Aftershock

Alaric

After knocking Fraser out, I wipe the tracking from his phone, laptop, and car, throw him in the back, then drive. Parking security waves me through, and I pull out of NewFra Cyber’s garage.

Free as a bird.

And I plan on staying that way. That’s why I head straight for the alley I picked out last night after getting rid of Harold, one with a blind spot in the city cameras. It’s where I stashed a duffel bag behind a dumpster for today.

Once I get there, I pack Fraser up. It takes some maneuvering, but I’m used to it. Same as I’m used to dragging a heavy duffel through Manhattan without anyone batting an eye.

“Home sweet home,” I say as I finally lower Fraser’s unconscious body into the chair in my storage unit.

Naturally, he doesn’t reply. He stays silent while I pull my gloves on, wipe my prints off him, tie him up, and slap a strip of duct tape over his mouth.

As if I give a damn whether he answers or not.

Lilith. She’s the only thing that matters. The one I miss as if I haven’t seen her in days.

That’s why, as soon as I’m done with Fraser, I remove one of my gloves, pull my phone from my jeans, and text her.

Me: Miss you.

Sure, she hasn’t texted or left a voicemail all day.

So what?

Games are for kids and idiots who confuse manipulation with love.

I’m not a child or a narcissist.

If I miss Lilith, if I want to talk to her, I’ll do it whether she reaches out first or not.

Right around the time Fraser starts taking deeper breaths, the phone vibrates in my hand.

Lilith: Miss you too. Work was boring without you there.

Me: Don’t let Hope hear you say it.

Lilith: Oh, she already did. Told me I was an asshole, but she loves me anyway.

Warmth spreads through my chest as I picture Lilith’s face while she typed that last text. Her eyes must’ve been shining, her attitude coming through them.

My lips curve up at that.

Unbelievable.

I’m in the middle of a crime scene.

With a child abuser bound to my chair.

With my storage cabinet and dresser filled with murder weapons I call research equipment. With a bucket for Fraser to shit and piss in over the next few days.

Not to mention the acid slowly eating through my clothes and parts of Harold in the barrel in the far corner.

Despite that, I smile.

Me: You’re fucking adorable. Send me a picture of you.

I never used my phone camera or kept anyone’s photos on it.

But after a day without her, I need Lilith’s face all over my screen like I need air.

While I wait—since service can get spotty down here, and I wasn’t lying about that—I put my glove back on and hook Fraser up to the monitors.

I’m done removing both gloves when my phone vibrates again.

One look at her photo, and my cock throbs.

Lilith took the picture in her room, and her hair is damp from the shower. Her thick locks fall over the front of her body, draped across an oversized T-shirt that has to be the one I left there last night.

My grip tightens on my phone as dark urges slam into my chest, my blood, my dick.

Then my screen lights up with a text.

Lilith: Hey, so, if you’re done for the day, could you come over? Totally okay if not.

Me: What do you think?

Lilith: You did say you were busy…

Me: Little devil, you can’t send me a photo like that and expect me to stay away.

Lilith: Do you use that line on all the women you date?

“Mmm.”

My gaze snaps up to Fraser. His eyes open into slits. His jaw works as he tries to remove the duct tape. The screens on the monitors I keep muted react immediately, their lines quickening from the slow, steady pattern they held before.

I send her a, Brat. I’ll be there in thirty, and pocket my phone so I can deal with this fucker.

“Look who’s decided to join us.” My voice is low, same as always.

Despite the room being soundproof, you never know who might be out there.

A rare neighbor passing through might catch the faintest sound.

Might press their ear to the door. Might alert the doorman. Or the authorities. “Just in time too.”

While I talk, Fraser does what dozens of other assholes have done before him. He thrashes. Wiggles. Tests his restraints.

“Mmm. Mmm.”

“What is this place?” I cock my head to the side. “Is that what you’re asking?”

“Mmm.” His eyebrows lower, brown eyes thundering. “Mmm!”

“This is where you die.” A full syringe waits on the table.

I pick it up, tap it to clear the air, then press the plunger until a drop beads at the tip.

“But not before you pay for what you’ve done.

Starting tomorrow. You’ve taken up enough of my time for one day, and I’ve got much better things to do that don’t involve your ugly face. ”

“Mmm!” The chair barely rattles. That’s how stable it is. “Mmm!”

“Thank you for your cooperation.” I shove his head to the side, exposing more of his neck, where I stick the needle. “I’d say I hope you have a pleasant stay, except…”

A growl rumbles through him. This fucker is a fighter.

Too bad it won’t help him.

“I really hope you don’t.”

One press, and the sedative is gone, disappearing into his body.

