23. The Volunteer
THE VOLUNTEER
Twenty minutes later Austin was almost fully healed, and I had been filled in—the list, his partners, the truth behind the incident, and the labs running the experiments. I was having a really hard time believing Eva would sell him out. Especially when my phone lit up with her number.
“I have to answer, she’ll be suspicious.”
He nodded, so I picked up.
“Oh my god, Eva! Thank god! Have you heard from him?”
Austin’s eyebrow rose. What can I say, I was a drama student.
“That’s why I was calling. I was hoping he came to you.” She sounded panicked and sincere, but I suppose I did too. “You haven’t heard from him at all?”
“No. I’m freaking out. What the hell happened? Were you there?”
He waved his hand to get my attention. Speaker, he mouthed. I nodded, doing as he asked.
“I was. Fuck V, I was supposed to have his back. I cased it. Five circles and nothing looked off. A ton of guards, but Plowers was always like that; super paranoid, you know? It didn’t feel off.
Then Av went in and—” she choked down a sob.
“I noticed someone coming at me so I packed up, headed for somewhere with more cover. But they saw me and I had to run. I heard him calling for me, asking for help, but they shot at me and I fell and my earpiece got lost. V, it’s my fault.
All my fault. I pushed him to go and then I just left him there. ”
She was full on sobbing. I peeked over at Austin, he looked conflicted but gave me no indication he wanted to tell her so I pressed on.
“I’m sure he’s okay. He’s probably just lying low until it’s safe.”
She sniffled. “You’re probably right. Will you tell me if you hear from him?”
“Of course. You’ll do the same?”
She made some sound of agreement.
“I have to go. I’m going to search the area again. I’ll let you know if I find him.”
“Good luck, Eva.”
She mumbled something that sounded like thanks and hung up.
“I don’t know if I believe her,” he said after a moment of silence. “I’ve seen her lie hundreds of times. She good at it, almost as good as you. I don’t know if I can trust her.”
“I’ll follow your lead. Tell me what you want to do.”
“Well, I want a shower then I want to change. Then… I don’t know.”
He was sitting up on the couch now, not a bullet hole to be seen. Talking to him while he sat there half-naked was more than a little challenging.
“Okay, you know where the bathroom is, extra towels are on the rack above the toilet, and I have some unscented soap under the sink in case my usual body wash is too girly for you.”
His lip twitched into a smile.
“Thanks, V. I’ll be quick.”
I kept myself firmly planted on the couch for fifteen minutes.
The water was still running and I was trying to drown it out with the sound of my TV.
But I couldn’t focus. Not with him on the other side of the wall—naked, showering.
My mind was replaying that god-forsaken dream, from nearly a month ago.
I was starting to think I’d never know peace again.
It was so tempting. After his confession in my office earlier today, I was almost positive he wouldn’t mind if I peeked. But he got shot today. He needed to rest. He didn’t need me trying to jump him.
Or maybe he did.
I was standing in front of my bathroom door before I knew what I was thinking. He’d left it cracked open; god he was insufferable. He knew. He knew.
I could see him in the mirror. His back was to the faucet, shadows hovering around him as he massaged the shampoo into his scalp. I could see a smirk growing on his face from here. Shit, he knew I was watching. Of course he did, his shadows were spies.
Fucking narcs.
“Enjoying the view?”
“You said you’d be quick, I just wanted to make sure you didn’t drown in here or anything.”
“How exactly does one drown in a shower?”
He put his head under the faucet and ran his hands through his hair to help the water rinse out the shampoo.
I knew I should be saying something, but I was too busy watching the droplets cascading over his skin, his shadows weaving around him like they were trying to hypnotize me.
If that was what they were going for, it was working.
“If you’re going to stand there and ogle me, I could use some help. There’s this spot on my shoulder I can never reach.”
My eyes snapped to his. He was watching me like he was trying to gauge my reaction.
“I… Did you… Was it… I said that—”
“Take off your shirt.”
His voice was low, demanding, and goddamn it I would do anything he told me to. I stepped into the bathroom and pealed my shirt over my head, standing in nothing but my underwear. He sucked in a breath, eyes locked on the dragon tattoo on my chest, before whispering,
“It was real.”
