Corrupt Desires

by Jennifer Bene

  “Fourteen. They took me when I was seven, and I barely got to see her after that because they said she was unstable.” Phee shook her head, trying to stifle the tears as Bryant tightened his arms around her. “But she wasn’t, not really. All those episodes she used to have, she was right. She was fucking right!”

  “Yes. Yes, she was. I don’t know how she knew, but she was right.” Bryant brushed her hair back from her face and rocked her against his chest. “Maybe she was in the resistance. Maybe she was trying to fight them in the beginning, we can ask about it in the morning. What was her name?”

  “Helen. Helen Everett.”

  “That’s almost as beautiful as Ophelia Everett.” Bryant managed a smile when she looked up at him, and she couldn’t believe how handsome he was even now. Even twisted up in his own darkness. They had both been trapped by so much darkness. The deaths of parents, family, looming over them. Shaping their lives, honing them into the people they were today. It hurt like nothing else in the world, and that pain echoed in Bryant’s unreal eyes as he brushed another tear away.

  She was so fucking tired of hurting.

  Lifting onto her knees, she felt his hand leave her cheek, and then she kissed him. Hard. Her face still damp with tears, she pushed his shoulders back until he was against the wall again so she could straddle his lap. Bryant’s hands found her hips as she shifted forward until there wasn’t an inch of space between them. Her hands were in his hair, holding him in the kiss, nipping his lower lip, and he growled and nipped her back.

  Phee wanted to lose herself in him. In the man that had thrown away so much, had risked so much, to save her life. All because she had taunted him into a date. But he was so much more than a one-night-stand now. He was a warrior, wreathed in the flames of the righteous that the fucking Cabal of Freedom tried to claim with their phoenix emblem. But they weren’t the ones that had risen from the ashes. Bryant had risen from the ashes of his parents’ deaths to become a warrior. He had stood side by side with the man that had destroyed his life. For a decade, he had eaten lunch with him with a smile on his face, and she imagined he had sat in his home and laughed with him — all while working towards his destruction.

  That was worthy of righteous fire. And somewhere, deep inside her, Phee felt a spark that pushed back the darkness a tiny bit.

  The kiss wasn’t enough, not right now. Breaking away, she climbed off the bed and ripped the borrowed shirt over her head. Then the pants and underwear, and she stared at Bryant, silent, until he seemed to make a decision and pulled his shirt off as well.

  In moments they were both naked, clothing piled on the floor and she pushed him back to the bed. Waiting for him to shift back so she could climb back onto his lap. Straddling him made her feel somewhat in control, holding back the chaos of the real world, and she just wanted to feel something good. Wanted Bryant. His cock stood hard between them and she wrapped her hand around it, gripping him at the base before moving her hand up slowly, rolling her thumb over the head as she watched him press back to the wall, groaning out his satisfaction with a hum that brought the ghost of a smile to her lips. The muscles in his stomach tensed, his fingers digging into her hips. She repeated that a few times until he growled and lifted her hips, pulling her towards him.

  Impatient, but then so was she.

  Leaning down, Phee captured his mouth as she guided him inside her, dropping her hips down, impaling herself on him without a second thought. They both moaned loudly into the kiss, his hands tightening as she started to rock. Rising and falling, then rolling her hips to grind against him, seeking her own pleasure before starting the movements all over. She nipped his lip before their tongues tangled again, his touch moving behind her neck to keep her there. Moans humming in their chests as she worked them towards an orgasm. Fire caught at the base of her spine where they were joined, racing tingling sparks up her spine, promising escape, ecstasy if she would just keep going.

  Phee picked up the pace and it broke their kiss, bracing herself on his shoulders as she rose and fell, driving her hips down hard, circling, and lifting again. It quickly became one singular motion, and she heard him growl, “Fuck… just like that.”

