17. Adrian
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ADRIAN
Ilowered myself onto the mattress beside her, close enough to feel her warmth without touching. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The room was quiet, save for the steady rhythm of our breathing and the faint chorus of crickets outside the window.
She turned her head toward me, those gray eyes searching mine with a vulnerability I’d only ever glimpsed in stolen moments. “Are we really going to make this work?”
I smiled, though it felt unsteady. “I’ll make sure of it.”
When it came to her, I would do nearly anything to ensure she was happy.
My fingers lightly brushed her delicate pink nipples. Then, lowering myself, I took one into my mouth and nibbled it, savoring its softness.
Taryn squirmed restlessly, so I swatted her sharply on the other breast. “Be still, baby.”
She gasped in pleasure and surprise.
My head went up at the sound. “I knew you were perfect for me.”
I enjoyed having control, and so did my baby girl. But I doubted it came naturally to her. It was more out of necessity, an attempt to reclaim the control Ben had stripped from her for most of her life.
That was why I suspected she’d enjoy giving it up to me.
My fingers found her cheek, tracing the line of her jaw before I tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. “You can tell me to stop at any time, baby.”
I wanted her to know that she was always safe with me.
“Do I look like I want you to stop?”
I answered by leaning in for another kiss.
This one was slower at first, lingering just long enough to make me forget every mile that had separated us and every apology I’d rehearsed but never spoken.
She answered without hesitation, her hand sliding into my hair as if she’d been waiting just as long.
The kiss deepened naturally, neither of us rushing. I smiled against her lips, and she smiled back. The sound she made—half laugh, half sigh—stole what little restraint I had left.
“Why are you smiling?” she whispered.
“Because you’re here.”
Her eyes softened, and she reached for me again before I could close the distance myself.
This time there was nothing tentative about it.
The kiss grew deeper and more demanding, letting years of silent emotions finally come out.
Her fingers pressed gently against the back of my neck, and I responded by tracing a soft kiss along the curve of her jaw, pausing there for a moment.
A mischievous nip caused her to gasp sharply and moan with pleasure, making my cock throb.
Enough of this playtime. I’d waited long enough to be inside this woman, and a part of me still burned that Beck was the one to take her virginity. I couldn’t get over the notion that it had belonged to me.
There were other firsts I knew she hadn’t experienced yet, and you better believe I was going to be the one to take them. I may have been on board with sharing her to keep her safe, but some things just weren’t negotiable for me.
I stood up and walked to the edge of the bed, grabbed Taryn by the ankles, and pulled, positioning her so her ass was almost hanging off the edge. Then I gently pushed until her knees lifted, her mouthwatering pink softness fully exposed.
Taryn instinctively tried to pull her knees in, but I pushed them back open. “I want you just like this. With that pretty pussy open for me to see.”
Her quiet whimper sent a wave of heat through me, my cock pulsing insistently under my jeans. I hadn’t taken them off yet because I didn’t trust myself not to just shove into her with no foreplay whatsoever.
And my baby deserved better.
I dropped to my knees, and at the first contact of my mouth, Taryn’s thighs fell open, and she clutched my hair. Her body trembled beneath me as I gave her clit a long, deep kiss, my tongue swirling gently around her swollen flesh.
I'd barely started when her body shook, and she gave a sharp cry. “Adrian!”
“That’s it, baby,” I whispered gently against her thigh. “I’m here now. You’re safe.”
I stood, peeled off my clothes, and climbed into bed. With every slow, deep breath Taryn took, I felt certain she’d fallen asleep.
My sweet girl.
At any other time, I wouldn’t wake her, but I hurt. I needed her more than my next breath, and I’d waited long enough.
I pulled her up so her head rested level with mine, and for a few moments I stared at her beautiful face. Taryn’s thick, dark hair cascaded across the pillow, and her rosy, plump lips were slightly parted. Her long, dark lashes rested on her soft skin, hiding those stormy eyes.
This woman was everything to me.
I’d sooner die than live without her. That’s why I could share her with Beck and Lucas.
After softly kissing her, I got up, picked up a pillow, and positioned it beneath her hips to raise her slightly. Gently spreading her legs farther apart, I ran my cock up and down the seam of her pussy, getting it as wet as possible.
I wasn’t a small man, and I wanted to slip in smoothly. It had been one of my greatest fantasies to wake her like this. My cock lodged so deep inside her that the line separating us blurred completely.
Before I could even enter her, my dick was already leaking pre-cum. I was mad about the waste because I wanted every drop deep inside her, where it belonged.
I moved slowly, watching her stretch around me, and she woke up with a gasp. Those beautiful eyes opened wide in shock and pleasure.
“That’s it.” I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Watching you take my cock is a dream come true.”
Taryn tossed her head back, her breath warm against my skin as she reached down to grasp my ass with both hands, pulling me deeper.
When I bottomed out, I paused, letting her get used to my size. “Are you good, baby?”
