by Rivi Jacks
He crosses his arms over his chest as he peers down at me. “You think I’m collaborating with the enemy,” he says with wry amusement.
My anger deflates. He laughs, pulls me into his arms, and threads his fingers through my hair as his mouth comes down on mine. He tastes of warm whiskey, and I melt against him. When he raises his head, he stares down into my eyes. He takes my hand, the one I’ve scuffed, and I flinch.
Looking down, he frowns. “Let’s go clean your hand and get something on it.”
“It’s okay,” I reassure him.
He insists with a look, and we head for the bathroom, where he washes and dries my hand with care. I sit on the closed lid of the toilet as he applies antiseptic to my hand. He’s squatted before me, and I study his down-turned face.
“I—I’m sorry for implying—” I shrug with embarrassment.
He looks up at me, his eyes serious. “My main concern for you being down at the gate earlier—” he stretches a bandage across the palm of my hand “—is that Dar knows you are here now.”
My mouth opens in surprise. “Oh.”
“I caught your scent as soon as I stepped outside the guardhouse. I know Dar did too.” I guess Dar is the big-ass Kihn he met with tonight. Lucas stands and leans against the counter top and I suspect he’s considering what to tell me. “Dar has the unique ability to differentiate between scents. To the other Kihn, you just smell human, but I know Dar recognized you immediately. I believe that, at some point, he has been in your uncle’s house.”
“What?” I gasp. “Why?”
“So he could become familiar with your scent.”
I swallow hard and shiver at the thought of that monster in my home. “What’s going to happen now?”
He studies me for a few moments, making me uncomfortable. Something else is going on behind those eyes. He pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go to the kitchen. We’re going to have a quick meeting, and you’ll get some answers there. Then you and I are going to—discuss a few things.” I shiver slightly. That sounds a little ominous.
The kitchen is crowded, and I’m surprised to discover Jake and Sawyer are both present. I immediately go to them. Taylor and several of the Guard are in attendance too. The Zelts stand at the back of the room by the door, and I smile a greeting they both acknowledge with a nod.
And—Nick. Nick is back. He stays in the shadows, avoiding eye contact with me—not that I’m trying to make eye contact with him.
I lean against Jake, and he drapes his arm around my shoulder, giving me a quick hug. I start to ask about Diane, but I hear her giggle as the basement door opens. She and Emma Rae enter the room with Brit Zelt right behind them. Brit rambles on in her quick manner with Diane inserting an occasional giggle. The three of them make their way over to us without Brit breaking stride.
When Brit does stop speaking, it takes me a moment to realize that she’s waiting for an answer from me. Her round face radiates happiness. She just makes me happy. “Brit, it’s good to see you!”
She grabs me for a hug, and I hug her back. I don’t usually feel comfortable hugging someone I don’t know well, but for some reason, I don’t feel my normal reservations with Brit. Diane giggles. I can tell she isn’t sure what to make of the witch.
Taylor speaks up at that moment. “Brit, if you and Sofie will listen up, we’ll explain what’s going on.”
“Oh Taylor you know I always listen when you talk you naughty boy you I will go back by my brother and sister and let you get on with the meeting Sofie I want to speak with you again Oh! My! Who is this gorgeous man here with you?” Brit stands in front of Sawyer, batting her eyelashes at him. It’s plain to see that Sawyer is the gorgeous man. “You are a handsome one too but I know you belong to the sweet Diane.” She says that to Jake, who is unsure if he should respond or not.
“Brit, this is my cousin Sawyer Walker. Sawyer, this is Brit Zelt. She lives with her sister and brother at the old Rogers plantation.” I know he’s already figured that one out since I previously told him of my visit with her.
She reaches out, takes his hand, and squeals. “Oh! You come back here with me big boy I want to get to know you better imagine I have been here for quite some time and I never dreamed that someone as handsome as you could be living around here well not any—”
She pulls Sawyer with her to the back of the room. Sawyer turns to give me a priceless look, and I smile and give a little wave. Diane giggles and stands on her tiptoes to see where Brit is taking him.
