by K. A Knight
The door is closed, so I push it open and step inside, closing it softly behind me, and then look around. Steam is billowing through the room already, what the fuck? My eyes widen when Maxen emerges from within it, his face hard, his fists clenched, and his eyes wild. I barely get my mouth open before he is on me. He grabs me under my ass, hoists me into the air, and slams my back into the door, notching his cock at my pussy entrance as he stares into my eyes.
His fingers dig into my ass and I gasp, rubbing against him, and he takes that as permission, burying himself inside of me in one stroke before stilling, his eyes never leaving my face. “Maxen,” I whisper, breathing heavily already.
His hair is tied back, so I reach up and undo it, letting it fall around his face in a mass of brown waves, his piercing eyes standing out. He looks fucking brutal, like the savages they claim we are, and it has me clenching around his cock. He flashes pearly white teeth in a predatory grin as he leans closer, his lips almost touching mine. “I wanted you all for myself. I don’t mind sharing with my brothers, but sometimes I want to lock you and me away, and fuck you until you can barely walk.”
“Is that your plan?”
His lips turn up against mine. “I wish, but I don’t think they would let you out of their sight for that long. They have missed you too much.”
I swallow hard at that. “And you? Did you miss me?”
He pecks at my lips before answering and I hold my breath. “Every minute of every fucking day we were apart. Do you know how many that was? Fourteen days, three hundred and thirty-six hours. Too many. Too many without that devious smile, without you killing someone, without you stealing my heart without even meaning to. They asked us for information, Mi Alma, and all that came to mind when I thought of the North was you. Your fucking face, every time. I couldn’t have told them anything even if I wanted to, which I didn’t. Jax never doubted you would come for us, he wanted to make sure it was safe when you did. Drax was terrified of what was happening to you, Thorn was worried you would think we just left you, that we wanted to go,” he whispers.
“And you?” I repeat.
“Me? I knew you would be safe, no one kills you. I never doubted you, I was worried, worried I would never see you again because they would kill us when we proved useless to them. Worried I would never get to hold you like this, taste your lips, feel you in my arms, watch you close your eyes and curl into my chest. You never needed us to protect you, yet you let us…I was worried I would never get to again. Then you walked into this place like you owned it and demanded us back, and all I could think about was...” He rubs his lips against mine then. “How fucking lucky we are.”
He kisses me then before pulling back. “How lucky that in this fucked up, scorched world where people deal in death, we could find you. The other half of our soul, our lost family. It’s brutal, it’s hard, and each day is a fight out there, but you make it worthwhile, you fight alongside us and make me want to keep going. Keep fighting, for you, always for you. Mi Alma, I called you that because I knew when I saw you for the first time, you would either love us or kill us. Either way, I would do it for you. Don’t you ever doubt how I feel, because words aren’t enough to describe it. It’s like trying to describe the intensity of the sun or the beauty of the night sky…but I can show you. Every day for the rest of my life, however long that might be, I can show you. Starting here and now.”
Then he swallows my whisper by kissing me hard and starts to move between my legs, showing me with his body just like he said. He stares deep into my eyes, loving me, not fucking me. Each thrust is slow and gentle, cognizant of my aching pussy and body, each a deliberate movement ending with him hitting my clit.
“Maxen,” I gasp, pulling his head to me and kissing him.
He holds me there, keeping up those slow thrusts and swallowing my moans, his other hand playing with my breasts or stroking my thigh. It’s so fucking sweet, and each time he buries himself in me, bumping my cervix, I feel my next release building up, stronger than ever before, teased out of me, pulled from my very soul.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips, twisting his hips as he tweaks my nipples, and my release roars through me, seemingly pulled from my toes. My throat clamps shut, my legs turning weak as he holds me against him, my pussy clamping around him, and I throw my head back, unable to take it as it seems to keep rolling through me.
