by S. K. Yule
“The point is, Stryder did show up, and we’re all okay. Sarek got Molly to safety and came back to help me.” She went on tiptoe and kissed him softly on the lips. He remained still but didn’t pull away. When she leaned back, the ferocity she saw burning in his eyes stole her breath. “I’m sorry, Bayden.”
“Go to your room, Ellie.”
Okay. She’d screwed up, but she wasn’t a child. She took a step back, and pointed her finger at him. “You’re not my father, Bayden. Don’t treat me as though I’m three years old.”
He closed the small gap between them, and they stood toe-to-toe. She had to crane her neck back to look up at him. Uh-oh. You seriously pissed him off now. She wanted to argue, wanted to stay and defend Sarek, but deep down she knew Bayden wouldn’t hurt him. She nodded. “Please don’t be too hard on him.”
Bayden snorted. “I’ll deal with you later.”
She refused to let him see how much he intimidated her. “Who are you to deal with me?” She poked him in the chest.
“Don’t push it right now.” His words somehow squeezed from his clenched lips.
Suddenly, the adrenaline from her scare only moments earlier turned into need. She felt more alive at that very moment than she had in months. “Or you’ll what? Spank me? I’m not afraid of you, Bayden.”
His hand snaked out in a blurring speed, fingers tangled in the hair at her nape, and his firm, full lips slammed down on her mouth. There was no playfulness. No lazy exploration. This was meant to be punishment, but she reveled in the kiss. His tongue pushed at her lips, and she immediately opened to him. She breathed his scent in deep and tangled her tongue with his as they dueled for supremacy.
She melted against him, and he growled low in the back of his throat. The sound vibrated inside her mouth. A rush of hot moisture gathered between her thighs, and she squirmed at the nearly forgotten sensation. It’d been much too long before she’d met Bayden since she’d enjoyed kissing a man. There hadn’t been time for anything other than survival after the meteor. She moaned again when he slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss further.
No. This isn’t kissing a man. This is being consumed by him. Suddenly, she realized she was falling in love with him. She placed her palms on his sides and rubbed them along his hips, then around to his ass. Her knees nearly buckled. His body was rock hard, and she wanted to see him naked. True, she’d seen most of him that day she’d walked in on him in the bathroom, but she wanted to see all of him. Every…single…inch.
“Sorry.”
Sarek’s voice had barely penetrated the fog of her brain when Bayden jerked away. She caught her breath as his lavender eyes blazed down at her.
“I’ll come back later,” Sarek said quietly.
“No. You stay,” Bayden said without taking his gaze from her.
She swallowed hard. He was still furious, but the bulge in front of his pants told her he was as turned on as she was.
“I’ll deal with you later,” he repeated yet again.
This time, she flashed him a big smile, shrugged her shoulders, and turned to make her way back to her room. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to keep her wobbly knees under her.
Chapter Eight
On the way back to his room, Bayden kicked an empty crate, smashing it against the wall. Fury and terror weren’t emotions he’d felt since he was a young boy. His heart lurched at the thought of something happening to Ellie. He’d chewed Sarek a new asshole, a guarantee that the creeper wouldn’t dare show his face around Bayden for a few days, but he could also be certain that the kid would never be careless with Ellie and Molly again.
After undressing, he stepped under the spray of the warm shower, leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, allowing the massage of the jets to soothe him.
He was aware Sarek would never intentionally put Ellie or Molly in danger, but the kid needed to start thinking about those kinds of things instead of only his experiments and computers. He loved Sarek, but it was time for Sarek to grow up and start acting responsibly. Bayden stepped out of the shower, dried off, and then dressed and went to his room.
Stryder had killed the vamp that had attacked Ellie. While most enemies didn’t dare wander too close to the compound—knowing threats were dealt with swiftly and usually with deadly force—there was an occasional idler here and there.
Bayden had never let anyone get close enough to hurt him. Rohoman, Stryder’s brother had made that mistake with his wife, Faylinn, and had been singed by that bitch. If any one of them let a woman into his heart, she would have the power to destroy.
The closest people to him were his team. Yet, if something happened to him, he held no misconceptions that any of them would be unable to pick up and go on without him. They loved one another as much as they were capable, but shit happened.
If that were completely true—no one was close enough to him to hurt him—why had it felt as if he’d go insane with fury after he’d learned what had happened today with Ellie, Sarek, and Molly? Just thinking about it made him wish he’d been the one who’d killed the vamp.
Realization hit him like a ton of space debris. Ellie already held his heart in her hands.
He’d never intended to give it to her. But this was one of those moments—an epiphany—where he realized he couldn’t control everything that happens in life…even if that thing is his own heart. That still didn’t change the fact that she deserved better than him, and he’d rather die than tie her to him. His enemies wouldn’t hesitate to kill or torture her to get to him. She and Molly were his only weaknesses. While he wasn’t close to the girl, she was important to Ellie, which made the kid important to him. If anyone outside the Reapers found out about that…
He shook his head. He’d keep them safe. He’d never let anyone hurt them. And anyone who tried? Kodo have mercy on their soul because he sure wouldn’t.
