The Cut of Deception (The Buchanan Brothers 4)

Her heart stuttered painfully as old insecurities rose to jab at her. “Don’t you mean I’m not good enough for a Buchanan?”

“I meant what I said.” His finger dipped between her folds and gently stroked the nestled nub, making it hard for her to hold onto sense or reason. “You deserve a man you could bring home to your father if he were still alive, a man who didn’t live in the shadow of ugly secrets.”

“I don’t care about your secrets,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut as her breath quickened. “I want you, Dillon.”

“No, you don’t,” he assured her in a fatalistic tone as he nuzzled her neck while slowly building the pleasure until she began to squirm. “I’m ruthless, cold, and cruel on my best days. On my worst, I’m unbearable.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said, swallowing a cry as the sensations began to circle the target. “I…I…think you’re eaten by guilt and that makes you…ohhh, God…makes you think you’re worse than you…are. Ohhhh….that’s it, that’s it! I’m cumming, Dillon!”

Sweet oblivion overtook Penny as she succumbed to the orgasm that Dillon had given her with the power of his fingers and settled with a deep sigh against his chest, melting against him as if her bones were suddenly made of powder. He brought his finger to his mouth and after inhaling her scent left behind, he popped his finger in his mouth and sucked it clean. She blushed but secretly enjoyed that he found every aspect of her irresistible. It seemed completely natural to lie naked together — and unlike the twins — Dillon was in no rush to leave. In fact, he seemed content to lie with her in his arms. In this place, it seemed possible to shut out the world and ignore all the reasons why they were embarking on a doomed journey.

They showered together, enjoyed dinner, and then found themselves curled on the sofa, laughing and sharing stories like an old married couple. It was surreal and wonderful and Penny savored every stolen moment. Until, the front door crashed open and the twins strode in, looking angry as hell and ready to kill someone.

“You bastard,” Vince snarled as soon as he saw Dillon and Penny cuddled up on the sofa. Penny flinched at the hard gaze Vince settled on her and actually shrank against Dillon for protection.

“Sonofabitch,” Nolan swore under his breath, coming to stand beside Vince. “You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?” Directed his question at Dillon, who seemed coldly amused by their show of rage. “Pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

“You’re early,” Dillon responded with a subtle irritation to his tone. “I didn’t think you were smart enough to figure out the ruse for at least two days.”

“Yeah, well maybe you’re not as smart as you think you are,” Vince shot back, his eyes twin coals of burning rage. “That’s always been your problem…too damn full of yourself to realize you’re just like everyone else: fallible.”

Penny nervously sat up and tried using reason before World War III broke out. “We need to talk,” she started but Vince cut her off.

“There is nothing to discuss. Go to the car and wait for us there.”

Penny looked to Dillon for backup but he was too busy staring daggers at his brothers. “Dillon?” she ventured, needing him to have her back. “We can all talk like adults, right?”

“Penny,” Nolan said, quietly but firmly. “You signed a legally binding contract. You belong to us. Please do as Vince told you.”

Tears stung her eyes as pure mortification washed over her. She hated being reminded so crassly of their arrangement, even if Nolan was only stating the bald truth. Penny suddenly felt Dillon’s stare and she turned to him, unsure. “I…” want you to stand up and defend me. Please Dillon, tell your brothers what I mean to you. But Dillon simply watched as if testing her.

“Looks like your pet has a rebellious streak,” Dillon said, a cruel smirk on his beautiful face. “Maybe you should treat your pets with more regard.”

“Stop calling me a pet,” Penny snapped, her nerves ready to fray as jaggedly as her heart. “Why are you acting like this?”

“He’s acting like the bastard he is,” Vince said. “Dillon has always done what Dillon wanted, no matter the cost to anyone else.”

“Tsk tsk, little brother. I’m not the only Buchanan with a penchant for wanting what doesn’t belong to him.”

Vince’s face colored and he looked ready to bury his fist in Dillon’s mug. “Watch yourself.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re gunning for what’s been due to you for a long time.”

Dillon started forward, his eyes glittering. “So ready to play the hero. Must be nice to be able to conveniently forget your part in Isabel’s death.”

Vince’s gaze shot to Penny, then returned to Dillon to mutter tersely, “Stop dredging up the past. Some of us have no interest in wallowing in our own misery.”

Penny couldn’t help herself and held her breath in the hopes that finally the mystery would be revealed about the woman before her. She needed to know what’d happened to Isabel, even if knowing ‘shattered her illusions,’ as Dillon had put it.

“She was my fiancé,” Dillon said, his voice deadly calm with a razor’s edge of hatred and fury.

Nolan looked away, the shame of whatever guilt he carried mirrored in his expression. “Dillon…let it go. She’s dead. Nothing we say or do will bring Isabel back.”

“You’re right about that, little brother,” Dillon agreed. “But I think your little dove deserves to know what you did to her.”

“Stop.” Nolan nearly pleaded. “Leave it be.”

“What happened?” Penny asked tremulously. “What did you do?”

But Vince cut in, silencing Nolan before he had a chance to speak again

. “Your hands are not clean, though you like to play the victim. Isabel never would’ve left you if you hadn’t thrown away any chance of a future with the family. You made that choice, not us.”

“And you were right there to help her pick up the pieces, weren’t you?” he sneered. “Couldn’t wait to put your cock inside my woman and offer her your demented little deal except when you realized she was pregnant, you panicked and cut her loose. You’re the reason she took a swan dive from the roof. How you live with yourself I haven’t a clue.”

Penny stared dumbfounded. “Isabel was pregnant?” Nolan swore under his breath before nodding. “Whose baby was it?” she whispered, unable to believe how much that revelation hurt.

Dillon barked a hollow laugh. “Who knows? She was stuffed with plenty of Buchanan cock in her brief tenure on the Buchanan payroll. It’s anyone’s guess.”

“Stop it,” Penny said, wincing at Dillon’s callous remark. Even though she sensed it came from a place of raw pain, she hated that he wielded his pain like a weapon. “Just stop.” She moved slowly away from Dillon, not sure what to think or feel. She hated to see how quickly he changed, going from loving and sweet to rude and mean in a space of a heartbeat. She needed time to think. She rose slowly and Nolan gathered her into his arms protectively. Penny shivered at the narrowed stare Dillon sent her.

“Such a good little pet.” Dillon’s subtle smirk cut her to the core. “Your papa would be so proud.”

“Stop it,” she cried, hating that Dillon was being so unkind to her when she’d done nothing to deserve his cruelty. “What is wrong with you?”

Vince shook his head, disgust in his tone. “He only cares about himself. He’s always been that way. Get your things, Penny. We’re leaving.”

Penny spared one last glance at Dillon and she knew the image of him, lounging in a deliberately casual position with a fuck you smirk on his face, would haunt her dreams. He’d used her to get back at his brothers. Somehow, deep down, she’d feared that his motivation hadn’t been pure but she’d clung to the hope that she was wrong.