by A. K. Koonce
“They’d say the two of us were identical except women liked to ride my face so much they never really got a chance to compare us.”
“What!” Laughter shakes out of me as the biggest smile takes over my lips.
“It’s stupid.” His hands raise and he still can’t make eye contact with me.
“No, I think this is a story that needs to be told, Rory.” I’m leaning into the small table so much I’m almost crawling over it just to get the rest of details on why the hell women are riding his face so much in his past.
“At a party once, a friend of mine walked in on something. It’s — I don’t know.”
At the sound of my astounded laughter he’s eyes close slowly. More of that crimson color fills his face. I like this. I like this new turn in our rocky friendship. I hadn’t realized how exhausting it was hating him. My chest feels lighter right now. All the anxiety of the last couple of days slips away.
“And that caused them to tease you? It’s a little unfair.”
“Well…” His hands raise from his sides. “It… happened… three times actually.” His mumbled words trail off but I hear every single one of them.
“Three times?” My voice is just rising louder and louder, and I can’t help the outrageous smile on my face.
Yesterday this man was vanilla ice cream, and today I find out he gives out free face rides in his spare time.
What a good fucking samaritan.
“I think after the second time, you would have locked the door,” I tell him.
He bites his lip to stop the smile from spreading across his face, and I can’t help but wonder how good he is with his mouth for this to be a reoccurring issue in his past.
“It—more important stuff was on my mind than privacy. This is fucking embarrassing.”
“What? Why? Because you’re not the emotionless stone man you pretend to be? Because you were young and… really sexual?” I pause and try to bite back my words, but they come out awkwardly before I can stop them. “It’s not embarrassing. It’s… hot.”
When his shining gaze meets mine, the smiles on our faces slip just slightly. My breath catches from the heated memory that’s gleaming in his eye, and I know he and I are both thinking about the same dirty thing, even if neither of us will admit it.
Tension crackles through the air and settles into my chest.
I can physically feel the heat in his sexy gaze.
The door bangs open with a rush, and I jump from the sound of it.
“We found her.” Tylin’s serious words crash into the room as he and Mason stride inside.
My eyes grow wide and I stand in an instant.
They found Allison.
Eighteen
Painful Compliments
Being squished between insanely attractive men would be most women’s fantasy. Let me tell you, it’s not as a appealing as it sounds.
Rory’s big shoulders take up too much space in the back of the taxi as it speeds down the road. With Rory on one side and Tylin on the other, every jostle of the car has them pressing against me in all the wrong ways. That’s what you get for smashing three people across a narrow backseat.
My thighs are plastered between theirs, and I have to wiggle to make sure I maintain the sliver of space they’ve left me in the middle.
“Will you stop squirming?” Everything Rory says sounds irritated, and I smirk as if I’ll follow orders. Instead, I dig my elbows into their sides to make them scoot into the doorway.
“I didn’t grow up on the streets without learning to defend what little I had.” A satisfied smile lands on my lips. It’s about the small victories in life.
Strong arms wrap around me and a squeal escapes my lips as Rory scoops me up and maneuvers me onto his lap. “There. Now we all have more room.”
He’s all muscle where I’m all softness, and just like the other night I’m pressed into the hard expanse of his body. Shrugging, I settle back into my new seat. The tiny red dress I’m wearing has slipped up my thighs with all the movement, and there’s no mistaking Rory’s strong legs beneath mine. I’m sitting sideways on his lap and have no shame in making myself comfortable as I lean back into his shoulder. His arm comes around me, his large, rough hand landing on the exposed skin of my outer thigh.
We both tense and freeze, but when he doesn’t move, neither do I.
“Now would be a good time to fill us in, boss man.” I kick my leg out and nudge Tylin with one black stiletto. Not to brag, but I’ve gotten exceptionally good at walking in heels lately. Attending luxurious clubs once a week will do that to you I guess. And, newsflash, they make my legs look great. I should have taken Tylin and Rory’s training in them more seriously, clearly.
“Despite the terrible decision making and the catastrophic outcome of going to spy on the League, you did a good job.” Tylin doesn’t even look at me as he pays me the biggest compliment that’s ever left his lips aimed in my direction. He reaches up, straightening his tie, as though it physically pains him to say anything nice or congratulatory.
I shake my head and pretend to clean my ears. “I’m sorry. What was that?” The smirk covering my lips is large. You can probably see that thing from outer space. Tylin just fucking paid me a compliment. I hope he ordered my employee of the fucking month plaque in silver. Gold is just overly bragging and no one needs that.
That dark eyebrow of his arches yet again, and the depth of his gray eyes drag me into his challenging glare.
Leaning forward, I swat at his arm. “Would it kill you to say it again?” My grin is infectious and I hear Mason chuckling quietly from the front of the cab as he watches our antics in the rearview mirror.
“It about killed me the first time.” The grumble that leaves Tylin sounds so much like Rory that I laugh at his distress and lean back, reclaiming my temporary seat.
With a low grunt, Rory tightens his hand on my thigh and grits out, “Will you stay still? For fuck’s sake.”
