27. Ren
27
REN
“ T he biggest little city in the world.”
She hasn’t said much throughout our drive, and until now, I imagined she was too upset to speak. Not that I’d be much fun to converse with. I’m a bit too distracted for that.
I’ve been too distracted all week.
With that in mind, I reach over to squeeze her thigh once we’ve passed beneath the sign spanning the width of Virginia Street. “It’s a shame you’re a little kid, or we could do some gambling.”
“Shut up,” she warns, swatting at my hand. “I look older than my age.”
“They’d probably card you, child. Not that it matters, we won’t have time for that,” I continue, scanning both sides of the street as we roll along. I haven’t seen any familiar faces, but I can’t shake the idea of William being out here somewhere. Preying on stupid kids who don’t know any better.
Would he recognize me?
Are they on alert after what happened to Christian?
Get it together. River’s voice reverberates in my head like a gong, centering me for a moment. I can’t afford to let paranoia tear me to pieces. Not with the stakes this high. It’s all riding on me. All of our planning, countless hours of recon work.
The sacrifices. I’ve lost track of how many our mission has required.
I said goodbye to my entire life.
No, on second thought, not my entire life.
She’s still here, beside me through everything. She’s all I need. All the reason in the world to build a new life, a better life. For her sake.
And I will—we will.
But first, I have to do what I came to Reno to accomplish.
My angel is busy admiring the hotels and the people walking up and down both sides of the crowded street. My dark mood hasn’t affected her excitement.
“Where are we staying?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” A pair of kids in clothes that have seen better days walk down the sidewalk not twenty feet away, and the impulse to pull over and warn them is almost too much to resist. I can’t assume every kid who looks like they just rolled out of bed is a potential victim.
“Ren!”
Scarlet’s squeal leaves me slamming on the brakes not a second too soon. Otherwise, I would’ve blown through a red light and gotten T-boned. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the ass?
To die here, in the middle of the street, falling short of my goal. My death wouldn’t mean shit, but hers… it would mean everything.
“You okay?” I ask, still searching the crowd for any familiar faces.
“Fine,” she says shakily, pretending to wipe sweat from her forehead. “I always love watching my life flash before my eyes.”
I have to get my shit together. This isn’t only my life, but hers. My angel deserves my full attention. What happens tomorrow can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, it’s all about her. Us.
That attitude lasts until I pull into the front courtyard of the hotel. Immediately, a valet approaches, wearing a smile as he reaches for the passenger door handle. “Welcome to Peppermill.”
No. My instincts scream out against letting anyone else behind the wheel. “Where’s the garage entrance?” I ask, leaning over Scarlet’s lap.
“Just this way, sir.” He gestures toward a ramp leading up to the adjoining structure. “But we offer complimentary?—”
“No, thanks.” I pull ahead before he can finish his spiel and roll into the garage. I want to park close to the door leading into the hotel, in case there’s a need for a quick escape. There are so many possibilities and so many situations to account for. Scarlet can afford to giggle at the stunned valet’s reaction. She doesn’t have the outcome of years of planning weighing on her.
“You realize this is the first time we’ve ever stayed in a hotel together?” She winks my way once I’ve parked, unbuckling her belt. “Another first.”
I wish it was easier to meet her energy, to smile genuinely. At this time tomorrow, I’ll be able to. This phase will be over. Rebecca will know she’s in our crosshairs.
That is, if she’s still breathing.
If River has his way, she won’t be. As much as I’d like to guarantee it, I can’t pretend this is going to be easy or completely predictable. In a perfect world, I’d walk into her quarters and blow her fucking brains out, followed by her son’s and anyone stupid enough to get in my way.
In this world, the world in which I’m now walking the light of my life into the hotel lobby, I have more than myself to consider. Scarlet will have to come with me. I can’t take too many risks when I have her precious life to consider.
She wriggles happily when the arm I draped around her waist tightens at the thought of River’s reaction if I were to share my concerns.
I’m not about to let her go, and I’ll be damned if I leave her behind.
“What’s wrong?” she whispers when we arrive at the front desk, concern filling her voice. “Are you okay?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You keep looking around like you’re expecting to find somebody.” Her forehead creases. “Is River meeting us here, and you didn’t tell me?” The way her voice sours doesn’t leave much room to wonder how she feels about the idea.
