The grin that tugs over my lips is an easy one with a little flirty edge to it. I rock just a little against the hard line of his cock, a purposeful tease. “Because he trusts me? He knows exactly what I’m capable of? Maybe he loves me more than you do.”
The words are out before I even really think them through. Before I can curse myself out or try to take them back, North tosses the tablet onto his desk and manhandles me until he has me turned around in his lap, now straddling him and facing him dead on as one of his hands cups my jaw and forces me to look directly at him.
“Impossible. There’s no one, not my bond or any of the other Bonds you’re tied to, who loves you more than I do, Oleander. I will argue that point until I die, vehemently and with great pride. You’re the reason my heart beats, and even if I don’t deserve you, I’ll go to my grave doing everything I can to be the man you do deserve. I know I’ve done a shitty job of it so far, but I’ll prove myself to you.”
I swallow roughly and nod slowly, leaning forward just a little to press our lips together softly. “You’re already doing a great job proving it. I love you too. All of you; your bond and your shadows too. None of that stuff scares me or worries me. I’m proud to call you mine… even if we’re both terrifying monsters.”
He scoffs at my teasing and leans forward to give me a proper kiss this time. “Your bond is the only reason I’m agreeing to your little trip outside of these walls. I know I can trust it to not hesitate.”
I deepen the kiss, ready to lose myself in him and maybe escape from the chaos in my head for a minute. Then his computer chimes and he groans against my lips, a frustrated sound that has nothing to do with the searing heat of his dick straining through his pants.
I pull away and duck down to press my nose into the crook of his neck, breathing him in for a minute. “I’m guessing that’s not one we can just ignore? Are there any we can ignore?”
He presses a kiss into my hair and then wraps his arms around my thighs, standing up and taking me with him as he moves back over to his computer. I don’t attempt to fight it; I already know he’s strong enough to haul me around. If he’s happy to lug me around while I cling to him like my life depends on it, then I’ll let him.
I might not be able to fully explain how off-center this has all made me, but I think my actions are clear enough.
I don’t bother trying to look at what North is doing. I don’t really want to know about what bullshit the council and Top Tier families are up to right now, so I keep my face tucked into his shoulder.
“Sometimes it’s very clear to me that being a monster and using our gifts without so much restraint would make life a lot easier,” he mutters, and I huff out a laugh.
“I’ve already offered to kill your enemies. That’s still on the table if you need it.”
He scoffs back, one hand absently rubbing down my back in an action that I’m sure is just as much a comfort to him as it is to me. “And while I’m grateful, I also know that neither of us could stomach the thought of killing non-Gifted people just because they’re ignorant fucking idiots.”
Non-Gifted?
I lean away from him to catch his eye. There’s a tension in him that wasn’t there before. “Why would you be worrying about them? I know you do charity work in their community, but why would that have you dealing with idiots?”
His lips are in a hard line and his eyes stay glued to the screen behind me for a second longer before he finally meets my eye. “The Resistance amping up and making a mess of things has caught their attention. Now there’s a lot of… unpleasant publicity about the Gifted community circulating. I’m now being subpoenaed because a particular group of non-Gifted have banded together and are taking legal action against the council.”
Unease trickles back into my gut and he spots it straight away, one of his hands moving to cup my chin. “Don’t worry about it, Bonded. It’s a pain in my ass, and the worst timing, but there’s nothing for you to worry about. I will sort it out and keep you safe. Nothing is ever going to separate us again, any of us. I swear it.”
Chapter Three
Atlas
Once I know for sure that Ollie is safely at North's offices, I let Gabe know that I am heading out for the day. I'm not one to check in and report where I'm going to be but, thanks to current circumstances, I don't need anyone questioning my loyalty or my allegiance.
Sage being the one to kill the Shield wasn't just a shock to me, it was a threat. If Oli's best friend could be one of the people betraying us, then there isn't much doubt in my mind that they could point the finger in my direction too, thanks to my family's allegiances.