I should already know by now not to underestimate North Draven.
His voice is rough and low as he murmurs back to me, “What do you think she did while you were stuck in that torture camp? She crawled into bed with Felix every night and found solace with him. You’re going out tomorrow to find Giovanna and Riley for her. You were just working hard with Sawyer looking for leads. And we both already know that you’re no good to her without taking care of yourself as well. Your bond needs this. I need this.”
Chapter Five
Oli
I wake at three-thirty the next morning to take another shower and get ready for today, for leaving the Sanctuary and clearing my best friend’s name.
There’s a lot here that I need to prove, to myself and to Gryphon and my other Bonds, and I refuse to be the liability within the Bond Group. So I’m up, dressed, with my bag packed and my boots laced tightly by the time North’s alarm sounds at four. He groans like he’s being murdered, shoving a pillow over his face and grumbling under his breath dramatically like he’s plotting out a murder for this early wake up. Once he’s moved through the entire list of people he wants his shadows to devour for this insult, he reaches out with one arm like he’s trying to find me. When he comes up empty, he flings the pillow away from his face and sits up with a scowl.
I smirk and wave at him, just a little sarcastically, but it’s a good feeling to see him so off-kilter. I’m so used to being the mess out of the two of us, it’s cute to see him sleep rumpled and grumpy as hell.
“Stop that. Stop looking smug and get over here. Gryphon will be here any minute and I need another moment with you before you go.” His voice is a rough rasp, one that sounds a lot like his sex-drenched whisper, and my thighs clench together at the sound. It doesn’t matter that I’d spent the night with him and his bond fucking the life right out of me. It still feels as though it’s been too long since I’ve felt his hands over my body, his tongue working its way across my skin, and his cock driving into my drenched pussy.
His head drops back on his shoulders and his pupils blow out wide, almost looking like his bond’s void eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking about, yes. I’ll give it all to you, just get over here.”
I giggle and shake a finger at him. “I have plans, remember? No matter how much I want you.”
He frowns and moves to stand up, throwing a wrench into the mix because his chest is freaking magnificent. When he bends down to pull on his boxer shorts, I get the full view of his perfectly biteable ass.
I should have woken him up earlier.
“You should have, you’re out of time now.”
I startle at the sound of Gryphon’s voice, spinning on my heel to find him standing in the doorway with a smirk, fully dressed in his Tac gear and ready to move out. His eyes drag over me and I can see how impressed he is that I’m ready to go.
I curse under my breath that I was so distracted by North’s general hotness that I didn’t notice the door opening and Gryphon sneaking up behind me.
He smirks at me and shrugs. “He’s not coming with us, so I’m not worried about it affecting you on the mission.”
Mission.
Even something as small as that word makes excited butterflies burst into life in my stomach.
I grumble back, “You better keep yourself covered as well. We both know your ass is just as good.”
I smile at Gryphon softly and we both turn to watch North’s frenetic movements as he gets dressed in a rush. I'm not sure why he’s bothering and is so intent on seeing us off. It's just Gryphon and I going, and we could easily say goodbye to him right here.
Nonetheless, he pulls on a pair of sweatpants and shoves one of the very few casual-looking sweaters that he owns over his head, as though it’s vital that he puts that delicious chest of his away.
“When is the Transporter arriving?” he snaps at Gryphon, who merely raises an eyebrow in his direction.
It takes another huff from North before he finally replies, “He's already here. He's waiting outside for us. I knew that you would wake up with a shitty attitude, and I thought I'd spare him from this… undignified sight of our fearless leader.”
I smother a giggle and when North shoots me a look, I force my face to show none of the sadistic glee I'm finding in his distress. I must say, this version of North might be my favorite yet.
“Is Nox up yet?” he grumbles, and my heart sinks a little.
I glance up at Gryphon, who pointedly does not look at me in return as he says, “Yes, he's up and ready. You’re, as always, the last person to be awake. Gabe and Atlas are already up and waiting to see Oli off.”