by Mary Potter
I lean down and kiss him deeply, spreading my legs over him. Then, with a single movement, I curl my ankle around his knee and pull him so that we turn until he’s on top of me, his heavy weight like a thick, heated blanket of fire.
The kiss breaks at the movement, and Reaper stares down at me, eyes blown wide with lust as I wrap my legs around him. I can feel his cock straining against his jeans, and I grind against it. A hiss slides through his gritted teeth. Then he laughs, a harsh, guttural sound that makes me shiver.
“Minx,” he growls, leaning over me. “Fine. I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll be feeling me for days.”
My grip on him tightens. That’s what I want.
We tear at each other’s clothes, each piece ripped away and dropped carelessly nearby, exposed skin being uncovered inch by inch. I hear a ripping sound as Reaper tugs my skirt down, but that doesn’t matter since I won’t be returning to work any time soon. I pop the button on his jeans and palm his cock through his boxers, and his entire body jerks.
“Shit,” he groans, his head falling back, his entire body shuddering beneath my palms. “Fuck, Kyra, I need…”
He trails off as I pull his boxers down, and he kicks both his jeans and boxers away, leaving him totally bare before me. I unclip my bra and toss it away so that my breasts bounce freely on my chest, and then I mold my naked form along the lines of his body, dimly noting how perfectly we fit together. Sparks fly across my skin at the contact, and I have to take a deep breath before I lean back.
The invitation is clear, and Reaper moves between my legs, sweat glistening on his hard, smooth chest. He no longer looks as cold and unapproachable as I first thought he was. Now, as I watch him coming apart, his muscles twitching and his face unmistakably overwhelmed with lust, there’s nothing more real than him.
I need him with me and in me. I arch my back off the bed as Reaper’s fingers drop lower, skimming across my thigh without actually touching where I needed him to. I groan and shudder beneath him, trying desperately to take in air when it feels like all my airways are constricted with burning fire. I feel like I’m going to simply burst into flame if I don’t get what I want.
“Please,” I gasp, barely aware of the words falling from my lips. “Please.”
He pulls back, and I feel a whine escape me. I am frustrated and needy. I need so much more than this. I needed him.
“Steady,” he says, and I can hear the faint sound of strain in his voice.
His hands are on my hips, and he’s leaning over me. His eyes are dark with want as he steps between my legs. I feel his cock brushing against me, and I arch against him.
When he breaches me, it feels like the world stops for a split second. The head of his cock pushes past the ring of muscles between my legs, and we both pause to catch our breath, shaking with want. I force my body to start to relax.
“Go,” I groan, as ready as I’ll ever be. “Move.”
He sinks in, the slow pace straining him as he pushes forward bit by bit. I can feel every bump and ridge of his rock-hard cock as it slides into me, and my heart is pounding its way out of my chest. He finally stops, fully seated. I feel so incredibly full. I swallow, and I feel that my grip on his shoulders is bruising. My hips jolt without meaning to, and we both groan as electricity flies between us.
It was what we needed, though. Slowly, Reaper slides back and then in, thrusting shallowly as we both try to find our rhythm. I try to angle my hips and thrust back toward him, seeking more, and more, and more.
With a shout, my vision briefly turns to white as pleasure threatens to crash over me like a wave. Reaper has found my g-spot, and he is pushing against it mercilessly. He pauses at my reaction before grinning.
Then he’s moving, his thrust growing faster and more powerful as he builds up confidence, and I’m helpless to do anything other than to go along for the ride. I cling to him with a white-knuckled grip as I try to meet each thrust, and wave after wave of pleasure tries to carry me away on a tide of fire. I’m not going to last much longer, and I scrabble at him, my nails catching on his skin as my legs wind around him, trying to pull him in as close and deep as possible.
I feel it before it comes. That breathless expectation of something more, the whole world narrowed down to just Reaper and me before it exploded. Pleasure tears into me, and I’m only vaguely aware of Reaper thrusting several more times as my body clenches around him before stopping and shuddering. My eyes roll backward, and I arch off the bed.
