Page 40 of These Dangerous Fates

I remember Cade telling me he wanted to be a healer when we first met. Instead, he is taking people’s lives. How much does that hurt him? I glance at him and see the shadows in his eyes, the regret and hate and despair hiding under the shimmering violet.

“Does it bother you? What you have to do … does it bother you?” I ask. I already know Cade’s answer, but Malakai, I can’t read.

“I hate it,” Cade says, unsurprisingly. “Even though the men we kill are the worst of the worst, I don’t enjoy taking a life. Each one is a mark against my soul. A black stain that will never go away.”

My heart aches for him. My body acts on its own, standing and walking around the island to him. I wrap my arms around his middle and hug him tightly, offering the only comfort I know. He hesitates briefly before hugging me to him, resting his head on top of mine. As he releases a breath, his body shudders around me.

When I pull away, I move to Malakai. He opens his legs and I step between them without hesitation. His hands land on my ribs, and he pulls me closer.

“What about you, Malakai? Does it bother you?” I ask quietly, staring into those multi-colored eyes.

“You want my honest answer? It bothers me more that my dad is asking for these people to be assassinated. He’s asked for entire families—parents and children—to be killed. Solely for the fact they don’t agree with him or stand in his way of his glory. It bothers me that my brothers have been roped into this when they deserve so much more.” He pauses and a muscle ticks in his jaw and his fingers tighten on my sides. “Does the killing bother me? No. These guys are murderers and rapists. People like Sam who deserve worse than what we give them. I will gladly spill their blood, and revel in it.”

I release a breath at his words and the raw honesty in them. It should scare me. He has admitted to being a bloodthirsty monster. But the fact he wishes something different for Cade and Sterling? There is something soft and light under all that darkness.

It's thrilling to think this vicious creature handles me with such tenderness. I look into his red-rimmed eyes and let them draw me in and wash away my fear and anxiety. The way he looks at me gives me the strength to want him. My conversation with Allie helped me to realize I don’t want to keep letting Sam control my life. I got away. Now it’s time to reclaim everything he stole from me. I'm determined to reclaim who I am and the pleasure I can find in life.

My hands slide up Malakai’s thighs, the leather warm and smooth under my palms. He pulls me closer until there is no space between us. His muscular legs tighten on either side of me and I stand on my toes, stretching forward until our mouths touch.

Malakai

I hold back. As much as I’m dying to devour everything about this woman, I make myself be gentle. Ellis has had to deal with too much shit from that asshole, Sam, and I’m determined to make her feel like a queen.

When she pulls away, she glances at Cade on the other side of the island and red creeps into her cheeks. A grin spreads across my face. I figured after the little incident in my room before the contest, she would realize there are no barriers between me and Cade.

With an equally amused grin, Cade steps around the island and in between my legs, sandwiching Ellis between us. He pulls her back against his chest while reaching around her and grabbing a strawberry off the island. He brushes kisses along her neck and her head falls back against his chest, releasing a little gasp. The sound makes my cock twitch in my leather pants.

Cade brings the strawberry to Ellis’s mouth, and watching her lips close around the fruit is one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. Her gaze meets mine and I know she can see how much this is affecting me. Cade presses the last bite of strawberry to my lips and I don’t break Ellis’s gaze as I take it.

Her tongue sneaks out to lick the juice off her bottom lip and something in me snaps. I need to taste her now. Sliding my hands into her hair, I cup the back of her head and draw her mouth to mine. This kiss isn’t gentle. After a night of killing and being bathed in blood, adrenaline pumps through my veins. Ellis’s desire brushes against my shield. It’s tentative, almost curious, but I also sense her determination, and any lingering thoughts of taking my time are blown away.

The taste of strawberries is still on her tongue, and I can’t get enough. The little sounds she makes drive me wild. Cade presses against her, pushing her harder against me. When she gasps into my mouth, I open my eyes to see his teeth latched onto her neck. My gums burn as my fangs descend. Fucking hell, I want it to be my mouth at her neck. I want to … no, need to … taste her blood.

She distracts me from that urge when her hands slide under my shirt. Her skin is warmer than mine, and her fingers practically burn as they travel up my sides. I break our kiss and help her pull the leather shirt over my head—it’s tight, and it takes a moment to remove.

“Your turn,” Cade whispers in her ear.

A brief flash of hesitation in her eyes, then she blinks and it’s gone. Cade draws up the hem of her tank top, exposing her delicious tan skin, inch by excruciatingly slow inch. I trail my fingers up her sides just like she did to me, smiling as she shivers at the touch.

“What about you, Cade?” she asks breathlessly.

“Patience,” he breathes, as he whips his leather shirt off as fast as he can.

Cade takes her chin in his hand and tilts her head back so he can kiss her. Her lacy black bra teases me, and I reach out with both hands to palm her breasts, rubbing my thumbs over her nipples. A noise climbs up her throat, and I watch the peaks pebble behind the fabric. Cade unhooks the clasp, and the material slides down her arms. The sight steals my breath.

As soon as the bra hits the floor, I slide off the counter so I can wrap my mouth around one of her nipples. The sound she makes goes straight to my dick confined in my leather pants. With my hand, I roll her other nipple between my fingers, urging it into a tighter peak.

“You guys,” she moans.

“Yes, Ellis?” Cade asks.

I don’t let her answer. Instead, I wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up, setting her on the island. Gently, I wrap my hand around her neck, and push her down until she is laying on the marble surface. She gasps and arches her back as her heated skin meets the cool marble.

“Is this what you want?” I ask, as I trail my hand from her neck down between her breasts. When I reach the waistband of her leggings, I pause with my fingers curled around the edge.

“Use your words, Ellis.” Cade unbuttons his leather pants but stops, waiting for her answer.

“Yes. Yes, please,” she begs. “I want more.”

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