Chapter 22
BASTIAN
When I reached my motorcycle, I set a still wriggling Lark on her feet.
My gaze shot straight to her arm. Her blood-stained sleeve was hidden under my suit jacket. That cut on her arm made my hands clench.
She glared up at me, then her gaze dropped to my bike. “This is yours?”
“Yes.” I handed a helmet to her. “Put this on.”
“I’m not done being angry at you. For the tracker, for not trusting me, for being bossy—”
“You ran away,” I said through gritted teeth. “You left.”
She stilled. “I was coming back. I just needed to get out. I need to do something. When I got the message from Sondra, I just acted.”
“You didn’t enjoy dinner with Nash and Georgie.”
She hesitated at the change of subject. “Well, I think Nash is plotting to kill me.”
“He won’t hurt you.”
“I like Georgie. And dinner was fine. I just… Bastian, I felt like an outsider. I’ve got no family, I didn’t go to college. I’ve got none of the normal life experiences. I’m an assassin, for Pete’s sake. Georgie is beautiful, in love, working her dream job—”
“And lost all her family over the last few years. Nash helped her track down and kill the man who murdered her sister.”
Lark blinked. “Oh.”
“And the rest of us are assassins as well, Lark. We’ve all killed, we’re all misfits.”
Her nose wrinkled. “I’m still not done being mad at you.”
“Good, because I’m not done being mad at you.” I swung my leg over the bike.
She looked at me. “I hate that you look hot sitting on that bike.”
“Get on.”
“Fine.” She pulled the helmet on and climbed on behind me.
Her small body pressed up against my back. Something in me settled. I liked having her there. Alive. Safe. Mine.
I pulled my own helmet on and started the bike. Her arms tightened around me.
I took off. We sped down the street, and she held on tighter. When I turned the corner, she leaned into it. The way her hands flexed on me, I knew she was enjoying the ride.
I took a slightly longer way back to the casino, but soon we reached the Avernus. I drove down the ramp into my private garage. I parked the bike and Lark took her helmet off, shaking out her hair.
“I like your bike,” she said.
“Good.”
“Can I ride it sometime?”
“Yes, but not without me.”
She pouted briefly. “Fine.” She glanced at all my sports cars. “Can I drive one of these some time?”
“No.”
“But you have a hundred of them.”
“You want to go somewhere, I’ll drive you.” I took her hand. “Come on. I need to stop by my office to grab my laptop and a few things.”
In the elevator, I pressed my palm against the lock screen until it beeped. She leaned against the wall, slipping off my jacket. “Are you still angry at me?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth opened. “You put the tracker on me. I’ve got more of a right to be pissed.” She lifted her wrist. “I like this bracelet. Now I have to take it off.”
I smirked. “You can try.”
She tried to unfasten it, then frowned. She tried again.
“It has a special lock,” I told her. “It won’t come off.”
She gasped.
“Now, I’ll never lose you.”
“Arrogant—” She flew at me.
I caught her, then held her tightly as the elevator doors opened. I lifted her up and carried her into my office. Lucky that it was late and my assistant was long gone. The lights were on low.
I headed toward my desk, noting the neat pile of mail and a small parcel resting in one corner. I ignored them, then sat in my office chair and pinned Lark face down on my lap.
“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded.
“Giving you the spanking I promised.”
“What?” she shrieked.
I yanked her jeans down.
“No panties again, Lark.” I gripped her buttock and kneaded.
She wriggled, which made my cock harder. I knew she’d feel it digging into her belly.
“Don’t you dare, Thorne—”
Her skin was so smooth. I gave it a light smack.
She gasped.
“Did you like that?”
“No.” Her voice was breathy.
I dipped my hand between her thighs. “Let’s see if you’re telling the truth.” I stroked. She was wet for me. Saturated.
She moaned.
“My naughty little bird is lying.” I spanked her again. One cheek, then the other.
Soon, I had her writhing. I gave her six sharp smacks. I knew she’d be feeling the delicious heat.
“Bastian—” she panted.
“Feel free to come, Lark.” I slid my hand back to her pussy, thrusting my fingers inside her. She was slick and tight. “God, I’ve sat here more times than I can count thinking about you.” I ran my thumb through the wetness, then moved it to find her clit.
“Oh, God,” she panted.
On the next caress, she came, crying out my name.
As she caught her breath, I caressed her ass, letting my desire throb through me. I wanted all of her. Her body, yes, but also her heart, her mind, her soul.
She sat up. Her hair was mussed, her cheeks filled with color. The look on her face was hot and needy. Beautiful.
“I don’t think I’ve learned my lesson,” she murmured.
