Duke: Chapter 18

My heart pounds an erratic beat in my chest as I lie here watching Lennon nap. After coming to the conclusion that someone in this house has been taking orders from my father, she’d only been able to talk for a short while before shutting down. With the way her ocean-blue eyes had been awash in mental anguish, I hadn’t wanted to pressure her, so we left a lot unsaid.

We have puzzle pieces laid out on a table, ready to figure out how all the craziness that’s been transpiring here at Bainbridge Hall fits together … but there’s no way to be certain how many are missing. And while Lennon is probably one of the strongest women I know, she’s also fragile in a way that breaks my heart. No one should have to experience some of the things she has.

Before falling asleep in my arms, Lennon whispered that she was worried she didn’t have the stamina to go through it again, but she didn’t want to leave Bear and Mason in the dark. She’d asked me to tell them everything—from the horrific childhood trauma she’d lived through at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, to our assumption that my father has been involved in the attacks on his own stepdaughter.

Lennon is hurting, and if we’re right—if it’s been my father behind this shit—that’ll be it. He’ll have drawn a fucked-up line in the sand with me. What I believe he’s done is unforgivable. Did he tell someone here in the house about her past? Ask them to fuck with her? Had he sent her here so he could have someone else terrorize her, while throwing suspicion off himself? How fucking low can you get? He’s lucky I haven’t flown off the handle. I’m trying so fucking hard to keep a tight leash on my emotions because what I really want to do is rage. Pummel his face until there’s nothing more than blood and bone and tissue everywhere.

Can’t do that yet. I need to have everything laid out in my fucking head. Uncover every dirty fucking deed he’s involved himself in.

Because I’m really concerned Lennon hasn’t told me everything, that there’s something more that links my father to her nightmares and sleepwalking. Something that involves Juliette. The thought makes me sick. And that’s why I’m going to need Bear and Mason’s help.

As Lennon sleeps in my arms, I reach for the phone in my pocket and fumble to type out a lengthy one-handed text. I spell out what’s happened today: Tucker, the pantry, childhood trauma, my father. All of it. It turns my stomach to confirm I think my own fucking father has to be behind some of the shit going on. I don’t know why. It’s not like they don’t know him.

Almost immediately after I hit send, my phone buzzes beside me on the bed.

Do you have her?

My brows furrow for a split second, trying to decipher the actual meaning in those four words, capped off with a question mark. I let out a breath. I know he doesn’t mean that he thinks I’m incapable of caring for her—it’s more like he’s disappointed in himself that he can’t be her protector right now and wants to be sure I can manage without him. He’s dealing with a lot, and for him to mentally focus on himself, he needs to know that she’s okay. But damn, the protectiveness he feels for her nearly jumps off the screen. It’s good he feels that way because she’s going to need all of us. I quickly tap out another couple messages in response.

I’ve got her.

She’s sleeping now.

I’m stuck in this meeting.

Get bail money ready.

???

Because if Tristan’s had anything to do with this shit that’s been happening.

I’m going to fucking kill him.

You and me, both.

You know if Tristan is involved …

My dad probably is too.

I don’t know why it took me so long to see it.

Turned a blind eye, I guess.

Well, no more.

I don’t think we’re off track.

We can sort through everything.

Decide on a course of action.

Because I’m not fucking sitting back and watching more shit hit the fan.

Thoughts bounce around in my head, and the logical part of my brain wants to pick every last detail apart and dissect what’s been going on in the weeks since Lennon was dumped into my lap. But I fucking can’t with her sound asleep, my shirt fisted between us in her tightly clenched hands. I swear if she were able, she’d already have burrowed under my skin. Her body obviously told her she needed to pass the fuck out and give her mind a break. She needs me. Even in sleep.

Maybe I can speak to her dreaming mind and let the way I’m feeling for her really, truly sink in. I press my lips to the top of her head before I murmur, “I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again. If it means I spend every moment with you glued to my side, that’s how it’s going to have to be. I need you. Your smiles. Your wit. Your fuckin’ sass.” My heart clenches behind my rib cage, and I work a hard swallow like there are nails in my throat. “Waited so long for you, Stella Bella. I’m done fighting this attraction. I will fight tooth and nail for my place in your heart.”

Her fingers relax their hold and find their way beneath my shirt. They slide over my abdomen before one slips around to my back. Our legs tangle together as our bodies align.

Is she still asleep? A soft sigh passes between her lips. Her eyes are shut, but her long lashes are fluttering a bit. That roaming hand of hers finds my ass and tugs me closer at the same time she throws her leg over my thigh.

“Duke?” She lifts one hand, stroking her fingers down my cheek. “Say it again.” Her lips are the most perfect pink, lush and trembling.

Looking into her eyes, I put my hand over her heart and fuckin’ spill. “I need a place in here. Just for me. I’m done letting my head win when my heart and body and fucking soul have known we’d end up like this.”

