Chapter 33 Wren
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
WREN
“Wren? Wren, baby, wake up.”
I try to reorient myself, remembering why we’re here. We were watching the house, Pete and I went for a walk while the others went to get food.
That’s when—My heart lurches in my chest as I turn to look for Pete, finding him sitting in the front, watching the house. My hammering heart starts to slow, seeing he’s still here.
Of course, he is; he promised he isn’t going anywhere.
That was right before he said those three little words to me.
He had said something similar when I first met him in person, but I thought he was just being silly; I’d barely met him.
But now I knew he meant it, because I felt the same way.
I was desperate to say it in return. I’m not sure why I didn’t.
My voice had sort of frozen in shock, not expecting him to say that, especially not while we were strolling down the sidewalk.
He didn’t act any differently when I didn’t reply. He just continued walking us down the street, his easy-going smile plastered on his face. It was only a few minutes later that Sly and the others arrived.
We’d climbed in the van, ate dinner, and settled in for the wait. A few times, we took turns going in pairs to relieve ourselves in the park down the street. Something I was grateful to only have to do once, as peeing in public is definitely not something I was eager to do again.
After that, we got comfortable and watched. I must have fallen asleep, as the last time I looked at the clock, it was just after eleven.
“Are we going in now?” I ask with a yawn.
“Not yet. Jagger and Pete are going to go check it out first. We’ll wait here,” Dex explains.
Pete, who’s standing outside the open van door, leans back in and gives me a quick peck on the lips, then Jagger does the same, making my heart leap in my chest. They clearly didn’t mind me kissing both of them.
I lick my lips, trying to taste them both as I watch them jog across the street toward the very house we’ve been watching all night. Sly shuts the van door then climbs back in. Anxiety starts to fill me the second they disappear around the side.
Dex wraps an arm around my shoulder, whispering, “They’ll be okay.” I nod but don’t comment, staying alert for any sign of them.
Every minute that passes, I get more and more nervous that something's gone wrong. That it’s an ambush, and they are inside, lying dead on the floor. Or they’ve been hurt and are bleeding out.
“We have to go help them,” I beg when fifteen minutes have passed. “They could be hurt!”
“They’ll be back soon,” Sly says. But I can hear the tension in his voice. He’s worried too.
“I don’t—look!” I point excitedly to the figure cloaked in black that’s just appeared from around the side of the house and heads straight for us. “It’s Pete! Where’s Jagger?”
I clutch Dex’s arm so tight, I’m worried I’ll actually draw blood.
Sly opens the side door as Pete approaches. He yanks down his hood and offers us a big smile. “It’s all clear. Doesn’t look like anyone is living there right now. Jagger’s keeping an eye out while I came to get you guys.”
I practically leap over Sly’s lap, throwing my arms around Pete’s neck to hug him. “Oomph! You miss me or something, angel?”
“I was worried,” I whisper as he pulls me out of the van, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“I got Wren, you guys good with the bags?” he asks, looking back at Sly and Dex.
“Yeah, go on, get her secured.”
“He makes me sound like a prisoner,” I mumble as Pete carries me across the street.
“That’s right. You’re my little prisoner.” He grins at me as we move around the side of the house. “That means I get to order you around.”
“You think so?” I ask, rubbing my nose along his neck to try and get a good whiff of him.
“I know so.”
There are no lights on, so we step through the back door into darkness, but I’m still able to find Jagger quickly. I leap off of Pete and run to him. I jump up, and he catches me as I cling to him.
“She was worried about us,” Pete says in amusement as Jagger sways me back and forth.
After a few moments, he sets me down on the kitchen counter, and I yelp as the cold hits the back of my bare thighs. Jagger just stares at me, looking amused. His hands move to my knees as he slowly pushes them apart and steps between them.
My dress bunches up toward my hips, not that anyone can see much, the house is completely dark. They obviously don’t want to turn on the lights and alert anyone we’re in here. His heated blue eyes stare down at me as he raises his hands to cup my cheeks.
His eyes drop to my mouth, and I suck in a sharp breath, my pulse speeding up as I lick my lips in anticipation. Slowly, he lowers his head, and my eyes close right before his lips touch mine in the briefest of kisses.
He starts to move away, so my hands shoot forward, grabbing his shirt and pulling him back to me. Somewhere in my mind, I hear Pete chuckling in the background, but Jagger has all my attention.
When our lips touch this time, he doesn’t kiss me softly.