And…he’s out.

When I’m outside Lilith’s door, I text her so I don’t wake Hope by knocking.

It takes her less than a second to yank it open.

I’ll never get enough of this.

Of how her eyes glimmer when they land on me.

Of how natural it is for her to launch herself into my arms, letting me lift her off the floor and hold her close.

“Alaric.”

“Hey,” I say, my voice thick.

For hours, I managed to push the thought of missing her aside. I compartmentalized the ache, the need, the restless pull of her, because Fraser mattered. Steven mattered. The task mattered.

But now, when she looks up at me from beneath her lashes, with her body molding to mine like she’s always belonged there, all that control turns useless.

Guided by my most primal, possessive impulses, I lean in to kiss her. Our lips move together in a rhythm that belongs only to us. Feral, obsessive, and full of need.

Just until she moans into my mouth. Then I—the selfish bastard who can’t stand the thought of her neighbors hearing a sound that belongs to me and no one else—carry her inside, kicking the door shut before locking it behind us.

“Do all the men you date get that kind of welcome?” Smirking, I turn her earlier words back on her as I cross the living room.

“Not all men, only those…” She makes an exaggerated show of sniffing my neck. “Yes, only those who smell as nice as you do.”

Once I close the door to her bedroom, I set Lilith down. She gasps when I spin her around to face the bed and order, “Hands on the bed. Cheek too.”

“So bossy.” It’s a tease. A breathless one that goes straight to my dick.

I’m even harder when she obeys.

“Those other men you mentioned.” I drag her hips up, being so rough that I pull a moan out of her. “How many?”

“Hmm.” Her legs are shaking as she slides them open.

That’s hot.

Thing is, after spending hours away from her, it’s not nearly enough. I bunch her T-shirt up to her waist, preparing to spank her for being so fucking tempting.

“You’re fucking soaked.” We both groan when I run a finger over the dark spot on her panties. “Baby. Is that for me?”

“Y-yes,” she mumbles, her voice breathy, the amusement gone from it.

It’s like she’s done with the games.

I know I am.

“Need my cock to fill you up?” I hook a finger into the waistband of her panties.

“Please.” She shivers from how ruthless I’m being when I tear them off her. “I’m too empty without you.”

“Empty and…” After letting them fall to the floor, I keep one hand on her hip while I undo my jeans and drag the zipper down. Heat unfurls in my chest as I look between her thighs. “Are you ovulating?”

“I…”

“You must be. Horny, dripping.” From her hip, I slide my palm up to her breast. “Your tits are swollen. Fuck.”

“I think you’re right. Is that a bad thing?” Her fingers flex on the mattress. When I take out my painfully hard cock, her blue gaze flickers to my arm. “If it is, I—I’m sorry.”

“Bad? Sorry?” I don’t think. Don’t wait. Don’t goddamn ask before flipping her onto her back and pushing her up the bed. I’m leaking by the time I’m lining up my cock with her opening. Groaning loud when I thrust all the way in. “Lilith, it’s fucking perfect.”

“Really?” That one word turns into a moan when I drive into her hard enough to make the headboard bang against the wall.

“Yes, really. The way your body’s begging for my cum…” I’m a savage, picking up the pace, burrowing deeper into her with every thrust while I shove her shirt up and roll one nipple between my fingers. “The thought of putting babies in that pretty cunt… Fucking. Perfect.”

She murmurs yes and please. Her nails dig into my shoulders. The more brutal I’m being, the wider her legs spread.

Mine.

“Want to be buried inside you for days and weeks and years.” I lean in, brushing my lips along the slope of her neck. “I’ll fuck, lick, and eat you out until you cry. Your pussy will be the air I breathe. Every meal I have, it’ll be you.”

A clench of her thighs. The tiniest whimper.

And I know.

She’s close.

“I’m obsessed with you.” Releasing her nipple, I shove two fingers into her pretty mouth.

She obeys before I say a word, getting them wet with her spit. I guide my slick fingers to her clit and rub, drinking in her glistening lips, her bouncing tits, every filthy sign that she’s mine.

She’s so fucking beautiful. And me? I can’t believe I’m so goddamn lucky to have, own, and claim this woman over and over again.

“Oh, God.” It’s the last warning before she arches her back and comes all over my cock. “Alaric.”

“That’s”—thrust—“fucking”—pound—“right. Me.” My release chases hers. I come so deep inside Lilith that my seed must be soaking her all the way to her womb. “You pray for me.”

“Only you,” she sighs when I pull out slowly.

Unlike the ruthless man I was a second ago, I kiss her temple, then gently move her farther up on the bed.

