He nodded, knowing how he wanted to take her this time. “Again.”
Charity wasn’t quite certain she’d survive Adrian’s lovemaking. Her body was sore and stiff. Well used. But she also felt relaxed, sated and strangely content. She couldn’t believe that Adrian had tied her up, and she’d not only let him, but she’d enjoyed it. The sensation of being helpless, but not in a bad way, was a revelation. Adrian had given her nothing but pleasure.
He’d also done things to her that no other man had ever done. She’d never trust another man enough to let them tie her hands. Nor would she ever allow a man to put his finger up her ass. It had been tight at first, almost painful, but there was a dark pleasure as well. The longer his finger had been inside her, the more she liked it.
The thought of having his thick cock buried in her ass was a tantalizing possibility. One she knew would please him as well. Adrian was so dominant, so in control. She should have run screaming in fear from him. Instead, she’d given herself into his care and had been well rewarded.
Charity bit her bottom lip to keep from groaning as he stroked her breasts, plucking at her nipples. His cock was still locked inside her, pulsing like a heartbeat. She felt restless, the familiar heat building within. As unbelievable as it seemed, she wanted him again. And he wanted her.
She dug her nails into his sweat-slicked shoulders, loving the way the heavy muscles rippled beneath her palms. He was an incredibly beautiful man. A prime example of physical perfection. His shoulders were impossibly wide, his chest banded with muscle. She splayed her hands over his torso, stroking every inch that she could reach.
He groaned and captured one of her hands, bringing it to her lips. “You touch me and I’m ready to come.”
A surge of pride went through her. For the first time in her life, she felt the power of being a woman. It was strange, but she liked it. A lot. It made her feel more of an equal in this unusual relationship of theirs.
They were virtually strangers, yet she felt closer to Adrian than she ever had to anyone in her life. She knew him in a way she couldn’t fully describe. He had honor. He’d fought for justice and equality for years, putting himself in harm’s way. His people were devoted to him, believed in him. Charity trusted him.
She had no idea how long she’d be with him, but she wanted whatever time she could get. Life was short and uncertain. This was the first time in her life she’d felt happy. She wanted to hoard as much of the sensation as she could. The future would take care of itself.
Adrian started to pull out of her. She wrapped her legs around him, trying to lock him inside her. He laughed as he leaned down and dropped a quick, hard kiss on her lips. She could taste herself on him, the combination of his mouth and her cream. She licked her lips, savoring the flavor and he groaned.
He unlocked her ankles and pulled out. She cried out at the loss. Adrian flipped her onto her stomach, wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up onto her knees. She braced her hands against the floor to keep steady. Adrian was already between her legs, fitting his cock back into her sheath. Where she was so wet from the combination of her orgasm and his, he slid in easily.
She arched against him as he forged his way into her, loving the sensation of being filled by him.
“Your cunt fits me like a glove.” His voice was low and dark, his words making her blush even as they aroused her. She’d never met a man who talked like he did. He was gritty and real, comfortable with his sexuality.
One of his arms banded around her waist, his fingers dipping low until he was touching her mound. “Your sweet little bud is just begging for my touch.” His voice was hypnotic. She felt the brush of his finger against her clit and moaned. “That’s it,” he encouraged, stroking her clit. “I love the little sounds of pleasure you make. It’s like music.”
He shifted his hand, bringing it back to her ass. He cupped both mounds in his palms and squeezed. “I love your ass.” He dipped one finger into her crease and rimmed the tight opening. “I want to fuck your ass one day.” He pressed his slick finger past the ridge of muscles and sank into her dark depths.
He worked his finger deep, stretching her. She was filled to overflowing with his finger in her ass and his cock buried in her pussy. She was stretched to the breaking point. Once again, it bordered on pain, but it felt so damn good she didn’t care.
“Will you let me?” He pulled his finger back to the edge of her anus and fitted another one next to it, working both of them into her.
She threw her head back and cried out. It burned even as she shivered in sexual delight. The contradiction threw her over the edge. She came hard, her inner muscles clutching at his cock.
Adrian swore as he pulled his fingers from her ass, wrapped his hands around her waist and began to fuck her. Hard. His hips hammered against hers, flesh slapping against flesh. His balls smacked against her mound with every thrust, brushing her clit. Charity cried out as her orgasm went on and on, consuming her.
Her hands skidded as Adrian pounded into her. Her upper body was flat to the floor while he held her lower half up where he wanted her. He powered into her, his cock stretching her, filling her. He seemed to grow larger, hotter every time he tunneled deep.
He roared and she felt his hot seed spill inside her as he came. He didn’t stop, but kept fucking her until he couldn’t stay upright any longer. They collapsed in a heap onto the pallet. Adrian pulled out at the last second and shifted his weight to one side so he didn’t squash her.
No part of her body seemed functional. She was breathing, which was a good thing, but other than that, she was boneless. She felt hot and sticky, her muscles sore and tender. She stretched her legs as a sense of contentment washed over her.