“No. Nobody’s meeting us here.”
Good. Let her think that’s who I’m looking for. I don’t need her freaking out again like she did last week, getting emotional and leaving me questioning all of this in light of the pain it’s causing her.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” Meanwhile, my head moves this way and that as I try to take in the many faces of everyone around us. I wouldn’t put it past Rebecca to be a step ahead of me.
“How many times must you be told?” I can almost smell her perfume, heavy and floral, and it’s enough to make me gag. I could always smell it on my clothes hours after being around her since she wore so much.
“No matter how clever you think you are, someone is always watching you. We will always be one step ahead.”
Lids squeezed closed tightly, I breathe deep to steady myself. I can’t get her out of my head. Over the past few days, I’ve seen her everywhere.
Along with William. Even Joseph, and I know he’s dead.
It doesn’t matter. He’s still alive in my memory, just as big, imposing, and merciless as ever.
Not this time, bitch. This time, I’m a step ahead of you.
I flex my hands, remembering how they felt coated in Christian’s blood. He always considered himself untouchable, didn’t he?
Secure in his power. And look where he is now.
Even with all my reassurances, it isn’t until we reach the suite I reserved that I’m able to relinquish my hold on Scarlet. We’re safe here. “Don’t open the door for anyone.” I remind her just the same, checking out the bathroom and the closet in case someone is lying in wait. I wouldn’t put it past them.
“Don’t worry.” She’s busy exploring the suite, admiring the expansive mountain view, the marble counters, and the shower, even bouncing on the king-sized bed as if to test it out. It does look a lot more comfortable than the one we’ve gotten used to sharing.
“I do worry. You are far too precious not to worry about.”
She only smiles brightly while unpacking our dinner outfits and hanging them in the closet. It took another trip to town, but we now own clothes suitable for dinner in a nice steakhouse.
From Walmart. Fuck, I owe her so much. She’s used to more than this. She was raised to stand by the side of a mafia boss and shop in high-end boutiques.
Yet she’s never once complained.
I’m able to forget everything else for a moment.
“Come here.” I take a seat at the foot of the bed before pulling her onto my lap. “I want you to know I intend to make this up to you. If it takes the rest of my life, I’ll make up for the time we’ve lost and all the shit I’ve put you through. I promise.”
Her eyes twinkle as she runs a hand down my cheek. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
For now, I’m at peace.
“I should have sat outside.”
It takes a second for Scarlet’s comment to filter into my awareness, rising above the cheerful din of the restaurant and the ever-present chaos in my head.
“What do you mean?” I ask, turning to her, admiring once again how beautiful she is in the light from the candle in the center of the table. It casts a warm glow over her perfect face, and for a moment, I can almost believe she truly is an angel sent to me.
The sarcastic twist of her glossy mouth brings reality crashing back before she speaks. “We’ve been sitting here for forty-five minutes, and I think you’ve looked at me twice.”
She then makes a big deal of looking outside, squinting, and leaning closer to the window overlooking the Riverwalk. “I don’t see anybody threatening out there. You can’t expect them to be everywhere we go. You’ll drive yourself nuts.”
She’s being gentle and loving, but that doesn’t keep me from bristling. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t expect. I know these people. You don’t.”
Immediately, she sits up straighter, nodding firmly. “Of course. I didn’t think about it like that. But I wish you could enjoy yourself a little since we came all this way.”
“I’m enjoying you enjoying yourself.”
All she does is pick up her silverware and return to her grilled salmon after offering a half-hearted smile. More than half of my porterhouse is still left, but I can’t seem to find the appetite for it, no matter how delicious it is or how incredible it smells in the restaurant.
Focus. Who cares about a fucking steak?
True, when we’re only miles from New Haven.
What are the odds that someone recognized me as we drove through town or while we drove the few minutes to the restaurant? Why did I think coming out for dinner would be a good idea? We should’ve gotten room service. I could be in bed with my angel right now, secure behind the double-bolted door while she’s splayed out under me on that big bed. My dick twitches at the notion, one I intend to turn into reality very soon.
