I was ready to move on, to catch my breath and my heartbeat a little when I was on my back. Animal took one of my legs and pushed it out of the way. My orgasm that I thought had completely spent me was just a prologue.
He was at me again. His mouth sucking on me while his fingers did things inside of me that thrummed whole new sensations.
“Oh God. Oh GOD.”
I tried to wiggle away from him, because it was too much. He put his hand flat on my stomach, holding me in place and somehow pushing down lightly and rubbing me from the inside. Instead of a G-spot, he found my whole goddamn alphabet inside. When all of his attention and touch ended suddenly, I almost felt like crying. I mean, it had to stop, but it felt so good I never really wanted it to.
I heard the noise of a wrapper and then the wet sound of the lube he’d brought with him like a threat.
And then his mouth was on my breast. I arched my back and pulled on his broad shoulders. There was so much of him, but he moved elegantly like the dancer he was. He paid wild attention to my clit again, both thumbs rubbing and tugging until I was cursing. I didn’t understand why I was getting this onslaught until he slipped the tip of his dick inside me.
“Can you take it, T? Is it okay?”
He’d prepared me. I lifted my hips with purpose and locked my eyes on him. I took a few more inches for myself until I couldn’t get any more from the angle I was in.
“Make it count,” I dared him.
Animal’s eyes rolled back in his head briefly before he repositioned me, mumbling about opening my hips. He added more lube, and the coolness of it added another layer of sensation. And then he was entering me.
He widened me, stretching the entire way. He had to go slow at first. There was no other way. He pulled out slowly, and I became a straight whore in my head. I just wanted more. Harder. All of him was tremendous. It was taking me out of my mind.
He added more lube. Now I knew why the bottle was so big. He was so big.
I could even tell where the head of his dick was, could feel every inch. He started to go faster, and as much as I wanted to add to his motion, I had to hold still and take the hammering. He focused on the back and forth while pinching my nipples hard.
He was good at this—knowing how to keep me stimulated that I would want this monster he had between his legs.
Animal swirled his hips, stretching me even further. He let go of my nipples, but kissed each one after he did. Then he was back with his thumb on my clit, pressing it and thumbing it as he increased his tempo. I lifted my ass and tried to hold still for him.
His pleasure was something I daydreamed about. I had no idea it’d be this vivid. That I would only feel, not think.
The flashes of him that I begged my mind to remember were of glistening muscles. God, he was so strong. Handsome. His dark skin and beautiful eyes reminded me of a work of art in a museum.
But more than that was the look in his eye. He was cherishing me. He looked at me with lust. He looked at me with love.
Animal loved me the way I loved him.
And when he came, he said my name over and over.
“T, T, T!”
I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him close to me, as deep as he would go.
His weight on top of me was everything I’d ever hoped for. This was it. This was love. This was making love.
I wasn’t wrong. I only love once.
Chapter 58
Animal
I remember thinking of all the guys I knew falling for a woman and becoming lovesick assholes. Like the whole world revolved around the one girl. And if she sent them a text, they would stop mid-sentence to answer her back—forgetting anything we were talking about when they were done.
And I judged them. I thought I had a better handle on manhood. On my brain. On my dick. I even felt that way about Nix. Don’t get me wrong. I love my boy to have happiness. And his skeleton lady friend could not be more perfect for him. But I thought it. I thought he’d softened. Became whipped. Less than flattering things passed through my head. I’d never tell him, of course. Or anyone for that matter.
But now. Sweet Lord now.
T was here, naked in my arms. Spent in my arms. I wanted to kill something and eat the heart in front of her. I wanted to start eight fights and win them all, just so she could be impressed. If she sent me a text, I would drop a nuclear bomb if I were holding it just to see what the text said.
Love was crazy, evidently. I pushed her hair away from her beautiful face. She was bewitching. Did she know? She’d know by the time I married her. I’d have my mouth on every part of her body. I wanted to make her come in so many places she’d have to learn how to say my name in ten languages.
I put my hands on her because she let me. One on her breast, the other on her stomach. I eyed her whole body. I wanted to put my baby inside her. Not right now, but she was tapping into my need to further the species. This was some deep stuff.
I was such a pussy for her, and proud to be that way.
She was home. She was alive. And she was willing to be mine.
Maybe I’d earn the favor of someone up above. I tried not to be a dick about my blessings. Bones. Merck. Pretty Becca and even annoying Ember. I was grateful.
But I messed up. I’d ignored this love right in front of my face, and I didn’t have to spend the rest of my life hating it. She was here. I wonder how many months it would take for me to take her for granted again. I hoped I never did. I hoped I was amazed every day from this moment forward that she was my lady.
T pulled my head close, pushing my cheek between her breasts. “That was so…”
I started to laugh, adding, “The best sex in the entire history of the world? Yeah. It was that.”
I could hear her heartbeat and see her nipple. I buried my hand into her pussy gently, too. Perfection.
She wiggled and then crossed her legs around my hand. “Just keep that there as a souvenir. Because that was a hell of a ride.”
