Page 67 of Smoke and Mirrors

His hand on my wrist clenches tighter as we move together. He withdraws and moves back in, starting to push and pull a little faster. Our kiss is feverish, and my free hand clenches his hair tightly pulling his face to mine harder. I need to feel him completely, so my legs wrap around his waist, pulling him deeper. He moans into my mouth letting me know he likes this new position, and we continue to move together, rocking back and forth, striving and climbing for our releases.

He thrusts in just the right spot knowing full well what he’s doing, thrusting again—in out, in out. A perfect rhythm, our bodies moving together in synchronous harmony while misting with beads of sweat as we kiss with a hungry need. The passion is overflowing, and I’ve never felt more connected to anyone. The sparks erupting from us could burn down this lighthouse and set the sea ablaze as we smolder in our own inferno.

My body ignites in an insatiable fire, and the heat becomes too much to bear. I need air, so I break the kiss. He seems to understand moving his lips to my neck, nipping, sucking, and biting as we continue to move. I clench my eyes tight. Flashes of light strobe behind my closed eyelids as fog invades my brain. My chest heaves as my heart races frantically, and my body quivers. Kace has me right on the edge.

He thrusts deeply hitting the perfect spot. His hand moves from my wrist up, lacing our fingers together, holding my hand, and it’s my undoing. My muscles tense, and everything fades to black, then explodes like a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza. Flashes of light parade behind my eyes like never before as our fingers intertwine firmly. My body shudders, and I moan so loudly I’m sure the fishermen at sea can hear me.

“Oh God, Kace,” I pant breathlessly as my pussy clenches tightening around his cock.

He moans, tensing and jolting slightly as his mouth crashes back to mine, devouring me. Pausing, he tenses his muscles completely and then unloads with such force I can feel him emptying inside of me. We both pant as we break the kiss and rest our foreheads against each other.

Opening our eyes, we stare into each other’s souls. Something clicks, everything collides and pivots, and anything dangerous in the world fades away into perfect bliss.

It’s just Kace and me. Here and now. And everything is delightfully perfect.

Chapter Twenty

LILY

After our incredible connection, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. Sleeping next to Kace, wrapped by his body, made it seem like there was not a problem in the world. No one was after us. The world wasn’t flawed and corrupted, and I wasn’t going to possibly die at the hands of his friends. None of that existed. It was just us, in our bubble, and I’m relishing in it.

But now, in the light of morning, I know we have to face the world again and come back to reality. If the truth of the matter is I only get that one night with Kace, at least I have this beautiful memory. It was perfect. It was romantic, and even though walls are still up between us, we broke a few down last night. Being with him might be scary, dangerous, and well, let’s face it—life threatening—but it feels right. I might be his light, but he is my fire. And I burn for him.

We’re back in the painter’s van and on the move. I’m sore, I’m tired, I’m hungry as hell, and my glow from last night is wearing thin because I know that last night probably won’t happen again, not unless we can figure out what the hell is going on.

“So, any idea on where we’re headed now?” I ask as he drives down a long highway.

“I’m thinking we head to an asset. Talk to them about what they might know. See if we can start to put the pieces together?”

Nodding, I sink into the seat. “And you think we can trust them?”

He looks at me and exhales, then turns back to face the road. “I don’t know. But we don’t have many other options, Lily.”

Swallowing hard, I nod again and chew on my bottom lip.

If his own men can turn against him, how can we trust anyone else?

***

We’ve been driving through the countryside for a little while now, and I’m wondering just where this asset lives as we turn off the main highway and head down a winding dirt road. Tall elm trees line the sides of the road glistening in the Autumn sunlight, sending a dark shadow over the road we travel. It feels ominous like we’re heading into our demise, but that could just be my mind playing tricks on me, or the fact that now I have something I want to keep, and I’m scared of losing it. Either way, the road ahead looks dark, and I’m worried about the asset and the truth they hold, but more importantly, which side they are on.

A house comes into view at the end of the road, and I sit up taller in my seat taking in the log-style cabin as we approach. Pulling into the driveway, the front porch sings of country-style America—apple pie and knitting spring to mind. It settles my nerves slightly.

Kace parks the van and turns to look at me. “Stay by my side at all times. Okay?”

My nerves are definitely not settled anymore.

“Okay,” I simply murmur.

We hop out of the van, and Kace is by my side in an instant. He looks at the door and moves me behind him. I furrow my brows wondering what he’s doing when suddenly the front door flies open, and a loud bang echoes through the quiet surroundings. A patch of dirt flies up in front of Kace’s feet like something just pounded right into it. It takes me a second to register.

“Yana, it’s Kace,” he yells, raising his hands in the air in a surrender motion. It’s only now I look up to see a woman, a stunning woman with jet black hair standing before us holding a rifle. The loud bang and the ground shifting must have been her shooting at us.

Shit! We’re not safe here either!

I reach forward grabbing hold of Kace’s bicep for comfort, and he tenses sensing my fear.

“It’s okay, Lily.”

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