He had to talk to Ellie. Had to tell her what he was, and why there could never be anything between them. He opened the door and walked down the hall. He could go through the bathroom to her room, but he wouldn’t betray her privacy like that. He tapped lightly on the door several times, but there was no answer. He glanced at his time meter. Ten. Maybe she’d already gone to bed. She did have a trying day. Then it hit him. He’d never asked her if she was all right. He’d been too furious, too scared, too relieved that she was okay. He was an asshole. He bunched his fists.
He was too wound up to try to sleep and started down the hall to the entertainment room. He’d watch a fight movie. That always relaxed him. He passed Thad on the way. “Where are you heading?”
Thad pulled the towel from his shoulder and wiped the sweat from his face. “Going to shower. I just beat the shit out of the bag. Then I have a date with Ryon Blue.”
“That stuff’s going to kill you,” Bayden said.
“We can only hope… We can only hope.” Thad made his way down the hall where Bayden had just come from, but turned left to head for his own rooms.
Ryon Blue was a potent alcohol, and Thad’s favorite. Thad hadn’t coped well with his wife’s death, and Bayden knew the man was only half joking about the alcohol killing him. While he didn’t condone self-destruction, he understood it.
When he made it to the entertainment room, the lights were out, but one of the big screens flickered with some type of sappy, love-shit story. He walked to the couch intent on finding a remote and turning the movie off but stopped when he saw Ellie curled up, sound asleep. She was on her side, and her hand was propped under her cheek. She looked like an angel. He sucked in a breath when she moaned, and his cock twitched which caused him to curse under his breath.
He sat at her feet, and her lids slowly opened to reveal sleep-glazed eyes. She stretched, smiled, and sat up. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I must’ve fallen asleep. I’m sorry. Did you want to watch something?”
He shook his head. “We need to talk.”
ELLIE’S SLEEP-FOGGED brain cleared i
nstantly. “Yeah. I think we do.” She started to sit up, but Bayden put one hand on her shoulder, staying her.
“First of all, I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you were all right earlier.” He watched her from under half-closed lids.
Damn the man for being so gorgeous. “It was kind of obvious that I was.” She cleared her throat. Maybe he was here to tell her that he was going to carry her to his bed and have his wicked way with her. Don’t I wish.
“Doesn’t matter. I should’ve asked. I was simply too angry over the situation. I was an ass.”
She tried not to grin because he was serious as hell, and she didn’t want him to think she was belittling his apology. “You were definitely an ass, but not asking if I was okay when it was clear that I was isn’t what you should be sorry for. Thank you for realizing you should’ve asked, but I think the apology should focus on you being an ass and treating me like a child.”
She couldn’t fight the grin any longer and was relieved when his lips twitched up at the corners as well.
“I don’t believe you’re a child, but I can’t apologize for being upset over the danger you were exposed to, no matter how unintentional it was. You’ll be waiting a long time for me to apologize over anything that involves your safety. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but I won’t budge on this one. Your and Molly’s safety is my number-one priority. And while the not-being-a-child part is true, you’re naive about the dangers here.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “I’ll concede your point, but it’s possible to convey that information without treating me like a child.”
Bayden groaned and rubbed his nape before drawing in a long breath. “This isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Fair enough. Let’s agree to treat each other as adults from now on and leave it at that. Moving on. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I know there’s an attraction between us.”
“Yes.” She barely kept her mouth from falling open. He’s actually admitting that there’s something between us? Her heart thumped faster.
He brushed a clump of stray hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. The warmth of his fingers brushing against her skin sent shivers of need down her spine.
“You tempt me like no woman ever has, but as I told you before, nothing can come of it.”
“That’s what you wanted to say? To tell me again how even though we’re attracted to one another, we can’t do anything about it because you have this macho, screwed-up notion about you not being good enough for me?”
His eyes widened. “It’s not a notion. It’s the truth.”
She stood. “Just shut up, Bayden. If that’s all you came to tell me, you can leave.” She had had enough. She wanted him. He wanted her, but he was being a stubborn, bullheaded pig. Well, she wasn’t going to beg him.
“I can’t give you what you need.”
“And what exactly is it that you can give me?” she asked while folding her arms across her chest.
He took a step closer. “I can give you pleasure. I can even give you kindness and respect, but I can’t give you forever.”
She rolled her eyes. “Does every man on the face of the planet—planets—think that every unattached woman wants forever?”
He scrunched his brows. “Ones like you do.”
“Like me? Hmm.” She tapped her chin. Did he just compliment me? Not wanting to get off subject, she let it go. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that, but for now, I’ll leave it.” She stuck her pointer finger in the air and started ticking off facts. “First of all, I have no grand design on you. I’m attracted to you, but we haven’t known one another for long. Second, I won’t deny that I enjoy spending time with you, but that doesn’t mean I’m longing for you to sweep me off my feet and ask me to marry you. Third, as far as you not being able to give me what I need? I’m not even sure what I need.”