  His hands found her hips again, lifting her when she went up, and pulling her down harder as she descended. Sparks of pure pleasure moving through her, embers popping from the fire, the heat inside her growing until it was an inferno that she wanted to dive into. Her legs shivered with the strain of continuing to move as the pending orgasm made her shake, her muscles taut, and then she slipped over the edge. Pleasure exploded inside her, mindless bliss rushing out to flood down her limbs and leave her breathless and whimpering on top of him. Trembling. Bryant twisted them to lay her out on the bed, and he thrust hard, his lips muffling the moans and whimpers slipping from her mouth. Dragging out the orgasm as she gasped between possessing kisses. Then a groan rumbled in his chest as he stilled on top of her and swiftly pulled out, spilling over her belly as he gripped his cock and came, chest pumping with every harsh breath as their bodies shivered from the intensity of it all.

  After a long, haze-filled moment, Bryant kissed her again, gently, trailing his mouth down her neck, across her shoulder, and back up. When he shifted to lay beside her, he kept himself propped up on an elbow. Brushing his thumb across her cheek, looking down at her with a look she’d never seen on another man’s face. Something like awe, something raw… something like love.

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” His smile grew slowly as he stared down at her, and she saw the sincerity in his turquoise eyes — and almost believed it about herself.

  But he was wrong. She’d done nothing but live in daydreams after her own tragedies. She’d hid from the harsh realities, cocooned in her mother’s stories as the COF had dragged Lakehurst farther down. Hurt people like her, killed others.

  Shaking her head against the bed, she stared up at him, fighting the urge to cry again. “You’re the amazing one, Bryant. Everything you’ve done? You’re incredible. A fighter, a warrior.” Phee ran a hand through his hair, letting it rest at the back of his neck, cradling his head as he dropped his forehead to hers.

  “Only because I’ve had to be, beautiful. Only because I’ve had to be,” he whispered the words and then kissed her softly, silencing any reply she may have attempted. It was sweet, warm, everything she needed in the moment to keep from coming apart at the seams.

  When they finally separated again, he grabbed the rough blanket at the end of the bed and cleaned her up, pressing kisses to her skin, brushing his hand over her curves with that same reverence before he tugged the thin sheet over them. They were wrapped around each other again, his arms cradling her to him, but it felt better, closer than when they had been in his apartment. They knew each other now. They had been through so much, and while she knew there was still so much to go… they were together.

  Linking their hands, she squeezed tight, feeling the fire burning deep where there had only been a hollow kind of sadness before, and she promised herself that she wouldn’t hide from this reality. His reality. No, this time she’d fight.

  With him.

  7

  “What do you mean we’re doing it tonight?” A man’s voice rose up from the back of the crowd, a ripple of dissent moving through the large number of people packed into the basement of the church. Standing room only, it was hot, stifling, and the tension humming in the air felt like ants crawling under Phee’s skin.

  Bryant was up front with the leaders of the resistance, looking tense as Parks moved to the edge of the makeshift stage, hastily built from wooden pallets and plywood. “Okay, okay, quiet down so you can hear me.” Raising his arms above the growing buzz of too many voices, Parks nodded as the chatter slowed. “What you’ve been told is correct. Circumstances have changed, and if we want this revolution to succeed… we’re going to have to do everything tonight.”

  Another volley of questions, too numerous to be heard as individual voices, but Parks just gest
ured for them to quiet again.

  “Yes, this is a challenge, but everything we have done up to this point has felt impossible until we stood on the other side. But I know the souls in this room, I know your strength, your bravery, your dedication to this cause, and I have faith that each and every one of you will complete your assigned jobs. That you will succeed so that tomorrow a new dawn will break over this city. A new dawn that will herald a world where we will no longer be the foundation for others’ greatness!” The cheer that followed Parks’ powerful, inspiring voice made it obvious why he’d led the resistance for so long. He was a force, a righteous light in the dark, bringing hope to those in the fog who so rarely saw the sun.

  “Sir! Can you tell us what changed?” another voice shouted from the crowd.

