Rouge: A Dark Billionaire Romance (Tattered Curtain Series)

Lacey

Kian curses as his cock slips out of me and I gasp at the sudden emptiness. The loss slams into my chest and my eyes burn with tears.

What the hell?

Little rivulets run silently down my cheeks as he gathers me in his arms and picks me up bridal style. I cling to him like a lifeline, but I know he won’t let me fall.

That thought reminds me of last night when I just knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would catch me during our sensual dance. Why did trust come so naturally with him then?

Why does it now?

I try to push the question away, but I don’t know how much longer that will keep working before I have to confront how he makes me feel. The thought makes me shiver in his arms.

“I’ve got you. You’ll feel better in just a second. I’ll take care of you,” he reassures me and I snuggle against his warm chest.

I feel heavy in my body and I’m not even the one having to carry me around. His hand presses into my back, caressing my spine, while the other supports my ass as my languid body threatens to fall. He walks us through the suite until we reach the en suite bathroom.

“Can you stand?” he asks.

When I grunt my response, he chuckles. “I’ll set you here then.”

He places me on the edge of the tub and does a double take at the tears on my face.

“Oh, sweet tine. I’m going to take good care of you, baby.” He wipes my damp cheeks before kissing my forehead.

“Why am I crying?” I whisper quietly and swipe angrily at my weeping eyes, embarrassed.

But Kian is gracious and gentle with his answer as he fills a tub the size of a Jacuzzi with water.

“It’s the endorphins. Your body doesn’t know what to do with so much pleasure forced on it all at once. That many orgasms have sated you to exhaustion, while your mind is confused and overwhelmed. Don’t worry, I know how to help.”

He pours some salts into the rising water and a sweet vanilla-and-orchid scent wafts into the air.

“A bath? That’ll fix everything?”

“Trust me, Lacey.” His voice is playful as he goes about making the perfect bath, naked and unaffected by my skepticism.

I scowl and lean back against the wall to watch him work.

The edge of the tub is cool beneath me and the cold wall almost hurts my overly sensitive skin. But the steam from the bath and the soothing aroma seep into me, making me relax further and I close my eyes.

“Tine, stand for me.” My eyelids drift open again to see the tub is nearly full and Kian’s hand is out for me to hold. “I want to get you into the tub safely.”

I nod and let him guide me into the nearly scalding water. It feels amazing on my skin as I dip my toes and climb in. I stand in the center, not ready to dunk just yet, and I’m soaking in the warmth that reaches my knees when I feel an unfamiliar sensation between my legs. I look down to see Kian’s cum dripping down my inner thighs and I gasp.

Shit.

I’ve never not used a condom, and here I’ve gone and done it twice with a madman.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Anxiety floods my veins and I grab the closest hand towel to clean it up, but Kian reaches over the edge of the tub and snatches my wrist.

“Don’t.”

“But, Kian—”

His stare is pure possession and I’m caught in the intensity of it as he gently pulls me toward him.

“Open,” he commands and I step wider without thinking. His hazel gaze leaves mine as he scoops the cum leaking from me and dips his finger back into my core to coat my channel with his essence. The motion makes me wince and moan at the same time, my body confused as to whether this is pain or pleasure.

“Now close.”

My legs obey instantly, slamming my thighs together as soon as he leaves my entrance.

“When you sit in the bath, keep them together until I say open.”

I shake my head. “Why?”

“Do it, or we’ll go for five more.”

My eyes flare wide. I back away and try to maneuver into the water with my legs tight together like a vise. It’s much deeper than I anticipated, rising just above my breasts as I sink in.

“Mm, this feels good.”

The heat soothes the muscles I didn’t realize were aching. I close my eyes and begin to lie back, but a splash catches my attention. I turn around to see Kian’s huge dick swinging just above me at half-mast.

“Um… what’re you doing?”

“Getting in.”

I scoff and move to climb out, but Kian is too fast. He hooks his arm around my waist and nestles behind me before I even realize what’s happening. When I try to wriggle away again, he tugs me back to him easily, sloshing water up the sides.

“You’re always trying to run away from me, tine. Just stop and soak this in for a moment, yeah?”

