The Brothers' Virgin Captive (5 page)

Chapter Six

The next few weeks were spent with Luca showing her around Arik’s estate and her becoming comfortable in her surroundings. The few times she allowed herself to watch the news didn’t mention anything about a runaway virgin bride or one being kidnapped, but then again she didn’t suppose they would. People like her parents, and she suspected like Master Charles, liked to keep things out of the media. Bringing what they would consider a failure in the circles they ran was certainly not something they wanted brought to everyone’s attention. But if things got desperate she didn’t doubt her parents would eventually go to the media, claim some kind of conspiracy, and have an all-out man-hunt for her. Bringing herself out of her depressing and frightening thoughts, she looked around. Things were certainly different at Arik’s estate. Anna never saw servants or guests in the house. There were no neighbors, not for as far as she could see. Knowing they were outside of city limits gave her a semblance of calm, and with each passing day she felt herself grow more comfortable and secure. Of course she wondered how long they intended to keep her here, but did she mind? No, not when it meant she didn’t have to live her former life. Anything was better than that.

 
Luca had moved in with his brother the same time he left working for her father, and she was thankful that he was there all the time. Having him around also aided in her comfort, because if she was being honest Arik’s presence had her slightly disoriented in a very sexual way. The grounds were beautiful with blooming gardens, colorful and exotic flowers and trees, a large pond that overlooked the snowcapped mountains, and intimate trails that led through the thick forest that lined the estate. The mansion itself was a towering structure made up of wrought iron and stone. It was four stories high, with frightening looking marble creatures perched at each corner of the roof, and intricately spiraled banisters that arched away from numerous balconies on various levels. It was impressive and grand, but there was a coldness to it that reminded her of a solitary building that could never house a family or be filled with love.

She and Luca walked along the shore of the pond, holding hands, but not talking much. The silence was comfortable, and Anna enjoyed the fact she didn’t have to feel like keeping conversation. The scenery was gorgeous, and over the past few days she hadn’t seen much of Arik. Her time with Luca had been wonderful, but she couldn’t help but feel the sting of disappointment that the other Graison brother had been absent. There was also guilt when it came to her feelings. Loving one man but lusting after another was abhorrent in the eyes of society, especially for a female born to be a virgin in the auctions, but then again she really wasn’t in that category anymore. She was a free female, but for how long was still uncertain.

Luca and
Arik
might promise her safety, but she knew her parents. Money and social standing meant more to them than she did. She didn’t know the extent of what Arik and Luca had to do to get her out of the auctions, but it had to be heavy and costly for them to slip so easily out the back door. Overall they were pretty hush-hush about it, but Arik had made a few comments about people being easily paid for their compliance. In the end Anna didn’t care about the how of it. She was free, and nothing else mattered.

Of course she said all of this to herself, but her fears
were
still a living entity inside of her, and she honestly didn’t know if or when they would ever go away.

“I’m worried, Luca.”

He stopped and looked down at her. She didn’t need to elaborate on what she meant. “I know, and although I can’t take that worry and fear from you, you have to trust me when I say there isn’t anything on this planet that I will let
harm
you. I should have done something a long time ago, but I can’t change the past.” He pulled her close, and her heart picked up speed.

Since their kiss in the dining room Luca had been overly platonic with her. Maybe he feared that what they were doing was too fast and too soon? She certainly had thought that, but had pushed those thoughts away as fast as they had come. She wanted this, wanted him, and why should she deny herself any longer? Taking the initiative for once in her life, she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He seemed taken aback at first by the way he tensed, but he then wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her body flush with his. His erection was thick and hard as it pressed against her belly, and the familiar tendrils of desire coursed through her veins. She wanted him, but didn’t know how to go about saying it. Of course blurting it out was always an option, but she hadn’t been brought up to be so forward. It was hard to break away from something that had been drilled into her mind from the time she had been old enough to talk, but she knew if she planned on starting a new life, one that she approved of, she needed to step outside of her comfort zone.

Pulling back from their kiss had him groaning in disapproval. She looked into his eyes and noticed the way his breathing had subtly changed. He lowered his eyes to her mouth before lifting them back to her eyes.

Licking her lips and taking a deep breath, she whispered, “I want you, Luca.
Right here.
Right now.”

That was all she needed to say, because the deep rumble that left him told her he understood exactly what she meant. He crushed her to him once more and took her lips in a brutal kiss. He swept his tongue into her mouth, and she tangled hers with his. Their combined breathing sounded harsh and labored. Her body was on fire, and her heart felt like it would pound right through her chest. Anna wanted to give every part of
herself
to this man.

Please say you want me.
The words whispered in her mind, and even though his actions told her he wanted her desperately she wanted to hear the words. To hear him say those things would truly solidify everything, but as if he heard her clearly he broke away from her and took a step back. Anna blinked several times, not sure if he was about to deny her, but the desire on his face was clear.

He ran a hand harshly through his hair and stared out at the pond. “I want you, too, so badly, sweetheart.” She waited for that inevitable
but
to come into play. “I want you to stay here with me.” He looked back at her and smoothed a hand over her hair in a gentle sweep. “But I won’t be with you for the first time on the hard ground. You deserve your first time on a bed with silk beneath you.”

