by Jami Gray
The second time her head slipped from her palm and she caught herself before face-planting, warm, firm fingers tunnelled through her hair, before pressing gently, but firmly. ‘Sleep, Charity, I got this.’
‘Just need a couple hours,’ she mumbled, blinking rapidly.
‘Then take them. If I need you, I’ll wake you.’
The ring of truth in his voice allowed the last vestiges of her wariness to loosen. For now, he would watch over Simon, and by extension, her. Giving in to Ruin’s urging, she shifted until she could curl against the mattress’ edge on her good shoulder.
Lying there, her mind drifted as she studied the man next to her. With the fire behind him, his face was half-hidden in the flickering shadows. It was mesmerising how the light played over his hair, picking up strands of gold mixed in with the dark browns and blacks as it brushed his shoulders. His neatly trimmed beard was more black than brown, but it emphasised the strong lines of his jaw. The shadows brushing along the straight blade of his nose left half of his face in murky darkness. The unusual amber colouring of his eyes as he watched her watch him captured her. Unable to break their startling intense connection, her pulse thickened as lust wound its way through her exhausted body. ‘You’re dangerous.’ The unchecked truth slipped out without warning.
‘Very.’ The low rumble of his voice merged with the quiet night. ‘But so are you.’
For some reason, his observation made her happy. ‘Yes, I am. Does that worry you?’
His slow, sexy smile wormed its way below her lazy lust. ‘Nah.’ He reached out and traced the side of her face with his finger, before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She didn’t fight the chills racing over her skin at the strangely intimate touch. He leant over, closing in. His shoulders blocked out the light, leaving them stranded in shadows and unspoken expectations. ‘I’ve always enjoyed a little danger.’ His gaze drifted over her face, and his finger slowly, too slowly, traced its way to her chin.
She wasn’t a naive daisy bell, but she was familiar enough with her body to know the difference between adrenaline-laced lust and something altogether different. This was a subtle combination of both.
‘Be careful,’ she murmured, lifting her chin at his gentle nudge. ‘Don’t underestimate me.’
He closed the distance between them, and with his lips a breath away, whispered, ‘Never.’ Then he kissed her.
It wasn’t the hurricane of need and desire she expected. Instead, it was slow heat and slumberous want. A soft touch of lips, followed by a gentle glide of his tongue seeking permission. Permission she granted as she met him, stroke for exploratory stroke. They took time learning each other’s taste in lingering tangles. There was a faint hint of mint leaves under the uniquely masculine taste, a cool counterpoint to the heat. The play of light changed as he leant closer, forcing her to adjust. She circled his neck with an arm, trying to bring him closer. The touch on her chin changed until he was cradling her face in his palms. His warmth seeped under her skin, turning her lust to hunger. Her soft moan escaped as need began to overwhelm the strange dreamlike kiss.
As if that was the sound he was waiting for, his kiss turned carnal, darker, more demanding. Instead of turning her off, his desire ignited a matching craving. Lost in the heat, she didn’t realise he managed to press her back against the mattress’s edge until he moved from her mouth to her neck. The combination of his lips and beard over her tendons left a shivery heat behind.
She arched into the sensation only to gasp as her nipples pressed against the solid muscles of his chest, despite the thin barriers of their shirts. Her hands curled into his shoulders as he leant above her. His hand drifted to her chest, cupping and shaping her until her breasts ached for more. When he found a particularly sensitive spot where her shoulder and neck met, she couldn’t stifle her, ‘Oh god.’
With one last, torturous swipe of wicked fingers over her hard nipples, he lifted his head, his eyes glittering with lust, his lips swollen from bites she couldn’t remember giving. ‘Like I said—’ his voice was rough, ‘—dangerous.’
Chapter 8
As dawn slipped across the sky, Ruin completed another circuit around the cabin, pocketing a few more spent shells from the gunfight. He made a mental note to dump them in Havoc’s hands later. He rapped his knuckles against the doorframe and waited for Charity’s faint answer before he led the horses to the creek, a rifle, courtesy of a dead Raider, slung across his back.