“How is that…”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
There was a brief moment of silence. I didn’t know what to say. How did you share a dream with someone? But then he was looking at me like I was about to be his next meal, and I realized I didn’t give a shit.
“Come here.”
My feet were moving without my permission. The next thing I knew I had shed my underwear and was standing naked in front of him.
Oh. My. God. Where did I start? There was not an ounce of fat on this man. I knew he was fit, all his clothes clung to him because he was proud of his physique—as he should be—but he looked more lean than muscly. Seeing him like this… Good lord, he was muscly.
I had no doubt he could pick me up, throw me around like a doll, and there was nothing I’d be able to do about it—not that I’d want to do anything about it.
I was done for.
“I’d like to take you up on your offer to soap me. If you’re still willing.”
Was I fucking ever. I glanced around the shower, no sign of the unscented soap bar.
“You didn’t grab any.”
“You never said I was required to use the unscented stuff.” His eyebrow rose. “I’ll have you know that I’m a feminist and as a feminist, I’m offended you would even offer it to me. I’m comfortable enough in my masculinity to smell like a flower every once in a while.”
I snorted. “I’ve never smelt like a flower a day in my life. Assuming I have flower scented body wash is, frankly, very antifeminist of you.”
He laughed. “I should have said plant. Because you’re right, vanilla isn’t a flower, it’s a vine. But it has flowers that grow from it. Forgive me.”
I picked up my body wash—vanilla and oat scented.
“You’ll have to make it up to me.”
A fire burned behind his eye as he stepped closer.
“How?” His voice was that same low, demanding tone and I knew I was done for.
“First you wanted—”
The bottle slipped from my hand as his lips crashed into mine. I could only cling to him. It was the only thing that kept me grounded in reality. The fact that he was here, and alive, and kissing me.
Fuck, he was kissing me like I was his salvation, his reason to live, his only hope.
His hands trailed my sides, over my hips, and down to my thighs. My feet were off the ground a second later, legs wrapped around his waist. He turned to press my back against the wall so we were both under the water.
“You’re so fucking soft.” He mumbled making his way down my neck. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to stop touching you now that I have you here.”
“Less talking, more touching.”
His chuckle vibrated over my skin.
“I can multitask.”
It was true, he was very good at multitasking. One hand in my hair, one running up my side while his lips trailed up my neck and along my jaw. And the grinding, oh my sweet lord, the grinding. So slow, so meticulous, like he knew exactly what I wanted—needed.
“Are you just going to tease me all night or are we going to do this?”
His laugh echoed over the tile. Fuck, how had I ever kept myself from jumping him when his laugh sounded so sexy? How was I supposed to keep myself from jumping him every time I saw him now? Knowing how good he felt, how wicked his mouth was, how good it felt being in his arms?
“I didn’t realize it was a crime to take my time. Apologies. What exactly is it that you’d like to do? You still haven’t told me about your smutty book, I could act it out for you. Or if you want to verify my claim, I can prove just how godly I can be. Dealers choice.”
“Maybe we could start out with the vanilla stuff before I go scaring you away with the stuff in my books.”
“Scaring me, eh? You realize I’m a supervillain, right? I don’t scare easy.”
“Are you sure, because I read some fucked up shit.” I kissed along his jaw. “Primal play, blood play, I guess bondage is a pretty normal kink… I’m just trying to think— Oh, this one book they fucked over a dead body of a guy he just killed. Scared yet?”
“Are you kidding? Fuck no.” He kissed my neck. “You’re going have to try harder than that if you’re trying to scare me off, Nightshade.”
I ran my hand through his hair and gave it a little tug so he’d look at me.
“Why do you call me that?”
“Well for one, it’s purple.”
I rolled my eyes while he laughed. “I hate purple. I know you know I hate purple.”
He smiled, brushing the hair from my cheek, gaze following the movement until it flicked to meet mine.
“Because it’s beautiful, dangerous, and deadly. And I thought of it before I knew you hated purple, in my defence.”
“Hm, I’ll allow it. But you’re going to have to make it worth my while.”
“Anything you want,” he whispered, pressing his lips to mine.
