We ran between the walls, ducking down to avoid hitting our heads on the metal cylinders above us. It was all too easy. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. Who would have thought? This is how I would make a difference. Serve my country.
We got to the spot and B worked his magic. He was once a demolitions expert in the Army. He pulled the beige blocks of soft plastic from the bag and stuck them to the wall, eyeing his watch carefully. One fuck up and he'd kill everyone inside. He pushed in metal pins with wires attached to them and we moved beyond the blast radius, flat against the wall like we were trained.
The wall was cold on my back as my eyes pinched shut. I clawed at the frigid surface behind me. B eyed his watch, his finger on the button.
"Two, one—"
My ears were ringing and debris filled the air. I never even heard the explosion.
We ducked through the hole. Alarms grew louder as my hearing returned.
"Come on!" I motioned to Kiril. He was as terrifying as he'd been described with his bandages. Two poor bastards were on the ground in jump suits, not moving. I don't know if he killed them or we did.
Kiril followed through the hole and into the narrow passage. We hauled ass to the closet door we came through just moments before.
"Hold out your hands."
Kiril offered his hands I pulled out a set of silver handcuffs and clapped them on his wrists. B held his ear close to the door when we got there, listening to the other side.
"Clear."
He opened it as flashlight haze shined through the big ass hole we just blew in the wall back behind us. We stepped into the hallway as guards hauled ass towards Kiril's cell. We beat at our clothes to get the dust and debris off. Kiril's jumpsuit was easy to wipe off, thank god. I cringed at his face while my hands swiped at the orange material.
When we reached the end there was an office. Inside a guard sat on the other side of a large pane of glass. He was shaken all to shit and on the phone with someone.
I rapped hard on the glass to get his attention. "Transfer to federal facility." I kept my voice calm and stern but my knees were shaking like a motherfucker.
"I didn't hear anything about him leaving. We just went into lockdown."
"Check the database. These orders are from the attorney general." I saw B eyeing his watch when nobody was watching. Kiril stood as if nothing important were happening. Steady as a rock.
"I don't give a fuck who the orders came from. Nobody leaves."
B pulled a sidearm with a silencer and double tapped him as glass rained down to the floor. Kiril smiled at the blood.
I jumped over the counter and kicked the corpse in his chair. He rolled up against the wall as I hit the button to disengage the locks.
We ran Kiril through the door. An unmarked white van without windows sat running out front as promised. I opened the door and Kiril stepped in as we slammed it shut behind him and crawled into the front.
As we drove away, I looked in the rear view mirror. There in the back sat Ka0s with a devilish smile on his face.
I picked at the salad with my fork, unable to pierce the lettuce I'd been stabbing for the past forty-five seconds while staring at Cody. I'd never been so vulnerable to a man's stare, his green eyes always studying me, learning more about me.
Garlic and basil wafted into my nose and I looked around the Italian restaurant. It was family-owned and tucked in the corner of a shopping center. The owners had greeted Cody like family at the door when we'd arrived. Pictures with various celebrities were plastered along a wall. I'd never heard of the place. Sepia-stained concrete floors ran beneath our feet and amplified the smallest sounds. Everything was wrapped in maroon and cream checkered linens, even the silverware. It gave the place an upscale feel for a hole-in-the-wall joint.
"How was your day?" Cody's grin ate through my armor of feelings as usual.
"Long." My eyelashes fluttered.
What was it about him? His eyes, or facial features, or movements? He was so young at heart, but still rugged and strong. He was nice and gentle to everyone he came into contact with. Worry still struck me every time I was around him. I knew it couldn't last, but I didn't want to give it up.
I could kill just about anyone in the room with my bare hands, but he still made me feel safe. Cody was truly an enigma. A fucking hot one.
"Well, it probably wasn't longer than any other day." He leaned back with a grin on his face, proud of his witty comeback.
"Time is relative." I fidgeted with my fork some more and mumbled. "Smart-ass."
"What was that?"
