“I am grateful as hell that you got me out of there and have helped me get patched up,” I interrupt, watching her. “But that has nothing to do with this, angel. It has everything to do with wanting you so much I ache with it. Of being drawn to you from the first moment I saw you. And I know you’ve felt it too. So why fight it?” I can tell she’s still not quite sold, so I do the only thing I can to show her.
I lower my mouth to hers and pull her against me.
At first, she doesn’t react, but whatever defenses she’s trying to raise within herself fall and she sinks into me, kissing meback. Her fingers grip the sides of my shirt as if trying to anchor herself to keep from hurting me. Her mouth is perfection, the taste of her making me hunger for more. She moans softly, her mouth opening so I can taste her.
If I was doubting before that there was any kind of spark between us, it’s gone now. The door has been opened and there’s no stopping the fire now. Her taste is sweet, and pure, but the way she’s pressing her body into mine is nothing but temptation. I resist the urge to lower my hands down, cup her ass, and lift her into my arms. Something tells me she’s not ready for that, even if she is kissing me like she’s not sure she’ll ever get enough.
My hand cups the back of her neck a little tighter as I deepen the kiss, needing more of her. Wanting to imprint the taste of her in my memory. The feel of her against me. The only thing that’d make this better was if we were both naked and in my bed. There’s time for that later. Right now, I want her to feel everything I’m feeling and more.
I force myself to pull away, my breath ragged as I stare down at her. Avery’s eyes flutter open, staring up at me through glazed eyes. “You taste so fucking good, angel,” I murmur, allowing myself to press another quick kiss to her lips, needing just a little more. Just another small taste.
“We have chemistry,” she breathes. Then she presses her mouth back to mine, and we sink back into each other. I release her neck and move my hands down her back to cup her ass, pulling her tight to me. Her grip on my shirt tightens even more, pulling it taut across my back, and a hiss slips out before I can hold it back and she suddenly jerks away, a rasping curse blurting out. “Shit. I’m sorry. Let me see.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her, holding her still when she tries to step around me to see my back. “Angel, I’m fine, I promise.” She stills and stares at me, eyes narrowed like she’s sure I’m lying to her. I smile at her, unable to help it.
She relaxes slightly, but she does pull away from me, and despite how much I want to keep her right here, I force myself to release her. “I need to think about all of this,” she states, watching me. “I’m not certain that you’re over everything going on, and I don’t know if I can allow myself to be caught up in all of this if whatever is going on with Vlad and his men drags on. I just…I need to think.”
She turns on her heel and strides out, leaving me staring after her.
I sigh, thrusting my hand through my hair. I want to run after her, tell her that she has nothing to worry about, but doing that is sure to push her away from me. It’s a good thing I’m surrounded by strong, stubborn women, and the men who have won them all over. It’s time to use their examples and convince Avery to give me a real shot.
She’s right, we have chemistry, but there’s more than that and I just need to show her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
HULK
Things have just gotten far more dangerous than we’ve been thinking.
Church is happeningin half an hour, but I have some things to figure out first. The first thing I need to do is talk to Cryos and get the information that I need. Church is going to be intense, I can tell that already, so I need to be prepared. I already know the Misfits are going to want to ask me questions, and if there is a traitor amongst them, I need to be on my game.
I hear laughter and voices down in the common room, which means that most of the brothers are back, and only those who are on patrol will be outside. I hear Rose’s bright laughter, so she and Thea must be down there as well since she and Thea are getting tighter by the day. I wonder if Avery is with them, but thinking about her is a surefire way to distract me.
I can still taste her, and I want to find her for more. I want to feel her against me and know that she’s not going to pull away from me again. There’s time for that later, though. I need tomake sure I can protect her and the kids first. Then we can focus on us because there sure as hell will be.
I head down the hall, making my way down the back steps that most forget are on this floor. I open the door at the end of the hall and make my way down the old steps that King and Stone reinforced but mostly left alone when we moved in. I have to wonder if this is how Dagger got in and out without us seeing him being shady and shit all the time. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if the fucker hid something in here.
Shit, I need to mention that to Bullet. We checked the clubhouse, but did we check back here too? I wouldn’t be surprised if it got overlooked, and even if we did, there’s no saying that our new traitor might be using it as a new hideout. Fuck, it would be great if we had Syn’s dogs here right now to do a search, but something tells me that our traitor planned for that. At least, if they’re smart, they have.
I reach the bottom of the stairs but stop when I hear voices on the other side of the door. I quickly think, realizing that I’ve ended up in the Prospects’ wing, where most of the Misfits are staying as well. I don’t move so much as a muscle as I eavesdrop. I don’t recognize the voices, so it has to be the Misfits.
“We need to make a move and fast,” the first man hisses, a slight panic underlying his words.
“No, we need to be cautious,” the second man hisses back. “If we do anything to arouse suspicion, Arson will kill us for sure.”
“We’re having fucking Church. We have no idea if that big fucker heard anything, and if?—”
“Shut the fuck up! Are you trying to announce shit to the entire world? We have no idea if they have mics in this place, you idiot. Look, if you’re going to lose your fucking balls now, then you need to shut the fuck up and say nothing. Stay out on patrols or with one of us at all times.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not your head that’s going to roll if shit goes down tonight. We need this fucking terr?—”
“For fuck’s sake, shut the fuck up.” There’s a grunt of pain, and then a wheeze and hiss as I hear someone being shoved up against the wall on the other side of the door. “Now, listen to me. You keep your fucking mouth shut or I’ll do it for you. Do you understand me?” I don’t hear a response, but I hear what sounds like a small amount of shuffling. “Do not open your fucking mouth in Church tonight. If you do, I’ll make sure it’s the last words you ever say the minute we’re out of here. And Arson will not stop me when I tell him what you’ve been up to in your spare time. Hell, he might just kill you himself, and he’s not going to give you a clean death. Got it?” Silence. “Good. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”
I wait, barely breathing, as I listen to the footsteps move quickly down the hall and then a door shut. I’ve only heard one set of footsteps, which means the second guy is still out there. This is going to be a tricky situation to get out of if he doesn’t leave too.
“Fucking stupid prick,” the man hisses. “All this fucking work and now he’s going to grow a conscience.” Silence and then, “Get the fuck over here. We got a problem.”
Well, looks like I’m going to need to get comfortable. Good thing I’m used to this kind of work or I’d have already given myself away, though, I’m already starting to feel tired. If only I had my phone so I could record this shit. I just have to hope that Cryos has set something up to listen in on the Misfits.
