“Ho-ly SHIT.” My eyes widen with what I’m seeing.
The fucking place is in operation. There are centrifuges and microscopes and a whole bunch of shit being cooked I have no idea what they are. There appears to be some kind of deep freeze unit, but what really stands out is the steel wall room being built right in the center.
What the fuck do they plan on doing with that?!
Snake points off to the side of the screen. “You see this light over here?”
“Yeah,” Rock and I both answer.
“There’s a guard,” he taps the screen, “right here, stationed at the entrance of the lab. The light here has no relation to what’s happening inside.”
“I see what you mean,” Rock nods, answering absently.
Fucking eagle eye.
“Do you think there are two guards on duty twenty-four-seven?” I ask.
The drone keeps moving, doing its rounds. Our eyes are riveted to the screen.
“Yes,” Snake doesn’t hesitate.
“Then it makes sense,” I mumble.
We watch as the drone moves down the next hallway. We’re all watching and waiting for the same thing, the next highlight of the tour.
“What does?” Rock asks.
“Millicent’s visit. If she was bringing a message, it was they’re tired of waiting.” Dread drops in my stomach.
A moment of silence passes as we let it sink in and watch as the drone gets closer to the grand finale.
“From this,” Snake motions to the computer, “it looks like you’re right.”
Here it is. The drone finally got to the cells. Four new cells that weren’t there before when the mill was previously in operation.
“Look,” Snake points at the screen again. “Handcuffs and chains. They’ve been decorating.”
“They sure have,” Rock rasps out quietly.
Fury rages within me. “When are we going in?”
“Soon. As soon we get back-up,” Rock was already planning, he just needed to let us see the footage too. He sits back in his chair and pulls out his phone. Snake and I keep on watching. We’ve got to see everything. Pressing the phone to his ear, almost immediately someone picks up. “Hawk, it’s Rock.” Pause. “We’re going back in.” Another pause. “As soon as you can get here.” He hangs up. “Two days.” It’s all he says.
The drone exits the building, now there’s nothing but woods. Snake and I sit back in our chairs. I digest what we just watched, the poison from my rage flowing through my system and burning me from the inside out.
“Okay. Two days,” I nod, so does Snake.
Two days. Forty-eight hours to organize. Two days until this shit is done.
Two days until we finish this. Or it kills us.
CHAPTER 19
Gwendolyn
Bull is a total dick.
A slow smirk grows on my face as my body heats up. He is in every sense of the word.
Yeah, I totally get the pun, and it’s probably completely intended. But he’s a dick of the biggest proportions. What can I say, if the shoe fits, wear it. And his big feet fit both of those big shoes perfectly.
I’m not stupid. I see the way he looks at me; I know how it feels when he touches me. When his guard’s down and it’s just me and him and skin and sweat, it’s not just physical. Sometimes I just want to yell at him because he makes me crazy. Then other times when his mouth is on me, he consumes me. I know it’s not just me.
When I woke up this morning, he was gone. Typical. Another disappearing act.
What is his problem?
He’s a dick.
It’s not me. I know it’s not me. He’s proved it. Twice. It’s whatever’s going on, and whatever that is has to do with Sasha, and just maybe with what happened with Summer. That’s when this all began. They won’t tell me, I’ve got to put the pieces together with the little bits of information I pick up here and there.
Now they’re different, intense, and something else. Something dangerous.
When all the guys started coming into the coffee shop, things were different. Sure, they’ve always been cocky and arrogant. (Look at them, they have every reason to be!). And something else. Those innuendos they used to throw around, the ones about taking care of their customers. Together. Assuring complete satisfaction.
The women that came in, especially Sasha and all of her little groupies, used to whisper about the men taking care of them. All of them. Together.
Gang bangs.
I’ve never asked, not even Summer, frankly I didn’t have the nerve. I know what people think about me. Shy, demure, innocent, pure. For Christ’s sake, I live with my grandmother. I dress in hoodies and sensible jeans and sneakers. But those insinuations, they stirred something inside me, something I’ve always ignored. Things I’ve tried to ignore.
