by Nora Flite
The wafting smoke of long-dead cigarettes curled between us. Corbin linked his fingers on the table and smiled. “There's my shark.”
One upon a time, that compliment meant everything.
Now, it only left me cold.
****
Knocking on the door for the fifth time, I frowned. “Pike? Are you home?” On reflex I checked my phone, dialed him again. I wasn't surprised when it went to voicemail—it had been doing that since we'd last seen each other.
On a whim, I tried the knob. No dice. Of course it was locked. Turning in place, I stared up at the edge of the roof. An idea struck me, making me want to slap myself. It was so obvious.
Inching along the walkway, my sneakers carried me up the rusted staircase. Pike had taken me to the roof before. It was clearly special, a place for deep thinking.
Last time we were together... it was up here.
It had been so special.
Then, everything had dissolved into sand.
Cresting the edge of the stairs, I scanned the cement flat-top. Pike was facing away from me, his back a great mountain of muscles that never rested. I saw the tension that haunted him, even without seeing his face.
When he heard my steps and turned around, I wasn't prepared for the exhaustion that had dug deep lines into his features. “Pike,” I breathed out in reflex. “God, are you okay?”
He considered me, the grooves under his eyes shiny and purple. “No. I don't think I am.”
“You look like you haven't slept.”
“Same goes to you.”
I rubbed my arm self-consciously. My next movement sent my shoe into contact with something hard. The bottle clinked, rolling over the roof. Pike's attention flicked to it, then downwards.
Following his stare, I noticed the empty containers of alcohol that littered everywhere. “Holy shit. Pike, did you drink all of these?”
With a bitter laugh, he turned away. “I wish I could give you an answer. I think I must have, but I don't even know for sure.”
Tip-toeing around the mess, I moved to his side. When I reached for his hand, he flinched—then squeezed my fingers so hard they hurt. I wanted that hurt. I needed to know that even if he wasn't okay, we were okay.
If I could get that much... I could fix the rest.
“Everything is messed up,” I said, staring at the horizon of his jaw. “But you aren't helping anyone by drowning in the bottom of a bottle.”
He was looking far away... beyond the city itself. “If I'm blacked-out, I won't be tempting kids to kill themselves. That counts for something.”
“That wasn't your fault!” Tighter and tighter, I wound myself around his arm. I wanted to root Pike to the Earth, make sure he wouldn't fly away from me. I had the terrible premonition he was about to vanish. “Niko wasn't your fault.”
Dropping his eyes to me, Pike was as still as a grave. There was more stubble coating his skin than I remembered him ever having. In just two days, the man had aged so much. “He was my fault. But I know how to fix it.”
Leaning into his ribs, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You still plan to quit Maximal, then.”
“Jumping for that company feels as good as stomping on Niko's memory.”
My spine crawled, the visual giving me prickles. “I understand.”
“Beyond leaving Maximal... I have one more thing I want to do.”
Wrinkles crossed my brow. “What?”
Spreading his fingers over my lower back, Pike set his chin on top of my head. His words vibrated through my skull. “I'm going to give all the money I made to his parents. It's not much, but it's the least I could do.”
My knees locked up, my lungs squeezing. “You did forget, then.”
He held me at a distance, trying to read the concern I wore so openly. “Forget what?”
“The contract... Pike, if you give your money to Niko's family, you won't even have a dent for Maximal's quitting fee.”
The disgust that rolled through his ocean-blue eyes left me devastated. “So I'm screwed over if I want to walk away?” Palming his forehead, he ran his fingers over his scalp. “Fine. I don't give a fuck if I owe them anything. I never had much before, I'll manage without again.”
Touching his shoulder, I smiled warily. “While I like your martyr side, how about this. Maximal wants you to do one more jump. If you do, they'll let you go cleanly and pay you another three hundred thousand on top of it.” Though I knew this was our only option—at least if we wanted a life where we weren't living in a cardboard box—I still felt like I was the go between on a deal with the devil.