The hard, steely length of Rory’s arousal presses against my ass as I settle back onto his lap. He’s impressive. It’s not a surprise that Rory’s huge. Even with my limited knowledge of his dick, I can tell he’s nearly as big as Jameson.
The thought of my injured assassin makes my heart throb painfully.
Choosing survival over a solution, I push Jameson from my mind, saving myself a few moments of heartbreak, as I focus on the other three men in the car with me.
I bite my lip to keep myself from grinding down into Rory the way my body so desperately wants to.
High five, Lex. Way to adult. I praise myself for staying as still as possible.
Though I’m thoroughly distracted, I try to pay attention to the important details of our case as Tylin fills me in. “Allison’s not working in the sex club. She’s not even a member. The reason we couldn’t trace her wasn’t because she was a new employee, but because she was someone’s plus one. Once you gave us the intel about her connection with the League it started to make sense. Mason hacked the system and searched the list of men who are members of Club Crystalline and narrowed it down to who could potentially be on their hit list. Then he tracked her here.”
The League was behind everything. Just as they always are. Allison wasn’t running away from anything. She was being recruited.
I fucking knew it. The mark in her notebook, the loss of someone close to you. The League has a modus operandi. I barely stop myself from saying “I told you so” as all the pieces come together, clinging to that adulting I was doing earlier.
“An initiation kill.” The words are out before they fully register. Allison’s only been missing for a little while. The League works fast, and they won’t spare her any time to change her mind or truly realize the gravity of her actions. She’s been to the club before. Stalking her prey. Setting up her kill. Learning the layout. She’s going to strike. And soon.
The only reason she hasn’t done it yet is because she is new and inexperienced.
I curse the car
for not moving faster. Whether it’s because Allison is my first case or because I see a little bit of my younger self in her, I don’t know, but I have an overwhelming need to save her. Even from herself.
Each bump in the road grinds Rory and I together and I’m nearly panting by the time we reach our destination. It’s both fantastic and awkward all at the same time. The mixture of lust and anxiety have my entire body alert as I slide from the car and follow the three assassins indoors.
I’m only hoping we’re not too late.
Nineteen
Siphons
For the second time that week, Tylin ushers me inside Club Crystalline. His palm splays wide against the small of my back. All three men are in three piece suits and honestly? I thought they were attractive before, but that hadn’t prepared me to see them in the black, sleek business attire. The hem of my tight red dress rises as I scoot in next to Tylin in the same round booth as before. Mason quietly slides in next to me, his side pressing warmly against mine as his fingers trace slow and tantalizing circles up my thigh.
My wide eyes search the dimly lit room for her. Face by face I seek her out.
But she’s nowhere to be seen. Is it possible she isn’t here yet? Rory never sits down and his head swings this way and that with each dark haired woman that passes by. He’s far less subtle about his search for Allison.
My scanning attention slows as I take it all in. There really is something about this place. The pulsing music, the grinding, swaying movements in all the shadows of the room, the hyper sensualness of it all. It literally makes your sex drive climb the moment you step inside. It makes dirty possibilities slam through my mind.
And the two gorgeous men seated on each side of me only intensify it all.
My eyes meet Mason’s, the dim lighting making them appear even darker. He holds my gaze as his fingers slip lower down the curve of my thigh before rising very casually up toward my center. He halts just an inch from my sex but continues that teasing stroking of his fingertips against my sensitive skin. He never blinks once.
Tylin’s lips press to my ear, his arm curled around my shoulders as he watches the crowd all around us, looking for our target. “You look like you’re begging him to fuck you right here on this table.”
The three of us are pressed so closely together there isn’t room for the heavy breaths I’m taking. My palm presses firmly against Tylin’s slacks, squeezing the muscle of his upper thigh as I lean into him until my lips graze his neck, my teeth raking just enough to make his lashes flutter closed.
“I was under the impression we were all just playing a part.” My breath fans intentionally against his neck just before my tongue slides slowly against the salty taste of his skin. I press another slow kiss there just as Mason’s fingers travel that final inch.
I’m officially distracted.
The breath in my lungs catches. His touch is firm against my center, stroking hard up and down as my hooded eyes meet Tylin’s. His gaze slips to my mouth. His head tilts. The minty taste of his exhale kisses my tongue just as his lips almost meet mine.
“Let’s go, she’s heading upstairs.” Rory grips Mason’s arm, abruptly hauling him away, jerking me from Tylin’s tempting kiss before it ever even starts. I sway when I stand, pretending it’s because of the music instead on the weakness in my knees. A deep breath leaves my lungs as I look up at Tylin when he stands.
Slate gray eyes study me for less than a second before his hand slips into mine and he pulls me away from our heated moment.
“Do we have a plan to get our non member selves upstairs or… ?” My heels click against the tile as the four of us move quickly across the room.
Tylin’s attention is held on the man at the bottom of the staircase. There’s so many more people here than there were last time. It’s late though. I suppose people are more active at ten o’clock at night rather than noon.