"Huh?" I grinned.
"You said something. What was it?"
"I said smart-ass."
He reached over and took my fork, replacing it with his hand as I felt the smallest of vibrations in his fingertips.
"You can call me a smart-ass out loud."
My face flushed and I uncrossed my feet under the table and stood to lean in a little closer, and then closer, until I was only a foot from his face, still standing on my side of the table.
"Smart-ass." I winked.
I kept trying to figure him out. To figure out this whole ordeal. Where was it going? What were we doing? I knew one thing. I'd never felt like this about anyone before. Butterflies were constantly in my stomach. I was too nervous to talk. Hell, to breathe. I judged every move that I made. Played everything in my head over and over.
My little wink just now was the first time I'd felt successful flirting with Cody. Yet the awkwardness drew me in, made me want him more. I slowly moved back down to my chair, still staring at his sculpted face when my ass barely missed the edge of my chair and I went straight to the floor, shrieking on the way down.
The next five seconds were the longest of my life, sitting there on the cold concrete. I wanted to make a run for it, but Cody was in my face before I could take a breath.
"Are you okay?" His face was serious, but I could tell he was holding back a laugh.
I sat there, flat on my ass, mortified as people gawked at me with their mouths open. I looked up and my eyes met his again. I froze. Words tried to form but they couldn't escape my lips.
Cody stared back at me, his hand in my hair.
At the same time we both smiled. I started to giggle and it turned into full-blown laughter. Cody stared briefly before chuckling with me.
He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, helping me to my feet. I covered my mouth and it didn't help. I couldn't tell if it was actually funny at this point or the only way my body knew how to cope with the utter embarrassment. Every time I tried to speak I laughed harder.
Cody looked around the room and could see people snickering.
"It's okay folks, nothing to see over here." He grinned.
The waiter came over to check on us and Cody handed him his credit card.
"Please get us out of here." He locked his eyes on mine.
I still held my hand over my mouth. My face was beet red but I was able to speak.
"I just, I cannot—"
Cody wrapped his arm around my waist. "Well, that's probably enough small talk for one evening."
I leaned up near his ear. "Thank you."
He placed his hands on my cheeks, pushed my head back, and stared in my eyes. "You're perfect."
Everything else faded when he told me that.
Held up by puppet strings, I stood there, floating on air.
The waiter hurried over, cutting my moment in the clouds short.
"Here you are, sir. Just the drinks."
"Oh my god. We didn't even order yet?" I could feel how red my cheeks were.
"Don't worry. I know something that suits you better." He chuckled like he had a plan.
I stood in the street, elbow resting on the stainless steel hot dog cart as Cody tucked a third napkin into my blouse.
"Can I eat yet?" I stared at him, trying not to giggle.
"Almost done Rebekah-proofing you. Just one more second here, and — done!" He took a step
back as I held my hot dog away from my body. Three napkins sprouted from my neckline and covered my top.
"It's about time. Thought I was going to starve to death!"
"There's ketchup on that thing. Better safe than sorry." He pointed at my hot dog.
He snickered as I took a bite.
"Sorry, I know it's not the greatest place for a dinner date."
"Are you kidding me? This thing is awesome." I was talking with my mouth full of food again. Shit. I covered my mouth. "Sorry."
He stared at me adoringly. "You just eat what you want whenever you want. Don't you? I swear it's like you don't know where your next meal is going to come from — I mean, I didn't mean it like that, just—"
"I wasn't born rich you know?"
We walked down the sidewalk while people passed, staring and giggling.
Cody shrugged. "No, I didn't."
"I'm sorry. I still haven't told you much about me." I took another man-sized bite and caught myself chewing with my mouth open.
"It's okay. You don't have to."
"No, no. I'm fine. I was born here in Bathory. Lived here until I was 12."
Cody nodded. He rubbed his palms down his jeans. Hell, I'd be nervous too if I were him. I'd run off and left him last time. I was secretive and he seemed to respect that.