Honestly, I’ve always felt like I’ve been drowning, like I was waiting for that hand to come and pull me out of the void I was in and give me that spark of life I’ve always yearned for. To breathe life into me.
Nan had been right when she said the day the boys came roaring into town on their motorbikes, it was like the circus had arrived.
Bull woke me up the day he walked into my life. He makes me laugh, he brings a world I knew always existed but never thought I’d see. He’s everything wrapped up in that massive body of his, an invitation to experience it all. I just have to say yes.
But he won’t ask. He wants to, his stone wall cracks every once in a while, like last night. Then he only builds it higher and thicker.
Well, just to hell with that!
I am not going to let him ignore me. I refuse to let him pretend whatever is going on between us is not happening,
It’s time for a showdown, Mr. Bull Smith. I hope you’re ready.
Bull waited until he thought we were asleep last night before he came in. He’s doing the same thing tonight. That’s okay. I can be very patient. Anger is an extremely motivating emotion, and right now I’m very motivated.
I’ve been sitting in the dark on the couch. I waited some time until Nan went to bed before I crept back downstairs. She sleeps like a rock; I’m not worried about waking her. I couldn’t take the chance of him sneaking in and doing whatever the hell he does all night long and miss him; I don’t think he sleeps. At. All. I don’t know how he does it, it must be his military training. And can I say I think that’s sexy as hell?
Don’t get sidetracked, Gwen.
Right. Last night I wanted answers, although I liked what I got a whole lot more. Tonight, however, I’m going to get them.
The lock on the front door clicks.
Finally. He’s coming.
I see it slowly swing open and his huge frame in the doorway backlit by the street lights outside. A tremor slithers through me as my body reacts to him. Just like every single time he comes into my space. It’s like he’s my source of energy and he turns me on each time he’s near.
He shuts the door quietly behind him and takes two steps inside. Then stops. I know he can’t see me, I made sure I’d be in a spot that would be completely in the dark. He feels me though, just like I feel him.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, his voice low.
“I live here,” I answer, like the smart ass I am.
I can hear him sigh as he shakes his head slowly.
“You know what I mean, Gwendolyn,” he practically snarls.
Now it’s my turn to sigh at his big and bad attitude. “I’m waiting for you. We need to talk. You can’t ignore me forever, Bull.”
He takes a few more steps closer. Maybe he feels safer because I didn’t tell him I wanted to jump him. I do, but I want answers more. Or maybe not.
“I’m not ignoring you.”
“Don’t insult me. You have been ignoring me. We’re both adults. If something physical happens between us, like it did, I think we can both be mature about it. For God’s sake, I can have meaningless sex with someone, and I sure as hell know you can,” Except what ha
ppens between us is never meaningless.
I can talk bullshit. It’s when the clothes come off all bets are off.
He literally growls. The sound sends a rush of goosebumps exploding on my skin.
“Gwendolyn,” his tone has dropped to an almost dangerous level.
I jump off the couch because he’s just ratcheted my pissed off meter to DEFCON One. “Don’t you dare Gwendolyn, me, Bull Smith.” I’m in his face now. “I will not allow you to treat me like that. I know you guys have screwed half the women in this town, and you’re at least civil to them. Me,” now I’m jamming my finger into his chest, “you treat me like I’ve got the damn plague or something.”
“Gwen…”
“DON’T Gwen me.” I grit out tightly. I’ve got my head tilted back so I’m looking right into his face, our bodies practically touching. “One minute you’re telling me how you’ve been waiting a long time to be with me.” This I say dramatically because I’m totally pissed. “The next,” I wave my hand furiously, “you treat me like dirt!”
His hands grip my upper arms like iron. “It’s not like that!”
His hold successfully immobilizes me and stops my tirade. It does nothing for my temper. I’m on a roll. “NO? Then why don’t you enlighten me, because that sure as shit looks like it to me!”
“Goddamn it, woman,” he snarls with frustration, “you’re impossible!”
If I wasn’t seeing red, I’d notice he’s this side of losing his shit.
“NO, I’m not.”
His grip tightens. “Yes, you are,” he lifts me with the grip he has on my arms, my feet hovering above the floor, as his mouth crashes against mine.
