by D. Laine
He chuckled deeply as he moved to flick his tongue over the other one. His lips curved into a delicious grin around my nipple when he peered up at me.
“God dammit, Dylan,” I groaned.
“Yeah?” He drifted lower, searing a trail between my breasts and down the soft slope of my belly with his mouth. “Is there something else you want?”
I squirmed impatiently as his hand dragged lower, inching closer to my aching core. His thumb slid over the apex, and I jerked against him. Then his mouth was on me. There. Hot and wet and relentless.
I nearly leaped off the bed when his tongue flicked over my most sensitive of spots. His hands clamped down on my thighs to keep me where he wanted me as cries of pleasure tore from my throat. The room blurred, the outside world ceased to exist, and it was only Dylan lifting me higher than I had ever climbed before. And it was him that cradled me when I plummeted back to Earth.
“Holy shit,” I panted when I finally found my voice.
“I’m not done with you yet.”
I lifted my head at the faraway sound of his voice. I found him standing near the dresser, with a smug grin on his face.
“Not that you need another boost to that ego of yours, but that . . .”
I had nothing. No words were good enough to describe what he’d done to me. My legs still trembled from the waves of pure bliss that trickled through me. I gave up trying to hold up my own head.
“Don’t pass out on me yet. We’re just getting started.” Dylan’s gravelly voice washed over me, producing an aftershock of pleasure mixed with a heavy dose of anticipation.
I glanced up to watch him roll on a condom with quiet interest. His eyes focused on me as he finished. Then he slid up the length of my body to steal my breath with a deep kiss. He settled against the sensitive bundle between my legs as his tongue teased and coaxed mine.
His hot flesh pressing against mine, his sculpted back muscles flexing beneath my hands, and the sounds of building desire vibrating from the back of his throat all combined to create a sensation of desperate need that doused the satiation I had relished in a moment ago. Now I starved for more.
My back arched beneath him, begging him to give me what I wanted. He shifted slightly to keep himself at an agonizing distance. His eyes lowered to pierce mine.
“I only do this one way,” he told me. The warning behind his words was clear.
My hands tugged on his back in response. I wanted it—I wanted him. As fast and rough and primal as I knew he would give it to me. And I wanted it now.
His jaw clenched—the only indication he gave that he channeled some restraint. His hips rocked forward, and he pushed into me with a swift and hard thrust. There was a small pinch of discomfort as he filled me. His mouth covered mine to absorb the gasp that squeaked out of me, but I knew without a doubt that he had been right about one thing earlier. The music pouring from the stereo wasn’t going to spare the rest of the world from what happened in this room.
He gave me a moment to adjust to him, but only a moment, before he rocked into me again. Then again. Each move pushed him deeper, until I was sure I would shatter. But I wanted it. My fingers dug into his shoulders, begging him for more.
This was nothing like I had experienced before. Nothing could have prepared me for sex with Dylan. As intimidating as that realization was, it was even more thrilling. I could not get enough of him.
Already, I felt myself tightening around him as a powerful wave of pleasure rushed toward me. It tumbled and rolled just out of my grasp like a catastrophic tsunami on a collision course with fragile land. My fingers bit into his skin. He thrust deeper and harder, forcing the wave to crest.
Dylan’s mouth ripped away from mine with a low growl. His rigid back muscles shuddered under my hands as he pressed his lips to my neck. “You feel incredible,” he sighed.
I wanted to agree, but I couldn’t catch my breath. My fingers desperately clutching his back would have to suffice as a response for now. There would be marks tomorrow, but it only seemed fair since I would forever be marked by him after tonight.
He pulled back to clasp my waist with both of his hands. Such a small shift, but . . .
Oh. My. God. He found a spot previously unknown by me, or any other man. There was no restraint when he drove into me now, his deep moans mixing with my sharp gasps. His thumb pressed against the bundle of nerves at my center, and that did it.
An intense pleasure I’d never known existed until now rocketed through me. Dylan’s hips rocked against mine once more before he collapsed against me, quivering beneath my hands. Together, in that moment, we destroyed entire villages. I already knew before the waves subsided that I wanted to do it all over again.
17
DYLAN
The soft ping from my phone stirred me from a deep sleep—the best fucking dream-free night of sleep I think I had ever had—and I reluctantly rolled over to throw my arm out in search of the cursed device. I hit nothing but air where the bedside table should have been.
For a confusing moment, I had no idea where I was. Then something moved beside me. Smooth skin brushed against my bare leg, and I flopped onto my back with a smile on my face.
Thea rolled toward me with a groggy whimper, and I assisted her arm in curling around my waist. The phone pinged again, and I gritted my teeth at the annoying interruption.
It was Jake. It had to be him. Only he would be awake with the sunrise—which barely touched the lingering darkness outside Thea’s window.
Gingerly holding Thea’s arm, I squirmed out from beneath her. The chilly air hit my naked skin, prompting me to slip into my pants, which I found exactly where Thea had taken them off me last night. My phone was in the pocket, and I withdrew it as I let myself out the door.
