48. The Venomous Victory
The Venomous Victory
Harper
I may not like watching my men taking punches, but there’s something raw about the way Eli looks at me that sends shivers up my spine. Liquid heat floods me. We’ve played rough, but somehow, I think tonight he’ll need more.
Whatever Nick Miller wanted to tell Eli has him hyped. And Eli won me for the night. Of course, we’ll all play first, but when we go to sleep... Another shiver of anticipation rips through me.
Nico leans in close.
“You know you can always say your safe word with any of us, right, sunshine?” Nico’s words are soft against my ear, sending tingles coursing through me as his breath flutters my hair.
“I love that you take everything we throw at you, but that doesn’t mean you should let us push you past your limits. ”
I turn to meet Nico’s eyes, searching them. Is he worried that the guys will take it too far tonight? My limits are kind of an unknown. Maybe I don’t have any. Maybe I just haven’t been tested yet.
Nico’s knuckle brushes under my chin, keeping me from looking away. “Promise me.”
Eli worried about this too. That I would let them continue to push me, even past my breaking point. He’s not wrong. I want them. I want what they do to me. I want it all.
I cup Nico’s cheek and smile softly, drawing his rain scent into my lungs. He cares for me. Warmth spreads through my chest at how much I love him. How much I love all of them.
“I promise.”
When he smiles, I rub my thumb along his jaw.
“How are you doing tonight?” It’s my turn to search his eyes, looking for any lingering pain. He got hit on his head, and his surgery for his knee was only a few days ago. I don’t know when the last time he took pain meds was and if he needs more.
He smirks and shakes his head before pressing his lips against mine. When he lifts his head, he says, “I’m good, sunshine. I have you, and that’s all I need.”
My heart trips over itself. All night I’ve been at his side. He’s touched me gently, reminding me I’m safe. I’m here, and those assholes didn’t get me. Again. Fuck.
I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if Zach and his friends had gotten through that door. If the guys hadn’t come to rescue us. If Ashley and Emma hadn’t helped us. Ice trickles down my back. My hand trembles as I lift it to push my hair back.
This isn’t over with Zach, but right now I’m safe. Nico’s hand slides into mine, centering me, and I rest my head against his shoulder. Tomorrow, the guys will be by my side. This was Zach’s last opportunity this week to get me alone.
Who knows what he has planned for next week, but we’ll deal with it when it happens.
In the background, Jack is announcing another fight. I drag in a breath and refocus. When I glance up, people are beginning to wander away back to the party. The main show is over. My guys are done fighting for the night.
My gaze catches on Eli as he heads over to where there are water bottles out. His dark gaze collides with mine. Hungry, heated eyes igniting that fire inside me. He drinks a little before spraying the water over his head, soaking his hair and dripping down his contoured chest.
Fuck. I swallow and shift in my seat. It’s not that I forget how strong and fit my men are, but it’s moments like this when it’s right in my face, and I know I’m not the only one left drooling... wanting. Some other girl whispers a harsh fuck somewhere behind me.
I narrow my eyes and turn to see who said it.
The girl in question is fanning herself as she checks out Eli.
Part of me wants to put her in her place, but I can’t fight every girl for looking at my men.
Colleges would never accept me with that many blemishes on my record.
And I’m not going to be like Sidney and run girls into the ground for thinking they could have my men.
Or for simply wanting what they can’t have.
This is just part of being with the horsemen. I can’t make them less attractive. Girls are going to look and drink their fill, but the guys are all mine, and that’s what matters.
Those girls can look, but they can’t touch. That’s only for me.
When I turn back, Eli is in front of me. Anticipation sizzles like a live wire through my blood. That’s right. He’s mine. He reaches for me and lifts me to my feet. I expect him to kiss me. Before I know what he’s doing, he bends and hoists me over his shoulder.
“Eli!” My hands grab at his bare, muscled back, slick with water, but there’s nowhere to hold on to. His hand clasps onto my ass to hold me steady.
“I won you, kitten.” He pauses next to Caden and says, “Give us thirty.”
Caden chuckles as Eli carries me off. He heads across the lawn to the house with me draped over his shoulder.
I lift my head and watch Caden help Nico up on his crutches.
Luke glances at me before returning his gaze to the fights.
I don’t even know if Jack notices. He’s still working the crowd.
