Breathe

by N. M. Catalano

  “I’m not sure. Something came up during the meeting. It appears our little hellion has some interesting friends it seems she’d prefer not remembering,” I reply frustrated.

  I’m pissed off. I don’t know why and I don’t know at what, but I’m angry. I don’t like being angry, it pisses me off.

  “Complications?” Rock asks.

  “Maybe. Could be. I don’t know yet. But I’m going to find out.”

  “Get it on lock down,” Rock replies. It’s curt because there can be no complications.

  “I am,” I snap.

  Because I don’t need any more fucking aggravations.

  I go to mine and Raven’s bedroom door. But it’s locked.

  “Open the door,” I seethe.

  “NO,” she yells from the other side.

  “If you don’t open this door right now, I promise you that punishment I mentioned earlier is not going to be one you’re going to enjoy. Your choice, angel.”

  Seconds tick past as I stare at the thick metal door.

  Finally, I hear her. “Fine.”

  The door clicks open and I step inside.

  When we’re alone, I turn to her. “You need to tell me what he was talking about. And it needs to be right now.”

  “I don’t have to tell you jack. How about you tell me what the hell he was referring to about a contract. Seems you might have left out a pretty important piece of information when you came into my room acting like a knight in shining armor.”

  She’s furious. I don’t blame her. I’d be angry too if I’d have been led right smack in front of a firing squad. She’s standing at the end of the bed, her arms folded tightly across her front, one foot tapping furiously in those sexy fucking boots that are obviously a part of her uniform, the place where she stashes her weapons, and those goddamn shorts and fishnets that slay me. She’s the sexiest psycho bitch I’ve ever had the pleasure of crossing.

  I might have to make her psycho come out to play.

  “Hawk was contracted to kill us and retrieve Summer.”

  Time to come clean.

  Still, that’s only part of the truth.

  She looks like I hit her. Her head jerks back, her jaw falls open, and her eyes widen.

  She didn’t see that one coming.

  “Just a second,” she shakes her head. “Was that all a show,” she fans her hand out to the side, “you and him getting all mercenary on me?”

  “No, not at all. We both had our reasons to be suspicious of you.”

  “But he was acting like he was playing on your team.”

  “At the time he was.”

  “But he was hired to kill you.”

  “Yes. A completely separate circumstance. That’s business.” I brush off her comment.

  “Pretty fucked up business, if you ask me, when you can’t tell who your enemies are.”

  “I know where I stand, angel. It seems to me you’re the one with the questionable associates,” I glare at her. “Who are Phil and Sarcucci?”

  My words hit her with another blow. This time she turns her back on me.

  “Nobody,” she answers tightly, her arms hugging around her middle.

  I close the distance between us, grip her shoulder, and spin her around. “Bullshit, Raven. The president of the Steel Brothers doesn’t care about nobody’s. Who the fuck are they and why are they the only ones who get your feathers all bent out of shape?” My face is right in hers and I’ve got her held with both hands on her arms. She’s not moving until I let her move.

  “They’re not your problem,” she throws back at me.

  “Wrong again, angel. Everything about you is my problem now. And Rock’s, and Summer’s. Just like ours are yours. Need I remind you?”

  She clamps her mouth shut. I can see the battle within her raging in her eyes.

  “I’m leaving,” she finally says, twisting in my grip trying to break free.

  “They’ll pick you up before you got to your little black car in the garage,” I smile at her.

  Her eyes widen again. “How…?”

  I shrug a shoulder. “It was part business finding out everything about you. Just like Phil and Sarcucci are now.” My fingers tighten and dig into her flesh.

  “Let me go,” she hisses.

  “We can do this all day, angel.”

  If she had daggers in her eyes, I’d be bludgeoned.

  These two men, whoever they are, they are big.

  “They’re dead,” she finally spits out, her face a mask of hate.

  “You killed them.” It’s not a question.

  She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t have to.

  “And Bat Boy knows about them,” I add, finally putting two and two together.

  Realization dawns on her.

  “Fucking Joey.” Pain, anger, and despair all lace her words.