Slowly, my heart begins to calm, and the world stops spinning around me. I open my eyes, barely realizing that I’d closed them, to see Reaper braced above me, breathing deeply. He opens his eyes, too, and I fall deeply into his dark gaze before he pulls away.
There are no words between us. We don’t talk about what to do next, but we’re both of the same mind as we slide into the same bed. It feels right to lean against him now, his arm pillowing my head. I can breathe in his musky scent and listen to the rhythmic beat of his heart.
Maybe in the morning, it will be different. Right now, however, I feel safer than I have ever before.
Chapter Thirteen: Reaper
I wake from a dream about Lacey, feeling warm and comfortable for the first time in a very long time. The memory of her smile sends a pang through me, but it’s somehow a gentler feeling that I’ve been used to. It hurts, but with that pain is a fondness for her memory that I had been unable to feel for some time.
When I open my eyes to see that it is Kyra, not Lacey, curled up in my arms, I don’t feel any regret. Last night was amazing. Perhaps it hadn’t been right to sleep with her last night, but I think we had both needed it.
Slowly, carefully, I slide out of bed, managing not to wake Kyra. I dress quietly and leave the room, stretching. I can’t shake away the last vestiges of sleep yet, which means that coffee is currently in order.
As I make my way downstairs, yawning, I hear a clatter from the kitchen. I’m startled before I remember that Kyra’s young daughter and her babysitter are also currently in my house for their safety. They both look up when I step inside.
“Good morning, Reaper,” Carla says first. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Please,” I grunt, stepping forward.
This makes Emma giggle, and I feel a reluctant smile tugging at my lips as I accept the cup Carla hands me. I take several long pulls of it before I lower it, finally feeling awake enough to function.
“Is my mom still asleep?” Emma asks.
“Yeah,” I say.
“How do you know?” Carla asks, surprised.
I cough. “I looked in on her,” I lie. “She needs to sleep. It was a long night.”
“You got back really late,” Emma agrees. “Is Mom going to be okay?”
“Yes,” I say stoutly. I believe that wholeheartedly, and I don’t hesitate to make that promise. “She will be.”
Maybe it’s the way I say it so firmly, with utter belief in my own words, that convinces her, but in any case, Emma relaxes and smiles at me. “Mr. Reaper, can you help us make Mom breakfast?” she asks. “Carla can’t cook.”
“I burn everything,” the babysitter admits when I glance at her. “Kyra always leaves us premade meals to heat up or money for takeout. Otherwise, we wouldn’t eat when I’m over.”
I snort, amused. “Luckily, I’m alright in the kitchen,” I say, pulling off my jacket. “What do you want to make?”
Emma and I are in the middle of beating eggs when Kyra, likely drawn down by the sounds in the kitchen, steps inside, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She’s wearing the clothes I gave her last night. The neck of the shirt is so large that it slides off her shoulder a little. It makes my stomach do odd little flips to see her wearing my clothes.
“Hey,” Kyra says, looking between Emma and me. “What are you up to?”
“Breakfast,” I say.
“Reaper is helping me,” Emma beams. “He’s a good cook. We already fried some bacon!”
“Bacon sounds amazin
g right now,” Kyra groans, and the sound shoots straight south as I remember the way she moaned beneath me last night. “Is it almost ready?”
“You have to be patient,” Emma scolds.
It’s somewhat funny to see a ten-year-old waving a spatula at her mother, but I grab it before egg batter goes everywhere, shaking my head.
After that, we finish quickly and, before long, there are four hot plates of breakfast on the table. Normally, I eat either cereal or toast for breakfast, but there’s something nice about sitting down to an actual meal with other people.
“Can I have breakfast while I watch TV?” Emma asks.
I shrug. “I don’t mind if your mom says yes.”
“Only if you clean up any mess you made,” Kyra warns.
“Do you want me to go with her?” Carla asks.
“No, it’s fine,” Kyra says with a smile.
