SACRED GRIP

by Allen, J. C

  I blinked a bit, glancing into the worried eyes of Eve.

  Oh, shit, Eve!

  How… how did I get here?

  Immediately, I was awake and alert, though that did not translate in the slightest to being aware of how and why I was… in my own apartment?

  I glanced around, looking around for any sign of danger, only to see Roost and Bones standing behind Eve. They looked a healthy mixture of relieved, amused, and aggravated.

  Amused?

  “What… what happened?” I asked, looking back at Eve.

  “Your dumb ass got shot is what happened!” she said, shaking her head, her face still twisted with worry.

  “More like ‘pansy-ass,’ if ya ask me,” Roost said.

  Ahh, that’s why they’re amused.

  Well, I guess they wouldn’t be amused if I was in critical danger, right? So I guess it’s kind of a good thing that everyone is mocking and teasing me right now?

  “I did, didn’t I,” I said, wincing as a bolt of pain shot through my arm.

  I glanced down, seeing a white bandage wrapped around my bicep.Thankfully, aside form a light red stain, it didn’t seem to be actively bleeding, though I suspected I would not have woken up in my own apartment if the wound was serious.

  I tried to recall what happened. I remembered being blinded by the goggles. I remember seeing those two corpses of the Saviors. I remembered a gunfight breaking out… me shooting… and then, seeing Bones grab me… nothing after that.

  “I passed out?” I asked Bones.

  “It happens,” he said, almost pitying me in the process.

  I sighed. I was reminded once again that without the three Marines by my side, I would have passed out permanently. I was reminded once again that though I had the name of Knight, I wasn’t a Marine.

  And to do this all in front of Eve!

  “Ya did lose quite a bit of blood, in yer defense,” Roost said. “Be a hard task for most men to stay awake, even for these boys.”

  “Nice save,” I grumbled. “Then why’d I pass out?”

  “‘Cuz ya worked yerself too much after gettin’ shot, ya dumb ass! That, of course, is why I sent the others with ya.”

  “But… we were in a gunfight, and I couldn’t just… I couldn’t let them do everything, you know? I wanted to help, and—”

  “You dumbass!” Eve said, narrowing her eyes at me. “That’s what having others there with you is for! For support!”

  “Right, sorry,” I said, nodding in understanding.

  There was something about Eve’s expression that I could not quite place—almost like she enjoyed yelling at me in some fashion. I swore more than once she had a grin flash on her face, but if she did, it happened so quickly that I couldn’t actually be sure she had done it. Not that it would have made a lot of sense, anyways.

  What did make sense, however, was what she said. Eve was right, and I couldn’t deny it. The three soldiers would’ve easily taken the other man off; at worst, it would have taken them an extra dozen seconds to kill the man and leave me to rest.

  Instead, I’d pushed myself too hard after being shot in an effort to having them not do all the work. It wasn’t a one-man job and they’d been there for that exact purpose. In some ways, I might have even hurt the mission by trying to push myself too far—I didn’t remember there being any leftover Black Falcons after our shootout, but if there were, they certainly weren’t being interrogated by the others.

  Others…

  “Where are AK and Rucker?” I asked.

  “Home,” Bones said simply.

  “Ahh,” I said, feeling relief but not a whole lot less guilt from before.

  “Tonight, I’m sending more men with ya, including Bones and the other two,” Roost said. “And I’m comin’ along too.”

  “Huh? What for?” I asked.

  I noticed Eve shooting Roost a knowing look, but good luck to me ever trying to figure out what the hell that meant.

  “Don’t you think three is enough?”

  “If it were, don’tcha think yer sorry ass wouldn’t be restin’ in bed like this?”

  Damnit, Roost. Stop making such sense and let me go.

  “I can’t trust yer dumbass in not doing somethin’ stupid again,” he said, shaking his head—though, once more, I swore I saw him smiling. What the hell was so funny? “So I’m gonna go and make sure ya don’t.”

  “We appreciate it, Roost,” Eve said, turning away from me, sliding out of the bed towards Roost and Bones. “Derek won’t do something stupid again, will he?”