  Realizing the only person she confided in betrayed her might be the worst thing she could experience. She’s strong, she doesn’t ask for help, she asked him, and he set her up to get terminated.

  “He really fucked you good, angel. I’m sorry.”

  Her eyes narrow at me. “Don’t. Don’t you ever pity me. Ever.”

  “Raven,” I pull her closer, “don’t mistake understanding for pity. But I have to know. How many others?”

  I didn’t peg her for a killer. A bad-ass broad, a devil in heels and fishnets. But a murderer? No.

  “Get off me,” she pushes against my chest. Cute.

  But she’s not trying to be cute. She’s almost losing her shit. Whatever the reason was she killed those men, it pushed her to be something she’s not.

  “So do you take contracts? Or is it random?”

  “I’m not a killer,” she’s like a wildcat trapped in my hold.

  “But you’ve killed. Twice. Who paid you to off them?”

  “Nobody paid me. Okay?!”

  I’m pushing her, I know it. It’s the only way she’s going to crack.

  “So you did it for fun.”

  “NO! I did it because he let him rape me! Phil gave me to him, I was thirteen for fucks sake! And he raped me for two fucking years. To pay off Phil’s debts!! So I killed them, both of them, and I’d kill them again. Every fucking day!”

  Dear God! She was just a baby!

  The whole scene explodes in my mind, Raven just a woman child, and a man raping her after someone who was obviously supposed to protect her handed her over to the devil himself. A gift so he could escape a fate that was rightfully his. Raven was given as a sacrifice. She became the only thing that could beat the devil. She became the Queen Of Hell, she had to in order to destroy her tormentor, to become stronger and more powerful.

  If they weren’t dead, I’d kill them myself. With my hands. Gruesomely.

  She said I was pitying her? Hardly. That’s the furthest from the truth. I fucking adore this woman, her vicious mouth, her don’t-fuck-with-me attitude, her beautiful inked skin, and all that fire and brimstone that fills my senses every time I’m near her. She deserves respect and praise. And someone who will give her the opportunity to be the bad-ass babe she is, and reward her for it.

  I loosen my grip on her arms. Just enough to allow her to slap me. The sound of the impact of her small palm on my face fills the room as a slight surge of pain runs through me adding fuel to my own hate for those men. There’s a maelstrom of emotions passing through her; fury, pain, rage, agony, all rolling off her in tumultuous waves, pulling me into her storm. She needs to get it all out. I’m going to pull everything out of her to feed my own demons.

  Removing one hand from her arm, I clasp her chin. “Do you want to hit me, little bird?” my voice is low and steely.

  “I want to beat the shit out of you,” she breathes out heavily, sneering in my face.

  The corners of my mouth lift to a sly grin. “Give it your best shot, my Queen.” My gaze flicks back and forth on her eyes, those passionate eyes that know too fucking much. “Then it’s my turn.”

  “Gl
adly,” she whispers with an evil smile.

  She jerks her knee up in line with my crotch. She doesn’t make contact. Before she can land the momentary crippling blow, I feed my hand under her upturned thigh and throw her backwards onto the bed.

  “Nice try, demon. But I like my nuts too much to let you do that. Got anything else in your little bag of tricks?” I ask calmly as I kneel on the bed and approach her still bouncing body.

  “Asshole,” she snarls and kicks a leg out to land on my chest.

  Catching her oncoming ankle in my hand, I yank it to the side and push her other knee down, spreading her legs wide. “Get your knife, hellion.”

  If we’re doing this, we’re doing it all the way.

  Her body stills. “You don’t want me to do that,” she says quietly as she stares into my eyes.

  Now positioned between her open legs, my hands gliding up the insides of her thighs, I smile down into her face. It’s not meant to comfort her, or to give her a sense of security. It’s to dare her, to push her, to unleash on me whatever fucking demons have got her held prisoner.

  The demons of Phil and Sarcucci.

  “Get the knife.”

  This is going to be an exorcism. If we have to, blood will be the holy water.