He’s like a soldier who’s been deployed for years and has finally come home to reconnect with the woman he loves.
He devours me, his arms engulfing me tightly as his tongue commands mine.
He’s relentless as he completely obliterates my panties. They’ve never been this wet before.
I try to move closer, to rub myself against him, but we don’t seem to be at the right height.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Sly says, sounding not sorry at all as we pull apart. “I know you haven’t seen each other in… fifteen entire minutes. But can we get this place secured first?”
“First?” I slap my hand over my mouth in surprise.
I did not mean to ask that out loud.
Sly places a duffel bag on the counter beside me as his eyes roam my face, taking a few seconds to take in my swollen lips.
“Yes, first we secure the house, then we can take care of you.”
My eyes widen, and I have to bite my lips to stop myself from asking what take care of me means.
“Pete, show us a bedroom where Wren can sleep. Let’s get her settled first.”
I’m surprised when, instead of grabbing the bag, Sly nudges Jagger out of the way and lifts me off the counter, carrying me bridal style down the hall behind Pete.
My fingers absently play with the buttons on his shirt, undoing the top one so I can touch his heated skin beneath. He has a smattering of hair there that I love to run my fingers through.
“Wren…” he says in warning.
“Sorry. Do you not want me to touch?” My heart sinks as I pull my hand out of his shirt.
He frowns down at me, following Pete into a bedroom. “You can always touch me.”
“You’re confusing.”
He sighs, placing me on the bed. “I know.”
“The bathroom’s right there, here’s your bag.” Pete points to the side wall where an open door reveals the edge of a toilet. It’s too dark to see much else.
“Get ready for bed while we secure the rest of the house,” Sly says as they both turn toward the door.
“Wait!” They both turn at the urgent plea in my voice. “You’re both going?”
They glance at each other, seeming to exchange some sort of silent conversation. “You go,” Sly tells him, nodding to the hall.
Pete gives me a concerned look before leaving us alone in the dark room.
Sly moves back toward the bed and takes a seat beside me. “Wren, are you afraid of the dark?”
He strokes the back of a finger down my cheek as I try to calm my breathing. “No. Not really.”
“What is it then?”
“You guys have never left me alone before. Only in the bathroom.”
“We’re not leaving the house, Wren. We’re securing it from the inside.”
“I know,” I tell him, feeling stupid for not wanting to be alone. “You’re right, you can go, I’ll be okay.” I gesture toward the hall, but he doesn’t move. “Sly, I’m fine. Really. You don’t have to stay with me.”
“Are you scared of being alone?” When I don't answer immediately, he prods. “Be honest with me, Wren.”
“A little.” I shrug as if it’s not a big deal.
“Then I’ll stay.” He stands up and looks through my bag, which is difficult in the dark. He finds his old T-shirt and a pair of my panties, making me blush. “Stand up.”
He reaches for the hem of my dress, and a soft gasp leaves me. “I can get dressed on my own, Sly.”
“I know.”
He doesn’t say anything else as he pulls the dress up and over my head, leaving me in just my panties and bra. It’s very dark in here, so I know he can’t see much, but it doesn’t stop him from gripping my waist as his eyes trail up and down my body.
“Sly?”
“Just give me a second.”
When his fingers tighten on my heated skin, and he still doesn’t move, I ask, “Are you okay?”
“I’m trying to talk myself down, and you’re making it very hard.”
“Talk yourself down from what?” I ask in confusion.
“From throwing you on this bed and fucking that virginity right out of you.”
“Dios mio.” My heart speeds up as I picture him doing just that. I can only try to imagine what it would be like to have him inside me, to help satisfy that constant need between my legs. I grow wet just thinking about it.
“You see my dilemma.” He sighs.
“Not really. Do you think I’d try to stop you?” He inhales sharply, and I step closer to him, my hands gliding up his chest as I whisper, “'Cause I promise you, Sly, I wouldn’t. I’d let you do whatever you want to me.”
A growl tears from his throat, and suddenly, he lifts me up, tossing me onto the bed on my back. My eyes widen as excitement shoots through me. “Don’t play with fire, little bird,” he warns.
“Why? You gonna burn me, Sly?” I ask in challenge as I push up on my elbows. I’m starting to realize that in order to get him to cross that line with me, I need to push him.
He starts to undo his shirt, and I lick my lips eagerly. “You—”
He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as Jagger comes out of nowhere and tackles him to the ground.