Chapter 18 Cross
EIGHTEEN
CROSS
As I stand in the doorway of our bedroom, pondering what course of action to take, my gaze wanders.
Dragan and Gannon, the fucking dickheads, are nowhere to be found.
Where the hell did they go? I tighten my hands into fists, feeling the pull of the broken skin and the bruising from laying into the two of them earlier.
Fuck. What if I hadn’t shown up when I did?
The thought of what else Delilah may have endured makes me sick to my stomach.
And now? She’s been left outside all day and half into the night.
All we’ve been able to do is watch and make sure no one else ventured near her.
My eyes flick briefly over Rafe before landing on Evren, and I wince.
Poor guy. He’d tried to help her, but he was simply no match for Gannon and Dragan together.
He’d taken a beating and has been mostly quiet since, choosing not to inform the Collective.
I’m not certain that’s the best decision, but he’d begged me not to talk to Nolan.
I think he’s embarrassed he couldn’t handle the situation.
Or maybe he feels shame that he was found talking to her?
Not sure. I shrug. I definitely need to talk to Arrow about it because it’s clear Evren won’t.
My attention shifts to Arrow across the room. He’s been in a horrible state much of the day. I’m actually surprised he’s in his bed and fully passed out. I’m no idiot, though. If he hasn’t already been out to see Delilah, he’s got a plan in his head for how he’ll manage it.
My jaw works as I glance over to Hayze’s bunk. After witnessing the pull between him and Delilah earlier, the fact that he’s sound asleep is telling. Life around here has turned on its head again in the last day, and it’s taken a toll on all of us.
Finally, I angle my gaze to stare at Malakai’s empty bed for a count of ten before pivoting to quietly close the door behind me.
If I were Kai, where would I be? For reasons I’d rather not think about right now, he’s especially on my mind tonight …
and I have a feeling I know where he is.
Maybe that’s because he’s where I want to be.
Before heading down to the river this morning, my father had finally gotten around to taking a look at Malakai’s stitches, then promptly issued the command that he rest. From the disgruntled attitude Kai had presented us with during the evening meal, I knew something was bothering him.
For that reason, I’m positive he’s gone out to see Delilah.
After a quick check of the main floor to ensure no one is around to see my exit, I head straight for that motherfucking tree, hoping to find them both.
It’s a punch to my gut when I get close enough to see that the only thing that remains are the loose coils of the rope that I’d used to bind her.
I stand perfectly still for three thundering beats of my heart, wondering if she left.
I’m not stupid. We all know she’s looking for a means to escape this place.
Will I see her again? My head lifts, and I home in on the hollow structure of the barn.
The more I listen, the more I realize there are some faint sounds coming from that direction that I can’t quite place—it’s distinctly animallike.
Not completely unusual, considering it is a barn, but still … it’s odd.
Under the cover of night, I close the distance to the old wood structure, pausing at the door with my hand on the cold metal handle. Inch by cautious inch, I tug slowly, managing to create an opening large enough to squeeze through.
Inside, it’s dark as fuck. I can hardly see my hand in front of my face, but I edge forward, pausing to wait while my eyes blink to acclimate to the lack of light.
And while I do, I continue to listen. There’s the usual movement of hooves on dirt from the stalls in the back, but also a soft rhythmic rustling accompanied by a faint creaking of wood coming from somewhere above my head.
The loft. My lips curve upward, and I scan for the ladder that is usually kept propped against the wall. It’s missing. Malakai, you smart fucker. I chuckle to myself as his groan meets my ears. I take back the smart bit … lucky fucker.
Working my jaw to the side, I rub a hand down my face. Shit. A jolt of lust, sharp and demanding, roars through me, and I give in, letting my cock twitch all it wants while I tread on quiet feet across the musty structure. My heart thuds heavily in my chest.
Somewhere around here, there’s another ladder. I creep forward, heading toward the animal stalls and there, at the far end, is the old one we aren’t supposed to use any longer. It has a couple of broken rungs but fuck it. I’m not going in search of a better option. It’ll do the job.
Above, floorboards groan in a rhythm that is undeniable.
