Page 26 of The Awakening

“Dean?” Everett asks again. I ignore his question, rounding the island and pulling out a bar stool, sitting down and taking a large swig of my beer. Setting it on the island, I clear my throat.

“Never mind her—she’s learning a quick lesson. Now, we have to discuss what this whole decoy plan is about and how we are going to ensure she is safe at all times.” Arno lets out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief, as Everett gives me a glare of disapproval. Everett also shakes his head and closes his eyes as he brushes his hair back with both hands.

“She’s going to be so pissed at you, mate,” Arno says through his deep chuckles. I don’t give a fuck how pissed she is with me; like I promised her, she wasn’t getting off easy.

“Nothing new, mate. Now, back to the question at hand. How is she going to be a decoy, walk into the Irish mob, not be captured and tortured, or even killed? Tell me how you thought that was a good idea, brother?” I’m glaring right at Everett as I ask this question. My heart starting to race at the idea of her being captured by Cara.

However, it’s not Everett who answers me, it’s Arno.

“Because I’ll be there with her the whole time.” My eyes dart to the big man, not seeing how that was going to ensure her safety, but okay. I wait for him to continue, the confusion evident on my face.

“While you were playing your fuck-fuck games upstairs, Everett and I were talking. Cara doesn’t know me; she doesn’t know my connection with her or with you two. The only other person who knows me within their organization is Cal. The one thing Cal does know is my hatred for the three of you. The last he saw of me was in training and at that time we were all mortal enemies, in case you forgot.” I take another swig of my beer, wondering where his thought process is going. My eyes shift from Arno to Everett, he raises an eyebrow at me, his silent way of telling me to just fucking listen to the plan.

“I take Sloan as my prisoner, giving Cara what she wants most, the last known heir to the Wallace family. While she is distracted with us, the two of you get Colson to safety, all while the perimeter is being secured until we are able to launch our attack on Cara, Cormick, and Cal.”

I take another swig of my beer, enjoying the ice-cold liquid as I take in this new plan. It’s a good plan. Yes. I don’t, however, want to admit that this plan could possibly work. I don’t want to agree to this, because that means Sloan goes into the viper’s nest and that’s the last thing I want her to do.

“Stop acting like you’re going to think of a better plan, mate, and just fucking say yes already. Time is ticking.” The glare I give Arno could melt the flesh right off his bones. The arrogant son of a bitch telling me we have no more time, when it’s my brother that needs rescuing.

“Don’t act like you care for Colson more than I do, mate.” I emphasize the last word, letting him know how much his comment just pissed me off.

“Listen, you two. Don’t start with your bullshit. This is the plan; I’ve already let the other Shadows know and have already started packing up and getting into position.” I look at Everett, rage settling under my skin, knowing he’s already agreed to a plan I haven’t had a fucking say in. This is our girl we’re talking about!

“You think Sloan is going to agree without hearing the plan first?”

“Yes, I’m in.”

As if I couldn’t be backed into a tighter corner, my skin tightens over my flexed muscles as I look over my shoulder and see her. She’s standing in the doorway, one hand clenching the ropes that were just tightly secured around her arms and legs, the other hand pointed right at me.

She looks stunning even when she’s heaving with anger. Her long blond hair is disheveled, her chest rapidly rising and falling through each angry breath. However, her anger is not what has me speechless at the moment. It’s the fact that she’s standing there, clenching the ropes and very much naked.

Fuck, she’s perfect.

If this fucking caveman thinks for one second, tying me up and leaving me in Colson’s room will stop me from helping, he’s got another thing coming. The moment I was able to slip one of my hands out from Dean’s poor excuse of a knot, I was able to free myself completely. Has he forgotten who’s been training me for the last six months? Plot twist, it’s been him!

I was going to get dressed before heading downstairs to strangle Dean, but my rage has taken over. I am so infuriated I kick open the bedroom door and practically run down the hallway, stark naked. Fuck it. Clothes can wait. Plus, I want to see the look on Dean’s face when he sees I was able to escape his piss-poor knots. Frankly, it’s laughable. As I make my way down the stairs, I round the banister and head straight for the kitchen. Before I make my presence known, I hear Arno talking about some plan. A plan that involves me being a decoy—exactly what I suggested before. Do these men ever listen? The moment I hear Dean ask if I would agree to this plan, I step through the doorway and agree. Butt ass naked.

“The fuck, little one? You trying to burn my eyes out of their sockets?” Arno barks before turning around to shield his eyes from me. I toss the ropes on the floor in front of Dean with a heavy thud.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t be able to get out of those?” I point to the ropes, expecting Dean to look furious, but the heat in his eyes tells me something different.

“I hoped you’d escape, because if you didn’t, you could’ve kissed your decoy plan goodbye.” Dean’s voice is all sexy as his eyes look at my legs and slowly roam up my body. I clench my legs together, seriously regretting my decision to be naked. The throbbing between my legs is harder to hide when I can’t hide behind clothes. Fuck. As if he can sense my regret, the corner of Dean’s mouth tilts up in a devilish smirk. With two long strides, Dean is suddenly standing right in front of me, his gray eyes staring down at me with nothing but lust heat my core.

“I’ve underestimated your abilities, baby girl.” Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers graze my neck, sending shivers throughout my body. “Now you understand the risk you’ll be taking with this plan?” His voice is low, and I can tell he’s worried. I nod my head as I rest my cheek in his large palm.

“I can do this, Dean. You have to trust that you’ve taught me well.” He releases a deep sigh, accepting the fact that he won’t win this battle.

“Fine, we leave in the morning, but first I have to finish what I started.” Grabbing me by the waist, Dean hoists me over his shoulder causing me to let out a small squeak of surprise. Carrying me towards the stairs, I look up at Everett, his handsome lips pulling to one side before he mouths, “You’re mine next.” I shoot him a wink and blow him a kiss, excited about what my guys have in store for me. Before we round the corner, I catch a glimpse of Arno. He’s turned back around, but his hands are still firmly covering his eyes. I chuckle to myself, realization dawning that I probably traumatized him. Like he’s never seen a naked woman before.

Dean takes the stairs two at a time, mumbling how he’s going to punish me for Arno seeing me naked or something along those lines. As he kicks open Colson’s door, he tosses me on the bed flat on my back. With his heavy boot, Dean kicks the door closed behind him, staring down at me with murderous intent. I give him a smirk, wanting him to do his worst. I’ve been wound up since he first tied me up. I’m aching for a release.

Dean undoes his belt, pulling the leather out of the loops and snapping the belt off his hand, making my pussy throb even more. Stalking towards the bed, he pulls his shirt over his head with one hand, making my pulse rise.

“You think that was funny, do you, giving Arno a free show of what’s mine?” I don’t answer him. I simply shrug my shoulders as I prop myself on my elbows. “I see, you want to play that game?” Biting my lower lip, I watch as he unbuttons his pants, the sound of the zipper echoing through the room. “I’ll show you what’ll happen if you do that again.”

Before he can make another move, I lift myself up so I’m sitting off the edge of the bed directly in front of him. I grab his jeans before he can pull them down and pull his large frame even closer to me.

“Here, let me apologize.” Grabbing the hem of his briefs, I free his already erect cock, and it springs free in front of me. My eager hands waste no time. I grab him at the base, spit on his shaft, and start pumping ever so slowly.

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