He nodded and then put out his hand.
“What— Oh.” She took it and helped him up off the nails, standing with him.
“That offer isn’t an all-for-one situation,” he said, shaking out his wings and grimacing with the effort. He reached down and tucked himself back into his pants before zipping up, though the bulge was still incredibly pronounced. “When you need something, ask. When you don’t want to get your hands dirty, let me know. It’ll always be between us. You know I can keep secrets.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Keep them for a rainy day and then collect on them. Yes, I know.”
His smile was devilish. He stepped close, making her breath catch.
His voice was a low, deep hum. “You don’t trust me, fine. I assume there are very few you do trust—”
“Do you trust me?” she asked.
His smile held more confidence than he had any right to. “I don’t have to trust you. I understand you. I know when you’re going to make me a brownie to be nice, like the other day, and when you’re going to show up at my lodging and try to cut my nuts off.” He looked down on her for a long, tense
beat before nodding. “Fine. Like I said, I’ll wait. Eventually you’re going to need me, and you’re going to learn that I mean what I say.”
“What if I just want to use you?” she teased.
In a sudden motion, he grabbed the back of her neck in a firm hold, making her gasp. Slowly he reeled her in, his strength undeniable, his fervor slithering across her flesh. He bent to her, his power wrapping around her, the sweet smell of chocolate on his breath mixing with his intoxicating scent and drying up any protest she might’ve made.
“Use me anytime,” he growled, before yanking her that last little distance and wrapping his lush lips around her bottom lip, sucking it in.
A rush of electricity lit her up. She groaned into his mouth, running her hands up his chest, wishing she still had her knife.
He opened her mouth with his, his hold rough, his tongue swiping through and then swirling with hers. Energy swirled up around them, running between them, vibrating through them. She held the edges of his shirt, delirious with the sensation. High on it.
His hold tightened then, the kiss deepening, his other hand wrapping around her waist and hauling her tightly to him. His hips moved against hers erotically, his tongue mimicking what she wanted other parts of him to do.
Holy crap, he felt so good. He moved against her expertly, the disproportionate sizes of their bodies somehow not making any difference. They fit together passionately, made to explore each other. To take each other, over and over, until they could stand it no more.
Panic flared. What am I doing? That was all she needed, a dangerous addiction.
She pulled back, but he held her tightly, his growl warning her to stay put.
A delicious shiver ran down her spine. She liked when romantic interests were dominant, and he would take dominance to a new level.
No! Get out now!
She swished her hips to the side and swung down her hand at the same time. Fist connected with crotch. Tristan’s grunt matched his flinch. He didn’t pull away quickly, though, merely backing off his kiss. Slowing down the fervor.
She drank it up, falling into it, just about to clutch him again and beg him to take her back to his bedroom.
“Dang it!” She pulled away, and he let her go easily. Clearly he did understand her. He knew this time she was serious. Super serious. Must-leave-right-now-or-lose-her-mind sort of serious.
He watched her with those glowing eyes before looking at the space between them. His smile was smug.
“You’re only so strong, little angel. You’ll crack. It’s only a matter of time.”
She leveled a finger at him. “Stay out of my life and stay out of my job.”
“Yes, ma’am. But I won’t stay out of your dreams.”
TWENTY-FOUR
Jessie
THREE DAYS after Sebastian made the call not to collect the mages in the border towns, I flew above the town with gargoyles spanned out all around me in an intricate flight pattern that Tristan had devised. It was a beautiful thing, perfectly organized with all the various gargoyles swooping and crossing and diving, working off each other’s movements. Below, Kingsley’s shifters patrolled the town, led by his beta, James.
Our forces had started on the outskirts of town and pushed out to the perimeter, Austin and Kingsley working together to organize their people while the basandere took control of the basajaunak. Although she hadn’t come with the goal of leading her people, she’d fallen naturally into the role. We were working together to test strategies for the coming battle.