Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Allora
Answering the phones at Shadow Security reminds me just how desperate I am to find something to do.
Something to fill my days until I can go back to my real job.
It might be nice to have a reason to get up in the morning and it’s not like anyone can get to me here.
Not with all the security they have in place and the number of bodyguards who work here.
But when I mention it to Landon he looks confused.
“Why would you want to do that?” he asks.
“Because I’m bored?” I counter.
“Right but we’d have to come back and forth every day, which risks you being seen.”
“Isn’t that what we did in Denver? And it was fine.”
“This would be daily, which is a lot more dangerous,” he says, the set of his jaw telling me he’s going to be stubborn about it.
“But I have you,” I say gently. “And Rage. And Chaos. You guys will keep me safe.”
He scowls. “Baby, I don’t like the idea of you being in danger.”
“I’m already in danger.”
Our eyes meet and he shakes his head. “The more I think about you being out in public, the more I don’t like it.”
“You also know it might be the only way.” Daniil comes up behind us.
“Dan.” Landon and Daniil exchange a look I can’t decipher but it’s not the easygoing one they usually share.
“Shouldn’t I have a say in this?” I ask gently.
“No!” Landon says firmly.
“Of course,” Daniil says at the same time.
I shake my head in frustration.
“Grim. We have to be practical about this,” Daniil says quietly.
“Her safety isn’t a matter of practicality,” Landon growls.
“Let’s take this into my office,” Daniil suggests.
They head down the hall without a glance in my direction and I decide to leave them to it. My presence obviously isn’t making a difference, so I go looking for Luna, who’s in the kitchen trying to microwave her lunch even though there are ladders and other construction related items everywhere.
“Hey.” She smiles. “What’s up?”
I shrug. “The boys are arguing about my safety.”
“He’s worried about you,” she says softly.
“I know, but he can’t stifle me. He can’t make decisions for me. Not the big stuff. That’s what my father tries to do and that won’t work long-term.”
“You guys have to talk about that stuff.”
“Isn’t the early part of a relationship supposed to be the honeymoon period?”
“Well, there might be extenuating circumstances in yours,” she says gently.
“I walked away from the overbearing man who raised me. I can’t spend my life with another one.”
“I think Grim is scared. You’re being targeted by a sex trafficking ring. I’d be scared if I was him.”
“That’s why I’m trying to be patient but it’s been almost a month. If putting me out there as a target is the only way to draw them out, then that’s what we have to do.”
“You should be in there with them,” she says softly. “This is your life. Don’t let them make those decisions for you. I love a strong, protective man, but you still have to stand up for yourself when it comes to the big things.”
And this is a very big one.
One of the most important.
It’s about so much more than just my safety.
This is about the future Landon and I may or may not have. The only way for us to move forward is to talk about everything. Sooner rather than later.
I squeeze Luna’s arm. “Thanks.”
I head down the hall to Daniil’s office and knock once before opening the door.
“Excuse me,” I say quietly. “Are you still discussing my situation?”
“Come in.” Daniil waves.
“I don’t mean to be rude, Daniil, but Landon and I need to talk about this privately first. Then we’ll come to you.”
Daniil looks surprised but nods. “Of course.”
Landon seems irritated but gets up and follows me back into the hallway.
“Can we please talk about this?” I ask quietly.
“I’m not putting you in danger on purpose,” he grunts, stopping in the middle of the hallway and folding his arms across his massive chest.
I smile because he looks so grumpy but also incredibly hot right now.
“Why are you smiling?” he demands.
“Because you’re hot when you’re grumpy.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means I don’t want to fight.”
He sighs. “I don’t want to fight either, but babe, these guys have proven they’re ruthless. They found me and my apartment, which means they have connections. Putting you out there is dangerous.”
“What’s the alternative? We hide out in different apartments for the next ten years?” I give him a little nudge even though it doesn’t move him so much as an inch.
“I don’t know. That’s what Dan and I were discussing.”
“If we’re going to be together, we have to communicate. It’s important to me. Otherwise, this is never going to work.”
He opens his mouth but then closes it again. Like he wanted to say something but thought better of it.
“I told you I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a good boyfriend,” he says after a moment.
“And I’m helping you with that by expressing what I need. Which is to discuss things. Everything. Even when we disagree. Especially when we disagree.”
Landon watches my face for a beat and then winds his fingers through mine, tugging me down the hallway and toward an area I’ve never been in before. There’s a staircase around the corner and he pushes open the door, letting me walk in ahead of him.
“Okay. This area is still under construction,” he says. “So, we should have a modicum of privacy.”
“Why do we need privacy?” I tease, moving closer to him.
His hands slide around my waist, holding me in place. “Don’t tease me, woman.”
“Why not?”
“I thought you wanted to talk.”
“I do.” I lean up on my tiptoes and lightly press my lips to his. “But kissing is nice too.”
He growls in response and yanks me hard against his chest, mouth finding mine.
