Chapter 16 Declan
Declan
That wink. That fucking wink jumps straight to my dick.
Sweat shines on her skin as I prowl closer. I should walk away, leave her to finish her work out, but my feet betray me as I find myself close enough to touch. Close enough to smell. Close enough to taste.
Towering over her, I give into my desire.
I snatch her ponytail in my fist and wrench her neck back to an uncomfortable angle.
Nipping at her neck I hiss, “Well, if you so desperately want me to prove you wrong, then by all means.” I release her hair just as a breathy moan escapes her.
I step toward the sparring ring. Lifting the ropes with one hand, I tilt my head. “After you.”
She saunters over and climbs into the ring. I’m right behind her, and when she reaches the center of the springy floor, she turns to face me. “Ready for round two?”
“You know you nearly cost me my tattoo with your little knife stunt.” I step into her space and inhale her scent, fighting back a groan as fresh rain and some kind of fucking flower take over my senses.
My hands trail up her arms. “Do you want to try to escape again?” My teeth catch the shell of her ear.
Her breath hitches; her pebbled nipples pressing through the fabric against my chest.
“Should I?” Her husky reply shows me she’s just as affected by this as I am.
Slowly, step by step, I back her against the ropes. With one hand leaving bruising fingerprints on her hip, my other circles her throat, applying just enough pressure. Her eyes widen, pupils dilate, and she… Did she just fucking lean into it?
I am this close to taking what I want from her when she suddenly shifts to the side, sweeping my legs out from under me.
I land with an oomph flat on my back. Before I can scramble back up, she’s on top of me.
Her legs straddle my waist and I know she can feel how hard I am beneath these shorts.
I grip her hips and grind into her without making a conscious decision to do so.
Her smile turns sinister as she grabs my hands and pins them to the sides of my body.
Well, two can play that game. Bending my knees and bracing my feet on the ground, I thrust my hips up, throwing off her balance so that she falls to the side, and roll over to create a cage with my body; her back is flat on the mats, chest heaving.
I’m careful not to pin her hands or press too close from this position.
Knowing her previous reactions and what she already shared with us has me protecting that part of her.
As if she realizes what I’m doing, she relaxes, and she bites her bottom lip. I lean in for a taste, slanting my mouth over hers and sucking on that same spot that was just between her teeth. Her moan vibrates through the kiss, sending a streak of white-hot desire through me.
Fuck, she tastes like sin. I sit up onto my knees and she follows, allowing enough space for me to peel the sports bra from her skin and then push her to lie on her back again.
My body hovers over hers. I use one hand to hold both of her arms above her head.
My other hand slides up her stomach to roll her nipple between my thumb and finger.
The cry that leaves her is fucking ecstasy.
My mouth covers her other nipple. I free her hands, only to have them gripping my hair a second later. She grinds herself against my hips. She’s going to be the end of me. My fingers dance along her waistband, my eyes finding hers.
“Fuck, yes.” Her words are a whisper as my hand dips under the band of her panties, fingers sliding between her folds.
She’s fucking soaking. I circle her clit once, twice, the third causing her to whimper in need.
I slide one finger inside her tight cunt while my thumb continues to tease her clit.
I’m enjoying every sound of pleasure and every twitch of her muscles, knowing I’m working her up.
My brain short circuits when her soft hand closes around my cock. I don’t remember her tugging my shorts down but fuck am I here for it. Groaning, I thrust into her tight grip.
I can feel her walls tightening on my finger; she’s close, so I add another.
“Don’t stop. Please don’t fucking stop.” Between her begging and the feel of her stroking my dick, I’m about to lose control.
Thrusting my fingers in and out, my palm grinding on her clit, I feel her coming undone.
Seeing her body arched, spasming, and hearing her fucking scream, I pump once more into her hand before my orgasm shoots up my spine, and I spill into her hand.
I half-collapse over her, our heaving breaths matching.
Several moments pass, both of us needing a moment to come down from that high.
Leaning down by her ear, I whisper, “You’re mine now, Poison.
Whether you like it or not.” Standing, I hold out my hand to help her up.
She eyes it for a moment before accepting it.
Tugging her sports bra back on, she meets my gaze.
I give her a filthy smile. “I told you that you couldn’t beat me. ”
“Fuck you.” But there is no anger in her voice, and she knows it.
“Planning on it.” I smack her on the ass and leave her gaping after me. Hell of a way to spend the morning.
I walk into the training center of Lunar headquarters at exactly 12:55 p.m. so that I can give out new assignments to our security teams at 1 p.m. The changes in body language when I enter have me on edge.
Of course, the majority is the typical jerk-to-attention-when-the-boss-man-walks-into-a-room variety, but there’s something else. .. A tension in the air. Interesting.
Unlocking my office with the eye and palm imaging, I stroll in. I prefer the physical part of this job because it’s a way to let my demons out. Snatching the new assignments that have been detailed and earmarked for specific teams, I head back out to the large training area.
Taking my time and letting the silence linger, I watch the reactions of the guys.