Taryn gave me a brief nod, followed by a soft whimper as her legs curled around my waist. “Please move.”
I smiled slowly; my sweet girl needed me just as much as I needed her.
I started moving, sliding in and out of her wetness, as she pulsed around me. She felt so good, my balls drew up, and I knew I was going to cum before I was ready; I could live forever inside her warm, wet cunt.
Sweat dripped down my face, and I was relieved to feel her muscles tightening, because I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out; the fire in her stormy eyes almost burned me with their intensity.
“I love you.” I panted, knowing we were both close to the edge.
Taryn’s nails dug in, and she shattered. “I love you, too. So much.”
Hearing those words made me cum hard and fast, the excess dripping out of her and soaking the pillow.
Leaning down, I took her mouth in mine and gently bit her puffy bottom lip. “I love you too, baby. I always have.”
As I fell to my side, I pulled her into my body. This girl was my life, and I’d do whatever it took to keep her with me.
Several hours later, I heard Lucas and Beck come through the door. I gently eased away from Taryn and threw my pants on.
Walking into the kitchen, I saw Beck with his back to me as he filled a bowl with the stew we had for supper, and Lucas was sitting at the table.
“Did everything go okay?” I asked, sitting beside Lucas.
“Do you really care?” He raised his head from where it had rested on his arms. “Looking at you, I’m sure you weren’t too worried about us.”
Beck turned and looked over, and when he caught sight of my tousled appearance, his eyes blazed with rage. We stared at each other for a few tense minutes before he turned back to what he was doing and slowly relaxed his shoulders.
“Well, that was disappointing. I’m sure the little brat would love to see you two fighting over her.” Lucas snorted, then laid his head back down.
Beck walked over, plopped his bowl on the table, kicked out a chair, and began eating, all without a word.
I got it.
I wasn't thrilled knowing he and Taryn had sex either. I didn’t know exactly how all of this was going to work, but I knew it had to.
As much as it was going to pain me, I hoped Lucas would eventually get over his shit and get with the program, too. Taryn was something special, and the interest she’d garnered here proved it.
Three enhanced men might not even be enough to keep her safe. But unfortunately, that’s all I could handle. I think I could accept them because I knew they’d die for her, as I would.
I stood and filled the old enamel percolator from the pitcher sitting beside the sink before twisting off the lid. The metal basket fit over the center stem with a familiar click, and I measured the coffee grounds by instinct more than memory.
I screwed a fresh one-pound propane bottle into the bottom of the little camp stove Beck had used earlier to cook our supper. Someone must have scavenged it from a camping supply store. I wish we could take it with us when we left, but it would be too awkward to carry.
The burner hissed softly as I opened the valve. One strike of the lighter and a steady blue flame sprang to life, chasing the early morning chill from the room. The old enamel percolator settled over the burner with a metallic clink, and before long the first faint burble promised coffee.
The first cup was always the hardest to wait for, but after finally coming together with Taryn, the caffeine was almost unnecessary.
Behind me, Beck broke the silence. “I don’t think it’s going to take much to get us out of here.”
“Yeah, I agree. Most of the men we worked with tonight weren’t enhanced. Our being there was unusual.” Lucas raised his head again. “It’s a little puzzling, if I’m being honest. You’d think Gideon would keep them on the fence.”
I nodded in agreement. “That is strange.”
I’d noticed a pattern of enhanced men becoming scarce at certain times. Since we hadn't been here long enough to gain Gideon's trust, we weren’t privy to that information. I hoped that claiming Taryn would help with that.
Crack.
The rifle shot echoed somewhere far beyond the house.
All three of us froze as the percolator gave another lazy burble.
Beck slowly lifted his head and listened closely. “You hear that?”
“I heard it,” Lucas answered, already reaching for the rifle he’d leaned against the wall.
Silence settled over the neighborhood. Long enough that I almost convinced myself it had been a negligent discharge.
Then another shot shattered the darkness. Followed immediately by two more.
Rapid and sounding panicked.
Beck was moving before the last echo faded. His chair crashed backward as he snatched his rifle off the wall. “Taryn.”
“I’ll get her,” Lucas said, already crossing the living room toward the hallway while I killed the flame beneath the coffee pot almost out of habit.
Another volley erupted outside.
Closer this time.
Then came the shouting.
Fear.
Raw.
Urgent.
“They’re through!” The word carried clearly through the open kitchen window.
Max exploded into a deep, furious bark from somewhere near the front door, every hair along his back standing on end.
I exchanged one look with Beck, and neither of us spoke.
We didn’t need to.
Whatever had happened…It was bad enough that the settlement had forgotten the first rule we’d all learned after the meteors fell.
Gunfire drew the infected.
One or two occasional shots didn’t matter, with people managing the few stumbling outside the gate. But a horde would be almost impossible to handle.
And someone out there had just fired enough rounds to wake every monster within miles.