"My parents started taking us to church because they found god. Whatever that means. Before I knew it, we were moving to Golem to help people."
I finished off the hot dog and tossed the container in a garbage can along with my bib fashioned from napkins.
"I, umm, lost my family. Grew up on the streets until I was 19."
I didn't want to lie but there was no way I could tell the whole truth.
"Wow, I can't imagine. I'm sorry you had to go through that." He reached for my shoulder and pulled me close to him.
"You don't have to say anything else. It's okay."
I nudged him back to get a glimpse of his face.
"I want to tell you everything. It's just hard." Goddamn it. You're going to get hurt letting him in. You're going to hurt him, too.
He pulled me back to his chest and placed his hand on my cheek.
"It's okay, I promise." He snaked his fingers through my hair.
I could see him racking his brain for anything to take my mind off things.
His eyes lit up. "Follow me. I want to show you something."
His hand slid down my forearm. Our fingers interlocked as he pulled me toward the end of the street. The crisp air rushed over my cheeks.
We made our way down the street. A few people stood outside the buildings smoking. The smoke stung my nose and reminded me of Golem. Strangely, I missed it a little.
A few blocks down we turned and passed Cody's store. Rounding the corner, I could see we were heading to a clear building a little way off the main thoroughfare. Bright lights fought to shine through the plastic windows as we made our way to it.
"Is this yours?"
"Yep."
Vivid colors encapsulated me as I walked through the door, spinning to take it all in. Breathtaking tropical vines snaked up the walls: wisteria, blue sky, and coral. Huge blooming violets, birds of paradise, hibiscus, and calla lilies filled in the lighter greens with bright colors. I stopped to breathe in the natural bouquet.
"I don't get to show it off much. A lot of it is used for the business. Some for fun."
He walked over and picked a rich purple orchid and placed it in my hand.
My heart leapt from my chest. I'd never been given a flower before. My eyes closed as I pressed it to my face and took in the sweet smell.
"I love it."
"It suits you."
"The flower?" I stood there puzzled. How could a flower suit somebody?
"Yes."
"Why?"
He took my hand and walked over to the rest of the orchids.
"Well, orchids are beautiful." He pushed my hair back. My spine tingled at his touch as I fought the urge to melt to the floor.
"But, they are very complex. Complicated. Delicate."
His words drew me closer to him. I wanted to hear him talk about everything.
"If they aren't treated properly, they die easily. But if you give them the attention they deserve and treat them right, they are absolutely stunning. They thrive."
He had me. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of this place, by him most of all.
I sat the orchid down on a table and walked to him. Our eyes locked, both oblivious to the world. He leaned down as my hand found his chest. His lively heart thumped against my palm.
"I'm not good at this."
"At what?"
"Being a girl."
He laughed.
"I'm serious."
He smiled at me once more.
I placed my palms back on his cheeks. "You don't understand. Nobody has ever said those kinds of things to me."
The air left his lungs as I watched him understand the truth in my words. I could see in his eyes that he felt bad for judging me too soon. If only he knew what I'd done. He'd know he was right to hate me from the start. But I couldn't tell him. Not now anyway. All I wanted was to be in his arms and it made me sick to my stomach. It meant compromising everything I'd worked for, everything I was. I still didn't care.
"I'm telling you now." He leaned in closer. My eyes squeezed shut as he moved to my lips. My hands pressed into his chest again and I leaned to his ear.
"I've never dated anyone."
"It's okay." He moved closer.
"I don't know what I'm doing."
"It's okay."
I started to say something else and his index finger pressed to my lips. He moved his finger. His soft, warm lips replaced it, and I tingled as they pressed against mine. Time stood still. My lips ghosted across his. One of my hands went to his shoulder, the other to his neck.
Our mouths parted into a slow, full, passionate kiss, velvet tongues intertwining. My face heated. My fingertips teased at the small hairs on his neck. His muscular hands shifted from my hips and wrapped around the small of my back, pulling me tight as our mouths remained locked on one another.
