Chapter 27
Wren
I get up from the breakfast table and have to hold back a wince.
I hurt, but in a good way. In the best way.
I look over at Grim, who is packing the last of the things away. I have to hold back a goofy grin when I think about what happened in the early hours of this morning.
I almost can’t believe it. That I let myself go like that. That I was so…uninhibited. I was so…not myself, and I really enjoyed it.
“You ready?” Grim asks, picking up a huge duffel bag from the floor.
We decided to pack a few changes of clothing, some basic toiletries, and some food, just in case. We might need to hole up somewhere until things die down. It’s better to be prepared.
I nod. “Yep, let’s go.”
Grim says he knows a place we can lie low for a day or two. Then we’re going back to the clinic to find that cellphone.
We start walking, and once again, I feel it.
Or rather, I feel Grim and the marks he left on my body.
I have a few light bruises on my hips and thighs.
My ass is sore. At least, one cheek is. I had the audacity to come before Grim gave me permission, and he spanked me again, which only made me come harder.
I clearly have something wrong with me because I loved it. I loved all of it.
Loved how Grim took his time to find my buttons and then how he didn’t just press them, he punished them. He worked me over good and proper. I didn’t think I could come so many times and so easily.
I think that at this point, I have more endorphins running through my veins than I do blood.
I’m hooked…on the sex…not on him. Just the sex. But we can’t do it again. We agreed. One night, and that’s it.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Grim gives me a shoulder-bump.
The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I was thinking how much I like being spanked.”
Grim barks out a laugh. He stops walking, looking at me. Then he grins.
“If only we had more time.”
“Even if we did have time,” I shake my head, “I can’t. I think you might have broken me.”
His face morphs from humor to concern in a second. “You promised me you’d tell me if I—”
“I’m fine…it’s all good.” I wave a hand. “Just a little tender, that’s all, and in a good way.” I smile.
“Good.” He sighs, relief evident on his face. “I did worry that I may have gotten a little carried away.”
“You didn’t. Actually, I’m pretty sure you were holding back.”
He gasps, grabbing my arm and pulling me so that I’m facing him. It feels like a standoff.
“Come again? You think I went easy on you?” He narrows his eyes. “You just finished telling me how I broke you. How is that going easy?”
“Yes, I do think that. And only because you didn’t…
I mean, you…um…you…” I look down at my shoes, suddenly feeling a little shy, which is so stupid.
This man knows the taste of my pussy. He knows the sounds I make when I come.
How I look when I come, just like I know exactly what he looks like, and it was beautiful.
How his face went slack. How he bit down on his plump lower lip.
How he grunted hard before he roared. How black scales popped up on his chest. All of it.
He was so wild and caveman. It was awesome.
“Spit it out already, Wren.” Grim’s voice drops lower. “Please tell me how it is that I went easy on you.”
“You…” I giggle. “You know what, forget I said anything.”
He pushes me against the wall and cages me in with his body, not actually touching me. His hands are on the wall above my head. I can hardly breathe.
“Tell me,” he growls, his eyes locked on mine. “How did I go easy on you, Wren?”
“Fine. You promised me some ass action, and you never delivered. That’s over-promising and under-delivering. You know that, right?”
He grips my hip, his fingers digging in just enough to make me gasp.
“I can fix that right now.”
I push against his chest, and he takes a voluntary step back, letting me go.
“No, you can’t,” I tell him, trying to sound firm. “We need to go. We need to fix this and expose those bastards. I was only teasing you, Grim. I meant what I said… We can’t do it again.”
He stands taller and nods, his expression becoming serious again. “You’re right. Thanks for letting me…inside you. I enjoyed every single second.”
I lick my lips, and his gaze drops there for half a second. Heat floods through me.
“I did too,” I tell him.
He pulls in a breath and starts walking.
I follow, forcing myself to focus on what’s ahead instead of what we left behind in that bedroom. I don’t think I can go back to missionary position. Back to okay sex with a nice guy. I don’t want nice or boring. I want more of Grim. A whole lot more. More than I can have.
Pity we can’t always get what we want.
I’m glad I got one night. I’m good with that.
It doesn’t take us long to reach the garage. The space is easily large enough to house a small fleet. There’s a whole row of SUVs parked in neat lines, along with a few other vehicles. I spot a ride-on lawn mower in the corner, some ATVs, and what looks like a utility truck.