“Jonesy.” The barked order has the ex-marine headed my way.
With his average frame and build, plus loads of patience, he blends in well, but I know from experience he is deceivingly deadly.
Perfect for protecting an irritating-as-fuck future councilman.
I definitely perked up when Councilman Yeatts reached out for a protective detail.
Akio had let me in on the little tidbit of Helix being in bed with this douche, so I need one of my most reliable on this case.
I trust all of my recruits as much as one can trust a bunch of mercenary adrenaline junkies.
As he takes the file from my hands, a recruit catches my attention.
While standing half behind another trainee, the rookie’s eyes dart around the room, his restless movements seeming to be more than nerves.
My mind flashes back to my childhood. Mom shifting rapidly between anger and excitement, her energy levels almost palpable.
Fury, hot and electric, courses through my veins.
Shoving past Jonesy, I storm over to the trainees gathered in that corner.
“What the fuck is going on?” A mixture of guilt and fear takes over several faces while confusion colors others.
Well, at least now I know who is aware. Now the question is, who is involved?
The jittery fucker, Davis, I think, tries and fails to appear sober.
The group scurries out of the way as I snatch him by the collar and slam him against the wall. “What the fuck are you on?”
“Nothing, sir.” The tremors in his voice and pinned pupils give him away.
My voice echoes through the room. “If I don’t get an honest answer of what this fucker is using and who is involved in the next ten seconds, every one of you will find yourselves jobless and in a world of pain!” Silence. “Ten.” Shifting feet. “Nine.” Whispers. “Eight.”
“It’s cocaine, boss.” One of the braver new recruits pipes up. “He’s been trying to deal it to the others too. As far as I know, no one has taken him up on the offer.” Apparently my strict no-drug policy has had the desired effect.
Turning back to the little shit I have pinned, I hiss, “Is that so?”
“He’s lying! I’m just sick. Have been for a few days.” The denials I have heard a thousand times play out and send me back. Black washes my vision.
Mom’s latest dealer boyfriend backhands her and she goes sprawling. I swing my bat at him, but he’s so much bigger, so much stronger than my ten-year-old body, he just catches it.
Turning that glare on me, his eyes are so dark and deranged, I know I’m looking into the pits of hell.
His laughter sends fear down my spine, but I don't back down. He pulls the bat from my grasp and tosses it down. I feel the first hit. Blood spews from my nose as I’m knocked back.
Then he’s on me, blow after blow landing on my body, my face. I try to cover myself with my arms.
I feel the discarded bat touch my shoulder and grab it with a last burst of energy, my swing nailing him in the side of the head. He falls off of me and I gain the upper hand, but I don't stop swinging. Hands tear at my shirt. Her voice is in my ear. “Stop! Stop, you’re going to kill him!”
Suddenly that voice is much deeper and the hands on me are gripping my arms and yanking me back not only from my target, but back to the present.
“Fuck, boss, stop!”
I look down at Davis on the ground. His nose is bleeding and he’s glaring daggers at me but at least he’s conscious.
I really did a number on him. But I still feel the violence running through my system.
I need to get out of here. “I want him gone by the time I get back.” There’s a flurry of movement but I don’t stick around.
I need to go for a run. I need to see her. What the fuck? It’s only been a few hours. My thoughts, jumbled and confusing, are too much to take right now. And yet, starting on my usual route around Lunar Security headquarters, I find the image of Fallon’s face bringing me back to center.
Each step eases the tension in my muscles until calm takes over.
I can’t shake the confusing urge to go to her.
Fallon has consumed my thoughts. It's a distraction, especially with the guilt of having kidnapped her weighing on me.
But it's comfortable having her close, even under these circumstances
And yet the urge is still there. Maybe it’s the many men in her life that are fucking dangerous. We know what her father and Clay are capable of, and eventually she’s going to end up on the wrong side of one of their deals. Oh, you mean like kidnapped in a revenge plot?
Maybe she belongs with us. She’s working with us and fighting alongside Cerberus.
Something about that thought just feels right.
My mind races back through my life and every failed attempt to protect those I love.
Mom. Luna. Myself. Is this redemption where I finally do it right, or is this going to be another mistake where I fail her, too?
What started as a challenge has shifted. I can’t pinpoint when that shift started, but the urge I felt on the roof to push until she breaks is not what I feel now. I still have this pull toward her fire and ability to match my intensity, but I’m also desperate to keep that fire between us burning.
After an hour, I’m no closer to an answer of where this is going with Fallon Helix, but my body is tired enough that I feel in control. Walking back through the front door, I note my brothers waiting in the lobby; clearly having been informed of what happened with the recruit.
“Save it.” I don't stop walking.
Teo’s hands go up in mock surrender. “Just here for whatever you need.”
Irritated, I keep moving, and they both fall into step behind me.
The men are on edge when I get to the training center, but I ignore them.
I spot the folders that somehow found their way to a table in the corner, and methodically hand out assignments to the teams who are still in the training center finishing up their workouts or team debriefs.
I note key factors they need to be ready for.
Work done for the day, we head home. To her.