He just crossed to the other side, and is taking me with him.
His kiss is angry and demanding and possessive. It fuels my anger. Our mouths battle, our tongues clash. We grind and bite and growl, until it turns into deep moans filled with hunger and need.
With his mouth still locked on mine and my feet back on the floor, he releases one arm, wraps it around my waist, lifts me again, and wraps my legs around him. The other he lowers under my ass. He’s not gentle. Bull doesn’t ask, he demands when he’s like this. I demand when I’m like this. Together we’re two animals ready to go to war. I feed my arms around his neck and kiss him like he’s my last breath. Turning, he circles a big hand around the back of my neck and climbs the stairs to my room. We don’t come up for air at all until he kicks my bedroom door shut behind him and drops me on the bed.
“You think I treat you like dirt?” he hisses as he yanks off his clothes.
I’m half hearing him because Bull undressing is one of the eight wonders of the world. He’s every artist’s masterpiece, every woman’s secret fantasy, he’s Sampson and David and Superman all rolled into one.
My anger is boiling with my lust and turning into a combustible heady cocktail that I’m about to get completely shitfaced on.
“Yes, I do,” I pant.
He’s now naked and fucking beautiful. Whenever I see him like this, it takes my breath away. He’s all muscle, ink, and contained fury.
He leans forward with his hands on the bed. “Let’s see what you say after I’m finished with you tonight, darlin’.”
That right there makes my entire body pulse.
I raise a brow at him and smirk. That sounds like a challenge.
“Oh, the big, bad man thinks because he can perform it makes it all better,” I sing song, batting my eyelashes at him. “Newsflash, big boy, it doesn’t.”
His jaw ticks as he grabs hold of my ankles and yanks me to him. “You’re playing with fire, Gwendolyn.”
I try to crawl away from him. That only succeeds in allowing him to yank off my boyshorts with lightning speed.
“It must be the red hair,” I try to kick his hands away.
My emotions are nose diving and ricocheting all over the place. I want to climb all over him one second, and the next I need him ten feet away from me. Right now the latter is losing.
“I should spank your ass for that,” he yanks me back.
“Promises, promises,” I taunt him.
I try to get away again, my self-control rapidly dwindling the more he touches me.
His eyes narrow as a wicked grin curves his talented mouth. My core ignites reliving what he was doing with it last night, now naked and begging for an encore. “You’re looking for trouble, little lady.” He straddles my body successfully pinning me down.
I’m breathing heavy. I don’t know if it’s from anticipation or exertion, because his kind of trouble sounds exactly like what I want. His naked ass pressed against my legs, his heavy sack resting at the juncture of my bare thighs, and his hard thickness smashing my fight.
“No. I’m looking for answers.” Our eyes lock.
A momentary flicker flashes in his eyes. Remorse? Desire? His beast, the wild bull he was named after?
“You want answers, darlin’?” he whispers. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” the word is barely audible, because now I’m not so sure.
“Fine. I’ll give you answers,” he rasps. “But you have to earn them.” He gives me another evil grin.
What?
“For every orgasm I give you, you get one answer.” He peels my tank top off my body.
An answer for every orgasm? My orgasms?
The man knows a woman’s body, my body, like a blind man would read braille. Something doesn’t sound right.
Lying naked beneath his large build, I tilt my head at him. “That doesn’t sound right. Not that I’m complaining,” I fight a grin.
“It’s right,” his smirk doesn’t falter. “I’m betting on getting you fuck drunk.”
A slow smile curves my lips. “I’ll take your bet.”
His smirk grows. “I have a feeling we’re going to battle here. And in case you haven’t noticed, I love a good fight.”
My heart pounds as a rush of adrenaline shoots straight to the tips of my fingers and tips of my toes, burning a trail through my veins as it goes. My nipples tingle and my clit hums, all without him even lifting a finger to touch me. Heat warms my cheeks. A rumble trembles low in his chest. He’s laughing.