A tingling crept between my thighs and my knees began to tremble. Cody worked down my neck. I tilted my head back to the greenhouse ceiling, barely able to make out the stars through the translucent panes. The heat on my neck sprouted goosebumps on my skin. I sighed and ran my fingers through his hair.
He worked his way up, nibbling from collarbone to earlobe, stimulating every tiny nerve along the way. I ran my hand along the defined ridges of his shoulders. My nails traced his upper back as he increased the tempo, breathing heavily.
My eyes shot open and rolled back as he exhaled down my throat. Synapses fired and ripped through my body as my back arched into him. My thighs contracted. I saw the orchids and replayed Cody's voice in my mind, comparing me to the gorgeous, delicate flower. I was anything but a delicate flower. But tonight, for him, I would be.
I gripped Cody's head, pulling it backward as I returned the favor, kissing down his neck and over his collarbone before biting softly on his ear. The side of my face nuzzled against his prominent cheek bones. My hips pressed into him and I felt his arousal growing. Mine was unavoidable as I panted into his ear, tasting his salty neck.
"Is this too fast?" he asked.
My face was on fire and the greenhouse was steaming up.
"I don't know. Do you want to stop?"
"God, no. Should we?"
"I don't know, should we?" I prayed he would take control.
His hands slid to my ass, gripping it firmly as a squeal escaped my lips.
"I don't think we should." His stubble teased my neckline.
His powerful fingers dug into my ass, yanking me into him. My senses were overloaded as his hard length pressed against my clit. He lifted me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his hips. He sat me on top of the table, our lips locking once more as his erection bulged against me through layers of clothes. I
gasped and pulled his face to mine.
We kissed hard and long, his tongue sinking into my mouth and dancing with mine. He paused, looking into my eyes.
"I want to go slow. I want to enjoy you as long as possible."
My heart melted along with my panties.
He reached behind him, pulling his shirt over his head, revealing a lean, chiseled frame that looked like a sculpture. Defined planes and muscles in all the right places, his abs were cut like square pieces of a puzzle. I didn't know how long I would be able to hold out as my fingernails grazed the ridges of his back, teasing him as he kissed down my nape.
His hands made their way to my breasts, squeezing my erect nipples between his fingers in rhythm with my moans. My arms lifted as he pulled my blouse over my head. He unclasped my bra and let it fall to the floor. His mouth explored my body and he brushed his knuckles against my warm skin, studying every inch I revealed.
I squeezed the inside of my arms into my breasts and they wrapped around his face. He eyed me intently, his hands gripping me, kneading my soft flesh. He laid me back on the table, working his way to my mouth. Our tongues swirled. In a torrent of ecstasy, I clawed at his back, digging my nails into hard muscle. Gripping my breasts firmly, his mouth dove to one, sucking forcefully as my head and arms arched backwards and my fingers gripped the back of the table.
I moaned as he spread my legs and pressed his hard length against me. His tongue circled around my tight nipple before lightly biting, tasting me as my breathing grew louder.
His grip remained on my breasts as his cock pressed against my pussy. I couldn’t think anymore. All I could feel was him. His fingers worked lightly around my tight nipples and my breathing erupted in labored bursts. Waves of ecstasy shot from every limb, every angle into my clit.
He kissed down my stomach, every touch making me shudder. One of his hands slid to my inner thigh as his mouth hovered a fraction of an inch over my pants.
I'd never been this hot in my life, clawing at the table as his lips brushed against my tense pussy, perfectly pacing every move that he made.
He looked up to my eyes, seemingly asking for my approval before his hands gripped at my waistline and pulled my pants down as I raised my hips from the table. My thighs quivered as the fabric slid down, leaving me in nothing but a pair of black lace panties cut halfway up the ass. Every touch sent chills through me as he moved back up my legs from the floor, getting to know my body intimately as I squeezed my breasts.
The Matriarch: An Erotic Superhero Romance (The Matriarch Trilogy Book 1) Page 14