  She may have been speaking to Roost and Bones, but I was no fool. I was fully aware of her loud and clear not-so-subliminal message to me. Get shot again, and she might just shoot you herself.

  “I’ll be good, Eve.”

  “Uh huh,” she said, but this time, I definitely saw a smile as she quickly turned away from me and faced Bones and Roost. “Anyways, Bones, thanks for taking care of Derek. Sometimes he needs someone else to slap some sense into him.”

  “Of course, ma’am,” he said with ease. “Make sure he takes it easy tonight. Roost and I will come get him later.”

  “Come get me?” I asked.

  What am I, a fifth grader whose school bus broke down?

  “Yer damn right! Yer ridin’ with me tonight,” Roost said, offering a big grin. “See ya then, boss!”

  “Hey! Wait!” I called after him, but all to no avail.

  Roost, Bones, and Eve headed to the elevator. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I did hear them laughing loudly as the elevator doors opened. I swore I heard Eve say something to the effect of “well done, boys,” but I wanted to believe the blood loss was affecting my perception and judgment.

  I mean, it’s not like they were pulling some prank here, right? That was an awfully bad time to pull a prank. No, there was no way… I was pretty sure.

  A moment later, Eve had returned to the room and was sitting back in bed next to me. She looked at me with a grin on her face.

  “OK, what is going on?” I said. “You’re smiling, laughing, and joking around while I got shot?”

  “I know, it’s great, isn’t it,” Eve said.

  It was incredibly difficult to tell if she was sarcastic or not.

  “Good news for you, bucko. You’re not going to die. You’re not going to die! So we can have a little fun at your expense.”

  “I see,” I said, but I had a feeling “a little fun at my expense” went a bit beyond what Eve had said so far. “I’m sorry, Eve. It was just…”

  “Derek, you really can be an idiot sometimes, you know that,” she said. “I don’t care if it’s part of the mission. If you’re not going to do it for your horny, sex-crazed girlfriend, then do it for your loyal men. How about that?”

  “OK, Sorry,” I said, glancing down, feeling ashamed.

  “Be more careful, okay?” she said, moving her hand to my arm. “And you’re staying in today. Which means…”

  Her hand then moved from my arm to my shoulder. She straddled me and moved her hips back and forth, letting out soft moans as she did so. Maybe that’s why she was smiling so much—she was so horny that she couldn’t contain herself except in those moments when her subconscious had to get release.

  “Oh, baby,” I said.

  “You like that?” Eve said as she reached down and grabbed my groin through my jeans.

  “Hell yeah, baby,” I said.

  I sat up to try and kiss her, but she pushed me right back down with a wink.

  “You’ve been a bad boy,” she said. “Which means you have to be punished. You do exactly as I say. And I get exactly what I want.”

  “Hey, hey, no complaints here,” I said, falling back down to the bed as I put my hands over my head, as if in surrender.

  “Good boy.”

  Eve then leaned forward and kissed and bit my neck with unreal aggression, certainly surpassing anything she had done so far. All the while, her hips moved like mad against m
ine, as if she needed to grind on me more than she needed oxygen or food. I moaned and squirmed, but she tightened her legs around me with such force I couldn’t—nor did I really want to—break free.

  “Does that mean you’ll pamper me after?” I said, grinning wickedly.

  “Hush, dummy,” she said. “Did I give you permission to talk?”

  I bit my lip, unable to hide my grin. Eve helped me remove my shirt and then planted kisses running down my chest and my belly. The beach day had made both of us a little more tan, which only made me hornier for Eve. I was now so hard, even with the blood loss and injury, that if Eve didn’t do something about it, I was going to rip my pants off.

  But then she did the most merciless thing ever.

  She teased me.

  She strung me along, sometimes running her fingers underneath my underwear, sometimes over, sometimes hovering just nearby—even proximity made my cock flinch in anticipation.

  “Someone’s so excited,” she said with a smirk. “Tell me, Derek Knight, what do you want to do to me? I want to hear you say it.”

