Two warm, slippery hands landed on her neck, lathered in circles, and then slid up into her hair, washing and massaging. Then he slid and slipped down over her collarbone to her front. Further. He glided to her breasts and took special attention. Hot fingers kneaded and massaged, slipping up the underside, grazing over her nipples, skimming to her neck and then down again. And up again. Lord she would burst with need. Slowly, surely every nerve ending tightened in her body. Hot lips landed on the spot under her ear. His tongue darted out and tasted her flesh.
She moaned and pushed back. The cushion of her rear hit his erection, and he hissed in a breath. He splayed his fingers on her stomach and tugged her tighter, pressing his shaft against the small of her back, groaning. His voice rumbled up her spine in the most delicious way. Then he pulled back, picked up the soap, reloaded and turned her around to face him, determined. Yep. He wanted to wash her. He was going to do it right.
“Your wound looks okay,” he murmured.
“Is there bone showing?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“Good,” she breathed. “Need stitches?”
Another shake of the head. “I don’t think so. Bleeding’s stopped.”
His cheeks flushed, his dark hair peppered with droplets of water that fell to his face and beard. His brows drew together in concentration. And then he reached around her shoulders and rubbed her back, taking special care over her bullet graze. After he was done, he stepped closer, slotting himself between her legs, teasing her, rocking his shaft gently back and forward. He feathered his fingers down her spine, delighting in the feel of her body, watching her come undone before his eyes.
Mary’s breath came fast, her legs weakened. She wanted to reach out and take him in her hands, to guide him inside her, but he pushed her away and urged her to hold onto his waist. He braced his hands behind her back and arched her backward. Bending low, he captured a stiff nipple in his mouth and rolled it with his tongue.
Bliss exploded in her body.
“More.” Mary moaned again, arching back further. “Harder.”
He flicked her nipple with his tongue and desire arrowed straight down between her legs, making her gasp.
“Flint,” she breathed, trying to take him in her hands again. “Now.”
“Now what?” he smiled against her skin.
She dug her hips into him, which only made his smile widen. He kissed his way back to her mouth, tongue dueling with hers. Mary gave back, deepening their kiss, losing herself, hands speared into his hair. “Now more.”
“Now this?” His fingers trailed down her stomach and slipped between her legs. He applied pressure to her most sensitive spot, setting off an explosion of need.
“Or now this?” He delved lower and slid a finger inside her, unleashing a fresh torrent of desire.
Her nails clawed his back. “Yes. More. Stop teasing. I can’t…”
“Or now this?” Flint’s voice dropped to baritone, deep, scratchy and velvet-like.
Then he dropped to his knees and pressed his face into her stomach. He licked the water running down her body, circled her belly button and went lower.
“Sweet Mother,” she whispered as his tongue reached between her legs, pushing between her folds. His touch was like nothing she’d ever felt before, so sure, so sensual. This—all this feeling—she felt so alive. How could she ever believe otherwise?
She fisted his hair and tugged him closer. Her head lolled to the side, rolling on the tiles. “Flint…” she moaned and rocked her hips against his face, trying to get him to go faster, harder.
He lifted her leg and draped it over his shoulder. He focused his tongue on her sensitive nub, worked her relentlessly, then buried his tongue deep inside. Heat coiled in her belly, pulling everything tight until waves of ecstasy crashed into her and she threw her head back, biting her lip to stop herself from screaming his name.
Mary stared at the curtains, watching the floral pattern spin around her as she slowly came back to herself. The water fell in a rhythmic pulse, filtering away into the drain, taking with it her inhibitions, her hesitations. Her entire body trembled as Flint tasted his way back up her body, fingers sliding confidently up her sides. She lifted his face to her lips and kissed him languidly.
He moved to turn the faucet off.
“What are you doing?” she asked, voice trembling. “We’re not done yet.”