At the creek, he hobbled the horses and let them drink. Shifting the rifle’s sling to his shoulder, he leant against the thick tree trunk, hands tucked in his pockets. Simon survived the night, a feat Ruin owed Charity for. Despite his casual pose, he didn’t stop scanning his surroundings while guilt twitched in his gut.
There was one tidbit of information garnered from the Raider’s enforced confession that Ruin failed to share with Charity. The Raiders had a meet scheduled in Kennewick, one they wouldn’t make since they were a bit busy feeding the worms. Which meant there might be bigger problems. Correction, more problems heading their way.
Maybe he should’ve shared last night, but after that unexpected kiss, Ruin jumped at taking the first turn at watch, justifying his rapid retreat behind her exhaustion and his inability to know what the hell to say, even as his body clamoured for more. When he got back, she was out like a light, and he figured he’d have more than enough time in the morning to ponder his decision.
Well, morning was here and he still wasn’t feeling like sharing. There were reasons, damn good strategic reasons not to spill his guts to a woman he just met. Like Charity’s job as a ‘Hound, or the fact he couldn’t shake the feeling there was something more to the girl’s kidnapping that Charity wasn’t sharing. But logic didn’t ease his guilt. Poking and prodding at the uncomfortable sensation didn’t help either, so he ignored it, focusing on the more immediate concern. It wasn’t just the possibility of incoming Raiders heading in, chances were damn good Vex or Havoc, or both would pop up at any minute. If they weren’t already here.
He let the horses drink while in the branches above, birds chattered, their voices merging with the white-noise buzz of the insects below. There was a brief hiccup in the background choir. Every muscle coiled in anticipation. Before he could adjust his stance, one of the horses lifted its head and snorted. A familiar scent drifted with the shift of shadow and the soft whisper of leaves against cloth. Relief left Ruin smiling as he looked to his right. ‘Took you long enough, sis.’
‘What the hell happened to Simon?’ Forgoing a greeting, his twin stepped out of the dense foliage, her boots and the cuffs of her faded jeans were dirt stained. Coming up next to him, Vex folded her arms over her chest, the leather of her jacket creaking with the movement.
‘He’s alive.’ Only because she was his twin did he catch the release of tension along her shoulders and jaw as it seeped away. He held her gaze, noting her worry in the bright gold, as he continued, ‘But getting him to Pebble Creek is going to be a challenge.’
She turned her head away and bit her lower lip. For once, her hard-ass mask was missing, sharing a rare glimpse into the battered heart he loved. He leant in and bumped her shoulder with his, their version of a hug. It was all she would allow, so he changed the subject. ‘Reaper and Havoc?’
‘Waiting for us at Crane’s place.’ Vex’s weight settled against his side, her head resting on his shoulder, her thick braid brushing his back.
Responding to her rare, silent request, he wrapped his arm around her narrow waist and gave her a squeeze. ‘Simon will be back up and pissing you off in no time.’
Vex didn’t answer but nodded. They stood there in silence, Ruin giving his sister the time she needed, as they waited for the horses to finish. There was a slight hitch to Vex’s breathing. The small, telling sound gave him hope. Maybe seeing how close Simon came to dying would be enough to finally pierce his sister’s well-protected heart and let her find some peace. He had no doubt of how much of that heart Si
mon held, the problem was Vex was bound and determined to not let it matter, an attitude that sucked not just for Simon, but for Vex. Ruin tried talking to her about it, not that he had the patience for it, but he tried. But it was one topic Vex wasn’t rational about. He sighed.
When she finally lifted her head and stepped back, her voice was husky. ‘Havoc said you got yourself a new friend.’
Pushing away from the tree, Ruin shook his head and shifted the rifle until it was lying across his back. ‘I’m not sure friend is the accurate term in this instance.’ He grabbed his horse’s reins and began to head back to the cabin.
Vex grabbed the reins of Charity’s paint, light glancing off the sharpened metal tips of her gloved hand, and followed. ‘Aww, Ruin, did someone stomp all over your precious ego?’
