“You’re creating an empire.”

“We’re building our fucking kingdom.”

A chill runs down my spine and his eyes heat.

His knuckles find my jaw, and he runs them across my cheekbone, a rare gentleness seeping into his next words spoken. “You want more honesty, baby? Fine. Truth is, I’m not above something like this. I’d play someone even harder – anyone, anywhere, in a fucking heartbeat – if it meant saving my family, which now includes you. By choice.”

The corner of my eyes tighten, and I attempt to look away, but he shifts his head to follow my stare. He locks me in with his jade eyes.

“If you think for a fucking second, this far down the line, that you’re here for any reason other than because I fucking want you.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Then you haven’t been paying attention, baby. Trust me when I say, you were never part of the plan,” he whispers. “You were a solid fucking mistake.”

My pulse is racing crazy, my head swimming with questions and doubt.

I said the first chance I got I’d be gone. Away from it all, away from everyone who ever knew of mine or my mother’s existence, yet it turns out, she too is tied to them.

I need to be stronger, resist him more, deny the depth of his hold, and battle the ache for his desire.

I need to shut down my stupid girl heart and open my eyes to the devastation this road is sure to lead to.

I need—

“Raven...”

So soft, so gentle and cautious.

I look left into tender, light eyes, worry and concern etched across every inch of his face, but he doesn’t make commands. There’s no glare or force behind his mask.

So Captain.

I glance at Royce.

Dark eyes. Cool covered fear and feigned ease, but tension lines his forehead.

I look back to Big Man.

Anger and uncertainty. Defiance and demand. Want, need, and consumption.

The ability to swallow me whole.

The big bad wolf with claws that stretch from one edge of his city to the next.

The opposite of what I need, yet the only thing I’ve ever craved. If I hit the ground, it’ll be in a painful crash.

I don’t belong in this world of power princes and rising kings.

Still looking at him, staring up into those mystic greens, no warning could keep me away.

I grip his collar, pulling his lips down to mine, and bite into his flesh.

His chest rumbles, his arms wrapping around my lower back to pull me closer.

To have him today and tomorrow, but maybe not the next, be it from his hand or mine?

Worth it.

At Raven’s demand – she’s lucky we were eager to get this shit over with, too – we drove through the night last night with a plan to grab a room tonight, so long as we didn’t have to tie her to the fucking seats, so that’s what we’re doing.

When we pull in the hotel parking lot, Captain stops right in front of the entrance where he and Royce step out, but I hold Raven back.

“Climb in the front,” I tell her.

She eyes me, glancing in the direction my brothers went before looking back to me.

I step out and instead of doing the same, she climbs over the center console, sliding down into the seat.

I pull out of the parking lot, stopping at a little corner store for a few drinks, and then we’re back on the road.

We get about a mile down the road before she starts asking questions.

“Where we going?”

“Almost there.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she snaps.

A chuckle leaves me, but I ignore her and not five minutes later we’re pulling off the side of the road.

I unbuckle myself, then her, and pull her body over so she’s straddling me on the seat.

“Talk.”

Her eyes bounce between mine and then she bends, pushing the lever that has the back of the seat sliding down. Driving herself closer, she brings her lips to mine. “I don’t wanna talk, Big Man.”

She lays her chest against mine and my hand slides down her back to squeeze her ass, and she sucks in a deep breath.

“I don’t care if you want to, you will either way.” I slide my tongue along her bottom lip and she nips at it, making me grin. “But I’ll be nice and make you come first.”

Her grey eyes darken before me.

“Is that what you need?” I whisper, running my fingers over her collarbone. “Me to make that pussy clench?”

Her tongue slides between her teeth and she nods.

“Good. Now, spin around for me, baby, and drop right back down in my lap.”

She doesn’t hesitate. Only when she’s thirsty for me does she do as she’s told.

I slide my hand under her shirt and up to her chest, pushing her down so her back is flat against me, her head laying across my shoulders, ear right at my mouth.

“Move your legs to the outside of mine.”

She does.

My hand slides up until it meets the base of her neck and I leave it there, while my other comes up and dips inside the front of her jeans.

“Unbutton.”

With shaky hands, she listens.

“Close your eyes and don’t open them.”

She nods against me, her chest now rising and falling rapidly.

I push into her underwear and her hips lift a little, pushing me further.

The second I’m cupping her, her pussy clenches against my hold, and her lips part.

I dip inside her to coat my two fingers, then slide my hand back up until I can lock her clit between the two. I rub her, circling my fingers on each side of the sensitive nub. Double the contact, and I triple the pleasure when I start to squeeze.

Her head falls back farther, and she moans into the air. “I need this,” she whispers huskily.

“You need me,” I tell her, and she hums, licking her lips.

She starts grinding into me, chasing her orgasm but I take my time, working her slower rather than faster, only to slow down again when her muscles start to lock.

“Baby...” I breathe into her ear and she shudders against me. “Lift your shirt up for me, bra too. I wanna see how hard those nipples are for me.”

“Oh god,” she whispers, her mouth clamping tight as she does what I’ve asked.

She can’t help herself though, and right after she pushes her bra up, her hands dart down to her nipples and she pinches them good and hard, a sharp breath hisses past her lips.

“I need to come ... I need—”

I bite her neck and increase my speed on her clit, and she gasps. Her tits pushing up into the air.

Her hands on her nipples start to shake and she moves to grip them tighter.

I release her neck and quickly lift my fingers to her mouth.

“Lick.”

Her tongue swipes out, a deep moan leaving her.

I take my wet fingers and run them around her pebbled nipples, then pinch her hard.

I grind against her, my dick rock fucking solid beneath her and she pushes into me.

“I wanna feel you.”

“You do feel me, I’m so fucking hard.” I lick behind her ear and she whimpers. “I’m aching, baby.”

“I want you inside me...” She trails off as she starts to shake.

I push on her clit with my thumb and stick two fingers back inside her so I can feel her pussy convulse.