Her hand came around my mostly limp dick. I jolted, but then let her. “This beautiful thing is a weapon. I feel like you just made a replica of it inside my body.”
“That’s my hope. I wanted to ruin you for anyone else. You’re mine. My wife.”
She exhaled. “You really mean that? Or is it the whole Lazarus thing that’s got you going?”
I lifted my head so I could look her in the face. “Oh, I mean it. And as soon as possible. I’ll take you to Vegas naked, right now.”
She let go of my dick, and it slapped my thigh and then hers.
“That thing is like an elephant’s trunk, my gosh.” After she complimented it a few more times, I had to joke with her.
“You want to marry me or my cock?”
“Do I have to pick? I was hoping it was a packaged deal.”
“You can have them both. Seriously, though. Vegas, in a few hours, okay?” I kissed her lips deeply.
“When we sleep and eat and face the harsh sunlight, if you still want to do it, we’ll talk.”
I wasn’t scared of her. “It’s a date.”
Chapter 59
T
“What’s Ember been up to?” It was morning, and we were in my room. Animal had left it like a shrine. I even had a phone charger.
“She’s taking classes at the community college in town. She’s still pretty pissed about the Merck thing, but she’s been talking to us. She was worried about me. Missing you, too.” Animal was stretched out on my bed. He was a lot, covered the whole damn surface. He was naked. I sat down and enjoyed the view of him in the sunlight from my window. Even lying down his muscles were defined. Any time he moved, a new one flexed.
“I need to go see her.” I stood. I was way beyond sore. He and I had been at each other all night. Like we were battling to prove who loved who more. It had been delicious. I’d been saving my heart for him, and damn, I was a whore about him now.
“I’ll get her brought here. You’re not going anywhere. You and I need to
have a heart-to-heart about what happened, what you learned. Bunches of stuff.” Animal sat up and pulled himself against my headboard.
I enjoyed his abs the whole time he moved.
“Has she been coming around?” I brushed my hair out. It hurt when I lifted my left arm now. The gunshot wound had torn a muscle there.
“Not really. Nix wants to give her space. And I’m betting the less she’s seen with us, the safer he feels she is.”
He was silent as I dressed for the day.
“Please don’t put that beautiful body away,” he pouted.
I had a flare of insecurity. So many women had been under his gaze. Would I be enough? Forever?
“Don’t. Don’t get in your head. I know that you’re going to worry. I promise, you are mine and I’m yours. Gladly. So fucking gladly.” He swung his legs off of my bed and enfolded me in his arms.
“Okay,” I added as he kissed the top of my head. “I’ll believe that.”
We went back and forth, but eventually I convinced him to let me go to Ember. She was still at her Aunt Dorothy’s. He didn’t want me to actually leave. He kept saying he felt like he was dreaming, but I was feeling that way, too. Getting this—to be with him—was making me nervous. Maybe for no good reason. Maybe I’d always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was a lot, so soon.
He wasn’t my mom. She couldn’t escape her behavior if she was off her meds, but he could be different. He could allow himself to be true to me. Love me.
It took kisses and assurances, but he finally agreed that me meeting Ember on her territory was a good idea.
“Can you have Nix text her that I’m coming? I don’t want to shock the crap out of her.”
Nix was on my request, and I was out the door in the minivan. It was bulletproof and not flashy, which was fine.
I’d stolen Albany’s Corvette and driven it to the closest city. It turned out we were in Canada, so although it was a different country, there were ways of getting across the border that weren’t too intimidating. I had dumped Albany’s car in Albany, which felt pretty ironic and lovely. I switched to a sitting duck utility truck that had the keys left in it to make the drive the rest of the way to Midville. It had taken two days to get home.
Having a shower and my own clothes was incredibly soothing. To top that off, with a naked Animal in my bed? It was wonderful.
But now I had to face Ember. I knew Animal would miss me, and Nix and Becca as well. But Ember had just started opening up to me when I was taken. I worried about her. I wanted to show her I respected the blossom of friendship we’d had. I didn’t let people in—obviously. Ember needed someone who had no claims on her. At least, that’s how it seemed.
Nix texted me that Ember was home and alone. I went to the back door and made sure my head was covered. My hoodie and jeans could mark me as a teenager or hopefully one of her young friends if anyone untoward was watching.
She let me in, and when I removed my hood, I saw the wariness in her face.
“And we’re supposed to trust you? Just like that?” Ember’s nostrils flared and she folded her arms in front of her. “I needed you.”
She pushed at her long brown hair. I wasn’t wrong about the friendship I’d perceived.
I recognized the pain in Ember. I’d left her, and I had a feeling she was like me. I’d handle a situation like this the same way. I’d make people work for the right to be with me again. She was so, so angry.
“I needed you, too.” I didn’t reach out to her or force the situation. She had to be her own person, and her feelings were relevant. “This is literally the soonest I could escape. And if you don’t feel right about this, I’ll leave. I want you to trust your gut. If you have doubts, I’ll leave until you’re comfortable.” I held my palms out to her. I had to let her know I valued her opinion. “Even if that’s forever.”
