She wanted to lose herself in the oblivion of climax, but more than that, these men looked at her and knew her. It made her want to weep and also laugh. Instead, she shrugged it aside and grabbed her orgasm, forcing it through her system as it took over in a rush.
A surprised groan came from Brandt as she felt his cock jerk inside her, unleashing his climax, filling her with his come. He leaned down and licked across her collarbone and then moved to her lips.
“Believe it. Believe in it.”
“I don’t know if I can.” She wasn’t able to mask the fear in her voice.
“On your belly. I’ll make a believer out of you yet,” Ash said teasingly as Brandt rolled off and pressed a kiss on her hip.
Ash sipped his drink and waited with Brandt as Sera finished her preparations for that evening’s dinner party. His muscles were pleasantly loose after the extremely satisfying sex the three of them had shared.
“So, what’d your father have to say?” Brandt asked casually.
“The usual. Kira must have run back from drinks last night to call your mother. Who in turn called Perry’s mother, and you know how that all works. Somehow it’s turned into a scenario wherein Kira has been humiliated, when she’s been remarried for seven years, and she’s the one who left me.”
They both watched the door, not wanting a repeat of the day before when Sera had caught only part of the conversation.
“Sera, we’re having a talk out here regarding what Ash spoke to his father about. I don’t want you to hear only part of a conversation and get hurt,” Brandt said through the link. Her distinctive snort of derision came back through.
They looked at one another and laughed.
“I simply reiterated, again and again, that my life was my own. What about you?” He’d been beyond irritated at having his ex-wife interfere in such a ridiculous way. Ash didn’t know what she thought she’d gain other than to be troublesome.
Brandt sighed. “I only texted my father back to say hello and ask him to trust my judgment. My sister manipulates men quite well, but my father isn’t as easy as most men.”
Sera swept into the room, and their conversation halted. Her gown was high-necked, and the sleeves touched the tips of her fingers. Her hair twisted in a long braid down her back where one swath of bare skin showed at her tailbone and nowhere else. The deep purple shot with threads of gold brought out her coloring, enhanced by a dusting of gold powder on her cheekbones.
As she moved, the dress swirled around her ankles. The soft fabric clung to every curve so that even though she wasn’t as exposed as she’d been so far, every outline of her body showed. Her nipples pressed through, swaying sensually, even the dip of her belly button appeared when she moved a certain way.
By covering up what others had so blatantly shown off, she’d made it taboo and thus created a heady sexuality in doing so. Ash had no idea if she’d done it on purpose or not, but it was brilliant. He admired her tactical skill as well as her skill as a woman.
“My, don’t you look incredible.” Brandt bowed low from the waist as he took her hand.
When he kissed it, he slipped on a bracelet they’d seen earlier that day. Pale purple stones from Ravena, the home ’Verse.
“Ash and I thought this would look lovely on you, and look, it does. Later, I think it might be lovely to drape these over your nipples. They stand up so nicely when anything touches them.”
“Stop that, darling. You’ll make me all moist before we even leave.” She examined the bracelet, her eyes bright with pleasure. “This is quite beautiful. Thank you both.”
Ash held his arms open, and she slid into them a moment, kissing him.
“We need to get started, or I’m heading back to the bed.” Ash groaned at the feel of her against him.
“You say that as if it’s preferable to be out and about all night than alone here with me. Naked and thanking you for this bracelet.” She arched one eyebrow.
Ash laughed. “Quit it.” He swatted her ass, loving how toned and muscular she was.
As they walked through the evening, people stopped and admired them and the picture they made. Brandt with his long, dark hair and nearly pretty face; Ash with his tall, broad and fierce handsomeness; and in between them, Sela, a beautiful, sexy woman who held them in the palm of her hand.
“I doubt you’ll be able to get near their network hub tonight, Sera. Although, looking the way you do, no one can refuse you anything you ask,” Brandt said.