She just fell in love with him all over again. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles before leading them away from the pond and back to the house. A crystalline swimming pool in the shape of the infinity symbol sat untouched as they walked up the stone steps of the back patio and into the house.

“As much as I want to take you to my room right now and touch every part of you I don’t want to rush it.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “I’ve got some paperwork to do. I’d invite you to keep me company, but it is quite boring. Is there anywhere you’d like to relax until I’m done?”

He wanted her to stay here with him, and to her there hadn’t been sweeter words that set her blood aflame. The fact he wasn’t going to take her to the bedroom and relive the clear lust that zinged between them was a disappointment, but she also loved that he had the self-control and obviously wanted to make it special. Clearly he didn’t feel the time was right, and she’d be lying if she wasn’t a tiny bit relieved that he wasn’t hauling her up the stairs. This was completely new territory to her, and she was glad he had a good disposition to the whole situation. Even saying and feeling all of that, her body still craved him like nothing she had ever experienced before.

“I think I’ll visit the library.”

He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. They walked to the library, and right before she stepped inside he spun her around and pressed her against the wall.

“I want you to know that I desire you like I’ve never desired anything in my life before.” He was hard, and she melted right against him. Her panties were uncomfortably soaked and rubbed against the tender folds of her pussy. Dipping his head closer so their lips were a hairsbreadth away, he whispered, “I’ll come for you and show you what it means to really be loved.” With one last kiss against the side of her neck he turned and left her standing there in flames.

Anna needed a few moments to calm
herself
before she entered the library, but as soon as she stepped through the threshold she stopped when she saw Arik sitting in a leather chair, a book in his lap and his eyes trained on her. He slowly brought his glass to his mouth and drank the clear liquid while never taking his eyes from her. The way his lids were at half mast, and by the evidence of his arousal pressing against the fly of his slacks, Anna had no doubt he had seen everything. She turned to leave, but his deep voice stopped her.

“Don’t run, Anna.”

She had yet to face him again, partly because she was embarrassed over what he had seen, and the other half that she was aroused over that fact. Anna should have felt shame that someone had seen such a personal act, but desire wrapped its talon-like claws into her, wetness came from her pussy, and her nipples tightened.

“Look at me.” The tone in his voice brooked no argument, and Anna found herself doing exactly what he said immediately. Arik held the same position, relaxed and devilishly attractive. His legs were parted, and his arms rested on the back of the chair. His empty glass sat beside him on the small oak table, and the tips of his fingers ran along the rim. He wore another three-piece suit, and she had never known a man to look so good in one. The dark, expensive material fit him to perfection, molding to his bulging muscles, yet making him look sophisticated. It was hard to believe that he was nearing fifty. He carried his age well. His blood red dress shirt stood out under the black vest, and the onyx silk tie further enhanced the power he exuded.

“Come here, Anna.” The way he said her name was like a physical stroke along her body. A shiver worked up her spine, but she still found herself moving toward him. When she stood only a foot from him Anna forced her hands to stop shaking by clasping them behind her back. There was something about this man that set her on edge. “I make you nervous.”

There was no point in lying since all she had to do was look at him to know nothing slipped by his appraisal. “Yes.” Keeping his stare, Anna felt the weight of that one look right down to her toes.

“Why?” He smirked, but it was anything but pleasant. It reminded her of a wild animal scenting the fear of its prey and relishing in it.

“I’m not really sure.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either. Anna couldn’t really place why he made her feel so unsteady. Most of the time it was like her body gravitated toward him, but her mind screamed that he was stronger mentally and physically than any man she had ever come across, Luca as well, and Luca had always been the strongest man in her eyes. Where Luca and Arik had the same big, hard bodies, Luca also held compassion and love and wasn’t afraid to express it. Anna could look at Arik and see that even if he did feel those intense emotions, he would never show them. Most likely he saw them as a weakness.

He didn’t say anything for several seconds, and she found herself shifting on her feet. “You have feelings for my brother.” He didn’t phrase it as a question, so she didn’t bother answering. “And it’s clear he has them for you as well.” The sound of the ancient clock ticking behind her drowned out some of the silence that descended upon them. “He’s told me a lot about you.” Sweat blossomed along her palms, and she placed her hands behind her back and clasped them together. “But in order for me to properly complete the task of getting you out of there safely I needed to know everything about you.”

She didn’t know what he was getting at.
Maybe to intimidate her?
If he only knew how she felt about him, around him, he wouldn’t need to do this … whatever
this
was.

“And did you find what you were looking for?” The corner of his lips twitched as if he tried to hide his amusement.

“There isn’t much to learn about you, Anna Milovich.” He tapped his fingers on the leather armrest, and the sound became distracting, but maybe that had been his intent. “No siblings, solitary life, parents who ignore you to the point you’ve become trapped in your own body.” Sweat started to cover not just her palms, but her whole body. He spoke about her so personally. “I know about you, Anna, because I’ve lived a similar life. I never knew what the love of a parent could bring, and despite being surrounded by people and money, I was alone and lived in a poverty I created.”

The words he spoke struck home with her, and Anna found herself taking another step forward.