31. XXXI
XXXI
Echo
A thick sense of melancholy plagued my every move since departing Remi. His despondent words echoed through my skull until I could only make sense of one thing.
Deserve her.
I found Spencer at a deserted bar, head resting over crossed arms on top of the countertop. With her eyes closed, I took my time perusing her, taking in everything I could. She was covered in red, the stark colour glowing against her pale skin and white skater dress, her auburn hair stained all over. Yet, she’d never looked more lovely.
Deserve her.
A staff member dressed in a doctor's lab coat approached, shaking her shoulder when she didn’t respond. My girl was tired, and it was time to take her home.
I strolled forward as the doctor pulled a syringe from his pocket. “She hasn’t overdosed. She’s sleeping.”
From the sound of my voice, Spencer blindly punched out, clocking the guy clean across the face, which was definitely going to leave a bruise. He was about to snap back when I gave him a deathly glare, and he realised who I was. Tucking his equipment back in his pocket, he scurried away with a respectful nod.
“Was that fucker going to inject me?” Ahh, there’s that sweet voice I was craving. Even when it's laced with annoyance.
I walked round the bar and straddled the stool next to her. Sure, I manspread a little, if only to feel her thigh against mine. Spencer retracted from the contact, eyes narrowing in my direction.
“Why is he still breathing?” she asked.
I shifted to face her and couldn’t help it when my fingers twined through the ends of her hair.
“He’s a legitimate medical doctor, Ghost. This place is full of them. They scope the nightclub, ensuring people are safe, provide protection, prevent overdose and most importantly, ensure there’s no deaths. Well, that last one can’t always be guaranteed, but we’ve learnt from our mistakes.”
I braved a peek at her face, which seemed distracted, her gaze trained on my fingertips that continued to play with her soft auburn strands. I was surprised she let the action continue, but I wasn’t about to stop.
“Where do you source all these drugs? Since the Sovereign was wiped out, who’s your supplier?”
I wasn’t surprised by her questioning. Spencer sounded and looked wary, resigning to the fact that I wouldn’t answer.
If only she knew there was no need for her cautiousness. When she left me, I ached. Which was exacerbated when I saw her fighting for her life, the danger so fucking potent and real … My last form of restraint snapped.
And with that… everything changed. I didn’t have the power to push her away anymore, and since that irrevocable shift, I wasn’t holding back. Fucking nothing.
She couldn’t have known, but it felt as if I was a new man. In that moment, I’d have given her anything—all she had to do was ask. If only she was willing to give me another chance.
Deserve her.
Needing her closer, I grasped her hips and hoisted her up on the counter in front of me, her legs parting so her stilettos could rest atop each one of my thighs. Fuck. I obviously didn’t think it through because now her delicious breasts were in my face, and all I could think about was claiming them with my mouth.
My severe gaze raised over her exposed legs while my palms slowly followed, enticing her skin with my fingertips.
Before she could protest, I answered her question. “We use out-of-town suppliers, none that reside in JC. First, we’d never give the Ludus that amount of power to buy from them. Second, any other shithole dealer from this city couldn’t live up to the calibre and pure content the Sovereign previously provided.”
Spencer sighed when my palms reached her outer thighs, a toxic, candy apple scent enveloping us, the smell so goddamn appealing, I was about to be delirious.
I finally lifted my eyes to hers and her expression perfectly mirrored mine. We were about to melt into a burning inferno of desire, lust, and need, right on that hard counter.
Ever since I’d felt her lips, tasted her fucking tongue, I knew there was no other for me. Who am I kidding? Way before that. Only now was I willing to admit it to myself.
I skimmed my lips up the side of her neck, her shivers chasing the pressure of my touch.
“ We’ve been waiting for your return. To rule, to conquer, to claim back what is yours .” I infused my Variant into each syllable, ensuring each letter revered some part of her.
Spencer's shudders transformed into all-over trembles, and her chest concaved as she sucked air into her laboured lungs.
“Keep going, and I’ll stab you,” she said, the threat losing its meaning due to her breathlessness. Ignoring her remark, I lifted higher, licking the bottom of her chin where her incriminating tattoo hid.
“So, your aim was true, then, my little assassin ?” I teased. “Someone of your expertise knows exactly where to stab and not cause permanent damage, huh? Ultraviolet.”
Her eyes flashed with the intent to kill, a monster on the verge of attack.
“Next time, I won’t miss,” she added, pushing the tip of her foot into my wound, pain lancing through my system from the intrusion.
I grit my teeth, always welcoming the pain if it was her that’s welding it. “Stab me, shoot me, fucking kill me, Spence. God knows, I deserve it. But don’t leave me again ,” I said, letting her toes dig deeper into my weeping injury.
I had zero fucks left to give. For once, she was silent, so I took advantage. Not wanting to lose her, I continued on without thinking. “I need you to come home to me, Ghost.” My palms landed on her hips, thumbs reverently rubbing circles over the thin strap of her thong.
