Page 127 of Retaliation

Their climax built together, a shared wave of pleasure that crashed over them, leaving them both gasping for breath. Her cry of release mingled with Scorpion’s, their voices a symphony of passion and connection.

As the water continued to cascade around them, they remained intertwined, their hearts beating in a shared rhythm.

FORTY FOUR

Poison strode into the office the following morning, the fluorescent lights overhead doing little to lift the fog of fatigue that clung to her. The faint hum of keyboards and the occasional murmur of conversation created a backdrop that felt both familiar and distant. She moved through the cubicles, her presence commanding subtle nods and whispers from her coworkers.

Each step echoed the rhythm of her heart, a constant reminder of the night she couldn’t shake from her mind. Scorpion’s touch, his voice, the raw intensity of their connection—every detail replayed in vivid clarity. She could still feel the heat of his skin, the strength of his hands as they claimed her, the way his eyes bore into her soul, stripping away every layer of defense she’d built.

“Morning, Miss Sloan,” a voice interrupted her reverie. She looked up to see Sarah, her assistant, offering a tentative smile.

“Morning, Sarah,” Poison replied, forcing a smile. She had no energy for small talk. Her thoughts were too tangled, too chaotic.

In her office, she sank into the chair, the cool leather welcomed to the warmth she felt whenever she thought of Scorpion. She turned on her computer, the screen’s glow pulling her momentarily back to the present. But even as she scanned her emails, her mind drifted.

The night with Scorpion was more than just physical. It was a collision of their worlds, a merging of pain, desire, and something deeper. She could still hear his growl, feel the way he moved inside her, how his presence filled every void she never knew existed. Her skin tingled with the memory, a phantom touch that lingered.

Though Reaper’s confession haunted her as much as the night with Scorpion. He said that she wasn’t supposed to have been at the ring, that she shouldn’t have seen him kill her brother, but she had seen him do it, the cold, calculated murder masked by his claim that her brother stood in the way of them being together. His intense eyes, once a constant presence, now only reminded her of betrayal. His love, tainted by such a monstrous act, was a burden she wasn’t ready to bear.

She tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept slipping back to Scorpion. The way he held her, the way he made her feel seen, understood, desired. It was a dangerous connection, one that threatened to unravel everything she had fought to build.

Closing her eyes, she tired to focus her thoughts on her work, but her phone vibrated a few times in a row and the screen on her watched displayed Scorpion’s name. She unlocked her phone, and read through the seven messages that had come through, while smiling like an idiot at her phone.

I miss you

I miss your smile

I miss your smell

I miss your mouth

I miss your taste

I miss your moans in my ear

She struggled to keep the heat from scorching her cheeks and pooling between her legs.

As the day wore on, she struggled to keep her focus. Reports and emails blurred together, her mind a haze of conflicting emotions. She needed clarity, but all she found was chaos.

By the time the office emptied out, she was no closer to finding answers. She sat back, staring at the darkened sky outside her window. The city lights blinked

like distant stars.

She thought of Scorpion, of Reaper, of the path she was on. Her heart ached with the weight of it all, the uncertainty, the fear.

Poison gathered her things and headed toward the parking lot, the cool night air a welcome relief against her heated skin. Her thoughts were still tangled when she saw him—Scorpion, leaning casually against his bike with his hands in his pockets, his eyes lighting up as she approached.

“Couldn’t stay away, could you?” she teased.

“From you?” he beamed. “Never.”

She managed a smile in return, the sight of him easing some of the tension that had gripped her all day. “Doesn’t that make me feel special?”

His smile widened, and he reached out, pulling her close. “Well, that you definitely are.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until stars danced at the corners of her vision.

They stood like that for a moment, the world reducing to just the two of them. The parking lot was almost deserted when they strolled to her bike, but her heart stuttered when she saw a familiar figure leaning against her bike.

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