“Okay! Listen up!” Taylor is ready to get down to business. I stifle a yawn and catch Lucas’ dark gaze. What? What is that look for? “Earlier tonight, four Kihn approached the gates. They informed us that their Wanax wished to speak with Santiago.”
Lucas continues to lean against the counter, watching me. My gaze slashes to Taylor. What the heck is a Wanax? I’ve never heard that term. Taylor glances at Lucas before coming to stand beside me, giving me one of his radiant smiles.
Lucas pushes away from the counter, glances around the kitchen, and everyone becomes silent. His presence fills the room. As they say, “you could hear a pin drop.” His gaze settles back on me.
“Dar, the Wanax of the Kihn—that is what they call their leader—” he smiles at me “—informed me that the Kihn’s alliance with Ezra has been broken.” I hear the reaction from the back of the room. “Dar has decided that the Kihn will no longer—actively pursue or hunt Sofie.” His eyes are intently watching me.
What?
“Thank God,” Jake responds, squeezing my arm.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Jake looks down at me. “It means you can come home.”
“Thank goodness,” Diane says.
I look back at Lucas. His eyes watch me with their silver-green intensity.
Everyone starts talking at once, and Lucas holds up his hand. The room falls silent once again.
“Ezra was the main force behind the attempt to take Sofie. I could not get an answer from Dar why Sofie is so important to Ezra. Either he doesn’t know, or he is being cautious. We will need to continue being cautious of Ezra. All of us who know him are aware of the danger—what it means to let our guard down or to underestimate him.” Lucas’ attention focuses on the Zelts.
“We must stay focused on the fact that the Kihn are still looking for the gate, as is Ezra. It may be they are no longer allied, but they both still have the same goal.” His words almost have a double meaning, but I have no way of knowing—since he never tells me anything.
Lucas meets my gaze again before looking around the room. “We have allies coming in tomorrow, and we’ll have a more official meeting then. So, that’s all for tonight, we’ll take this up again tomorrow. You’re all welcome to spend the night.”
I tune out the rest of what he has to say. I can leave. A few days ago, even earlier today, I wanted that more than anything. Everyone starts talking at once, discussing the Kihn’s meeting with Lucas and plans for the coming allies. I look around and see Nick coming my way. I quickly duck out, heading for the safety of the bedroom.
I peer at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I don’t look different from a month ago, but I am. Lucas has changed me, and once again, I am dependent on the whims of another human being. I swore that after my parents abandoned me, I would never let that happen again. But here I am, and the very thought of leaving Lucas makes it hard to breathe.
I step into the bedroom, but I stop as soon as I see him waiting for me across the room. He’s leaning against the mantel, still wearing the black knit sweater he changed into at Impulse. And as good as he looked in the white shirt that he started the night in, there’s no denying that black is his color.
“Are you okay?” he asks. His voice is rich and dark, his gaze intense.
I nod, not trusting my voice as he watches me. I’m biting my lip so I won’t cry, but there’s no guarantee that it still won’t happen.
Lucas turns toward the liquor cabinet. “Would you
like something to drink?” he asks, holding up a glass.
What? “No, thank you.” My heart flutters as I wonder why I’m getting this awful vibe.
He takes his time pouring his drink and returns to lean against the fireplace mantel. “The way I see it, we have three problems here, Sofie.” He takes a sip, watching me over the rim of the glass with an unsettling expression in his silver gaze.
I frown. “Okay.” My voice sounds a little shaky with my apprehension.
He sets the glass on the mantel and his eyes lock on mine. “First, you are not—leaving,” he says, in a dangerously quiet voice, his eyes gleaming.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “That’s... not a problem,” I whisper. I fly across the room to him and he catches me up, holding me tight against his chest. Pressing my face against his neck, I inhale his warm scent.
He gathers a handful of my hair and pulls my head back so he can look into my eyes. “You belong to me,” he says forcefully. Then he’s kissing me as if he’ll devour me. His kiss is rough, possessive. And I love it. It’s Lucas. I moan as his hand rests on my bottom and pushes me against his erection. Releasing my lips, he latches on to the side of my neck where my pulse flutters. I whimper as he sucks the delicate skin and I grab his shoulders.