Grim walks straight to a metal panel mounted on the wall near the entrance. Inside are rows of keys, each hanging on a numbered hook that corresponds to a parking spot.
“Let’s hope one of these works,” he mutters, scanning the options.
He grabs a set labeled “7” and heads to the corresponding SUV. It’s a dark gray vehicle, similar to the one he drives for work. He climbs into the driver’s seat and turns the key.
Nothing.
The engine doesn’t even try to turn over.
“Shit,” he growls, climbing back out. “I think they disconnected the battery.”
He pops the hood and props it open, leaning over to peer inside. I move closer, watching as his hands disappear into the engine compartment. Even watching him do this is sexy. The way his muscles flex as he works. The concentration on his face. The confidence in his movements.
I shake my head. I need to stop thinking like this.
Our sole focus needs to be on bringing those bastards to justice.
Exposing whatever it is that’s going on.
I have to do it for Sally. Probably for Ethan, too.
I even need to do it for the anti-vaxxers who didn’t deserve what happened to them.
It was clear at the end that they never planned on actually hurting us.
They certainly didn’t deserve to die for what they did.
“Try it now,” Grim calls out.
I climb into the driver’s seat and turn the key. The engine roars to life, purring smoothly.
“It worked,” I yell over the engine noise.
Grim slams the hood closed and walks around to the driver’s side.
I slide over into the passenger seat as he gets there, and he climbs in. But instead of putting the SUV in gear, he turns the engine off.
“What is it?” I ask, frowning.
“I’ve been thinking it over, and I think I should give Drake a call before we leave.” He’s already getting out of the vehicle. “If I make it really quick, they won’t be able to trace it. Then we can hightail it out of here just to be safe.”
“That’s a good idea,” I agree.
We head back inside, making our way to one of the offices. Grim picks up the phone on the desk and dials quickly, his jaw tight with tension.
Drake answers almost immediately.
“It’s Grim,” he says, his voice a hard rasp. Then he falls silent, listening.
I watch his face, trying to read his expression. His eyes narrow. His jaw clenches. He makes small noises of acknowledgment.
“I should be able to find it,” he says after a few seconds. “We’ll be there.”
Then he ends the call, his hand hovering over the phone for a second before he pulls it away.
“What happened?” I ask, anxiety creeping up my spine. “What did he say?”
“Let’s get out of here.” We start walking. “He’s asked us to go and meet with him to talk. It’s somewhere remote.” Grim rubs his chin. “I hope I can find the exact meeting place. I only went there once, and Drake was driving.”
“But you think you can find it?”
“I’m pretty sure I know where it is. I wasn’t there that long ago.
” He turns to look at me, his expression serious.
“I have a good sense of direction. Drake says he has news for us. We couldn’t get into it because our time was up.
He didn’t want to risk the call being traced back here to the Academy. ”
My heart pounds harder. “What kind of news?”
“I don’t know. But it sounded important. I’m sure it has to do with the clinic and the manhunt underway for me. I’m sure they’re saying I abducted you, or some such bullshit.”
I nod. “Let’s go, then.”
We hurry back to the garage.
“Get in so long,” he tells me, and then manually lifts the garage door, the mechanism groaning as it lifts. Sunlight streams in, momentarily blinding me.
Then Grim climbs into the car, starts the engine, and drives out, stopping. After closing the garage door, we ride out into the bright afternoon. I turn to look back at the Training Academy as we pull away. It looks peaceful. Like nothing happened there at all.
But everything happened there. I had sex with Grim, and it was everything I thought it would be and more.
I force myself to look forward again, forcing myself to leave what happened behind where it belongs.
Grim navigates down the long driveway. Soon, we’re surrounded by thick jungle on both sides.
“How far is it?” I ask.
“About an hour or so.” He glances at me. “It’s not too far.”
I nod, settling back into my seat. The adrenaline from this morning is starting to wear off, leaving me feeling drained. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and what sleep I did get was fitful, interrupted by nightmares.
And by Grim.
My face heats again.
“You okay?” he asks, glancing at me.
“Yeah. Just tired.”
“You can close your eyes for a bit if you want. I’ll wake you when we get close.”
I shake my head. “I’m good. I want to stay awake.”
The truth is, I’m afraid of what I’ll dream if I fall asleep. Afraid I’ll see Sally’s face again. Hear her begging me to help her. I hate how powerless I feel.
So I stay awake, watching the jungle pass by.