He slid his sibling a narrow-eyed glare. Catching it, she laughed, erasing her habitual sneer. ‘No, brat, but I’m not sure what her game is here.’ And wasn’t that a bitch? Because images of last night’s kiss replayed in vivid detail, including the memory of her taste, all heated spice, making it difficult to walk. What the hell was he thinking when he kissed Charity? Not a damn thing. He grimaced. That wasn’t exactly true. His thoughts had been full up on exactly what he wanted to do with that armful of curves and heat. There was something about her that kept him hooked. Deciding now wasn’t the time to go there, he told Vex, ‘Her name’s Charity, says she came to Crane’s on the trail of a missing girl.’
Vex made a noise in the back of her throat. ‘Missing girl? From where?’
‘Boulder.’
‘And she followed a kid all the way up here?’ Disbelief was clear in her voice.
Since all four Vultures lived and breathed suspicion, he wasn’t surprised by her question. In fact, it eased a bit of guilt to find his doubts reflected in his sister. ‘Girl was the first of many.’ Knowing that wouldn’t be enough for Vex, he clarified, ‘Charity’s a Bloodhound.’ He took a few more steps before realising his sister had stopped. He did the same and scratched the horse’s nose so he could look over its neck.
Vex stood there, her forehead creased in a frown, ignoring the paint, who took the time to nuzzle her hair. ‘Who’s the girl?’
He shrugged. ‘No-one important.’
‘You sure about that?’ Sarcasm dripped from her voice. ‘Damn ‘Hounds don’t track out of the goodness of their hearts.’
That they didn’t, but …’Sounds like this time it’s personal. Charity has some sort of relationship with the girl’s parents.’
‘Right.’ Vex looked away, staring towards the cabin barely visible through the trees. ‘If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.’ Her muttered phrase held traces of their old man.
There was nothing to say to that, so he didn’t bother. Vex gave a short shake of her head and looked back to him. ‘And Simon?’
‘Simon was being Simon and ran straight into trouble.’ He began walking again, hearing Vex do the same. ‘He trailed the surviving Raiders straight into the waiting arms of their buddies. They brought him here.’
‘Raiders don’t come this far north.’
‘Not normally.’
‘Timing makes me smell a rat.’
Since it coincided with the Vultures being on the road and not at Pebble Creek, he understood her concern but wasn’t as sold on the rat part. Not yet. ‘Maybe, but our absence wasn’t a secret.’
‘Neither was Crane’s anger about the missing shipments,’ Vex added. ‘What changed?’
He gave her another piece of the puzzle. ‘While running a check on the lines, Simon stumbled across a group of Raiders illegally transporting kids.’
There was no missing the sharp hiss of Vex’s fury. ‘Kids? When the hell did Raiders start dealing in kids?’
He shrugged. ‘Don’t have a fucking clue, but it can’t be good. The kids were in bad shape.’ He caught her wince before she could hide it.
Her voice came out tight with fury. ‘Where are they now?’
‘With Mandy.’
She nodded. They continued for a few more steps. ‘The Raiders dead?’
‘Yep.’
‘Good.’
His lips twitched at her grumpy tone. ‘Mad because I didn’t leave you one?’
She gave him a mock glare. ‘Maybe.’
He huffed out a low laugh. They continued on, the muffled sounds of the horses’ hooves blending with the natural chorus of the forest.
Eventually, Vex spoke up. ‘Ruin.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Should we expect more company?’
Seemed his sister’s mind followed his. ‘Maybe.’
They broke through the tree line and began crossing the field. As they drew closer a shift of shadow from the cabin’s doorway nabbed not just his attention, but Vex’s. ‘That your new girlfriend?’ The question held an equal mix of amusement and annoyance.
‘Dare you to call her that to her face,’ he muttered, keeping his voice low as Charity stepped into the doorframe. She leant against the frame in such a way as to appear casual, but he didn’t miss the fact no-one was getting through unless she let them. Then there was the muzzle of one of the rifles he retrieved earlier poking above her shoulder.
‘Might be fun.’
