Page 543 of Rage

He kisses me like I’m the center of his entire world. The energy that coils around him and drags people into his orbit instead shatters into individual tendrils, each of them wrapping around just me. The sheer inevitability of our attraction has me plastering myself against him, opening for him, wanting him in ways I shouldn’t. Especially not in the dark of a cemetery with enemies in the distance. Especially not with his best friend, who I also recently kissed, not so far away.

I can’t fight it, too caught up by the magnetism of the man, by the violence in this kiss that echoes my own. One of hishands digs into my hair, tilting me the way he wants, the other gripping my elbow like he’s afraid I’m going to run away. But I’m not. There’s no way. Instead, I drop one hand lower, the weight of him heavy against my palm, a nearly inaudible groan falling from his lips.

“Damn,” he whispers, kissing my cheek, my neck, the top of my collarbone while I stroke him through his jeans.

“Xander,” I mutter, wanting more, needing more, but knowing we need to get the hell out of here first.

“I know, sweet thing. But damn, I don’t want to stop,” he says, his tongue lining the top of the bodice, my head thrown back against the stones to give him access.

“Xander,” I croak, this time with a touch more force, and he stops his exploration of my skin, instead pulling me flush against him, his cock heavy against my belly.

“I know, I know. Give me a minute.”

We pant, and I can’t help but strain to hear where our Bratva friends might be, a whistle sounding, followed by the yips of those distant coyotes again. “I kissed Liam, too,” I whisper when it quiets.

Instead of anger, I just get a soft groan. “He’s going to lord that over me.”

“Huh?”

“That he got to taste you first. He’ll never let me live that down.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Nah. Your body, your choice. Just be honest with a guy. You’re doing exactly that.”

“And if I wanted to kiss Liam again?”

“Then I’d ask if I could watch.”

I barely stifle my laughter. Yet somehow, despite all the dark and deadly nonsense tonight, this conversation almost makes it worth it.

“I’d let you join in, you know.”

He loosens his hold, letting me see his crooked grin. “Thank god for that. Let’s go find the grouchy bastard and see if he’s game.”

“I’ll lead the way.” Taking a few steps, my skirt snags on one of the stones. “Fuck. Next time I’m kidnapped, can it be while I’m wearing tactical gear?” I ask the heavens.

A knife appears in answer to my prayer, Xander grinning. “Not quite the same thing,” he says as I take it from him. Away from the shadows of the mausoleum, I can see both his head and his arm are bandaged, and I add those to our growing list of injuries. But he seems in better condition than Liam, so a half-win.

Using the knife, and perhaps too much glee, I chop at the dress until it’s well above my knees. Then I tie the bits into a parcel, because you never know when a length of good silk will come in handy, and continue toward where I left Liam.

I’m calling it, though. This version of the dress is much, much better.

Chapter Nine

Liam

Resting my eyes was a bad choice. I knew it as I did it. But Cece ran away, there were gunshots, and when I tried to follow, my leg gave out. I’m pretty sure I hit my head on the way down. Hence, resting my eyes.

But opening them to a dirt covered child with a semiautomatic has me convinced I’m dreaming.

Or that I’d hit my head harder than I’d thought.

“Up, O’Connell,” the kid says, and I laugh.

Then the tot pistol whips my already tender scalp, and my hands catch one of his bony wrists before I can stop myself. And that tiny, weaponless wrist is real enough for me to freeze. “Do not fucking hit me, kid. I’m having a shit night.”

“Same. Which is why I’m bringing your busted ass to my dad.” He twists his wrist, his other hand far enough away that I can’t quite reach the gun without risking my leg again. I consider tugging the kid into my lap and wrestling him for it, but he’s a kid. I can’t guarantee that he won’t shoot me by accident if I spook him.

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