Flint pulled back so he could look her in the eyes. “Mary, I… didn’t bring protection. I didn’t exactly expect to be doing this.”
“Protection. You mean condoms?”
“Yes. I’m clean, I mean… I haven’t been with another person in a long time and I’ve been tested—”
“I’m barren,” she whispered.
“What?”
Heat surged to her cheeks at the embarrassment. “I’m sorry if that will be a problem for you, for us, but I can’t have children. The nuns think it might have had something to do with me starving for half my childhood, but it could also be the years of rigorous training. I just don’t know.”
Horror danced over his features, then anger flashed in his eyes. “You starved for half your childhood? Or the training the Sisterhood gave you? Who in their right mind would treat a child that way?”
“There’s a lot of sin in this world. A lot of bad people.” She couldn’t look at him. “Like me.”
“No. I don’t believe for an instance what they call you. You’re not a sinner. You’re a saint.” Flint buried his face in her neck. “Please believe me when I say, you’re so very special to me. Please believe that. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“I’m fine now,” Mary said.
“But once you weren’t, and the Sisterhood took advantage of a broken child. It’s wrong. I won’t let them do that to these children. I love you, Mary. All of you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered. Tears stung her eyes, and she hugged him tighter. She felt so secure, so warm and safe in his strong arms. He made her feel good, like everything would always be okay. He wanted her. Always. She never wanted it to end. She hoped it didn’t have to. “And… I’m better than fine. In fact…” Mary slid her hand down between their bodies and took hold of his shaft, still firm. She stroked.
A low groan escaped his throat.
“Now?” she asked, smiling playfully.
“Heck yeah.” He bit down gently on her good shoulder, then twisted her around to face the wall again. “Put your hands on the tiles. Lean forward. Ass back. Yes. Shit. Like that.”
The tip of his cock teased her entrance, and she cried out, everything inside winding tight again, simmering with heat. She couldn’t wait anymore, couldn’t explain it, but she needed that connection. She pressed back into him, filling herself with his length.
They both stilled, reveling in the sensation of fitting together, and then she pulled out and began a slow, deliberate rhythm until even Flint lost control. He quickened to harder, faster strokes, bringing her back to the brink until finally her thighs clenched and her body gripped him tighter as she tipped into oblivion, forgetting all the pain and heartache just like he promised.
“Shit,” he growled and tensed, climaxing. He dropped his head between her shoulder blades, hugging her tight. “Oh Mary,” he whispered. “You’ve got me now. I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry. I’m going to have to do that again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. I’m never leaving you. I want you to feel loved for the rest of your life.”
Mary took a moment to catch her breath before glancing at him over her shoulder, eyes filled with sass. “I won’t let you make me wait until tomorrow.”
Fourteen
It seemed like only seconds since Flint had laid down on the couch with Mary and closed his eyes, but he woke to the sound of a baby crying and empty arms. Sunlight illuminated the room through gaps in the curtains, leaving dust rays slicing over the beds.
The children were waking, prodding and poking anyone left asleep. Flint rubbed his
eyes and looked for Mary. She stood in the bathroom with the newborn tucked into her arms, rocking him back and forth, quietly humming. She had replaced her ruined nun attire from the day before with a very normal, very casual outfit—jeans and T-shirt. Her long, black straight hair fanned about her shoulders and he had an urge to run his fingers through its silky length.
Flint’s gaze traveled to Mary’s face and his throat closed up with emotion. The adoration in her eyes as she gazed down at the baby said it all. She cared as much for these children as if they were her own—except, she couldn’t have her own. But instead of swearing off children, she faced her pain head on. The Sisterhood wanted her to infiltrate Biolum Industries and spirit the children away. But she did more than that. She nurtured them. Protected them. Loved them.
