Corporate Plaything Read online

  Anna shielded her eyes from the sky-blinding sun of St. Croix and inhaled a lungful of fresh island air. For a moment, her woes were forgotten. The spectacular scenery had taken her mind away from the problems that exhausted her emotionally. With each passing day, guilt devoured her from the inside.

  She’d promised she wouldn’t fall for the Martel brothers, but she found herself doing just the exact opposite. Even though they were technically her bosses, they were perfect lovers. Too perfect, in fact. They were everything a woman could want in a man. Matt with his dominant, warrior persona that had awakened her inner submissive. Justin, who made her feel secure and protected when he wasn’t being mischievous. And Raphael…Anna sighed. That man could drive a woman into perpetual horniness.

  Ralph was one of those rare people with a sexual allure so potent they attracted the opposite sex like moths to flames. From the way he talked, his body language, everything he did filled her mind with dirty thoughts. And he hadn’t even fucked her yet. All Raphael did during the flight was cuddle.

  Anna started questioning her sanity. Could she really repay him and his brothers’ kindness with treachery? She wasn’t cut out to be a spy. The guilt trip was too much to bear.

  The sand felt warm on her feet. Anna stepped into the water and let the small tides lick her wet. Paradise. She drew another deep breath and closed her eyes, deeply wishing she could enjoy all of this without being consumed by her guilt.

  “Anna…”

  She startled and opened her eyes.

  Ralph kissed her cheek and curled an arm around her waist. “Like the place?” he asked.

  “It’s amazing.”

  He’d brought her to the Martels’ private estate on the north shore of Cane Bay. The villa was situated on secluded land that used to be a plantation. Trees surrounded them as far as the eyes could see. Green. Quiet. Serene. The beach was within walking distance of the villa, accessible through a winding stone path. Ralph had told her he and his brothers bought the place for an occasional escape from their busy life. The place was a perfect retreat.

  Ralph tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His sparkling azure eyes that rivalled the colour of the sea drowned her in adoration. “Hungry?”

  “Getting there.” Anna couldn’t get over admiring Ralph’s captivating gaze. Now that she thought about it, she’d never seen Justin and Raphael take off their contact lenses. She peered closer.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Are you wearing contacts?”

  He laughed. “No. Who told you that?”

  “Marian Bancroft’s secretary. She said it’s for publicity purposes.”

  “Hmm. Justin must’ve told them that.”

  “Why?”

  “Mostly to avoid too many questions. Identical triplets aren’t supposed to have different colour eyes, right?”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Well, mine are blue because I’m gifted with narias.”

  “Narias? What is that?”

  “It’s equivalent to a healer of my people.”

  “Ah. Is that a Dutch thing? Defining social status based on the colour of a person’s eyes?”

  “Dutch?”

  “Justin said you’re from Netherland.”

  “Netherworld.”

  “That again. I’ve never heard of Netherworld.”

  “Of course you haven’t. But we’ll take you there soon. You’ll love it.”

  “To Netherworld? Is that near Netherland or something?”

  Ralph only smiled.

  “Germany? Belgium?”

  “You’ll know when you get there.”

  Anna was still curious. “How about Justin? His eyes are violet.”

  “Justin is a pasraec.”

  “Um. Translation?”

  “He was born to rule.”

  “Rule? Okay. And Matt?”

  “Matt is a suleeh. The punisher. He was born to keep law and order.”

  Anna wanted to scratch her head again. “No offence, but I’ve never heard something this strange.”

  “You’re too cute, Anna. By the way, I’m starving. Want to have lunch now?”

  “Yes. Sure.”

  The estate staff had packed a picnic lunch in a wicker basket. Ralph chose a shady spot under a tree and spread out the blanket. The wind almost blew the afghan away, but Anna quickly weighed it down with empty conchs she found nearby. She helped Ralph unpack their lunch. The cook had made them delicious-looking sandwiches, salad with island dressing, freshly cut fruits and some desserts. Anna opened the plastic container and let out a gasp when she saw gorgeously decorated cupcakes inside.

