28. All the Damn Time
All the Damn Time
Sinclair
Iwouldn’t say everything’s perfect. Far from it. I’m still a prisoner to a system and pack I didn’t choose to be a part of. I’m constantly worrying about my grandmother, torn between wanting to check on her and staying as far away as possible. I don’t want to bring the Echelon to her doorstep, and I don’t want her to know about my situation.
She already lost one daughter to the omega houses. She knows how to mourn that kind of death. I’d rather her think that’s where I ended up than know the truth.
So, while things aren’t perfect, they are a hell of a lot better than they were. It’s been almost a week since the games and we haven’t been informed of the next Trial, so our days are mostly free. Though there is a lingering cloud on the horizon from knowing that at any moment, the next Trial could begin and turn our world upside down.
For now, at least, Ecker and Bishop have been using their spare time training me. Today, we’re working on the lawn by the lake on the west end of the Estate. I’m winded and my muscles sting, but it feels good, having something productive to pour my energy into.
I’m squaring off with Ecker. Sweat drips down his temples and sharp nose, his dark eyes shifting as he assesses me. I throw a punch and he weaves around it, but we practiced this and I counter with an uppercut to the chin.
“Good,” he cheers after I make contact, looking completely unaffected by a hit that’s making my knuckles ache despite ample wrapping. Oh, to be a noble alpha. “But next time, don’t stand back looking surprised you landed a punch. Keep working body shots until they regroup.”
The Beryll pack comes over to say hi, and Bishop greets them before they reach me and Ecker. They’re dressed in swimsuits, with towels thrown over their shoulders, ready for a dip in the lake. Paisley waves to me, and I wave back.
“Hey, focus.” Ecker snaps his fingers.
“Let’s be done for the day,” I push.
He shakes his head with a crooked smile. “Let’s go a few more minutes. It’ll be good for you to practice with distractions.”
I exhale and raise my guard. “Okay.”
I throw one combination, none of which even graze him. Then, in less than two seconds, he has me on my back on the grass. My heart races. His face hovers over mine, his breath sawing in and out. My wrists are pinned by my head.
“God, what I would give to fuck you right now . . .” He drags the tip of his nose along mine and my stomach squirms with desire. “You want that too, don’t you? My cock buried inside your dripping pussy?”
“You can’t,” I breathe softly. Bishop still hasn’t given permission for him to take me that way.
“Doesn’t stop me from wanting to.” His lips brush against mine. “I think about it all the time, you know.”
With butterflies in my stomach, I gently kiss him back before whispering, “You do?”
“Yeah, baby girl, all the damn time.” He ghosts his lips lightly over my jaw, sending sparks skittering across my skin.
I bite my lip. “What do you think about?”
“I think about taking you any chance I get, no matter where we are or how many people are around.” I gasp as he nips my neck. “Making you wear dresses every day with no panties so that you’re always ready to sit on my cock. The way you’d squirm as I stretched your tight pussy, all the while trying to keep a straight face and not give us away.”
My breath hitches. “Then what?”
“Then I would—”
“Ecker,” Bishop’s voice calls, and we both snap out of the golden haze we were quickly slipping under.
Ecker sits back on my thighs, his knees on the outside of mine. He smiles. “Came to join us for some sparring, Ti?”
My good mood deflates as I look up to see Titus has joined us with his ever present scowl. Ecker gets to his feet and offers his hand to pull me up after him.
“Omega.” Titus nods with a sneer.
“Titty.” I arch my brow and cross my arms.
He rolls his eyes and turns his attention to the boys. “There’s a lead I want to check out off campus. I shouldn’t be more than a few hours, but keep your phones on you.”
Ecker blows out a laugh. “I haven’t checked my phone since we got here—now that you mention it, I don’t even know where it is.”
Bishop shakes his head. “I have mine. I’ll make sure it’s charged and nearby. What’s the lead?” I’m assuming this has to do with whatever he’s been researching in the library lately.
Titus seems to twitch slightly at the question but then shakes it off. “Eh, it’s a long shot. I’ll tell you if it pans out.”
“Sounds good. Staying for a swim?” Bishop asks with a nod toward the lake behind us where the Berylls are splashing in the water, jumping off the dock.
Titus cracks his knuckles. “I should head out.”
“Your loss.” Ecker shrugs and pulls his shirt over his head, turning around and jogging to the dock.
Bishop follows suit. “See you later then.”
I go to follow, but Titus growls my name. The back of my neck prickles and I turn around. “Yes?”
“You guys seem to be getting along well these days.” His tone is full of bitterness.
“We have,” I say sharply, suspicious of where this is going.
“It won’t last, you know.”
I step closer to him. “Excuse me?”
He meets me with another step, clearly trying to intimidate by towering over me. “They might be blinded by pussy right now, but sooner or later, they will wake up and see what I see.”
“Which is?”
He narrows his eyes. “That they’re being played, manipulated.”
I scoff. The audacity to talk about manipulation when he’s done nothing but attempt to manipulate me through threats and pain since we got here.
I shake my head. “You know, at first, I thought you hated me because of my bloodline. Then I thought you might not hate me but hated that you couldn’t touch me.” I trail my gaze down his body. “That you can’t have what you want so damn bad. But I get it now.”
“Do you?” he snarls.
“Yeah, you hate me because you’re losing them. Losing them to me.” I smile victoriously, realizing that I finally have the upper hand. “You’ve taken so much from me, it’s high time I take something from you.”
His jaw ticks and his nostrils flare. “That will never happen,” he growls and spins on his heels.
Fire licks at my spine, conviction pumping hard through my blood as I watch him storm away. “It already is!” I shout after him.