He waits until I open my eyes again and meet his gaze before he stills, groaning as he comes, filling me so I know I will feel him there tomorrow. He leans his head onto my shoulder, both of us panting. What the fuck just happened? I swear he was controlling my body, making me feel things I’d never felt...soft things.
Shit, am I going soft?
When he lifts his head from mine, he kisses me so softly that my heart seems to explode in my chest, before turning with me still in his arms and hopping into the shower. He lets me slide down his body and spins me to face the spray, then washes my body for me with gentle, insistent strokes of his hands, cleaning every inch of me. He inspects me, noting any new scars and marks, and asks about them before kissing them better and moving on, and when we step out and he dries me, refusing to let me do it myself, I feel like he just won my heart all over again.
Sometimes, I want hard and rough in my men, but behind closed doors, I can admit that once in a while I need to be held and treasured.
A knock from the hallway door has us freezing, and I quickly grab my clothes and slip into them as Maxen does the same. Have they come to a decision? Or are they about to declare war? Either way, I’m doing it with pants on.
My Silent Demon
When we reach the other room, Thorn is already opening the door. I palm a knife and keep it hidden behind my thigh just in case, and then wait next to Drax and Maxen who have spread across the living room entrance with enough room to fight between us. One of the guards who was stationed outside of the door comes in, and brings in an armful of clothing, then places it on the sofa as we put our backs to the door. He takes that moment to sweep the room, an angry spark in his eyes, probably from the fact they can’t spy on us anymore, so I step forward.
“You can leave now, oh, and please tell Regina to send some food up if she plans on dicking us around much longer.” Then with that, I turn my back on him and head into the bedroom.
I hear my men escorting him out before the door is shut and locked again, then a disgusted snarl comes from the living room, so after plaiting my hair, I head back out and lean against the doorway, seeing my men hold up the clothing they brought for us. Drax is holding up what looks like suit trousers and a shirt, his mouth twisted in horror and he looks at me. “I’m not fucking wearing that.”
I laugh, I can’t help it, until I take in the dress Thorn is dangling from his finger and then it snaps my mouth shut as I stand up and step towards it. “What the fuck is that?” I ask, eyeing the skimpy bit of clothing they provided. It looks like something a common whore would wear. Gold material—okay, so maybe more like a high-class whore—low cut, and skin-tight. “How the fuck do you fight or hide weapons in that?”
“I think that’s the point, Mi Alma.” Maxen smirks and I shake my head.
“Still, I’m not wearing that.” An evil idea comes to mind then and I grin, holding out my hands. “Give it to me though.”
Thorn laughs, throwing the material to me. “Oh, and search the pile and where he went to make sure he didn’t plant any more listening devices,” I murmur as I turn and head to the bed.
“Shit, I didn’t even think of that,” Drax groans.
Laying the dress down on the bed, I grab my knife and start cutting, almost laughing as I imagine Regina’s face when she sees what I did to her fancy fuck you dress, one clearly meant as an insult to me. She doesn’t know who she is playing with. Once I’m finished, I look down and almost smirk as I twine the edges together, making an impromptu weapons holster and also a strong bit of doubled up fabric into a choker—just another handy weapon. I shoul
d be thanking her really. I strap on the holster and slip one of my knives in it, openly wearing it as I head back to see the other clothes tossed in a pile on the floor and my guys sat around waiting for me.
When they spot me, they start laughing, their eyes lighting up. “Oh, she is going to lose her shit,” Thorn comments, and I nod.
“I can’t wait. Now, what do we do while we wait for her reply?” I inquire, tilting my head and looking around.
“I can think of something,” Drax purrs, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“This was not what I had in mind when you said you thought of something.” I laugh, he’s like an excited kid, and yes, I guess so am I. His enthusiasm is contagious, and although my mind had gone to dirty places, I have to admit this is better. My body is still sore and I could do with a bit of a laugh, which he knew, like always, and took it upon himself to help us all lighten up despite the looming war.
I might be a queen now, but here, with my men, I’m still Worth and apparently…a child right now. Sands below, if my armies could see me now.