Instead, we have a server who can’t take his eyes off her every time he stops by the table. I’ve never had a server pay this many visits during a single meal. It doesn’t help that Scarlet manages to make an inexpensive dress look like it cost a fortune, her perfect body encased in black fabric that molds itself to her every curve. I’m surprised a line of horny customers isn’t waiting their turn to ogle her.
As if he hears me, he slows his progress on his way past. “And how is everything? How’s that salmon treating you?” he asks her, wearing a smile that makes me wonder how he’d look with all of his teeth knocked out.
I rap my knuckles against the table. “Don’t you have a job to do? Why don’t you go someplace else and do it?”
He has the nerve to widen his eyes like he’s shocked when he finally looks my way— yeah, dickhead, I’m sitting here, too —before sputtering, “I’m sorry, sir, I was only?—”
“Keep moving unless you want me to talk to your manager.”
He wastes no time scurrying away like the rodent he is, leaving Scarlet staring at me, her cheeks flushed.
I won’t pretend to be sorry, no matter how embarrassed she is. “What? I’m supposed to sit here and let him hit on you without saying anything?”
“He wasn’t,” she whispers. “He was only doing his job. That’s what servers do. Ask how your food is, and see if you need drink refills.”
“They don’t need to stare down a guest’s dress while they’re doing it.” She adjusts the top of her dress, eyes shifting back and forth almost guiltily as she arranges her blond waves over her shoulders. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was trying to flirt with him.
But I do know better. This is Scarlet. She would never betray me.
“You’ve betrayed your family.” Rebecca’s soft voice slithers its way up my spine from across the span of years. “You’ve betrayed Joseph. Christian informed me you’ve refused to fall in line. What must we do before you’ll stop with this defiance?”
“Ren?”
My gaze snaps from the window and back to her. “What?”
She says nothing, merely lowering her gaze until she’s staring at the steak knife clutched tight in my fist. I guess I’d be nervous, too, if a knife was pointed at me. I loosen my grip, eventually lowering it to the plate.
The steak is probably cold by now, anyway.
Rebecca isn’t here. None of them are. You’re destroying everything.
“Maybe we should see about getting dessert in the room. What do you think?” I’m losing my grip here. And she sees it, making everything exponentially worse. I’m not sure if I’m more concerned with hurting her or with her getting cold feet at the last minute. Both, I suppose.
The fact is, I could always make it up to her later if she’s upset. We have the rest of our lives for that. On the other hand, I doubt we’ll ever get another chance to successfully infiltrate New Haven.
Maybe if her father had done the job correctly, we wouldn’t be here at all. Maybe if he had truly gotten rid of Rebecca.
That isn’t her fault.
I can’t take it out on Scarlet.
“I think that sounds like a good idea,” she murmurs and immediately starts looking around.
Heat flares in my gut, and my fists clench.
Looking for her little boyfriend?
I shake the thought away. I need to stop this. What the fuck is happening to me? I can normally keep a lid on my temper for her sake—mostly—but now, so close to New Haven, so close to the most dangerous phase yet, all bets are off.
“We’ll go to the hostess and let her know we need our check.” I push back from the table and take her by the arm, pulling her along with me. She winces, and I loosen my hold. Fuck. “I’m not waiting around for that asshole to hit on you again.”
“He wasn’t.” I pretend not to hear that. I’m afraid if I wait, if I have to interact with him again, I might do something she’ll hate me for. The idea only heightens the rage threatening to eat its way through me.
A few couples are waiting for tables when we reach the stand near the entrance. The girl looks up at me, wearing a bright smile that quickly fades when she finds me scowling.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” she chirps.
“Yes. You can locate our server and our check since he wasn’t able to keep from flirting with my girlfriend long enough to do his job. We haven’t finished our meal yet, but I couldn’t stand sitting there a second longer.”
Her mouth falls open, and somewhere under the bass drum of my heartbeat, I hear Scarlet’s dismayed groan.
The hostess clears her throat, sputtering, looking back and forth between the two of us.
“I am so sorry. That is not how we?—”
“I’m not interested in excuses. Please, just get the check, so we can get out of here.” She holds a whispered conversation with another server before they both hurry off, leaving the stand empty.