Then we’re in the house, moving through bodies in the dim lighting.
The music is so loud I can’t hear anything but the driving beat.
I can’t even be embarrassed. This isn’t the worst thing they’ve done to me in public.
Part of me really likes that he’s so worked up he’s taking me off on his own.
At least I’m still wearing jeans and Luke’s jersey covers me to my hips, so no one is getting a free flash of my skin or panties.
However, Eli is still shirtless and more than one hand dares to reach out and drag across his bare skin.
I almost growl, but I’m not exactly in a position to do anything about it. And again, not the best plan to start a huge cat fight because the list of girls who want them is never-ending.
As he moves through them, guys and girls call after him, wanting his attention. He doesn’t give it to them. Some guys raise their hands in a high five as he passes. Those he takes. Not pausing.
Maybe he’s focused on wherever he’s taking me and what he wants to do to me when we get there. My body is heated and it has very little to do with the sea of bodies gyrating to the music and everything to do with the intentions of the man I love.
I cling to him as he bounds up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
There’s not a lot I can hold on to, so I wrap my arms around him the best I can to steady myself and keep from bouncing off his shoulder, though his hold is tight, and I trust him to not drop me.
Pretty sure I know exactly where we’re going and what we’re going to do when we get there. None of the others have followed us in. It’s just me and Eli when he sets me on my feet and locks the door to the primary bedroom, shutting us in.
His back is to me, and he just stands there and breathes a little heavy, probably from carrying me this whole way.
“I could’ve walked,” I say, straightening my shirt, holding it down so my hands have something to do.
Eli turns and his dark eyes captivate me, capturing me, locking me in place. He closes the distance between us. I back up a few steps at the intensity of his eyes, but my insides are keyed up and ready for whatever he wants from me. He smells even more divine than usual. Earthy, rich.
“I claimed my prize, kitten.” His hand wraps around the back of my neck and he closes the distance between us.
I gasp in a breath at the rush of desire that makes me almost dizzy. I place my hands on his chest. My fingertips buzz. My insides burn as he smirks down at me.
“I won you. You belong to me.”
Sparks float drunkenly along my veins. There’s so much we have to focus on. So much we have to do still. But right now, I’m his. His to do with what he wants. All that exists is this room, Eli, and this intoxicating need hovering between us.
I lean in and press my lips against his heart. His skin is salty and I want to taste him everywhere. I love him so fucking much. “What do you want from me, sir?”
When I lift my gaze to his darkened eyes, his expression softens slightly. His hand curves around my hip, pulling me in tight against his solid body. His cock hard against my stomach.
“I don’t want a docile pet tonight, kitten.” He leans down, his breath hot against my ear. “I want a wild cat.”
My heart beats a frantic rhythm. He draws back. I’m not sure what he wants, but I want to give it to him. As I search his eyes, he waits for me. Like he’s waiting for me to come to a decision. “What does that mean?”
He crowds me backward until my back is against the wall. My breath catches and my panties are so wet. His smirk is that little evil one he gave me in the beginning of us. The one that says he knows I’ll do exactly what he wants. It sets my pulse racing.
“It means I don’t want your submission right now. I want to take from you.” His thumb traces my throbbing pulse in my neck. Can he feel how hard it’s beating for him? “Is that okay, kitten?”
He tips my chin up and searches my eyes. Maybe he’s worried I’ll be afraid. After all, I’ve been attacked a few times now with the promise of something unthinkable. But this is Eli and everything he’s done to me so far only results in pleasure. Maybe a little pain, but always pleasure.
“If that’s what you want,” I say, swallowing down the fear and desire both pressing forward at the thought of him taking me. Rough and wild.
It’s so easy to drown in his dark eyes.
“Remember your safe word. No and stop won’t stop me, kitten.” He brushes my lips with his finger, watching the movement. “Red or arrow will. I’m going to be rough, but I won’t hurt you.”
I flick out my tongue to touch his finger, and his eyes lift to mine. Heat and desire and possession stare back at me. My heart is a steady drumbeat inside my chest. His presence seeps into my soul, trying to consume me.
“Not any more than I have in the past, kitten.” He steps away from me. “Take off the jersey.”
My breath catches in my chest. I long for his touch. I could take the jersey off like he wants, but that’s not what he truly wants from me. He wants a challenge. He wants to dominate me, control me, conquer me.