  Parks sighed, about to speak again when Bryant laid a hand on his shoulder, whispering to the man before he faced the room. “This is my fault, and mine alone. I would apologize, but I’m not sorry. I had to save someone’s life last night, and it means my uncle will figure out my allegiances sooner rather than later. If we act quickly, I can still get close to him, but if we wait too long… our window will close.”

  “Yes, it will. Most of you know that Charles Holbrook is second to Triumvirate Maxwell Berricks, but what has not been public knowledge is the influence Bryant’s uncle holds over them. The power he has already begun to wield, even as second. If Charles Holbrook is allowed to live through the night, many of our plans may be lost.” Parks looked his age in that moment. Gray hair cut in a close crop, matched by a tanned, weathered face that shaped into a frown. But his body was still strong, a fighter, and he spoke like a general to the gathered troops as he raised his head. “And that is why we must take action tonight. Bryant has served us well for years to get us to this point, and now it’s time to destroy them. To reclaim our city.”

  An eerie silence filled the space after Parks finished speaking, finally broken by a shout, “But this is TWO WEEKS early!”

  “Yeah, it’s too fast! We can’t change everything in a day, Parks!”

  “We can!” Bryant raised his voice over the shouts, clenching his jaw for a moment as he seemed to gather his thoughts. “We’ve been reviewing all of the plans since early this morning, many of you have already heard from someone about the changes necessary. The rest of you will see what has been decided as you meet with your teams, and I know that this feels sudden, that it brings us face to face with history far sooner than any of us would have liked… but tonight is our only chance.”

  “Because you saved that bitch!” Easton shouted, pointing directly at Phee. The attention of the room shifted, whispers creating a din as she shrunk against the wall. She could feel the animosity, the tension, the anxious, fear-filled energy of attempting to take down the government tonight. All two weeks earlier than planned because… Bryant had saved her life. Chosen her above all their plans, above everything else at stake, and so she understood their anger even as she lowered her eyes so she didn’t have to face it.

  “Easton. If you ever call her a bitch again I will break your fucking arms. Understand?” Bryant growled the threat quietly, but it carried across the room, and something about the flat way he’d spoken made it less of a threat and more of a promise. Easton obviously believed him because he eased back, went quiet, although the rage on his face didn’t fade.

  “Listen!” Parks brought his hands together in a loud clap, relieving Phee of most of the attention, although a few still stared. “Holbrook has saved our lives more times than I can count. He has identified attacks that would have killed hundreds, and because of him we have had time to save those who would have otherwise died.” Parks grabbed Bryant’s shoulder, gripping as he pulled him forward. “We can’t be angry that he saved another life on top of the thousands that he already has. That girl is one of us, born and raised in the fog like us, and he protected her just like he’s worked to protect all of us for years. So, we’re moving everything up to tonight, and if you have a fucking problem with it you can talk to me after you’re dismissed.”

  Bryant looked over at the man, gratitude showing in his expression as he said something that didn’t carry. Phee chewed on her lip, feeling guilt writhe like a living thing in her stomach, because she was the reason everyone in this room was afraid, the reason that everything they’d prepared was now at risk. She was the sole reason he could no longer be their double-agent, because soon his uncle would know that Bryant wasn’t the dedicated little carbon copy he had designed him to be.

  And then everything would fall apart.

  “What if we can’t get the explosives in place by tonight?” A calmer voice lifted out of the hushed murmurs, towards the front, directly in front of the leaders.

  “All I’m asking from you is your best. Every role has been addressed in our meeting this morning, and directives are with your leaders. Those of you flagged for assassinations, you should have already been contacted to see if you could arrange visits tonight.” Parks looked across the people standing near the front of the group, and there were low murmurs of assent. Looking at Bryant, the man squeezed his shoulder. “And you, Bryant? Can you still get to your uncle?”

  “Yes. He won’t be happy to see me, but he won’t be unhappy for long,” Bryant answered with an icy edge to his tone. Then he took a slow breath, stepping forward to address the group. “Everyone. We have all suffered losses. The COF have taken so much from us. They have killed our loved ones, our families, our friends. Charles Holbrook killed my parents, and I am sure countless others, but this is where we take a stand. A real stand to tear them off their self-made thrones. It is tonight that we will rip them away from their power. Tonight, each of us will get our vengeance.