We are having a fashion show. My men readily dress up and parade in front of me. Every time I laugh or smile their eyes light up, and they seem to try extra hard, competing to see who can make me laugh the most. I have to admit, they look good in the suits, but then the outfits get more and more ridiculous. Drax makes one of the shirts into a crop top and walks around with his hand bend out and his head thrown back. Maxen cuts his into shorts and pulls the socks up to his knees, looking like a bloody schoolboy, but Thorn. Oh God, when he steps out of the bedroom, I swear I pee a little.
He has the rest of the gold material that I had cut up and fashioned it into a top and what looks like a skirt. He winks at me, sashaying across the room and striking a pose in the middle of the living room. I can’t take my eyes off him, even as I laugh so hard tears track down my face. Drax actually falls to the floor laughing and Maxen is holding his stomach, all the while Thorn winks and shimmies between us in the golden number.
“Stop, make it stop,” Drax cries, and rolls over and looks up before cringing when he looks up Thorn’s skirt. “Shit, I didn’t need to see that,” he grumbles, setting us off again. When we finally catch our breath, Thorn comes and sits next to me, smirking at his obvious win of making us laugh the most.
“Your turn!” Drax calls, still spread on the floor from where he fell laughing. All eyes go to me then, ready and waiting, so I stand up, make sure they can all see me, and strip. When I’m in nothing but my boots and knives, I wink at them and head into the bedroom, hearing them groan.
“Oh, she fucking wins!” Drax calls as he races after me, making me laugh once again as I hear Maxen and Thorn fighting each other to be the second to reach me.
Food gets delivered not much later, and we all sit on the floor around the coffee table in the middle of the sofas and eat while they fill me in on what happened. They don’t gloss over what happened to them, and for that I’m grateful. They know I am strong enough to handle it. They were tortured for at least three days, while I was out there. I make them tell me exactly how and afterwards, I am filled with rage, but I keep it in check until they have finished telling me.
After the government realised they couldn’t torture the information out of them, they left them alone to look for a different approach, and then when Jax escaped they turned their attention to him, sending patrols to the North to check if we were advancing on them. Apparently, they sent patrols near where Piper is as well, but I know she can handle it, so I don’t stress. Once I’m full and know what happened, I sit back and look over each and every one of them.
“They will pay for hurting you,” I declare, and Maxen reaches across and twines our hands.
“Let it go, Worth, we are together again. That’s all that matters. Now, how about we talk about this plan? You getting revenge will have to wait, I think,” he says softly, and as pissed as I am, I know he’s right. I can’t go up there and kill them all, no matter how much I want to, so instead I focus on the plan we have in place. Too many people are depending on this plan for it to go wrong. Then, while they are cleaning up, I head to the door. I have to knock and when the light turns green I stick my head out, glaring at the guards there.
“I need to speak with Regina,” I snap, and they share a look.
“She is indisposed. She will be meeting you in the morning. You are not to leave your suite,” he orders, and I step out to face him.
“I just left it, what are you going to do?” I ask, tilting my head at him.
He freezes and I laugh. “Just what I thought. Don’t make idle threats, boy. I will gut you for breakfast.” Then I slam the door in their incredulous faces.
Morning, we have to wait until morning. I know my armies will be moving into place soon, so let’s hope I can pull off my end of the plan.
Staring out of the living room window on the city below, I am lost in my own thoughts when arms wrap around me and pull me back into a hard chest. I inhale deeply and smell Thorn, even as he lays a gentle kiss on my shoulder, not talking, just holding me as I stare. I’ve spotted at least two more explosions, so it seems Strand and Dray are doing their jobs, keeping them distracted and running around the city. One was even close to this building—Dray’s idea, I am betting. A way of telling me he is close.
“Do you think it will work? What if they just decide to kill us?” Thorn asks.
