12. Ember
CHAPTER TWELVE
EMBER
G etting used to sleeping beside Orion was one of the worst things I’ve ever done, because ever since I’ve returned to sleeping alone, I’m always cold.
It doesn’t matter how many blankets I pile onto the bed or how many layers I fall asleep in. I’m freezing. According to my new therapist, it’s likely all in my head, but that shouldn’t really come as a surprise at this point.
Except as consciousness slowly drags me back to the land of the living, I realize I’m not cold at all, which sets me on high alert.
It’s only when I try to roll onto my back that I notice the arm plastered around my middle and the very hot body pressed against my back.
Those details are quickly followed by Orion’s scent, and my entire body stills as the reality of the situation rolls over me.
He’s here.
In my room.
Holding me.
I don’t need to wonder how he got in here because he’s one of the richest men in the country when he’s Orion Henderson, and one of the scariest when he’s the Hunter. Either of his personas could have gotten him into this room without breaking a sweat.
As slowly as I can manage, I slip my hand beneath the pillow closest to the door and wrap my fingers around the handle of the knife I started sleeping with when I arrived in Vegas.
At first, I wasn’t sure if Orion would want me dead for running from him, or if Lucas would send someone to hunt me down, considering I skipped out on my debt with him, but now it serves as more of a comfort item than anything else.
It just so happens to come in handy tonight.
“Go back to sleep,” Orion murmurs against the back of my head as he repositions me against him. His hard cock presses into my ass, and I freeze at the feeling.
There are many parts of him that I’ve missed, but I’m enough of a woman to admit no sex toy has a hope in hell of living up to what this man can do with what he’s packing in his pants.
I press my eyes closed, ignoring the ache between my thighs that I know only he can satiate.
As quickly as I can manage, I flip my body around until I’m poised on top of Orion with the knife pressed to his throat.
His dark eyes hold a whisper of surprise as he stares up at me, the soft moonlight illuminating his features, but a slow smirk replaces the shock.
“That was really fucking hot,” Orion groans. His hands slip up to my hips and hold me in place as he grinds me down on his cock, dragging a moan from us both.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap, willing my raging libido to settle down. It seems when I allowed him to take my virginity, I awoke a part of myself that quite literally cannot be satiated by anyone other than the man I plan to kill.
Inconvenient as hell, if you ask me.
His dark eyes are filled with amusement as he stares up at me, and I dig the knife into his throat, earning me another moan.
For fuck’s sake. Why am I not surprised this crazy fucker is aroused by my threat to his life?
“You know, Little Flame, if you’re planning on killing me, it won’t be a terrible way to go with your hot cunt grinding down on my cock.”
I huff out a sigh. “Answer my question, asshole.”
“You ran out of the auction so fast, we didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation.”
“That’s because I have nothing to say to you,” I growl, pressing the blade harder against his skin.
I’ve only ever killed one person before, and it still haunts me, but I’ve been so confident that I’ll be able to kill Orion.
Until right now.
I could end it all right here and now.
Sure, the clean-up would be a bitch, but I’d be lying to myself if I said that was the reason I can’t bring myself to slice his throat.
One move and it would be all over.
I’d be free.
But just the thought makes my heart ache in a way I really don’t want to analyze.
Because if I let myself think about exactly why I can’t bring myself to kill Orion, I have a feeling I’m going to have to admit that I still love him despite all the pain he’s caused me, and I’m definitely not ready for that.
“Go on then, Ember,” he coaxes. “If we have nothing to talk about, if you have nothing to say to me, why don’t you get it over with?”
The amusement is still very much plastered on his face, and it makes me want to kill him that much more. He’s having fun with this. He’s enjoying my indecision, my heartache.
“Come on, Little Flame,” he goads. “Slice me open. Rid yourself of me.”
The hand holding the knife trembles violently, and before I can stop myself, I draw it away because, whether I want to admit it or not, I’m scared I’ll slip.
“That would be too easy a death for you,” I growl.
He chuckles. “I’m sure that’s it.”
“It is!”
“Mm-hmm. Sure, it is.”
Before I can catch myself, my palm strikes across his cheek, and he freezes. His fingers bite into the soft flesh at my hips, and my breath stalls in my throat.
Okay, maybe pushing a man who got his name hunting down the worst of the worst isn’t such a good idea, no matter how confident I am that he won’t hurt me.
Before I can blink, Orion rolls us until his body presses mine into the mattress, reminding me that the man was going to let me kill him without fighting back at all. I don’t know if that proves he’s remorseful for the pain he’s caused me, or if he lost his mind while I was away.
I shove against his chest, but that just gives him the opportunity to wrap both wrists up in one of his hands and press them into the pillow above our heads.
“Did that make you feel better, Ember?” he murmurs as he drags his nose along my jaw. “Did hitting me take some of that anger away?”
“No,” I snap. “Now get the fuck off me.”
“I don’t think I will.” He chuckles.
Orion moves so slowly that I barely notice him pry the knife from my fingers, and my breath stutters in my chest.
Why didn’t I hold on to it?
Why the fuck did I let him take the only protection I have from the man who tore my life apart?
He repositions himself slightly so his legs are straddling mine, and I get a view of his tattooed chest. His muscles flex as he tightens his hold on my wrists, and shamefully, I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from moaning.
Where does he get off being so fucking hot when he’s such an asshole?
The tip of the knife trails along my collarbone, and I hold my breath.
He won’t hurt me.
Orion will not kill me.
That much I’m almost certain of, but you can never be completely sure when you’re dealing with a man like him.
“That’s better,” he rumbles. “My placid little thief.”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, I intend to, Ember. I intend to spend the rest of my life inside your cunt, but first we’re going to have a little chat.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” I snap.
“Mmm, so you’ve said.” The tip of the knife drags along my shoulder until it meets the thin strap of the slip I’m wearing.
One of the things I’ve had to get used to since working for Max is how much he pays me.
When I worked for Lucas, it was barely enough to pay for my apartment and to feed myself, but now I have enough to buy frivolous things like lingerie.
“This is very sexy, Ember,” Orion muses, tightening his hold around my wrists to make sure I can’t move. “Did you wear it for me? Did you know deep down I wouldn’t let you go when I finally had you back in my clutches?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. God, men are infuriating. Because I couldn’t possibly be wearing this just because I like it, and I want to?”
His deep laugh fills the space between us, only making me seethe more.
“Tell me, Little Flame. Have you let another man touch you since you ran from me?” The blade slips beneath the strap, and he doesn’t hesitate to slice through the delicate, albeit very expensive, fabric. “Have you let anyone fuck your pretty pussy?”
“That’s none of your business,” I growl, shoving against his hold on my wrists, but he’s too strong, and his entire body holds mine against the mattress.
“Oh, it’s absolutely my business, sweet Ember,” he murmurs, dragging the knife across the swell of my breasts to the other strap, which quickly meets the same fate.
“Because if I find out you’ve allowed another man to touch you, I will remove their hands from their body and their eyes from their sockets.
” He dips his face down until his lips are just a breath from mine.
“You are mine, Ember. And I don’t fucking share. ”