Page 31 of Blood of Vengeance

“Sounds perfect.” And it did. It also sounded much like a date. “Though, I’m still out in the middle of nowhere with a strange man who could kill me at any moment.”

He chuckled all low and dark. “I’m not going to kill you.”

“How do I know that?”

“Guess you just have to trust me.”

“I’m not supposed to trust shifters.” But the words felt wrong in my mouth, and I gave them no energy to exist. As much as I hated to say it, my dad could have been wrong. He could have taught me strict, black-and-white rules but never refined them for the gray of the world around me. He could have said them without knowing the connection I would feel to Flinch.

The man in question slipped his hands over my hips and down my thighs, breathing me in as he grabbed at my flesh. As he pushed us over the edge from possible friends into…something else. Because friends didn’t run their fingers over my inner thighs or pull my legs apart. Friends didn’t growl into my ear and tickle the seam between my leg and my ass. Friends didn’t make me want to get naked right there in the desert.

“I know you’re not supposed to trust me,” he said, hands still roaming, voice dark and deep and growly as he kept teasing my body. “But you can. And we’re going to work on that. You and me.”

I swallowed hard, giving in to the desire I felt. Turning to straddle him. To bring us closer together and look into those ice-blue eyes that seemed to see straight into my soul. “I feel like I can trust you, Flinch.”

He kept his face stiff, kept his emotions hidden. His body, though, gave him away. The way he slipped his hands down my thighs, letting his fingertips dance across my skin. The way his breaths became slower and deeper as he stared at me. The way he grew hard underneath me, not moving to try to hide it. The man felt the same attraction I did.

But then he opened his mouth. “Maybe you shouldn’t.”

Trust him. I shouldn’t trust him. But I wanted to… And if I were honest with myself, I did. I already did. “My instincts are good—I’m not afraid of you.”

Flinch didn’t respond, though he did grab me by the hips and tug me closer. Ran his hands over my ass and up my back to press me against his chest. He even leaned in, growling all low and soft, and making me shiver as he scented up my neck. Kissing me there. Teasing me. I moaned softly and arched my back when his teeth brushed against my skin, wanting so much more. Needing it.

“Locklyn,” he whispered against my skin, kissing over my jaw and grabbing me by the neck. Holding me in place with his thumb right over my pulse point. “I’m going to fucking ruin you.”

I leaned forward, letting the pressure on my neck guide me. Loving how his grip tightened just a bit as I nipped at his lip.

“Good.”

His kiss came violent and strong, lips and teeth and tongue devouring me in a flash. I couldn’t hold back, couldn’t pull away. All I could do was ride out his attack, hoping and praying he couldn’t feel how wet I was becoming. How I couldn’t hold my body still and instead had to rock over where he had grown so hard for me.

“Fuck me,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss to drag his lips down my neck, bringing us even closer as his entire body seemed to envelop mine in a writhing sort of hug. Growling steadily under his breath when he whispered, “You’re going to be such a good girl for me, aren’t you?”

Died. I almost died right there. I was pretty sure I actually whimpered as he grabbed me by the back of the neck and pulled me closer again. This man—this beast who had me pinned against him—would destroy me. I knew it. He knew it. And it seemed we were both perfectly willing to head down that path of destruction. Together.

I couldn’t wait.

He had just unsnapped my shorts with one hand, had just growled my name and nearly made me come with that one word as his fingers began delving into my panties, when both our phones started ringing.

“Fuck,” he whispered, letting go of my neck and dropping his hand to my thigh as he panted like a marathon runner. “Looks like someone’s trying to get in touch with us.”

Breathing hard and fighting to come back from the edge of whatever emotional wasteland had taken over my brain, I pulled my phone from my pocket. “I don’t know this number.”

“It’s local—don’t answer it.” Flinch tapped to answer his, making sure the call would come through the speaker. “Yeah?”

“It’s Zed. Popper’s CSI guy came through. Cutter needs you at the clubhouse. Bring the girl. He’s got questions.”

Twelve

Flinch

I could hear the bass from the music inside the clubhouse before we even rolled onto the lot. Sounded like my brothers were celebrating Chiggy’s life instead of mourning his death. Typical and not unexpected, but I had a feeling Locklyn was about to see exactly why her dad hadn’t wanted her around the brothers. Considering the way her arms hugged her little body tighter to mine once her human ears caught the noise, I’d have taken bets that she knew it, too.

“Stay close,” I said as soon as I dismounted my bike. Locklyn’s eyebrows tightened over her pretty eyes, the green flashing at me.

“Why?”

I grabbed her hand, pulling her into me. Looming over her before dropping a soft, gentle kiss on the lips that owned my soul. “Because I like the feel of you against me, and I make no excuses for what my brothers are likely doing in there.”

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