Emma cheers and carefully carries out the plate of food. Moments later, as the three of us sit at the table, we hear the jingle of a cartoon playing.
“Thanks for making breakfast with Emma. That was really sweet,” Kyra says as she picks up her fork.
“She wanted to do it for you,” I say. “She’s a good kid.”
“She really is,” Kyra says with a soft smile. Then she shakes her head. “It all just feels a bit wrong, though.”
“How so?” I ask.
Kyra hesitates. “Normally, I don’t introduce her to other strangers, especially men,” she says. “Even when I’ve had relationships in the past, she never met any of them before we broke up. I wasn’t going to introduce her until I was sure.”
I immediately understand what she was saying. By the simple act of sleeping together, we entered a relationship of sorts, even if neither of us has any idea what that relationship is. I’ve suddenly been tagged as one of Kyra’s flings, and I would be one of the guys she would hold at arm’s length until she decided it was safe to introduce me to her daughter. But here, it happened all wrong. Emma and I met before Kyra and I had sex. Now Kyra feels like her hand is forced.
“I wouldn’t worry about any of that right now,” I advise. “At the moment, we just need to concern ourselves with what to do about Chains.”
“Right,” Kyra says, sitting up. “Where do we go from here, then?”
“I’m going to meet with some of the other guys,” I say. “We need to come up with some sort of plan. Chains is an idiot, but he’s got some real power behind him. Our best bet is to go in swinging when he doesn’t expect us.”
“Won’t they expect you now, though?” Kyra asks with a frown. “You were there last night, so they must know something is up, or…”
She trails off. I know what she’s about to say. Someone knows we’re closing in, or Jessica wouldn’t have been killed last night.
“Yeah, but they won’t be expecting us to move so quickly,” I return. “There’s a certain way this normally works. One group strikes, and the other moves away to recover and return after several days. By taking you and killing Jessica, we’ve been attacked. They won’t expect us to move on them today, but today will be the best time to do so.”
“Right,” Kyra says slowly, processing.
I lean back. Kyra is sitting beside me, her arm brushing against mine, and Carla is frowning across from us as she thinks. In the living room, Emma is giggling at the television. It’s nice. Pleasant. I can’t remember the last time I felt so warm and content, which is how I’ve felt from the moment I woke up. I like this. I could wake up and do this every day, with Kyra in my arms. I would love her and her daughter to have breakfast with me every morning.
And that’s a terrifying thought.
I stiffen as I realize where my thoughts are going. I can’t believe I just thought that. After what happened to Lacey, a part of me swore never to get close to anyone ever again. And yet, in very little time, Kyra has wriggled her way into a place I thought I had locked down entirely.
I can’t allow that. I don’t want to run outside one day to see Kyra splayed out before me, gone in a moment, just like Lacey.
“Reaper?” Kyra asks, and I wonder what expression is on my face to make her look so concerned. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” I say with a short nod, putting my fork down. “I’d better head off. Viper is expecting me to be around this morning. I need to collect the rest of my group.”
“I’ll get dressed and come with you,” Kyra says with a smile.
No.
“It might be better for you to stay here,” I say.
“What?” Kyra asks, looking outraged. “Why the hell would I stay here?”
Because you need to stay safe.
“You don’t have anything to wear other than my clothes and your uniform,” I remind her. “We’ll get you more clothes later, but now isn’t a good time.”
“Oh,” Kyra says. “Well, why doesn’t Carla go and grab me some clothes? Then you only have to wait for half an hour. I can go with you as soon as she gets back.”
She’s persistent. I’ll give her that. She’s either oblivious to how much I don’t want her anywhere near this mess, or she’s ignoring it.
“No, I don’t think so,” I say. “It’s best for you to stay here for now, where it’s safe.”
“Safe?” Kyra snorts. “Are you serious? You need me, Reaper. I know a lot about Night Pleasures, and I know a little about the mansion too. If you want to succeed, you need my help.”
