Page 15 of Powerless
"I have Gunner, who can hit a sparrow with a slingshot from a hundred yards away." I chewed the inside of my cheek. What she didn't know was how busy Gun would be setting up new trade deals now that we no longer had Tash. The truth was, Icoulduse another marksman.
"It still doesn't hurt to have a variety of talents, right?"
"God damn you, woman." I rolled onto my back, rubbing the heels of my palms into my eyes. "Why am I actually fucking considering this?"
"Because you know it's a good idea." She remained propped up on her elbow, her eyes traveling along the length of my torso stretched out on the bed. "You brought me on after all."
"I brought you on for your medical expertise, not for recruiting new members into my club." I rolled toward her, not stopping until I had her pinned beneath me. "But you have been beneficial in other ways."
She wriggled and shot me defiant looks but it was no true struggle. She was right where she wanted to be. The thought reminded me of what Jandro said in the dining room, and I halted the kiss I was about to plant on her.
"What do you want?"
She blinked up at me. "That's...an abrupt question."
"Do you actuallywantto be here? Or would you still run away at the first chance you got?"
Her gaze up at me was curious, trying to figure me out.
"Since when does whatIwant matter?" she asked. "You've never bothered to ask me this since tying me to you on your bike."
"I know. But I'm no slave owner, you told me that yourself. I truly don't want to keep you against your will, not if you'll take dangerous risks to escape." I was rambling now—my heart, mind, and mouth at war with how much I should say. "What you wantdoesmatter. To me, it does." I lowered my forehead to hers, our lips hovering less than an inch apart. "So tell me."
Her hands came up, wrapping around my shoulders.
"I want to heal those who've been hurt," she said, barely above a whisper. "I want to save lives and put fears to rest. I want to provide hope and a glimpse of humanity to those who see nothing but pain and loss." Her nails scratched across my scalp. "As long as I get to do that, I guess it doesn't really matter where I am, does it?"
My body hovered tense above her. She answered my question in every way but how I wanted to hear it—did she want to behere,as part of my club, withme?
"We'll provide no shortage of patients for you to treat,” I said in a clipped tone. "I can promise you that."
“Oh, don’t get all grumpy on me.” She lifted her lips to press a long, languid kiss to my mouth. “I’m not afraid you’ll kill or torture me anymore, so no, I won’t run away. And I’ve resigned to enjoying the perks of being with the Steel Demons.” She shifted her legs underneath me until they straddled my waist, and my cock pressed against her core.
“Allof the perks,” she added in a sultry whisper.
Six
MARIPOSA
Iwoke up with a heavy arm draped over my waist and a rhythmic, resting heartbeat against my naked back.
Reaper's breathing tickled the back of my neck. His other arm stretched out under my head, his bicep as my pillow. I didn't have to turn and look at him to know his hard, scowling expression was replaced with one of relaxation.
Careful not to disturb him, I pointed my toes and arched my back, letting out a soft groan in my stretch. The ache of last night's activities returned as my body roused, bringing a tiny smile to my face.
I'd never expect a man like Reaper to keep me but I chose to enjoy being his main course while it lasted. And now in the morning after,enjoyfelt like quite the understatement.
He gave just as much as he took, which I should have realized after that surprise in the kitchen. Last night I lost track of the orgasms he gave me before chasing his own, and even after that, he held me against his rapid heartbeat, panting in my ear as his fingers found their way to my clit again.
A stallion in the sack, I expected. A healthy dose of tenderness with a near-obsession of getting me off? Quite unexpected.
I started rolling away, peeling my back from the heat of his chest only to feel his arm clamp down tighter around me.
"Where you goin'?" he murmured, voice gravelly with sleep.
"Clearly nowhere," I sighed under the weight of his arm. Come to think of it, he was being just as clingy as Hades.
"That's right." He brought the other arm to wrap in front of my shoulders, pulling my whole body back against his. "You're mine," he added with a smoldering kiss to my shoulder blade.