He laughs softly, his lips moving up to the spot behind my ear. He inhales deeply and my body trembles. “You smell so good.” He nibbles on my earlobe. “You taste good too,” he growls.
I twine my arms around his neck and thread my fingers into his raven locks, pressing my nose into the hollow at the base of his throat. “You scared me. I was afraid you were going to tell me I had to leave,” I say softly.
He pulls his head back to look down at me. “Is that, right? Well, if you thought that—then you haven’t been listening to what I’ve been telling you.” The tone of his voice alerts me to his quiet anger. “Maybe that’s why you disobey me at every turn.” I stare with unease into his eyes. What the hell? Are we really going to have another fight?
“Which brings us to problem number two,” he says in a scarily quiet voice. “Maybe you just weren’t listening when I told you to stay here in the house earlier.” Anger flashes across his face. I realize, a little too late, that his eyes have gleamed silver since I entered the room. I swallow noticeably. “Could that be the reason, Sofie?”
I gape at him. I don’t even know what to say. I remove my arms from around his neck. Without warning, he scoops me up, and I grab his shoulders in surprise. He settles us in the high-backed chair by the fire with me on his lap. I lean my head against his shoulder feeling somewhat disheartened.
He sighs deeply, leaning his head against the chair back, and I feel him watching me. “Hey,” he says. His tone is gentle as he lifts my chin and rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. He tilts his head in consideration. “That mouth,” he growls softly. My eyes fly up to meet his, catching the flare of heat in his eyes.
He leans down and kisses me gently. “We’ll discuss problem number two tomorrow.” I wrap my arms around his neck, relieved his mood is better. I don’t think I’m up for another round with him. “It’s late, and all I want is to take you to bed and lose myself in you,” he says.
“Okay,” I breathe. Embarrassingly, I’m already starting to pant. He smiles seductively, knowing just how he affects me. He gathers me into his arms to stand.
“Wait!” I say. He cocks an eyebrow. “You... you said three problems.” My voice is breathy, hesitant.
He settles back against the chair. “Why yes, Sofie, I did. Problem number three—” his eyes are alight with wicked humor as I peer into them “—is that I was informed earlier tonight I don’t know shit about dating.”
Startled laughter escapes me. I compose myself quickly. “Imagine! The audacity!” I say in pretend indignant surprise.
His mouth lifts in a slow, amused smile. “Yes—funny thing about audacity.” He leans in and kisses me deeply. I turn my body fully into him and run my hands over his chest, shoulders, and arms. He feels so good with just the right amount of muscle. I moan into his mouth, wanting him beyond reason. When he raises his head, I see a ghost of a smile on his lips.
“What were we talking about?” he asks, clearly amused. I couldn’t care less what we were talking about; I just want him to take me to bed. “Oh yes—audacity. On the one hand, it can mean a willingness to take bold risks.” He bites my earlobe and sexual need forms in the pit of my stomach. His laugh is husky and masculine, penetrating to my core. The bastard! He doesn’t play fair.
“On the other hand…” He swiftly stands, and I grab around his neck in reaction. He carries me to the bed, lays me down, and quickly follows to lie on top of me. I hook my legs around his and run my hands through his silky hair.
“Audacity might also be a sign of rudeness or disrespect—impudence,” he continues, as his hand moves up under my sweatshirt. “Miss Reece, tsk-tsk! No bra?” I writhe beneath him, whimpering softly as his hand molds around my breast and his thumb rubs my nipple. He leans back between my legs, on his knees, and removes my sweatshirt in one swift move. Grabbing the waistband of my sweatpants, he yanks them and my panties down. He has me naked in seconds. Without hesitating, he pushes my legs wide and comes to rest on top of me pressing his jean-covered erection into my softness. I moan as I slip my hands under his sweater and up his back, feeling his muscles bunch and contract.
“Which one is it, Sofie?”
“Hmmm,” I respond, pushing his sweater up. I’m no longer following the line of conversation as I put my mouth on his chest.