That woman was magnificent. For a moment, her brilliance overwhelmed him, and he was lost watching her. Before they’d fallen asleep last night, she’d confessed the truth of her past. She came from a shitty childhood where her parents used and abused her, and then she shifted to another kind of abuse, the Hildegard Sisterhood. A bad taste entered his mouth, and he took a moment to realize what it was. He didn’t like them—the Sisterhood. He’d never met them, but he didn’t like them. He didn’t like the fact they’d picked up a starving child and persuaded her to train like a soldier for their cause. They’d convinced her she was a sinner, for Christ’s sake. Years, decades, they manipulated her… enough to possibly make her barren. What would that do to the children?
The warmth in his heart turned to rock-hard resolve as a new plan formed in his head. He wouldn’t ignore his gut instinct. This time, he’d do something about it.
“You have hair on your face!” came a tiny voice from his side.
It was the small girl, not the baby, but the… maybe four-year-old? She had on flannelette pajamas that had pictures of unicorns on them. Her hair was dark, wavy and came half way down to her back. She looked like a mini Gloria. Wild, pale and very clever.
“It’s called a beard,” he said and scratched his jaw. He must look like Big Foot to them.
Her eyes widened. “And your voice is funny. You have a funny voice.”
He chuckled, but then wondered if she’d ever seen a grown man. They’d been locked up in that room for years, with only the nuns and other children as their companions. And now they were supposed to hand them over to more nuns.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
She smiled. “Lust. What’s yours?”
Flint flinched. “Yeah, I’m not calling you that. Don’t you have a real name?”
“We only have one name. Mine’s Wrath,” said an older boy from the bed. He had short black hair that stuck up in a natural Mohawk. He jumped over his siblings as though they were an obstacle course, bounced near the toddler, and jumped back. “Why have two names?”
“Well, it’s not so much having two names, just more appropriate names,” Flint elaborated.
“What’s applopliate?” said the little girl.
The tallest boy, who had been tickling the one-year-old on the bed rolled his eyes. He had long, shaggy hair. He looked quite wild, yet his golden eyes were smart and shrewd. “It means fitting, Lust.” Then he shot a glance Flint’s way. “I’m Pride, by the way.”
“Fitting. What’s fitting?” she asked again.
“Aargh, you ask so many questions,” Wrath burst out.
“You ask too many questions!” The little girl jumped on the bed then launched onto her big brother’s back where she wrapped her hands around his face, blocking his sight.
“I hungry,” cried a toddler the same time another child, possibly Greed, said, “Where’s Sister Josephine?”
“Ahh…” Flint swallowed and glanced at Mary who, thankfully, walked back into the room. She lifted her brows and shrugged.
“Um,” he continued. “I told Sister Josephine that the Hildegard Sisterhood would look after you from now on, and she knows you’ll be in safe hands, so she left to check on emergency services.”
“Who’s the Hildegard Sisterhood? Where’s ‘Spair? She always makes me give her a morning cuddle.” This was Lust again—Christ. He was not calling her that. Maybe something starting with the same letter as her sin… Lauren… Lizzy… Liza. Yeah, Liza was good. Easy to remember.
“Spare?” he asked. “Who’s Spare?”
“She means Despair.” Pride gave Flint a pained look as if to say, You know all the answers? Answer that!
Mary laid the sleeping infant down in his bassinet. “Did you just say you told Sister Josephine about the Sisterhood?”
“Yes,” Flint replied. “I’m sorry, was I not meant to? I thought she worked there too. After I spoke about you being the Sinner, Sister Josephine said she would do anything we asked.”
She pursed her lips and cast a worried glance at the watchful children. “We’ll talk more about this in a minute.”
Flint could sense the discord rising in Mary, but she pushed it down until she helped the children. She unzipped and zipped bags in a frenzy, handing packets of snacks to the older children. Flint jumped in to help her, to pick fruit and distribute, but ended up feeling rather useless. She had everything sorted and she did it with a smile.
“Here’s a snack, pumpkin,” she said to Wrath then ruffled his hair. “You need to keep your energy up so you can grow big and strong.”