Scarlet has her gaze trained on the floor when I turn to her.
“What?” I whisper, eyes sweeping the entry. “What’s wrong?”
Finally, I lock eyes with a guy standing near the door, wearing a dark polo shirt and khakis. If there was ever a douchebag uniform, that’s it.
“What are you looking at?” I mutter, jerking my chin in his direction while the couple standing near him backs away slowly.
Rather than address me, he makes the grave mistake of smirking at Scarlet.
“If you ever decide to drop the psycho and date a guy who won’t embarrass you in public, let me know.”
This fucking asshole.
A siren begins blaring in my head, loud enough that I want to cover my ears but know it won’t make a difference. Even now, with my vision red and a craving for this stupid bastard’s balls strong enough to knock the breath out of me.
Though that’s where rational thought ends.
“Ren!” Scarlet’s high-pitched squeal fades to the background in favor of the pained groan that results from my fist connecting with the stupid asshole’s cheekbone. Douchebag.
“Say it again,” I growl, hauling him upright once he begins to slide down the wood-paneled wall. “Come on, you piece of shit. Say it again.”
When he does nothing but groan, I pull my fist back and hit him again. Again. Blood blooms on his lips as if by magic, and the sight only heightens the joy of breaking his face open one blow at a time.
He thinks he can take her from me. He thinks I’ll step aside and let him do what he wants. That I’m weak enough to let that happen.
“Yo, dude, lay off him.” Some foolish bystander tries to pull me away, but all it takes is my glare to send him running with his tail between his legs. Whatever he sees, it’s enough to drain the color from his face.
He tried to take her from me.
Nobody will ever take her from me.
Not if I have to burn the entire fucking world down to keep her in my grasp.
“Ren! Stop!” I hear the fear in her voice when I let the now unconscious body hit the floor, but she might as well be miles away. Nothing matters more than teaching this piece of shit a lesson he’ll never forget. And if bystanders witness it and learn a lesson, good. Everyone needs to know.
“You’re not taking her from me.”
Dropping to one knee, I pound on his nose and his jaw until my knuckles are bloodstained and aching. And still, it isn’t enough.
“You are not.” Another blow. “Fucking bastard.” Another.
I register Scarlet’s body practically draped over mine before hearing her frantic cry almost directly in my ear.
“You need to stop. Now. We have to go.”
Her nails dig into my arms, accompanied by a fierce whisper. “They’re calling the police.”
That’s what does it.
Those four words are the pin that bursts the balloon of my rage.
Beneath me is a bloodied, battered man who, moments ago, was smirking and sure of himself. I did this. I wiped that smirk off his face before rearranging it for him. “Won’t be hitting on anybody after this, will you?” I mutter, standing, my chest heaving, my cock threatening to burst out from my pants, all from the sheer exhilaration of defeating my foe.
Not with a face like that.
I did more than defeat him. He’s out cold, his face a broken, bloody mess. Somewhere behind me, a woman weeps softly.
“Come on.” Scarlet tugs my arm, inspiring me to hustle us both out the door. No one bothers to stop us after they’ve seen what I’m capable of. I parked close to the entrance in case we needed to get away quickly.
As it turns out, we do.
It doesn’t occur to me until we’re rolling down the street that we never paid for dinner.
Who the fuck cares? I checked into the hotel under a fake name, and this isn’t my Jeep. Even if somebody caught sight of the tags, there’d be no tracing it back to me. We’re out of here in the morning, anyway.
Right? Am I kidding myself? Fuck, I don’t know anything anymore.
Except one thing. “I will never accept that shit from anyone. Ever.”
Scarlet shakes, whimpering, looking over her shoulder like she expects to find cars chasing us down.
“Are you okay?” she squeaks.
Am I? I’m fucking euphoric, my body humming, adrenaline still flowing. I could’ve killed the bastard, and I almost wish I had. If it hadn’t been for her presence—and the others around us—I’m not sure I could’ve stopped myself. The smug, arrogant prick.
“I’m fine.” I catch her staring at my fists and shake my head. “They’re fine, too. It doesn’t even hurt.” Not when I’m flying high the way I am now. Nothing can touch me.
“That was…” She settles back in her seat, a hand over her chest.