My heart skipped a beat. “Oh?”
She slid off my lap and onto her knees between my legs.
“I definitely haven’t.” Her hands went to my belt, tugging it open.
My cock was harder than steel, my stomach muscles tight. “Lark…”
“It’s my turn to touch you, Bastian.”
“All right then.” My voice thickened and I cupped her jaw. “Undo my pants.”
Her fingers moved and she slid the zipper down.
“Take my cock out.”
Her hand slid into my boxer briefs and pulled out my hard cock. She made a small sound that seemed to echo in the quiet of my shadowed office.
Fuck. Lark on her knees in front of me, my cock in her hands. I felt like electricity was crackling through the air.
“You know what to do next.”
Her fingers tightened on the base of my erection. She stroked it, and I swallowed a grunt. She lowered her head, and I felt her warm breath on my swollen cock.
She licked down my length, then back up. Her tongue swirled and I hissed.
“Lark. Shit. Suck me.” I leaned back and watched her wrap her mouth around me.
She glanced up at me as she pumped the base of my cock, then her warm mouth sucked the first few inches of me deep.
“Just like that, little bird.”
I slid my hand into her hair. I didn’t direct her, just let her lead. One of her hands gripped my thigh, her short nails digging in. She bobbed her head, taking more of my cock.
Her eyes closed and she lost herself in it. Damn, that look on her face. She was so into, worshipping my cock. It made me even harder.
“Your sweet mouth—” My muscles tensed and I couldn’t stop the short thrust of my hips.
I hit the back of her throat and she squeezed my cock, pulling back a little. I could see her eyes watering, and she shot me a hot look.
“Sorry, baby.”
She went back to licking and sucking. I felt the hot tension growing in my gut. She kept at it, sucking me harder, her hand stroking in rhythm with her mouth.
Soon, I was on the verge of coming.
“Lark, I’m going to spill…”
She sucked harder.
With a low groan, my climax hit. My hand tangled in her hair, my hips surged up. I groaned out a curse and came down her throat. My vision blurred, my ears were ringing. Pleasure hit me like a lightning bolt.
She drank down every drop.
Slumping back in my chair, I tried to catch my goddamn breath. Once I could think again, I yanked her up onto my lap and kissed her. She snuggled into me and I held her tight.
“Baby, I love your mouth.”
She smiled. “I love your cock.”
My lips twitched. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
“And I love your smell, and the way your muscles bunch when you’re about to come.” Her eyes warmed. “I really like watching you come.”
I nuzzled her neck and kissed under the ear.
“Bastian?”
“Mmm?
“I’m still not going to follow orders sometimes.”
My hands clenched on her.
“But next time, I’ll leave a note.”
I relaxed. Coming from Lark, that was a big concession. “I want to see that cut on your arm.”
“It’s really minor.”
“It still needs cleaning.” I opened my top drawer and pulled out the tiny first aid kit I kept in my office.”
With a long-suffering sigh, she shoved her sleeve up.
She was right, the cut wasn’t bad at all, it had just bled a bit. I ripped open an antiseptic wipe and cleaned it off.
Reaching out, she touched my lip. Then, I realized she was tracing the barely noticeable scar above it.
“How did you get this?”
I was quiet for a minute. I finished cleaning her cut and threw the wipe in the trashcan beside my desk. “I was fifteen. A man attacked me.” I shrugged. “Plenty of predators on the street think that homeless teens are fair game.”
She stiffened. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. Even by then, I was tough and mean. I broke his nose, and he slashed my lip with a broken bottle.” I turned her arm so I could see it better. “I don’t think this cut even needs a band-aid.”
“Told you.” She leaned forward and kissed my faded scar. She took the first aid kit and dropped it back in the drawer. Then I felt her pause. A second later, she reached in and pulled out a black cloth. “My knife.”
The distinctive handle was sticking out. She set it on the desk and flicked the cloth open.
Then she looked at me. “You cleaned it. And oiled it.”
“I told you that it’s mine now.”
She cocked her head. “Do you sit in your fancy office and fondle my knife, Mr. Thorne?”
“It’s a nice knife.” And it was a connection to her.
Her lips quirked. “You can keep it.” She flicked the cloth closed and gently placed the knife back in my drawer.
Then my gaze fell on the parcel of my desk and I finally took notice of it.
The liquid feelings inside me cooled. I frowned.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“That parcel.” Reaching past her, I pulled it closer.
It was tied with a red ribbon.
Lark saw it and stiffened.
I saw that it was addressed to Lark Smith, care of Sebastian Thorne, Avernus Casino.
She sucked in a breath and met my gaze. “It’s from him.”