Lustful Cravings (The Seven Sin Sisters) (14 page)

“It has been a long day, Layla. Rest for a moment and I will return soon to wash you.”

*
*
*
*

Madden
was
at his desk, staring into his computer screen and waiting for the beep that would announce an incoming message. He’d gotten Caedon’s message
toward the end of
dinner and knew he could only delay so long. In the silence of his office, the beep was louder than usual. His attention far sharper given the topic he knew they would be discussing.

“Caedon, what do you have for me?”

“I’ve conference
d
Lucas in.” Just as
Caedon
spoke his name, Lucas’s face was displayed a
long
side Caedon
’s
on the screen. “I’ve heard from Donovan. They’ve made it through the border and will be on black
out for the next
twenty-four
hours.”

“Good
b
ut this could’ve waited until the morning.
So I’m guessing t
here’s more.” Madden knew his men well enough
to know when there was more going on
.

“You know it
, boss. We got a lead that
Nassir
’s second commander has entered the US.”

“Our government contact?”

“Not sure. There’s been no movement reported through the above ground links. They’ve cleared us for the op
but they agree this seems personal
.
They’ll do what they can to help us stay invisible.
”

“Shit. Lucas.”

“I understand, Madden. I can lead this one.”

“
I need to be with Layla. Papa thinks we must continue the strong stance we’ve been taking.
I was lectured on standing down.
”
Madden shared his discontent with his closest advisors, knowing
that
of all his men
,
Lucas and Caedon held the most wisdom
and
he needed their
advice more than ever now
.

“I can do this.
We should at least check the lead out. It shouldn’t take me long to do a little recon.
You care for your mate.” Lucas, Madden’s brother and Assistant Director
of
the TE
U
, was more than capable. He’d just never been interested
in going on a mission
.
He was
usually
the base comman
der.

Madden knew Lucas did this for him. “
Lucas,
thanks.” The words were heavy in Madden’s throat as he spoke
them
but
they
needed to be shared.

“
Good. Caedon will keep me apprised of any updates. Be safe, brother.
”

“Out,” was all Lucas said before disconnecting the call.

“
Caedon, any movement in the compound?”
It was the closest Madden would come to asking
about
Layla’s whereabouts. He knew he
had
left her upset and was counting on Anton to calm her. Still
,
he worried.

“
They entered your home directly after you left them
.”

“Good then. You know how to reach me should you need to.
Have Stefan and Tomas stay on duty overnight
as a
p
recaution until we have a new security plan for the compound put in place in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.
And then I’m signing out until dawn to catch some sleep.”

“Very well.
I’m off then
.” Madden clicked the key to terminate his chat b
ox. Closing up his computer
, he
had one more stop to make before he could get
back to his mate
.

*
*
*
*

Soft pillows surroun
ded Layla as she sat on the
sofa listening to Anton play the piano for her. She
ha
d wondered why th
e
grand piano sat in Madden’s home
after he confided he wasn’t at all musically inclined.
Layla
ass
umed
the piano
went untouched
,
positioned
for appearances
only
, but now realized that was another assumption proven wrong.
Perhaps she needed to learn more about these two men
t
hough she recognized that
was easier said than done.

Fully recognizing the mating bond, Layla still couldn’t help the part of her that screamed
to fight this sudden push into an unknown
relationship with a man
—
no
,
make that
two
men
,
who
were embracing it entirely too easily. What
was she not understanding? Why could she not just allow herself to live in this moment as they seemed to do so easily?

All her life, despite what her mother had told her, she dreamed of falling in love. Layla wanted
a man to
desire
her
for who she was
—
wanted the courting and the proposal
—
not this instant knowing.
T
hat
was it
, at the crux of it all, was
n’t
it
?
She was just too selfish to realize
what Madden had been telling her all along.
The feelings surrounding her already were feelings of love.
Madden had tried to show her,
had even tried to tell her
, that he accepted their love. She, on the other hand, had shown him nothing but her uncertainty. She’d not even acknowledged the feeling growing
inside of her.
S
he needed to change
that
.

A sound at the door interrupted
Layla
’s
thoughts
.
W
hen the doors opened Madden stood there taking in the scene.
His
gaze
softened as she felt
it
look over her
and she melted.
His eyes were filled with
tenderness
and the tight
features
of earlier were gone now
.
His steps were slow as he moved towards her.

