Just when he thought she’d relax and drift back into a heavy sleep, she found his wrist with her tiny hand. With a contented sigh, she pulled his arm to settle around her body and didn’t seem satisfied until he’d wrapped her up tight.
This was a bad idea. He knew it. If she were awake, she’d know it, too. It would all be his fault, and he couldn’t argue with her because he was awake. But the second he settled himself tightly around her, her wrapped up in his arms, the woman didn’t move a muscle other than to breathe. She settled her muttering and squirming and just… slept. Like the dead. How long had it been since she’d had a good night’s sleep? Or afternoon, as the case may be.
They searched the slums at night; the other crew took the day. Every evening they met before Torpedo took the second team out. Every morning, they met before Cain took the first group out. This was the first time they’d had anything more to pass on that wouldn’t fit into a five-minute conversation. Now, he knew there should have been a longer one before, but the presence of Rain had discouraged it. The remaining team had probably given Cain the run-down anyway. He just had to fill them all in on what Rain had told him. And about her past.
How the fuck was he going to do that without saying something Rain would be embarrassed about? While Bones would never judge someone for simply surviving, Arkham knew instinctively Rain would see her past differently than they all did.
She sighed in her sleep. Without thinking, Arkham tightened his hold on her, burying his nose in her hair close to her ear. “I’ve got you, honey,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”
“Arkham?” Her voice was sleepy, like she wasn’t fully awake.
“Yeah. Go back to sleep. No one’s gonna hurt you.”
“You swear?”
“On my life, honey.”
There was silence for a while. Arkham thought she’d drifted off again, but she added, “No one’s ever kept me safe before.”
“I’ll always keep you safe, Rain. Always.”
With a soft sigh, she snuggled more firmly against him, pulled her knees up a little tighter, then said nothing else.
Arkham lay drifting in and out for the next three hours. When he finally woke enough to really take stock of his surroundings his body ached like a son of a bitch. Rain still lay against him, still as death except for her breathing.
Carefully, he extracted himself from around her. He wanted a shower before they met after Cain’s patrol came in for the night. He needed to be ready to do back out, but that was going to be a problem. He didn’t trust Rain not to run at the first opportunity.
He’d nearly made it to the shower when he heard Rain’s sleepy voice. “Arkham?”
“I’m here, honey. Just taking a shower before patrolling. I’ll leave the bathroom door open if you want.”
When she gave no response, Arkham pushed the bathroom door open wide, letting the light flood into the bedroom and over the bed where she lay. He stepped out of his sweats and underwear, whipping his shirt off once finished. As he adjusted the water in the big, open shower, he heard her stirring. It made him a little uneasy, until glanced over his shoulder and saw her standing in the doorway.
She watched him as he stepped in the shower, not in a calculating way, but just looking at his body. She seemed more curious than afraid or shy. He gave a mental shrug. If she wanted to look him over, let her. He’d done much the same to her earlier.
In the shower, he turned his back on her, giving his body a quick wash while he checked for scrapes and cuts. The hot water and soap always found the small nicks and cuts he hadn’t noticed but needed to clean. The moist heat on his aching muscles felt wonderful. Staying so still in such an unfamiliar position had done a number on his body. All the while, he was conscious of Rain standing there. He hadn’t glanced over his shoulder or tried to catch a glimpse of her in the mirror across from the shower, but he’d bet his last dollar she was still there watching him.
The thought had just crossed his mind when he heard her entering the open shower, her foot splashing lightly in the water of the tiled floor. He raised an eyebrow as she fully entered.
“There some reason you’re naked in the shower with me?”
She shrugged. “If I’d gotten in here with my clothes on I’d be without again. Better my clothes be dry when I go with you on patrol tonight.”
That made him smile a little. “So you think you’re going with me.”
“If you meant what you said about me leaving here with Bones, then yes.”
He continued to scrub himself, soap sudsing over his skin as he did. “Not sure what one has to do with the other. Or why you’re in here with me instead of waiting your turn.”
That brought her up short. “I, uh…” She cleared her throat, turning away. “Good question, I suppose. Just thought you might like some company.”
She started to get out, but Arkham lunged for her, snagging her arm and pulling her back in. “Get wet,” he said, gruffly. “I’ll wash your back.”
* * *
Why in the world Rain had put herself in this position she’d never know. She knew it was a bad idea from the start, but she’d slept in this man’s arms for hours. He’d held her, comforted her when she dreamed, kept her warm. For the first time in her life, someone had her back. He’d watched over her. Protected her. At least, that’s what he’d said he was doing. Given he hadn’t tried to have sex with her, Rain believed him.
He’d seen her scars, had intimately focused on every single one of them, so she’d thought it would be OK for her to do the same to him. Apparently, she’d misunderstood the situation. She knew he was interested in her. The cock pressed into her ass most of the night confirmed that. Then a thought struck her.
“Do you have a woman?”
He whipped his head around, looking at her intently. “Why would you ask that?”
“You obviously want me.” She nodded toward his cock, which was long, thick, and very distended. “I’m same as offering myself to you, and you want to kick me out. That usually means a man has a woman, though it generally doesn’t matter.”