“Are you okay?” I know she can’t be concerned for him. I already told her I’m fine. It’s not the first time she’s ever witnessed violence.
I can’t imagine why she’s still shaking.
After keeping me waiting until we reach the hotel garage, she slowly turns to me. “I thought you were going to kill him. I thought he might actually be dead.”
“I wish I had killed him. He deserved it.” Turning to her upon parking, I stare into her shining, teary, blue eyes. She’s crying. I see it, but for some reason, I don’t feel anything. It does nothing to me. “He was a disrespectful piece of shit who thought he could take you from me.”
She continues breathing heavily like she’s teetering on the edge of panic. Her chest rising and falling so rapidly that I’m almost worried.
“Nobody’s ever taking you away from me,” I whisper, taking her face in my bloodstained hands.
She doesn’t flinch away. She wouldn’t. She can handle anything I give her because she was made for me. She was made for this.
“Nobody ever will.”
She couldn’t have chosen better words. Desire for her is always coursing through my veins, but mixed with the adrenaline still present? It’s a potent combination, powerful enough to leave me practically dragging her into the hotel. My queen, my prize. I must get her back to the suite. I need to taste victory, to claim her again. Mine, mine alone.
She doesn’t say a word until we’re in the elevator. “Ren?—”
I back her into the corner, caging her in with my frame, indulging my hands in the feel of her skin as I work them under her dress.
Nothing can stop me. No one.
Which is why the tensing of her body leaves me growling, our noses touching. Only when she cringes when I attempt to work my fingers between her thighs do I demand an answer.
“What? Afraid of a little public play?”
She tries to turn her face away, eyes closed, but she’s no match for my hand on her jaw, turning her to face me. Escaping me is futile; doesn’t she already know this? Maybe she needs to be reminded.
It’s then I see the problem. My hands, the blood dried and flaking off the bruised knuckles. Instantly, I release her, and when I catch my reflection in the mirrored wall, there’s no missing the flecks of blood on my shirt.
I wouldn’t sully my angel with this asshole’s blood if my life depended on it. He wasn’t even a worthy adversary. There was no chance of him taking her from me.
A better idea stirs in the back of my mind when the elevator chimes, signaling we’ve reached our floor. She follows wordlessly—there’s no mistaking the energy crackling between us, though, certain of where the night will end. Unworthy adversary or not, I fought and nearly killed someone for her.
She’s still scared. I can feel it, smell it on her, but something else lingers beneath. The thrill. Her arousal is thick by the time I swipe the key card in the lock to our door. Yeah, she might be afraid, but she’s equally turned on.
“Take that off. All of it,” I mutter, bolting the door before crossing the suite. The fact that she doesn’t need to ask why or what I have in mind stirs a smile as I step into the bathroom and turn on the shower.
“We should really talk about what just happened.” Her tone irritates me, like a mother scolding her child.
“I thought I told you to take your clothes off?”
She stops in the doorway, shaking her head like the brat she can be. I ought to know. “We have to talk first.”
“What is there to talk about?” I meet her gaze in the mirror before peeling off my shirt. “Unless you wish I would’ve let that piece of shit take you from me.”
“That wouldn’t have happened, and you know it.” She crosses her arms over her chest—defensive body language if I ever saw it.
“You’re lucky I know it wouldn’t have happened, or I might not believe you.”
“Ren…” The scolding tone is gone, replaced with sadness or maybe concern. I’m not really sure. “You can’t go through life beating the shit out of everybody who looks at me in a way you don’t like. You’re going to get yourself hurt eventually, and for what?”
“It’s pretty simple.” I lather up my hands at the sink, now slightly aware of the stinging sensation in my knuckles but ignoring it. “Somebody looks at you or talks to you the wrong way. I make them regret it. No khaki-wearing asshole will talk that way to my angel and get away with it.”
She slumps a little, staring at the floor. “It’s not going to end well.”
“Let me worry about that.” I shake my hands off before turning to her. “One thing I won’t do is make excuses. I won’t explain myself, either.”