“You think you’re distracting me,” he murmurs against my lips, “but I know what you’re up to.”
I chuckle as I wind my arms around his neck. “Yeah? What are you going to do about it?”
His eyes darken and the next thing I know he’s lifted me off the ground and thrown me over his shoulder. One hand comes down, smacking my ass, as he takes the stairs two at a time.
“Landon!” I shriek, though I’m laughing. “Where are we going?”
“You wanted a distraction—I’ve got one for you.” He pulls open the door to the second floor and it’s nothing but a chaotic mess of ladders, paint cans, random pieces of drywall, and unopened boxes of tile.
He carries me past all of it to a small room in the back that has a love seat, some folding chairs, and a mini fridge.
“What is this?” I ask, twisting to see even though I’m still over his shoulder.
“Chaos was staying here for a while but he found a month-to-month rental.” He sets me on my feet and gives me a devilish smile. “Your choice—you want to talk or fuck?”
“We can’t do both?” I ask.
“Not at the same time.”
I look around. “Here?” My voice comes out more like a squeak.
“You have three seconds to pull your pants down,” he says.
I’m only torn for a heartbeat—we really do need to talk—but sex is more fun.
I slide down my shorts and panties as he points to the little love seat. “Bend over the back.”
I waddle to get in position, anxious not to trip with my shorts around my ankles. I watch as he unzips his khakis, pulls out his cock, and strokes it a few times.
My mouth waters a little, watching him.
“Tell me. How firm is your no spanking rule?” he asks.
My heart rate kicks up a notch. “I guess I never thought about it.”
“Would you be willing to try?” His voice is gruff but his expression is gentle.
“Yes,” I whisper. “With you, I’ll try anything.”
“Good. Because your lack of concern about your safety is making me crazy.”
I can tell by the glint in his eyes he’s teasing but I still tense when he moves behind me.
“Don’t,” he whispers, leaning over me, his erection brushing against my backside. “I’ll never hurt you, Allora.”
“I know.”
Well, I think I do. I mean, I know he won’t hurt me on purpose but he’s so big and his hands—smack!
Oh. The sensation of the flat of his hand on my bare behind is actually kind of nice. There’s a sting but the warmth as he rubs his palm over it afterward is…nice. Sexy. Fun.
How have I never tried this before?
Because no one else was Landon.
Because no one else was…mine.
Then he does it again, on the other side. Not too hard, not too soft. Just enough to make me…excited. My core clenches with need every time he smacks me and I actually cry out when he stops.
“You liked that, didn’t you, baby?” His body is pressed against mine, lips against my ear.
My voice is soft and breathy, filled with need. “Landon…please!”
“Please what?”
“I need more!”
He chuckles. “Patience, baby.”
I whimper with frustration when he pulls away but then realize he’s kneeling behind me.
“You were so good about letting me spank you, now you’ll get a reward.” His lips trail the curve of my ass, hands kneading my hips and thighs, breath warm against my skin. Goosebumps break out as he continues to taunt me with his hands and mouth and I arch into his touch.
Lips glide over my sensitive skin, nibbling gently, sucking and kissing, and then—
Jesus, that feels good.
His mouth on me…there. Everywhere. No one’s ever done this before. Not including my ass. But he’s not done. Lips slide down my crack until he reaches my vagina and I whimper when he presses his tongue into me.
My fingers dig into the fabric of the couch, holding on for dear life as he licks and kisses some more.
He’s gentle and demanding at the same time, and my body—hell, all of me—reacts to that in ways I didn’t anticipate.
I’m so focused on these new sensations I don’t hear the footsteps until they close.
“Grim? You up here?”
“Give us a minute.” His voice is steady. Calm. Like he’s not eating me into oblivion. “We’re trying to talk.”
The only conversation going on here is between his mouth and my vagina.
“You’re going to have to be quiet,” he murmurs as the footsteps fade. “You think you can do that?”
“I can…try,” I pant.
I’m so close, so ready to combust, and when his hand comes down on my thigh I have to clap a hand over my mouth to keep from crying out.
“Please,” I whisper. “Don’t stop.”
And he doesn’t.
Wicked lips and fingers and tongue devour every inch of my nether regions, with a skill and practiced precision that leave me shaking with need.
My legs tremble as he continues, until my knees are close to giving out.
Then he presses a finger into a spot that’s never been breached, simultaneously sucking on my clit, and everything spirals.
I have no idea if I screamed or cried or somehow managed to hold it in, because my body isn’t my own. It belongs to him now, no matter what I want. He can do anything to me as long as he makes me feel like this.
Aftershocks keep me on the verge of ecstasy for what seems like a long time, and he doesn’t stop, merely gentles his touch until I’m close to collapse.
“I’ve got you.”
He knows me so well because he scoops me up before my knees give out, carrying me around to the love seat and sinking down with me on his lap.
“Don’t move,” he grunts when I try to shift.
He wiggles beneath me, pressing my thighs together until I feel the head of his cock at my entrance.
Then he slides right in.