  “Maya makes killer desserts,” Raphael explained. He plucked a sugared violet topper and popped it into his mouth. “Yummy. Do you know she used to be a pastry chef in Luxor?”

  “That hotel in Vegas?”

  “Yup. That one.”

  “You must’ve paid her an arm and a leg.”

  “Not much more than what she made in Vegas. Maya loves it here. It’s like all-year round vacation, she said.”

  Anna could see that. If she hadn’t been forced to play spy by the syndicate, she’d love to work here, too. She’d been a city girl all her life. Her father never took her on a vacation, nor could he really afford one. When she grew up, she’d found out why their family had a hard time getting by.

  Her mom had racked up an unbelievable debt before she ran off with her lover, leaving her father to shoulder the financial burden. Her father had never complained. He kept everything to himself and continued to provide their little family the best as he could. He’d never been interested in getting remarried. He’d dedicated his life only to her.

  Thinking about her father made her restless. When she called him this morning, he’d told her the boss was impatient with her slow progress. Her father had repeatedly asked her to bail out and forget this whole thing. He wanted her to let him face the consequences of the mistake he’d made. Anna simply couldn’t do that. Her father would be incarcerated for the rest of his life. With his declining health, the sentence would rush him into an early grave.

  “Hello? Earth to Anna?” Ralph snapped his fingers.

  She startled. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re spacing out again. Something on your mind?”

  “Nothing, sir.” Anna was flustered. “I’m just thinking about the calories in these cupcakes.”

  Ralph gave her a look as if he knew she was fibbing. “Don’t lie me to me, Anna. If you tell me what’s wrong, I might be able to help you.”

  A twinge of pain shot up to her heart. No, you can’t help us. Nobody can. We’ve been royally screwed from here to eternity. Anna cleared her throat, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill and put on a fake, brave face. “I’m fine, sir. Really.”

  Ralph watched her hard, then shook his head. “Stubborn girl. You tell me when you’re ready. Now, let’s eat.”

  Anna ate the lunch with gusto, putting on a show that she was fine. She tried not to think about anything else at the moment, she was afraid her façade would break apart. The Martels must never find out who she really was and she must do everything she could to save her father.

  She felt stuffed when they finished eating. Sleepy, too. The combination between a full stomach and the ocean breeze made her want to doze off. Ralph had told her there would be no work while they were in St. Croix. He just wanted her companionship. She wondered if he would mind if she asked for a few hours off to catch a nap. She needed a clear head to think about what she should do next. She wasn’t getting anywhere with the secret formula, and in the meantime, the syndicate was bullying her father.

  “What is that?” Ralph pointed to the book that peeked out from her tote bag. “A romance novel?” He grabbed it and ogled the risqué cover.

  “Oh, that. I got it at the gift shop. I figured I’d do some reading while we’re here.”

  Ralph grinned from ear to ear as he leafed through the pages. “An eroti
c book? Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re a naughty girl, Anna.”

  “Erotic? That’s supposed to be a romance novel.”

  “Uh, huh. I see a cock and a pussy doing the horizontal hula hoop on page five.”

  Shit. Anna tried to grab the book but Ralph lifted it away from her reach.

  “Shh. It’s actually pretty hot.” Ralph skimmed a few more pages then shoved the book into her hand. “Read it for me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Read the hot part.”

  Anna felt bewildered. “Why?”

  Ralph pecked a kiss on her lips. “Maybe we can re-enact the hot scene.”

  Suddenly, she didn’t feel sleepy anymore. “I…um…”

  “Read it. That’s an order.”

  Order. Why, of course. Half-heartedly, Anna opened up the book, trying to find the part he mentioned. She regretted buying it. She hadn’t been paying attention to what kind of novel she’d picked when she did the impulse shopping. She’d just wanted some reading material.

  Raphael tossed the remainder of their lunch into the basket and snuggled behind her. Her heart beat faster when he slipped a hand under her sundress, groping her thigh. She moistened. Anna cursed in silence. She shouldn’t be this horny when she had so much on her mind.

  “Go on,” he urged. His lips were a hairsbreadth away from her ear and his hot breath seared her nape, causing delicious shivers to travel down her spine. “I’m ready for my bedtime story.”