My scowl scrunches my forehead and I glare at his toes underneath the water on the other side of the tub as if they’re at fault.

Even if Kian could see my annoyance, I don’t think he’d care. It’s probably for the best because my irritation quickly subsides as he holds me close. Despite his rock-hard thighs, he’s surprisingly comfortable. I settle against him and bask in his warmth and strength. I’ve never felt so protected and needy at the same time. It’s… confusing.

But when his length grows harder against my lower back, I tense. The corded muscles in his arms stiffen around me like I’ll try to flee again and he chuckles into my hair just above my ear.

“It’s not my fault you’re waking him back up. You keep moving.”

My heartbeat races at the prospect of teasing him more, but my pussy aches, reminding me that I desperately need a break. I try my best to relax and sit still for once in my life. After a few moments, Kian rewards me by carefully tugging my hair free from my ponytail. My scalp relaxes as my strawberry-blonde hair falls in a curtain. The ends float in the water, turning ruby red around me and I watch them drift about.

With Kian out of my direct vision, I finally have the courage to ask the question I was too afraid to ask earlier when he was staring so intensely above me.

“Kian?”

“Yeah?”

“What did my, um, safe word mean? Iss too mu row-ah.”

There’s a breath of a pause before he grumbles against my neck and pours soap into a washcloth.

“It means ‘pain in my arse.’ Now stop moving, or I won’t be able to wash you before I fuck you again and none of this will work.”

“Oh, nice one. I wish I’d known I was yelling that you were a pain in my ass over and over again.” I huff and roll my eyes until the rest of what he said registers. “Wait… what won’t work?”

“This,” he grumbles and swipes the soapy washcloth up my arm. His tone is frustrated, but his touch is reverent and makes me shiver as goose bumps follow the path of the washcloth. “I’ve never done this part before.”

“Sex?!” My eyes pop out of my head and I try to turn, but he bands his arm over my breasts.

“No.” He laughs. “That I’m well versed in.”

I grimace at the thought, but there’s almost a vulnerable edge when he murmurs, “It’s the aftercare that I’m new to.”

My lips part on a silent gasp.

“You… You’ve never done this with anyone else?”

Oh my god, this is so not my business.

He wets the washcloth under the faucet and squeezes it out before he answers.

“I haven’t. I didn’t care about it before, but now I do.”

“So, um, what changed?”

“No one else was my wife.”

My thoughts race a mile a minute at the implication of his confession, but Kian seems like he’s in a trance as he drags the washcloth thoroughly up and down both my arms and over my chest. I tense, expecting him to tease my battered nipples, but the cloth just dips into the water and gently rubs over my skin.

When he moves on to wash my upper chest, he pulls my hair to the side and makes a hum of appreciation before caressing my neck.

“Mmm, these marks are going to bruise nicely.”

I shiver at the light touches on my abused skin and my lower belly flutters.

“Is that what you meant when you said if I mark you, you’ll mark me forever?”

He chuckles. “No. I marked you as mine when we got married.”

He lifts my left hand and twirls the simple band on my ring finger. The light catches the silver and my brow furrows.

The Baron’s ring annoyed the ever-loving shit out of me day in and day out, so I only ever wore it when I was in public. But Kian’s ring already feels so normal that I’d forgotten it was even there.

As I’m marveling at that revelation, his voice grows thick and possessive while he strokes my neck.

“These marks will fade, but I’m a part of you now. Whether it’s my fingerprints… my ring…” He reaches between my legs and I bite my lip as he runs a finger along my entrance. “My cum…” His other hand spans my lower belly and he growls low into my ear. “Or my child… you will always have me with you.”

His words should scare me, but I swear his touch has already trained my body to either come or calm for him. My breaths come in impatient pants while his fingers dance around my clit. Even though I’m sore, when both his hands disappear, my pussy twinges in protest.

“I took you hard today. Denied you earlier, then forced pleasure onto you. The heat, Epsom salt, and touch are supposed to make you feel better. Even more sated than before.”

The washcloth continues its journey over my curves and I moan as my head falls back against his shoulder. My eyes keep wanting to drift closed and my heartbeat slows as I revel in the attention.