  With her eyes never leaving mine, she dips her hand into the top of her boot and unsheathes her dagger. I have to admit; the evil princess has good taste. It’s sleek but menacing, and is the perfect size for her petite hand. Holding it in her hand, she places a pad of a finger from her other hand at the pointed tip and grins wickedly at me. My dick swells. She’s crazy as fuck, but she’s damn good at it.

  “Do you want me to mark you, Mr. Hyde?” she asks quietly.

  I quirk an eyebrow at her questioningly.

  “You. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” she shrugs a shoulder offhandedly. “I’m not the only one with the devil in my blood.”

  She’s not fucking wrong.

  Just moments before, she was unraveling at the seams. Now, clutching her blade, she looks in control, calm. Strong.

  I tilt my chin out. “Use it. On me.” It’s a command, make no mistake. Not for me, though, but for her.

  “You want me to cut you?” she whispers with the tip of the blade at my throat.

  Her eyes are wild but steady as her chest rises and falls with every breath she takes. She’s fucking beautiful.

  “What I want is irrelevant,” I answer quietly.

  She stares at me as she ponders my words. I don’t flinch as my hands stroke back up her inner thighs. Her lips separate as her breathing quickens. Her eyes flick to where the knife is at the base of my throat.

  “You have such beautiful ink,” she murmurs as she tilts her head to the side, lowers her hand, then flicks her wrist.

  She cut the neck of my t-shirt.

  “I wonder how many battle scars it covers,” she continues just as quietly.

  The metal dips once again until it’s at the bottom of my rib cage. Another upward flick of her wrist and there’s a slash in the fabric.

  “Only one way to find out,” I goad her.

  With the blade still at my abdomen, her gaze lifts to mine. Not breaking the stare, she guides it up, slicing my shirt in two.

  “Do you want my mark on you, Mr. Hyde?” she whispers.

  My heart is pounding in beat with the throbbing of my cock.

  “Make me bleed, demon. Then it’s my turn.”

  She’s breathing heavily now. Laid out like a fucking dark angel beneath me, the promise of salvation or damnation. Do it or not. Trust me or kill me. I can see she’s fighting with the decision. I make it for her.

  Just a fraction of an inch, barely a breath, I lean into the sharp metal.

  Raven jerks her eyes down. Mine stay fixed on her face. Her gaze meets mine again looking for…I’m not sure. It’s still her move. Until it’s not.

  Lifting her empty hand, she begins to slide a finger through my blood, watching intently as she does. Her touch moves and swirls, dips and finishes with a flourish.

  “There. You’ve made a blood pact with the Queen Of Hell, Snake,” looking into my eyes, she lifts her finger and sucks my blood from it. “There’s no breaking it now.”

  Ominous words she has no fucking clue how true they are.

  Instantly, I’ve got the knife in my hand. Surprise etches her features.

  “Then let’s make it official, hellion.” I grin at her. “What did you write on me?”

  She blinks as the shock eases into something else. “R.”

  “Perfect,” I whisper.

  Her breathing is faster as I lower the knife and cut away her shirt. Splaying it to the sides, her luscious tits taunt me in a scarlet bra. “Seems like red suits you.”

  With her arms stretched out at her sides, she doesn’t move. I’m not sure if it’s because she doesn’t trust me, or she’s waiting to see what I’m going to do. My guess is the latter. I dip the tip of the knife between the center of the two cups and cut, then flick each one away. Her nipples are hard and pointing straight up at me.

  Look at those fucking tits, I moan inside, my mouth watering.

  I steal a glance at her face. Nothing in her eyes is telling me no. Lowering, my eyes never leave hers, I circle each one with my tongue. I can hear each breath she takes, hard and fast. Rising, the knife poised above her, I tell her, “Don’t move.”

  She watches me intently as I lower it between her breasts and press just enough to draw blood. Then I mark her with an S, lower my face, and lick the wound.

  “The pact is final,” I tell her, rising above her again.

  She holds out her hand with a slow smirk. I give her the knife and remove my shirt.

  She is a fucking hellion, a demon sent straight from hell to torment me.