“I’m sure we can get by just fine without you,” I snap, my tone harsher than I meant it to be. “If anything, you’d be in the way.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kyra demands. “I’m the only reason we got into the club last night.”
“No, you almost got yourself kidnapped again,” I say sharply. “With Chains and whoever else gunning for you, the best thing you can do right now is stay right away from all this. That way, you’re safe, and so is everyone else around you.”
“Are you saying I’m putting everyone in danger?” Kyra gasps.
“Not exactly,” I groan. “Look, just stay here. If we’re lucky, you can go back home this afternoon. We might be able to move on them later.”
“I deserve to be there,” Kyra says, her tone frosty. “I’m the one that’s suffered the most from this.”
“Yes,” I agree. “And that’s why you need to stay behind. You have a daughter to think of. What do you think will happen to her if something goes wrong? What if you don’t come back?”
Kyra jerks back as though she’s been slapped, and she opens her mouth furiously. Before she can say anything, however, my phone blares out. I fish my phone from my pocket. It’s Viper.
“Sorry,” I grunt, though I am a bit relieved. The call cuts some of the tension in the room. I put the phone to my ear. “What’s up, Viper?”
“Reaper, you need to get here now,” Viper says, breathless. “We might have some news about who is selling the girls. Chains is right at the bottom of it all, but it looks like our real estate friend might be a few steps above him.”
Richard Griffin. Why am I not surprised that his name has turned up again? I had every intention of investigating him when all this was over, but it looks like we’ll have to do it now.
“Anyway, this is big,” Viper continues. “If we can find the big fish first, we can take it all down tonight!”
That is definitely the best plan we have.
“I’ll be there soon,” I promise and hang up.
“Who was that?” Kyra asks with her eyes narrowed.
“Viper,” I reply. “He was calling about some club business. Some guys got in a fight. I need to go deal with it.”
When Kyra’s shoulders relax a fraction, I momentarily feel guilty for the lie—but only a little. A small lie might anger her, but at least she’ll be here and alive to feel that anger.
“I won’t be long,” I say. “While I’m gone, I’ll get Mandy to come over. She’ll keep you all safe. Kyra, please, stay here. I know you want to get
out there, but you need to stay safe right now.”
Kyra looks at me, her eyes meeting mine. Then she sighs and slumps. “Fine,” she says reluctantly. “I’ll stay here. For Emma’s sake.”
It’s the most powerful promise I can get from her. I nod firmly. She’ll be staying here, then.
“Thank you,” I say, standing. “I’ll be in touch soon.”
Hopefully, it’ll be as soon as this entire mess is dealt with. Then Emma and Kyra can go back to their lives, safe.
Chapter Fourteen: Kyra
I know, logically, that Reaper is trying to protect me. Regardless of what happened between us last night, it’s already been proven that I’m a target. The best thing for me to do is to stay where I am.
I know this, but it still pisses me off.
My entire life has centered around myself and what I can do for myself to protect my own well being and that of my daughter. Who the fuck does Reaper think he is, coming in like this and taking over? I was perfectly capable of looking after myself before he came along. I ignore the small voice in the back of my mind that reminds me that, actually, I’d gotten myself kidnapped before Reaper came along.
Scowling to myself, I shut the fridge a little harder than necessary after scanning the contents in frustration. I’m hungry, but there’s very little here other than some leftovers from what Emma and Carla used to make dinner last night.
Thankfully, Emma is upstairs with Carla. I’m going to have to pay that woman some serious overtime after all this is through. I tried to convince her to go home, but she’d refused. She lives alone, anyway, and she said she would feel better if she knew both Emma and I were safe.
“What’s wrong with you?”
At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, I swing around, glaring at the woman leaning in the doorway. Oh, yes, the source of my anger. It wasn’t enough that Reaper had to put me under house arrest in his home. No, he left me a fucking babysitter. What was her name again? Mandy, that was it. I can’t thank her enough for helping to look after Emma last night, but that doesn’t mean I want her here.