He leans around me to grab my knee and continue his ministrations. I stretch my leg high over my shoulder so he can get my feet. His laugh rumbles against my back as he reaches.

“So fecking flexible. I can’t wait to see how far you’ll go for me.”

His words warm my core. I shouldn’t care that he says nice things. I shouldn’t care that he’s treating me like I’m precious to him right now. But I really, really do and I don’t know what to make of that.

“Don’t strain yourself, though, Lace. This is supposed to be relaxing.”

“Stretching is relaxing.” I smile. I’m not lying, but when he gets to my heel, I hiss in pain.

“What is it?” his voice deepens with concern and he bends my leg so he can see my injured foot. “What happened here?”

“It’s nothing—”

“It’s not fecking ‘nothing,’ Lacey. How’d you get this cut?”

“From, um, destroying all your glasses.” I wince. I was so pissed at him before, but several orgasms and a warm bath later and I’m not feeling nearly as destructive.

He huffs. “I’ll make sure to have that cleaned up so you don’t fecking hurt yourself again.”

“I’m seriously okay. I did way worse to my feet when I practiced pointe.”

“Hmm.” He turns it slightly to examine it before releasing my foot back into the water. “It does look like just a wee cut. But you’re lucky that’s all it was.”

When he continues with the cloth along my skin like we never spoke about me trashing his suite, my jaw drops.

“That’s it? You’re not mad?”

“At you hurting yourself? Furious. But I’ve punished you enough for one day.”

“No, I mean about ruining your home.”

I feel him shrug. “They’re just things, tine. Things don’t make a home. Although, it was a hell of a way to tell me you hated my suite. You can pick out the next decorator to design our living room the way you like it.”

“But you were so mad when you came home—”

“I thought your tantrum was adorable at first. It was you making yourself come without my permission that brought about your punishment.”

“Jesus, noted. Next time I want to get bathed and pampered, all I have to do is get myself off without you.”

I bite back a smile as I wait for his response. He doesn’t disappoint as my name comes out in a low growl.

“Lacey…”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” I giggle. “You know, you said I was fun to tease, but you’re pretty fun to rile up yourself.”

He huffs a chuckle but returns to washing me. “Open for me.”

A warm shiver of delight rolls through me and I bite back a smile while I spread my legs for him. I brace myself as he dunks the washcloth between my thighs. Even though he gently tends to my swollen center, I hiss at how sensitive I am.

He doesn’t try anything further, only paying strict attention to being methodically thorough. It isn’t until his length hardens against my lower spine that I realize he’s affected too and a smug smile curves my lips.

As he finishes cleaning up the remnants of him from between my legs, a thought buzzes through my brain like an electric shock. I was too thoroughly fucked moments ago to bring it up, but my mind is finally clearing now.

“Kian, we need to talk. You didn’t use a condom again. It’s been months for me and I’ve been tested, but, um… what about you?”

“Same. And I haven’t been with anyone since the night my father told me you were my next mark.”

“Your next mark?”

“You know about my orders. I became obsessed with my new assignment, but even then, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to accomplish it. I guess a part of me always hoped it’d end like this.”

My chest pounds, but I try to focus. “Kian… this isn’t an end. This isn’t even a beginning. I have obligations, responsibilities to my family and the Garde. And what about babies? I told you I’m not on birth control.”

The washcloth stops, and he sets it to the side before wrapping his arms around me. It’s comforting, but I quickly realize his soothing embrace is just as binding when he doesn’t give me an inch to move.

“It’ll be fine, tine.”

“It’ll be fine? How do you know it’ll be fine? Do you have an in with God and know the future or something? Maybe we can go to Mass together this Sunday and you can introduce me.”

“Lacey—”

“You came inside me, Kian. Twice. What if I get pregnant?”

“You’re my wife.” His nonchalant shrug splashes the water.

“Kian…” I groan. “I’m not your wife.”

“You are, and we just consummated our marriage. Congratulations, Lacey McKennon, there’s no going back now. I’m not letting you go without a fight.”

No going back now.