“Echo, that’s not enough. I told yo?—”
“ I’m sorry,” I cut in, my lips skimming against hers so she could feel my sincerity all the way down to her bones. “I’ve never spoken those words in my life…to anyone. But I’ll say them again for you . I’m. Sorry. Spencer. Give me another chance I don’t deserve—give it to me anyway.”
“I don?—”
I didn’t let her finish, pushing forward to capture that sweet mouth with mine. I had to erase the sensation of another man’s lips from her flesh, and I’d do so gladly.
Spencer’s mouth readily opened for my tongue to swipe inside, her reciprocating movements igniting my need ever higher.
I lowered one hand beneath her skirt, skimming against the inside of her thigh as I nipped and sucked along her jawline. “I can make you feel good, sweetheart. Your body remembers how I can make you feel so fucking good.”
Spencer pitched forward, her ass on the precipice of the counter as her tits thrust high. I held no restraint as I bit her nipple through the thin fabric of her dress, her throat contracting.
“Fuck, Echo, touch me .” She only had to ask once.
I floated a loose finger over her clit, panties soaked through from her desire. “Mm, you’re dripping fucking wet, Spencer. Tell me it’s all for me.”
“Well, about that,” she huffed.
I didn’t like her answer. Slipping a finger beneath the lace, I pulled on her clit piercing—hard. Spencer hissed, and I growled, biting into her neck deep enough to leave a mark.
“Tell me what you want,” I said, teasing her core with sensual, slow strokes. She was so turned on, she saturated my goddamn finger. “Tell me what you want, Spencer, and I’ll give it to you.” I almost choked.
“Just shut the fuck up, already,” she said, pulling down the collar of her dress to flash me her bare tits. My brain glitched from the sudden view, and my dick punched a hole in my pants in rebuttal.
Entirely preoccupied, I bowed my head and sucked a nipple into my mouth. And as I was about to push one finger inside her, a clear, masculine voice cut into our heated moment to have us crashing back to reality.
“Can you quit it?!” Tanner asked, tone disgusted. “I thought you two were fighting?”
“We are,” Spencer and I said simultaneously.
Tanner had turned his back on us, and I could tell by his voice that he was unimpressed. “We’re leaving. Stay or come. I don’t even care.” He began to walk away, and I could still hear him cursing us out, shaking his head as if we were deranged. “Just as bad as Micah and Psycho, and in public.”
After Spencer discreetly repositioned her dress, I lifted her into my arms, her legs automatically circling my waist.
“You can put me down,” she said, hands resting around my neck.
“Why would I? You’re tired, aren’t you?” She looked at me, perplexed, giving a slow nod.
“I’ve got you. Rest.”
Without further preamble, Spencer laid her head against my shoulder, her soft exhales teasing my neck as I led us out of the club.
I held my whole world in my arms, and there was no way in hell I was ever letting go.
Deserve her.
I walked into the foyer with the Kings waiting for me as if approaching a firing line. Spencer was a limp weight against me, and her soft snores tickled my eardrums, the sound so welcome, it made me glow with warmth from within.
Tanner stepped up, his hands raising as if to take her from me. Ultraviolet or not, I’ll fuck him up if he even tries. I shifted out of reach and tightened my grip, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Spencer’s mine.
Tanner scoffed, turned on his heel and left without a backward glance. Emerson leant heavily onto Ace, her expression twisted as if she was going to be sick. Ace guided her after Tanner, their blonde crowns disappearing through the exit.
My gaze returned to Micah, who now stood right in front of me. She’d moved closer without me realising, her presence cryptic and weird.
Her head tilted suddenly like she’d just read my mind. Her amber eyes roamed over her sister, then me, cataloguing the embrace. “After all the fucked up shit you’ve done to her, I’m letting you take her with you for one reason only.”
“What reason is that?”
Micah didn’t reply, instead circling me, and when she disappeared behind my back, the hairs on my arms spiked to attention. My gaze collided with Psycho’s, who was a couple of metres away, arms crossed over his chest with an obnoxious smirk, clear behind a lit cigarette. He was never far behind where she was concerned, her own personal stalker and obsessed shadow.
Yet, I couldn’t help the feeling that the predator at my back was more of a danger, Micah’s position a power move that could end me with barely a thought.
A firm palm pressed against my spine, the very centre, my heart pummelling beneath. I was sure she could feel the aggressive thumps. Then, a calm voice whispered over the Vice tattoo stamped on the nape of my neck. “As long as it continues to beat for her…I promise I won’t rip it out.” The statement was eerie as if being told my own fortune by a clairvoyant.
Without another word, the heavy, suffocating hand slipped from my back. And in a detached state, I watched Micah leave.
Psycho dipped out of the shadows, following after his girl like always. On his way past, he chuckled, smoke drifting up to meet me.