His lips twisted, unsure what shape to make. “You're joking. They sent you here to talk me into this? You of all people want me to jump for them again?”
Stuttering, I gripped his shoulders harder. “I want you to do whatever you want! I just know how miserable you'd be if you had this debt hanging over your head!”
The doubt in his tone stretched further, turning hard as diamond. “So you're siding with them.”
“No! I'm on your side! This isn't—”
“Sounds like you'd rather they get their way, Ellie.”
“No, I—”
“What changed your mind? Did they promise you more money? More power?”
“I tried to pay your debt off myself!”
My shout echoed across the rooftop. Pike's mouth hung open, useless and slack. It would have been funny if I wasn't so stressed. So much had gone wrong, most of it I had no say in, but I would NOT allow Pike to think I would choose anyone... anything... over him.
“Corbin wants you to do this stunt, not me,” I said quickly. “More than that, I know what Maximal is capable of. It isn't just money, Pike. They know too much about you.” Swallowing, I eased my grip, hands sliding from his arms. “This isn't something to take lightly. The day I was called in, instructed to get you as a client, Corbin had already figured out who you were... where you lived.” Shivering, I leveled my eyes on his. “If they want to, they can ruin your life.”
For a long while, he did nothing but watch me. No blinking, no speaking... I had to wonder if he was even alive.
He curled his fingers around my middle, tracing upwards until he cupped my cheeks in that possessive way of his. “You tried to pay my debt off?”
Turning pink, I attempted to look away, but he forced me right back. “Yes.”
“Ellie, you... dammit.” He was torn, and the emotions that warred inside of him were plain as day. “My burden isn't yours!”
Gripping his wrists, I whispered, “It is. Taking on your problems is the only way to get what I want.” My lips tugged up at the corners. “I'm used to getting what I want.”
Heat flashed through his pupils, drawing me deeper. “And what do you want?”
Speaking was pointless. Standing on tip-toe, I went to kiss him. His hands held me down, jostled me and kept me away. I was baffled, but the wickedness in his smirk shifted the vibe around us. “Pike...”
“I want to hear you say it. Tell me what you want.”
Freedom, I thought, trapped by his gorgeous gaze. Passion. Love. Life. Everything... everything I'd denied wanting. The things my mother made me believe didn't matter.
Now I knew the truth.
“You.” The word flitted free, a single note in the music of our world. It wasn't the beginning of our song, but neither was it the end. For us, there was so much left to weave together.
If I had my way, we'd create an endless symphony.
He pressed his lips to the corner of my left eye. “Don't cry. I hate seeing you cry.”
“I'm not,” I said, wiping at my face roughly.
Pike brought me to him; his chest was solid, warm and welcoming. Here in his arms, with the gentle breeze and the buzzing hum of the city in the distance, I forgot—just for a moment—the problem in our midst.
He inhaled sharply, nose in my hair. “You really believe they'll try to ruin my life?”
Hugging him fiercely, I said, �
�They can. I don't know if they will. We could always be lucky.”
“My father told me luck gets men killed.” Brushing hair from my forehead, he held me like it was the last time he ever would. “Routine. Practice. It comes down to what you can control... and what you know.” His shirt rustled on my cheek as he released me. The night had traveled into his irises, turned them black as his tattoos. “I know how to jump. So that's what I'll do.”
His determination inspired me. The way he stood there, sure of himself, it reminded me why I'd felt so attracted to him in the first place.
The lines of his defined arms pulled me along, took me from his wrist, to his shoulder, to the vein in his throat that pumped with masculinity. If I kissed it, I knew it would quicken.
Pike tilted his head, picking up on my body language. Had I been too obvious? Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Right. You should do the thing you know.”
With a husky edge, he said, “I actually know a few things.” Pushing his thigh against mine, he ground the bulge of his cock on my hip. “For example, I know that when you realize how hard you've made me, it makes your heart race.”
On command, my blood began rushing through my body. Pike was too observant, it intimidated me...