I go limp in his arms.

“Tine, listen…” He strokes my arms softly underneath the water as he talks. “I want kids. You want kids—”

“How do you know I want kids?”

“Because when you took your gap year after your dad was arrested, everywhere you traveled, you visited a local orphanage. It’s an educated guess after that.”

My cheeks burn. “You know about my gap year?”

When my father was arrested the first time, I couldn’t deal. I took a year off school and went anywhere but home. If I’d known then that a judge would confine him in jail before his trial, I would’ve spent that time with him. But I didn’t, and instead, I had a fabulous, extravagant time for social media and put on a front that the O’Sheas were still invincible.

It was in the downtime I had by myself that I actually enjoyed my trip. I loved to buy toys, visit the local orphanage or shelters, and watch the kids play with them. That time made me fall in love with the idea of a true family, not just one that thrives on political gain.

But how does he know that? I’ve never told anyone.

“I’ve kept tabs on you ever since you were promised to me, even when the contract was broken. So am I wrong?”

I shake my head. “No, I do want a family. I just… never thought it’d happen the way I wanted.”

Kian sighs. “Honestly, it still might not, but as long as I have a home with love in it, I’m fine with whatever happens. The Garde has a history of infertility—”

I scoff and words spit out of me before I can stop them.

“Greed and infertility are not the same things. Parents don’t want to chance their kids killing each other and losing the family’s inheritance. Greed is the only thing that’s hereditary in the Garde.”

“Not all families,” Kian responds quietly. After a beat, he takes a breath and speaks low as a whisper. “My mom had a few miscarriages before me. I should have an older brother, but when she lost him, my father almost lost her. Dad refused to have more after that, afraid he’d lose her—”

“Really?” I can’t help the shock in my voice. To most families, heirs are born at any cost. The future head of a family name wanting to give all that up for his wife is unheard of.

Kian nods. “She’d always wanted to be a mom, though, and she begged him. He was never very good at saying no to her. They tried one more time and then came me. I was a difficult delivery and my father really put his foot down after that. But that’s why my parents stopped. Not greed. Love.”

“So… you believe in love? Like truly?”

He nods against my head, and I feel his warm breath on my scalp. “Without a doubt.”

“But love is practically old-fashioned in our world.”

“Not in mine.”

The words stun me into silence and the only thing that can be heard is the soft lapping of the bathwater against the sides of the tub. My reaction isn’t just to the story, though, but to the vulnerability within the confession. And the secrets.

The Keeper of the secrets, not the money, is who is truly in charge in the Garde. The head of the society is a kingmaker and a king slayer, depending on the wielder. As our Keeper, my father has kept peace among the members mostly because he’s been fair and kept the trust of each family, rarely using their secrets as a sword.

But rumors have circulated for years that the McKennons’ reputation had been slain. I thought it was because Kian broke our marriage contract and went on a two-year-long bender three years ago, but did my father use a secret against them? If he did, it was only in retaliation because Kian refused me… right?

And yet…

Kian stole me, tricked me into marriage, and he wants me to have his children. Why would he do all that after refusing to marry me?

I’d think it was an elaborate ruse, but now he’s trusting me with family secrets, ones I’m sure my father doesn’t know. If he had known them before Kian was born, what lengths would he have gone to ensure a McKennon heir never existed? That his biggest rival could never rise up against him? The McKennons are billionaires. That’s a lot of money that would go to the Garde’s pocket should the McKennon die without an heir. It would’ve been chaos.

“Why are you telling me this?” I whisper my thought out loud.

“A secret for a secret,” Kian murmurs and unplugs the tub. The water drains slowly, leaving cool air on my skin in its wake. “You have answers I need.”

Goose bumps erupt on my arms, but with Kian’s warm body still flush with mine, I’m anything but cold.

Is this why he’s done all this? At one point, I thought it was to get his inheritance, but is it only for my secrets? What on earth do I know that Kian doesn’t?

My chest tightens.

If it has anything to do with my dad or his case…

“What do you want to know?” My voice is small, unrecognizable, and Kian slowly tightens his arms around me.

“Why were you engaged to Monroe?”