He shook his head. One of these days Vex would tip someone right over the edge and get pulled along for the fall before he could stop her. He led the way to where they kept the horses hitched, feeling the weight of Charity’s gaze the entire time. Yeah, he was dragging his feet about introducing the two women, but seriously, what guy wanted to be around for this get-together? The women may be completely opposite in looks, Charity all sunlight and smiles and Vex shadows and hard-eyed stares, but under the masks they wore, they were too damn similar. Dangerous and full of secrets.
With the horses secured, he unslung the rifle and slipped it into a loop on the saddle. Then he moved towards Charity. She watched them approach, a pleasant but empty expression on her face. He felt her gaze glide over him, and he throttled the urge to crowd in close and provoke a reaction. Thankfully her attention shifted to Vex. He barely caught the flex of her jaw as Charity sized up his sister. Next to him, he felt Vex stiffen. He fought back a smile knowing it would leave him a shredded bloody mess if either woman caught it. ‘Charity, Vex. Vex, Charity.’
Neither woman moved—gazes locked. For a moment he wondered if they’d be standing here all damn morning, then Charity tilted her head in cautious acknowledgement. ‘Vex.’
Vex bared her teeth. ‘Charity.’
Charity didn’t shift from her position blocking the doorway but deliberately dismissed Vex by turning her attention to Ruin. ‘Is Havoc joining us as well?’
He didn’t get a chance to answer because Vex snapped, ‘Why? You got issues having us here?’
Charity took her time looking at Vex. ‘Nope, but then I’m not the one with an attitude problem.’
Ruin caught the paint’s reins as Vex tossed them aside and stalked forward until she was in Charity’s face. ‘Attitude problem?’
Charity didn’t move except to shrug. ‘That or you missed your coffee this morning.’
Her unexpected answer pulled Vex up short. It was comical to watch his sister try to decide to remain pissy or laugh. ‘I’ll be damned, little Miss Sunshine has teeth.’
‘And claws,’ Charity supplied unhelpfully.
‘Like this?’ Vex’s hand whipped out.
‘Dammit,’ Ruin hissed, lunging forward, knowing he was too late to stop the impending catfight.
The resounding slap of impact echoed through the morning air. Ruin blinked to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. Charity now stood straight in the middle of the doorway with Vex’s wrist locked in her grip, the glove’s metal tips less than an inch from her face. From the flex of arm muscle, it was obvious both women were exerting pressure, but it was the knife poised at Vex’s kidney freezing him in place. He kept his attention on Charity’s knife.
‘That wasn�
��t nice.’ Charity’s voice didn’t reflect the strain of her hold.
‘It wasn’t meant to be,’ Vex snarled.
‘You want in to see your man, you sheath your claws, kitty cat.’
When her wrist with the blade twitched, Ruin growled, ‘Charity.’
Without taking her attention from Vex, she warned Ruin, ‘Don’t even think about interfering, Ruin.’
Vex twisted her arm and slipped from Charity’s hold, or Charity let go, either way, Vex stepped back. She turned and gave him a disgusted look. ‘Really? I’m fine.’
He pointedly glanced at the knife now down by Charity’s side.
Vex snorted. ‘She wasn’t going to cut me.’ She turned to Charity. ‘Were you?’
Charity’s smile was slow and disturbing. ‘Maybe.’
Vex threw her head back and laughed. When she was finished, she glanced at Ruin. ‘I like her. You can keep her.’
Now it was Charity’s turn to get pissed. ‘Not his choice.’
Vex grinned. ‘Uh-huh, whatever. You going to let me through?’
Charity took her time stepping back. Vex brushed by her and disappeared inside, leaving him to fend for himself. Ungrateful little witch. See if he’d play interference when Simon started in on her next time.
Charity stepped out of the cabin. ‘Walk with me?’
It didn’t take a genius to know she wasn’t asking, especially since there was no missing the bite in her voice. Stifling a sigh, he looped the reins over the post and fell into step beside her. It took him a few to realise she was doing a perimeter check. It wasn’t until they reached one of the other cabins that she finally stopped and faced him. ‘Besides your sister, any other friends of yours dropping by?’
He wasn’t surprised that Charity picked up the family connection. When he and Vex shared the same space, there was no missing it. ‘Why the concern?’