Anton’s music grew louder and Layla’s heart beat along with the rush of emotions that swamped her.
S
he knew this man belonged to her and his intentions were to possess her.
Tingles raced their way down her spine and electric sparks centered themselves in her
belly, which
quivered in anticipation.

Layla sat unmoving as Madden sank to his knees in fron
t of her. He rested his hands on the outsides of her thighs and made circles on her already sensitive skin.

“Madden,” Layla began but he placed one gentle finger over her
lips to silence her. His hands m
oved ever so gently up
to
her hips,
along
her waist, adjusting her so she
lay back against the pillows and
open
ed
her to him.

She felt his powers wrap around
her and t
he
tiny wisp of a
nightgown
she wore was removed. Her heart continued to beat nearly as loud as Anton’s music, the beat matching and the music strengthening her arousal. Madden’s hands found her breasts and worshipped them, his palms holding their weight and slowly massaging along the bottom as his thumbs found her nipples. She lifted her torso towards him but he used his weight to shift
her back. He wanted to
control this encounter, she understood, but his slow seduction was setting her blood to boiling. Her nipples beaded, the areolas tightening with every brush of his fingers.

“I smell your arousal, Layla
l
ove,” Madden whispered into her ear. It was barely audible over the continued sounds of Anton’s music. She could only whimper as Madden’s roughened sk
in scraped against her throat and
he breathed her in.
He dropped k
isses up and down
her throat
and
her jaw
and
then nibble
d
on her ear
.
H
er senses
came to
full alert
.

Madden’s
teeth
were
so gentle but
still
remind
ed
Layla
just how demanding they
could
be.
She caught herself craving his bite, desiring a more firm touch.
Then
Madden’s
mouth met her
s
and an inferno engulfed her body
,
t
he heat radiat
ed
outward
until her arms were tingling.
H
is lips scorch
ed
hers as
Madden
demanded
her
submission. The melding of his body against hers, the
base
of his cock pressed into her core even through his trousers, was perfection. Layla felt at home in his arms. His mouth continued
its
assault while his hands settled on either side of her head, holdin
g her so she could do nothing more than accept his offering. It was decadent.

She wanted nothing more than to continue his kiss when he pulled back just far enough to speak, his lips still brushing along hers as they moved.
“
Ti
adoro
.
Ti
desidero
.
Ho
bisogno
di
te
.” He kissed her again once before again pulling away and looking int
o
her eyes.

“
The
language
of our ancestors
is beautiful.
I wish I had learned it b
ut I
don’t know the words you
speak.”

“I adore you. I want you. I need you,” Madden spoke each word pointedly
. After another moment
of staring into her eyes, his next words
were the ones Layla was coming to believe,
“
Ti
amo
. I love you, Layla.”
Though she had heard
Madden say he loved her once
before
, the intimacy in this moment overwhelmed her. She could feel the sincerity through their bond and couldn’t deny their truth.

When she began to speak, he hushed her
.
“I know you still do not believe.
It’s
all right. For now, I will believe enough for the both of us.”

Madden lift
ed
her
from the softness of the sofa, cradling her
in his arms
as they walked toward Anto
n. Anton still played, though the music grew softer as he watched the two cross the
room. Layla smiled at him
from half-lidded eyes
.
H
ow is it that she could already have such strong feelings for not one but two men
?

Madden placed her upon the piano and immediately laid his head on her stomach, tugging her so the junction of her thighs met the edge and she was perfectly arranged for his liking. Layla use
d her elbows to hold herself up but he gave her no time to protest, no time for questioning. He clearly knew what he wanted and was simply going to take it.

“Keep your eyes on Anton,” Madden’s deep voice did more than command her eyes, it set off
those sparks again and her toes curled in desire.
Power coursed through his words, his touch, send
ing flares of desire
through her body.

As Layla’s eyes met Anton’s and locked on his light brown, nearly golden
gaze, his desire stroked her. She felt Madden’s bre
ath along her thighs, light kisses moving towards her core. But she couldn’t stop thinking of Anton. So palpable was his need, she could feel it surround her. Her eyes closed for just a moment and she felt a sharp pinch on her breast.