  “I want to fuck you,” I said. “I want to get inside you and come in you, baby. Please, God, this is too much!”

  “Is it,” Eve said, continuing to brush her fingers over me. “Here, why don’t we get your pants and underwear off.”

  “Hell—”

  “Eh eh, you’re not allowed to talk now.”

  I bit my lip but nevertheless was naked within seconds. Eve, still fully clothed, sat on my right leg, admiring my fully bulging erection. Her fingers ran over my thighs, just above my groin, and on my stomach, but now she wasn’t quite touching me.

  God, how much of an erotic tease this was!

  “Eve, please!”

  “Hmm? Did I give you permission—”

  “I don’t care, I need to be in you!”

  “Hmm,” Eve said. “Well, good news for you, pretty boy.”

  I looked at her with wide eyes, so stiff now I was sure I could come with just my thoughts.

  “You are naked. Which means…”

  My smile grew as she placed both hands just half an inch above my groin.

  “You’re ready for your shower!”

  “What.”

  I looked at Eve confused as she hopped off of my leg with a smirk.

  “Remember your question about if I was going to pamper you? Well, here’s my answer! Nope!”

  “What!”

  She was laughing so much that I wasn’t even mad. I was just confused and about to be left with a case of serious blue balls.

  “Roost is actually dropping Tara off here, and we are going on a girl’s day,” she said, grinning coyly back at me. “But I’m sure Roost will help anyway he can. In fact, I’m sure he’d even love to come and help you with that!”

  “Help in being a pain in my ass, maybe!” I said, pouting. “Are you kidding me! Come on, Eve… stay home with me, please? Just a quickie!”

  “Nope! This is your punishment!”

  Oh, this was evil. This was profoundly evil. This was the worst thing that had happened to me in the last twelve hours! I’d take a bullet in the other arm if it meant I’d get sex right now!

  “You are a wicked woman,” I said, not bothering to hide the smile as I said it. “This is cruel and unusual! It’s unconstitutional!”

  “Really,” she said, coming back over to me.

  I began to think for a second that maybe, just maybe, she, too, had gotten too horny to stop and needed to get off herself. Maybe I wouldn’t come, but at least I’d have the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten off too.

  “How’s your arm?” she asked, running her hand gently over the bicep.

  “A little sore, nothing too bad,” I said.

  “Good,” she said. “Then you don’t need me.”

  “No, wait! Wait! Eve! Oh my God, the pain is so bad, I’m going to die, help!”

  My theatrics did nothing to convince her as she grabbed her purse and looked completely… well, not disinterested, but certainly actively interested in proving her point instead of having sex.

  Then I decided to take a different tact.

  “I’ll be careful later, okay? I swear I’ll come back unshot, safe, and fully intact. That’s my promise to you, Eve.”

  “You’ll have no choice,” Eve said, grinning. “Matty won’t let you not be. Have a good day!”

  “What, Eve!”

  She kissed me on the lips quickly before darting for the elevator.

  “Roost will be here to help!”

  “I want your help!” I shouted, but she didn’t respond.

  I leaned against my pillow. Damn, that girl. That fucking girl!

  She could really rile a man up.

  It was kind of funny and sweet… if not for the fact that I had an erection ready to burst like a frozen pipe!

  Then I heard the elevator doors opening back open.

  “Change your mind?” I shouted.

  “Nope, and I ain’t goin’ for ya either, Derek!” Roost shouted with a hearty laugh.

  I could do nothing but throw my covers on quickly as Roost went to my fridge, looking for some beer. I just sighed heavily.

  “Lesson learned, Eve,” I said. “Lesson most certainly learned!”

  10

  Eve

  I couldn’t hide the grin that I had as I stepped out of the condo, listening to Derek already beginning to whine.

  If I was being truthful, I was unbelievably aroused and horny at the sight of Derek naked. That was almost certainly always going to be true, and just because I wanted to tease him so mercilessly didn’t mean that I also didn’t get off on it.

  But, seriously, Derek did need to learn a lesson, and I hated the notion that he would ever get shot. It might have taken a tremendous, enormous, unbelievable sacrifice on my part, but if that got it across, it was worth it.