The intense way we stare at each other makes every cell of my being burn. Unable to hold back a goddamn second more, we lunge at each other, and my lips meet Lennon’s with desperate need and wanton hunger. As I coax her mouth open, eager and sure, her greedy hands thread through my hair, tugging me closer. She uses the leg slung over mine to pull herself a fraction closer so her jean-covered pussy brushes my hardening cock.

A rough groan rips from the back of my throat. It’s not that I’ve never kissed her before or touched her sexually. In fact, we’ve done things together that would make a whore blush. But we’ve never really had this chance before—the two of us together, each eager for what the other is offering. Somewhere along the way to this moment, we’ve cast aside the stigma of who we are. The fact that we are stepsiblings has been a huge barrier in my head, keeping me from acting on my feelings. Not anymore. Fuck it. Because every time we touch, I know. We’re meant to be. A head-on collision that no one else saw coming. But I knew. I fucking knew and tried to deny how I felt. I’ve been so fucking stupid. Wasted so much time.

I lick inside her mouth, slowly exploring with my tongue while driving both of us half insane with lust. Fire crackles beneath my skin, and Lennon lets loose a heady moan as her hips rock against my dick, the material of her shorts supplying friction that has us both gasping with every delicious thrust.

“I’m going to erase every lingering question that might be in your head about the two of us,” I rasp, my head so fucking hazy and full of her. “I’m gonna taste you and fuck your pussy so damn good you’ll lose your mind.”

Her gaze pulls me into her like she’s the sun and I’ve gotten too close—sucked right into everything she is. The heat between us flares. She leans back in, swiping her tongue teasingly over my lower lip before stroking it into my mouth and straining against my body. “I want it. I want every last thing you have to give. I want to be your dirty girl.”

“Fuck. Yes,” I grit out, delivering a sharp smack to her ass that makes her gasp, and then immediately moan as she grinds her pussy against the hard ridge of my cock. “That’s my good, good dirty girl,” I growl huskily, nipping at her lip. Undoing the button and zipper of her jean shorts, I work my hand between us, my fingers grazing over her soft belly before they dip boldly inside her panties. Her hips immediately tilt to give me better access.

The wetness between her thighs makes my dick weep in response, almost like it’s calling out to her pussy. “So fucking wet and tight.” My erection strains against my shorts, and I want inside her so bad it hurts. The heavy feeling in my balls makes it hard for me to concentrate on anything else, but I slide my fingers through her arousal, massaging all the sensitive skin before I push two digits inside her. Dipping my head, I suck on her nipple through her thin tank top, wetting it so much that the fabric is practically translucent, and her lacy bralette becomes visible underneath.

Something inside me roars to life at the sight of the dusky pink nipple poking at the wet material. It has me wanting to be a little rough. I feel the need to mark her. Claim her. Show every fucking person who whispered behind their back that I was “fucking my sister” that I don’t fucking care what they think. Because they’re wrong. She’s mine. And she’s not my damn sister, anyway. She’s the woman who was made for me.

Those thoughts clang around in my head as I scrape the taut peak of her nipple with my teeth. Lennon lets out a strangled cry, and her pussy drenches my hand in response. “You fuckin’ like that?”

She nods, panting for air as I do it again before switching to the other breast and repeating the process until both nipples are standing at full attention. It only takes another minute or two of teasing them before her lip quivers and her hips buck as she rides my fingers. “Oh, fuck yes!” The words heave from her as I feel the walls of her pussy tighten on my fingers, then she shudders out a moan of uninhibited ecstasy as she reaches her climax and topples right over the edge.

She’s so responsive to me. So fucking perfect. I glide my fingers in and out, milking every last second of her orgasm. While she’s still coming down, I roll her to her back and pull the shorts and damp panties down her legs. Her limbs are loose and relaxed. I tear out of my shirt, then kick off my shorts and underwear, freeing my cock. Her eyes trained on my dick, she quickly shrugs out of her tank and bralette, too.

I remain kneeling, allowing myself a moment to skim my gaze over her nakedness, reveling in the knowledge that this is how things are going to be. I’ve been so goddamn conflicted, but I’ve come to accept how I feel and fuck any of the consequences or what anyone has to say.

Stroking my hand up and down my length, with her eyes laser focused on me, I groan as pleasure flows through my body. “Spread your legs for me, Lennon. Show me that pretty pussy.”

Her chest rises and falls fast as she hikes her legs up, bracing her feet on the bed and spreading them wide. Her cunt glistens, the flesh engorged and pink.

Pink is my favorite fucking color. As I watch her and continue to stroke myself, she runs her hands over her tits and plays with her nipples, tweaking and pinching them. She gasps aloud, but bites her lip to contain it, then scrapes her teeth over the tender skin.