The security guard at the stairs appears harsher. The man’s focus is on a group of five men who seem to have had too much to drink just a few feet away from him. He’s so focused on them, he doesn’t immediately notice Tylin when he stalks right up to him. The assassin’s feet never falter against the glossy black tile and he keeps his steely gaze held on the security guard. It’s such an intense stare. It’s like Tylin’s mind is dissecting something that no one else in the room is even aware of.
Pure assured confidence is all he holds as he places his hand against the man’s shoulder. “Excuse us.” The smile that pulls across Tylin’s face is so genuine it’s alarming. The outright call to attention that he’s doing is more than a little concerning. All I can do is keep my hand held in his and pray we’re not thrown out before we even get started.
And then… the security guard smiles right back. He nods to Tylin as if they’re old friends just before stepping aside for the four of us.
“Have a good evening, Mr. Valderban.”
The breath held in my lungs releases slowly. I remember what he told me about how if someone was really relaxed or not paying attention he could affect their thoughts.
And I didn’t fucking believe him.
“Holy shit, you really do have mind control powers,” I whisper to his back as we trail up to the elaborate steps to the second floor.
“Not mind control. It sounds creepy when you say it like that. Suggestions.” The smile that curves his mouth isn’t any less creepy, but I don’t mention that.
His gaze flickers into each curtained room, past every bouncer until we reach the last door on the left. Unlike the other doors, no security is posted here.
She’s there. Dark hair and big amber eyes filled with innocence. With gentle hands she straps a man’s hands above his head. A black blindfold keeps him from seeing the way her hands worship down his body. She whispers something to him and the word Mistress is whispered back to her.
I’m mesmerized for several seconds as I watch her care for the man in a sensual way I’ve never really considered. Her hands run down the hard panes of his bare chest, scratching hard before soothing with a gentle touch.
Once more she whispers to him and once more he nods.
I wonder if she’ll continue teasing him and if we’ll continue watching, but then her hand raises to his lips. A burning red color glows against her fingertips and her index finger touches lightly against him, just enough for a stream of bright color to exhale from his mouth and absorb into her palm. That color splays out of him for several moments before my feet push forward and I’m striding right into their private room.
My hand jerks her away, breaking the connection of her streaming power and his life.
It was his life. The innocent missing girl was siphoning this man’s life out of him.
“What are you doing?” I scream at her, trying to make sense of this the best I can. “Do you have any idea what finishing this will mean for you?”
“Fuck,” she whispers as her attention collides with the Mark of the Hunter scrawled across my neck. Those big doe eyes grow wider when her gaze meets mine.
The very last thing I ever would have expected happens next.
She runs.
Twenty
The Lost Five
Her heels click quickly across the hardwood floor of the room as she flees from me, but she stops short when she spies the three hulking men in the doorway, blocking her escape. Tylin, Rory, and Mason stand between her and freedom, and only a second ticks by before her hand shoots up, the red power sparking along her fingertips in a lethal display. The smallest tremor shakes through her palm and I wonder if it’s from power or nerves.
“Move.” Her demand carries more bravado than I had given her credit for. This chick has grown some real lady balls since she disappeared. Gone is the unsure girl and in her place is a woman. An assassin. A huntress.
A creation that only the League can make.
I hate it. If only she understood the life she was choosing to walk down. Regret is a real monster, and it eats at you. As much as I try to not
let the past bother me or define who I am now, I can’t help but to replay the things I’ve done and question every reason I was told to do them. I trusted Armond, but now? Now I don’t know if anything he ever told me was the truth or a lie.
“Nice try, little girl,” Rory barks, unhelpfully. “But we’re not afraid of your little magic show.”
“Goading her isn’t exactly helping.” I ease closer to Allison as I speak and my hands make their way into the air in a non-threatening display that I hope she’ll decipher as friend, not foe.
“What’s… what’s going on?” The bound man from the bed questions, still blindfolded. Helpless.
Tylin tilts his head, narrowing his eyes as he focuses. Now that I’ve seen that look on his face, I know what he’s working to accomplish. In moments, the man is out cold, a loud snore rocking through the room.
Effective.
Seeing evidence of Tylin’s power twice in one night gives me a new respect for our fearless leader. It’s also turns me on. The atmosphere in the club heightens my desire, and my body is eager to finish what Mason so cruelly started earlier.
There’s a reason that celibacy is for the nuns, and my forced abstinence only feeds my inferno, a quick accelerant for the lust that burns through me.
In a strange way, I need one of them to touch me, to remind me that I’m theirs. I never realized before them how much I need simple touch to understand affection.
But first, Allison.
With renewed vigor, I turn on the girl. “Do you honestly want to join the League? Is this really what you want to do with your life?” I scold her, borrowing some of the parental tone that Tylin has perfected.
She spins, placing her back to the wall and making sure that she can eye all three of my guys and myself. Smart. She’s not an idiot. I had surmised as much at her dorm room. I go with that angle.
“You’re missing class work. You have a bright future ahead of you.” Another miss. Another blank careless stare. Damn. She’s past caring about those things.