  Anna gave him a wary look. “It’s noon. Don’t you think it’s too early?”

  “Don’t try to change the subject. I’ve been dying to spend some quality, intimate time with you.”

  He had?

  “How did you like my brothers?” Ralph nuzzled behind her ear. “They are good at bed-sports, aren’t they?”

  Good? No kidding. She’d had more orgasms in the past week than she’d had in her lifetime. Anna stifled a breath when his naughty hand found its way to the juncture of her thighs.

  He cupped her mound, feeling her pussy. Raphael let out a delighted purr when he found her damp. “Go on. Read it. Page five. I saw some hot action in there.”

  She gulped hard. Her hand trembled as she skimmed through the pages to find the part he wanted. Anna read the passage. Her cheeks flushed hot. Goodness. Who wrote this book? She’d thought this one was going to be one of those sanitised versions of the bodice ripper romance. Well, she should’ve guessed. When the author put ‘Chloe’s Submission’ in the title, she should have expected some kinks thrown in the mixture.

  “Anna.”

  “Sorry.” She cleared her throat again. This was getting ridiculous. “Lady Chloe Fareweather felt the heat slowly surge from her depths as Master Wren ordered her to shed the last garment that clung on her fevered, willing body.” Good lord. Who wrote this freaking book again? Anna did a double-take at the cover. She didn’t recognise the name of the author. Figures.

  “Go on. I heard somebody’s getting naked and willing. So far, so good.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. Men. She continued, “The savage need within her flared without control. Burning. As she slipped her knickers down her ankles, she became aware that her nipples had hardened, throbbing in cadence with her desire.”

  “Hmm. Are yours hard too?” Ralph felt her breasts with his free hand. “Damn, Anna. I forgot how pretty your nipples are. I’m dying to suck these.”

  Oh, God. Anna snapped the book closed. This whole thing was just silly. “Lady Fareweather remembered she forgot to turn her stove off, so she bid Master Wren a good day and ran home. The end.”

  Ralph laughed hard. “You’re a bad storyteller. No deal.”

  “Sir…”

  “Would you drop the sir, please? Call me Ralph.”

  “Ralph—”

  “Take it off.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Master Raphael ordered Lady Vincent to shed all of her garments. Now.”

  Anna looked around. “Out here? Are you crazy? What if somebody sees us?”

  “Like we care? This is a private estate, and besides, the staff won’t wander around while we are here. They know we like our privacy.” Ralph withdrew his hand from her pussy and yanked her sundress’ spaghetti straps down. The fabric tore. Her breasts spilled out.

  “Nice.” He pinched her nipple. “Hard. Just like Lady Fareweather’s.”

  “Ralph…”

  “I want to see you naked, out in the open. Then I want to fuck under the sun, Anna. Right here. Right now. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. You do know I could channel my brothers when they fucked you, don’t you?” He leant forward and whispered to her. Lust dripped heavily in his voice. “With Matt in his dojo. And when he shared you with Justin. Then when Justin fucked you in his shoddy little club? I knew all about it. Could feel my brothers’ pleasure too. It drove me insane.”

  “How’s that even possible?”

  “Didn’t my brothers tell you? Sharing a womb made us linked to one another. But our circle is as yet incomplete, we need a cevborn to complete our bond.”

  “Cevborn?”

  “Our mate. You.”

  “Mate? Me?” Anna echoed. During their trip to Tokyo, Justin had hinted at the same thing. “That’s ridiculous.”

  Ralph let out a theatrical sigh. “I knew you’d say that. But soon you’ll understand.”

  Anna thinned her lips. “Why don’t you explain everything now so I’ll understand? I’m tired of these riddles. Mate. Netherworld. The Claiming.”

  For a second, Ralph looked as if he was contemplating her demand. Then he shook his head. “Nah. I’m horny and in the mood for fucking, not world history. Now, take your clothes off.”

  She pouted, crossing her arms across her chest, shielding her bare breasts. “No. I don’t want to play your game anymore. If you want the prize, you’ve got to work for it.” A second later, Anna regretted her decision.