I had three missed texts from last night, and two from a minute ago.
Specialists haven’t found anything at the park
Where you at?
Call me when you’re done getting laid
Fucking shit, Dylan! I’m about to send Maria after you! We’ve got work to do!
Agency hasn’t found anything but they think there’s another vessel in town that we missed. Get back here now!
I slipped into the bathroom as I called Jake’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“What are you doing?” he snarled through the connection.
“Right now, I’ve got my dick in my hand, taking a piss,” I grumbled.
“Did you get my messages?”
“Just got them. Thanks for waking me up, by the way.”
There was a long pause. Long enough for me to finish up my business. Finally, Jake asked, “You were sleeping?”
“Generally, that’s what I do at night, so . . . yeah. What’s your point?”
“I thought you were with that girl,” Jake admitted. “Where are you? Don’t tell me you and Maria—”
“Hell no,” I barked. “I am with that girl. Her name is Thea, by the way. Learn to use it.”
“You spent the night with her?” I heard the incredulity in his tone. At first, I didn’t understand why. Until I realized what he was pointing out.
I had never spent the night with a girl I hooked up with. Always made for a mess in the morning. Better to get out before they got clingy.
“I just fell asleep, man,” I told my friend. “Don’t go getting your panties in a twist. I’ll be back to the hotel soon, and you can fill me in.”
After I disconnected from Jake, I cracked open the door to Thea’s room. She was still where I had left her, fast asleep. I was tempted to crawl back in there with her, but I was wide awake now. I would only disturb her, and I suspected she needed her rest after the sex marathon I had put her through last night.
I hadn’t intended for that to happen when I showed up at The Nest. Really, I hadn’t. I had gone there to subtly suggest she get out of town. Though the agency had insisted on sending some specialists to investigate my theory, I knew David was right. The volcano would blow, and
I didn’t want Thea here when it did.
Instead of forcing her out of town, I had ended up in her bed. I couldn’t bring myself to regret any of it though. The volcano hadn’t erupted, so what was there to regret?
I left Thea to sleep, and crept into the kitchen to see what she had with caffeine in it. After rifling through the cabinets, I found everything I needed to start a pot of coffee.
I stood at the counter, staring at the floor while the machine hissed and groaned behind me. But I didn’t see the floor. All I saw was Thea—the moonlight dancing across her silky skin as she rose above me, her hair curtaining her face, her lips parting as she moaned my name.
I was so deep into my fond memories that I didn’t realize Vivian was awake until she stumbled into the kitchen. I glanced up in time to catch the fleeting smirk on her face.
“Looks like somebody is happy to see me this morning.”
I followed the direction of her pointed gaze, then quickly adjusted the semi that tented my pants as she shouldered past me. She produced two mugs from the cabinet and handed one to me.
“Thanks.” I backed away, giving her adequate room to fix her coffee. When she moved away, I helped myself to the bowl of sugar she had left out on the counter. I felt her eyes on my back as I worked, and it only made me wish I had thought to put on a shirt.
Normally, I wouldn’t mind being eaten alive by a chick. But this one?
I didn’t like her. For a lot of reasons, but mostly because she didn’t seem to be a very good friend to Thea.
I heard the soft click of a door shutting in Thea’s hallway, and sighed in relief that she was awake. Last thing I needed was for her roommate to—
Vivian’s arm brushed up against mine as she reached for the coffee pot in front of me. I took my mug and retreated with as much composure as I could. In the distance, I heard the unmistakable sound of running water, and suspected Thea had started the shower in her bathroom.
“So . . .” Vivian turned to lean against the counter. Her eyes raked over me with unfiltered interest. “I heard you two last night.”
I brought the mug to my lips with a shrug. Honestly, I would be surprised if the neighbors hadn’t heard us last night. Not that I cared.
Vivian crossed the small space between us. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip, and I stood a little straighter when I realized what was coming.
“If you ever want to have your way with me like that . . .” Her finger trailed across my chest before angling down. I lunged around her, nearly spilling my coffee in my haste to get away from her roaming hand.
I set the mug down forcefully, and before she could add anything more to that proposition, I got the hell out of there. Granted, I was free to do what I wanted. I could fuck the roommate if I wanted to. Thea and I weren’t anything—
But I didn’t like Vivian. I liked Thea.
I stopped outside the bathroom door, and listened to the water running. Glancing down the hallway toward the kitchen, I found Vivian peeking around the corner. Holding her gaze, I tried the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, I pushed the door open and let myself in.
A heavy fog filled the room and created a blanket of heat that felt incredible on my bare skin. It took me a moment to spot Thea’s head poking out from behind the curtain, her wide eyes locked on mine.
I grinned at the surprise on her face. “Good morning.”
“Good morning?” She glanced around the room uneasily. “I thought you left.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you were gone when I got up.”
I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder. “Made some coffee.”
She nodded once. “Oh.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Is it alright I’m still here?”
“Yeah. I just . . .” She laughed nervously. “I had you pegged as a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy.”
She’d pegged me correctly, then. But as surprised as she was to find me still here, her bewilderment had nothing on mine.
