Chapter 11
Rage
I’d left Peter tending to his plants, acknowledging he’d caught me in my amorous thoughts. He’d also caught me completely off guard, my mind churning over his words and his advice.
What if we were meant to be together? As I walked away, I snorted in amusement. He was an amazing man who was completely nuts. However, I’d need to speak with Star to ensure there were no additional conditions left to discuss.
The only reason I decided to head to the lower floor was because he was right in that the trip would be arduous. Enough that if we were constantly arguing, we’d lose time. What could be traveled in less than two days by vehicle would take weeks by foot.
The corridors were cloaked in shadows, the scent of metal and corrosion pungent.
At least the underground facility was moderately protected, although not deep enough in the ground to completely prevent the effects of pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
Even though nuclear winters had ceased to exist over ten years before, the atmosphere in every corner of the world had been forever changed and was highly unpredictable.
If we faced minimal issues, which wasn’t likely. Between the malformed beasts and the roving bands of violent survivalists, we would be lucky to make it one day without an encounter. At least with the heat sensors, we could avoid large groups, but the scavengers were often the most dangerous.
While Eden would be considered heaven by anyone’s standards, seeing the groups of people moving through the corridors, carrying on conversations that could have been held before the war brought a sense of how closely knit the people had become.
A few acknowledged me with a nod, their eyes reflecting the news of our arrival had traveled throughout the compound.
Others kept a wide berth, still uncertain we were any different than the monsters who’d killed two of their own.
When I reached the closed door, I hesitated.
That wasn’t like me. Usually, I barreled into any situation because that’s what was needed.
Yeah, it wasn’t like me at all. I knocked.
Why not try to be cordial at least. When she didn’t answer right away, I found no reason not to let myself in, closing the door behind me.
The room was sparse with a cot and a beat-up dresser, the light overhead flickering as if ready to expire.
She wasn’t in sight, the quarters cramped but filled from top to bottom with boxes filled with memorabilia. I honestly wasn’t certain what I was looking at. Books. Notebooks. Even what appeared to be sketch pads with markers. And weapons. Jesus Christ, the woman had a huge stash of weapons.
I moved to the center of the room and to one spot where the floor wasn’t covered with something. Using just a single finger, I checked inside a couple of boxes. She’d amassed various weaponry from military surplus and those that had likely been pulled off victims or found in her city runs.
Given the woman’s penchant for killing, my guess was she’d plucked at least half the firepower out of cold, dead hands. I had to give her credit. She had a tough exterior, but I’d already seen her softer side in dealing with Wren and the dog.
And even in dealing with our passion.
It took a few seconds to realize she had some method to the obvious madness, books stacked against every wall. They appeared to be in order of genre including medical documentation. Well, I certainly gained an understanding of what she did in her off time.
I found the situation and her adoration of books amusing. There was much more to the woman than what I’d seen. Complex didn’t begin to identify her.
What the hell? I’d missed her, likely on purpose.
The connection from the gods. I wanted to laugh it off, but whatever the reason for the tether between us, it was growing stronger.
Just as I turned to head out the door, it was flung open and a lovely figure wrapped in a towel walked in without noticing I was standing mostly behind the door.
With her back to me, I was given a perfect view of her long legs and shapely calves.
She moved to the dresser, completely unaware I was in the room.
I should have known better. Her actions were methodical and practiced. She lunged forward and given the power in her thigh muscles, she managed to topple me to the bed, immediately straddling my waist and another, much larger blade was driven against my carotid artery.
Perhaps she hadn’t noticed her towel was barely hanging on, the thin bare material doing nothing more than highlighting her voluptuous body. She didn’t seem fazed in the least, determined to eliminate an enemy if necessary.
“Bastard,” she whispered, the way her chest rose and fell indicating excitement instead of irritation. Her long blonde hair was damp, falling across my face and shoulders as she leaned over, peering at me with eyes that were emblazoned with fury.
My cock only proceeded to ache even more than before.
“Already ascertained, Star. I would think you’d be used to my personality by now.”
A sweeping series of vibrations swirled around us as she shifted back and forth.
Sensing exactly what she intended, an immediate rotation of my hips and I had her pinned to the bed.
I ripped both arms over her head, her upper body muscles stronger than I’d believed.
She laughed softly, refusing to allow me to grasp her wrists with one hand.
I tried slamming her arm against the bed to force her to release the knife, but without a solid surface, the effort was futile.
And only proved to amuse the hell out of her. She laughed, thoroughly enjoying making a fool of me. “A big bad Verndari bested by a woman.”
“You mean by a commander.” My tease didn’t go over very well.
Her face became pinched and she wrapped her long legs around my waist, locking her feet together. Which only proved additional leverage. Soon, I was on my back again, her face peering down at me with even more vile and hateful aspirations twisting through her mind.
The towel had shifted, exposing her breasts while bunching up around the tops of her thighs. With her nipples tight, plump, and pink, my mouth watered in near urgency to indulge in another taste. She sat back on my chest, eyes hooded and mouth twisted.