“Then they face the army I told them was waiting outside their walls, and when I don’t come back, they attack. I’ve looked at this from every direction, and I don’t see how they could refuse, not to my face anyway, and now that I have met them, I’m only more certain. They prefer to work in the shadows, make sly moves, so they won’t turn down a peace, but they won’t uphold it either,” I explain, turning in his arms to face him.
“We will stand with you, no matter what,” he replies, cupping my face. I lean into his touch, resting my cheek in his huge palm.
“I know. Whatever happens, we face it together,” I say, closing my eyes and just soaking in his warmth. I hate this waiting around and political manoeuvres, I would rather just fight and get it over with, but I rein myself in, knowing this is the best way. Patience, that’s what I need, something that has never been my strong suit.
I turn back to the window and we silently watch the sun setting over the sands in the distance. Somewhere out there my armies are mobilizing, waiting for me to lead them to war.
“Mi Alma, come on, you need to rest. I have a feeling we won’t be getting much of that after today,” Maxen calls, and I look over my shoulder to see him already stripped down to his briefs, waiting for me at the bedroom door. I nod and twine my hand with Thorn’s heading to the bedroom. He’s right, of course, and in there I can relax and let down my guard. Soaking in their protection, just for a little bit.
Drax is already sprawled on the bed, waiting for me, so I climb up next to him, placing my back to his, and open my arms for Thorn who slips in next to me. Maxen lies on the other side, turned to face the door. With their heat around me, I close my eyes and force myself to sleep, their scents mixing, their bodies touching mine somewhere, and when Maxen reaches over resting his fingers on my stomach, I finally go to sleep.
I wake up suddenly, my heart racing, and sit up. Thorn’s arm falls to my lap from where it was draped across me, his body curled around me from the side. Drax is on my other side, face down in the bed, and his legs are entwined with mine. Something is off. I search the room, my eyes landing on a figure in the chair. From the bulk, I know it’s Maxen, but I don’t know why he’s over there.
He’s leaning forward, his arms dangling between his legs as he watches me, his face cast in shadows. I slip from between my men, rising slowly, and head over to him. He leans back as I approach him and I climb on the chair, straddling his lap with my legs either side. “What’s wrong?” I whisper, so I don’t wake the others.
“Just watching you,” he rumbles, his arms coming around me and pulling me
further down until my chest meets his. “I never thought I would get to see you again, so I am memorising your face. I don’t want to look away in case this is all a dream. I want to watch you all day every day, so you don’t disappear again.”
Sighing, I lean into him, loving his touch. Thorn’s and Drax’s deep snores are our lullaby as we hold each other. “I don’t know what will happen out there, they might be stuck up, but their guards are fighters and have guns. I need you to promise me something,” I whisper, and then look into his eyes, grabbing his cheeks and holding him still. “Promise me you will fight like a Berserker. You don’t get to die on me, any of you. This isn’t fucking Romeo and Juliet, I plan on us living a long time together, so no fucking tragic endings for us. Promise me you will live,” I demand, knowing what I am asking is harsh and steep, but I need to hear it. I couldn’t bear to lose any of them, which I know is stupid in times of war. Life is so fragile and easily extinguished, but I’m asking him to fight the grim reaper for me and stay. Stay with me, give me that life I dream of and we talked about.
He smiles, a sweet fucking one that wrecks my heart. “I won’t promise that, Mi Alma. If it comes to saving you and dying, you know what I will pick. I will promise you to live or die by your side though.”
Cutting my eyes away, I want to smack his fucking handsome face, to scream at him, but he pulls me closer, forcing my gaze back to his. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, and I know you can protect yourself, but everyone needs someone to put their back to. Everyone can be hurt or worse, killed, and I will not lose you. This world needs you, they need you.” He nods at the men sleeping behind us. “If I have to die to keep you alive, I will, I don’t fear death, I fear living in a world without you. I know it’s hard for you to accept, you are so fucking strong and stubborn, but you can’t stop me, Tazanna Worth. You are irreplaceable, I am not. You have four other men to love you and give you that life, I will make sure you stay alive for it.”