Ember moved her lips from one side to the other, looking me up and down.
Finally, I watched as her eyes filled up. “I don’t want you to leave again.” She had a small sob at the last word, and it was a knife in my chest. But it was also resurrection. I wiped at a sympathy tear on my cheek.
“I never want to leave again. I didn’t want to leave last time, but I wasn’t letting Animal trade his life for Nix’s. I wasn’t letting them take Animal and Nix from you and Becca. You mean too much to me to allow that hurt to happen.” It was a lot for me to say. I hoped she knew how genuine I was being. Speeches were out of character for me.
Her acceptance was quiet, but it was the best. “Okay.”
I held out my arms for her, and she trotted into them. I rubbed her back.
“It must have been hell for you. Five months.” Ember pulled back so she could look in my face.
“I managed. It was something else though.” I told her as much as I could without giving her information that could hurt her later.
We eventually got around to Animal and me. And how we were—as far as I could tell—a real couple. I told her about Vegas and that I wanted her there for the wedding. If it actually happened.
I warned her of Merck’s inevitable invite. She thought about it for a few minutes before agreeing that she would attend. I was ecstatic because it felt like she was going to be my guest, and I was proud to have one.
I snuck out the back door and slipped into the woods where I used to watch her. I stayed there for a few hours to make sure she was okay. Wardon was still on duty, so I felt like I could leave. We had a wedding to plan.
But first, Albany would pay. I wouldn’t head into my future with her not having to be held responsible for what she had done to my pack.
Chapter 60
Animal
I wanted to bring Albany Breston to her knees. T had filled all of us in on the things she’d run across while she was captive in Canada, and the scariest part, bar none, was the fact that she and her team were working on a new way to medically torture someone. And that they were interested in selling it legally and under the table.
They were the worst of society. Only money mattered. She never thought about the end result of something that powerful. And she had plenty. Breston had money on money on money.
It was bullshit. You can’t take money with you to the grave, so turning it into your god seemed like a waste of time to me.
We were about to have an informational meeting in the basement. Nix liked to go deep where there were no windows and he could be sure that he wasn’t going to be overheard. People could call him paranoid, but he basically thought of every possible way he could tap into a conversation and headed it off.
So when we sat around in the basement, the plans to Breston’s medical facility in Canada were proudly displayed on the monitor.
T gave us her review of her time there. Where they held the treatments, patients, and labs. She got the sense that most resources were buried in this new drug they were close to perfecting. She explained how it worked, and we talked about the implications and uses. T was fantastic at remembering the tactical stuff, though she was pretty shit at names and descriptions. She did her best. I found it all a turn-on and adorable.
Nix was curious about their cameras and attempted a few rudimentary hacks to see how prepared they were for potential cyber attacks.
It was clear it’d take him a longer time to hack into their systems. We couldn’t even fathom how much money we were up against. Her father and brother’s company’s legitimate product sales were in the billions. But if Albany got into illegal drugs for them, it could almost be limitless amounts of money.
It all seemed to be a bit much. I didn’t know where we would start.
Becca, who had been mostly listening, offered her opinion. “You know, sometimes taking little bites out of something is the best way to get it done. I mean, look at Nix’s tats. They couldn’t be done in a whole day.”
Nix turned to her. “How do you mean?”
“Well, how can we take them down in small bites? I mean, things can happen all at once, but
on low level stuff.” She stood and pointed at the graph we had on the wall of the Breston products we knew of.
“Like, you know an Internet fake rumor can change destinies now. What if we started a fake one about Breston? Something that affected their sales.”
I watched as an almost angry look crossed T’s face. Then it lit up. “That’s genius. We can start reports on some of their drugs and some of their products—saying they’re harmful or what have you.”
We were a flood of ideas, and Nix typed furiously to keep up. We could use the Kaleotos family and my army to start the rumors that Breston was a shit place to do business with. Then we could let the father and the son in on our threats. That we’d tell people that they were poisoning groundwater. That their pills were contaminated. Safety seals could be popped in mass quantities. Nix didn’t even bring up how much damage he could do to them on the dark net. Unless they brought Albany to a reckoning. We wanted her in prison, and nothing else would satisfy us.
It could work. At least we could make a dent. Things could happen to them. It had seemed insurmountable when we’d come downstairs, but now on our way back up, we had a solid plan. It would start the next day, and it would take all of us to pull this off, save Ember. We weren’t trying to bring her into this business. She didn’t need her face tangled into this next level bullshit we were getting involved in.
T was opposed to using me as Albany bait. It took convincing to get her to agree. I had to assure her that I wouldn’t do the confrontation alone. T wanted to be there.
After a ton of conversation, we agreed as a group that the best punishment for Albany would be prison. T was adamant that it would have the most effect on the woman. She was very spoiled and yet unhappy. Having to wear shoes in the shower and take a piss out in the open would be the best therapy.
I had doubts, though. I knew my girl. She was methodical and devoted, and she was loyal to Nix.
We started small, with me going alone to Meme’s, dancing with some of the ladies I played with before T and I were engaged.
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