“But I don’t like it.”
“Well, how about when we get to our forever home, I make you something special, like—”
“Like pancakes with maple bacon?” Wrath jumped on the bed, excited. “You promised us you would make it once.”
“Oh my, you remembered? That was months ago.”
Gluttony popped his thumb out of his mouth and showed her a toothless grin. “Pwease?”
Mary laughed and nodded. “Whatever you want. But in the meantime, please can you all have a bar? I know it’s not the best, but I’ll promise we’ll get something better soon.”
Begrudgingly, the children did as they were told.
When she was done dishing out the protein bars, Mary took his hand and they slipped out the front door.
The fresh morning air gave Flint goosebumps, and Mary a pink nose. He was immediately reminded of what they did together last night, how she was flushed pink in the shower, how she tasted. God, he wanted to do it all again. Every goddamned night.
“I don’t know what to do, Flint,” she confessed. “I haven’t had a vision about this.”
“Okay, well, let’s think it through,” he said and picked up her hand to kiss her bruised knuckles. “First, you haven’t kissed me good morning.”
Her eyes widened, and the corner of her perfect mouth twitched.
He thought she would argue with him, but her gaze dropped to his lips and turned hungry. She slotted her fingers behind his neck, and he did the same to her. Slowly, as though they had all the time in the world, they pressed their lips together.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling up at him.
And goddamn it, that smile went straight to his cock, rousing it. “Shit Mary,” he said and tugged her close, burying his face into her soft, freshly washed hair. The soap scent from the night before connected with his body in a way that had everything inside him clench. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life saying good morning to you.”
That earned him another kiss on the lips.
Then she sighed. “I want that so bad. But first, we have to figure out what we’re doing.”
“Right. Right.” He pulled back so he could focus because the feel of her soft yet firm body was too distracting. “Let me get on top of this. Did your old visions say to go to the Sisterhood?”
“Yes.”
“And the new one?”
“The only thing the new vision showed was all of our faces, in this room.”
“So as far as that could mean, no Sisterhood.”
She didn’t answer, just stared at him, considering. He couldn’t read her expression. I
t was as though she waited for him to respond as though she wanted him to decide for her. Part of him believed it wasn’t his responsibility, but the other part, the louder part, took him back to that day he let his friend drive home drunk. That morning he woke to the news of the accident had been the worst morning of his life. He’d been heartbroken, physically sick. To know he had the chance to stop it had almost done him in. The guilt still echoed loudly in his soul every time he saw a young child with her family.
The past day with Mary and the children had given him purpose again. He knew what he wanted to do, he just needed find out what she wanted to do.
“What do you want, Mary?”
“Me?”
“Yeah you. What does your gut tell you?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking, and Gloria said—”
“Forget what Gloria said.”
“If you let me finish, Gloria said they have special abilities that will unlock once they meet their mate for life, and that these will help them fight the evil of their sin. Without a mate, they risk falling prey to the sin they fight.”
“What are you saying?”
“I… I guess what I’m saying is that if we don’t want that destructive future to eventuate, then they need love in their lives.”
Flint looked at the hotel room. Those little kids inside… so innocent now, but not forever. Pride already seemed jaded.
Lust’s little girly voice piped up inside the room. She had spunk that kid, and she was only four, maybe five.
He made his decision hours ago.
“We don’t go,” he said. “We take the kids off grid. We raise them ourselves. You’re a fucking ninja, you can teach them how to protect themselves. I can teach them… well, how to build a robot, or some shit, but the point is, we might even give them a chance for a normal childhood. School. Fun. Friends.”
“But… the Sisterhood.”
“Fuck the Sisterhood. What have they done for you except suck your soul away? I don’t like them, no offense. I know they saved you from your parents but, Mary, they used you. They wanted you to kill the children! They’re as bad as the company that created them.”
Sinner: The Deadly Seven, Origins Page 9