“If I had a woman, Rain, you wouldn’t be in here with me. I wouldn’t have slept in your bed either, even to comfort you.”
“Then…” She swallowed, looking away. “My scars bother you.”
“Of course they bother me!” His vehemence made her wince. Every man she’d ever been with had said pretty much the same thing. Why would they want her when she was so scarred? So why did it hurt so much worse coming from Arkham?
“I see.” She moved away from him. “You’re right. I should have waited my turn.”
“Stop, Rain,” he commanded. “Get back over here and stand in front of me.”
“I don’t need your pity, Arkham. I’m good. Really.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m not.”
The second she was within arm’s reach of him, Arkham pulled her against him and fused his mouth to hers. Rain was so startled she gasped, and he took advantage, plunging his tongue into her mouth when she did. The second he deepened the kiss, Rain’s knees buckled. Thank God he was a strong man because Arkham simply took her weight, lifting her higher into his arms so her naked body was mashed against his.
Before she knew what she was doing, Rain had wound her arms around his neck, sinking her fingers into the thick wet hair at the back of his head. He tasted wild, unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Kissing had never been particularly pleasant for her, but this was one man she could easily become addicted to from his kiss alone.
He flicked her tongue, coaxing her to lap at him the same as he was her. His teeth nipped her lip slightly before he lapped away the sting. The expertness of his kiss made her realize she was certainly in over her head, but she couldn’t seem to pull away, to take that one step back and consider the consequences of her actions. And she didn’t mean physical consequences either. Sure, she needed to think about those, but all she could think about was how she needed to guard her heart. This man, a man she’d
only known a very short time, had steamrolled into her life and made her feel safer and more secure than she had ever felt in her life. She didn’t know him, but she found she trusted him with her life. It was why she’d followed him into the shower to begin with. He’d left her bed, had left her alone, intending only to be gone a brief time, and she’d begrudged him that space. Now that she felt safe, she craved it.
Just as she admitted those feelings to herself, Arkham ended the kiss, following the passion with tenderness as he kissed her eyes, her nose, her chin.
“Tell me why you followed me in here, Rain.”
“Isn’t sex enough?”
“With you, sure. Always. But you could have initiated that before we went to sleep. You were adamant you didn’t want sex before. I want to know why the turnaround.”
“Does it really matter?”
“It does when it’s not what you want. At least, not right now.”
Rain tilted her head. “If I didn’t want to fuck you, I wouldn’t be in here.”
He chuckled, tightening his arms around her and burying his face in her neck. Even that slight contact with his lips on her skin was enough to make her shiver.
“You don’t have to offer yourself to me to make me stay with you, honey. I’m not going anywhere.”
She stilled. Was that really why she was coming on to him? “I like that you make me feel safe, but I never said I wanted you to stay with me. I’ve never sold myself for any reason, even protection.”
“And you’re not going to now. You haven’t even known me for twelve hours. You don’t trust me yet. Once you do, we’ll see about how long and hard I can take you.” He continued to kiss and nibble at the skin of her neck and ear, which was driving her crazy.
“What are you doing?” Her voice came out breathy, and she found herself tilting her head back to let him have better access. The sensations were overwhelming her with every second he continued to touch her.
“Wishing I’d earned your trust.”
Again, his lips found hers, his hand burying in her hair this time. Rain’s heart beat out of control, her body coming so alive she ached. He crushed her against him, urging her leg up to circle his hip. When she contacted his cock with her sex, Rain actually cried out.
“That’s it, honey,” he praised between kisses. “Feel how much it wants inside you.”
“Arkham,” she gasped. “Oh, God!”
“Do it, baby.” His soft whisper was the Devil in her ear. “Do it…”
Pleasure erupted through her body, consumed her sanity. Rain screamed, grinding her clit over Arkham’s dick as hard as she could. She let herself go, unable to focus on anything other than the pleasure. Her vision narrowed until there was only Arkham. Only his arms around her. Only his mouth nipping and kissing her neck and ear. Only his body she craved with everything in her.
When those wicked sensations faded and she became aware of the water pouring over them in a gentle cascade, Rain realized she’d gone limp. Arkham fully supported her with those strong arms, that magnificent body of his. He protected her without her asking or even being aware of what he’d done until it was over. His cock was a throbbing mass between them, still rubbing insistently over her clit with every breath she took.
Slowly, Arkham pulled back, meeting her gaze and holding it fast. He let her slide down his wet body until her feet rested firmly on the floor. Still, he held her securely. As she came back to herself, Rain rested her hands on his shoulders, her fingers curling into the muscles there.
“What about you?” She asked the question softly, looking up into his eyes. In that moment, Rain knew she’d do anything he asked. Wanted to give him the same pleasure he’d just given her.
“What about me?”
“You didn’t come.”
“No.”
“I can --”
“No, Rain.” He kissed her again, so much gentleness in his touch. “I’ve already done much more than I should have. Get dressed, and we’ll go meet with Cain and Azriel. Mrs. McDonald left you some things by the door. Find something thin enough to wear under a vest and some heavy jeans and boots. You should have all that.”