  “Whatever job you have, no matter how small it may seem, it is important. It is central to our success, and I ask you to do your best. Not for me. Not even for those of us in this room, but for all of those suffering in the fog. For all of those we have lost. Tonight, we will take our home back from their greed, their hate, and we will raise up a new world tomorrow. A world where we can be safe, where all of us can be safe. So, I ask you, ARE YOU WITH US?” he roared the last words and the crowd roared back. In her mind she could see him wreathed in flames again. A great warrior, a king of fire, and the group turned to him like sunflowers following the sun. Cheering louder when Parks joined in, the old man’s eyes glowing with pride as he watched Bryant standing at the very edge of the stage looking out over the people he’d sacrificed everything to fight alongside.

  As the energy pulsed through the gathered crowd, groups broke off to plan. Focused, intent on their maps and schedules and innumerable details. Phee felt useless in the chaos and she hated it. She was worried about Regan, unsure if it would even be safe to contact her best friend or if she’d just put her in danger by reaching out.

  Exactly like Bryant had felt.

  Time was ticking away, the sun dropping in the sky outside even though she couldn’t see it. Soon there would be nothing but the lamps floating like will o’ the wisps in the dense fog. That was when they would strike, as evening fell and darkness descended even on downtown.

  It was hours before Bryant could step away to wrap his arms around her, his chin on top of her head as he hugged her tight. “I think they’re all on board. It’s going to work.”

  “You were incredible.” Hugging him back, she soaked in the warmth of him, breathing in against his shirt as his chest rumbled softly with a laugh.

  “Yeah, I’m not sure anyone agrees with you on that, but I’m just glad everyone seems to be engaged in making it work.”

  “They loved you, Bryant. I know it was probably hard to feel it up there, but your words helped them. You reminded us why we’re all here.” She felt his lips against her hair, swaying gently in his strong embrace, and she wished with everything inside her that there was more time. More time for this, for them.

  “I hope you’re right. Even with all the changes made to the plans, there are new ri
sks we have no time to assess. There are so many ways it can go wrong… but at least I know you’ll be safe.” Another rib bruising squeeze that she welcomed because it pressed her closer to him, gave her permission to hold on a little longer. “I’ll come back as soon as I can, Phee. Things will be—”

  “I’m going with you,” she whispered, having long past made the decision, and she felt him tense against her before he leaned back.

  Lifting her chin so she met his eyes, Bryant shook his head. “No, Phee, no. You can’t go with me, I’m going to my—”

  “I know you’re going to your uncle, but I’m coming with you.” Phee watched the tense storm clouds brewing in his depths, feeling his fingers press just a little harder into her side. “I am,” she insisted.

  “Phee, that’s… no. You have to stay here. I need you to be safe.” His eyebrows pulled together with concern, and his thumb traced her chin in another silent plea, but she shook her head.

  “I won’t be safe here and you know it. They’ve been whispering about it for hours. This many people leaving is going to draw attention. Once the bombs start going off we’d all have to run anyway, and I have nowhere to go.”

  “Then I’ll send you with—”

  “No! I can help you. Watch your back. My mom was brave enough to fight the COF, and I won’t disappoint her. Not again.” Phee grabbed onto his wrist when his thumb inched over her lips like he wanted to stop the words. “I deserve to face the man who ordered my death, Bryant. I’m going to do whatever I can to help the resistance. For me, for my mom, my grandparents… for all of us. Just like you said.”

  “Dammit, Phee.” He growled, shifting his hands to her shoulders to shake her. “This isn’t going to help! I’ve asked around, asked everyone that’s been around a long time… but no one remembers your mom. Not even Parks, and he’s been in it since the beginning.” Bryant eased the grip on her shoulders as he forced a calming breath. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think she was involved, and you don’t have anything to prove to her. She would want you alive, and I need to know that you’re safe.”