Page 24 of Afflicted

“I didn’t know where you’d gone.” I keep my eyes fixed on hers, knowing my willpower can only get me so far. If I think too much about that cool, wet skin and how fucking good she’d feel right now, I’ll drag her off and bury my mouth between those thighs. “I came to find you.”

“Well, you found me, well done you.”

I shrug. “I had no idea you’d be paddling about naked out here on your own.”

“It’s hot.” She glares at me. “I wanted to cool off, and be alone for a minute.”

“Well, I’m sorry I ruined that for you.”

“No you’re not.”

I can’t help but laugh, because no. I’m not sorry at all. I got to see her naked body spread out in sun-dappled water while she lay there with a half-drunk-on-happiness smile on her face. That smile is etched on my memory now.

“What’s funny?” She asks, her voice full of sass.

“You.”

“I had no idea you could even laugh, shouldn’t you be skulking around threatening to tear someone’s head off?”

“I only do that on Fridays.”

Her eyes narrow, trying to measure what I just said. “Did you just make a joke?”

“You’d be amazed what we feeders can do.”

“Oh sure, get hard enough to make me scream, I remember.” She frowns at me, tilting her head. “Why haven’t I seen you here before? You’re not new, are you?”

“I was on gate duty, for two years. Just got a promotion.”

Her eyebrows raise in faux delight. “Oh, congratulations. Can you turn around now so I can get dressed?”

I exhale heavily and rub the back of my neck. “I don’t know about that. I should really keep a close eye on you.”

Her glare becomes lethal. “Turn around.”

With a chuckle I turn my back to her. “You’ve been here since the beginning, is that right?”

“Yes.” The abrupt tone of her voice tells me in no uncertain terms she won’t elaborate on that matter. “You can turn around now.”

When I turn back to face her, she’s standing there with a hand on one hip, her long hair dripping water onto the ground around her feet. Her white shirt clings to her wet skin, showing me every single curve and swell of her body.Beautiful. I huff out a breath and she cocks an eyebrow.

“Like what you see?”

I raise my eyes back to her face. “What gave you that impression?”

“You, ogling my tits.”

I laugh out loud. “You’re really not afraid of me, are you?”

“You like your women afraid, Silas?” Her nose pulls up into a sneer. “Does that turn you on?”

I run my tongue over my teeth. “Fear smells incredible, you know. Tastes great too.”

Her face betrays the barest hint of surprise at my words, but she quickly pulls that nonchalant mask back into place and clears her throat. “Whatever. I know you like what you see, because you stare at me all the damn time.” She tosses her hair, arching her back so her tits strain the fabric on her shirt.Fucking tease. “Must be hard though, seeing something you like and not being able to do anything about it.”

“What does it matter to you?” I cross my arms over my chest. “You and what’s-his-name are happy, aren’t you?”

The split second of hesitation before she smiles and nods is all I need to confirm what I thought. He isn’t satisfying her. He can’t be.

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