Page 36 of Hair, She Bears
Malik’s tongue slid into her mouth. His grip tightened, his hard length dug into her. Backing her against the wall, he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, then pushing the hem of her shirt up, Malik thrust into her, driving deep into her center. She cried out, desire pooling in her stomach, and dug her nails into Malik’s shoulders.
His lips moved along her jaw, nipping the sensitive skin and sending shivers ricocheting down her spine. Murmuring his name, she rocked against him, meeting each urgent thrust with her own, her body tingling as if her nerve endings were ablaze with need.
Passion ripped through her, winding the tension in her body tighter and tighter until she could think of nothing but her release. He drove into her relentlessly, bringing her closer to the brink. She tensed, her head tipped back in ecstasy, moans tumbling from her lips. His pace increased to a demanding tempo as he slammed into her.
The orgasm ravished her. Screaming his name, she trembled uncontrollably. He sank into her again, thrusting hard, and released, her name echoing, a deafening sound which overtook her cries. They slid to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
“I’d spend the rest of my life as a bird if I got to do that to you every night,” Malik murmured against her skin, sending little shockwaves through her body.
“You may get your wish,” she replied with a heavy sigh.
“Why do you say that?” He propped his head on his hand, his gaze bore into her.
“I know where my parents are.” She closed her eyes and drew in a shuddering breath as the realization crashed over her. Tears leaked down her cheeks. Zenna wiped the back of her hand across her face and opened her eyes. Her gaze locked on Malik. “Mother took them.”
“He told you that?”
She shook her head. “It’s the only way he can carry out his threat.”
“I don’t follow.”
“How will Mother kill my parents in front of me? He’s not going to take me anywhere, it’s too exposed, too risky. He’s going to bring them to the compound.”
“Unless… They’re already here!” Malik gasped and sat up, his head whipped toward the window. “I’ve seen them.”
“Where?” Happiness exploded in her chest.
“In the prison, in iron birdcages very similar to the one I recently occupied.”
“Which cell are they in?” Zenna rose and turned toward the window. They had been less than five hundred feet away for the whole of her life. She placed her hands on the ledge and leaned out, her gaze slid along the base of the building in the center of the compound. Every ten feet in the wall, a break in the foundation appeared, indicated by a small brick archway.
“That one.” Malik rumbled in her ear, pointing to the second archway from the left. “This entire time, I thought my father collected rare birds. Apparently, he was collecting people.”
Zenna spun around. “What do we do?”
“Do you still have the mirror?” His fingers wrapped around hers, drawing her trembling body against his. She leaned into his warmth.
“It fell under the bed.”
“You left it under the bed?” He frowned, a flash of hurt lit his eyes.
“Your father didn’t give me much choice.” She pulled her hand free and shuffled toward the staircase.
Darkness rolled through the tower. “What else did he do to you?”
“Nothing worse than he’s done before.” She spoke without turning, then squealed as Malik lifted her from the floor and cradled her against his chest. Pushing against his shoulder, she leaned away, struggling in his embrace. “I can walk, you know, I’m already healing.”
“You have informed me of your capabilities; however, I have a limited amount of time with you and would prefer to keep you in my arms as long as possible.” He dropped a kiss on her nose, then climbed the staircase, one step at a time.
When he reached the loft, he brushed his lips over hers, his tongue teasing the corner of her mouth. She wove her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer as her lips parted. Malik’s grip constricted, his tongue dipped into her mouth. Carrying her to the bed, he laid her down, his body covering hers, then he pushed between her legs, his fingers diving under the hem of her shirt, and dragging it over her hips. His mouth moved across her skin, leaving a trail of kisses along her jaw. Her body arched, grinding against him.
A spark of light, glimmering at the corner of the bed, caught Zenna’s attention. She twisted.
“What is that?”
Malik lifted his head from her neck and grimaced. “My mother.”
“Your mother?” Zenna’s head whipped back and forth, expecting the woman to leap out from the shadows.