There was nothing like such an incredible view. She didn’t seem perturbed or embarrassed, other than her chest rising and falling while contemplating what to do with me. Challenging her to see how far she would go was the most entertainment I’d had in a long time.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in my room?” She lifted the knife, twirling the weapon in a practice intimidation tactic. She knew better, but was determined that I should accept she wasn’t a helpless female.
Before bothering to answer, I waited as she gripped the hilt, holding it in such a way to indicate preparations to gut a man.
However, her moves were practiced, her training allowing her patience.
She dragged the tip of the blade from one side of my jaw to the other, taking her time without bothering to see if I was concerned.
I wasn’t.
“Peter suggested we have a discussion before we head out tomorrow. You should know what we’re facing. And there will be difficulties.”
The pressure of the blade against my collarbone through the shirt was almost indistinguishable, but when she lifted her chin to stare me directly in the eyes, I could tell she was contemplating the location where best to cause injury.
“I’m not interested in anything you have to say.
And if you’re stupid enough to believe I intend on going anywhere with you, the experimentations fried your brain.
Or maybe you were just this way before the change.
” She continued savoring the belief she was in control, rolling the edge of the blade down my shirt.
“Are you certain you don’t long to hear what I have to say? Or would you just prefer hard actions?”
She twisted the blade, pricking the skin on my arm above one of a dozen scars.
If she was hoping I’d complain of discomfort, she didn’t understand the makeup of Savages.
“What I know is that you’re going to leave this compound and never return.
If you don’t go quietly, I will cut your heart out with a spoon.
If you even have a heart. But you never know, maybe I’ll keep your friends as spares, using them as I will and for whatever reason I so desire.
We could use a little brawn around here.
With their primal instincts and low intelligence, I’m certain they’ll follow orders like good little soldiers. ”
The way she traced the long line of the scar brought questions to her mind while refusing to act upon her heightened curiosity. Obviously, the woman had trust issues.
“Such terrible words for such a beautiful lady. Threats are beneath you.” I had a desire to search for the crescent moon. And if what Peter had told me was true, would that change anything? I wasn’t honestly certain of the answer.
Every action was cunning, her smile only illuminating her thoughts. Without cutting the material, she expertly lifted my shirt with the blade, exposing a portion of my abdomen.
“You should see me when I really get angry. This isn’t about issuing threats, Rage. This is about protecting my people.” Her eyebrows knitting together and with her other hand, she lifted the material even higher. “You’re scarred everywhere.”
“Life in the Graveyard is dangerous.”
“How many beasts have you killed?” Scooting further down, she still believed she could make me anxious by running the edge of the blade across the top of my pants.
“Are you more curious about beasts, monsters, or men?”
Her shrug was as if bored. “Maybe all three.”
I dared taunt her anger by rolling the tip of my finger down her cheek. Her skin was soft, much more than with most females. Between the harsh seasons and lack of decent food, skin and hair were the first to face the body’s ultimate betrayal.
“Enough.”
“Freedom Hunters?”
“Dozens.”
Her chest was heaving from excitement. “I’ve always hoped to gut a few.”
“Where we’re going, you could get your chance. They are highly trained.”
“So am I.” Her laugh was indulgently seductive.
While the fun and games were enough to keep me interested, I’d had enough of her superiority complex. She’d gotten the initial upper hand, but with a slight toss using my hip, I turned her over, pressing half my weight against hers. Her gasp meant I’d shocked her. Good.
“Be careful what you ask for. Do you have any idea what Hunters would do with you? What they will do to your body? Trust me, princess. I’ve seen exactly how they handle a beautiful female. Very few if any recover.”
She struggled in my arms, swiveling her hips back and forth in trying to gain some leverage.
This time, I ripped the knife from her hand, tossing it aside, then dragged both arms over her head.
I was finished playing games, the intense throb in my groin creating an entirely different need than evoking any further conversation.
“I should have guessed a beast like you couldn’t figure out that I can handle myself against all predators, yourself included.” She almost managed to free one arm before I snapped the fingers of one hand around both her wrists. Now she was spitting fire. “And I’m not your princess.”
“I didn’t say you were mine. If you were, I’d have you over my knees daily as a reminder to obey the rules.
” As I leaned over, she did her best to drive herself into the bed and farther away from me.
“And the way you act and how people are treating your mere existence, I’d say you’re very much a princess.
Along with being a pain in my ass. That doesn’t change facts. You’re coming with me.”
“Not a chance in hell. Get off me, you bastard.” The deep hiss was followed by getting close to tossing us over once again. Did she honestly believe she’d manage to drive me away under the best of circumstances?
When I shifted back and forth, she bared her teeth as she’d done before. Only this time as an invitation. “Is that all you’ve got, Savage? If so, you don’t live up to your reputation, but I’ll make certain your body is put to good use.”
I dropped my head, taking deep breaths of her natural perfume. “I’m not certain if I should take that as a promise or a threat.”
“Take it however you want.”
Hmm… I’d told myself it would be necessary to keep my hands off. However, Peter had already made assertions, even suggesting that our coupling was part of this prophecy mentioned. What was the harm? “Alright. Then I will.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but I cured the situation by answering her unasked question.
I crushed my lips over hers.