“This is going to be a hell of a lot fun.” He slides a finger over my already wet slit. His gaze bores into mine, and, Jesus Christ, he ignites an already hot fuse on fire. Conquer, own, take, that’s what’s looking back at me from his face, and I’m the one he’s after. Oh, my God, yes! “Goddamn it, Gwen, you and this magic pussy of yours.” He lowers his body over mine and closes his mouth over my breast, dragging his tongue over the peak, as his finger teases my opening. “I’ll give you a free one,” he mumbles as his lips move over my nipple. “I’d never treat you like dirt. Know that.” He drags his tongue over both breasts and takes another long lick. “Never.”
It’s the tone of his voice, sincere and reverent, that makes me tremble.
My body begs for him to touch me harder, deeper, anything, just give me more.
“Then why do you do it?” I pant out with my eyes half shut.
“Tsk, tsk,” he’s got my nipple caught between his teeth as his tongue flicks over the point. The pain and pleasure is a Molotov cocktail.
He lifts his body from mine and the sudden emptiness sends a shiver through me. I want to pull him back to me and wrap myself around him. Then he pulls my knees up, spreads them wide, and orders me, “Hold them there, darlin’, I’m going to own this sweet pussy.”
Sweet Jesus, if someone can detonate from words alone, those words will do it, because I think he can make me come with his filthy words alone.
“Look at this pretty little thing,” his voice is husky. I’m watching him looking at me, and the look on his face is carnal and hungry. For me. That makes my loins clench and my heart skip a beat. He’s so intense, almost savage. All of that is focused on me. All of that intensity bears down on me, consuming, licking me like his tongue, stroking me like his fingers, and penetrating me to the deepest parts o
f my core.
He doesn’t touch me at first except with the tip of his finger. The anticipation only makes my desire escalate, because I know it’s coming, somehow, some way. He swirls circles around my clit, around and around, not touching it, and, Lord, how I want him to. “I can smell your cunt on me all day,” he murmurs so quietly, he might be talking to himself. My eyes are now locked on his hands and what they’re doing to me, on his hardness, big, swollen, and dripping from the tip. His words, his touch, his desire, they’re building the sensations inside me, pulling it tighter and ready to go. “You haunt me, woman,” he rasps as he plunges one of his thick fingers inside me and presses down hard on my clit with his thumb.
That’s all it takes. My walls grip him, hungry and needy, as my orgasm unfurls like a spring making my body go taut.
“Bull, please,” I moan long and guttural.
“One question,” he rumbles as his thumb glides back and forth on my clit and he circles that glorious finger in my heat.
I have to force aside the decadence of desire from my brain and pull something important from the fog. I need to make the question count. My body doesn’t slacken as the question materializes in my mind. “Who are you protecting us from?” The words are quiet, but they slice a path through the haze of lust.
His eyes meet mine. The anger and fury I see in them sends a tremor of fear through me. Not for me, but for whomever ‘they’ are. Then there’s a flash of something else, but it’s gone.
“The people who took Sasha.” Five words. Five little words, and everything starts to fall into place.
“Are they the same people who kidnapped Summer?” I ask, my voice hushed.
The fury’s gone, replaced by his signature deliciously evil smirk. That look. It’s full of dirty promises and orgasms. My sex clenches again around his digit. He shakes his head once, his eyes boring into mine as he thrusts slowly in and out of me, never letting my climax completely subside. “More questions means more orgasms.”
My head falls back against the bed as my body trembles from the pleasure he’s still giving me.
He gets up and strolls casually to my dresser beautifully naked. I stare at the beast of a man. He’s exquisite, so big, but so kind, in a I’ll-crush-you kind of way, intense, but caring and tender in how a grizzly would lick you to death. Everything he does, he does huge, from his big hands, right down to his massive heart. I drop my hands, let my legs slowly fall, and take this unguarded moment to memorize everything about Bull. He’s got tattoos, but his body isn’t covered with them like Rock’s and Snake’s are. On his back, he’s got a beast, it’s a bull with fiery red eyes and a snarl like he’s about to rip you to shreds. I wonder if that signifies who he really is, the feral protector who would destroy his enemy? One shoulder is covered in tribal tattoos that feed halfway down his arm. But the tattoo that clutches my heart is the script that reads, “Bleed with me and you will forever be my brother.”
Vengeance: The Program Book 4 Page 17