a smile evident in his voice.

Knight chuckles as I cover my flaming face with my hand, cursing Duke for being awake and not saying anything. And not joining. Damn him.

“You think we can all get along now? No more bullshit,” Duke asks over the low hum of end-credit music filling the room.

Knight hums, so I peek through my lashes to catch his expression. He looks down at me, tracing my bottom lip with his thumb. “I’ll try my best.”

I tell my heart not to jump and flip the way it does. I tell it to calm the hell down before I get my hopes up.I turn into Duke’s arms instead. Safe, loving Duke. With his body heat warming through my chest, I fall into a deep sleep and let all my concerns and feelings about Knight slip away.

Tomorrow morning, I can worry about winning the asshole over for good.

23

Knight

Iwakewithaclear head this morning. As I open my eyes and find Remi in my arms, I know why. She kept the nightmares away, fought back my demons for a few hours.

I give myself a few silent moments to just look at her. Soft brown hair tousled beneath her, the curve of her pink lips, the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. God, she’s beautiful. And for a few minutes, while she’s sleeping beside me, I can pretend she’s mine. Because I’m not fooling myself. Last night was fun, but I’m not naive enough to think it really meant anything to her. Why would it? Remi has Duke. Perfect Duke. Kind Duke. Charming, smart, gifted Duke.

No, I won’t even let myself hope. Last night, Remi was broken and hurting. She needed a distraction and was happy to take it from me. In the light of day, she’ll regret it. I know she will.There’s no place in her life for a damaged bastard like me.

I gently trace the purple bruise on her cheekbone, careful not to stir her from her dreams. For so long, I’ve assumed Charles treats Remi like a fragile princess locked in a fucked up gilded cage. Loved, but shoved aside. I’ve heard the way he speaks to her since we’ve moved in, but I never thought he was physically abusive. I guess I just assumed he was a dick who mouthed off to his daughter, at the very worst.

There was always a big part of me that thought he shared his secrets with her. I was scared she might have some idea about the kind of man he is. It’s why I’ve been so cruel, why I’ve tried to keep her from Duke and I. I’ve fought — fucking pitifully — against my desire for her and treated her like a danger because I didn’t know any better. But now? I’m fucked.

It turns out Remi is as much a victim as any of us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you needed protecting too. I would have done everything differently from the beginning if I knew,”I whisper. I know she’s sleeping, but I don’t know if I’d have the guts to tell her this when she’s awake.

With a heavy weight in my stomach, I slip out of bed and leave the girl I’ve wanted for years tucked up beside my brother. I move through the house and find the door to Charles’ office. With a deep breath and shaky hands, I turn the knob and step inside.

Charles lifts his head, furrowing his brows until he sees me. Then a wicked smile tugs at his lips as he gestures for me to sit down.I drop into a seat across from him and fold my arms over my chest, trying to calm the raging organ in there so I don’t back down now that I’m here. Clearing my throat, I look Charles in the eye and steel my voice. “I know that you hit Remi last night.”

“Hit?” he says innocently, his brows inching up as he holds out his hands like he’s confused. “I think that’s a little harsh. I reprimanded my daughter because she needed it. And I’ll do it again if the situation arises.”

“No, you won’t,” I growl, curling my fingers into tight fists in my lap. “If you touch her again, I will tell everyone what you are.”

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