After kicking off my shoes, socks, and jeans, I just stand there, admiring her.

Her eyes are hooded, her hair a dark halo against the pillow. Her lips are swollen from how hard I kissed her.

An angel.

“Come to bed,” she whispers, and there’s only one thing I can do.

Join her.

The mattress dips under my weight. As if we’ve been doing it for years, Lilith turns right when I prop myself on my elbow.

Comfortable silence settles between us as I run my fingertips over her cheek. The sound of her purr reaches into my soul.

But the warmth only lasts for so long.

Because when I dip my hand lower, curl it around her neck, and revel in the feel of her pulse beneath my fingers, I remember that I can’t take it for granted.

I tighten my hold just enough to feel her, to ground myself in the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

And then I make these vows to myself. To her.

As long as I live, I’ll protect her. I’ll take care of her.

I’ll work hard to build a future where both of us get our happily ever after.

Starting now.

“This.” Determined to possess every bit of her, I flip her onto her back. She moans when I shove my cum that’s dripping down her thighs back into her pussy. “Goes here. Where it’s meant to be,” I growl between one kiss and another. “You feel it too, don’t you? How right this is?”

“Yes.” She nods, even though she has no idea what she’s saying yes to. Or, more like, who.

I swallow around the knot in my throat, murmuring, “Good girl.”

“Alaric.” Only when she places a hand on my cheek do I stop, turn us onto our sides, and pull the covers over us. “Are you okay?”

“Never been better.” I bring my still-wet fingers to my lips and suck them clean, then drag them over her cheek in slow, deliberate strokes. Marking her. Claiming her. “I’m with you.”

“But when we’re not together, you work long hours. At the hospital,” she adds, softer now. “And at home, on your days off, you barely sleep. That’s a lot. If you want to talk about it, I’m here for you.”

I’ve never needed help. Never asked for it. But when she says those words, something in me shifts. I finally realize how lonely I’ve been. How long I’ve been waiting for Lilith to fill the hollow space inside me.

“Thank you, and you’re right. It has been a long day.

” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger there, where I can feel her.

“There’s not much to say, though, other than I’m tired.

” My thumb grazes her cheek, memorizing every inch of her skin.

“And that having you, like this, is everything I’ve ever wanted. ”

She beams at me, the expression thawing my cold heart.

I need more of that. Slowly, I flip her, hook a hand around her middle, and drag her back to my front. And though my body wraps around her protectively, Lilith is restless.

Her breathing quickens, and I swear I can hear her brain working.

“Hey.” It’s not just worry stirring in me now. With my hand spread over her stomach, I picture what it would be like to feel our baby kick. To caress her swelling stomach, to palm her fuller tits. I need it. But she needs me more right now, so I push those thoughts aside. Temporarily. “Talk to me.”

“Umm.”

The hesitance in that one umm puts me on edge.

“What is it?”

“Hope wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow.”

“Sounds great.” The unease in my stomach loosens immediately. I lower my mouth to the side of her neck, pressing a slow kiss there. “What’s wrong?”

“I was kind of freaking out that you’d think it was too fast.” Every time she shifts, my cock jerks. I tug her closer to keep her still, or I’ll end up fucking her into the mattress until morning. “I mean, you’ve met Hope, but dinner’s…different. More formal. Like meeting the parents.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” My lips find that spot behind her ear that she likes. “What time?”

“Oh.” She lets out that little sound she does before she cries. I hold her tighter, comforting her. Letting her know she can let go and lean on me. “Nine. After your shift and”—sniff—“that way, you can shower and don’t have to rush. Is”—sniff—“that okay?”

After my shift, with enough time to get a haircut and start my first trial with Fraser? Couldn’t be better.

Except my trials aren’t my main concern.

She is.

“Come here.” I turn her over to face me. Her cheek is warm, soft, and wet beneath my palm. My eyes burrow into her watery ones, searching. “Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“I wasn’t wrong about you.” More tears run down her cheeks, soaking my hand. She curls her delicate fingers around my wrist. “You’re perfect.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” I hold back a scoff. Don’t want to wound her, or worse, to tell her just how flawed I am. “But I’ll work my ass off to be the best man for you.”

“Let’s agree to disagree.” She scrunches her nose. Goddamn adorable. “About that first part, of course.”

“Of course.” Leaning in, I kiss and lick the tears off her cheek until she’s no longer crying. “Anything for you.”

“Hmm.” Her eyelids settle over her blue eyes.

She’s about to fall asleep, but then she says something.

It’s barely a breath. Barely a sound.

I hear it anyway.

I’ll always hear her when she tells me she loves me.