Page 12 of Micro
“Kidding, I’m definitely a barbarian.” And there were the giggles.Perfect.
“See, we’re fine. Is that it up ahead?” She nodded, and slowed on her approach to a building about as large as her drug lab, but far less high tech looking. A guy I assumed to be Reaper strolled out of the building, and held up a palm for her to stop, I mean, like what would she have done otherwise, kept driving? Asshat.
I slid out of the van immediately, because I could already assume his play would be to keep me inside it, but I couldn’t protect her like that, could I?
“You, back in the van.”
I smirked, and stepped up in front of ‘my’ lady.
“Yeah, don’t really take orders from you, do I? She’s got the merch, so let’s do this.”
“You got a bodyguard now, Soph?” I didn’t like him calling her that. That was my name for her, and okay, it wasn’t original or anything, but it felt like he was stepping all over me. I clenched my fists, as he tried circling around me to get to her, moving with him to keep myself between them.
“That’s exactly what I am, fuckhead. I’m her man, and I’m saying you stay well back.”
“This how you wanna play it? Getting in my face the second we meet, ‘Psycho’?”
“Why does everyone fucking do that quote marks thing, like my name isn’t legit? You want me to prove it to you?”
A warm hand on my shoulder had a surprising calming effect, and I took a deep breath, falling quiet as Soph stepped up beside me.
“He just has a bit of a temper, Reaper, that’s all. I’ve got the shipment, so can we get on with this?”
Reaper shrugged, backing away from both of us, and heading for the van, but the second we started moving, he stopped.
“Nope, that’s not how this works. Jackets open, and your cut, man, I gotta check you for weapons and shit.”
He didn’t mean him personally, of course, because another prospect came over to risk his ass touching us up, and I swear I gave him the deadliest look I could when he approached Sophie. If I had the opportunity, I think I’d remove his hands for touching her.
“Okay, let’s get this done. We’ve got places to be,” Reaper said briskly, directing that prospect and another toward the back of the van.
“You’re the prick who slowed us down,” I muttered, as I followed them.
“Whoa, you stay back there, nutjob. We’ve got this.”
“Soph, get here and keep me busy ‘til they’re done,” I turned and barked at her, and, with a squeak, she hurried to my side. I pushed her against the side of the van, and lowered my head to her neck.
“Just go with it. I won’t hurt you,” I whispered, as I trailed my lips up her neck, and she shivered in my grasp.
“Oh god,” she murmured, and I grinned, sliding my tongue up her throat before I rested my forehead against hers.
“Gonna kiss you now, so don’t knee me in the balls or anything.” They couldn’t hear us, since they were slamming shit around at the back of the van, but I watched her eyes to make sure she was on board, and then I finally pressed my lips to hers. She uttered a soft whimper, and moved with me, as I gave her several closed mouth kisses over her lips, teasing her, and hopefully making her want more. I moved tighter against her, until my hips were against hers.
“Keep your eyes open, and watch for any attacks,” I whispered against her lips, before I teased them with my tongue.
“All done, so you wanna get the hell out of here? Ordinarily I’d wanna watch, but this isn’t the place.”
I turned to wink at Reaper, and his lips quirked briefly.
“I can fuck her in the van now it’s empty.”
“Not here, you won’t. Same time next week, Soph.” It wasn’t a question, and we made a quick escape from there, but I now knew a little more about those fuckers, and how careful they were. Getting intel was going to be fucking difficult, but I wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge.
Seven
Weweremostlysilenton the way home, I think both processing our meeting with Reaper. Lowell had asked me occasional questions, but otherwise just sat quietly, intermittently watching me as I drove.
“Almost home,” I said quietly, to break the silence, even though it wasn’t necessarily unpleasant.