  The moment she shut her mouth, Raphael eyed her like a beast that was ready to pounce on his prey. His lips peeled upward into a snarly grin and his eyes devoured her with an unmistakable hunger, promising her nothing but a hard, rough, savage fuck.

  “I love games,” he hissed. “Love, love them.”

  “Ralph.” Anna squealed when he leapt from where he was sitting and swept her into his arms. “Where are you taking me?” She felt disoriented as Raphael carried her towards the beach.

  “Ever have dirty, wet sex?”

  “N-no.”

  “Good.” He stopped at the same spot where she’d soaked her feet about an hour earlier and deposited her on the wet sand, flat on her back. Ralph straddled her before she could even squeak a protest. He ripped the rest of her clothes without reserve. “Mmm. This is an easy job for such a yummy prize.” He ran his hands over her body.

  Anna trembled. Being out in the sun with nothing on but her birthday suit, and pinned into submission by a heart-throbbing hunk felt wondrously erotic. Lust engulfed her. She couldn’t take her eyes off her conqueror.

  Raphael Martel. A man who was as deliciously wicked as sin.

  Heart pounding, blood rushing through her head, Anna couldn’t help but feel excited at what would happen next.

  She touched him, feeling his face. A gentle ocean breeze caused his hair to dance around his broad shoulders. His blue eyes never left hers. Calculating. Silently devouring with such intensity that every cell in her body answered his mating call without her realising it. Anna felt hot and needy all of a sudden. Her pussy thrummed. Moistened. Her nipples hardened even more.

  Ralph grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth. He sucked a finger. Anna moaned. The sensation of his hot mouth elicited a deep, drawing ache in her sex. Her pussy clenched. Her sexual moisture leaked. She was ready for anything he had in mind. Anything.

  He gave her a hard suck before pulling her finger from his mouth. Then he leant down and licked her lips. A mere caress at first. Explorative. Curious. Anna parted her lips, welcoming. He dipped his
tongue into her mouth. Tasting.

  Anna grabbed his hair and crushed her lips on his with hunger. He mauled back. His kiss was as hot as the first time he had kissed her. Like a man who wasn’t afraid of staking his claim and branding her as his. When he tore his mouth from her, she was shaking with arousal.

  “Babe.” His hand tightened around her breast. Teeth nipped the soft skin of her neck. “Mine. Ours.”

  His. Theirs. The declaration brought a mixed feeling within her. Belonging to three men, sharing her body and soul. It sounded wrong, a taboo for society, but it felt so damn right.

  How could this be possible? Anna closed her eyes, thinking that nothing made sense anymore.

  Jolts of ecstasy seared her deeply as Ralph found her nipple and sucked her like he had promised.

  God. Her eyes flew wide open. She fisted his hair as her back kinked in pleasure. Blue sky and bright sun almost blinded her. The sunrays warmed her skin, but Ralph’s touches and kisses burned her even hotter.

  She threw her head back, her body quivering as Ralph trailed some soft, butterfly kisses to her navel. The ache in her sex thrummed as hard as the pounding in her heart. She knew what was coming. The brothers loved to kiss, especially that particular part of her body. But it just didn’t seem fair. Matt and Justin had never allowed her to return the favour. She closed her thighs just as Ralph was about to lick her pussy.

  “Anna!” Ralph seized her knees and forced her to open her legs. “Come on.”

  “No.” Defiance was in her voice. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

  Ralph paused, then laughed. “Wench. Okay. I can play your game too.”

  Anna grinned triumphantly. “Let me do the honour.”

  “By all means, beauty.” He spread his arms wide. “I’m feeling generous today.”

  She scrambled up, pushed him to sit and straddled him. Undressing a gorgeous guy was the best gig she had ever landed.

  Ralph slid his hands on her thighs, feeling her as she popped open his shirt button. He was wearing a white cotton shirt—nothing underneath it. His chiselled abs, hard muscles encased in tanned, velvet flesh bared for her to see. The buzzing arousal made her dizzy after she witnessed him almost bare. In person. Intimately. Playing doctor out in the sun. How naughtily erotic…