“I know that,” she whispers. I have to wonder, or else why did she start this? “I worry, that’s all. I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”
“I can’t think of a better reason.” Nor can I think of anything I want to do more than strip her bare using my teeth. None of her scolding and worrying has so much as touched the blazing heat that leaves my cock stiff with yearning. Only she can extinguish the raging inferno.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” Pushing away from the sink, I begin unbuckling my belt. “Now, I believe I told you to take your clothes off. And I was serious about that, too.”
I give the open belt a tug, raising an eyebrow. “Would you like me to show you how serious?”
Damn if her eyes don’t sparkle in anticipation, even if she does remove her shoes before turning around and sweeping her hair over her shoulder. “Can I get some help?”
Can she? I’m of half a mind to shred the damn dress, that eager to touch her. I settle for lowering the zipper, then allowing the backs of my fingers to dance along the smooth line of her back, savoring the way she shivers.
She lets the dress fall as she turns while I finish stripping without taking my eyes off her. How could I when she’s a wet dream come to life? And mine, every inch of her, from the perky tits to the sweet, plump pussy she exposes upon removing her panties, and the slim legs I’m practically salivating to feel wrapped around my waist.
The shower’s running hot, the stall full of steam, which billows out once I open the door. She follows me inside without a word, as wrapped up in the moment as I am. I could lead her out the window, and she might follow under the spell of lust and the deep, undying connection we share.
Watching her step under the showerhead and tip her head back until water runs over her hair, I can’t help but remember the asshole whose face I rearranged. He could never have her this way. He isn’t remotely man enough. She could never belong to him.
The sight of the water running in rivers over her tits, hips, and ass leaves me stroking myself. “I could jerk off to the sight of you. You’re almost too perfect.” And all for me.
I’d rather touch her than myself, so I join her beneath the steamy spray and tip her head back until our mouths align. She blinks away water, smiling as her arms wind around my waist. “I love you.”
“And you are my entire world.” Cupping the back of her head in my hand, I brush my lips against hers—gently, teasingly—until she parts her lips and groans. So needy. So easy to excite.
So mine.
Only mine. No one is taking her from me. Ever.
“Ren…” Her whisper is soft, sweet, dripping desire just as surely as her pussy’s dripping in anticipation. “Touch me. Please.”
Not that I need the invitation.
I can’t keep my hands off her, running them over her slippery skin, my hunger growing with every touch until there’s no choice but to shove her against the marble wall. She gasps—from the force or maybe the sensation of cool marble against her hot skin.
The sound fills the stall regardless of the reason, cut off when I cover her mouth with mine and thrust my tongue inside.
Plundering, pillaging, the victorious conqueror and his conquest. Who am I kidding? I conquered her a long time ago—just as she conquered me.
Her pussy draws me in like a flame drawing a moth to fire. I have no choice but to touch her there, where she’s wetter than the skin now being pummeled by the hot, steamy spray.
It turned her on, watching me beat the shit out of that guy for her sake.
“You never have to worry, angel,” I whisper over the sound of her helpless moans, fingers delving through her sopping folds.
Two fingers slide easily into her slick heat, causing her back to arch, her body melting against mine as if I hit the magic button to make it do so.
“You’ll always be mine,” I rasp against her ear while she moans into mine, riding my fingers like she’ll ride my cock soon. “Always. No one will take you from me.”
Her nails rake over my back, hips jerking frantically to meet my fingers. She’s already so close—her body responding even more strongly than I imagined, and the thought leaves me fucking her mercilessly with my fingers.
“Say it,” I growl over her animal moans. “You’re mine. No one takes you from me, angel.”
Her mouth falls open, and her brow creases like she’s concentrating hard. “Yours,” she whines.
Not good enough. “No one takes you from me. Right?”
Her head bobs up and down frantically while her breath comes faster and faster, her body tight and tensed.
“Yes! Oh, please, I’m going to come. Let me come.”
No. I pull my fingers from her tight channel.
Her eyes fly open, a moan dying on her lips. “No, no! Please!” Pain sizzles across my shoulders, her nails digging into the flesh. “I’m so close.”
“Not until you give me what I want.”
When all she can do is blink rapidly, her chest still heaving, the hand I close around her throat seems to bring her back to reality.