My blood heats as I picture Malakai and Delilah in my mind’s eye.
Even though the air surrounding me is briskly cool, sweat pops out across my lower back.
I swallow, setting the ladder in place, then cautiously hurry upward while hoping the remaining rungs are sturdy enough to hold my weight.
When I reach the top, the sight that greets me is everything I could have hoped for.
Holy fuck. Throat now unbearably dry, I drink in everything I can make out from here.
Blinking furiously to better my vision, my breath stutters.
She’s riding him like he’s her favorite stallion, her head thrown back and spine arched.
I tear my eyes from her for a moment to train them on Malakai.
And oof, I can just see the way his lips have parted as he stares at her, entranced.
My heart gives a violent lurch as he hooks a few fingers on the collar of her gown and tugs it down, exposing her breast to him. Want flows through me at a furious pace as he lowers his head, wrapping his lips around her nipple. As he suckles, she quietly cries out, clutching at his shoulders.
I wish it weren’t so fucking dark. I’d give anything to have a better view. But despite the fact I can’t see much, my cock stiffens behind my zipper, and the tiniest of groans escapes me.
The longer I watch, the more frantic their pace becomes, and the more ragged my breathing gets until I’m practically panting.
The sight of the two of them together like this is enough to send me over the edge if I’m not careful.
My grip on the ladder rung loosens, and I allow my hand to drift downward to run over my stiff dick.
This is making me so fucking hot, I consider pulling it out and tugging on it until I get some relief.
My mind spins and spins as I take in the carnal act playing out right before my eyes.
What I wouldn’t give to join them. Aching need rolls through me.
I’m desperate for them. Fucking desperate in a way I’ve only ever felt in my wildest dreams—and that’s saying something because I’ve had some wild ones.
“That’s it, spitfire. Ride me harder. Take out all your frustration on me. All your anger. I can take it.” The raspy demand in Kai’s voice has my eyes widening. He can be an asshole when he wants to be … but the way he is with her is different than anything I’ve heard from him before. I like it.
My cock jerks against my hand in response to my thoughts. “Fuuuck.” That one muttered word tears free from my throat on a long and low groan.
No sooner than it has, Delilah stills her movement, head whipping toward me at the same time Mal lets out a choked grunt. I watch, enraptured as he slams his pelvis upward, burying himself as deep as he can inside her cunt as his breath stutters and jerks from him.
A slow smile works its way to my lips. My presence made him lose control, and there’s nothing I like more than to fuck with Malakai’s head.
The next few moments are a blur of movement that utterly enthralls me.
I watch as Delilah shifts. It’s a shame there isn’t more light, because all my mind can do is imagine the way Kai’s still-rigid dick slips from her and wonder what he’d look like covered in their combined release.
As she scrambles away and rises on shaking legs, my eyes meet his.
It’s a charged moment that takes my breath away.
“Fuck,” he grunts. “Totally thought you were Gannon or Dragan. They were sniffing around, looking for her earlier.”
That information hits me straight in the solar plexus.
I can’t believe they’d have the nerve—only I can.
Because there’s nothing they’d like more than to get their hands on Delilah.
I fuckin’ saw that myself earlier. Grimacing, I grind out, “Fuck, indeed.” But if they’d found Malakai with her?
That would have been worse. My attention swings to our pretty little Disturbance, her body covered by a gown that she definitely hadn’t been wearing when I left her at the tree earlier.
My lips twitch. From the look on Malakai’s face, he’d rather die than have it get out how fuckin’ soft he is for her.
I won’t mess with him about it. Not now, anyway. I clear my throat as he gets to his feet. “So, what’s the plan here? We probably don’t have long before someone discovers she’s gone.”
Mal heaves out a breath, then purses his lips as he stares at me.
“I didn’t really have some grand fuckin’ plan.
I’d just intended to give her a break.” He shrugs, like it’s no big deal, even though he and I both know that it is.
What he’s done could have gotten his back flayed open.
Still could if we don’t fucking get a move on.
In a gesture that screams of defiance and is surely meant to prove that she can protect herself, Delilah crosses her arms over her chest as her eyes flick between the two of us. “Don’t tie me up again.”