  Well, barely.

  I actually had considered stroking him right to the edge or sucking him off right to the edge and then leaving him with real blue balls, but even for me making a point, that seemed just a bit much. Also, I knew myself too well. I knew if I did that, there was no stopping myself, and the point wouldn’t get made.

  It made it all the easier, then, to laugh when I saw Matty and Tara already downstairs, waiting for me.

  “Well? Didja make him a happy boy?” Matty said.

  “I wouldn’t say happy, certainly not fulfilled,” I said. “Last I saw, he was naked, complaining that I got him that way and didn’t finish him off. Don’t think he’ll be too happy to see you.”

  Matty let out a bear-like roar, the kind that echoed through the entire lobby, drawing eyes. Not that Tara or I cared.

  “You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about, girlie. Derek too scrawny and skinny for my type.”

  “What is your type then, fag? Giant football players?” Tara interjected.

  “Oh, girl, if ya know any, send ‘em my way,” Matty said. “Dream is havin’ an entire offensive line on me! If ya know what I mean.”

  “Oh, heavens,” I said. “Matty, just go take care of him. Maybe wait till he’s under the covers, but—”

  “I got him, Eve,” he said. “Ya two get outta here. No Derek Knight sightings until tonight. Got it?”

  “Doctor’s orders!” Tara said. “C’mon, let’s get out of here!”

  We both gave Matty goodbye hugs, mine a little less vulgar in the words than Tara’s, as the two of us headed to my—Derek’s father’s—car.

  Well, we may not have still been seeing Derek, but I couldn’t help but trash talk him a bit more.

  “He’s like a little kid, isn’t he?” I said, starting to laugh.

  “Yeah, most men are, I’m afraid,” she said with a shrug and then grinned at me. “But then again, you pulled a dirty, dirty stunt there, girl! Most of my men, you tease them like that, they learn real quick what it’s like to be violent! You get ‘em to the edge, and—”

  “I didn’t go that far,” I said
.

  I decided not to say it was because I wouldn’t be able to handle myself. Some details, Tara just didn’t need to know, lest she ride me on them for the rest of eternity.

  “Even still!” Tara said, laughing. “Goodness. You’re a braver soul with more self-control than I’ll ever be, girl. But anyways, where to? Shopping trip?”

  “Of course,” I said, grinning. “Derek owes me, so this is on him.”

  “Owes you how?” she asked. “I just show up and hear Roosty boy laughing about how poor Derek’s about to have balls so blue the ocean would seem pink in comparison.”

  “He went and got himself shot,” I said.

  Not mentioned—me turning into such a hot mess that I needed to call Matty for support and pulling him away.

  Small wonder that he’s going with Derek on the next mission. He’s got better things to do than to handle insecure girls like us.

  “He got shot?” Tara said, arching an eyebrow. “Aaaand somehow that translates to him owing you?”

  I had kept up a genuine appearance of humor, lightheartedness, and some fun, and much of that had come from knowing Derek really would be OK—no comas here—and from my little stunt.

  But Tara’s words had me frowning, wondering if I was in for a guilt-tripping with Derek that he actually didn’t really deserve. Admittedly, having worded it that way, I wasfeeling suddenly guilty. As quickly as Matty had gotten me feeling good yesterday, Tara had brought me back down to Earth.

  Not in a bad way, necessarily—she was the yin to Matty’s yang. I needed both. I just wish I hadn’t gotten the yin so close to the euphoria of the yang.

  “Well…” I began.

  “Good for you!” she interrupted.

  “Wait, what?”

  “If you weren’t around to keep that boy in line, he’d probably have just gone and gotten himself murdered by now, anyway. ‘Sides, he didn’t look too beat up just now. I’m guessing he’ll pull through.”

  I laughed at that, but didn’t recover quite so quickly. Maybe it was because I could really be taking advantage of him, or maybe my moods were just unusually all over the place right now—who knew?

  Tara seemed to pick up on it, for she put her arm around me as we got to the car.