And it drove me wild.
“There it is,” he chuckled darkly. “I can feel you getting turned on. I really get to you, don't I?”
My head was swimming. Pushing the warm cotton aside, I glanced up through my dark fringe of lashes. “No more than I get to you.”
Smirking like a half-moon, he gripped the back of my shirt. Knotting the fabric, he pulled it tight, stretching the material over my chest so that the shape of my hard nipples stood out easier. “Is that so? What happens if we drive each other equally crazy?”
Unsticking my tongue from the roof of my mouth, I said, “I think we already know.”
Judging me for a long second, he dropped to the ground, pulling me down with him. I gasped, yanked by my shirt, hearing the stitches tear.
My open mouth was an easy target, his tongue sliding inside, lips sealing roughly. He used the tip to tickle my roof, encouraging me to tangle my tongue with his. It was a desperate, needy kiss that consumed us both.
I didn't want to think beyond this moment. Our future was too uncertain, and this... this twisting of our bodies and our desire...
This was enough. For now, it was enough.
Pike shifted backwards, stretching out and pulling me on top of him. Between us, his fingers unsnapped my pants with ease. I admit, I wriggled my hips eagerly to help him slide my jeans off.
Gripping my jaw, he kissed my throat—bit lightly at my shoulder. I was blinded, briefly, when he tugged my shirt over my head. My hair curled around, sticking up in places; he wrapped it in his fist. Yanking me to him, Pike nuzzled my nose, his lips close to mine. “Fuck, you want this bad, don't you?”
Groaning, I tried to focus on him. It was a chore, my vision hazy from my mounting arousal. In just my panties, I ground against his hard-on. He put his palm on my lower back, encouraging me, rolling with my jerky desperation.
“Careful,” he said softly. “You might cum just from this.” Pressing me to his chest, he guided me so that my clit was rubbing against his friction. “Are you that horny? That desperate? What sort of noise will you make when you lose control from rubbing yourself off on me?”
Blushing along my scalp, I thrashed. I had nothing to say—controlling my whimpers was a battle. Heat swam in my belly, taking hold of my body, narrowing in on my cunt until I could think of nothing else.
Pike undid my bra deftly, tossing it aside. Hands free, he circled one of my rosy nipples with his tongue. “I can hear how wet you are,” he chuckled.
Through his jeans and my soaked panties, I felt his cock twitch. “You're losing control, too,” I said, shivering.
“Is that a challenge?” His eyes twinkled in the shadows. “You think I'll cum from just this? Oh no, not me. But you... you're going to cum so hard, the city will hear you scream.” His lips tightened, suckling on my nipple until I cried out.
Panting, sweat shiny on my shoulders and chest, I willed myself to find some sanity. I hated losing, even if it was to Pike, who'd made this contest. His hand on my ass kept me at his mercy, forcing me to endure the throb of my swelling clit. My pussy was aching with each sway that took me closer to orgasm.
His thumbed my opposite breast, tugging while he licked the other. When he spoke, he did it against the background of my lust. I felt his words in my chest. “That's it, just give in. You're so close, Ellie. I can smell how badly you want to cum. It'll feel amazing... so perfect...”
I managed one small phrase as the trembles took over. “I can't... I can't take anymore!”
Laughing wickedly, he kissed between my breasts. “I know.”
Heat jolted into my center, taking hold of my muscles. Everything squeezed, locking up as I came on top of him. Arching my back, I moaned with raw abandon through the pleasure. It was glorious, wet and consuming.
I was still shivering, my clit spasming in my panties, when he breathed out in a great, steamy noise. “Fuck, that was hot.” Lifting me, he unzipped himself, moving his pants out of the way so his thick cock could jump free. It rested between us, warm on my belly.
Tearing my soaked panties off, I noticed his hands were shaking. For all his bravado, he'd been holding himself back. Now he was shaking with lust, fingers trembling as he tore a condom open.