Adrian’s hand landed on her butt and he squeezed. She gave a small snort of laugher and turned her head so she could look at him. His hair was damp, a lock of hair plastered to his forehead. He looked relaxed. His lips were parted and his blue eyes twinkled.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
He chuckled. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is worn out.” His hand splayed over her lower back before moving up and down in a soothing caress. She gave a sigh of contentment as he rubbed his fingers over her spine.
The caress changed. So subtly at first, she didn’t notice. She froze, her sense of satisfaction disintegrating, replaced by growing tension. Adrian sat up and stared at her. She could feel his gaze boring down on her as he touched the myriad faded scars that ran up and down the length of her back.
They’d been there for so long, she’d all but forgotten them. In the heat of passion, Adrian hadn’t noticed them. But now that the passion had faded, he’d found them. Like the mark on her face, they weren’t her fault, but that didn’t make her feel any less ashamed of them.
“Who?” The single word was cool. Clipped.
She sighed and rolled over onto her back, tugging a thin blanket over her. “The General doesn’t like defiance of any kind.”
Adrian’s lips thinned and his eyes narrowed. “Your father beat you.”
Charity really didn’t want to talk about this. Talk about spoiling the mood. She dragged her fingers through her tangled hair and drew her knees up tight to her chest. “Yes.”
“Did your husband?” Every line of his body was rigid as he waited for her reply.
She had no idea why this was so important to him. It was over and done with and nothing anyone could do would change it. “No.” Adrian’s gaze flickered to her face. She covered the scar on her left cheek with her palm. “He didn’t beat me, but he did hit me once. He was in a rage and I fell and hit my face.” She shrugged, not wanting to remember the shouting, the accusation, or the pain.
Adrian swore and gathered her into his arms. Leaning back against the wall, he held her to his chest. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her arm as she nestled closer. “I don’t need your pity. It happened. I survived. It’s over.” She glanced up at him. “I don’t i
magine that your life’s been easy either.”
He didn’t answer. He cupped the back of her head with his hand and urged her to lean against him. Sighing, she did. In spite of the sleep she’d gotten, she was still tired. But there was so much to do before tomorrow night.
Fear snaked down her spine. She was willingly going back inside the Gate, where her father’s reach was unending. He’d kill her when he caught her. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind. Knowing that, she wanted to celebrate life.
She caught Adrian’s face between her two hands, pulled him down to her and kissed him. There would be time for talking later.
An hour later, Adrian watched Charity as she slept. Propped up on one arm, he tucked a lock of curly hair behind her ear with his free hand. Even though his body was sated, a deep, dark fury welled inside him.
Charity had been beaten as a child and into her adulthood. His own life hadn’t been easy. Neither had the lives of most of the people he knew. But that didn’t seem to matter. Charity had grown up inside the Gate. She should have had an ideal childhood, filled with pleasant memories. Instead, she’d been in as much of a prison as he had. Her every thought and action directed by the General.
Was she still acting on his behalf?
No. He wouldn’t believe that. Couldn’t believe that. In spite of her life, there was a sense of innocence, of honesty, about Charity that tugged at him. She was the reason he was fighting. She and hundreds like her. For the ragged children and the worn women and exhausted men who all dug and clawed for their very existence in this world.
In spite of the hardships, many of them still found joy in the simplest of things. It was what kept him going. But the end of the game was at hand. Either he would defeat the General and bring down the Gate or he’d die. There was no going back.
He touched Charity’s cheek, marveling at her soft skin. He only wished he’d found her sooner. They’d barely had any time together. He didn’t like the idea of her coming with him, of getting in the middle of this fight. But, he supposed, she had no choice. None of them did. The lines had been drawn, the sides chosen.
At least she would be with him where he could protect her. He didn’t trust anyone else to look after her, not the way he would.
He only hoped that when it came down to it, Charity was on his side. He knew that Tienan and Logan would object, as would Silence and Derrick. But Adrian was listening with his instincts, not his intellect. He was going to trust Charity as she’d trusted him.
She, and she alone, had the power to destroy him.
Leaning down, he kissed her. Her sweet lips parted on a sigh but she didn’t wake. He climbed to his feet and dressed in silence. When he was done, he left the room. He stopped at the door and took one final look. Charity lay on the hard floor, covered by two thin blankets. He wanted more for her than that.
He left, closing the door behind him. There was a lot of work to do and not much time in which to do it.
Chapter Six
There was only a small sliver of light from the moon by which to see. Charity was thankful that it wasn’t foggy, as was the case about fifty percent of the time, according to Silence. She’d talked briefly with the other woman when she’d come to wake Charity and lead her to the women’s bathing area and then to the kitchen. Adrian had the foresight to send her knapsack along with Silence. So if she met her death tonight, she was at least clean and well fed.
Silence hadn’t said anything about Charity’s rumpled state. Although it was impossible for anyone with half a brain not to know she and Adrian had slept together. And Silence was no fool. She’d given Charity a warning glare, but other than that, she’d kept quiet about the matter.
Mercy was a bit more pleasant, but she’d been busy. As a healer, Mercy had been seeing patients and patching injuries. As well, she’d been working with Doc Smith on how to best handle any casualties from tonight’s raid.
