Page 16 of Tainted Gifts
My hands rise to tangle in his hair as his hands slide down to grip me tighter to his incredible body. I almost forget I’m mad at him during my moment of insanity.
“Stop,” I finally mumble against his lips while jerking back.
My whole body throbs, and it’s painful to back away. There’s that sick feeling in my gut where I’m supposed to be somewhere right now, but I don’t know where. The only time it hasn’t plagued me, is when Jase is touching me, or when I was... otherwise engaged.
“Aria, I-”
He stops as his eyes finally fall on my attire, and his jaw clenches as he adjusts his tie. Simone steps in front of me to cover up my indecent appearance that tells the man I love and hate what I’ve been doing.
“I see you’ve healed,” he continues with a chillier tone.
“I have. Now I need clothes, food, and one hell of a drink,” I murmur dismissively as I try to act like his pained eyes don’t affect me.
“I need to debrief you,” he almost strains out. “I’m sorry, but we need to find out everything we can about the people who took you while the trail is still fresh.”
“The people who took me are dead. I can give you their exact location if you give me a map,” I utter back with the same icy indifference.
His eyes narrow as he takes a step toward me, suspicion gathering in his scrunched brow.
“Then where have you been all this time?”
“I was saved, healed, and then set free to come back once I was okay to travel. I need to get changed now, Commander. I’d prefer a smaller list of people who have seen me in just a shirt and panties.”
His jaw tenses again, but he moves aside to let me pass. I almost hold my breath so his intoxicating scent can’t rattle me further, but it doesn’t work. It’s almost as if I’m forced to breathe him in against my better attempts to steer away.
“I’ll bring you a map once you’ve cleaned up,” he murmurs with his back turned, and then several men join him as he heads down the long hallway that is towered over by the arched ceilings.
“Crap,” I breathe out shakily. “I was hoping I could avoid him until after I looked halfway decent.”
Simone smirks lightly, but it’s overshadowed by a secretive burden. My eyes tilt up to question her odd expression, and Rex’s lips purse before he answers the silent question intended for Simone.
“Jase has had every member of the United we could spare out searching for you. Most of them got back shortly before you arrived. Some are still hours away from return. It’s the most massive search party ever launched, especially during wartime.”
I slump down while climbing into the open elevator, and Simone presses the button to send us toward the top.
“That looks bad. He shouldn’t be abusing his rank by pulling such resources. I’m just a tracker. Everyone knows that. It makes it look like he doesn’t have perspective.”
“On the contrary, it makes it look like he cares about his people. Not to mention, you’re not just a tracker,” Rex counters. “You’re the daughter of Araya Crush and Hale Banner; two of the most respected people to ever be a part of the United. Your safety was important to the vast majority. He played a good hand today, and people are rallying behind him more now.”
I roll my eyes while huffing out, “Glad I could help him out in the polls.”
“He would have done it even if it had destroyed his career,” Simone hesitantly interjects.
Shit. Why’s he making it so hard to get over him?
The doors open to the top floor, and Simone leads the way to the far room. Rex and I follow her in, and my mouth pops open when I see the near panoramic view offered by the glass walls. The lavish surroundings remind me how well paid my cousin is.
“Bitch,” I gripe under my breath, and she lets out a snicker before walking over to her closet.
“Until you can get some clothes of your own, you can wear some of my stuff… again.” She pulls a daring red dress from her overstuffed closet and tosses it to me. “Here. This one will work.”
I narrow my eyes at her while tossing the dress back.
“I’ll take something a little less flashy,” I grumble.
She laughs and then shrugs before walking over with a pair of jeans that look like I’ll have to be melted down and poured into.
“Really?” I huff in a higher octave.