“You’re letting me go with you?” Rain didn’t know what to make of that. Was it some kind of joke or merely a way to keep an eye on her?
“If you still want to. Could be dangerous. Would be safer if you stayed here. I’m sure Azriel and his men have something you could do to help from here.”
“Didn’t expect that,” she said, stepping away from him. She snagged a towel and wrapped it around her body, careful to stay out of the spray. The shower was fucking huge, so it wasn’t a problem.
“For me to let you come with us?” He shrugged. “It’s not final, yet. But you know the area better than us, and you can handle yourself in a fight. As long as you promise not to shoot me in the back, I’ll make a case for you with Cain and Torpedo.”
“Well, if I were going to kill you, I reckon I’d’ve done it last night.”
He snorted. “Yeah. I’ll take you with me. Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.”
“Well, just know that while you’re keepin’ an eye on me, I’m doin’ the same with you.”
“That’s what a good woman does.”
Rain wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she just left to go get dressed.
Chapter Five
“Let me get this straight.” Rain pinched the bridge of her nose. “You have a tracker on this kid, and you still can’t find him?”
“Something like that. It’s shielded.” Azriel sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. The man seemed to be daring her to say something derogatory.
“Not all tech is infallible.” A tall, muscular man joined them in the basement Azriel called a workshop. Both he and the newcomer were dressed in some kind of black, form-fitting body armor.
“This is Alexei Petrov, our… president, as it were.” Azriel grinned and clapped the other man on the back, obviously comparing his group of obviously wealthy men with the battle-hardened, world-weary men of Bones MC.
He might have served with Azriel in the past, but Cain was less than amused now. “You guys ain’t us, so don’t try to be.”
“No,” Alexei agreed, giving Azriel a sidelong look. “We’re not. We’re considerably wealthier and even more highly weaponized.” If Alexei meant that as a joke, no one was laughing.
“Heaven help me,” Rain muttered. “I hope the fucking testosterone isn’t catching.”
The one they called Shadow, the one who’d been with Arkham on the roof of the theater, actually barked out his laughter. “I like this one, Arkham. You decide you don’t want her, give her to me.”
Arkham bared his teeth.
“We got another hit on Tobie.” A man with a head full of neatly cropped ginger hair poked his head up from a panel of monitor displays. Rain had missed him until then.
“That’s Giovanni, our tech man.” Alexei introduced the man with a wave of his hand. “He and my wife, Merrily, are the team’s computer geniuses. If there is anything digital out there to be had, rest assured those two can find it. Tobie is the missing child.”
“He’s been on and off the screen, but always in the same area until now.” The man looked up at Alexei. “We found him on the edge of the city this time. Just beyond the edge of Hell’s Playground. My guess is he’s in something reinforced. Like a bunker.”
“You’re just now figuring this out?” Alexei looked at Giovanni, who shrugged.
“There isn’t anything in that area. Or the other areas where we’ve seen the signal. I was beginning to think I was getting a ghost signal or something. Like residual from where he’d been.”
“Let me see,” Rain said, pushing her way through all the big men surrounding her to get to the monitor Giovanni was watching. There was a map of the city with several flashing dots. One was a bright green, the others fainter and white. “I’m assuming the bright green dot is where you’ve found him this time and the others are where
he’s shown up in the past?”
“That’s right,” Giovanni said, looking at her suspiciously.
“Well, then,” she said brightly. “I know where he is and how they’re moving him.”
There was a beat of silence before Shadow nudged Arkham. “If she beats out the tech geniuses here, I may fight you for her.”
Arkham elbowed the big man in the gut, stepping closer to Rain. She rolled her eyes then turned her attention back to the map.
“For years, some of the gangs have been working on a project to connect the whole city with a maze of underground tunnels. They use the sewers and subway tunnels, but have also made some of their own using the small network of cave systems beneath Rockwell. My guess is, the thick layer of granite in the tunnels makes your tracker harder to follow, not to mention you have to have sky to make a GPS tracker work.”
“We don’t use GPS,” Giovanni said slowly, as if speaking to a child. “We use military-grade trackers. They can penetrate the earth.”
“In a cave? Under a city?” She blew a curl out of her face in exasperation. “Look.” She bent over the map, pointing to one of the dots. “This is a tunnel entrance.” She moved her finger to another one. “This too. In fact, judging by where the blips are showing up, I’d say it’s the Shaw gang who has the kid. They control all these points except this one.“ She put her finger on one spot away from all the others. “My guess is that’s where they entered. Either they struck a deal with the Chinese, or they snuck in to deliberately throw you off their trail in case they were spotted. Either way, I guarantee you that tracker is not penetrating the tunnels. It’s why they use them.” When Giovanni opened his mouth to respond, Rain cut him off. “Didn’t you just say no tech was foolproof?”
“Yup. Definitely fightin’ you for her.”
“I will bust your motherfuckin’ head in.”
Arkham (Bones MC 5) Page 4