“Ellie, I—”
“No! Since that damn meteor wiped out my home, I’ve had no childish fantasies about a knight in shining armor riding in on a white horse to rescue me. Any dreams I once had of meeting a man and falling in love died along with everything else I loved. I have no preconceived notion about what type of man I need. Honestly? I don’t need a man at all. But if I was to meet one that I was interested in for more than friendship, I can only say that I’d wish for the basics—love loyalty, respect, and companionship.”
She studied him, taking in the sincerity of his face.
Then it hit her. He 100 percent believed what he said. He hadn’t been making excuses or telling her lies to brush her off. He truly thought he wasn’t good enough for her. How could he possibly think that?
She hadn’t tucked away to memory any grand list of needs or wants where men were concerned. She wanted Bayden, even if it didn’t work out between them. If getting to know him, even falling in love with him, came with the risk that things wouldn’t work out between them, she didn’t care. She’d rather take that chance than go the rest of her life wondering what if.
I guess it’s up to me now. She rose to her toes and wound her arms around his neck. He pulled back, but she tightened her hold, refusing to let him go.
“Ellie.” He growled.
“Growl all you want, Bayden. It only excites me more.”
He sucked in a sharp breath.
She attacked his mouth with a fervor she didn’t know she possessed. Life had been too precarious as of late to waste time on trivialities.
She trailed her tongue over his full lips and nipped at the bottom one. After a few seconds, he finally let out a low, tortured groan and returned the kiss. She reveled in the feel of him, the clean scent of him. He wrapped his arms around her and tumbled her to the couch. His weight felt delicious on her, and she spread her legs wide to cradle his hips between them. When his hardness pressed against her, a small ping of alarm shot through her body. It’d been a long time since she’d made love to a man, and he was bigger than anyone she’d been with.
His tongue danced with hers, and he pushed his hand under her shirt and cupped her breast. He found her nipple unhindered by a bra and rolled the hardening peak between his fingers. She moaned and strained to get closer to him. Her body started to catch fire, the flame stoked as he rocked against her. The thrusting of his tongue in her mouth matched the thrusting of his hips against the part of her that yearned for him most.
“I ache with wanting you, Ellie.” His breaths came hot and hard against her ear.
He was wild, but his rough hands certainly didn’t hurt her. In fact, she felt small, conquered, but also empowered that she was able to give this huge man pleasure.
“Then take me.” He ripped her shirt down the middle, and she squeaked, barely able to stop from covering her bared breasts with her hands.
“You’re so damn beautiful, nela,” he whispered.
The way his eyes darkened as they gazed upon her nakedness promptly chased any embarrassment away that she felt. She wanted his shirt off too, to be skin to skin with him, craved running her hands over his hot skin. Before she could pull off the garment, his mouth descended over her nipple.
Zings of electricity shot through her. “Ohh.” She rested her head against the cushion. She tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to her, and a keening moan slipped from her throat. He pulled the stiffened peak deep into his mouth, licked, nipped, and sucked it until she thought she might pass out. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he swooped down on the other nipple and introduced it to the same sweet torture.
His hand slid under the waist of her jeans, and the brief stab of fear that shot through her from being touched so intimately was instantly replaced by the heat that pooled deep in her belly. His hand skimmed through the tight curls at the juncture of her thighs before his finger circled her clit. Tremors shook her body, and he kissed her again.
Each time his finger brushed the sensitive bundle of nerves, her skin burned hotter and the pressure inside her belly built. Sh
e jerked with every mind-blowing caress, and she dug her nails into his shoulders as he brought her body to a fevered pitch. She pulled her mouth from him, panting for air.
The heat that burned in his gaze curled her toes. She reached for his shirt and fought to get it over his head. She sucked in a deep breath. His chest was a perfectly sculpted, broad span of golden skin. There wasn’t one ounce of fat on his body. And his abs… Her mouth went dry. She’d never seen a man put together as gorgeously as he. She licked her lips and pulled him down for another kiss.
His hand slipped back to the waistband of her jeans and tugged at the button and then the zipper, all the while his mouth, his lips claiming her. He stood and pulled her to her feet in front of him. Her body ached for him, for the pleasure that it instinctively knew only he could give. He knelt in front of her and kissed her stomach, swirled his tongue around her navel, and she clutched his shoulders. When she looked down, her breath caught in her throat, and her body tensed.
He looked up at her. “What’s wrong, Ellie?”
No. It couldn’t be. This had to be some kind of mistake. There on his back, almost covering its entire width, was a tattoo. The hooded figure had no face, only a black void. Starting from its neck and ending at its feet, a thick obsidian robe hung in folds around its body. Grasped in its bony hand was a menacing scythe ready to cut into anyone who got close enough. There was no color in the tattoo, just blacks and grays.
She remembered the articles about the Reapers and Renegades, and horror clenched its ugly fist around her insides. She clutched the sides of her shirt together to cover her breasts and stumbled back. Her calves hit the sofa, and she tumbled down on it, staring up at him with wide eyes. “Y-You’re a Reaper.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. “Son of a bitch.” He cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you about the tattoo. It can be daunting.”
“You kill people. I heard about Reapers on the computer. You do horrible things.” Her lips trembled.