“Yeah but . . . you don’t strike me as a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of girl.”
The subtle curve of her lips let me know I’d said something right. “I’m not,” she murmured. “Not usually.”
“Right.” I set the toilet lid down and took a seat. Waving a hand at her, I said, “Carry on. I’m just here for the company.”
Her eyes narrowed on me like she didn’t believe, or trust, me. “Company?”
I swiped a bottle of lotion from the counter beside me. “Just going to do some reading. You can pretend I’m not here.”
She stared at me a moment longer, then snapped the curtain shut.
I made good on my promise. I read the label on the lotion bottle. It took me three tries since my eyes kept getting pulled to the side, where I could just make out the silhouette of Thea’s body through the thin shower curtain.
A solid minute passed with me watching her wash her hair before I gave up on the bottle of lotion. Nothing in here captivated me more than her, and the semi in my pants had turned into a full blown, throbbing hard on a long time ago.
I was about to declare this a really bad idea and let myself out when Thea called, “Dylan?”
“Yeah?” I cringed at the needy sound of my voice.
She slid the curtain open. Her mouth didn’t move, but her eyes said plenty. Her invitation was clear, and I didn’t hesitate to accept.
I shucked my jeans and dropped my boxer briefs in two seconds. I glanced up to find Thea’s eyes go wide as she got a good look at me.
“You’re like . . . always on the ready, aren’t you?”
“Around you?” I shrugged. “Yeah.”
“I don’t know if . . .” She stared at me a beat. “Last night was . . .”
“Awesome,” I supplied.
“And intense.” She nibbled her lip as her eyes dragged over me anxiously.
I angled my head. “Is that a no to shower sex then?”
Maybe I’d jumped too soon. Watching her shower had turned me into a horny idiot, so it was possible I’d misread the look in her eyes a moment ago.
Then again, maybe I hadn’t misread anything.
She pulled the curtain open wider, and nodded her head in a clear invitation. At the gleeful look on my face, she pointed a finger at me. “You—control yourself.”
I grinned like a toddler with an elusive toy dangling in front of him. “I’ll be good.”
She gave me a doubtful look. “I’m not so sure you can, Mr. I Only Do This One Way.”
My eyes raked over her wet and tempting nakedness, and my throat ran dry. “I can learn to . . . adapt.”
But I was pretty sure she wanted what I had to give her—despite her reservations. She reached down to take my hand in hers, and she tugged me into the confines of the shower stall with her. She pushed the curtain closed, sealing us in with the warm moisture.
Her hands splayed across my chest as the hot water ran down it. The heat in her eyes was undeniable. She wanted me bad—almost as bad as I wanted her. My hands curled around her waist, but I stopped short of kissing her. I could see that she was still apprehensive.
It wouldn’t hurt to let her know I was, too. For a different reason.
“If I tell you something, do you promise not to laugh at me?”
Her hand, which had been steadily traveling down the length of my torso, stopped as she glanced up at me. A smile curved on her lips. “What?”
“I’ve never had sex in the shower before.”
Considering I never stuck around after a hookup, I’d never had the opportunity. Needless to say, I was eager to give it a shot.
Her mouth dropped open. “You can’t be serious.”
“No, I am.” I shrugged my shoulders with a hint of bashfulness. “I’m kind of hoping you can help me out with that.”
Her fingers curled around my hard-as-stone cock with a smile and a promise in her eyes. Screw prior commitments. I was having shower sex for the first time.
Jake was just going to have to a
ccept that.
JAKE WAS PISSED when I finally shuffled into our hotel room an hour later. Yeah, an hour. Shower sex had led to bedroom sex . . .
It was the best goddamn morning of my life, and I wasn’t sorry. Not even when Maria and Marcus gave me the same hard look Jake gave me.
I waved my hand at the twins where they sat side by side at the foot of my bed before turning to Jake. “You didn’t tell me we were having company.”
“We’re all assassins, Dylan,” Jake informed me as if I’d forgotten. “This involves all of us. You said you would be here over an hour ago.”
“I got sidetracked.” Maria scoffed, and I shot her a glare. “Don’t start.”
“I hope, whoever she is, she’s worth the downfall of humanity as we know it,” Maria snapped.
I threw my arms out wide. “Has anything changed while I’ve been off getting laid?” I parted a glance between the three faces frowning at me. “No? I didn’t think so.” Turning back to Jake, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“There’s another vessel in town they want us to track down.”
“And just forget the whole Yellowstone thing? How do they even know there’s another vessel?”
“Two more tags have been identified. They were tagged after we eliminated Kyle Davenport and Professor Thompson, and they were both male.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “So we’re probably looking for a female vessel.”
Jake spared a glance across the room, toward the other two assassins. “About that . . .” He cleared his throat before turning back to me. “How sure are you about this girl—”
“Thea,” I supplied. “Her name is Thea. Learn it. Memorize it. Use it.”
Jake didn’t back down from the malice in my voice. “You confirmed she wasn’t a tag, but how sure are you that she isn’t a vessel?”
“She’s not.”