  “There’s just one more thing…,” I tell her quietly as my body presses into hers. Rubbing myself against her, I smear my blood over her body and hers into mine.

  Her back arches off the bed and a soft gasp slips past her lips. Red hot fire explodes through my veins and grabs me by the balls.

  “You are a demon,” I tell her roughly in her ear. “You’ve come to collect my fucking soul, haven’t you?” I grip her chin and turn her face to mine.

  Her eyes are wide as she studies me, our bodies pushing into each other.

  “We made a pact,” she finally whispers.

  I watch her, she’s unflinching, daring me to make a move, luring me to take her, demanding that I make that final leap.

  “We did, demon. It’s time to collect.”

  My mouth crashes on hers. The kiss is violent and explosive; it ignites the fury of everything that surrounds us and sets us on fire. Her arms wrap around me, and her nails dig into my flesh. I fucking growl in her mouth and pinch her nipple. She screams into my mine; it only makes me harder.

  Groping around the bed, I find the knife. Lifting from her reluctantly, I grip the waistband of her shorts and hose. “Time to get burned, demon.”

  Slicing her clothes, I push them away and expose her dragon and the flames shooting from its mouth licking her mound. Lowering, I trace the ink with my tongue as I yank off her boots, then pull the shredded clothing from her body. A clunk on the floor draws my attention.

  She has a pistol as well.

  “Brought all your party favors I see,” I grin at her.

  She smiles. “A girl can never be over dressed.”

  “You won’t need them with me, hellion.”

  She doesn’t answer. I don’t expect her to. She doesn’t trust anyone. She’s never been able to.

  She can now. With all of us.

  I stand at the end of the bed. Pulling off the rest of my clothes, I tell her, “On your knees, ass in the air.”

  She glares at me. “No.”

  I don’t bother replying. Pulling her by her ankles, I drag her down to the edge, flip her over, kick her feet apart, and slap that shaved wet pussy right between her legs. She lets out a scream, her body rigid, but sh
e doesn’t move.

  “I told you, you had a spanking coming.”

  “Fuck you,” she grits out between clenched teeth.

  But she still doesn’t budge.

  That’s right, demon, take it like the fierce little hellion you are.

  I place a hand on the curve of her ass and begin to stroke along her slick crease.

  “I’m going to fuck you twenty ways ‘til Sunday, hellion, and when I die? I’m going to do it all over again.”

  She looks at me over her shoulder with an expression I haven’t seen on her before. It’s so fucking vulnerable, it rips my heart out. Then she says something that squeezes it until it’s nothing but an aching, beating, mass of blood.

  “They’ll have to get through me first.”

  Goddamn it!

  The contract. Shit.

  I can’t say a damn thing past the knot in my throat.

  I tear my eyes from hers and fixate on the treasure waiting for me. With two fingers, I begin to glide them through her pussy lips, closing her clit between them, and stroking her inside with my thumb. Her head falls forward and her ass curves up, just like a cat. I keep stroking her like this, forward, then back, spreading her slickness all over her tight hole and mound. When she’s ready, I begin to circle her back entrance with my other thumb and clasp her clit with the hand stroking her.

  “Snake,” she pants as her hands fist the comforter.

  “Mmmm,” I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to fuck her. I need to make her come.

  I press down on her asshole as I pinch her clit tighter.

  She moans. It’s the sexiest fucking sound.

  “Tell me about you and Rock and Summer,” she says on a sigh.

  I grin as I watch my thumb disappear in her tightness.

  “We’re a package deal, demon.”

  She begins to slowly rock into my hand, taking as I’m giving.

  “How?” her hips swivel as I rub her clit between my fingers and push completely into her ass.

  “What are you asking? Do you want to know how I fuck Summer in the ass while Rock fucks her pussy?” I slide the digit out then back in over and over. “Or do you want to know Summer likes to watch me and Rock suck each other off?” I plunge two fingers into her cunt. “Or do you want to know how I’m going to fuck Rock’s virgin ass like he fucked mine?” With my thumb buried in her ass, I pull out the fingers and smack her mound again.