Her hands slide down her body, smoothing over her stomach. My eyes eagerly follow as one hand travels to her inner thigh, setting off a million goose bumps across her skin. The other hand slips between her legs, the pad of her finger finding her swollen clit easily. Our gazes lock. Slowly—so fucking slowly—she rubs circles around and around and around until she’s moaning with the self-inflicted pleasure.

“Keep touching yourself, baby.” I lower myself to the mattress, getting up close and personal with her. I slide my fingers up and down her inner thighs and sweep them over all the skin surrounding her pussy. As she continues to work her clit, I inch closer, breathing her in. Lust riots within me, making me want to come out of my skin. Explode. Implode. Something. I exhale hard, and she squirms as the air I huff out comes into contact with her slick flesh.

“Duuuke,” she moans. My name is a low and guttural sound on her lips that sends a shot of lust straight to my cock. I shift, grinding myself into the mattress because I’m not ready to take her yet. Instead, I focus on that finger of hers, and the ease with which it’s making arousal drip from her. I exhale against her skin again just so I can watch the way she trembles when I do it. Fuuuck, her pussy is the stuff dreams are made of. I think Mason told me that once. He was fucking with me at the time to get a rise out of me, but he’d been telling the absolute truth.

Lennon has begun to make these breathy sounds, and I can tell she’s getting more and more desperate the longer I watch her but don’t touch her where she wants me to. She’s getting more and more turned on with every passing second. “Make yourself gush for me. I want to lick up every drop.”

She lets out a stuttered gasp, her chest jerking with it. Her cheeks turn an even rosier shade of pink than they already were as she works a hard swallow, picking up the pace. There’s no doubt in my mind she’s going to come again—and soon. With a hand to each of her thighs, I push her legs open as wide as they’ll go, licking my lips and waiting for the fireworks to begin.

I see it in her eyes—she can’t decide whether to throw her head back on the pillow and give in or keep her eyes on me. Her pupils are so big, they’ve practically taken over the blue of her eyes. Where her breathing had been deep and slow before, it’s now shallow and quick as the orgasm that’s been threatening becomes imminent. “That’s a good girl. Such a good fuckin’ girl.” I nod with a smirking smile before I bring my tongue out and painstakingly slowly drag it all through her arousal, giving her pretty pussy the most devastating decadent lick I can conjure.

“Oh god. Oh fuck. Duke. Fuck,” she cries out as her pussy pulses on my tongue. Her entire body seems overtaken by the sensations rolling through her, and still, she continues to stare right at me, her gaze never leaving mine.

My hands clutch her thighs tight enough to leave fingerprints. I grunt my satisfaction as that idea runs through my head and squeeze a little harder as I lean in and nudge her hand out of the way so I can suck on her clit. It’s so hypersensitive, she lets out a tiny squeal and grabs onto my hair. But despite the post-orgasm sensitivity, she doesn’t try to stop me. I suck some more, then lave it with my tongue before I dip farther down to kiss her pussy lips. I lick her everywhere, the taste of her orgasm flooding my mouth. Just when I think I’ve gotten my fill, I shove my tongue deep inside her, hoping for more. I’m obsessed with the taste of her.

I rear up and lunge forward, bracing myself over her. Her legs automatically wrap around my waist, tugging me in until my dick is right there, sliding against her wetness as I lean down and kiss the fuck out of her. We’re wild, tongues battling, spearing into each other’s mouths. I mumble through our kisses, “You taste so fucking good. You like to taste yourself, baby?”

“Yes.” She looks boldly into my eyes. “Especially when I’m all over your cock.”

Fuck me. My head spins, and I don’t hesitate, I slam my erection into her greedy cunt, gather her close, feasting on her lips and gorging myself on her tongue. Her naked body fully against mine makes me act like a fucking wild man. She makes me lose control. She’s the only one capable of it. I rut into her body, hard and fast until we’re both sweaty with the exertion, then I stop, tearing my lips from hers and pull away, breathing hard. She looks confused for a moment, but then her eyes fall to my dick, and she scrambles from her back, shoves me onto mine.

She quirks her eyebrow at me before she leans down and licks my dick from base to tip, then swirls it around and around. The moans this act is eliciting from her are fucking crazy. Or they’re making me crazy. Something like that. Either way, I’m out of my head and not expecting it when she takes my dick into her warm, wet mouth and half the fucking way down her throat. Jesus. “Fuuuck. Lennon.” Her name heaves from my lips, and I swipe the hair back from her face so I can watch her bobbing up and down on my cock. Her cheeks hollow out when she sucks, and the sight of her plush pink lips wrapped around me have me nearly shooting my load right this fucking second.

But no. I won’t. I have other plans for her.

And after that, I have things that need to be said … and I’ll have to hope she doesn’t hate me afterward.