“Stop teasing and fuck me already.”
He chuckled, readjusting his grip so he could pull back a bit. But he didn’t go in right away; no he was still fucking teasing.
“Jesus fucking Christ, if you don’t—”
I cut off with a moan. He slid all the way in, left hand going to my throat.
“Let’s get one thing clear; the only name you say when I’m fucking you is mine. God isn’t here and he’s not going to save you from me. You got that?” His voice dropped an octave.
My whole body shuddered as I nodded. His hand tightened.
“Use your words, Nightshade.”
“Yes,” I breathed. “I got it.”
“Good.” He started moving his hips slowly. “Now, how do you like to be fucked? Slow? Fast? Hard?”
Fuck if I knew. How was I supposed to form full thoughts, let alone words when he was moving like that?
“Your choice,” I managed to get out. He felt so good it didn’t matter how he fucked me, only that he kept going.
“You drive me fucking crazy, you know that?” He nipped at my neck.
“Ever since I met you, you’ve infested every one of my thoughts.
I couldn’t help but wonder what your lips tasted like, what you’d feel like wrapped around me.
” He kissed his way up my neck, along my jaw and whispered in my ear.
“Now that I know… Fuck, I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep my hands off you. ”
Any bratty response I started to come up with fell from my lips when he readjusted his grip. I’d been slipping down the wall, but now he had a better hold and was able to keep me up. This must have been a better angle for him because he picked up his pace.
“Fuck,” I moaned.
Honestly, the feeling was mutual. He felt so incredible, how was I supposed to function without him close by? With the memory of his wicked mouth and wandering hands? I was so fucked.
He kept his pace, whispering absolutely filthy things in my ear. I swear he’d gotten into my book collection, because I was sure he was pulling some direct quotes. The more he talked, the sloppier his thrusts became, breathing getting more laboured.
The fact that he was close so soon made me absolutely feral. Some girls may not like it, but I wasn’t one of them. I loved watching him struggle to keep control. I’d love watching him actually lose control even more.
“Fuck, I’m close. Can I…”
“Can you what?” I chuckled softly, making him groan and tighten his grip. “Use your words, Aus.”
“Fucking damn it, Violet.” His fingers dug into my skin. “Can I come in you? Are you on something?”
“Yes, I have an IUD.”
He sped up.
“Fuck, you feel so fucking good.”
I clenched around him, digging my nails into his back.
“Come for me.”
One last thrust and his whole body shuddered. He took his time getting his breathing under control. I twirled a lock of his damp hair around my index finger while he recovered.
He kissed me softly.
“That’s never happening again.”
“What—” I pulled away frowning.
“Sorry, I spoke the last part of my thought out loud without the rest. I meant that next time, I need to have better control of myself. I don’t know what kind of spell you put on me, but from now on you get off first.”
“From now on, huh? You have high expectations.”
“Realistic expectations.” He smirked.
“You’re insufferable.”
“I think you mean charming and irresistible.”
“Whatever, Blondie. Now, if you could let me down so we stop running up my water bill, that would be great.”
He chuckled as he pulled out and set my feet on the ground. I wobbled slightly; my legs felt like jelly, but he kept me upright.
“I’m not done with you yet. I have to make up for…my excitement.”
I grinned. “I happened to enjoy your excitement very much. But, if you’d really like to make up for it, get out of my shower. The water has been going over half an hour and my bill is going to be atrocious.”
“Can I at least get the soaping I was promised?”
“Only if you do me first. After all, you made quite the mess.”
“Fucking hell, V.” He groaned. “Don’t say things like that to me when I’m still wound up like this.”
My grin turned devilish. “I don’t know how you’re going to handle my hands all over you if you can’t even handle a few innocent words.”
He crouched in front of me, maintaining eye contact while he grabbed my body wash from where I’d dropped it when he kissed me.
“There is absolutely nothing innocent about you, Nightshade.”
Guilty.
“So you going to soap me or what?”
“I don’t know. I like you like this—flushed, dripping, marked. It would be a shame to clean you up just to get you all messy again.”
I pulsed, nibbling on my lip.
“That just means you get to soap me twice.”
“Sold.”