Page 19 of Darling Wildfire
North made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat. “Anything else?”
“Yeah, either go get some sleep or go get laid—you look like shit.”
North barked out a laugh, and the tension left his face. He stood up and as he walked passed; he put a hand on Atlas’ shoulder, his eyes brimming with darkness.
“You order me like that again, I’ll have Nyx edge you so badly you’ll be begging me to let you come.”
Atlas stiffened, and I heard his breath catch.
“Jesus,” I muttered, adjusting myself as a thrill went straight to my cock. Don’t tempt a masochist with a good time.
“Understood?” North growled.
Atlas’ eyes darkened with a challenge as they met North’s and it looked like he was seriously debating whether or not to provoke him. Like myself, his cock was trying to decide for him, obviously remembering all the other times North directed in the bedroom.
“Yes, sir,” Atlas said, his voice throaty.
North’s attention jumped to me briefly before he left the room and I ran a hand through my hair as Atlas remembered how to breathe properly.
“Fuck me—” Atlas muttered. “Whenever he does that—” He couldn’t even finish a sentence.
I smirked and stood up, pulling him with me. “Come on—I think it’s time you followed your own advice.”
“What? Get some sleep?” Atlas teased even as his eyes hungrily drifted over me, making me bite my lip to stop myself from attacking him right that second.
“Yeah—sleep,” I winked and pulled him behind me to our bedroom, planning on doing everything besides that.
10
THERON
I was yards from the porch of the lake house when the man turned.
I put a bullet in his head and took the stairs in one leap. Crouching down, I grabbed the dead man’s AR and ammo, then carefully opened the back door and edged inside. I cleared the living room and heard hushed voices from the kitchen. There were two men standing on the other side of the island.
I stepped out and pulled the trigger.
I dropped both men before I had to lunge for the cover of the island as the gunfire drew a man in from the family room who walked in spraying bullets. I stayed low and went around the island, watching his reflection in the oven. I leaned out and fired, hitting him in the leg. He went down, and I quickly stepped out to finish him. I headed for the doorway of the family room when a man rushed in.
I grabbed his gun before he could fire point blank and slammed my elbow into his face just as arms wrapped around me. I backed hard into the wall, turned my gun and fired into his stomach. His grip loosened, and I lunged forward tackling the other one into the family room. I lost my gun in the scuffle and dodged to the side as he came at me with a knife. I met his attack with a sharp hit to his neck and sent him crashing backwards into the coffee table. I moved for the gun at the same time as the other man and once I grabbed it; I twisted onto my back and shot him in the face as he fell forward onto me.
I shoved him off and heard movement upstairs as the floorboards creaked. Fear cut through my adrenaline as I made my way up the stairs, clearing the hallway and each room along it. I saw that the master bedroom door was cracked and headed towards it. Dread seeped through me.
I pushed open the door.
A bloody hand reached for me, and screams filled my ears.
I woke up abruptly, sweat coating my forehead and my chest heaving as I took in several deep breaths. I looked at my hands, already knowing they wouldn’t be covered in blood like they always were in my nightmares but still feeling like I needed to wash them clean again and again. I lay there looking up at the dark ceiling, catching my breath. The dreams were always similar and always ended the same—with blood and death—a horrifying reminder of my failure.
I got out of bed, careful not to wake Kaelin and Graham. I pulled on my boxer briefs and a t-shirt. It was a warm night as I made my way out to the back patio. I nodded to Konstantine who was on night duty and he disappeared respectfully around the side yard as I sat down heavily in a chair.
Even after all these years the nightmares still found me often. Usually they fueled my fire for vengeance—reminding me of every reason why I was doing this. But then there were nights like tonight where I just wished it was all over.
My elbows were braced on my thighs as I leaned over, head in my hands. I heard the sliding glass door hiss open, and I straightened to see Kaelin come out in one of my shirts. She hesitated once she neared me. I knew the way the shadows were falling on her face that she couldn’t see mine very well.
“Did I wake you up, darlin’?”
She shook her head. “Are you okay?”