“I think so, too. Last night I was lucky, but this house, this group is different. But Stander will be there. I’m curious to see what he’ll be like in person. I do have the feeling he’ll be drunk with his own perception of power. He’s seen it all. So I’ll dazzle him a bit. It’s going to take a different approach to see what we can see.”
“No, Sera. You won’t seduce him into telling you anything.”
She sent him a withering look before rolling her eyes. “Ash Walker, I need not shove my cunt in his face to get information from him. That’s clumsy and beneath me. And such an accusation is beneath you. Not too long ago you were happy to have me shove my cunt in Brandt’s or your face to help get this information from Stander. Remember?”
“Brandt and me . . . that’s different. I’m happy to have your cunt in my face anytime. But you don’t need to whore yourself. You’re worth more than anyone ever asking.”
“Ash! That’s absurd. I appreciate your saying so, but in truth, of course I’m not. I’m one person exchanging part of my physical self to get information that could save tens of thousands of lives, if not more. But I have no intention of fucking Giles Stander.”
“Ah, I believe this is the home,” Brandt broke in.
Ash kissed her, and she allowed it; she even tugged his earlobe playfully. She did pinch the lobe tight though, to make her point.
Chapter 16
Every eye was on her as they entered. The women ranged from admiration to outrage, the men, just admiring.
“Oh look, darling, it’s your brother-in-law.”
Brandt would paddle her ass later on for that amusement in her voice.
Perry stood in a knot of men—Giles Stander among them—at the far end of the room. Stander had turned to lock his gaze on Sera, who’d begun to laugh and chat with Rina, one of the concubines she’d been out with earlier that day.
“Quite the coup! I’d wager eight of the women in this room will have a dress just like yours within several days.” Rina smiled at Brandt and Ash. “Welcome to my home. Tifrit is over there somewhere.” She waved in the other direction. “Please, do be at ease. I’m going to spirit away your woman, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d like to hold on to her for a while.” Brandt put an arm around Sera’s waist. “She’s too beautiful to just let her wander off.” He knew he should let her go, but he felt oddly possessive of her, protective. In any case, he’d be getting close to Stander, and she should be with them.
“Ah, of course. I can’t blame you. I wish Tifrit looked at me the way you two look at Sela.” Rina winked at Sera. “You come find me when these boys tire of you, and we’ll gossip some, all right?”
Rina wandered off, waving and greeting some others who’d just entered, and Brandt steered them in the direction of that group in the corner.
“Brandt, Ash, greetings!” Perry said in a too-loud, too-drunk voice. He bowed, his hungry eyes roving all over Sera’s body. Brandt paused a moment. Not Sera’s body. Ash’s body. But then Perry’s gaze returned to Sera, quite happy to look at her breasts. “And Sela, am I correct? When you get tired of these two, you know where to find me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She’d rolled into full Sela mode. Her eyes half-lidded, her voice down an octave. A throaty purr that hardened his cock. Even her movement had changed. She turned to Ash. “Darling, would you like a drink?”
Ash collared her throat, and Brandt, standing to the side, saw her nipples stab through the front of her dress. Leaning in, Ash captured her lips slowly, surely, and aggressively. Sera allowed it, reveled in it. Sela used it to spill her sensuality outward, catching Giles Stander in her web.
“I’d love one. You know what I need.” Ash’s voice was thick with emotion, and Brandt had to stifle his desire to push her flat and shove his cock down her throat.
She turned, a smile at the corner of her lips. “Brandt? You? Can I do anything for you?”
He grabbed the rope of her hair and pulled her close, taking advantage of her gasp to sweep his tongue inside to taste her. “You have,” he said as he broke the kiss. “You did just half an hour ago. But I’m always happy to have you do anything for me again.”
She laughed. A real laugh, straight to her eyes. “Oh darling, you make me gooey in all the right places. I’ll be back with drinks.”
He turned as one with Ash, and they didn’t have to fake being entranced by the movement of her ass as she walked away on those very high heels.
“Well now! I’d been wondering why any man would share a woman when he had enough money to have his own, but now I see the way of it.”