As does the presence of my cock. I impale her on it with one sure stroke, lifting her onto her tiptoes. She’s entirely mine, body and soul, locked with me. Her very life is in my hands—a squeeze of her throat reminds her of this, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
And something else. Something that reaches inside me and stirs up all my darkest, most devious impulses. It’s the darkness in her, I realize. The darkness that’s always been there, the only reason she’d be drawn to a man like me.
Behind her innocent blue eyes, it’s there, stirring to life at the knowledge of my control over her.
“Give me what I want, angel,” I whisper, still buried inside her. “And you’ll get what you need. You’ll cream all over my cock the way your body is dying to.”
I withdraw slightly before driving myself deeper, hard enough to make her wince. And to make her muscles tighten around me in response.
“No one,” I growl, punctuating it with a deep thrust. “Takes you.” Another, so hard I grit my teeth. “From me.”
“No one,” she squeals, barely audible because of the pressure on her throat.
“Again.”
“No one.”
I quicken my rhythm, the need to lose myself in her overtaking the need to hear her submission. Her pledge of loyalty.
“Never?”
“Never, oh god, Ren… never.”
Are those tears in her bulging eyes? Fuck, even they get me hot, compelling me to lean in and lick one from her cheek once it’s spilled over. My thrusts quicken, and my balls lift with the promise of release just around the corner. I own every part of her. Even her tears.
“You are mine… mine… mine.” Her head bobs, her body sliding up and down the smooth marble at her back. She’s tightening, clenching me, a high-pitched whine filling the air and finally breaking the instant she lets go.
There’s no fighting it once her pussy begins its greedy milking, drawing me deeper, muscles fluttering, and finally forcing me to fill her with every drop of my cum. The world spins around me, and a roaring noise fills my head, but it’s not as loud as the roar I let out, a roar of sheer exhilaration.
The triumph of claiming what’s mine.
She’s trembling against me by the time I return to my senses, my softening cock still inside her. I pull out and watch as precious drops of cum drip between us, mixed with the nectar she unleashed, and some instinct compels me to shove as much as I can back into her.
Scooping it up with my fingers, I bring it back to her entrance.
What would it be like, watching life grow inside her? A life I created?
“What are you doing?” Scarlet whines, her gaze lust-filled.
“Putting this back where it belongs,” I murmur, easing the two fingers into her tight channel. She’s slippery, making my entrance easy, and I move in and out of her slowly, forcing my seed back inside her.
I need her bound to me in every single way possible. Her father can’t prohibit our marriage or relationship if she’s pregnant.
“My angel.” I punctuate it with a soft kiss to the crown of her head, my heart swelling. Her entire body lights up once more.
“Ren… stop. You’re going to make me come again.”
All I can do is grin as I fuck her slowly with my fingers, watching her pretty face fill with pleasure.
“I think I like you better post-orgasm. Your eyes glitter with pleasure, your cunt dripping with desire. Any day you’re beautiful as can be, but when you’re like this, needy and writhing, you’re much more than beautiful.
You’re a masterpiece.”
“Oh god…” Her body trembles, and she holds me, her smooth nails sinking deep into my flesh. Fuck, it hurts so good.
Her muscles tighten, her nose wrinkles, and her lips part on a silent scream.
“You’re so pretty when you come.” I can tell the moment she hits her peak. Her pretty toes curl, and her pussy flutters around my fingers.
“Mine,” I growl, the sound louder than intended.
She’s all I need to bring me back to solid ground, to remind me of what’s at stake now. My entire life, my future, my reason for living.
As soon as she’s done falling apart, I take her into my arms, her body sagging against mine. It’s all on the other side of what comes after we get rid of New Haven. What I need to do. Must do.
It’s still on my mind by the time we’re in bed, skin touching skin.
As usual, she is the little spoon, curled up against me and resting in my arms, even with all the extra space in this big bed. Her damp hair is close to my nose, and I revel in the fragrance.
I can’t wait until nothing is standing in the way of fully immersing myself in her. In what she makes me feel. Once this is all behind us, I’ll marry her, and we can get started on the life she deserves.
“We’ll head out to New Haven before dawn,” I whisper before she can fall asleep. “I’m going to need you to fight with me. I can’t do this without you.”
Her breath catches, and my heart catches with it.
Only to relax, soothed, when she nods her acceptance.