Reaching down, I took it from him. His eyebrows went up, but he let me have it. Inching down his thighs, I faced the curved, jerking erection. The tip was glistening, his scent making me dizzy.
Licking my lips, I bent down, holding him by the base as I gave a slow lick. His hiss was decadent; encouraging. With his fingers settling in my hair, I rolled my tongue around the fat head of his cock. He tasted salty, and I wanted more.
“You weren't lying,” he mumbled. “You do know how to give a blowjob.”
Rocking my hips in excitement, thighs damp from my own juice, I slid the condom over him. Rising onto my knees, I hovered over Pike. “Like you, I know a few things.”
“I'm excited to find out more,” he said. “You don't want to keep sucking me off?”
“No.” I inched lower, rubbing myself on his cock until he groaned. “I want more than that.” On that rooftop, lit by the glow of the streetlights below and the distant stars above, Pike was strikingly handsome. “Lift your shirt,” I said suddenly.
Amused, he pulled the hem high, exposing his tattoos and the hard edges of his torso. The vision infected me with wet need, even when I had his cock right in my fist.
“You're really into these, huh?” When I nodded, he showed his teeth. “I'll have to get more, then.”
My eyes ran from his stomach to the deep grooves of his pelvis. Fisting his shaft lightly, I brushed my other hand on the patch of skin right above his cock. “Get one here. Maybe my name.”
“Naughty girl,” he teased.
Desire danced in my core. Lifting myself, I lowered my pussy gingerly over his massive erection. “Yeah,” I gasped, “I am.”
Straddling his hips, I sank down, stretching over his thickness as I went. I'd had him inside of me before, but it was still a delicious struggle to contain his whole length. I reveled in the journey, whimpering helplessly as he plunged me deeply.
Finally, we locked together, his curled hair ticking my inner thighs. Holding my waist, he grit his teeth, flexing with his eagerness. “God damn,” he growled. He talked like his mouth was full of syrup, his tongue swollen. “That's... fuck...!”
He wasn't a grand poet, but I didn't care.
Grinding my ass, I leaned towards the sky and swooned. His palms captured my breasts, cupping them hungrily, encouraging me to fuck him faster. I obliged, torn between feeling like I was rooted in my flesh, or floating away in a foggy pleasure.
I was here, right on solid ground, but I could swear I was falling.
“Ellie,” he
breathed, lifting me so he could pump inside my tight pussy. We were both panting, working towards the release we didn't just crave, but required. How had I ever existed without this?
My throat was bared to the air, hair tumbling over my spine. I bent backwards, the tension of my climax rippling along my taste buds. I clutched at Pike's cock, begging for more while knowing I was already stuffed to the brim.
Heat exploded, my body taught as a fishing line. He was twitching inside of me, seconds before he shuddered and came, too. I knew he'd left fingerprints on my chest; when he let go, the blood tingled as it swam back where it belonged.
I was still recovering, but Pike didn't care. Curling his grip around my shoulder blades, he crushed me to him, kissing my lips, my eyelids, my jugular and my collar bone. I wondered if he was trying to claim each part of me, proving I was his in the only way he knew how.
I understood the truth.
Pike's claim went deeper than flesh or bone. He had carved his way into my mind, made a home in my soul. I'd realized it before, but with nothing between us but our own naked skin, it was abundantly clear.
We were something special—two beings created just for each other.
Pike was mine...
I was his...
But I was too afraid to wish for a more earthly proof. Was this love? Could we manage something like that?
I'd run from the concept my whole life. It had become something bland and pointless.
But here, wrapped up in the warm sensation that had no other explanation, I only wanted one thing. Just a few words to name what we felt.
Would Pike ever give them to me?
- Chapter Fifteen -
Pike
Maximal wanted to fly us to the canyon site for my last jump, but I was tired of their 'generosity.' I could tell Corbin was exasperated by my decision; his voice crackled over the phone with multiple long sighs. Accepting that I wasn't going to buckle, he told us the plan instead.
“Have you heard of wingsuits?”