He grasps my hands and raises my arms above my head, holding both wrists with one hand. His free hand moves between my legs. He has my legs spread wide and trapped in place. He pushes a finger into me, and my spine bows slightly. At the same time, he leans down and bites my nipple.
“Ahhh!” I cry, trying to twist away from his mouth.
“Shhh.” As I whimper, he releases the tortured nipple, licks and sucks it into his mouth. He inserts a second finger and rotates his hand, his fingers twist inside me. I groan loudly. “You are so swollen, baby. Mmmm,” he growls. “You feel good.” I pant as his fingers curl inside of me, rubbing quickly and firmly against that incredibly sensitive spot. Oh! I writhe and squirm. It’s such an overpowering sensation, I can’t take it. His mouth smothers my cries, wrenched from me as I come.
Geez, that was fast!
He continues stroking inside me as my body trembles from my orgasm. Lucas kisses my forehead, my closed eyelids, and my parted lips gently. I open my eyes, and he smiles. “You are so beautiful, Sofie.”
I smile dazedly as he releases my hands and pulls his fingers from me. He moves off me and stands beside the bed, staring down. I have no reason to be embarrassed, he’s seen me many times, but I am, and I move my legs together.
“No. Leave your legs spread, Sofie,” he orders as he undoes his pants. My whole body flushes as his eyes move over me. He’s quickly naked, and I can’t take my eyes off his erection. He is so freakin’ big! My mouth goes dry thinking about him inside me. I look up, catch his smirk, and I’m blushing again.
“You like?” He holds his erection and I think my blush will blister me. He laughs and grabs my legs, pulling me toward him, flipping me over onto my stomach. I’m caught off guard at the suddenness of the move and inhale sharply.
“Up on your knees,” he orders as he grabs my hips. “Move your knees apart.” He grabs my ponytail, pulling my head back before burying himself to the hilt in one smooth, powerful thrust. I cry out from the sensation of fullness and him pushing against that extremely sensitive spot deep inside of me.
“You feel so good, my sweet,” he says hoarsely. “You’re so tight.” He grasps my hips, and I moan as he pulls out and then thrusts in deeply.
I instinctively tighten my vaginal muscles, contracting around his erection. I smile with great satisfaction when I hear his sharply indrawn breath. He growls deeply as I tighten my muscles again and I gasp as I
feel him grow larger. I writhe against him, feeling every inch rubbing inside of me as Lucas slowly pulls out. He leans over me, his front to my back, and pulls me up.
“Sofie,” he breathes in my ear and bites my earlobe. His hands cover my breasts, squeezing, then pinching my nipples hard, causing me to buck against him. “Easy!” His voice is deep and husky.
“Lie down on your back, spread your legs, and bend your knees.” I flush at his words, but do as he orders as his hot gaze moves over me.
He enters me slowly, his hands on either side of my shoulders, holding his chest up above me. He’s looking into my eyes, and I moan at the sensation of him filling me, stretching me. He leans down for a kiss, straightens and pulls my legs up over his shoulders. Oh, this feels good. He thrusts in and out slowly.
“This may be too intense for you,” he warns. With that said, he leans forward, bending me in half. This angle feels exquisite, and my moan lets him know I like it. He’s up on the bed now, his knees beside my hips, as he picks up speed and lunges deeply into me. It’s so good this way! My panting’s loud, and just when I think the sensation is too much, his thrusts become shallow. This causes friction in a whole different area.
I grip his arms and move my head back and forth. He slows and deepens his thrust again. Oh! I don’t think I can take much more. The pain/pleasure is building, and he moves my legs wider, letting them slide off his shoulders as he leans back, holding them in the crook of his arms.
“Do you like this, sweet?” he rasps, his teeth clenched. He continues to thrust into me slow and deep as he grips my thighs. “Hmmm?”
“Yes!” I cry, gripping the sheets as my back bows off the bed. My legs start to quiver, and I try to straighten them, but Lucas holds fast, keeping them held tightly in place. The intense pleasure builds to the point of pain. “Please, Lucas,” I cry.