Her stomach churned and she jumped as Adrian’s hand fell heavy on her shoulder. “You okay?” The heat from his skin penetrated the fabric of her coat and shirt, warming her.
She nodded. She was anything but okay. She’d barely seen Adrian in the past twenty-four hours. He’d been busy organizing his troops and making plans. There had been so much activity and little she could do to help. When she wasn’t helping Nadine in the kitchen area, she’d answered all the questions Adrian, Tienan, Logan and Derrick had put to her. She’d sensed that of all of them, only Adrian trusted her. And she wasn’t even one hundred percent certain about him.
There had been no further opportunity for them to talk alone, let alone anything else. Charity had slept by herself last night, but at least she’d slept on Adrian’s pallet in his office. Just being surrounded by his scent had allowed her to sleep even as it aroused her. She couldn’t be certain, but she thought he might have joined her for an hour or so. She had a vague dream of being held in his arms. But she’d fallen asleep alone and woken alone so there was no way to be sure.
She only hoped that once this was over, they’d have the opportunity to spend more time together. She squared her shoulders and concentrated on the here and now. If all she had of Adrian was the few hours they’d shared, she would count herself lucky to have had that much. He’d shown her what it was like to be happy, even if it was for such a short time.
Charity had no idea where the other men and women in the Resistance were currently hiding. She’d caught only the occasional flash of someone moving through the ruins of the outer city as she and Adrian worked their way toward the dump where they hoped to hop a ride in a disposal truck.
Adrian grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down beside him. She waited, knowing he could hear things she couldn’t, see more than she could. His genetically enhanced senses were phenomenal. Adrian might as well be taking a stroll in the daytime for all the darkness hindered him. She, on the other hand, was stumbling around, desperately trying not to make any noise.
“Do you hear anything?” she whispered. She strained her ears but could hear only the occasional sound of an insect. The night was quiet, almost unnaturally so.
Adrian shook his head, his gaze focused on the piles of rubble that made up the dump. A flash of something off to her right made her gasp. Someone was out there. Before she could speak, he covered her mouth with his hand. Leaning closer, he spoke softly into her ear. “It’s just a kid.”
His soft breath tickled her ear, sending goose bumps down her spine. She shivered and her nipples tightened beneath her clothing. His physical nearness distracted her so much she almost missed his words. When they registered, she jolted. “A child?”
He nodded, his eyes narrowing and his jaw tightening. She was so close, she could almost hear the grating sound of him grinding his teeth. “The kids pick through the garbage, finding food, clothing and anything else they can use to survive.”
“That’s horrific.” The thought of a child having to dig through the garbage to find food was appalling.
“That’s reality.” Adrian didn’t turn his gaze away from the dump. “Your father’s troops brought me here once.”
Every muscle in Charity’s body tensed. From the grim tone of Adrian’s voice, she knew this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending. But she sensed it was very important to him. She didn’t speak, waiting for him to continue.
“Twelve of us were slated for termination back in 2121. We weren’t progressing fast enough for the scientists and the General. We were too unpredictable and there were budget cuts to contend with.” He turned to her and smirked. “They would no longer waste resources on subjects deemed unsatisfactory.”
The horror of it slammed into her gut like the blade of a knife. To hold human life with such little regard was appalling. Her stomach roiled and, for a moment, she thought she might be sick. She swallowed hard and sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself. As horrible as this was, she needed to hear it. Wanted to know what had made Adrian into the man he was today.
“They brought us out
here, lined us up and shot us.” Adrian might have been carved from stone he was standing so still. “This way they didn’t have to dispose of the bodies. Thankfully for me, they didn’t check to make sure they’d done the job right. Their mistake.”
Charity wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her forehead against his back, needing to comfort him in some small way. Nothing could wipe away the memories of that awful day, but that didn’t mean he had to deal with them alone.
Every muscle in his body was tense, but gradually she felt the slightest give in them. He sighed softly and placed his hand over hers where they were entwined on top of his abdomen. “I remember the flies. The sound of the buzzing. The feel of insects creeping over my body. The coppery smell of blood, the stench of rotting flesh.”
Abruptly, Adrian broke away from her embrace and grabbed her arm. “Come on. We need to get into position.”
Her heart broke for him and for the men who’d died beside him that day. They would have been eighteen at the time. Not really men, but no longer boys. Not that they’d ever had a chance to be children or to lead a normal life. Her determination built. She would help destroy her father and the privileged world he inhabited. It wasn’t fair that a few had everything while others starved and died in squalor.
She followed where he led and within minutes they were secreted behind the remains of an old shed. The plan was to wait for the garbage detail to go to the dump and unload its cargo. When it was on its return trip, they’d jump in the back and hope for the best.
They each had several explosive devices in their packs. When they got inside the Gate, they’d jump out of the vehicle, leaving one of the explosives behind. When it went off, the guards would be distracted and that would allow them to blow up the station that controlled that entrance to the Gate.
It all sounded simple enough, but Charity knew there were a hundred things that could go wrong. “Adrian.” He turned toward her and suddenly she didn’t know what to say. How did you tell a man you’d only just met that you loved him and were willing to die for him? She couldn’t.
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